The library of congress catalog # is 58-13716, I have been using this website to research Lithuania and it has been the best one Ive seen thank you for making it. Little authentic images of Pagan pantheon survive inducing the 19th-century national romantic artists to create their own. Well, I would be VERY interesting in more article along these lines if youd be up for writing them I want to learn everything I can about Lithuanian folklore Im very interested in creature lore. Dwarf - A short, stalky humanoid who live in underground mining communities. *Maumai (singular: maumas) are scary creatures living under the well or on the lakebed. Are there any books in english where it is possible to read about lithuanian mythology and folklore? Egl the Queen of Serpents statue in seaside Palanga. Ive been Googling for Lithuanian urban legends, but nothing but other countries creepypastas. She invited him to her palace, but their love was not approved by the prime god Perknas (Thunder) who destroyed the amber palace, killing Kastytis. Wigington, Patti. I think if you see the piece, it might be helpful. We would never want you to be unhappy!

:-), Perhaps the "beaten senseless" part is a little pugnacious, as you observe..I laughed when I read that comment though. Today, many modern Pagans honor the spirits of the land by celebrating Earth Day, and use it as a time to reaffirm their roles as stewards of the earth. Depending on your needs and intent, you may find yourself drawn to one of these elements more so that the others. Griffin - A creature with the body of a lion, the tail of a snake, and the head and wings of an eagle. Other than that goddesses are better known than gods as it is common to name baby girls after them. This is Goldbug. Typhon - The fire-breathing giant who challenged Zeus for control of Mount Olympus. Stumbled upon this classic post via google. It is the source of river names such as Danube. I think I can still cite them as a source if they arent in english. In Tarot readings, the Earth is related to the suit of Pentacles or Coins. ", "A no nonsense approach to the topics and a genuine dedication to seeing accurate information disseminated. We learn of social structure from the confessions of Isobel Gowdie, a red-headed Scottish witch from the Seventeenth Century. Parents used them to scare misbehaving children.

How does lifetime access sound? Ghosts - Spirits of the dead whose souls remain in the realm of the living. Also the father of most Greek monsters. Many borrow on other faiths to explain it, speaking of "Baltic trinity" or "Baltic Olympus", others make the religion seem almost monotheistic by adding an omnipotent "God" above other deities. It was soft and painful. Witches may also make use of a mannequin gris, better known as a voodoo doll, to harm or heal a subject. My co-worker was not a very clean person. It tells 36 folk tales but has no interpretations of them. There are probably as many theories on the historical Baltic pantheon as there are researchers.

Egl longs to visit her parents and siblings. She has been consciously following a pagan path for over 25 years, and dedicated specifically to the Irish Goddess Mrrgan in 2004. Aitvaras presence at home may be unnoticed but such a home would never be poor; however, the prerequisites of "creating" an aitvaras may also be bought intentionally. Cyclops - The one-eyed giant who captured and ate people. Hobgoblin - A type of Brownie who is inherently less helpful and more mischievous, even to the point of causing harm if antagonized. My given name is Danut. Charybdis - The whirlpool on one side of the Strait of Messina that swallowed ships that came too close to it. Brownies - Small humanoid creatures wearing all brown clothing who sneak into homes at night to help with household chores. Some folk doctors may also be called this way (in which case it is less pejorative). I dont know of such legend myself and a search online of related keywords (in Lithuanian) also provided no results. Pegasus - Technically the proper name of Bellerophon's winged horse, which became the general name for winged horses. The Fae are part of the Tuatha de Danaan, and live underground. Jacob Grimm collected a number of stories about elves while compiling his book Teutonic Mythology, and says that elves appear in the Eddas as supernatural, magic-using beings. You have no doubt heard tell of the Leprechauns of Ireland, but what do you know of their close relatives the Clurichaun?

Ive hit a road block when it comes to interpreting Lithuanian folk symbols. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Shade - The ghosts of dead people before they are admitted entrance to Hades. Black witches are bound to the service of Satan and all his host of demonic creatures. In the myths, laums are usually pretty but in newer folktales, they are more witch-like. A Community created for all the Pagans and Witches out there! Ley lines were first suggested to the general public by an amateur archaeologist named Alfred Watkins in the early 1920s. Bigfoot - A type of Sasquatch native to North American forests.

