Slavic Mythology

[Felix]

Sources

Unlike Greek or Egyptian mythology, there are no first-hand records for the study of Slavic mythology. Despite some controversial theories (for instance, the Book of Veles), it cannot be proven that the Slavs had any sort of writing system prior to Christianisation; therefore, all their original religious beliefs and traditions were likely passed down orally over generations, and potentially forgotten over the centuries following the arrival of Christianity. Prior to that, sparse records of Slavic religion were mostly written by non-Slavic Christian missioners who were not very interested and/or objective in their descriptions of pagan beliefs. Archaeological remains of old Slavic idols and shrines have been found, but they do not tell us much more other than confirming existing historical records. Fragments of old mythological beliefs and pagan festivals survive up to this day in folk customs, songs, and stories of all the Slavic nations. Reconstruction of ancient myths from remains that survived in folklore over a thousand years is a complex and difficult task that can often lead researchers astray. This may result in misinterpretations, confusions, or even pure forgeries and inventions.

 

[Ukonkivi]

Yes, it is very hard to understand coherent information on Slavic Mythology and Paganism.
However, I'm very thankful it at least has a thread for discussion here now. Slavic Reconstructionism is still possible.
I'd honestly prefer that we have a section of Slavic, Baltic, and Uralic Paganism/Neo-Paganism/Mythology/Folklore.

I'd really like a place to discuss, say, Romuva.

Uralic Paganism may exist in further Eastern Russia, but it's still European. Uralic culture is European enough to be to considered European culture. Finland, Hungary, and Estonia are NOT Asian countries. Not that I'm fond of that distinction between East and West too much to begin with. But considering this forum has already made that distinction, I think that Uralic discussions go in the European sections. I'm sure most people would agree.

 

[twinmama]

I'm Karelian and I was raised to pagan beliefs by my family. I very much concider myself European. Not Slavic or Nordic though. Uralic faiths are their own group, still alive in many places(but dieing fast in Russia, "thanks" to new cruel rules of Russia, destriying last of the indigenous groups )

 

[Ukonkivi]

Ah yes, I am quite worried about the further Eastern Uralic peoples who live in Russia and their culture.
The Yukaghir, the Samoyedic, and the Urgic.

I have a lot of sympathies towards these groups.
I'd certainly like to some way support the preservation of some of these cultures.

 

[twinmama]

Areas inhabited by Finno-Ugric peoples contain 40% of Russia's strategic oil reserves, large bauxite and diamond deposits, and companies of the strategic military industry. So....really, it is just one big catastrophe.

 

[horntooth]

copy/ paste from the topic about Slavic Paganism

there's some info here: Slavic Neopaganism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

it is interesting how slavic pagans understand their name (as it is written in the book of veles) "we are calles slavs becase we give glory (slava) to the gods".

other names for slavic faith are rodnoverie- with means native faith, literally- faith of the kin.

some use rodoverie, which would mean faith in rod, some slavic pagans believe that rod is essentially that what is brahman for hindus; and rod in this case would mean "parent" (words- parent, kin, to give birth have the same root).

and there are some call their faith pravoslavie, which is a pun- in means orthodoxy- "right faith", and it also means for them "glorifying the prav". you can read here what prav is: Jav, Prav and Nav - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

among slavic pagans, hard paganism is popular mostly with the neo-nazi/ rasist/ nativist groups as an opposition to "judeo-christianity", and there are also slavic pagans who are monist (soft polytheism), on the basis of the book of veles, which some of them believe to an authentic pre-christian slavic book.

this is a sort of "confession" of slavic faith, made by one group of slavic pagans:

We believe in Slavic Gods. We believe in wisdom, goodness and beauty hidden under their countenances. Slavic Gods are the founts of life, power and happiness. Belief in our Gods is the heritage which we continue.

​

Slavic Gods, worshipped for millennia are the most beautiful images of the Divine Power and closest to our hearts. The Gods create a hierarchized, multi-personal, mutually complementing order. The order which emerged from chaos.

​

We believe that Gods give meaning to our existence, we believe they protect the actions of our grandfathers, our actions and that of our children and grandchildren from being forgotten. The most valuable things will be passed on and will exist in the eternal cycle of reviving life.

​

We assume that the death of a man ends certain stage. It is the condition of the transformation into a new form of existence. It is a shed of the old, exhausted form. The noble and persistent ones will be rewarded with entering into continuously higher and higher levels of existence, more conscious, more significant and closer to Gods.

​

The knowledge of mankind has not reached the level which would allow to determine the essence of the universe, yet we are conscious of its constant growth. Now we can become a part of this growth. Permanent progress fills our life with meaning and endows us with faith in survival of our actions.

​

We practice stict ethical rules. We live properly, honestly and nobly. We condemn laziness, cowardice, recklessness and hypocrisy. The most villainous for us is treason.

​

We are the enemies of meanness, and most of all we condemn lack of will to overcome it. We propagate the things which are the best in us. We bear responsibility for our actions. We grow and we create, for this is our destiny.

​

We are the defenders of our values, families and of our community. We defend the right to live on our own territory, we defend the space of our civilisation. This duty arises from the most obvious laws of nature.

​

Our rituals focus on following the rhythm of nature, on finding wisdom in the laws of nature and in the divine rights present in it. Our rituals cultivate the relation with our ethnic and spiritual community. Common prayers and common meals. Homage paid to our ancestors. The obiata sacrifice made to our Gods. We bring back meaningfulness to our ancient native feasts.

​

We believe in reason, the source of human cognition. We believe in our powers, the reason for constant change. We believe in the soul, the divine element in men.

​

Our community surrounds us with help and support. Together we bring out the most valuable things in us, the only things which are worth noticing.​

A crooked cross, a triskelion, a circle and an even-armed cross are the symbols of Slavic faith believers, the symbols coding the knowledge about the order of the Universe.

​

Glory to Gods, Memory to Ancestors!​

 

[Mophiax]

The Slavic Pantheon is quite fascinating, sadly it's not really popular outside of the Slavic states

 

[The Sum of Awe]

Not to offend you, but I advise you to use paragraphs.

I think another reason there is little information about it is because they were more eastern than western. The east has a tendency of missing lots of things