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Paper short abstract

Drawing on folkloric, ethnographic and ethnolinguistic texts this paper focuses on the connection between mushrooms and the devil in Lithuanian belief narratives. Additionally, it explores the links between mushrooms and other mythical creatures associated with the devil.

Paper long abstract

Since ancient times, mushrooms have been one of the groups of organisms in the living world to which mythical significance has been attributed. A phenomenon can usually be mythologised for two reasons. First, it may be important in practical human life. The second, and much more common reason, is its unusual nature. The stranger a phenomenon appears, the more likely it is to be associated with the mythical world. This is especially true for representatives of the mushroom kingdom.

According to Lithuanian folklore and ethnography, mushrooms are mythologically associated with various deities, including God, Laima/Dalia, forest lords such as Kerpyčius (Kiepiczus) and Šilinyčius (Silinczus), and the Devil. However, due to their chthonic nature and various biological characteristics, mushrooms are often associated with the Devil in Lithuanian mythology.

The larger part of the paper is devoted to exploring the relationship between mushrooms and the devil in Lithuanian belief narratives. To this end, it draws on folkloric and ethnographic texts that express mythical thinking, as well as ethnolinguistic material related to miconyms —common names of mushrooms that people typically used. Additionally, the paper explores not only the connection between mushrooms and the devil, but also their links to other mythical beings associated with the devil, such as kaukai, laumės and witches, as well as some animals.