The Tale of Vasilisa and Baba Yaga – Russia (Original Version)

Once upon a time in a faraway Russian village, there lived a beautiful and kind-hearted girl named Vasilisa. Her mother had passed away when she was young, leaving her a small doll as a keepsake. Before she died, her mother told Vasilisa, “Keep this doll with you always, and when you are in need, give it food and ask for its guidance.”

Vasilisa’s father remarried, and her stepmother brought with her two daughters who were cruel and spiteful. They were envious of Vasilisa’s beauty and kindness and treated her poorly, making her do all the chores and giving her the hardest tasks.

One day, Vasilisa’s father left on a long journey, and her stepmother saw an opportunity to rid herself of her stepdaughter. She gave Vasilisa an impossible task: to fetch fire from Baba Yaga, the fearsome witch who lived deep in the forest.

With no choice but to obey, Vasilisa set off into the dark woods. As she walked, she fed her doll a little bread and asked for its guidance. The doll came to life and reassured her, “Do not fear, Vasilisa. Keep me close, and I will help you.”

After a long journey, Vasilisa arrived at Baba Yaga’s hut, which stood on chicken legs and could move about at the witch’s command. The fence surrounding the hut was made of human bones, and skulls with glowing eyes topped the posts. Summoning her courage, Vasilisa approached the hut and called out to Baba Yaga.

The witch appeared, her long nose and wild hair giving her a fearsome appearance. “What do you want, child?” Baba Yaga croaked.

“My stepmother sent me to fetch fire,” Vasilisa replied, trying to keep her voice steady.

Baba Yaga agreed to give her fire, but only if Vasilisa completed three impossible tasks: sorting grains of wheat from poppy seeds, cleaning the hut until it sparkled, and preparing a feast. If she failed, Baba Yaga warned, she would be eaten.

As night fell, Vasilisa despaired, but her doll whispered, “Do not worry, dear Vasilisa. Go to sleep, and I will take care of everything.”

The next morning, Vasilisa awoke to find the tasks miraculously completed. Baba Yaga, impressed but suspicious, asked Vasilisa how she had managed it. “With my mother’s blessing,” Vasilisa replied, clutching her doll.

Though Baba Yaga disliked blessings, she honored her promise and gave Vasilisa a skull lantern filled with glowing embers. Vasilisa hurried home, the skull lighting her way through the dark forest.

When she returned, the fire in the skull burned brightly, consuming her wicked stepmother and stepsisters, leaving only ashes behind. Free from their cruelty, Vasilisa lived happily, guided by her mother’s blessing and her magical doll.

Vasilisa’s tale spread far and wide, reminding all who heard it of the power of kindness, courage, and the enduring strength of a mother’s love.

The End.