Bulgarian folklore is packed with mythical heroes, monsters and poor casualties. Repulsive, valiant, silly, mischievous – there are all sorts of characters, some of which are notably feared not only by children, but also by their more mature adult counterparts. Without further ado, here are the most popular dreadful beings among the scariest creatures that ever existed in Bulgarian mythology.

Lamya

Most often associated with a dragon-like creature, the Lamya is a female monster, which is depicted as a gigantic reptile with several heads. According to some fairytales, she has three canine heads stemming out of snake-like necks. Other, more vicious representations of the Lamya, portray her with as many as nine heads. Regardless of the total count, the animal takes up residence in forests, near the sea or insecluded mountainous areas. Her malignancy is expressed by cutting off the water supply to urban areas. If she would be to restore order to the water supply, she’d demand a human sacrifice from the villagers, usually a young maiden. Numerous legends, songs and tales have been written and told about the Lamya in which a fierce hero cuts off her head and breaks the villagers and the maiden free from peril. It is thought, however, that the biggest adversary a Lamya has is not the brave hero, but the zmey – a male dragon.

Baba Yaga

Popular in all Slavic countries, Baba Yaga is a scary creature that inhabits countless myths. Some of them are even horror stories that adults tell other adults, such as invocations and chanting spells that