Koliada (deity)

For other uses, see Koliada (disambiguation).
For the Slavic pagan ritual, see Koliada.
God Koliada by Andrey Mazin

Koliada or Koleda is a Slavic mythological deity, that personalizes the newborn winter infant Sun[1] and impersonates the New Year's cycle.[2] It is connected with the solar cycle, passing through the four seasons and from one substantial condition into another. The four personifications of the Sun according to the ancient Slavic religion are:

In the different Slavic countries at the Koliada winter festival were performed rituals with games and songs in its honour - like koleduvane. In some regions of Russia the ritual gifts (usually buns) for the koledari are also called "kolyada". In the lands of the Croats it was symbolized by a doll, called Koled.[4] In the ancient times Slavs used to sacrifice horses, goats, cows, bears or other animals that impersonate fertility. Koliada is mentioned either as male or a female deity in the songs.[2]

In modern culture

Although the ancient Slavic paganism is extinct today, there are many remainings that recall both the deity and the ritual Koliada. All of them are on or around Christmas Eve:

There are Slavic neopagan communities in most of the Slavic countries whose goal is to popularize ancient pagan belief and practice in present-day society.

Some Slavic (mainly Russian) pagan rock and folk rock bands have songs about Koliada:

See also

References

  1. България, славянски богове in Bulgarian
  2. 1 2 Мифы народов мира (второe издание)/изд. "Советская Энциклопедия"/Москва/1987, том 1/стр.665
  3. Краткие седения о славянских Богах in Russian
  4. Мифологический словарь/Гл.ред. Е.М. Мелетинский - М.:'Советская энциклопедия', 1990 г.- 672 с.
  5. List of the songs from the album Kostroma from the official site of the band Ivan Kupala
  6. List of songs from the album Noch' Velesova (The Night Of Veles) of the Russian band Arkona in Encyclopaedia Metallum
  7. Demo album of Kolo Pravi from 2009

External links

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