[1] The term shtriga is used also with the common meaning of "witch", referring to a bad and ugly old woman who casts evil spells upon people.
The Albanian word shtrigë (definite form being shtriga) derives from the Latin strīga, "evil spirit, witch",[2] related to Italian: strega, Romanian: strigă and Polish: strzyga.
Newborns, children or beautiful girls have been said to catch the evil eye more easily, so in some Albanian regions when meeting such a person, especially a newborn, for the first time, people might say "t’rujt Zoti" meaning may God keep you safe and touch the child's nose to show their benevolence and so that the evil eye would not catch the child.
A cross made of pig bone could be placed at the entrance of a church on Easter Sunday, rendering any shtriga inside unable to leave.
[6] In an Albanian tale published by Post Wheeler with the title The Girl who took a Snake for a Husband, the Shtriga appears as "the grandmother of all witches" that lives in the Underworld, a place of a red sun, a green sky and black trees.
[7] A shtriga was featured in the Supernatural episode, "Something Wicked", wherein it attacked children, causing them to become comatose; it then disguised itself as a doctor so it could continue to feed upon them.