The Messed Up Origins of Baba Yaga, the Slavic Witch | Fables Explained - Jon Solo

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▼ Timestamps ▼
0:00 - Intro
1:58 - The Hag Next Door
5:13 - Fairy God Monster
12:04 - The Death of the Deathless
► Want more?
» Messed Up Origins: bit.ly/MessedUpOrgins
» Fables Explained: bit.ly/FablesExplained
» Mythology Explained: bit.ly/MythologyExplained
» Disney Explained: bit.ly/DisneyExplained
» Messed Up Murders: bit.ly/MurderPlaylist
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▼ Resources ▼
» my favorites: messeduporigins.com/books
» www.ancient-origins.net/myths...
» Baba Yaga: The Ambiguous Mother and Witch of the Russian Folktale www.google.com/books/edition/...
» Vasilisa the Beautiful (and other Russian folktales): www.arvindguptatoys.com/arvind...
» Baba Yaga and the Peasant Children: www.sacred-texts.com/neu/ftr/...
» Reference to Nikolai Nekrasov's Poem: bit.ly/2SzgGjs
▼ Music Sources ▼
» REVEALING MY INTRO SONG! goo.gl/Z9eHu1
» Background Music: Killing Time Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
» If I used your art in the thumbnail or any portion of this video please send a message to my business email with proof that you're the original artist so I can give you credit!
#MessedUpOrigins #BabaYaga #SlavicFolklore

[@JonSolo]

Thanks for celebrating the 100th episode with me Solo Cups! It's been a long and interesting journey... I'm excited to see where we go next 😏 Make sure to get your official SoloFam merch before it's gone! www.bonfire.com/solo-fam/

[@myathegrandma]

I love your channel Jon! Can't wait for the Norse Mythology videos.

[@legendaryt-fox658]

Yes the 100th episode that was TOTALLY not accidentally uploaded as private at first.🤫

[@adamantium8641]

Thank you some much for everything you do, idk how many times I've enjoyed watching these videos.

[@melissajovero]

I love your channel you are the best keep it up

[@chloevesga6138]

Hey John I just wanted to tell you about the rendition of Baba that my parents used to tell me. They said that Baba Yaga was a very powerful very evil witch and she is like the karma fairy. If you were a young girl that got her heart broken by a boy all you would have to do is write the boys name on a mirror and say Baba Yaga three times. Soon after Baba would curse the boys to a life with never ending heart break (or death whichever one she’s in the mode for) and the price for this would be that the young girls would by Baba’s slave until she wants to eat them.

[@Teddy_Rossevelt2.0]

My dyslexic ass thought the title was, Messed Up Origins of Baby Yoda... I'm so done with today.

[@LinkinParkLover2012]

We’re not at the series finale to go that far 🤣💀

[@just_foxy35]

it's fine I read the notification as Baby Yoda too😅

[@piper_lori-williams-tudhope]

I needed a good laugh! That's great!

[@user-xo5rd5wj1z]

You are a legend!!!🙇

[@nyla559]

I thought I was the only one who seen that but I’m not a diagnosed dyslexic. Just a girl with an astigmatism

[@markmolino6091]

I know the Baba Yaga personally. She's my mother in law and she really lives up to the legend as well.

[@aliway4136]

We must have the same mother in law

[@JonSolo]

you married my ex?

[@donovanroundtree524]

@@JonSolo *DUN DUN DUNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!*

[@fiestyfox2207]

Relatable

[@noman4927]

@@JonSolo LMAO!!!!

[@user-em8td1wv6f]

It was very interesting to watch this episode as I am Russian, and in Russia every kid knows Baba Yaga from early childhood)) I want to add that the legend of a hut on chicken legs goes from the real houses which were put on stumps to prevent from rotting, water, snakes and so on. Later these huts were used to contain cremated bodies. So these huts on chicken legs are literally collective tombs. And as Baba Yaga uses this hut as her home, we may now see that she is a transformed Mara, Slavic goddess of death. Baba Yaga is a chthonic creature which is nor good, nor evil. She is the guard of the Underworld, living on the border of two worlds - the world of the living and the world of the dead. That's why she can help protagonist to survive if they are brave enough)))

[@HealthyObbsession]

Wow this very interesting and makes sense how a story of how a house on Chicken legs could be used to ensure children don't go into one with the bodies inside I've seen houses on short stilts like that to keep water out along with snakes too it's pretty interesting how something practical turns into a running theme for a witch’s house

[@lydialemaster6851]

Nice. Thank you

[@AlenaAlena777]

