Mara is the Slavic goddess of Winter, Death, Life. Mara: character story

We began to talk about Morena, the Goddess of Winter, with caution. The difficult character of the Slavic Goddess of Winter and Death, her history is ambiguous. Nowadays, many are completely afraid to talk about death; apparently, they are trying to run away from it. In the old days, the Goddess Morena among the Slavs was always next to people, reminding them of the inexorable passage of time. Let's not scare you! On the contrary, let's talk about what good the Goddess Morena brings in Slavic mythology. Perhaps this article will help in teaching children about the difficult topic of death.

The goddess Morena appears among the Slavs in the guise of a frightening beauty

Goddess Morena in Slavic mythology

To understand what the Goddess Morena meant among the Slavs, let us turn to the northern tales. Morena, Goddess of Winter and Death, sister of Lelya and Zhiva - bright spring and warm summer. Isn't it surprising that the three sisters are so different from each other? People love the beautiful Lelya and respect the fertility-giving Zhiva. Only the Slavs are afraid of the Goddess Morena and try to remember her less often.

Once upon a time there were three sisters who were light Goddesses. The messenger of Chaos, Skipper-Beast, stole them, bewitched them, turned them into monsters, and taught them black magic. Lyolya, Zhiva and Morena began to guard the home of the Skipper-Beast and command his troops. The sisters did not remember themselves until the Gods managed to disenchant the three sisters. Lyolya, Zhiva and Morena returned their appearance. But dark magic was closer to Morena’s heart; she did not want to become a light Goddess. Thus begins the story of Morena, Goddess of Winter and Death. We won’t retell it in detail here; we recommend reading it for that. fairy tale book.

A lot happened next. Almost every story, every northern tale mentions Morena. As if all troubles happen at her command. Among the Slavs, the goddess Morena sends feverish sisters, spirits of disease, covers the earth with snow, freezes crops, and sometimes Morena kisses a person and freezes his heart.

books "What do the Gods Know?"- the case when Morena rejoiced, covering a remote village with snow:

“Morena, the Goddess of Winter and Death, was bored. From her winter palace, she saw huts covered with snow up to the very roofs, only a thin stream of smoke curled from some chimneys. And the snow sparkled and shimmered, reflecting the cold radiance of the night light, and the stars sparkled in the cold, deep heights. Everything froze in anticipation of dawn. But what will it bring to the people who are trapped in snow from Karachun? In Kolyada, shoveling snow from hut to hut, people were still able to greet the arrival of the Supreme God, who brought people the knowledge of the Vedas. But the next morning, the snow began to fall again, and this continued for many days. After the snowfall, terrible cold came. The sky was starry, the trees were wrapped in a thick layer of frost, and the air was so cold that it was impossible to breathe it. People hid in their homes, conserving the crumbs of warmth, sparingly using the fuel they had stored up over the summer and stored in cages. And again it began to snow all night: the heavenly bins where the snow was stored apparently opened up, and the entire supply poured out at once. Some of the huts could still be found by the protruding chimney, while others were completely buried. It would be creepy and scary for everyone who could see this fabulous beauty, which promised both hunger and cold. But for the Goddess of Winter and Death there was no more pleasant picture! She, looking from her sparkling ice castle at the quiet Reality, grinned maliciously:
- Sweet eternal sleep! You won’t have to wait for Yarila, you won’t have to call out Lyola, the Goddess of Spring! All of you will have moved to Nav by this time! Only I, Morena, will walk all over Yavi and cover all the roads with icy snow! »

Morena, the Goddess of Winter and Death, is considered the cause of diseases in people and livestock.

It seems that Morena is causing only trouble. Why then is the Goddess Morena in Slavic mythology not defeated once and for all?

The goddess Morena reminds the Slavs of changes in life

Was it by chance that among the Slavs the Goddess Morena turned out to be Lelya’s sister, with whom she is at enmity all the time?

Morena and Lelya meet for the first time on Gromnitsa, the holiday of winter meeting. On Veles Day, Morena, the Goddess of Winter, tries to retain her power and sends the terrible Death of a Cow to the villages. On this day, Makosh’s judgment over Morena will take place; winter will not have long to rule. On the first of March we celebrate Morena's Day and pay homage to the mistress of winter. And on the Spring Equinox, Morena, the Goddess of Winter, will finally leave for Nav, and Lelya will replace her and bring with her a bright spring!

Nowadays, when our ideas about good and evil are far from understanding the Goddess Morena in Slavic mythology, people are afraid of the Goddess of Winter. In the old days they knew that without winter there would be no spring or warm, fruitful summer. Moreover, they said this: praise life at death, and praise the day in the evening. Therefore, remember that anything can happen in life, a warm spring will give way to winter, but this is not a reason to grieve, because winter does not last forever!

