General Description of Plakavac
The Plakavac is a vampiric creature from Slavic folklore, more specifically recorded in Herzegovina. It is described as the spirit of a newborn who was strangled by its mother. After death, it rises from its grave at night, often returning around the house where it died, while emitting piercing cries that give it its name (from the word "plakati," which means to cry in Slavic). Although these terrifying cries haunt the living, the Plakavac is generally not considered dangerous; it does not cause direct harm to people, contenting itself with crying and haunting the place.
The Plakavac belongs to the category of vampires and revenants in Slavic folklore, related to other creatures such as the Poroniec or the Drekavac, spirits arising from premature or tragic deaths of newborns or unbaptized children. These spirits are considered unhappy and wandering, returning to the world of the living to express their suffering.
Plakavac Correspondences Table
| Stones | Onyx, obsidian |
| Colors | Black, dark gray |
| Plants | Aconite, nettle |
| Signs | Scorpio, Cancer |
| Planet | Saturn (symbol of death and lost souls) |
| Offerings | Candles, ashes, protective objects |
Symbols and Appearances of Plakavac
The Plakavac is depicted as a small figure of a child or a newborn, often deformed or mutilated, symbolizing the tragic death it suffered. Its incessant cries are the main sign of its presence, and the inhabitants who hear it usually take measures to calm it, such as purification rituals or offerings.
Plakavac Genealogy
The Plakavac has no divine genealogy, but it is part of the spirits of death in Slavic mythology. It is linked to beliefs concerning unbaptized souls or children who died before reaching adulthood, souls considered vulnerable and wandering between the worlds of the living and the dead. These spirits often express deep anger or sadness due to their premature and unjust fate.
