Straw dummy personifying winter
Straw dummy personifying winter, in Polish
called “Marzanna” – is a Slavic goddess who symbolizes winter and death. It is also the name for an effigy that is
burnt or drowned in a river to say goodbye to winter. People believe that if
they burn or drown the doll representing the goddess of death, the winter will
end and spring will begin. The effigy is
usually made of straw, wrapped in white cloth and adorned with ribbons and
necklaces. Traditionally, the
effigy is carried past every house in the village by a group of children
holding a green juniper twigs. Marzanna
is dipped in a stream in the village. In the evening the effigy is passed to
the youth; the juniper twigs are lit, and Marzanna is carried out of the
village, burned and thrown into water. Nowadays children most often make often
such straw dolls at school and then they throw it into the river and sing songs about spring. It is usually
celebrated at spring equinox on 21 March.
No comments:
Post a Comment