Sometimes the Slavs depict the Goddess Morena in a black and white robe, showing the connection between life and death

The goddess Morena is still revered among the Slavs!

When we began to write about the Goddess Morena among the Slavs, we were surprised at how many people depict her today. The image of the dark, frightening Morena, Goddess of Winter and Death, inspires artists and photographers. Apparently, the memory of the importance of Morena is alive in our souls.

Here, for example, is part of a fairy tale from books “The Magic of Slavic Res Rod”. The matter takes place at the council of the Creator Family, when the Gods divide their responsibilities towards people. So look how Morena, the Goddess of Winter, began to help Troyan, the God of Herbal Medicine, and Zhiva, the Goddess of Summer, in the matter of healing:

“Morena said sharply to Lelya:
- You, sister, are, of course, light on your feet, you will come running and rush to help, hand out amulets. But will you be able to truly protect and improve a person’s health, if it comes to that?

Are you, Morena, who has become famous for his evil, cold jokes, talking about human health? - Troyan perked up.

Troyan, why are you listening with only one ear? Haven’t you realized yet that a coin always has two sides? - Zhiva shook her head. - Our sister, Morena, is the same daughter of Svarog and Lada, like Lelya and me. A proud, headstrong, strong sorceress, she loves a bright life, pulls her on adventures, and sometimes skids around corners. But, as a Healer, can you admit that cold also heals?

Yes, but does she send her evil daughters around the world? For example, Znobukha and Shaky have caused so much trouble! - Troyan did not let up.

Troyan, do you have children yourself? Are you happy with them? Are you silent? Children do not always meet their parents' expectations. But happiness is when they exist,” the childless Zhiva sighed sadly.

Alive that you protect me! Every sneeze won't say hello. My daughters are adults, let them answer for themselves. And I have enough power to recall them,” Morena cut her sister off rather abruptly, even stamping her foot in an embroidered boot. - I understand that you and Troyan will fulfill your aspirations for health? You are already wandering around Yavi together. Contact me if you suddenly can’t handle it yourself. It is good to beat the one who cries, but to teach the one who obeys.

Yes, you, Morena, know how to protect yourself from others with cold! - the red Horse laughed. “You need to take me, the Sun God, as your comrade, since Morena is with you.” That’s just how it will work out, where it’s too cold, you need to bask in the sun,” and he cheerfully winked at Morena.”

In the old days, when telling children about death, which always comes next to life, they shared with them stories about Morena, the Goddess of Winter. And as the children grew up, they saw for themselves what was clear to all Slavs: nature needs winter for rest, for spring renewal, for the revival of life. Likewise, in the old days, death was a moment of transition to a new life, necessary for the renewal of the soul.

The conversation about the Goddess Morena among the Slavs was not so simple. For some it will inspire deep thoughts, for others it will remain just another Slavic fairy tale. We think that even the terrible Morena is worth knowing and treating her with respect, and

The pantheon of Slavic gods is quite diverse. Some of them patronize people, helping them, while others bring only sorrows and sorrows for mortals. Madder has an ambiguous role in the mythology of the ancient Slavs. She is the daughter of Svarog and Lada and one of the earliest deities. She is the deity of death and illness, but at the same time it also means a period of rest for new achievements. People offer prayers to her in the hope of protection from difficult winters, epidemics and famine. Unlike other gods, she does not have permanent shrines.

Marena - a controversial Slavic goddess

Sphere of influence

Madder is a powerful ancient deity who is the embodiment of death itself. It is also associated with darkness, disease and the seasonal deaths of all living things. Controls cold and snowstorms.

Despite this negative connotation, she is not an evil goddess. Because without the necessary rest that it provides, the land will not be fertile. Without destroying the old house, you cannot build a new one. With the death of the seed, a spikelet is born.

The cycle of life and death in the world of Reveal is inextricably linked with Madder.

Name Features

The name of the deity - Madder - can have different forms. This is due to the abundance of cognate words that directly affect the name.

In addition to the main one, there are also the following:

Mara;
Marana;
Morana;
Moraine.

Also in the legends of the Slavs you can find many other names for her: Ice Goddess, Dark Goddess, Kashcheevna, Mistress of Death, etc.

The reason for this variety is the large number of responsibilities that are assigned to her.

Appearance

The image of the goddess does not inspire the horror and awe that is characteristic of the image of Slavic gods.

In people's minds, it has the following appearance characteristics:

Slender young maiden.
Considerably taller than any mortal girl.
She has long black hair with silver streaks.
The skin is pale, covered with frost.
Her eyes are an incredible color - deep blue.
She is dressed in rich dresses, and a fur cape is thrown over top.
She is depicted riding a snow-white mare.
In her hands she holds a silver sickle, with which she breaks the threads of life, and behind her back is the same silver scythe.

The main characteristics of Mara's image mainly relate to her aura and energy. Although she does not look threatening, there is an aura of confidence and steadfastness around her. Her hand, without trembling, breaks the thread of life of those whose time has come.