Yanachka you are absolutely correct. I'm Russian too, and was also fascinated watching this. One very well known origin of an element Jon didn't expand on is the reason why the hut has "chicken legs". BUT WHY CHICKEN thought??? The reason why they are called chicken legs is 1) because the wood that people used to create those elevated wooden poles to hold up the house above ground were split into 4, 5, 6 pieces at the base, resembling tree's roots or "chicken legs". 2) Another reason why is because in Russian chicken is "kuritza", chicken legs is "kurinye nozhki". The Russian word for "to smoke" is "kurit", very similar phonetically to the Russian word for chickens. Back then when they used to place the dead bodies in those huts the people used to burn some of the hut's wood. They would torch the wood from the inside, so those huts were known as the "smoked" huts, which is extremely similar phonetically to the phrase "chicken" huts in Russian - "kurynye" (or obkurynye) huts. Phonetically sounds exactly like "chicken" huts. ANOTHER element about the hut. Why the phrase: "Hut! Hut! Turn thy back to the forest and thy front to us!" Well, remember how they torch the wood from the inside of the hut? There was always a small window like opening for the smoke to escape. The way people used to build those huts was to make sure that the "window" is facing towards the forest and away from the village and the community. As it was commonly believed that the ghosts of the dead people in those huts would float around at night. So since they are facing the forest the spirits would dwell there at night and not the village among the living ones. This is also the reason why in many slavic cultures the forest is associated with dead people, especially at night and is not a place one should go to at night.

[@user-em8td1wv6f]

@@AlenaAlena777 great things to add! Second reason is especially very interesting, I've never even thought about that!)

[@DirectorsChoice]

That’s so fascinating. So much history is hidden inside mythical figures, it’s fascinating to find out the origins of their stories, like the houses on stilts.

[@cinderfox5217]

Yo he’s legit a professional storyteller... I THOUGHT THAT PROFESSION DIDN’T EXIST ANYMORE!!!! *AND IT DOES AND I DIDN’T EVEN REALIZE IT!!!!*

[@luci.425]

"not one, not two, but twelve-" *puts up four fingers* "that's three, twelve-" *puts up all fingers* "i don't have enough fingers"

[@AzathothFan07]

I mean, haven’t we all been there?

[@AndrewVelonis]

Notice that, did you?

[@markuhler2664]

He could have kicked off a shoe. Heck, coulda kept counting up to 21!

[@JonSolo]

it was a long day

[@luci.425]

@@JonSolo it happens to the best of us

[@julenacastillo9631]

“So chances are if you are watching this video you have heard of Baba Yaga” No, that’s exactly why I’m watching this video

[@JonSolo]

even better

[@savannahhighnote6083]

Sameeeee

[@user-yd8de8kl5q]

i also never heard of this before lol

[@cesarquijano94]

"College Loans" Lol I died.

[@Tina-xw8mb]

Underrated comment 🤣

[@lenaoxton8540]

I remember my Sicilian grandmother telling me the story of "La Strega Nonna" or "The Grandma Witch" I wonder if she has any relation to Baba Yaga

[@emilynotley6627]

Isn’t a Strega normally born of a curse? Or have I just watched too much of the Witcher 😂

[@meganmills5412]

Considering how meany slav were taken as slaves I wouldn't be surprised if some of their stories mixed and changed as they were taken to difernt cultures

[@micaylab1]

Jon feeding Scrooge Mcduck, "College Loans!" 😄😆Funniest thing he's ever said.

[@anonymousanonymous9209]

I personally felt that🤣

[@bigshadowman84]

I literally laughed out loud at that

[@Kellen_Xavier]

I fuken felt that

[@CyberDragoon656]

Well there was nothing for scrooge to eat so no help with those loans 😂

[@redassassinyt4908]

When you realize john wick is being called an old ugly woman.

[@AshesAshes44]

I haven't seen the movie, but was told Wick was whom you sent to kill the Baba Yaga. I've really got to watch it before spoilers get me

[@ThomasinaJefferson-ke7xs]

@@AshesAshes44 Same

[@sm00rezd]

@@AshesAshes44 i saw the third one in theaters for some reason before seeing any of the other ones. 🤦🏾‍♀️ definitely a entertaining movie

[@AshesAshes44]

@@sm00rezd Aces! I've watched the first two now, and you reminded me there's a third, thanx!

[@seanmagorimbo6498]

LMFAO😂😂😂

[@DamonNomad82]

My introduction to the character of Baba Yaga was under the name "Bony Legs", in a children's book by the same name. The story was a retelling of the Baba Yaga version of "Hansel and Gretel" , but with only one child, a girl named Sasha. As in the version Jon told in this video, the girl helps the gate to the witch's yard (by greasing the hinges with butter from her lunch), the dog (by feeding it bread) and the cat (by feeding it meat). In return, the cat helps Sasha by giving her a magic mirror, then imitating her voice to trick the witch into thinking Sasha is still there when she is actually running away. The dog helps Sasha by giving her a magic comb, and not barking to alert the witch when Sasha leaves. The gate is the least helpful, as it merely opens and closes silently as Sasha goes through it. When the witch finds out that Sasha has escaped, she chases her. Sasha first delays the witch by dropping the mirror behind her, and the mirror turns into a lake, forcing Bony Legs to go back and fetch her bathtub, which she uses as a boat to cross the lake. Sasha then stops the witch entirely by dropping the comb in a narrow place in the forest path, where the comb expands into a portcullis that blocks the way.

