Ritual forms are an inseparable part of life in all known human societies. A special type of ritual are holiday celebrations. These events reveal a lot about the value and belief systems of a community. We all have at least one routine, habit...
Category - Mythology
Many family traditions still practiced across the Slavic countries originate from ancient pagan celebrations. Present day religious rituals and customs often involve an amalgam of the Christian and pagan heritage. I’ve prepared a list of the most...
Back in the old days, winter was terrifying. It was a rough time (like really). Storms, cold days, and even colder nights. Hungry wolves came down from the woods to the human settlements, ready to attack livestock and people. During wintertime...
In Poland, St. Andrew’s day (Andrzejki) is a common name for a big holiday and fortune-telling ritual celebrated every 29th of November according to the Catholic calendar. For centuries, every year on Saint Andrew’s Day (Andrzejki), young...
If we hear someone talking about a nasty Slavic demon that drinks blood and lurks in the night, vampires would probably be the first thing that comes to our minds. However, Polish culture hides a story about Strzyga (alternative spelling:...
Son of the god Chernobog and the goddess Mara according to Slavic mythology, or Satan’s minion, according to folk Christianity, the name of Chort stands for a demonic spirit etymologically associated with Slavic curses about hell. From Poland and...
Zorya Goddess is one of the most interesting Slavic Gods in Slavic mythology. Many stories of Slavic Gods depict them as old and often intriguing personalities. Common themes present in sacred stories about Zorya include tales about the creation of...
Bereginya is a goddess that is quite dominant in Slavic mythology. This goddess is able to shapeshift and turn into other Slavic goddesses or even acquire a human form and turn into a woman. Ethnographic records describe Bereginya as associated with...
In Slavic mythology, Bieda is an immortal demon that brings bad luck and many misfortunes to people. Bieda was disguised as a skinny and extremely tall woman. As a mythological creature, Bieda is classified and belongs to the Polish demonology since...
Gamayun is a bird from Russian folklore, whose powers include (but are not limited to) being able to prophecies the future. Gamayun symbolizes knowledge and wisdom. It lives on an island that is situated right next to paradise. A truly...
There are many known deities and mythical creatures in Slavic folklore. If you have some free time and you want to learn more about them, then this article is for you (and this website is the right place to be!). The tale of Samodiva is interesting...
The female spirit Rusalka is a popular creature from Slavic mythology. She was depicted as a mysterious and rather eerie spirit, associated with the concept of a mermaid or a nymph in world mythologies. The rich mythology of Slavic people...