Place of residence

In Slavic legends there is information according to which Mara most of the time lives on the border of the two worlds Navi and Yavi. She can move freely between worlds along the Kalinov Bridge, which spans the Smorodina River. She is not Navi's hostage, unlike

The goddess lives on the border of the worlds

Capabilities

Moraine is capable of stopping the flow of time both on a global and local scale. She commands life and death. With the help of magical weapons, she can cut off the threads of life from both ordinary people and immortal beings.

However, there are legends according to which Mara could not only take away, but also impart immortality. In an ancient legend, she extended the life of her son Bogumir by giving him magic apples.

Like other gods, Morena is endowed with great magical power. She can completely change the world around her, turn into animals and birds, and also endow people she likes with witchcraft abilities.

Patronage

The goddess Morena is worshiped by those who want to learn the secrets of the unknown. They are not afraid of the Navi world and believe in the divine protection of their patroness.

To be worthy of her wisdom, you must have an unyielding disposition, determination, courage and strength. All adversity must be overcome with your head held high.

If a person is cowardly or unwilling to make sacrifices for the sake of knowing the Truth, he risks incurring the wrath of the goddess.

Symbols of the goddess Mara

Like any other deity, Morena has characteristic symbols that are unique to her.

Her weapon. A silver sickle and scythe, with which she not only cuts the threads of mortal life, but also protects herself from enemies.
Black Moon. People believe that if Mora sets foot on the lands of Yavi outside of school hours, the Moon itself will help her hide. She will stop illuminating the world and will allow the goddess to pass unnoticed.
Bowl from a human skull. A special artifact made from the skull of the person whose soul she took first. There are legends according to which sorcerers and wise men, after drinking from this cup, acquired unimaginable power. But for ordinary people it was disastrous. As soon as they drank from it, their soul remained forever in the kingdom of Morena.
Animals. Wolves and crows made up the goddess's retinue. Hearing the sad howls of animals in the thicket of the forest in winter or seeing flocks of birds, people understood that the Mora was coming, and with it a blizzard and cold.
The lunar metal - silver - is also an attribute of this deity. All metal objects, from weapons to jewelry, were made from it. Even her mare's horseshoes.
The sacred plant is spruce.

The Black Moon hides the presence of the goddess

Enemies

An ancient legend preserves information about the great battle between the Svarozhichs and the Skipper-beast. According to the myth, the monster stole Marena and her two sisters and locked them in the world of Navi. together with his brothers, he defeated the monster and rescued the goddesses from captivity.

There is a common misconception that Mara is the antagonist of Lelya and Zhiva, but this is not so. The three sisters do not quarrel with each other, but personify the cycle of life, its transformation. Without death, life is impossible, and without the dying away of the old, it is impossible to build a new one.

Honoring the deity

Like any other deity of the Slavs, there were special holidays when Mara was honored. On such days, people brought her gifts and performed sacred rituals.

Places of worship

Madder did not require permanent sanctuaries. Only on special days did people erect temporary places of worship, and after the ceremonies were completed, they burned them.

Such sanctuaries were equipped with the following details:

A place was set up on the hill where an image of the goddess made of wood or straw was installed.
They dressed him up in real clothes, hung beads from dried berries and fruits on him, and decorated him with ribbons.
A stone slab was placed at the feet of the idol, where offerings were placed.
After all the rituals were completed, the place of worship was cleaned, and the image of the goddess was burned or drowned in the river.

Holy days

There are several main holidays dedicated to Morena.

September 23 is the day of the autumnal equinox. It was believed that at this hour Mara crosses the Currant River and comes to the world of Reveal.
November 22–24 are the sacred days of the goddess, the meeting of the first cold weather and frosts. It was necessary to offer gifts so that the winter would be mild.
February 15 - this date was considered a turning point in the reign of Mara in the world of Reveal, the day when she achieved her greatest power. In the harshest winters and during serious epidemics, gifts were brought to her on this day in order to gain her favor.
March 1 is a holiday of farewell to Winter before its departure.
March 20–22 is the day when Lelya-Spring came to the lands of people, and Morena-Winter went back to the world of Navi.

Idol of Goddess Mara

Offerings

Flowers, various fruits, and ears of cereals were presented as gifts to the deity. Sometimes, her altars were sprinkled with the sacrificial blood of domestic animals. This happened when people were hit by illness or severe snowstorms.

Honey, bread and various ready-made dishes were also given as gifts for the holiday. People tried to appease the goddess with offerings in order to ward off her anger and gain protection from other dark forces.

Mothers with small children gave gifts of ribbons and towels embroidered with amulets. They asked the goddess for mercy on their children, so that she would not take their souls with her.

Rituals

During the holidays, simply giving gifts is not enough. It is necessary to carry out appropriate rituals to convey your prayers to the goddess.