[@cinders2894]

Loved this! I think all nationalities have their version of the Baba Yaga. In Italy, we were told about Old Befana, and Strega Nona. They were old witches that were actually really cool. La Befana gave kids presents (like Santa) if they were good, and Strega Nona taught kids life lessons. I can't think of any really scary italian folklore, except the Malocchio (evil eye curse) and other gypsy curses. My Nona still believes in all of that, and crosses herself ferociously if anyone mentions it. Lol.

[@MochaChocoTutorials]

Me a 22 year old Serbian woman: *still terrified of Baba Roga* (Its Baba Yaga, but we called her Roga in my Slavic land).

[@tanjahorvatserbiaoldslavsh4685]

Ja isto zivim u Srbiji. "Baba Roga" je mracna legenda starih Slovena. Meksicku decu plase sa "La Loronom". Nas plase sa "Baba Rogom".

[@nevenapalibrk4000]

@@tanjahorvatserbiaoldslavsh4685 La Llorona nije isto, ona je više osujećena žena koja ubija striktno muškarce zbog svoje ožalošćene ljubavi mada možda grešim, možda ubija samo decu ne mogu da se setim😂

[@tanjahorvatserbiaoldslavsh4685]

@@nevenapalibrk4000 Jedino zajednicko im je to sto obe ubijaju decu. La Lorona je majka koja iz besa prema bivsem muzu ubija decu koju je ona rodila. Logicnije bi bilo da je ubila muza. Njen pravi identitet se zna. Pravi identitet Baba Roge se nezna. Samim tim se nezna i njen pravi motiv za ubijanje dece. Taj bitan deo legende se izgubio tokom istorije Balkana. Stari Sloveni su znali pravi identitet Baba Roge ali su zivotne mudrosti prenosili usmeno. Mene silno zanima pravi identitet Baba Roge.

[@theempress9422]

Mene je mama plasila sa "baba Rogom" kada sam bila mala

[@user-dq8km4zt7f]

al nisu one iste, baba Roga je samo baba sa rogom posred čela i krade decu a baba Jaga je baš veštica

[@atin9658]

I like it how he sounds serious but acts funny at the same time LOL "isn't she lovely" that caught me off guard. 🤣🤣

[@dimensionalclones5018]

I know how in the world can you say all that stuff with a straight face Jon, The Scrooge McDuck part just kill me 🤣

[@atin9658]

@@dimensionalclones5018 I couldn't agree more

[@leigh8729]

Dimensional Clones I just wanna know what he sounds like when he laughs. I bet he laughs with a straight face too.😭

[@dimensionalclones5018]

@@leigh8729 oh my God how come I never even thought of that😅

[@tijanamilenkovic3425]

@@leigh8729 what do you think about The Messed Up Origins Of Puppy in my pocket Adventures in Pocketville

[@S.F.Sorrow]

6:26 vasilisa the beautiful is actually the first tale ive read the baba yaga in and to this day it remains as one of my favorite folktales ive ever read

[@juliasherry7921]

About the house. From what I've heard, it comes from the ancient tradition of forest burial houses in northern areas. Since you can't dig the frozen soil, they used to build those houses for the dead bodies. The house was standing on a chopped tree or two, which reminded the chicken legs

[@GAKA120]

"Kins woman" could also refer to the step mother being some kind of "witch" (rather than a traditional family member)

[@JonSolo]

I like that idea!

[@kathymolony9178]

Cool

[@cassidyc2436]

I can confirm we call my Ukrainian grandmother “Baba.” When we were little she used to tell us that if we misbehaved that the Baba Yaga would come get us. If you haven’t seen “Bartok the Magnificent,” Baba Yaga is a main character and it shows the house, and I totally recommend!

[@muxolotl]

I was told the same except with another monster called Шурале

[@SessaV]

My cousins called their grandma Baba.

[@muxolotl]

@@SessaV we call our grandmother бабутя

[@WolfArtist-zc9nf]

Yay i found a comment mentioning "bartok the magnificent"!! I freaking love that movie!

