Čuma

Čuma or kuga (Serbian: чума, куга) is the personification of plague in Serbian mythology.^[1] It was imagined as an old (rarely, as young) woman dressed in white.^[1] Mentioning čuma was avoided, so euphemisms kuma (godmother) or teta (aunty) (Serbian: кума, тета) were used.^[1]

Čumas were believed to live in a far away land, from where they set out to infect people.^[1] They hate dirtiness and are especially eager to infect a dirty house, hence if plague would appear in the vicinity, it was believed that every house and its occupants must be thoroughly cleaned;^[1] which was a useful belief that actually helps with real plague. Offerings of food, clean water, basil and a comb could also be made to her.^[1]

See also

• Pestilence

References