All rituals have some similar features:

After determining the venue, the image of the goddess was carried throughout the village or hamlet, gathering people.
During the solemn procession, people sang songs in which they praised Morena and scattered rowan berries around.
After the idol was carried through all the courtyards, it was installed in a pre-prepared place, and the festivities began.
During the holiday, unmarried girls danced around the image of the goddess, sang and danced.
It was believed that good housewives should treat everyone with bread, pies or other dishes that were prepared on the night of the holiday. This promised happiness and prosperity to their home.
After all the events were completed, the sanctuary was dismantled and the image of the goddess was burned.
The ashes were scattered over gardens and orchards with wishes for fertility for the next year.

Family

Marena herself is the daughter of the god of fire and blacksmithing Svarog and, together with the rest of her brothers and sisters, bears the common name Svarozhichi.

Mora has several spouses:

Chernobog-Kashchei.

One of the most ancient gods, the patron of sunlight and the whole world. He creates all the conditions for life on earth, shares his energy and strength. Was married several times.

From the goddess Marena he has a son and a daughter:

Suritsa is the goddess of joy and fun. Together with her husband Khmel, they give people a feeling of happiness and lightness.
Bogumir is a Slavic god, the progenitor of some Slavic tribes: Russians, Northerners, Polyans, Krivichi and Dregovichi.

Dazhdbog - one of the Svarozhichi

Veles

One of the elder gods of the Slavic pantheon. He endowed the created world with movement, causing the seasons to alternate and life to follow death. According to legends, he was incarnated more than once in the world of Revealing, and therefore it is difficult to trace his pedigree. He was married several times and had many sons and daughters.

Marena was his second wife.

From the union with her were born:

Sleep is the god of sleep. He put tired people to sleep and protected their peace until dawn. If a person leads an unrighteous lifestyle, he sends nightmares to him, warning him of the need to atone for sins.
Frost is the lord of winter cold and frost. It binds the earth with ice and plunges all living things into sleep.
Sonya is the goddess of good dreams. Together with his brother Sleep, he protects the peace of people and makes sure that no evil spirits steal their souls while they are resting. Takes away nightmares.
Karna is the mourning goddess. When a warrior died on the battlefield, she fulfilled the duty of all wives and mothers, being the first to mourn the deceased man.
Zhelya is the goddess of mortal sadness and funeral rites. She accompanies the person to the funeral pyre and ensures that all customs and rituals are observed.

Chernobog-Kashchei

Kashchei the Immortal or Chernobog is the ruler of Navi, Darkness and the Underground Kingdom. Lord of death, destruction and cold. From his union with Morena he has five children:

Msta is the goddess of revenge.
Mor is the deity of death and misfortune. His faithful companions are cold and storms that freeze all living things.
Morok is the god of lies, deception, delusion. Despite his sharp negativity, he is also the guardian of the path of Truth, hiding the Truth from unenlightened people.
Feverish women are evil sisters who were harbingers of disease. Their very name signifies the triumph of dark forces. Their total number is equal to the number of months in a year. Each maiden was responsible for a certain period.
Black Sickness is an evil spirit that attacks livestock and drains the life from them.

Chernobog - ruler of the underworld

Image in other cultures

In the mythologies of other countries there are deities similar to Morena.

Ranga is a divine creature in the mythology of Bali that personifies evil, black magic and death.
Alaisiagi are female spirits or goddesses of murder and death in Germanic folklore.
Velu Mate is the mistress of death in Latvian mythology. They met the souls of the dead and escorted them to the world of vels, where they could finish what they started in life.
Nephthys is the Egyptian deity of the underworld, death, protector of the souls of the dead.
Nirriti is the Hindu goddess of death and decay.
Proserpina - represented in ancient Roman mythology.
Hel is the ruler of the world of the dead.

Morana ( Madder, Morena, Mara, Morzhana, Bony) – goddess of winter, death, queen of the night, a powerful and formidable deity of the ancient Slavs. Morana is in charge of the afterlife or underworld, where she rules together with (Koshchei). According to legend, he wanders in the snow and sometimes visits Reality to do his dirty deed. In addition, every morning she lies in wait for the Sun in order to destroy him, but each time she retreats before his power. Every spring he fights with the forces of light (Yarilo, Zhiva) in order to prolong winter on earth as long as possible. But, in the end, she, being defeated, is burned on a symbolic bonfire, which we can now see on.

Probably in ancient times this goddess was called by the double name Mara-Marena; there was an assumption that these were generally two different, but related deities, but now many researchers of Slavic culture are confident that Mara and Marena are the names of one goddess.

