Slavic Paganism

Challenges in Understanding Slavic Paganism

Lack of Direct Sources

Slavic pagans did not have a writing system during their pagan period, resulting in a lack of direct written sources about their beliefs.

Once Slavs adopted writing, mainly due to Christianity, they did not compile their pagan myths or legends into texts akin to those found in other cultures like the Norse Eddas or Greek mythological writings.

Reliance on External and Christian Sources

Knowledge of Slavic paganism primarily comes from brief mentions in external Christian and Muslim writings, or later Slavic Christian texts that criticized paganism.

These sources often carry a derogatory tone towards pagan beliefs but still provide valuable snippets of information.

Oral Traditions and Modern Myths

Slavic oral folktales were compiled in the 18th and 19th centuries during a period when nationalism was rising, leading to many invented myths.

Modern attempts to revive Slavic paganism often involve fabricated or heavily modified myths to support neopagan movements.

Nature of Slavic Paganism

Diverse and Localized Beliefs

Slavic paganism was not a unified religion; it varied significantly across different regions and times.

The term “Religion(s) of the Slavs” reflects this diversity, with different Slavic groups having their distinct practices and deities.

Common Deities

• Perun: A widely revered god across all Slavic lands, associated with lightning, the sky, war, and oaths.
• Svarog, Svarožić, and Dažbog: Eastern Slavic sources mention these gods, though their exact interrelations and roles are unclear. They are associated with the forge, fire, and the sun.
• Mokosh: A goddess mentioned in Eastern Europe, possibly representing earth and fertility, similar to other Indo-European earth mother goddesses.

Mythical Beings and Festivals

• Slavs also worshipped natural features like lakes and trees, believed to be inhabited by supernatural beings like Vily and Watermen.
• Festivals like Rusalia were significant, involving rituals for the dead, possibly derived from Roman traditions.

Slavic Rituals and Practices

Funeral Rites and Human Sacrifice

Cremation was the norm, possibly to prevent the “restless dead” from haunting the living.

Human sacrifice, particularly of widows, was practiced, reflecting a cultural belief in the afterlife that demanded the sacrifice of wives upon their husbands’ deaths.

Restless Dead

The concept of the “restless dead” included vampires, werewolves, and undead witches, reflecting fears of improper burials and unnatural deaths.

Christianization led to a shift from cremation to inhumation, possibly increasing beliefs in such beings due to a departure from traditional burial practices.

Cultural Interactions and Influences

Interconnectedness with Other Cultures

Slavic paganism interacted with and was influenced by Germanic, Baltic, Iranian, Roman, and Celtic cultures.

Shared practices like mead drinking and weapon pendants and the association of Slavic gods with Germanic deities in Christian texts highlight these interactions.