1 Ночь перед рождеством As with other liminal events, the eves of major holidays, including unambiguously Christian ones, tend to be dangerous times. Cf. Halloween, which precedes All Saints’ Day.
2 сел верхом ему на шею Unclean forces (devils, witches) often manifest their control over humans by sitting on their necks and riding them while forcing them to do their bidding.
3 собачье In this case it is fitting that the devil, whose features are often a cross of human and beast, is described using the adjective собачнй, собачья ‘canine.’
4 левое ухо In Russian folk belief, the Devil claims the left side of the body; it was often believed that each man or woman had an angel on his/her right, and a devil on the left. Russians commonly say тьфу, тьфу, тьфу (a spitting noise) over their left shoulders as a way of warding off the unclean forces.
5 товарищи In the Russian tradition there is much more emphasis placed on the plurality of devils, rather than on a single tempter of humankind. It was believed that many devils existed, all of whom strove to lead people into harm, which explains this devil’s reference to his “comrades.”
6 хвостатое племя ‘Tailed race,’ referring to the devils (who are typically depicted as having tails) in hell.
7 хромой черт The Devil, who in Christian mythology is cast out of Heaven, reputedly has a lame foot or leg due to his landing on earth.
8 без контракта ничего не делают In the Russian tradition, as in others, one signs a contract with the devil, typically promising to give the devil one’s soul after death in exchange for earthly favors.
9 У вас, я слышал, расписываются кровью; постой же, я достану в кармане гвоздь! In the Russian tradition, as in others, one signs a contract with the devil in blood.
10 он сотворил крест Making the sign of the cross was the most reliable way to resist or negate the actions of a devil or evil spirit. Despite the ease of the action, many tales are based on the fact that the protagonist does not remember to do so.
11 вскочил на него верхом When being ridden by a devil or witch, one can assume the upper hand, so to speak, by overpowering the unclean power and riding him or her. This is how Khoma Brut overcomes the witch in Gogol′’s “Viy.”
12 немец проклятый Germans frequently appear negatively in Russian literature and folklore, and may be equated with the Devil or, as in this case, the Devil himself is called a German.