The goddess Morena in Slavic mythology personified eternal cold, impenetrable darkness and death. Her wrath was feared by both ordinary people and famous celestials. Even today, a thousand years later, the memory of her lives in such unpleasant words as "haze", "pestilence", "darkness" and "haze". However, despite all this, Morena was held in high esteem by the Slavs, as she not only took life, but also gave it a start.
Morena - goddess of death
This goddess had many names. Someone called her Morena, someone Mara, and someone even preferred the louder Kashcheevna. No less confusing is the history of its appearance. According to the first version, the mistress of death was born from a spark that fell from the sacred stone Alatyr. Thus, her father was Svarog himself - the lord of the great hammer and all living things.
The second version says that Morena was born by Chernobog. True, today this story has acquired a new color. Carefully studying the ancient texts andsongs, scientists came to the conclusion that Chernobog was not her creator - he was her lawful husband. It's just that over time, the myths about their marriage gave way to a new generation of stories. They less and less mentioned the union of these two gods, and later Morena became the wife of a completely different celestial.
Beauty or old woman?
Very fascinating is the way Morena looks. The goddess appears before mortals in completely different guises, depending on the season. So, at the end of autumn, she comes to the world of Reveal as a beautiful young girl. Her face is as white as snow, her eyes are purer than a mountain river, and her hair is as black as the winter sky. Also at this time, Morena wears only exquisite outfits, decorated with gold, silver and precious stones.
But as the days approach spring, the appearance of the goddess also changes. In three months, she transforms from a young girl into a gray-haired old woman who cannot even take a step without her cane. Along with beauty, Mary's dresses also fall into disrepair. By Maslenitsa, only tatters remain from the once magnificent outfits, which finally complete the image of the tired goddess.
Imprisoned in my fortress
Morena reigns in the human world for only four months. At the end of autumn, the powers of the mistress of winter are too great, and none of the gods can prevent her from walking freely in Java. Only in the spring, Yarilo and Zhiva enter into battle with her in order to revive warmth and life on earth again. And every year they win, forcing Mara to return to her dark palace in Navi.
They say that the house of thisgoddesses can be found if you go far to the north. Here she lives most of the year, captivated by the powers of the light gods. Also in the legends it is said that the fortress of Morena consists of countless mirrors. The only way to it lies through the Kalinov Bridge, thrown over the Smorodina River. And her peace is guarded by a terrible monster - a many-headed snake-dragon.
Power of the Goddess
The Slavic Goddess Morena primarily personified death. She was a prototype of the very old woman with a scythe who comes for the souls of the dead after their death. Also, this goddess could send illnesses, hardships and curses to people. And it is precisely because of this that many rank her in the pantheon of unambiguously evil gods.
However, the truth is that Mara did not kill people for her own ambitions. She just coolly did her job. She transferred all the collected souls to Nav, after which they could be reborn in new bodies. Therefore, at the funeral, the Slavs tried to appease Morena, so that she would lead the deceased to a better life.
People didn't curse Mara either because she sought to bring eternal winter into the world. They understood that in the spring Yarilo would still defeat her. And three months of cold will only give the earth the peace that it needs so much after the harvest. They prayed for only one thing, that Morena would not send too much frost. And if they came, they tried with all their might to persuade the mistress of winter to take pity on them.
Minions of Mara
Morena - Slavic goddess,giving birth to many dark spirits. It was them that people feared most of all when night fell on the earth. So, the most terrible among them were maras - creatures holding their own head under their arm. According to beliefs, they wandered from yard to yard, whispering the names of people to themselves. If someone responded to their call, then he was immediately overcome by illness or misfortune.
Kikimor also spawned the darkness of Morena. The goddess often used them for her own selfish purposes. Especially when she needed to resort to some kind of trick. For example, there is an ancient legend about how a kikimora tried to bring one hero out of the white world. For a long time she led him by the nose, until the brave warrior revealed her deceit and chopped the dark spirit into small pieces.
Rites associated with the worship of Mara
Morena is the goddess of death and dark magic. Therefore, most of her cults, one way or another, are connected with these gloomy spheres. In addition to the funeral, Mary resorted to the help in case of an epidemic and pestilence. In these difficult days, people asked for the favor and mercy of the goddess, appeasing her with offerings.
On the eve of the great battle, the magi also called out to Morena. They believed that she could endow their warriors with the strength of their ancestors and they would definitely win the coming battle.
Shrovetide
Few people know, but that straw doll that is burned annually at Maslenitsa is Morena. The goddess became a prototype for her back in those days when Russia lived according to the canons of paganism. The Slavs believed that the sun god Yarilo fought with Mara every year in order to return the heatto the ground.
Shrovetide itself was a holiday in honor of his victory over winter. On this day, people baked pancakes that were shaped like the sun. They also burned a straw effigy - a metaphorical symbol personifying the goddess of eternal cold and darkness. And although the times of pagan idols are long gone, people still use this ancient tradition in their rituals.
