Why is Baba Yaga so Terrifying?

Throughout Slavic folklore, Baba Yaga has been a figure of both mystery and terror. A force of nature, she exists on the edge of life and death, offering guidance to some and destruction to others. Why then does Baba Yaga continue to terrify us?

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Written by Jason Collier
Narrated by Adam Marsdin

Artwork where original source could be found. Please contact for credit:

[MaliciousMollusc]

Because he is a man of focus, determination....and sheer f-ing will.

But jokes aside, Baba Yaga is great because she is one of the few that represents the old values, cautionary tales and demands respect.

[aihanaptulov]

As a Bulgarian I have to share Baba Yaga decides ones faith after if the task is failed or succeeded there is a tale about a girl who is sent to the woods and stumbled upon her hut and got invited in, then the girl on the next morning feeds and cleans Baba Yaga’s creatures (snakes, frogs, mice, cats) and makes them necklaces then Baba Yaga takes her to a golden river and submerges it and she becomes golden girl and every word she says a gold coin falls out of her mouth. Her sister is jealous and does the same but she is lazy and does nothing then Baba Yaga submerges her in a black river and them every word she says a snake or frog falls out of her mouth

[Sean-lr]

being honest this guys voice is so soothing lol

[vta]

John Wick is pretty chill if you leave his dog and his car alone

[LavaTyrant]

Simply the Best Channel I have Found this Year

[pikminninja]

I once constructed a little 'house' near a creek, composed mostly of a hollowed-out area beneath a toppled tree, and I referred to it as my 'burrow' because of that. When I showed an image of it to my bio lab classmates, they said it looked like a witch's hut.
This video reminds me of that.

[IronGunner]

Man I don't know who has a better voice. You or Paul Wallace 😂 either way, you guys are great. Keep it up.

[Boomer_Dual_Sport]

As someone from a part of the world where Baba Yagà (note the emphasis on last A for correct pronunciation) is a household name I can attest that literally no children are terrified of B. Y. beyond maybe 6-8 years of age.
Freddy Krueger however haunted my nightmares almost into my 20's 😅

[Asafo-AdjeiJensenKwekuSedem]

Always liked watching in my persistent floating window as I work. Keep up the good work man.

[michaelbartos]

I remember the story of a little girl who was hated by her family. They send her to retrieve fire from Baba yoga. She was given a doll by her mother before she passed away. She tasks with doing chores to obtain the fire and every night the doll would come alive and complete the girls chores.

[kashmirtheowl]

Do more slavic folklore, please
Good stuff!

[BeatrixTomomizu]

this time it didn't feel like a bed time story in disguise at all. This time it was horror all over the place and I love it. And I love the dog giving me kind of a relieve in the end~

[handbananaistherapist]

I watched Jack Frost 1964 just the other day. A Soviet production. I was amazed to see Baba Yaga in the story.

[sethgerchman]

Just got to say thanks...thanks so much for this channel 😊

[heartsgoing]

I’m hooked on this channel. I love the folklore and mythology.

[VeilOfTheUnknownOfficial]

Baba Yaga is far more than just a terrifying witch—she is a remnant of something ancient, something primordial. In Slavic folklore, she appears as a monstrous hag, but her roots trace back to a much older archetype: the keeper of the threshold between worlds. Unlike the modernized ‘evil witch’ trope, Baba Yaga embodies the raw forces of nature, death, and rebirth—both a devourer and a guide for those who dare to seek wisdom.

Could she be a distorted memory of an ancient priestess class? A guardian of forgotten rites? Myths of powerful crones exist across multiple civilizations, hinting at a lost understanding of feminine esoteric power. To truly grasp the enigma of Baba Yaga, we must go beyond folklore and into the hidden traditions that shaped her legend. The real mystery is deeper than fear alone. 🌌🔑

[FreeMan-ejmj]

13:56 -- This brave dog does not terrified of Baba Yaga :-)

[shadown]

The dog at the end of the video was the real star of the video 🤣🤣

[TheAngeletti]

I’m thrilled to learn that your voice has not been Ai generated this whole time 😮

[GhostRydr]

So basically, Baba Yaga is just another aspect of the Triple Goddess we've seen in, say, Hecate or the Morrigan. Time and time again, across different ages, cultures, and continents: with all its variables, a constant.