Haunted House
A Kikimora Haunts My Old House
This mischievous, whistling spirit hated her nickname
When I first moved into this cozy Craftsman house I scoffed at those who suggested it was haunted. The crumbling Victorian mansion I’d grown up in didn’t scare me, so I was hardly intimidated by a 900-square-foot bungalow.
I loved the simple 1920s Montgomery Ward kit home with its wide front porch, hipped roof, and cute attic dormer. The interior had its charms too: original oak woodwork, built-in cabinets with cut glass doors, and a massive brick fireplace.
But it did have one really unusual feature: a Kikimora.
What is a Kikimora?
A Kikimora is a female spirit, described in Slavic lore, who attaches herself to a dwelling. She has glowing eyes and a long snout or chicken beak and typically hides in the basement or behind the stove. Her chicken feet are said to make scuttling, scraping sounds as she lurks in the shadows. If she disapproves of how the human inhabitants are keeping “her” house she’ll make scratching noises, whistle, and break things — especially at night.
