Tickling spirits

[Avram Lyon]

In Tatar writer Tuqay's *Shurale *(1907), the title forest spirits are
feared for their long fingers, specially suited for tickling unsuspecting
forest visitors to death. The spirits are legitimately part of Tatar
folklore.

I always figured it made sense with the branch-like long fingers.

Avram


On Thu, Oct 10, 2013 at 2:00 PM, Francoise Rosset <frosset at wheatonma.edu>wrote:

>
>
> Добрый день, SEELANGers.
>
> During a discussion of a chapter from Ivanits's _Russian Folk Belief_,
> a student asked me about the spirits who could tickle one to death.
> He wondered where that came from, or what the significance is.
> I was stumped. Never thought about it, I guess I just accepted that they
> *could* do it.
>
> As it happens, the student next to him is very ticklish.
> She let us know that for her, being tickled is well beyond unpleasant, and
> that she reacts by getting semi-hysterical, having trouble breathing, and
> feeling like she's about to drown. That does put a different complexion on
> tickling, but it didn't answer the question.
>
> Thoughts? ideas? Answers?
>
> Thank you all,
> -FR
>
>
> --
> Françoise Rosset
> Chair, Russian and Russian Studies
> Wheaton College, Norton MA 02766
> office:     508-286-3696
> FAX #:     508-286-3640
> frosset at wheatonma.edu
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