Baltic Mythology: Wheel Of The Year and Ancient Festivals

Description

Baltic mythology and folklore includes a great deal of gods, goddess and magic. The stories from Latvia and Lithuania are filled with might heroes, speaking snakes and fairies who live in meadows and inside rainbows. Through these myths we can understand the old Baltic societies and people's way of life.

People lived in farming communities and their lives were bound into the land. The cycle of nature was closely linked to the life of men. The wheel of the year included several festivals all to celebrate ploughing, planting, farming and harvest. Many of these festivals were related to gods and goddesses that were responsible of the elements and the earth itself. These deities were Saule the sun goddess, Perkunas the god of thunder and Zemyna the goddess of the earth.  Another important element was the worship of the ancestors. The Balts had a very close relationship with the passed away relatives. It was believed that the spirit of the person never truly left the family and that there were special days such as Velines the day of the dead and Lyge the spring equanox when the spirits could come back and visit those places that were once dear to them.

In this course we will go through the most important ancient Baltic holidays and talk about the spirits and gods and goddesses that were sacred and honored in these particular holidays. These holidays are Velines the day of the dead, when the world between the living and the spirits is at it's thinnest. Kucios and Kaledos Yuletide and winter solstice when the earth went to sleep. Uzgavenes the shrovetide, time to welcome back the sun goddess Saule and wake her up from her long sleep. Lyge the spring time festivities when earth goddess Zemyna wakes up from her long sleep and snakes dance in her honor. Rasa the summer solstice when Saule dances in the sky bringing warm and light to everyone's heart.

This course is perfect for anyone who is fascinated by history, folklore and old European cultures and anyone who is interested in magic, myth and lore behind Baltic society and legends. You will learn about ancient customs and traditions and how you can implement these teachings in your personal life.

Niina is a folklorist and mythology researcher. She has studied Baltic mythology for several years and the intersections between Baltic mythology and her native Finnish folklore.

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