Hi Kay.

 

There is a Vila in Serbian Mythology who partakes the characteristics of bot Fairy and the Elf. These Vila's, represented as Mountain Nymphs,live in the forests and hills, and love singing and dancing.

They are young and beautiful with long flowing hair and are usually clad in white. They often mount up in the air, from whence they discharge fatal arrows at men but they injure none except those who intrude on their revels.

There is a Serbian saying " Ustrielila ga vila" meaning the Vila has shot him with her dart.

They are often seen sitting on an Ash trees singing and they converse with the stags of the forest.

A Serbian song narrates how.

 

"A young deer tracked his way through the lone forest

One lonely day  another came in sadness

And a third dawn'd and brought him sighs and sorrow;

Then he address'd him to the forest Vila:

'Young deer,' she said. 'thou wild one of the forest!

Now tell me what great sorrow has oppress'd thee;

Why wanderest thou thus in the forest lonely;

Lonely one day  another day in sadness 

And the third day with sighs and anguish groaning?'

And thus the young deer to the Vila answered:

'O sweet sister! Vila of the forest!

Me has indeed a heavy grief befallen:

For I once had a fawn,mine own beloved,

And one sad day she sought the running water;

She entered it, but came not back to bless me.' "

 

The Vila's ride through the forests on a seven year old stag, which they bridle with snakes and their cry echoing through the woods resembles the sound of the Woodpecker.

Should a mother in anger consign her child to the Devil, It is believed that the Vila has a peculiar right to that child.

They often appear dancing gaily round a Cherry tree. A Serbian ballad begins;

 

"Cherry! dearest Cherry!

Higher lift thy branches,

Under which the Vila's

Dance their magic roundels."

 

The cumulus clouds of a summer day are supposed to be castles which the Vila builds in the air and there her daughter Munya or the lightning plays with her brothers the two thunders.

The Vila is a skilful physician curing wounds for a high fee, but if offended she will poison her patient.

 

Michael.

thankyou for that michael it was great to learn more