Who is Jar Ptitsa

​

Jar Ptitsa or the Firebird is a huge magical fiery bird with bright flames of different colors and eyes like diamonds. As Baba Yaga Jar Ptitsa has also both destructive and creative impact on its captor. Her feathers may help to light the darkest roots in forests, mountains and castles. Her singing may cure diseases and receives back his sight, while her tears may transform into pearls and bring incredible wealth (in some legends pearls fall down when she is singing). Jar Ptitsa prefer to eat gold apples which gives force, beauty, youth and power.

​

Jar Ptitsa is very beautiful, amazing and useful but on the other hand it is also extremely dangerous. It is one more puzzle of traditional Russian fairy tales and a special challenge the main character should face with to achieve his goals whether it is to save the kingdom, kill the dragon, find his love, destroy the spell etc. In some stories Tsar commands his three sons to catch Jar Ptitsa because she is eating all magic gold apples in the kingdom which brings force and youth.

​

It is very difficult to catch Jar Ptitsa – you need special golden cage with apples not to get burned. In some legends hero need only a feather in another ones the whole bird.

​

Many Russian writers and film directors use the Firebird image to color their works and make fairy tales more impressive. You can meet Jar Ptitsa on the pages of famous Russian Fairy Tale Poem "The Little Humpback Horse" or «Konyok Gorbunok» written by famous Russian author Pyotr Yershov (19 century). There is also vary famous Russian Ballet called the Firebird set by famous Russian ballet director Sergey Dyagelev and outstanding composer Igor Stravinsky.