Chuhaister

This article does not cite any sources. Please help by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources:  –  ·  ·  · scholar · JSTOR (February 2018) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

This article is an orphan, as no other articles . Please introduce links to this page from ; try the Find link tool for suggestions. (February 2018)

The Chuhaister (Ukrainian: Чуга́йстер) is a Ukrainian tutelary deity of the forests. He is specific to the Ukrainian Carpathians.

Chuhaister are masculine and humanoid in shape. They are described either as being giant, long-haired old men who roam the woods naked or in white clothes, or as one-legged men to whom no harm can be done. They are also imagined as the wind. Their temperament is described as being cheerful and they are known to love singing and dancing. They are not dangerous to humans.

Names and etymology[]

The Chuhaister is known by a variety of names including the following:

• Lisovyi cholovik (Ukrainian: лісовий чоловік) "Forest man"
• Lisovyi did (Ukrainian: лісовий дід) "Forest grandfather"
• Nochnyk (Ukrainian: ночник) "Night Person"
• Hai (Ukrainian: гай) "Grove"

The origin of the name Chuhaister is unclear, but it may be related to the Proto-Slavic root *čuga, meaning to guard. The origin of the second part of the word is unknown although it has been linked to the word for stork, (Ukrainian: лелека). The word may be of a foreign origin.

See also[]

• Ochopintre (Republic of Georgia)
• Ukrainian folklore