Goddess of the Week Marzanna

Marzanna is the Slavic goddess of winter and death. Also called Mara, Marzena, Morana, and Morena. The tradition of Marzanna, which still survives in many places in Eastern Europe today, included making a doll or poppet out of corn husk or straw and setting it on fire or drowning it on the Vernal Equinox.

In some traditions she is said to be the twin sister of Jarilo, the god of spring and fertility. They would participate in the divine marriage of birth, death and rebirth. Their wedding came on the Summer solstice and brought a temporary peace between Perun and Volos. But since Jarilo is tied to vegetation, after the harvest he passes into death. The story explains that Jarilo is unfaithful to Marzanna, so she kills him in retribution. Without her husband Marzanna becomes an old hag and dies by the end of the year. After the start of the new year they are both reborn and the wheel starts again.

Offerings to Marzanna might include jet, quartz, bones, onyx, corn and wheat.