Yes, it's that time of year when pumpkins appear and things go bump in the night. Russia like most countries has its share of folklore and scary stories. With a culture and a nation that is well over a thousand years old, one would expect such tales.

Domovoi
In Russia household ghosts are so common that they have developed distinct classifications for them. Domovoi are domestic ghosts that tend to be nuisances or poltergeists but help out with chores if treated with respect. Domovikha are more quiet household spirits whose presence you can sense in certain rooms. The interesting thing about Russian ghost stories is that many of the tales involve Russian Women.

Rusalka
Legend has it that a Rusalka is the spirit of a young Russian woman who haunts the area of the river or stream where she drowned. It may also be the spirit of an unbaptized child, an unwed mother, or a female virgin. Rusalka come in two varieties depending on which part of the country you are located. In southern Russia, Rusalka are beautiful, well-endowed, lovely long hair and have striking figures. Even dead Russian women are still hot! Rusalka found in the north are hideous, ugly and appear naked. Both will attempt to seduce men to take as their lovers, before killing them. So if you encounter a Rusalka try to get away. If you can't get away, hopefully you are in southern Russia bumping into a hot Russian ghost.

Russia's two most famous cities are hotspots just not for the living but for the dead as well.

Spirit on Lieutenant Schmidt's Bridge
The city of Peter the Great, St. Petersburg, has its share of residents from beyond the grave. A specter of a little old lady is said to haunt the Troitskaya Square near Peter the Great's home.  The Neva River seems to be a good place to see a ghost. The spirit of Shishiga, a thin young lady, has been spotted walking on Lieutenant Schmidt's Bridge and complaining about her misfortunes. Across the river, near the Petropavlovskaya Fortress, it is said a young woman appears out of thin air weeping bitterly. Legend has it that is Princess Tarakanova, who tried to claim the throne from Catherine the Great and was imprisoned at the fortress for her crime. One of the most frightening ghosts that haunt the old capital is Sofia Perovskaya. Perovskaya was the member of a very radical wing within the Socialist-Revolutionary party in the early 20th century. She carried out assassination attempts on the Imperial family and government officials. She was executed by hanging for her crimes against the state.  It is said that when the weather turns bad in the March, Sofia will appear on the bridge over the Ekaterininsky Channel. Her face blue from suffocation, a purple trace can be seen on her neck from rope burns and she is holding a white handkerchief in her hand signaling her comrades to begin their reign of terror.

Kremlin Spirits
In Moscow most of the paranormal activity can be found at the Kremlin. Some visitors and workers have had encounters with a pale uncombed lady holding a gun in her hand haunting the Komendantskaya Tower. This wandering spirit is Fanny Kaplan who attempted to kill Lenin and who was executed at the Kremlin.  Visitors to the Kremlin also report a red spot appearing on the walls of Konstantino-Eleninskaya tower where a17th century torture chamber was located. A terrifying shadow of Ivan the Terrible can be seen walking on the bell tower named after Ivan the Great. During times of political unrest Czar Dmitry Pretender is said to appear on the Kremlin's wall. Last time he appeared was August 1991. In the corridors of the Kremlin Palace of Congresses one can encounter semi-transparent figures dressed in shrouds.  The Palace of Congresses was built over a cemetery. Some say the souls of the dead are angry about the sacrilege.

With a rich and vibrant history Russia is full of thousands of folktales, legends and ghost stories.  One thing to learn from all of these tales is whatever you do; never; ever make a Russian woman mad.