Top Croatia Stories on GatherTales

Croatia's folklore is deeply rooted in Slavic mythology, with a rich array of stories featuring mythical creatures and ancient gods. One of the most famous figures is "Veles," the Slavic god of the underworld, waters, and cattle, often depicted as a dragon or a serpent. He is the eternal rival of "Perun," the god of thunder and the sky, and their battles are said to cause storms. Croatian folklore also features the "Mora," a nightmarish spirit that suffocates sleepers by sitting on their chests, a precursor to the modern concept of sleep paralysis. In Croatian literature, the tale of "Šenoa's Mountain" by August Šenoa is well-known, depicting a love story intertwined with the supernatural, set against the backdrop of the country's rugged mountains and deep forests.