Manticore - A mythical beast with a lion's body and a human's head. Ragana may have been responsible for diseases and cures. Wendigo - An evil spirit that possesses humans and turns them into cannibals. I have recently been researching the Goddess Medeina after a three day stay in deep woods. Written magic is said to come from runes, of which knowledge is very scarce nowadays, even within the covens themselves. Initially, the family cheats them but then is forced to give up Egl. Cannot bear very much reality." I would encourage anyone wanting to build a strong relationship with pagan Ireland look at her work first. A famous Egl the Queen of Serpent folktale explains why some trees are named the way they are: Fisherman's daughter Egl finds a large serpent in her clothes after swimming in the Baltic Sea. However, it has not been documented to the extent of Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Celtic or Norse mythologies, especially in the West. Why do you keep claiming that Lithuania was the last European people to be Christianized when even to this day Mari people in the Volga region of European Russia continue an ancient faith complete with a priesthood , sacred groves in the forest , holy mountains and Animist Gods ???

You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. I was back in Norway two years ago and reconnected with my host family in Stavanger! Doppelganger - Apparitions of people that occur in impossible situations. According to some of our information, it have to be important. "Earth Folklore and Legends." Nemean Lion - The giant lion with impenetrable hide who becomes the constellation Leo. Their characters (human beings as well as anthropomorphic animals, plants, and natural forces) usually have their psychology limited to a few dominating traits. Medusa - A disciple of Athena who was turned into a gorgon. As a creature, a serpent is considered immortal, magical and related to rain. Sasquatch - Large, hairy, man-like beasts that live in the woods. *altys (serpent) has been the deity of home and health. All of these are in Lithuanian, however in general, few Lithuanian literary works are widely translated into English. They are able to transform into any animal but when such an animal is hurt so is ragana (witch) herself. Any information on the Lithuanian kitchen witch. They seem to have been popular in Lithuania (under the Soviet occupation at least). The address is augustinas.zemaitis@gmail.com . were nations). This is a fascinating article! Gorgon - The snake-haired and snake-bodied humanoid that was created in its mother's image. Earth Folklore and Legends. Or do you have a source that you recommend? Are you the Dana (Danute) Paramskas who led an Experiment in Intl Living group to Norway in 1969? Wigington, Patti. It's fun to know that everything I loved as a child is apparently pagan. Despite the forbidden truths black witches are said to receive, they commonly do very little with the knowledge. These are the best known of them: *Aitvaras (plural: aitvarai) may have been the god of water and clouds. However, they may take other shapes, and even may help a person when nothing else could. Though a white witch is restricted in her magical applications, she is exempt from the fate that befalls a black witch. I wish I took Tae Kwon Do. Into Pagans & Witches?

Elf - A race of pointy-eared humanoids who excel in magic and archery. Lora is currently a candidate for a Masters Degree in Irish Regional History (2023).

You can find more about Lithuania in this website, and more on Latvia on http://www.onlatvia.com . Augustinas emaitis. Leprechauns - Small, bearded men who have a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. I was wondering what your sources were and whether or not any of those are in English. Usually, however, the Lithuanian gods are depicted as bearded old men. Each of the four cardinal elements - earth, air, fire and water - can be incorporated into magical practice and ritual. Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Legends and Romances of Brittany: Chapter VIII: Hero-Tales of Brittany", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Breton_mythology&oldid=1088670151, Articles needing translation from French Wikipedia, Articles needing additional references from November 2016, All articles needing additional references, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. ilvinas tells Egl and their children how to call him when they will be coming back: "ilvinas, little ilvinas, if you are alive come in a milky wave if you are dead - in a bloody wave". Its stare could turn a person to stone. In Sanskrit & Proto-Indo-European danu also means dew-drops or fluid. It was believed covens would meet every year on each Witches' Sabbat. Some sources cite her as a goddess, others as a demon, others as just a name for witches. However, Lithuania is quite a small country and there is still no extensive online repository for folklore. I think I love you.I'm definitely bookmarking this blog and may make reference to this post myself. For example, two variants of the tale are presented here: http://www.xn--altiniai-4wb.info/files/literatura/LA00/Pasaka._Egl%C4%97_%C5%BEal%C4%8Di%C5%B3_karalien%C4%97.LA0901.pdf . Could you point me towards a book?

