Throughout human history, the terror of the night has taken many forms. Among the most persistent and psychologically compelling of these manifestations is the Mara—a nocturnal tormentor deeply embedded in the folklore of Southern Slavic peoples. This entity represents more than simple superstition; it embodies centuries of cultural attempts to explain the very real phenomenon of sleep paralysis and nocturnal anxiety.
The Physical Manifestation
Traditional accounts describe the Mara’s attack with striking physiological accuracy. Victims experience sudden awakenings accompanied by pounding heartbeat, difficulty breathing, and a crushing weight on the chest. The folk interpretation attributes these sensations to a supernatural being physically sitting on the sleeper’s chest, stealing their breath and causing painful swelling of glands and milk or blood flow.
What’s particularly fascinating is how these descriptions align with modern understanding of sleep paralysis episodes. The Mara folklore essentially provides a pre-scientific explanation for what we now recognize as a neurological phenomenon.
Regional Variations and Etymology
The belief in this night demon shows remarkable consistency across Southern Slavic regions, though with local variations in naming:
- Serbia, Montenegro, Dalmatia: Mora
- Among Croats: Mura
- Slavonia and Bosnia: Tmora (possibly derived from “tma” meaning darkness)
- Southern Bulgaria: Lamia (borrowed from Greek mythology)
- Montenegro alternative: Vještica (witch) The linguistic connection reveals the deep roots of this belief. The term “Mora” relates to the Germanic “Mahr” meaning “to crush”—an apt description of the sensation victims report. Many rural people avoided saying the name directly, using euphemisms like “noćnica” (night woman) instead.
The Nature of the Mara
Unlike some European traditions where such entities are purely spiritual, Southern Slavic folklore typically presents the Mara as an actual human woman with supernatural abilities. These women are believed to become Maras through no fault of their own—often due to circumstances of their birth.
According to tradition, girls born with a caul (“lucky hood”) or in their amniotic sac (“blue shirt”) are destined to become Maras. Their condition might be revealed if they were born in a “bloody red shirt” (amniotic sac with blood), which required a specific ritual shout from the rooftop to prevent their transformation into a Mara.
Characteristics and Abilities
The Mara possesses several distinctive traits:
- Shape-shifting abilities (can become a horse, dog, hen, snake, or even a thread)
- Capacity to slip through tiny openings like keyholes
- Ability to induce deep sleep while maintaining the victim’s consciousness
- Tendency to drain blood from victims (unlike German traditions where they drink milk)
- Particular attraction to victims with “sweet blood”
- Inability to transform into sheep or bees The Mara typically attacks in one of two ways: either draining blood from sleeping victims or pressing on their chests to cause breathing difficulties. Children are particularly vulnerable, with swollen breasts and moisture secretion being signs of a Mara’s attack.
Protection and Prevention
Communities developed elaborate protective measures against Mara attacks:
- Placing scissors under pillows (especially for children)
- Hiding crossed scissors under headrests
- Using garlic—Maras supposedly cannot tolerate it
- Burning old shoe leather to create protective smoke
- Reciting specific prayers and incantations before sleep
- Drawing protective symbols on the body
- Placing a woven belt lengthwise across the bed More extreme measures involved physically confronting suspected Maras. If one could steal an item of clothing from the Mara during an attack, the creature would be forced to reveal her human identity the next day. In some cases, people would beat or even burn suspected Maras, believing this would prevent future attacks.
Cultural Context and Modern Parallels
The persistence of these beliefs into the modern era speaks to the power of this folklore. Well into the 20th century, documented cases show people genuinely believing in Maras and taking measures against them.
What’s particularly interesting is how these traditions represent early attempts to understand sleep disorders. The description of Mara attacks perfectly matches modern accounts of sleep paralysis—the feeling of pressure on the chest, inability to move or speak, and sometimes hallucinated figures.
The Mara tradition also reveals cultural attitudes toward women, particularly those who didn’t conform to social norms. Women who were different or lived outside traditional roles might be labeled as Maras, making this belief system a form of social control as much as a supernatural tradition.
This complex interplay of folklore, psychology, and sociology makes the Mara more than just a superstition—it represents a fascinating chapter in how humans have attempted to understand the mysteries of the night and the mind across centuries and cultures.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Mora in South Slavic tradition?
She is a nocturnal tormentor who presses on sleepers’ chests, suffocates them, or drinks their blood.
What other names does Mora have?
Mora, Mura, Tmora, Lamia, Vještica, or euphemisms like noćnica.
How do Mora attacks compare to modern science?
They match perfectly with symptoms of sleep paralysis: immobility, chest pressure, hallucinations, and panic.
How could people protect themselves from Mora?
Scissors under the pillow, garlic, protective belts, prayers, or fumigations were common.
