The Domovoi's Lapti
Summary
The Domovoi's Lapti tells the story of a Domovoi who was mistreated by his owners and wanted to leave the home he was bound to. One Stary Nova, after the family had completed the ritual of the Badnjak, the domovoi asked the log what it should do. The Badnjak told it to take some of its charcoal bark and weave a pair of lapti. Then the Domovoi would be able to go out into the world and find a new house. But the Badnjak warned the Domovoi that it must not remove the lapti shoes under any circumstances, or else the Domovoi would fade away.
The Domovoi did what the Badnjak suggested, and he set off into the world. By and by he came to a town where he saw a little beggar girl shivering in the street. She had no home and no shoes on her feet. The Domovoi was so overcome with pity that he slipped out of the lapti and popped them over the little girl's cold toes. As the Domovoi faded, the little girl felt love, security and kindness for the first time in her short life. Although the aura faded in the story (the little girl still had no home) this tells what a home should be: secure, kind and loving.
Historical Basis
Domovoi are tied to their household, but sometimes they have reason to leave. If a domovoi wishes to leave the house (or is forceably taken), they must make special lapti shoes for the journey, and never take the shoes off until they return home, otherwise they will fade from existence as they get further from their stove. Although it is a Domovoi in the story, specially crafted lapti shoes can protect any location spirit if they travel from their bound location.
