Extra culture

Although Slovenia is small, it has a rich cultural heritage which involves a great number of mythological creatures. Among them are giants, wild men, water sprites, fairies, gnomes and others.

The Slovenian mountains and rock caves were home to the ancient people called ajdi. They were giants, a bit slow-minded but very strong and mostly kind. They rarely went to the villages but when they did, they helped the people to plough and cut trees. They communicated by shouting from one mountain to another and they exchanged things by throwing them from one mountain top to another.

The woods were home to the wild men who looked like werewolves. They were hairy and they hunted deer and rabbits. Sometimes they teased shepherds and farmers, but they also taught them how to make fire and helped them with the harvest. If people refused to give them food, they kidnapped them and even killed them.

The water sprites lived in the lakes and rivers. Their bodies were green and covered with scales and they had a fishtail. People, especially young girls, were afraid of them because they often pulled them underwater, brought them to their underwater kingdom and did not let them see the upper world again.

The fairies were the most gentle of all the creatures. They were beautiful, always young and dressed in white or transparent dresses. Some of them also had wings and could fly. They helped people but if someone took advantage of them or played tricks on them, they punished them with their supernatural powers.

The gnomes were little men with long, grey beards who were very mischievous but also dangerous.  They usually guarded the earthly treasures. In Slovenia, mine goblins were widely known. The most famous of them is Perkmandlc from Idrija who warned the miners of dangers or showed them where the ore – mercury – was. The miners thanked them by giving them food.