The symbols of the goddess Morana are: Black Moon, broken skulls, sickle, black swan, vulture, raven. With the help of a sickle, she cuts the threads of life, as a result of which the person dies. It is believed that Morana is capable of sending bad dreams and nightmares, and the interpretation of dreams helped the Slavs decipher the message that the goddess of the underworld was sending them. Her sacred things are goat, juniper, aspen, spruce and pine. Her possessions are located beyond the Smorodina River, to reach them you need to cross the Kalinov Bridge, which connects the world of the living and the dead.

Without Mary, as well as without Chernobog, life on earth would be impossible, and she also participates in maintaining balance. The ancient Slavs believed that without death there can be no life, and death is not the end of everything, but only the beginning, a transition to another life. Taking souls from Reveal, Mara gives the soul a new existence. In addition, Morana is the goddess of death and disease in the world of the living, and the goddess of eternal youth in the other world.

Mara, in the form of the girl Marinka, tempted the hero Dobrynya in Russian fairy tales. Mara exists in Buddhist beliefs as an evil deity. In the legends of King Arthur there is a mention of the fairy Morgan. The ancient Celts believed that Morrigan took the souls of warriors from the battlefield.

The Slavic goddess of death Morana is depicted in different ways. It could be a girl with black hair. This could be a majestic queen in a white robe (Snow Queen). Sometimes she is depicted as a gray-haired old woman dressed in black beggar's robes. Such different images are associated with the changing seasons. In late autumn or early winter, when the dark goddess comes into the world and calls winter with her, she is still young and full of strength, but on Maslenitsa (Komoyeditsa) Mara is already old and helpless, and gives way to the young Yaril, who brings into the world spring. A sickle or scythe is often depicted in her hands. She gives life in the obvious world and takes the soul, after time, to the world of the dead, therefore the idol (idol) of Mare was placed near funeral mounds and on temples with a krada (altar).

With the face of Madder or her idol, the pagan Slavs walked around the village when livestock or people fell ill. They did the same when an enemy attack or war was expected. During this circumambulation, they asked Mara to allow the spirits of ancestors to be present on the battlefield, who could help and assist their descendants.

In Greek mythology, Morana corresponds to the goddess of the kingdom of the dead, Persephone.

Madder (Polish Marzan(n)a, Śmiertka, Slovak Morena, Marmuriena, Czech Morana, Smrtka, Ukrainian Marena) - in the Western and to a lesser extent Eastern Slavic tradition, a female mythological character associated with seasonal rites of dying and resurrection of nature. The name of Madder or Mara is borne by a stuffed animal, a doll or a tree in the rituals of seeing off winter and welcoming spring.

Functions and origin

The name Maren is mentioned in birch bark documents No. 794, 798, 849, 955 found in Veliky Novgorod in 1997–2005, dated to the second–third quarter of the 12th century. Before the discovery of these birch bark letters, the earliest mention of Madder was the Polish History by Jan Dlugosz (1455).

The image of Madder, by initial etymological relationship or secondary sound likeness, is associated with death and seasonal agrarian rituals of the dying and resurrection of nature. The 15th-century Polish chronicler J. Dlugosh identifies Marzyana with the Roman Ceres. The Czech Morana (Old Czech Morana) in the false glosses from the “Mater Verborum” is identified with Hecate and Proserpina-Persephone (“Ecate, trivia vel nocticula, Proserpina”). Vyach. Sun. Ivanov and V.N. Toporov connect the name of Madder with the name of the Roman god of war Mars, who initially also had agricultural functions, restoring the general ancestral form *Mǒr- (while admitting that later, perhaps, there was a mixture - in the spirit of folk etymology - of the roots * Mǒr- and *mer-, “death”, as a result of which the fertility deity also became associated with death). In popular publications, Marena is often described solely as a goddess of death; This is exactly how her image is often interpreted in the neo-pagan sphere.

What does it look like?

The Slavic goddess of death Morana is depicted in different ways. This could be a girl with black hair that is scattered over her shoulders, wearing a velvet dress embroidered with jewels. This could be a majestic queen in a white robe (Snow Queen). Sometimes she is depicted as a gray-haired old woman dressed in black beggar's robes. Such different images are associated with the changing seasons. In late autumn or early winter, when the dark goddess comes into the world and calls winter with her, she is still young and full of strength, but on Maslenitsa (Komoyeditsa) Mara is already old and helpless, and gives way to the young Yaril, who brings into the world spring. A sickle or scythe is often depicted in her hands. She gives life in the waking world and, after time, takes the soul to Nav, so the idol (idol) of Mare was placed near funeral mounds and on temples with a krada (altar).

Place in the pantheon

Lelya, Zhiva and Marena are the three daughters of Svarog and Lada. And they also had three twin brothers, one of whom we know well - this is Perun, and we can only guess about the rest (at least by analogy with Egyptian myths).

