Morena, associated with seasonal rites based on the idea of death and rebirth of nature. She is an ancient goddess associated with winter's death and rebirth and dreams. She has also domain over magic, witchcraft, knowledge of herbs and poisonous plants, ghosts, necromancy, and sorcery, sometimes referred to as the Witch Godess. Death of the Goddess Marzanna at the end winter becomes the rebirth of Spring and the Goddess Lada.
Festivals/holidays
- 14th of September – her marriage with Veles is celebrated
- 21th September - autumn equinox - Is celebrated like a day of thanks giving where people take stock on what they have for the upcoming winter and make sure to help their neighbors in need. It's a day to make donations and help people down on their luck.
- 21th of December – winter equinox, the Great Morena festivities begin, big dinner is made for the whole family and a tree of life is put up inside home (sheaf or a mistletoe), wreaths are made from sticks and decorated with pine cones and ribbons of white and red, families visit their friends and neighbors in a form of ritual procession; on the 6th of January, the festivities are done and the tree of life and wreaths are put away
- 21th of March – an effigy of Morena is drowned to end winter and to being sent back to Underworld, the effigy is dressed in white and decorated with ribbons, carried by children through the village, then handed over to adults who drown it in a lake, preferably a river
Trivia
Children make snow lanterns (or paint jars if there’s not enough snow) that guide the way to their house where the family celebrates Morena.
- The drowning of the effigy has many superstitions: if one touches the effigy after it’s thrown in the river, their hand will wither, looking back when going home may cause an illness and stumbling and falling may lead to the relative's death the coming year.
She is said to be the daughter of Perun and sister of Devana.
Prayer for Morena:
There is a winter in all of our lives. A chill and darkness that makes us yearn for days that have gone or put our hope in days yet to be.
We need a winter in our lives, a time of rest, a time to stand still, a time to reacquaint ourselves with the faith in which we live.
It is only then that we can draw strength from the one in whom we are rooted, take time to grow and rise through the darkness
into the warm glow of your embrace.
Hymn for Morena:
What does the darkness hide in its silence?
What does the heart hide in its anticipation,
as the darkness keeps growing denser?
Who comes as a sign of light
and touches the silent longing of hearts?
That the night will soon become the day?
She breaks the silence of darkness,
with the song of dawn and shining light.
She lights hopes for those that are longing.
The people who walk in darkness and despair.
Yes, they who long for the morning, are reminded of the impending light.
Funeral prayer:
At the rinsing of the sun and at its going down
We remember them.
At the blowing of the wind and the chill of the winter We remember them
At the opening of the buds and in the rebirth of Spring We remember them
At the blueness of the skies and the warmth of the Summer We remember them
At the rustling of the leaves and the beauty of Autumn We remember them
At the beginning or the year and when it ends We remember them
As long as we live, they too will live; for they are now a part of us, as we remember them
When we are weary and in the need for strength We remember them
When we are lost and sick at heart We remember them
When we have joy we crave to share We remember them
When we have decisions that are difficult to make We remember them
When we have achievements that are based on theirs We remember them
As long as we live, they too will live; for they are now a part of us, as we remember them...
Poem of grief
Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sun on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.
Funeral prayer:
When I come to the end of the road,
And the sun has set for me
I want no rites in a gloom-filled room,
Why cry for a soul set free?
Miss me a little, but not for long
And not with your head bowed low
Remember the love that once we shared
Miss me, but let me go.
For this is a journey we all must take
And each must go alone.
It's all part of the master plan
A step on the road to home.
When you are lonely and sick at heart
Go to the friends we know.
Laugh at all the things we used to do
Miss me, but let me go.