Anatol Donkan talks about the house’s guardian spirits (4)

“This figure is called dyuli pyuche. When a new person was born, a tree was chosen in the forest, and such a triangle was carved into it. The person was seen as growing alongside the tree, and the tree likewise with the person – both maturing at the same time. And when such an ancestral tree was later cut down, the mark remained in the figure that was carved from the lower part of its trunk. This figure resembles a human and has wings. It is meant not only to protect but also to create a connection between the past and the future. And this part [the round element on the head] shows where happiness resides. If you stroke it, you will be happy. This figure is made to bring happiness and harmony into the home and to ensure that everything is well there. The figure is carved from elm wood – a very special type of wood that was highly valued.” (Video in progress)

Recorded by Erich Kasten. Viechtach, 2024.