Marena Day (04/12)

In Slavic mythology, Marena (Marana, Morena, Marzhana, Marzhena) is associated with the embodiment of death, with seasonal rituals of the dying and resurrection of nature. Goddess Marena establishes her Kingdom of Snow and Frost on earth until the arrival of Spring.

Since ancient times, Mara Morena has been revered as the Dark Face of the Great Goddess — Mother of all things. If Bright Living gives life and warmth to every belly, then Dark Mara dooms everything that has become obsolete to death and coolness. Creation and destruction, life and death — are two sides of Being that do not exist separately, but always act together. Without death there is no renewal and rebirth.

In Slavic mythology, Marena is called the Winter and Skin Lady, the Skin Lord (Lord of Death). By this day, full winter weather sets in. At the beginning, no glorifications were said, no sacrifices or demands were made. Obavnitsa proclaimed:

«And neither Mara nor Moroka humbly glorify».

After this, people, to show that they were not afraid of Madder, went to the swamp, where they extinguished burning firebrands in swamp spruce (an unfrozen quagmire).

Ritual food on this day included jelly, pancakes, carrots, and turnips.

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