Rusalka - Succubus Bluaz

Rusalka is a female demonic apparition that appears in Slavic folklore and mythology and is likened to a ghost woman, water nymph, succubus, or mermaid. In most Russian legends, it is said that the rusalka is a fish-woman who has her home at the bottom of rivers. These water nymphs come to the surface at night and, by singing and dancing on the meadows at the water's edge, lure handsome young men who have the misfortune of being nearby through their spell. These men are enchanted to follow the rusalki (or rusalky, plural) into the waters from which they emerged, where they meet their end.

Rusalka - Origins

Rusalka

Most often, rusalki are characterized as unclean demonic forces. According to Zelenin, women who died violently can become rusalki—for example, women who commit suicide out of love or young, unmarried pregnant women. Other times, they are described merely as ghostly appearances of women who died by drowning and whose spirits have returned to haunt the place of death; these are not always malevolent.
Unbaptized newborn children killed by drowning by their mothers, who are most often young unmarried women, can also become rusalki. These haunt the drowning site and nearby forests, seeking to be baptized so they can ascend to heaven, and can be dangerous, attacking those who approach them.
Although the main site of a rusalka's appearance is the water in which they drowned, they can emerge from the waters at night when they metamorphose into women. They can be seen dancing, singing while perched in trees near the water, or combing their hair at the water's edge.
In some stories, the nymphs have piercing green eyes, but in others, they are described as having white, almost transparent skin with eyes of the same color, lacking irises. Their hair is green or golden and usually wet. A rusalka cannot live long on land, being forced to return to the water before her hair dries, otherwise she will die permanently. It is also said that their combs have magical powers, helping the rusalka keep her hair wet when she is at the surface.
The rusalka's preferred victims are men and children. They lure the former with songs and dances, and the children with baskets of fruit. Men caught in the water fairies' nets usually die in their arms, but it is said that some die just by hearing their laughter; other myths say the rusalki tickle others until they die of... laughter.
Rusalki are described differently throughout Russia. In Ukraine, they are generally linked to water, whereas in Belarus, they are linked to forests and fields. Additionally, if the land is fertile, rusalki appear as naked, attractive women, whereas in arid areas, they are likened to amazons with rather masculine characteristics. In northern Russia, they are often described as ugly and covered in hair.

Rusal'naia - Week of the Rusalki

Rusal'naia is the week at the beginning of June, and it is said that during this period, rusalki are very dangerous. They emerge from the water and swing on the branches of trees near the water. Swimming is prohibited during this time because the mermaids can pull the swimmer to the bottom of the river/water.
Until the 1930s in Russia, Rusal'naia week was celebrated by the marriage and then the burial of the rusalka.

Rusalka emerging from a lake in the forest

```