With a help of a witch, she does so despite ilvinas's protests. Acts of witchcraft include brewing potions, prophecy by aid of a familiar, levitation, blights and curses, transmogrification; including therianthropy, mediumship, weather manipulation, necromancy, charms and boons. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. https://www.learnreligions.com/earth-element-folklore-and-legends-2561685 (accessed July 22, 2022). Roman or Greek mythologies). in a somewhat similar fashion as a homunculus in alchemy). The serpent talks in a human voice and returns clothes only in exchange for a promise to marry it. -- Guided Journey Audio (for you to repeat the Journey). Shapeshifters - Humans who can willingly take the form of an animal while maintaining their consciousness. Some of the most famous folktales/myths (such as the Jrat and Kastytis love story) are actually much younger than they seem to be, dating to the 19th-century national romantic search for the long-lost "ethnic roots". Wigington, Patti. He died when my father was 10. In most modern Pagan traditions and magical belief systems, earth is associated with security and stability. With her partner, Jon O'Sullivan, she is the co-founder of the Irish Pagan School. Likewise, elves often appear in stories about the land. In russian folklore a blue bird is the bird of luck (I know from songs). Representations (left-to-right) of Laum, Ragana and Aitvaras in Naisiai museum of Baltic gods. However the Lithuanian folklore has no definite and complete source(s), in a way Greek mythology or Norse sagas have. The god Pan was one of these. That friend once was ironing clothes. It would certainly be interesting if they would be available.

Learn Religions. Not sure if these are Lithuanian-only but I heard those from my grandmother as having had happened to her friend and later it turned out that many people have heard the same as having had happened to their friend or friend of a friend, which is the characteristic of an urban legend. You may read works by Lithuanian-American Marija Gimbutas, although they are just one of the systems of guesses based on relatively few primary sources available (compared to e.g. Gal ms alyje tos spalvos irgi turjo reikm? Is there anything correspond to the Lithuanian words: Melinas paukstely tu dainele giedi? "Human kind I am writing a thesis paper that uses Egle queen of serpents as an example of human to tree transformation. Black witches went through the ceremony of standing naked before the coven, with right hand on their head and left hand on raised foot. Banshee - A spirit appearing as a frenzied old woman. According to some speculations, it may be so that this was a goddess or a more positive character in the traditional Lithuanian mythology that was made negative during the Christianization. Egl's husband then becomes a handsome young man ilvinas and they live underwater together, having 3 sons and 1 daughter.

Thunderbird - A giant bird that creates storms with its wings. Imp - Small, mischievous creatures who liked to play pranks on people. Black witches who dedicate themselves to Satan, and white witches who worship the Supreme Being.

Unfortunately, there are few English books on Baltic mythology, as I have said above. Id be very appreciated. Baubai (singular: baubas) are similar to Maumas but they lurk in dark places. Centaur - Half-men, half-horse creatures that ran wild and unruly. Image Augustinas emaitis. Witches are thought to sell their services as a means of income. Also, I read that Ragana was the Goddess of witchcraft, death, owls, etc. Aitvarai may take a form of a bird, a serpent or a tornado. All the Lithuanian raganos (witches) are said to meet annually on certain hills to practice their magic together. Grim Reaper - The embodiment of death itself, the Grim Reaper comes to take your soul to the afterlife. She sent mermaids to warn fisherman Kastytis to stop catching her fish. Hello! Learn Religions, Sep. 4, 2021, learnreligions.com/earth-element-folklore-and-legends-2561685. Medusa became one of these creatures in a later myth. Besides being the name for an actual witch, is there any truth to that? Bogle - A ghostly being whose purpose is to confuse and scare humans and other creatures. Direct and to the point, while sharing how she built the conclusions drawn. Golem - Magically animated human-shaped creatures typically made of solid stone.

