Need-fire

thumb|300px|A drawing of a need-fire being kindled with a large Fire drill (tool)|fire drill. thumb|300px|A modern Rodnovery need-fire drill in Russia In European folklore, a need-fire (; , , , ) is a fire kindled by friction, which is lit in a ritual and used as protective magic against murrain (infectious diseases affecting cattle), plague and witchcraft. It was a tradition in parts of Europe, practiced by Germanic, Gaelic and Slavic peoples until the 19th century, and by Albanians until the 20th century.

A need-fire would usually be lit when there was an epidemic such as an outbreak of plague or cattle disease. In some regions, a need-fire was lit yearly to prevent such disasters. In the Scottish Highlands they were lit each year at Beltane (1 May), in Poland they were lit on Saint Roch's Day, and in parts of Germany they were also lit yearly.