Also known as Horned God, Black God, Lord of the Dead or Lord of the Souls. Veles is the god of the Underworld, earth, waters, trickery, cattle, snakes, bears, wolves, music, magic, wilderness, poetry, knowledge, hunting, animals and animal transformation, patron of shepherds and hunters, protector of traveling musicians. He is depicted with horns due to his protection of cattle.
His symbols are bear, wolf, snake, owl and willow. His attributes are wet, wooly, hairy/bearded and dark. He’s known to turn mostly into a bear or a snake with a bear head. Possible offerings to him include crop, milk, any meat except for veal meat, bread. His temples have the inner cell of the temple underground, as sacrifices and offerings should be done as low as possible.
Festivals
14th of September – his marriage with Morena is celebrated
the night of 31st October-1st November – first Veles night, the dark half of the year starts
the evening before winter solstice – Great Veles festivities, lasting for twelve days, dedicated to the remembrance of ancestors
3rd of February – Small Veles Day
3rd-10th of February – the Wolf festivities
11th of February – Great Veles Day/the Festival of Veles, associated with cattle – followers don’t eat veal meat, they provide milk sacrifices, organize feasts (should be close to sacred place, like temples), drink wine made of Veles grapes, fight in ritual fights that can accompany the festival
the night of 30th April-1st May – second Veles night, the light half of the year starts
Trivia
Due to his fights with Perun, their temples should be kept as far away from each other as possible - with Veles’ temple in lowlands, with Perun’s higher, on hills.
Veles is known to punish oath-breakers two ways: by disease (the person in question is said to be „turned into gold“) or „sacrifice“ (by hanging or drowning, it’s suffocation either way).
His followers wear necklaces made of willow when mourning – the wood is said to have the power to ease the suffering, help to let go, grow and heal. It provides stability, hope, belonging and safety.
Because of his protection of musicians, in wedding ceremonies, the music couldn’t start playing until the bridegroom, when making a toast, spilled some wine on the ground, better on the roots of a nearby tree.
A bundle of wheat is kept on the top of barns, representing his beard, farmers use the grains first in sowing next year.
When lightning hits the ground, Veles is believed to be hiding there from Perun.