Bannik

The spirit of the bath house, the bannik flits amongst the dense steam of the sauna bath perfect cover for one of the typically elusive fairy folk. It lives in Russia and the Baltic countries, this being where sauna baths were first invented, and although sometimes glimpsed through the clouds of vapor, it is more often felt than seen, and its touch on one's naked back is a significant omen: one of good fortune if it is a caressing stroke, but one of ill luck if he scratches.