[@innocentbystander8823]

Bartok the magnificent is such a good movie

[@MayjaTheCat]

Russian here. In Slavic mythology Baba Yaga was a guide to the world of the dead. One of her legs was skeleton, which means she is standing with one leg in the world of dead. So basically whatever happened in stories after the main character met Baba Yaga happened in other world. There is also one ritual which usually was described in fairy-tales. Yaga's guest should have been fed (memorial treat) and washed (ritual ablution), so he or she was accepted in other world and could continue the journey. Once the hero was done with his business there, he or she could get back to the world of the living. In all my favourite fairy-tales Baba Yaga is rather a helper, then an evil character, I would love to see the video about her good side, if you'll make one. You did a really good job! Was fun to watch, the description you made is pretty accurate. One more thing I'd like to note is that the word "baba" in modern Russian is not negative at all, can be considered as a rude form of the word "woman", but not necessarily. Depends on the context. (Not sure about other Slavic languages though)

[@lavitaholmes2036]

I'm SO HAPPY that I found you. I love what you do and how you do it. If possible could you talk more about African mythology, I saw Anassi and really enjoyed it. After seeing that episode I searched for more about the "Gods" of Africa and just could not get into their presentation of the subject. I love the way you tell the stories, your cadence and your sense if humor is the perfect storm. I am new to your channel so I'm catching up with your current content, you are a living encyclopedia. 💜💜💜

[@alnsubuga]

I know this is an old comment, but I wanted to recommend the podcast “Myths & Legends” if you want to hear more stories from other parts of the world, including Africa.

[@anonymousanonymous9209]

Me:* sees The Messed Up Origins of- 0.2 seconds later: Taps on my phone violently!!! OMG! 100 EPISODES! Congrats Jon! And thank you for spending your time and energy in making these episodes for all of us to watch and learn from. We all appreciate you and your effort!💖

[@raven3067]

*The messed up origins of Casper the friendly ghost*

[@mysticloverfairy1]

Raven I don’t think Casper has messed up origins, he was created in 1939 .

[@birthdayfriendship8399]

Lol

[@notmeh6614]

Don't ruin a humble little bean

[@nightwarper1760]

Mysticlover Fairy Are you saying the dead child isn’t messed up?

[@satanswife2546]

Angry pills-

[@michaelgarraway3704]

has anyone else noticed the painting behind him is a copy of the painting from the movie "goodfellas". "one dog goes dis way, one dog goes dat way, and this guy, hes sayin' wha whataya want from me?"

[@canysheawishop]

When I was in elementary school, our music teacher use to play us a story like this one. It wasn't so messed up, called Bony Legs. We loved to hear this story so I'm glad to hear the messed up origin of it.

[@honey3495]

I was curious if anyone was recognizing it as this other than me haha, except I knew her as skinny bones and not boney legs or Baba Yaga

[@canysheawishop]

@@honey3495 It took me years finding the name of this story. My music teacher never showed us a book, she just played a recording. Bones legs is what I came up with but it was over 15 years ago so maybe your right.

[@Bushwhacker-so4yk]

I remember that story!

[@miarahming2244]

"College Loans" That took me OUT. 😂

[@lexiamei7963]

Jon: Thank you, thank you... Derick!? Everyone: *Looks at Derick* Derick: Heyyyyy...How y'all doing?

[@bodaciousdoggo8971]

Alexia Meiring interesting how you spelling it like Derick cuz I spell It like Derek

[@lexiamei7963]

@@bodaciousdoggo8971 oh it's just how I guess you spell it😅

[@sarahrodriguez5132]

Derek get the f*** outta here

[@sophia.aquino.]

I don't think **Derek** would say "hEyYyYy HoW yAlL dOiNg?" CLEARLY Derek is his highschool rival. Duh.

[@lexiamei7963]

@@sophia.aquino. Oh well, but thanks a lot for your opinion 😄

[@wolvesfangacademy5498]

Me personally hearing "bitch" for the first time on this channel made my hair stand on end

[@lydialemaster6851]

Ditto.

[@ruthbennett7563]

Yep. Rather icky.

[@crowthewicked8344]

Its like seeing Mr Rogers smoke a blunt, way too strange

[@walterjohnson2676]

Not the first time you heard that

[@thebigfour777]

The second part - Yaga - is from Old Slavic stem “jagåti”, which means “shining” or “glowing”. In some parts of Slavic folklore she was described as a beautiful (“glowing”) lady that guards the gate to the Underworld.

[@floridafrostbite8002]

Who else imagined baba saying “go to bed!” Like the alternate Doofensmerchs from Phineas and Ferb across the 2nd dimension?

[@deknees8969]

You're gonna be a cute grandad by telling your grandkids stories :')

[@cookielove8174]

Lol the new Grandpa Pickle 😊

[@JonSolo]

I’ll either be the cute one or the crazy one. Only time will tell

[@nuffy72]

@@JonSolo strive to be both. The power you hold

[@BiteSizedCrafter]

@@JonSolo That means you’d want kids first. Solo babies!!!! Cute!

[@chriswilliam7282]

In a origin story for Baba Yaga I heard she was a village medicine woman who lived in the woods in a house with stilts and who used to wrap young children in a dough with herbs to protect and heal their skin against some kind of disease.

