Anatol Donkan talks about the house’s guardian spirits (5)

“There were different forms of Dyuli. This one, for example, is a roughly made figure, without further details, and they didn’t even distinguish between genders – female or male. From the shape alone, one could only guess whether it was a grandmother or a grandfather. But when both figures stood side by side, one could usually tell which was which. All of these figures were always fed and stroked. When something happened, it was the figure’s role to help explain what had occurred. But it was never the figure’s fault if misfortune struck. Also, this house spirit was meant to remain neutral and to ensure that peace was kept in the household – that people didn’t argue or envy one another. That is the role of such a grandmother figure: to ensure that both children and adults are healthy, that they do not suffer, and that they do not become ill.” (Video in progress)

Recorded by Erich Kasten. Viechtach, 2024.