Lets look at some of the many magical myths and legends surrounding earth, from societies and religions around the world. So far online has been sparse, thank you for ll of your work and hope you are all safe! In the current speech, the word means witch. It seems that all Lithuanian tales are very sad and full of sorrow. If you follow a Celtic-based path, consider reaching out toBrighidorCernunnos. If you have any advice for me please let me know! I was a member of the Sola group and remember you well. Gnomes feature prominently in European legend and lore. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Could you describe what is said about her, or perhaps you know her Lithuanian name? In this tradition of gods and creatures rooted in nature, there exist traces of certain Breton Catholic saints. New Jersey Devil - A flying creature with a high-pitched scream and a horse-like head native to the New Jersey Pine Barrens. However, their total collection results are not yet available online to my knowledge. She invited him to her palace, but their love was not approved by the prime god Perknas (Thunder) who destroyed the amber palace, killing Kastytis. Therefore it may be so that such song exists but its lyrics and information about it are nowhere on internet in which case a search on various collected folklore books would be necessary, unless somebody who knows this work of folklore would see this message. She is the author of Daily Spellbook for the Good Witch, Wicca Practical Magic and The Daily Spell Journal. There is no need to look beyond Ireland for stories of vampires, serpentine beasts, and werewolves. It can be evoked in magic related to the stability of the home and family, as well as abundance and wealth; think of crops and gardens if you're not sure why earth and soil are associated with abundance! Another one is here: http://www.pasakorius.lt/lietuviu-liaudies-pasakos/egle-zalciu-karaliene/, Also this tale inspired many non-folk versions, ranging from poems to musicals. The color had a seperate meaning? Can you guys make this Lithuanian urban legends, please? Dana means gift, it is the same word from even the English donate is derived. Pele, who is associated not only with volcanoes. Goddess Jrat was living in an amber palace under the Baltic Sea. They include emyna (goddess of earth and fertility), Medeina (forests and hunting), Milda (love and freedom), Laima (goddess responsible for fate appearing as a trinity of Laimas declaring good, mediocre and bad fate), Gabija (goddess of fire and the home fireplace; the latter provided heat and served for sacrifices, its position so important that "home fireplace" is now a euphemism for "family relations" in Lithuanian). There are some brighter ones, but they have not reached the level of fame of the likes of Egl ali karalien or Jrat and Kastytis. I just discovered a book called Lithuanian Folk Tales among my grandmothers belongings published in 1958 and 1959 by Stepas Zobarskas and illustrated by Ada Korsakaite. Lithuanian European Parliament elections 2014. Black Eyed Beings - They take human form but have black, soulless eyes and emanate a sense of pure evil. The ancient Romansaccepted the existence ofgenius loci,which were protective spirits associated with specific locations. The family lore is that she was a pagan princess who, having lost her lover, walked into the Baltic Sea and drowned. (Song?) I am also soo excited to find Zemyna, the earth mother goddess, i am pagan and she is everything that my earth goddess beliefs embody! What source did you use for Egle? Unfortunately, I do not know such a mythological character. I didnt realize how long that would turn out..Yikes. Hello! Jolly, jolly ho! When Egl calls ilvinas she sees a bloody wave and learns of the betrayal. It said The last pagan nation to Christianize. She claimed that covens of thirteen witches were formed locally. To be clearer I have now edited it to say The last pagan great power to Christianize, as the word nation may be ambiguous. There are some English books on the issue, however, I dont think there is one definitive encyclopedic-like book I could recommend. Through this mistrust, even white witches may find themselves persecuted by the community, when their only trade is in herbal remedies. Therese was bugging me to post something, so here it is. The practice of Wicca is entirely different save for sharing similar terminology (e.g. *Laums (singular: laum) are female intermediaries between Earth and Sky. Param in Sanskrit means highest. Yet other Lithuanian folktales are meant to give their listener a lesson. Echidna - The snake-woman who became the mother of most Greek monsters. They weave endless textiles and gift them to the people, yet they are unpredictable and could even weave a person. Due to the Christianization of Lithuania at the time, there was still no real local historiographical tradition, many things about the local mythology are speculative (based on foreign sources that were compiled by outsiders who themselves understood little, e.g. 2. Also there has been a major kratotyra (ethnography) movement in the 20th century that collected such stories (and songs) accross Lithuania (by travelling accross villages and asking old people to tell them). Well you can use Sanskrit to decode your name. Mutants - A term describing abnormal creatures created by genetic or environmental mutations. She had the hair of snakes and could turn men to stone with her gaze. Thats what your name means in Sanskrit and all Indo-European languages. One of the more famous versions is the poem version by a controversial author Salomja Nris: http://ebiblioteka.mkp.emokykla.lt/kuriniai/egle_zalciu_karaliene/,format.pdf. Sea-Goat - The half-goat, half-fish who are the children of Pricus, who becomes the constellation Capricorn. 2022. Nymph - Divine female nature spirits who inhabit certain natural sites. Lithuanian culture is quite pessimistic. (2021, September 4). The word Danu described the primeval waters. She immediately put it down and wanted to call an ambulance. Minotaur - The creature with the head and legs of a bull and the torso of a man, who guarded the exit to The Labyrinth. The Earth is fertile and stable, associated with the Goddess. Chimera - Part-lion, part-goat, part-snake - all monster. Ogre - An ugly, oversized humanoid creature with great physical strength and little intelligence. They bring riches to the needy people (yet may take them from the greedy). She managed one of Ireland's most important sacred sites - Cruachn/Rathcroghan - for a decade, and is a co-founder and legal celebrant with Pagan Life Rites Ireland. Pixie - A small humanoid creature with pointy ears who likes to cause mischief.