[@zebrakarma1567]

Jon: today's sponsor is ski- Me: 🔟⏩

[@stockschill9451]

Ha

[@zebrakarma1567]

@@stockschill9451 :3

[@foodofthegods]

me too sorry dude :(

[@kalifothealice9217]

When you said " house on chiken legs" my mind said " howel's moving castle"

[@murrcat1021]

Same

[@clowicous]

Haha me too ^^

[@Katya_Lastochka]

Miyazaki was a fan of Russian animation, which was often based on our old fairytales.

[@jasong9492]

@@Katya_Lastochka Yes! Spirited Away, Yubaba and Zeniba...both sides of Baba Yaga?

[@miriaichan1471]

@@jasong9492 i thought so too yubaba looks so much like it

[@rkdaley7874]

“college loans 🥄” the way i just....😌 yea me too

[@Listening_Books12345]

My mom bought a book of folk lore and fairytales from the Goodwill, it was called "Giants and Witches and a Dragon or Two" and that introduced me to the Baba Yaga. She terrified me as a little one, but I genuinely didn't know anyone else who had heard of her until I got to college and my freshman rando roommate had fled the Bosnian genocide when she was like 4, and she had heard of this ancient hag!

[@Snovyda27]

All throughout hearing English speakers talk about her, I can never figure out why you guys keep putting the accent on the wrong syllable. It's YagA, not YAga. Such an odd detail that is somehow always gotten wrong... Same about pretty much every Russian name in this video. Anyway, aside from that, thanks for the video, keep up the good work!

[@marisatheuglybitch8584]

Wait so how do you pronounce it? This doesn't make much sense

[@Snovyda27]

@@marisatheuglybitch8584 I wrote it in my comment. It's pronounced "YagA". The stress is on the second syllable of that word, not the first. It's not a huge offense or anything, but as someone who grew up with these fairy tales, the constant mispronunciation kind of irks me.

[@marisatheuglybitch8584]

@@Snovyda27 That still doesn't make sense to me...?

[@Molly6603]

I think it's just because most of us have probably never heard somebody from the country of origin say the name correctly. I've heard of her, but I've always heard the name said by other English speakers, so I've always heard it said the way most of us pronounce it. As to WHY that's how English speakers immediately decide to pronounce it, I have no idea. 😅

[@lydialemaster6851]

She’s saying it’s not like yahhga it’s pronounced yagahh! Like ahh at the end and a short a sound on the first a ya-gahh

[@kanamekiyru]

I read that as "the messed up orgins of yo gabba gabba"🤦‍♂️

[@krisshafranski6658]

I d watch it lol

[@cheneethompson5756]

Omg! LOL!!!

[@kotaniyumiko]

theres a reason that show seems like its on crack!

[@senselesschild7463]

"SPITTTING BARSSS,,," Ahem... Spinning yarn

[@IvanzKii0713]

Lemon

[@moonlit9020]

When you know who Baba Yaga is because you used to watch ever after high

[@oopsiateyourgrandmabyaccid8407]

Same

[@Ayra_Nayeem]

Yes omg

[@lydre0901]

So glad I found this channel. I have been binging for two days now. Absolutely love it. I have always read the original stories and annoyed that no one believed me. This totally makes me feel validated. Thank you and please continue to make more

[@Ray_Vun]

"she's not the trisha paytas level of hot, she's actually quite gross" they seem about the same level of gross to me

[@JonSolo]

whaaaat come on.... 😶

[@Ray_Vun]

@@JonSolo maybe it's just her personality that repulses me

[@donovanroundtree524]

@@Ray_Vun or literally everyone else

[@gaiasguardian205]

The Baba Yaga's appearance is an outward representation of the despicable personality she personified. Rotten both in and out.

[@choochoopicklepie]

THE SHADE

[@cliffgulliver4626]

Great work! Thanks for doing it.

[@netaneldj4750]

So much nostalgia thank you for making this beautiful video

[@mysticloverfairy1]

I might be wrong, but I think I read somewhere that the house in “Howl’s moving Castle “ is based loosely on Baba Yoga’s House.

[@celticpoet21]

It makes sense. I also heard that in the movie "Spirited Away" the character Yubaba is a slight twist variation of the name Baba Yaga.

[@CherryBomb0712]

That's what I thought when he said her house had chicken legs and was constantly moving

[@kotaniyumiko]

@@celticpoet21 no thats Japanese folklore, theres a an old woman demon; you never know though the stories probably traveled back and forth through the Silk Route or the Far East

[@UnconditionalSurrenderG]

The name Baba Yaga reminds me of 鬼婆 “onibaba” or witch/hag in Japanese

[@asheniza1168]

True

[@atsukorichards1675]

Baba (婆/ばば) means an old woman in Japanese, but it is an old way to say. As more modern and casual way, O-Bachan (おばあちゃん) or the polite one, O-Basan (おばあさん) will do.

