{Siara}. Folklorystyczny przyczynek do leksykografii słowiańskiej
{Colostrum Milk} („First Milk after Childbirth”) Folkloristic Contribution to the Slavonic Lexicography

Summary/Abstract: The paper makes use of the OLA materials as the basis for the commentary on the old Christian legend about the devil devouring babies and the saint who makes devil bring the babies back to life. The condition put forward by the devil to the saint is his giving back / getting rid of the first milk – the mother’s milk. The Slavonic lexical material from OLA points to the special magical meaning of the mother’s first milk (as well as the cow’s milk from the first milking). According to many folk beliefs this milk should not be consumed but given to „other” world. In the light of these beliefs getting rid of the first milk by the saint gives him the power over devil – milk is marked by the symbolic of the original sin, and the saint has the role of the godfather of babies, giving them new life, the life not threatened by devil’s influence and blessed by God.

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