Thats a hurdle I often have to jump with this podcast thankfully, with my series on Nordic folklore and Slavic folklore, I had some native speakers who did a bit of translation. I have a podcast on world folklore and Im doing a series on the Baltic states, starting with Lithuania. A Laum may both endow a child and kill him/her, she may also replace a baby with her own (an especially introverted kid unable to show affection; arguably a mythological explanation for autism). Hi. This persecution can often provoke a witch into retaliation. One school of thought believes that these lines carry positive or negative energy. Join us - just enroll below for instant access to the entire curriculum! I cannot find any references to this mythological being any help would be appreciated. Halloween being the most notorious of these.

the Sabbats). if you know anything about it, could you please let me know? In Lithuanian mythology, people could create Aitvaras by themselves by performing various acts (e.g. Do not translate text that appears unreliable or low-quality. She sent mermaids to warn fisherman Kastytis to stop catching her fish. If a kaukas settles in a home he makes all the things there to be enjoyed longer. Augustinas emaitis. I have a piece of Lithuanian artwork which I am hoping I can e-mail you a picture of, to see if you know the story behind it. Black Dog - An evil spirit dog that stalks city streets at night. Her moans and cries now cause the sea storms while the Baltic amber is what remains of her palace. During ritual practice, earth is sometimes designated as a sacred space, and is often marked out in a circle with salt. Settle in and join us for this course, but fair warning to ye; Here be Monsters. Lithuanian mythology is indeed interesting. Lithuanian mythological creatures are rarely plain "good" or plain "evil", most of them are able to be both depending on circumstances. Ive grown a little desperate! Gods and Goddesses of Death and the Underworld. Thanks! into the silence. Scylla - The man-eating beast that lived on the opposite side of the Strait of Messina from Charybdis. A fact to be weary of whenever doing business with a black witch. What about the dangers of the Gancanach and their seductive 'love talking', or the Leannn Sidhe who will love you to death? Dont know about lithuanian folklore and if it had taken influence. Our surname was anglicised and we are so excited to finally have the correct spelling and pronunciation for our family name! Thank you! Valkyries - Mythical Norse female divinities who choose heroes to die in battle and carry them to the great Valhalla. The co-worker went to a hospital and they cut the growth with a scalpel. P.s. Ladon (Python) - The snake that guarded the golden apples in the Garden of the Hesperides. Although it should not be confused with the mythological rendition of the name, as described above. Satyr - Half-men, half-goats who were wild and lustful. On your magical altar, you may wish to use a bowl of clean soil, crystals, salt, seeds, or even animal statuary to represent the element of earth.