Name: Janara
Location/Origin: Campania region, Southern Italy
Powers: Flight, invisibility, mind manipulation, and animal control
Appearance: A woman with long, wild hair (often dark), wearing flowing dark clothes; sometimes barefoot; often described as beautiful but unsettling
Specific Danger: Enters homes at night through keyholes or open windows; torments sleeping victims or animals; can hex people or cause illness
Evolution: Thought to originate from pre-Christian fertility or moon goddesses, later demonized as a witch; her name is believed to come from Dianara, follower of the goddess Diana
In the shadowy hills of Campania, locals whisper of the Janara — a witch who rides the winds at night, slipping into homes unseen. They say she flies on a broom or rides stolen horses, braiding their manes so tightly it’s impossible to untangle them come morning.No lock can stop her. She can pass through keyholes or ride the breeze through cracked windows, bringing with her restless dreams, paralyzing fear, or illness. Some claim to have awakened unable to move, eyes wide open, heart pounding — only to find deep scratches on the door or a twisted braid in the horse's tail. If you find knots in your horse’s mane, don’t try to undo them — it may provoke her. She cannot harm you if you’re protected. But protection must be intentional: a broom placed behind the door, salt sprinkled on the windowsill, or even turning your shoes upside down by the bed.And never — ever — speak her name aloud after sundown.
Warning to Travelers:
If you’re visiting Southern Italy and staying in an old stone farmhouse, check your windows and doors at night. Make sure your horse, if you’re lucky enough to ride one, is stabled and its mane unbraided. Leave a broom propped up behind your door. If you hear whispers or footsteps in the night, do not investigate. She’s already inside.
Symbolism of Janara:
Janara is the embodiment of folk fear and feminine power — both revered and demonized.
She represents:
- The fear of the unknown that creeps in at night
- Ancient rituals misunderstood and twisted by time
- The transition from pagan goddesses to "witches" as patriarchy overtook folk beliefsHer story is also a cautionary tale: the world often fears what it cannot control — especially powerful, wild women.