Perun's day (02/08)





A bull was sacrificed, and in the absence of it, a rooster was sacrificed. Weapons were conspired on the sacrificial blood, the priest smeared blood on the forehead of each warrior, after which they put red armbands on their heads. Military amulets were consecrated above the sacrificial fire.

After the start, a ritual battle between «Peruna» and «Veles» began, dedicated to Perun’s victory over Veles (Perun defeated Veles and returned the herd of celestial cows). At the end of the battle, the soldiers carried a rook with gifts and bet on theft. The elder, undressing, set the theft on fire. After the fire burned out, the soldiers poured a grave over the ashes and began trizna (rite battles on the grave).

Then a passion was held, on which all the fallen Slavic soldiers were remembered. Ritual food: beef, game, chicken, porridge. Drinks: honey, red wine, beer, kvass. The games started with taking «town».

On this day they gave preference to military pleasures, but did not forget about love affairs. The Magi advised spending the night after the holiday with a woman. It was believed that a bad warrior was one who won victories only over the enemy.

A rain-making ritual was also associated with Perun. It consisted of making a sacrifice — by dousing a specially selected woman with water.

With the advent of Christianity, the functions of Perun were transferred to the Christian saint Elijah the Prophet, in whose image the features of Perun clearly appeared — of the thunder god, riding across the sky in a thundering chariot, and who, in fact, simply changed his name, remaining the same revered deity.

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