The 5 Most Terrifying Mythological Witches from Around the World…
From the sinister Chedipe to the mysterious Baba Yaga, the legends of ancient witches expose profound fears and societal beliefs.
Witches have long been the subject of human fascination, from eerie figures in ancient forests to ghostly presences in nightmares. While modern depictions often romanticize them, historically, witches evoked genuine fear across cultures. Below are five witches whose terrifying stories reflect the fears and beliefs of the societies from which they emerged.
Yamauba—The Deceptive Mountain Hag
In the mountains of northeastern Japan, Yamauba may appear as a frail old woman, but she can morph into a terrifying being with horns, snake-like hair, and a second mouth on top of her head used to devour victims. Some stories even suggest she can deflect bullets and summon darkness. What makes her truly frightening is the potential historical basis of her legend.
Nyri A. Bakkalian, a historian focusing on Japan’s Tohoku region, suggests that Yamauba’s myth may stem from past practices where elderly villagers were sacrificed during famines. “In areas like rural Tohoku, where crop failures were common, tales of vengeful spirits could reflect the abandonment of elderly women during tough times,” Bakkalian explains.
Shape-Shifting Witch—Master of Mischief
In African American communities, such as the Gullah Geechee in the Carolinas, stories tell of people being “ridden” by evil forces. One of the most feared is the shape-shifting witch, also called a boo hag, who can shed her skin and sneak through tiny spaces like keyholes to invade homes and force individuals into wrongdoing.
In the 1950s, Mississippi storyteller James Douglas Suggs shared a tale with folklorist Richard Dorson about a man who outsmarted a witch by sprinkling salt and pepper on her skin. The witch then cried out, “Skin, don’t you know me?!”
Chedipe—India’s Blood-Sucking Witch
According to legend, Chedipe is a terrifying witch from India’s Godavari River region. When she enters a home, she renders everyone unconscious before tormenting them in horrifying ways, such as draining blood from their toes or burning their skin with magical flames. She may also seduce married men, creating mistrust in their wives and feeding off the sorrow that follows.
Devendra Varma, a Gothic literature researcher, suggests that tales of Chedipe might have traveled to Europe via the Silk Road, influencing portrayals of vampires in Western literature, including works like Bram Stoker’s *Dracula*.
La Lechuza—The Owl Witch
In northern Mexico, La Lechuza is a witch who transforms into a massive owl, sometimes with a human face. Her origins vary—she may have made a demonic pact or used magic to possess a giant bird. Known for preying on drunk men at night, she either carries them away for a gruesome meal or kills them instantly with a touch of her cursed feathers.
In recent years, La Lechuza has been reclaimed by women and LGBTQ+ individuals as a symbol of power. Folklorist Jeana Jorgensen notes that many people who don’t fit traditional gender roles have embraced the witch identity as a positive symbol, especially when marginalized by society.
Baba Yaga—Slavic Witch of Life and Death
Baba Yaga, a powerful figure in Slavic folklore, controls life and death. In some stories, she represents winter and decay, while in others, she acts as a gatekeeper between the worlds of the living and the dead. Depending on how one approaches her, Baba Yaga may offer wisdom or magical assistance.
Often described with iron teeth, a bony leg, and partial blindness, she lives in a hut on chicken legs, surrounded by human bones. Some scholars, like GennaRose Nethercott, believe that Baba Yaga’s hut, with its animalistic features, symbolizes a connection to nature’s wildness, allowing people to explore a world beyond reality through the lens of fantasy.