Marena was initially the wife of Dazhdbog, the son of Perun and the mermaid Ros, but later became known as Vasilisa the Beautiful, the wife of Koshchei (analogous to the trickster god Lokki in Irish and Scandinavian myths). And Zhiva (Tara) became Dazhdbog’s wife. It is Dazhdbog who is most often associated in fairy tales as Ivanushka Tsarevich. This is what is written in the ancient Slavic myth about the union of Dazhdbog and Mary:

Dazhdbog's first wife Maya Zlatogorka went to Nav after her death, where her spirit merged with the spirit of the goddess of Death - Marena, after which, apparently, Marena liked Dazhdbog. Then Marena bewitched Dazhdbog and longing for love settled in his heart.

At that time, Kashchei was wooing Marena, but Dazhbog was so inflamed with passion that he decided to take the charming woman away from his rival. However, Marena did not intend to become Dazhbog’s wife. She only wanted to marry Kashchei, for he was of a noble family - no joke, the son of Viy and the Mother of the Damp Earth, the grandson of the Black Snake himself. And Tarkh Dazhbog is just the son of a mermaid. When Tarkh began to pester her too much, she invited him to drink the charmed honey. As soon as Dazhbog drank it, horns branched out on his head - and Dazhbog turned into the Golden-horned Deer (people remember this event in mid-summer, on the day of the Honey Savior).

Maren again turned the Golden-Horned Deer into Tarkh Dazhbog only after Perun threatened to incinerate her with lightning. Marena could not resist the lover Dazhbog and married him. But after the wedding, Marena was kidnapped from Dazhbog by his offended rival Kashchei. Dazhbog set off in pursuit of the kidnapper, but Marena and Kashchei deceived him every time - they threw him into the Peklo, turned him into a Stone, and in the end crucified him on Mount Alatyr (Elbrus), Alatyr, “the father of all stones,” “the navel of the earth” in Slavic Traditions, stands on Buyan Island. The sources of all rivers and the beginnings of all roads are hidden under Alatyr. Alatyr serves as an altar and throne to the supreme gods, and therefore any throne and any altar in the Middle World is only a reflection of the Alatyr-stone. The magical altar - the stone on which the sacrifice is performed - is a reflection of the World Mountain, or the Alatyr stone.

Folk beliefs

The symbols of the goddess Morana are: Black Moon, broken skulls, sickle, black swan, vulture, raven. With the help of a sickle, she cuts the threads of life, as a result of which the person dies. It is believed that Morana is capable of sending bad dreams and nightmares, and the interpretation of dreams helped the Slavs decipher the message that the goddess of the underworld was sending them. Her sacred things are goat, juniper, aspen, spruce and pine. Her possessions are located beyond the Smorodina River, to reach them, you need to cross the Kalinov Bridge, which connects Yav and Nav (the world of the living and the dead).

Mary is Dead Water, that is, the opposite of life-giving light or the Solar Yari. However, without Mara, as well as without Chernobog, life on earth would be impossible, and she also participates in maintaining balance. The ancient Slavs believed that without death there can be no life, and death is not the end of everything, but only the beginning, a transition to another life. Taking souls from Reveal, Mara gives the soul a new existence. In addition, Morana is the goddess of death and disease in the world of Yavi, and the goddess of eternal youth in the world of Navi.

On the day of the spring equinox (the modern name is Maslenitsa, the pagan name of the holiday is Komoeditsa), the Slavs traditionally burn an effigy of Morana, a straw woman, at the stake. During the spring and summer, Marena leaves, but her faithful servants, the Marys, always remain with people. Maras are the spirits of disease and death. According to legend, Marys carry their heads under their arms and whisper the names of people, standing under the windows of houses; if anyone responds, they will certainly get sick and may even die. The most famous spirit from the maras is Kikimora. Marys exist in many beliefs of different peoples. The Germans believed that these were the Maruts - the spirits of evil warriors, the Swedes and Danes - the souls of the dead, the Bulgarians - the souls of dead babies. Mara, in the form of the girl Marinka, tempted the hero Dobrynya in Russian fairy tales. Mara exists in Buddhist beliefs as an evil deity. In the legends of King Arthur there is a mention of the fairy Morgan. The ancient Celts believed that Morrigan took the souls of warriors from the battlefield.

In Ukraine, a ritual-amulet against this evil force has been preserved. On the eve of Midsummer's Day, a straw idol of Kupalg is made - sometimes the size of a child, and sometimes the real height of a person. He is dressed in a woman's chemise, monista and flower wreaths. Then the tree is cut down, hung with ribbons and wreaths, and installed in the place chosen for the game. This tree is called Morena; A dressed up doll is placed under it, and next to it is a table with various snacks and drinks. Then they light a big fire and start jumping over it in pairs (well done with the girls), holding a Kupala doll in their hands. Games and songs continue until dawn. The next day they bring the doll and Morena to the river, tear off their decorations and throw them both into the water, in the hope of ridding themselves in the near future from illness, and from death, and, of course, from others everyday troubles

In neopaganism

Madder was supplied with many children who are responsible for disasters, epidemics and other troubles - navi. She is endowed with the following symbols - the Black Moon, piles of broken skulls and a sickle with which she cuts the Threads of Life. Madder embodies the triumph of Marie - “Dead Water” (Will to Death), that is, the Force opposite to the Life-giving Solar Yari. But Death, bestowed by Madder, is not a complete interruption of the Currents of Life as such, but is only a transition to Another Life, to a new Beginning, for it is so ordained by the Almighty Family that after Winter, which takes with it everything that has become obsolete, a new Spring always comes... But even after the departure of Winter-Death, her numerous servants, the maras, remained with the people.

