Bichura

Bichura (Russian: Бичура) is the name of several rural localities in Russia:

Bichura (folklore)

Bichura (Tatar: Бичура; Turkish: Biçura or Bıçura) is a house spirit in Tatar / Turkic folklore.

It has also been said that Bichura can take on the appearance of cats or dogs. Other stories either give them completely monstrous appearance, or none at all. The actions performed by a Bichura vaguely resemble those of poltergeists and are not necessarily harmful. It wears red dresses.

Features

Traditionally, every house is said to have a Bichura. He would pull hair to warn a woman of danger from an abusive man. He would moan and howl to warn of coming trouble. If he showed himself, it forewarned of death, and if he was weeping it was said to be a death in the family. Tatar folklore says that a Bichura could harass horses in the stable overnight, as well as steal the grain of a neighbour to feed his own horses. If Bichura becomes unhappy, it plays nasty tricks on the members of the household. Those include moving and rattling small objects, breaking dishes, leaving muddy little footprints, causing the walls of a house to creak, banging on pots and moaning. If the family can determine the cause of their Bichuras discontent, they can rectify the situation and return things to normal. More often than not, however, families live in harmony with the spirits, and no problems arise.