Unclean, Unknown and Cross Power

Sergey Vasilyevich Maximov (1831–1901) is a famous Russian ethnographer, folklorist, and traveler. "Unclean, Unknown and Cross Power" is a unique collection of ancient superstitions and customs that trace back to Slavic mythology. "Unclean Power" tells about the mystical creatures that our ancestors believed in: house spirits, kikimoras, rusalkas, leshy, werewolves, and witches. The "Unknown Power" describes the beliefs of peasants in the magical power of natural elements — fire, water, and earth. In the "Cross Power," the author thoroughly examines the holidays of the Christian calendar: the Holy Nights, Christmas, the Baptism of the Lord, Easter, Radunitsa, and the Savior, among others. The book helps to better understand the worldview and culture of the Russian people.