The Old Ways:
Eggs & Storks
Marzanna, who carried the plague with her, once traveled in a boat down the Vistula to reach the city of Warsaw, which had previously escaped her ravages. She stepped ashore and walked up the main street. Her long black hair flowed down her back, and a gentle breeze swirled her skirts about her tiny white feet. She was very beautiful, but those who knew her for what she was quickly turned their eyes away. To look her in the face would be to ask for doom.
Those who were unfortunate enough to gaze upon her blushing complexion or who paused to look at her emerald green eyes would feel as if a fist had clenched their heart. Unable to speak a word, they returned to their homes, bringing the plague with them. (Asala 87)
The Polish goddess Marzanna—also called More (Lithuania), Morena (Russia), or Morana (Czech), or Mara, Maržena, Morana, Mora, or Marmora—is associated with the seasonal death and rebirth of nature, nightmares, the darkness of winter, and death. For sure, winters are hard in the Slavic countries, where they are long and cold. The winds alone can creep through clothing and chill the skin, howling like pained lovers drowning in the dark. Fall back through the centuries, and the winter months brought even more trepidation to those trying to battle through, their cupboards bare, the firewood in short supply, and hoping to see the spark of life that signals spring is on its way.
Marzanna wore many guises: one was of a beautiful woman with pale skin and either black or blond hair; her teeth were like that of a wolf, and she had claws for hands. Other names for her were Frost Maiden and Winter Witch. She was known to prey on the elderly and children who were most vulnerable in the winter. She also came for those who were afraid, often appearing as a crone, stealing through their dreams and wrecking their sleep with night terrors. She was closely associated with the Baba Yaga and is one of the oldest Slavic goddesses.
The Polish people still call on an old tradition to say goodbye to winter and Marzanna on the spring equinox. They start making a straw effigy of the goddess on the autumnal equinox, adding to it throughout the six months leading up to spring. Often women of the household would add something each moon cycle. The poppet ranged from the size of a small doll to life-sized. On the vernal equinox, the entire village would parade the Marzanna doll through the village to a riverbed. Along the way, she will be dipped into puddles and melting snow. Oftentimes, she was accompanied by a pine tree decorated with flowers and ribbons. Once the procession ended and all had gathered, Marzanna was set on fire and burned with sacred herbs. Afterward, she was drowned in the river water. There were many superstitions surrounding this ritual. As Marzanna was considered a powerful sorceress and bringer of doom and death, it was bad luck to look at her once she was in the water. One must be careful not to stumble or fall down on their way home, or they would be plagued by bad luck in the upcoming season. This ritual ensured a strong planting season and set winter to bed.
As Marzanna left to sleep through the warm months, she was replaced by her sister goddess, Devana (also known as Vesna, Zhiva, Živa, Siva, Sieba, Razivia, and Diva). The Polish goddess of springtime fertility, Devana was often depicted as being full-breasted, large-bellied, naked, covered by plant life, and having extremely long hair decorated with flowers. People were exultant to have Devana return to their world and of course bring with her the fertile earth ready to burst with life. It was believed that on the spring equinox, Devana came down the mountainsides singing beautiful songs that only some people could hear. The smell of springtime emanated from her, and everyone she passed felt comforted and hopeful. The people feasted, played games, and celebrated in her honor.
Revered and well-loved, Devana was closely associated with the willow tree in old Poland. This is one of the first trees to awaken in early spring, so it would have had great significance to those just coming out of a long, cold winter. Celebrations were held in late March into early April to honor Devana and the willow tree. It was a traditional custom for boys to waken girls early in the morning by pouring water over their heads and striking them on the legs with decorated twigs made from willow branches.
Even earlier customs focused on gift giving, particularly decorated eggs. Still, there was the threat of a soaking if no eggs were ready to be offered. As the day progressed, girls would find themselves dragged to rivers and ponds and soaked again and again. There are even tales of girls being carried in their beds to the water and thrown in, bed and all. Girls could “buy” their way out of a soaking by offering the decorated eggs. These were considered magical talismans that ensured a strong harvest, fertility, and safe childbirth. Maidens who escaped these small torments were considered unattractive or undesired. As time passed, girls were just as likely as boys to be fiercely armed with water balloons and squirt guns. The event is called Dyngus Day (Śmigus-Dyngus in Polish), and began to be held on Easter Monday with the advent of Christianity.
The arrival of spring also marks the return of the bocian (the stork) in Poland. A Polish legend tells of how frogs, snakes, lizards, and other reptile and amphibian animals became so numerous and were causing so many problems that God gathered them all in a sack and tasked a human with throwing the whole sack into the sea. As curious as always, this human snuck a peak and inadvertently let all the animals escape. Angered, God transformed the human into a stork and left him to find all of the creatures (Hodorowicz Knab 91). Many Polish folktales link humans with storks. It was believed that we have many similarities to the large birds. A stork brought great luck and prosperity to the family whose property a stork chose to nest on. Not to mention, farmers could mark the change of seasons by their coming and going.
Perhaps this spring you will mark the equinox by honoring the stork and reading fairy tales that feature it. This would be a good time to draw on our Slavic ancestors and say goodbye to Marzanna with a small ritual in her honor, while welcoming Devana with water and eggs. We’re thankful that spring has returned and the earth is fertile again.
Bibliography
Asala, Joanne, ed. Polish Folklore and Myth. Iowa City: Penfield Press, 2001.
Dixon-Kennedy, Mike. Encyclopedia of Russian & Slavic Myth and Legend. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO INC., 1998.
Hodorowicz Knab, Sophie. Polish Customs, Traditions, & Folklore. New York: Hippocrene Books, Inc., 1993.
Montley, Patricia. In Nature’s Honor: Myths and Rituals Celebrating the Earth. Boston: Skinner House Books, 2005.