According to the legends of the ancient Slavs, these are evil spirits of disease, they carry their heads under their arms, wander at night under the windows of houses and whisper the names of household members: whoever responds to the voice of the mara will die. The Germans are sure that the Maruts are the spirits of frantic warriors. The Swedes and Danes consider them to be the souls of the dead, the Bulgarians are sure that mary are the souls of babies who died unbaptized. Belarusians believed that Morana handed over the dead to Baba Yaga, who fed on the souls of the dead. In Sanskrit the word "ahi" means serpent, serpent.

The straw effigy, which to this day is still burned in some places during the festival of ancient Maslenitsa at the time of the spring equinox, belongs to Morena, the Goddess of death and cold. And every winter she takes power. And in order to somehow protect themselves from Marena and show her that they were not afraid of her, to intimidate her, to drive her away, the Slavs gathered as a whole and went to the most disastrous place - to the forest swamp. After all, it was also believed that it was in the forest swamps that all evil spirits (Mora-Kikimora) nesting, belonging to the retinue of the dark deity.

Temple of Madder

Flaming brands were brought to this swamp and extinguished in elani (an unfrozen bog) in order to symbolically “repel” the goddess of winter cold and death. After all, there were long nights and short days ahead without the sun, which since time immemorial had been considered the enemy of all dark forces and the friend of people.

Madder Day

Madder Day is March 1st. Replaced by the day of Saint Mariamne the Righteous. In the folk calendar she was called Maremyana-Kikimora “one-eyed”, equivalent to the pagan Marena-Marmora-Mara-Kikimora. A proverb, remembered on this day, has been preserved: “Yarilo took the winter with a pitchfork” (winter, i.e. Morena).

The ancient Slavs were not afraid of death, and winter did not frighten them with cold and dying nature. On the contrary, they knew and believed that after the sleep into which Nature plunges during winter, spring would come, which would bring flowering, fertility and renewal. It is not for nothing that on the holiday of Farewell Sunday, people ask each other for forgiveness, leaving behind grievances and mistakes of the past year.

Death also meant the arrival of new life. Although this is a sad event, it is inevitable and, in fact, there is no point in grieving especially about this, because, according to ancient legends, death is not the end, but a transition to another world. And there is no reason to be afraid of this.

The Russian people have always been very closely connected with nature and faith, and felt that they were protected by higher powers. The strength of the Slavic people undoubtedly lies in the purity of the soul.

Slavic horoscope: Morana October 16 – November 1

People born at this time of year receive the protection of Morana. The name of this Slavic goddess has a clear connection with the word “pestilence,” which means sudden death that overtakes almost everyone. The pestilence could destroy both a tiny village and a huge state. Morena is the goddess of painful, barren decrepitude, withering of life processes, death. And the appropriate sacrifices were made to this creature - withered flowers, fallen leaves, spoiled, rotten fruits. It was also believed that she liked to accept extinct human lives.

People under her protection are destined to be born in a dull, frightening time, when they can count and rely solely on themselves. Of all the other signs, this one is considered the most powerful, and this power has properties bordering on magical. Morena's patient and persistent children are steadily moving towards their goal and are not the least bit nervous: they already know that everything will work out. When they find themselves in the most difficult, hopeless everyday situations, they don’t even think of giving up, but on the contrary, they gather all their will into a fist. In addition, in difficult situations they are under the protection of Fate itself.

Representatives of this sign do not avoid or are not afraid of struggle. Moreover, they are always determined to win and are not afraid to look death itself in the face. It is no coincidence that Morena people can become excellent doctors, in particular those working in intensive care and surgery: they are capable of pulling almost anyone out of the other world. Without confrontation, without competition, neither love nor friendship seems interesting to them. Those born during this period are characterized not only by perseverance, but also by unusually developed self-discipline. They do not know how to compromise and can often be vindictive.

At the same time, these people often have to fluctuate between two attachments. They do not allow their feelings to take full control of them. They do not like responsibility and therefore try to avoid it, although they always perform the work at a high level. Children of Morana are simultaneously characterized by benevolence, tenderness, dreaminess, prudence, elegance, subtle eroticism - and aggressiveness, gloominess, gloominess, irascibility, stubbornness, frenzy, and jealousy. Most of the fair sex, born under the auspices of Morana, are notorious femme fatales. However, most often the energy and power of the children of this goddess is aimed at defense and much less often at attack.