[@tijanamilenkovic3425]

@@asheniza1168 what do you think about The Messed Up Origins Of Street Fighter or Dragon Ball

[@asheniza1168]

@@tijanamilenkovic3425 lmao 🤣 that sounds interesting!

[@leonardofaber5823]

@@atsukorichards1675 "Kaede Baba" - InuYasha

[@dougarnold7955]

Awesome stuff. Thanks.

[@ishmailredding1473]

I'm beyond happy that I follow you through your journey

[@atincrown3801]

I don’t think I’ve ever heard of Baba Yaga other than in like Ever After High or something and had no idea she was supposed to eat kids but these videos are so interesting I’ve binged nearly all of them in 1 night and just wanted to learn more

[@Ayra_Nayeem]

Same lol

[@walterjohnson2676]

She eats poop too like some witches

[@kasiorexg4806]

You’ve never seen Hansel and Gretel?

[@josephgemeda8343]

Baba Yaga is also in Ever After high. (just saying)

[@carmenalvarado8003]

@softie uwu what

[@carmenalvarado8003]

that is great news

[@Ayra_Nayeem]

Yeah I can't believe that they would put her in there

[@avu104]

Yeah same I thought she was a good lady or at least a not so bad witch but i am surprised she is that bad

[@peytonmckinnon7128]

Lol that’s how I heard of Baba Yaga

[@DutchessAshton]

Just another viewer beyond grateful you do what you do!

[@billcox8870]

The first time I heard of the name Baba yaga was in The dungeons & dragons Monster manual. It also included her house. Whether we are talking dungeons & dragons or the Slavic Baba yaga, she is one scary dangerous individual.

[@bitterlemonade7360]

Baba yaga reminds me of the typical saying "a deal with the devil": asks for little/a favour in return, yet that turns out to be near impossible - though if you are holy or complete the task, she has to let you go, a deal is a deal. (Although she clearly has anger issues, and will try to kill you afterwards anyway)

[@myragroenewegen5426]

But she isn't really that, which is why I love her so much. She can be evil, but also just kind of a wild card with her own goals in mind that never get fully fleshed out, but that she is incredibly single-minded about - sometimes those goals serve you, sometimes they don't. Her sarcastic ways of talking and the casual ways she does incredible things definitely are similar to the devil, but you seldom see the the snarky, humorous tone in the devil's cynicism. I just love the idea that this incredibly cosmic being is also just this stubbornly crabby old lady who thinks all these woeful young humans are who come to her for highly valuable help are lazy and annoying. Productive or destructive, you can depend on her to deliver first class snark and get what she can out of visiters, up to and including their lives. To me it's this knowing exaggeration of what makes snideness in old women so funny. At this point she's seen everything and she's gonna snark!

[@catherinealekseyenko9317]

The thing I always liked about Baba Yaga - and it is a recurring theme in other tales with other characters too - that if she is approached with respect and politeness, she may be merciful and not mind helping. There's a part of her that is caring and protective

[@myragroenewegen5426]

@@catherinealekseyenko9317 Usually, that kind of curse-or-blessing relationship is reserved for gods or mysterious magical strangers, who don't get named. She's definitely in the god-world, but she's also in the witch-in-the-woods world, which makes her seem far more grounded. To me, the effect is a sense that she is at once the same small-minded, possibly child-eating woods hag next door and something on a far grander scale, and I feel like she has a cryptic sense of humor about the situation, grumbling and qiuping about useless humans and her endless magical epic-scale housework. There's always this sense that she works in earth-shaking terms we can never really appreciate, and mostly she knows it and could care less about people. She goes on in this earned-the-right-to-snark old person complaining mode, though, which pulls in the opposite direction, because it's so relatable. I want someone with strong literary chops to tell us what she actually does all day and make her an unlikely anti-hero.

[@walterjohnson2676]

@@catherinealekseyenko9317 oh please

[@just-A.randomdude]

"The legs and head considered the least useful part of the chicken cause they have less meat" Me: eating curry chicken foot😐 My aunty: cooking chicken head soup😐😐

[@Occhii_Docchii]

Me who lives in the Caribbean where that’s commonly eaten:😐😐😐

[@myathegrandma]

For real! Who else had chicken foot soup?

[@darayoo5677]

@@myathegrandma Korean spicy chicken feet 😐

[@myathegrandma]

@@darayoo5677 Sounds good

[@darayoo5677]

@@myathegrandma yes, but **SO INTENSELY SPICYYYY** (you'd probably know what it feels like if you've ever had buldak bokkummyun, which is a kind of super spicy korean instant ramen)

[@Eclip.yfp19]

me:actually clapping jon: not looking at the camera me: feels slow and just keeps clapping bc why not

[@dandelionwishes1276]

im addicted to your channel!!!!!! so stressed with my students and your videos help me get thru the day

[@user-io1bx7qy9x]

Only early people would know this was an re-upload.

[@maggpiprime954]

Yeah, I made the mistake of watching a shorter video first. Was there any difference between the two?

