There are both similarities and differences between the Russian witch Yaga baba and the Slovene Pehta. Although the
name Pehta is closer to the Germanic Berhta, in terms of content the Slovene witch is rooted in the Slavic Yaga baba.
Slovene witches such as Pehta have more positive features than do Slavic witches. Polygenetic theory helps us see that
folktale types are composed of various intertextual elements. The Slovene image of witches has deviated from the Russian,
which was more aimed at an adult audience, while the Alpine environment is also different. At the turn of the 20th century,
the Alpine environment was popular in Central Europe: stories such as Heidi (1880–1881) and tales of shepherds were
also popular, especially stories about a boy / girl leaving home but finally returning, to have their role redefined. The intermediate
adventures focus on the courage, ingenuity and integrity of the child orphans – in a literal or figurative sense. Yaga
baba helps Vasilisa the Beautiful, while Pehta helps Kekec and Mojca. Yaga baba and Pehta are a type of witch related to
a two-and-a-half millennia old literary tradition, which is universal: it has been adopted in almost all cultures, but each culture
has introduced its own specific cultural elements.
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