Mermaid is an unusual creature with a human body and a fish tail instead of legs. Their skin is snow-white. Mermaids have a melodic and mesmerizing timbre of voice. According to legend, they could be girls who died before marriage or because of a heart broken by love, as well as small unbaptized or for some reason cursed children. To the question of who the mermaids are, some myths give the answer that they are the daughters of Vodyany or Neptune and are related to evil spirits.
origin of name
Mermaids prefer not only salty sea water, but they feel comfortable in a fresh lake. The assumption of who the mermaids are and the origin of their name is based on the etymology of the word “channel” - this refers to the river channel, a favorite place for mermaids. They call these mythical creatures in different ways: nymphs, sirens, bathing, devilish, undine, pitchfork.
Legends about mermaids
In olden times, people believed that communicating with a mermaid was a rather dangerous thing. First, she attracts her with a beautiful melodious voice, and then she tickles to a swoon and carries to the abyss. There is an assumption that mermaids hate red-hot iron, therefore, pricking this river nymph with a needle, you can save your life.
The object of interest to mermaids has always been men. It was believed that they did not touch young children, and sometimes helped lost kids find their way home. At their whim they could drown or, conversely, save a person in need. Also, sea beauties love bright things that they can steal or ask for. Mermaids live longer than people, but they are still vulnerable, although the wounds on their body heal quickly enough.
Among the mermaid games, it is worth mentioning the entanglement of fishing nets, the failure of water mills, and the heating of boats. These harmful creatures were most active during the “Mermaid Week” in June, in the old days they called Trinity Week. Thursday is considered the most dangerous when swimming alone and in the evening is more expensive.
Is there evidence of the existence of mermaids?
The question of who the mermaids are and whether they really exist has been exciting the human imagination for quite some time. Although many deny the existence of such creatures as mermaids, unicorns, vampires, centaurs, there is still faith in miracles in the human mind. Moreover, the well-known proverb “There is no smoke without fire” makes one think about the possibility of the existence of such creatures. Indeed, in the folklore of various peoples of the world there is a huge number of stories about naked seductresses with a fish tail.
With the advent of Christianity, the idea came of the appearance of a soul at the mermaid, if she forever abandons the sea and lives on land. Such a choice was rather complicated, rarely anyone decided on it. There is one sad story about a Scottish mermaid from the VI century, who fell in love with a priest and prayed for a soul, but even the prayers of the monk himself did not convince the sea beauty to betray the sea. Gray-green stones on the shore of the island of Jonah are still called the mermaid's tears.
Beautiful and terrible
The main source of stories about mermaids were sailors. Even the skeptic Columbus believed in their reality. When he traveled in the Guiana area, not knowing who the mermaids were, he narrated that he saw with his own eyes three unusual, but somehow masculine creatures with tails, like fish having fun at sea. Or maybe it's just sexual fantasies, longing and dissatisfaction with the love and affection for months of sailors who traveled for months? Then the stories about the inaccessible and alluring sea seducers are quite explainable, and, looking at the seals, they imagined naked half-women luring them with magical singing.
Even Peter I was interested in the question of who the mermaids were and whether they exist at all. He knew of his appeal to the clergyman Francois Valentin from Denmark, who described a siren from Amboyna, near the island of Borneo. Fifty people witnessed this. He argued that if any stories were to be believed, then only about these wonderful creatures.
To believe or not to believe?
Like modern stories about aliens, rumors of mermaids quickly spread after the next sea voyage. There is no exact definition explaining unambiguously who the mermaids are. Photos that exist do not give a 100% guarantee of authenticity. Sea creatures of interest were not always described as charming nymphs, sometimes they were rather unpleasant and ugly creatures with large mouths and teeth sticking out like spikes.
In the Middle Ages, many European church buildings were decorated with carved undine figurines. Few, of course, can honestly admit their faith in their existence, but nevertheless stories about mermaids continue to excite the human imagination.
Mermaids in the myths of the Eastern Slavs
Eastern Slavic mythology can give an answer to the question of who mermaids are and how they appeared. Mermaids could become not only unbaptized babies, but also girls who committed suicide or were in a position. The birth process took place in the afterlife. In eastern mythology, the imaginary image of a mermaid was described as a naked or white shirt, forever young and incredibly beautiful virgin with long hair the color of swamp mud and a wreath on her head. At the same time, you can find in the popular beliefs a terrible and ugly image of this mythical character. Who is a mermaid? In the mythology of the Eastern Slavs, she was presented as excessively skinny or, conversely, with a large physique, large breasts and disheveled hair. This demonic nymph was always pale, with cold long arms.
Mermaids lived in deep ponds and swamps, and certain sources indicate that they could also hide in the clouds, underground, and even in tombs. They stayed there for a year, and during the Trinity week, when the time came for rye blossoms, they went out to frolic and became visible to the people.
What threatens the acquaintance with the mermaid?
You can find out who the mermaid is and what she does in ancient epics, according to which they do not tolerate young women, as well as older people. But children and young men are attracted by charm and can be intimidating to death, or they can, after playing enough, let go home. One should be wary of their charming voice, which has hypnotic properties. A person can stand motionless for several years, listening to mermaid singing. A warning signal of such singing is a sound reminiscent of the chirp of a magpie.
Tempted by the unearthly beauty of the mermaid, you can forever remain her slave. The people believed that those who knew Undine’s love or tasted her kiss at least once would soon become seriously ill or lay hands on themselves. Only special amulets and certain behavior could save. When he saw the mermaid, he had to cross himself and draw an imaginary circle of protection. Also could be saved by two crosses on the neck, front and back, since mermaids tend to attack from the back. One could also try to brush aside the villain or hit with a stick in her shadow. According to ancient legend, mermaids hate the smell of nettle, wormwood and aspen.
Little Mermaid from a fairy tale
Starting a conversation on the topic of mermaids, it is impossible not to recall the tale of Hans Christian Andersen. The brave Little Mermaid saves the life of the prince during a terrible storm, and then exchanges with the evil sorceress, losing her magical voice and gaining the ability to walk. Each movement brings unbearable pain, but still without her voice she is not able to subdue the prince. As a result, she loses the battle and turns into sea foam.
A cartoon from Walt Disney about the little mermaid Ariel has a more optimistic ending: "they got married and lived happily ever after." These beloved fairy-tale stories have incorporated many elements from the narratives of these creatures. This is a captivating voice, and the opportunity to choose land or sea, as well as the forbidden romantic relationship between a man and a mermaid. The rest, of course, is fiction, but nevertheless, as a result, a positive image of the tailed beauty has developed.
Magic sirens are popular heroes in the folklore of various peoples and cultures, and interest in who these mermaids are is not fading away at present.