[@heatherturner2366]

Unfortunately some of us couldn't watch it due to it being on private setting

[@legendaryt-fox658]

@@heatherturner2366 I also couldn't watch it.

[@JonSolo]

@@maggpiprime954 original upload exported at 480p for some reason so I re-posted in HD

[@maggpiprime954]

@@JonSolo Ah, ok thanks. I did wonder if it was because of some technical glitching.

[@ultracapacity7531]

Jon;"How can something be so cute and ugly at the same time?" Gunther, using his right eye to watch us an his left eye looking at Jon, thinking;"Wait folks, just wait...until he falls asleep..." Next thing you know we'll see a video of Gunther's Messed Up Origins.

[@scaryberry13]

Love your videos man, you get me through my mornings

[@cookiegamesfamily]

Congrats on the 100th episode! I love this series so I'm not surprised it has done so well 🥳

[@blueraven0788]

I remember Baba Yaga through the movie “Bartok”

[@Azlinh]

Yessss I'm not the only one!

[@gracesellars4568]

The MaGniFicEnT!!!!

[@Lady9tails]

Thank you! I was watching this wondering why I know her. Bartok!

[@sydneyice]

Yasssss

[@mattechrome]

It was the legs on the house that gave it away for me

[@abbyravenclaw]

Who else thought of ant man and the wasp and John Wick when they saw the title of this video?🙋🏼‍♀️

[@raccoon.pies.]

* distant horrified stare * * whispers * Baba Yaga....

[@D1SGRUNTLED]

Back in my day Jon Solo was a theory and Star Wars KZbinr. I’m glad you found what works for you and kept with it.

[@bxtchyqueen1687]

Was waiting for this onee

[@aur557]

13:10 Has four fingers up "That's three"

[@riceracm]

6:57 “College loans!”...😩🥺😫 I know your pain Jon....I know your pain...😬

[@mysterylovescompany2657]

One of my grandparents was from Novaya Zemlya, & was _legit_ scared of the Baba Yaga (sometimes called "nezhnyy babushka" ["kind Granny", sort of]) . Like, the old guy would say we were all safe in Australia, but that if I ever go to Russia, I should mind my manners, + stay out of the woods. And he was _serious_ . He genuinely feared her.

[@sagebrooks6907]

Congrats Jon solo amazing work dear keep on pushing hunny🥰

[@layysooraw]

i’ve never been this early 🥺😭

[@alastorcrowe2193]

Same here

[@rix2367]

same

[@paigelhl5693]

same i was like 420 lol

[@melylamash]

Same

[@thepakhtoondude7580]

Same 😂😂😂

[@natashter]

Anyone else instantly think of Ant Man and The Wasp when they saw the title? (I know it’s a cultural thing but the first time I heard of Baba Yaga was in that movie)

[@dontaebrown4327]

Actually it was ant man. Not ant man and the wasp.

[@myathegrandma]

First time I heard of her was in the kids TV show "Ever After High". I was obsessed with that show when I was younger lol.

[@darayoo5677]

@@myathegrandma ikr, it was so good until Disney plagiarized the series for descendants, but like how all ripoffs are, descendants was terrible. Anyway, people loved it because it's Disney's, and since it's DISNEY that plagiarized, it was impossible for the ever after high creators to go to court to sue them, so, sadly, *ever after high* had to stop *their* series and that is just so upsetting.😔 (not many people know about this and there are a lot of people who thought ever after high was a Disney series in the first place.)

[@myathegrandma]

@@darayoo5677 Yeah I remember all of that. EAH was at the peak of their success back in 2014 then Descendants dropped about a year later and EAH stopped showing. I feel so bad for the creators because EAH ahd such good character design - I was so happy when they released the doll versions of Sping Unsprung - stories, and emotions. Descendants were okay but EAH was far better.

[@jackwimmer2249]

I forgot about that part in the movie until you mentioned it.

[@WhiteArcenio]

Your videos are really awesome. So many interesting facts

[@moonraevyn6006]

Congratulations on 100 episodes, Jon! We love you too.

[@cartoonmaster2401]

Wasn't Baba Yaga the witch in "Spirited Away" too?

[@miauthe1]

Yeah I think so

[@kellien4211]

Yep she was the one that ran the bath house

[@CherryBomb0712]

Her name was yubaba. Close though and might have gotten some inspiration from baba yaga

[@peng1luver259]

Yubaba and Zeneba, no Baba Yaga

[@anigodess]

The chicken legged house reminds me of Howls Moving Castle

[@getthefeels8611]

The portrayal of baba yaga in HellBoy gave me chills while watching the movie at night in a dark room. Still gives me chills remembering her move? Bbrrr

[@catherinealekseyenko9317]

Thanks for this one, I am Russian and it is always interesting to see what angle others take when talking about our folklore. Perhaps worth mentioning that Yaga and Koschey in some cases are rivals, and in some work together, and in certain renditions Yaga can even be named as Koschey's mother, and in others she was meant to be his mother-in-law. Koschey was planning to marry Baba Yaga's daughter but then he ate youth-granting apples and the bride became too old-looking for him and he bailed.

