Bardha

Albanian mythological creature

Bardha (English: 'the white one') is an Albanian mythological figure, appearing either as a zana (nymph) or as an ora (Fate goddess) associated with good luck.

Folk beliefs

The inhabitants of the Dukagjini Mountains believed that three types of Ora (Fate goddesses) existed: "e Bardha (The White One) distributes good luck and wishes humans well, e Verdha (The Yellow One) distributes bad luck and casts evil spells, and e Zeza (The Black One) who decides death".^[1]

According to old folklore that thinks of them as nymph-like creatures, a bardha is similar to zana e malit. In order to appease them one distributes sugar or leaves cakes on the ground.^[2]^[3] In Albanian popular belief they are pale, nebulous figures who dwell under the earth.^[3]

References

^ Doja 2005, p. 457.
^ Elsie 2001, p. 269.
^ ^a ^b Lurker 2004, p. 30.

Bibliography

Doja, Albert (2005). "Mythology and Destiny" (PDF). Anthropos. 100 (2): 449–462. doi:10.5771/0257-9774-2005-2-449. JSTOR 40466549.
Elsie, Robert (2001). A Dictionary of Albanian Religion, Mythology and Folk Culture. London: Hurst & Company. ISBN 1-85065-570-7.
Lurker, Manfred (2004). The Routledge dictionary of gods and goddesses, devils and demons. Routledge. p. 207. ISBN 978-04-15340-18-2.