Berezkin Analytical Catalogue · Motif

L34 — Burning hair.

68 Myths, legends and folktales
68 Unique narratives for motif L34
56 Cultures & traditions where L34 is told
0 Sub-motifs of motif L34
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Source data for narratives and traditions is drawn from Berezkin’s Analytical Catalogue. If you use this data, please acknowledge and link to it: Ю.Е. Березкин, Е.Н. Дувакин. Тематическая классификация и распределение фольклорно-мифологических мотивов по ареалам. Аналитический каталог.

Summary of motif

Overview

The character kills or maims the enemy by setting fire to their clothes, mask, headdress, hair, or an object behind their back.

Berezkin category: Adventures: Monsters and evil spirits

This is of motif type Adventures and tricks and is part of group 10, Adventures.

Top 10 motifs with similar dispersal patterns

Phylogeny
MotifSimilarityMotif summary
K494.80%The character climbs a tree or rock to get a bird, bird eggs, or chicks, climbs into a bird's nest, comes into conflict with another character, and/or cannot climb down. See motifs K1, K2A. Traditions in which the nest destroyer is a woman are highlighted in italics; bold italics indicate those in which the character falls into the trap not through the fault of another person, but by accident, or, having climbed up to destroy the nest, does not fall into the trap at all, although he quarrels with his companion; an asterisk* marks those in which the character remains in the trap (undergoes a metamorphosis).
K11A194.60%Pieces of flesh or feathers from a monstrous/unusual bird turn into present-day birds (or their plumage).
H1893.92%Hunted animals were concentrated in one place. A certain character creates them there or allows them to scatter.
M6393.63%Before reaching the part of the body that is most suitable for certain purposes, others are named or tried. (Cf. Motive F22: The enumeration is related to finding the partner's genitals).
J493.17%The heroes avenge the death (enslavement) of their father, uncle, grandfather, or mother and father, or in general their descendants, with the loss of men being the most painful.
F53A92.77%The husband hides his face from his wife because she does not know that he is a bat or an owl.
B2892.70%Travelling from one locality to another, the character successively transforms people into birds and animals, into stones, sanctuaries (or transforms monstrous animals into ordinary ones), establishes cultural norms, determines the biological characteristics of creatures, the appearance of the locality, etc.
K11A92.66%Plucked feathers of a (huge) bird turn into actual birds (or their plumage) or humans emerge from them.
L6392.64%The character eats food with the womb or anus. See motif F9A.
J3092.63%Before the heroes defeat their antagonists or flee from them, they find or receive the remains or property of the victim.

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Map of motif dispersal

Distribution

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Traditions

56 recorded

This motif has been recorded in 56 traditions: Kabylia and other Berber of Northern and Central Algeria: Beni Snous, Beni Menacer (incl Zuav), Shaui, etc.), Ngbakka, Mbum (incl Mbai), Mundang, Fali, Tupuri, Maya (=Bali), Nyong, Mbundu (Umbundu, Kimbundu, Chimbundu, Ovimbundu), Kwanyama, Owambo (=Ambo), Other West Chadic: Ngas, Bolanchi, Tangale, Kru: Kru proper, Sapo (Sapã), Grebo, Kran (Krahn, Guere-Krahn; incl. Putu, Tchien), Bete, Neyo, Wobe, Devoin (Dey), Belle (Kuwaa), Bassa, Sikon, Lepcha, Tajik, Abaza (Abazins), Cherkassians, Adyghe, Kabardin, Armenians, Anatolia Turks, Oirats (incl Torgouts, Derbets, Oilots), Mongols (Khalkha), Tungus (Evenki): Baikal region, Evenks, Tungus (Evenki) of China (Solon, Birar, Oroqen, Manegir), Evenks, Tungus (Evenki): Russian Far East, Evenks, Western Tungus (Evenki), Western Siberia Tungus (Evenki): Sym River, Ket River, Chukchi, Tagish, Sechelt (incl Sisiatl), Squamish, Halcomelem, Takelma, Oregon Athabaskans: Lower Umpqua, Tututni (incl Joshua), Upper Coquille, Galice, Tolowa, Coos, Sierra Miwok, Lake Miwok, Plains Miwok, Coastal Miwok, Chumash, Salinan, Mono (Monache), Owens Valley Paiute, Northern Paiute (=Paviotso), Northern Shoshone, Western Shoshone, Gosiute, Eastern Shoshone, Upland Yuma: Walapai, Havasupai, Yavapai, Southern Paiute, Kitanemuk, Western Keres (Acoma, Laguna), Eastern Keres (Cochiti, Sia, San Felipe, Santo Domingo, Santa Ana, Paguate, Seama), Yuma proper (Quechan), Mohave, Maricopa, Guiana Kariña, Kaliña, Galibi, Napo (Quijo), Kanelo (“Jungle Kechua”), Ticuna (Tucuna), Urubu (Urubu-Kaapor), Tenetehara, Bolivian Guarani: Chiriguano (including assimilated Chane Arawaks), Pauserna (=Guarasu), Guarayu, Tapiete, Kayabi, Bororo, Caraja, Guarani of Paraguay and Brazil: Caygua, Mbia, Apapocuva, Nyandewa, Chiripa, Upper Chinook: Wasco, Wishram, Clackamas, Kathlamet, Ilimpii Tungus/Evenki, Yerbogachen Tungus/Evenki, Tungus/Evenki of Nercha - Chita area, Japan

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