Kulshedra

The kulshedra or kuçedra is a water, storm, fire and chthonic demon in Albanian mythology and folklore, usually described as a huge multi-headed female serpentine dragon.^[2][1] The kulshedra is believed to spit fire, cause drought, storms, flooding, earthquakes and other natural disasters against mankind.^[3][4] In Albanian mythology she is usually fought and defeated by a drangue, a semi-human winged divine hero and protector of mankind.^[3] One of her greatest fights was against the daughter of the Sun deity and the Moon deity (Vajza e hënës dhe e djellit) who tried to protect her loved one by using her powers. Heavy thunderstorms are thought to be the result of most of their battles.^[5] Others include earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and cyclones.

In northern beliefs, the kulshedra can take possession of the sun and moon.^[4] In southern beliefs, she is described as an enormous female serpent who surrounds the world. According to this version, if she were ever to touch her tail with her mouth, she could destroy the whole world.^[3] It is said that she requires human sacrifices for accepting to postpone the natural disasters and catastrophes.^[2] Every year she asked for a specific number of young boys and girls from villages (each version has a different number) and every year they never came back until she fought the daughter of the Moon and Sun who ended it for once and for all

According to folk beliefs, the kulshedra's earlier stage is the bolla, which takes the form of demonic serpent possessing both chthonic and aquatic attributes. The bolla's eyes remain shut for the whole year except on Saint George's Day, when it gazes at the world and upon which it will devour any human on sight. The bolla will eventually develop into a kulshedra if it should manage to live for the prescribed number of years without being seen by a human. The bollar and errshaja are considered intermediate forms of this serpent as it goes through a series of metamorphoses. These terms also signify serpents; the term bullar merely being a synonym for bolla in Southern Albania.^[6] In some regions the kulshedra is depicted like a female eel, turtle, frog, lizard or salamander.^[2][4] There are many tales of brave villagers who dared kill them in their sleep before they became a greater risk.

The kulshedra can also appear disguised as a woman, who keeps her true nature hidden (the devil in disguise). As a semi-human divine figure, she holds also positive qualities that emerge indirectly from Albanian folk tales, beliefs and rituals. It is said that the village where the kulshedra lives has great prosperity in agriculture and livestock. Indeed she absorbs by her breath foodstuffs from everywhere, and her village thrives, while the affected villages become poor and do not prosper. According to folk beliefs people used to practice sacrifices to her so she could bring them good and stop any harmful action.^[7]