[@xandermarkhay9047]

You came out with this video just in time for me

[@SaiseiSekiVA]

i ADORE Russian folklore and all the stories mentioned here are some of my favorites so major props to you Jon 👌 also congrats on your 3 year AND 100th ep! Also a teeny fun fact about the chant the kids say to get the house to turn to them, in Vasilissa the Beautiful, a lot of the time Baba Yaga herself said it instead.

[@grace5033]

Who else first head of Baba Yaga from watching ever after high? 😂

[@pluto4602]

Omg samee

[@dianaoflesbos6197]

That’s where I knew the name from!!

[@cherryblossomqueen4481]

My childhood😊

[@grace5033]

@@dianaoflesbos6197 I noticed you have a playlist of broadway slime tutorials. I see we have things in common even now 😏

[@myathegrandma]

Yes Me!! I loved that show

[@panteafarsijani9518]

I love you Jon Solo, I'm always excited whenever I see the blue dot next to your channel, promising new material. Love you!!!!

[@nicolaskostaneski987]

Hey my guy you're doing an awsome thing. Story telling is a gift in itself, and one you have shared. Keep up the good work.

[@sightl3ss]

Nobody: Jon Solo: *its spooky time*

[@Kat66699]

Reads Baba yaga in the title: * gets John wick flashbacks*

[@JonSolo]

John FUCKING Wick

[@FaerieStar]

Congratulations on 100 episodes! You earned it!💕

[@griever_85]

Been binging this channel for days now. Jon is funny af

[@jmckenney3851]

“Maybe she is as hawt as Trisha paytas” yeah Jon I’d say they’re on about the same level

[@incelrevolution69]

Nah, Jaga is hotter

[@leahgoutremout814]

The whole time I was thinking about Ever After High

[@christinecarlinegalicia7154]

Me too lmao

[@Ayra_Nayeem]

Lol same

[@grace5033]

THEY TOLD YOU EVERYTHING WAS WAITING FOR YOU

[@grace5033]

@fat¡mah mun¡r BUT NOW YOU'RE FEELING LIKE A DIFFERENT ENDING

[@grace5033]

@fat¡mah mun¡r IT'S AN OPEN BOOK, A ROAD IN REVERSE

[@metalground212]

thanks for your videos bro they are dope!

[@aliciatucker3713]

Happy 100th and an aptly chosen topic! Keep it up!

[@GeeklingNo1]

I grew up with the one where Baba Yaga throws a candle at her when she tells her she’s blessed

[@Z3r0TheAnt1h3r0]

I watched this and it amazing, I'm from the future, the first story of baba yaga is like a Russian Cinderella

[@Z3r0TheAnt1h3r0]

Watch

[@yayayummy04]

Literally my favorite KZbin channel! 🔴

[@yaoifanboy2229]

I gotta tell you, I recently became a fan of your story tellings\summarizations and I just love the season of Halloween and having this video kick the month off makes me happy. Keep doing great! And congrats on your 100th video!

[@Yoosung0312]

I swear I got a notification about this 16 minutes ago

[@kikuoisthebestandnoonecant1915]

I thought that was just me

[@Laffsaff]

I seen it was privated

[@Z3r0TheAnt1h3r0]

I watched the whole video as soon as it came out. Then I tried to like and it said "this video does not exist"

[@Z3r0TheAnt1h3r0]

Wierd

[@chichkoun6761]

Same it said "this video is private" i thought i was the only one

[@nathanielgaryantes9742]

Who else knew the name “baba yaga” from Ever After High from when they were younger XD

[@Ayra_Nayeem]

Same I was so creeped out but also thought "she kinda lit"

[@lisettegarcia7013]

I first saw Baba Yaga on an episode of Arthur called; What Scared Sue Ellen?

[@kiyalaughron6416]

Favorite channel on KZbin! Congratulations on 100th episode

[@whiteshadow9095]

Congratulations, I got here a little late, but I’ve watched and enjoyed a lot of your stories for the past year.

[@Sund3v3]

You got tired towards the end and skipped a whole segment of Koshchei's tale. I'm still glad you made a video on one of the most colorful slavic characters.

[@mr.t_kinkytail2853]

You my good Sir are bordering on a National Treasure. We all appreciate the content you take the time to prepare in order to bring us such quality insight. I'm so glad I found your channel. Keep em coming!!🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@ava8103]

I'm crying this video was so funny but the ending killed me. Man I love how the jokes in these vids are always delivered so nonchalantly and in the same tone as everything else it's so good

[@qsister1]

Congrats on the 100th episode!!!