Page 82 - Animals of the Sakhalin Region in myths and legends

The Serpent lived with his retinue underground, and possessed
countless treasures. And every spring the serpent kingdom woke
up, crawled to the surface, looking for a bride. June 12 was
traditionally Serpentine, on this day only men walked around
the villages, and women sat at home so as not to catch the eye of

the Serpent, not to become his bride.
And if some girl nevertheless went out to fetch water from the
well alone, but she the king of the snakes liked her, then he sent
her a gift: a gold ring, a bracelet or a necklace. Having accepted
the gift of the king, the girl could expect snake matchmakers,
since she became the bride of the serpent. People did not dare to
refuse him, because in this case troubles and misfortunes awaited
them: the plants stopped sprouting, the cows did not give milk,

everyone got sick.
And in the fall, the Serpent took his bride to the underground
kingdom, where he went down with his retinue to spend the
winter. Serpent needed a bride and a wife for very gloomy
things. Through his child and the mother of the child, the Serpent
received his immortality, thereby destroying them. That is why

he was looking for a new Bride every spring.

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