What is Vasilisa the Beautiful?
A haunting Russian tale of a girl who survives the trials of Baba Yaga with the help of a magical doll.
Available Variants
At a Glance
Europe / Russia
ATU 480
15 min read
Medium
Magic Help
Bravery
Witchcraft
Vasilisa the Beautiful
Annotations Enabled
In a certain kingdom there lived a merchant. He had been married for twelve years and had only one daughter, Vasilisa the Beautiful...
Field Notes
My Folklore Journal
Record your thoughts, motifs you noticed, or personal connections to this tale.
Cross-Cultural Sister Tales
Cultural Note
The magical doll represents the mother's blessing and intuition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Editorial Review
E-E-A-T
Reviewed by
Dr. Eleanor Vance, Folklore Studies
Last updated
April 30, 2026
Sources & References
- 1.Aarne, A. & Thompson, S. — The Types of the Folktale (1961)
- 2.Lindahl, C. — European Folklore: An Encyclopedia (2004)
- 3.Dorson, R. — Peasant Customs and Savage Myths (1968)
Community Discussion
F
FolkloreFan2 days ago
I love how this variant emphasizes the role of the magical helper. It's so different from the version I grew up with!
S
Scholar_Jane5 hours ago
The ATU 510A classification really helps in seeing the structural similarities with Ye Xian. Fascinating stuff.
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