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Slavic mythology or Slavic paganism is the religious beliefs, myths, and ritual practices of the Slavs before Christianisation, which occurred at various stages between the 8th and the 13th century.
- Written Sources on Slavic Paganism
- Perun and Veles
- The Pantheon of Prince Vladimir
- West Slavic Paganism
- Pagan Statues and Other Remains
- Pagan Elements in Slavic Folklore
- Pagan Slavic Festivals and Rituals
- Spring Festival
- Summer Festival
- Winter Festival
- GeneratedCaptionsTabForHeroSec
One of the most valued sources with references to the Slavic pagan beliefs (more specifically, Eastern Slavs) is the “Slavic Primary Chronicle”. This manuscript was, reportedly, compiled at the beginning of the 12th century. You can find the descriptions of the time period before the Christian Baptism of Kievan Rus in this manuscript . Two deities ...
Perun is the god of thunder and lightning. He lives in the heavens and is characterized by fierceness and dryness. Perun is placed on the highest branch of the World Tree from which he rules the world. Veles, on the other hand, is the god of waters, the protector of the Earth (and wetlands). He is also the lord of the underworld who rules from belo...
This pantheon included the gods Dazhbog, Hors, Stribog, Simargl and Mokosh. The god Dazhbog was a personification of the Sun. It was believed that he is the god of blessings and the son of the god Svarog . Slavs performed special rituals in his name during the period of harvest. The god Hors was also considered a Sun god and it was believed that he...
The most prolific written records of Slavic Paganism are those of the West Slavs (particularly the Wendish and Polabian) who were forcibly Christianised at the end of the 12th century. Most of these texts were written by German missionaries and priests. It is worth mentioning that almost none of these scholars learned any of the Slavic languages. A...
In 1848, on the bank of the river Zbruch, a number of statues of Slavic deitieswere discovered. One of them was a tall stone statue that resembled the Slavic god Svanevit. Other pagan statues of Slavic tribes were discovered in other places. For example, a small four-headed statue from the 10th century was found amongst the ruins of Preslav, (once ...
Between the 7th and the 12th centuries, various Slavic populations were Christianised. The majority of the rural Slavic population relied on old myths regarding religiosity, so Christian priests and monks, especially in Russia, had to fight against the so-called Russian paganism or “dvoeverie”. Eventually, the Russian peasants accepted new Christia...
The pagan Slavs organized their belief system through observing rituals (according to myths) that were cyclical in nature and were repeated every year. The Slavic mythology depended on the specific pre-Christain calendar concept. The Slavic year was lunar and thus began in early March, similar to other Indo-European cultures. The names for the last...
A big spring festival was also observed. It was dedicated to the god of fertility and vegetation, Jarilo. Young girls and men would walk around villages, carrying green branches of flower wreaths as symbols of new life and fertility. They visited homes within a village, recited songs at the doorsteps and blessed households with traditional fertilit...
When it comes to the summer festival and traditions of pagan Slavs, the emphasis was put on the summer solstice festival. This holiday was celebrated lavishly, mainly as a big wedding, and according to some historical sources, was followed by a general orgy. The night before the summer solstice, people gathered for a big feast and lit large bonfire...
A festival of the winter solstice was also observed and later, it was probably replaced with the Christian Christmas. Therefore, in many of the Slavic countries, Christmas is called “Bozic” which translates to “little god”, as “bog” means god. The name of this holiday is probably of pagan origin and indicated the birth of a new, young god of the Su...
Learn about the history and rituals of Slavic paganism, its common traits with other Proto-Indo-European religions, and its survival in folklore and culture. Explore the sources, deities, and statues of Slavic paganism before and after Christianisation.
Mar 22, 2024 · Slavic religion, beliefs and practices of the ancient Slavic peoples of eastern Europe. Slavs are usually subdivided into East Slavs (Russians, Ukrainians, and Belorussians), West Slavs (Poles, Czechs, Slovaks, and Lusatians [Sorbs]), and South Slavs (Bosnians, Serbs, Croats, Slovenes, Macedonians, and Bulgars).
The Slavic Native Faith, commonly known as Rodnovery and sometimes as Slavic Neopaganism, is a modern Pagan religion.
- 7,000 — 10,000
- 5,000 — 10,000
- 10,000 — 757,000 (2012)
Oct 25, 2023 · Learn how Slavic witches are reviving ancient traditions and practices that survived centuries of Christian erasure. Explore the diversity and history of Slavic witchcraft, from Walpurgis Night to Jarilo and Morana, and how it connects with Slavic identity and heritage.
Jun 5, 2023 · Learn about the ancient Slavic religion, its origins, deities, and influences from Proto-Indo-European beliefs. Discover the myths and legends of the Slavic peoples, who inhabited Eastern Europe and beyond.
Slavic mythology or Slavic paganism is the religious beliefs, myths, and ritual practices of the Slavs before Christianisation, which occurred at various stages between the 8th and the 13th century.
