Vodník (water goblin) – Czech and Slavic folklore explained

This video explores the legend of Vodník (also known as Vodyanoy), a water spirit from Slavic mythology who is said to reside in rivers, lakes, and ponds and it's usually depicted as a green-skinned humanoid figure wearing colorful clothes and a hat, smoking a pipe and sitting near the water.

#fairytales #folklore #slavic

Links for Ratoch's work

[holextv]

Jsem Čech ale děláš dobrou práci že přeložíš naše mytologické a folklorní postavy a tvory 👍🇨🇿

[KnightsPathGame]

"Pretty cheerful stuff, right?" 😂 You did great job on telling the tale! This one was always the most disturbing to me, as a child back then and even now as a father...

[TakaD]

Also called 'Nöck' in parts of Germany. And of couse old people like me watched dubbed 'Jak utopit doktora Mráčka aneb Konec vodníků v Čechách' back in the days :)

[mindbrain]

Great how you tell the stories and illustrate them.

[irena]

Good job spreading awareness about our culture!
- A little point of interest: there is actually a word for the membranes, it's called webbed hands/feet.

[rachelthehomosapiens]

The way you put the camera into the water at the beginning was so epic.

[gometalify]

I am currently writing a fictional book on monsters for a Witcher themed larp I am attending in the near future. I'll make sure to add some folkloric references when I get to the entry for Vodník in order to spread a bit of Central and Eastern European culture.

[isajmody]

I wonder if he is related to Old Gregg.

[TenTamten]

Velice krásně zpracované video. Je škoda že takové nikdo nedělá v češtině (nebo aspoň jsem nikoho nevoděl to dělat (haha. Jakože voda chápeš sem ftipnej))

[fafiklata]

I'll show my girlfriend. How lucky she is not to be married with Wodnik. xD

[twyra]

Moc by se mi líbil v Zaklínači quest s vodníkem, ale s vodníkem z Josefa Lady nebo z Jak utopit doktora Mráčka. Prostě by chodil po vesnici divný chlápek, který tráví spoustu času u vody a doma má nějak moc hrníčků s pokličkami...

[sterlingwilkes]

Sounds similar to a shellycoat. A troll that lives in bogs and wears a coat made of cockleshells that rattle. She can lead travelers into the bog where they get lost, but will help you find your way if you give her a small bell to wear on her coat

[cathulhu]

There is a difference between wodnik and utopiec. Just like between mara wodna (utopica)and rusałka. At least in Poland's lore. At least my greatgrandparents described them differently.

[marklaurenzi]

I once stole the story of the Vodník from Kytice for my fantasy rpg. The characters had to rescue a woman's child from him, whom she married and ran away from at the urging of her mother. The characters failed. In fury of this feeble attempt, he killed the child and declared the woman free from him. It was powerful.

[Kintabl]

In Slovenian is povodni mož (water man) . Otherwise good content.

[captainhurricane]

Very interesting. It sounds like the Scottish Kelpie, though that is female, not male.