Moraine people are extremely strong, but even they need extra energy. For them, its source is dead water. It can be collected in any body of water when the water in it is half frozen. Like a fairy tale, it acts as a protection for representatives of this sign from all sorts of problems and resurrects them to life, giving them new strength. People born at this time maintain excellent physical shape until old age and are long-lived.

The children of Morena, who have a truly demonic nature, are distinguished by a detached view of the world, cravings, and a pronounced interest in everything otherworldly. They have the ability to control people’s feelings, so they sometimes decide to do things that are taboo for others.

In addition, Veles was also considered the patron saint of people born at this time, who was responsible for the relationship between the two worlds - the living and the dead, and for the continuity of the cycle of births and deaths. His people understand well that a new birth is simply impossible without death, as well as the acquisition of something without sacrifice. The best representatives of this sign know how to renounce what belongs to them. It often turns out that the children of Veles, having nothing, essentially gain a lot, if not everything. People born at this time become worthy representatives of power and skillful managers.

Conclusion

The name Moran is related to such words as “pestilence”, “haze”, “gloom”, “haze”, “fool”, “death”.
The image of Mary in Russian beliefs, in accordance with her meaning, is ghostly. This is fog and haze, influencing the destinies of people, appearing only at a certain time - at noon or midnight of a day or year. Temporary changes, thus, personify changes in the destinies of people. The image of Mara reflects the ancient archetype associated with the sea and death. The image of Morena is seen as a combination of birth, fertility and death. Mara is also soul and share, the source and end of existence.
Her symbols: the black Moon symbolizes darkness, dying and melancholy. However, the Moon also has the ability to be reborn, and Winter in the person of Mara eventually gives way to a new Spring.
Piles of broken skulls are a gloomy and threatening symbol of death and the frailty of existence, causing involuntary trepidation. It seems that in the deep hollows of empty eye sockets, in the deathly yellowness, in the eerie motionless grin, Death itself is hidden.
The sickle with which Morena cuts the Threads of Life symbolizes mortality. At the same time, the sickle carries the meaning of fertility and productivity.
A woman in black torn clothes represents melancholy, illness and mourning, while a girl in light clothes represents youth, beauty, life and joy.

The goddess Morana, Mara, Morena in Slavic mythology is the embodiment of death, night, winter. Her symbol is the sickle with which she reaps life, broken piles of skulls and the Black Moon. Every morning she tries to destroy the sun, but the horror of its bright rays prevents her from doing this.
Mara is the daughter of the goddess Lada and the god Svarog. Depending on the time of year, it looks different. In late autumn, this is a young beautiful girl, with a pale face and long black hair, in white and azure clothes sparkling in the light of the moon (like the Snow Queen), and at the end of winter - an old beggar woman dressed in rags. The old woman does not want to give up time for spring. Trying with all his might to hold off the winter. It was from ancient paganism that the ritual of burning an effigy at the stake on Maslenitsa came to us, so that the evil Morana would leave quickly.

The name "Morana" itself comes from the word "mor". With the image of the goddess, the villagers walked around the villages when pestilence began in them, people and animals died. They asked the goddess to take the disease to Nav. After all, Morena was originally personified as the goddess of life and death, taking the souls of the dead, she allowed them to be reborn again. Over time, they began to forget about this and Morana was associated exclusively with death, bringing fear to the souls of people. One of the goddess's favorite pastimes is weaving. Like the Greek Moirai, she plays with the threads of people’s lives, leading them in the right direction, and in the end, cutting off the thread of the dying person’s life. Morena did not have sanctuaries, like other gods, she was worshiped in secret, and if it was necessary to turn to the goddess, for example, during illness or war, then the idol was installed on the ground, covering it with stones. After the ceremony was performed, everything that was in this place (stones, altar, the idol itself) was burned or drowned in water.

The servants of the goddess, the maras, also walk the earth. Ghosts that at night, under the windows, whisper the names of the people living in the house. Whoever answers his name will soon die. From other sources, maras, on the contrary, live in people’s houses, in the corners behind the stove; if the brownie helps the owners, then the mara spoils and tears the yarn, steals things. Becoming visible at night, she spins and sews on a moonlit night. Those who catch her doing this will face grief. Marami also frightened children, small and weak, they could drag them away and kill them, making them like that.
Moran is often told in Slavic fairy tales and epics. In them she appears as a villain, Koshchei’s wife, Yaga’s friend Marena Svarogovna. In fairy tales, she can take on the appearance of other girls, captivate heroes, and play dirty tricks on the main characters. But, invariably, good triumphs over evil, and Marana ends up the loser.