This week, on the Myths and Legends podcast, we're continuing with the Russian fairy tales,

and you'll see how you can get a great deal on a new house.

Just find one where your neighbor is an evil witch, and a cursed, forbidden forest.

You'll also learn what iteming you're kitchen you can jump in and ride around like you're on the

Jetsons. Then, on the creature of the week, it's a Scottish vampire, where the only thing suspicious

about her is everything about her.

This is the Myths and Legends podcast, episode 16. She who must not be named.

This is a podcast where I tell stories that have shaped cultures throughout history.

Some are incredibly popular stories you think you know, but with surprising origins.

Others are stories you probably haven't heard, but really should.

Today, I'll be telling the story of Vasilysia the beautiful, but it's also one of the most

popular stories about the most popular witch in Russian folklore. Bobbiaga. But we'll get to her.

This is actually the first Slavic fairy tale that doesn't start out in the court of Vizar.

Instead, we find Vasilysia at her mother's side in their small hut. Her mother had been sick for

some time, and her death was imminent, but the woman should the father from the room.

When he left, the mother produced a wooden doll from underneath the covers. She smiled a wide,

mad smile. She had been somewhat delirious the past few days. She shoved the doll into her

daughter's hands, and said she must keep it secret. Keep it safe. Take care of it, and if anything bad

happens, give it something to eat and ask it for advice. Okay, mom, Vasilysia said, not wanting

their last conversation to be an argument about how ridiculous this was. Vasilysia let her mother

have this little fantasy. Let her believe she wasn't leaving her family alone here, without her help.

Vasilysia felt her mother's forehead. It was on fire. She choked back tears and called in the

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