Yarilo is the god of the spring sun. Meaning and photo of Slavic talismans - Sun, Yarilo, Yarovit, Solar Knot

Slavic culture identified natural phenomena with a specific deity, where each god was a patron in a certain area or cycle of life. Treating various phenomena and plants of the surrounding world as living entities helped our ancestors live in harmony with nature and themselves.

According to Slavic legends, the sun god had 4 hypostases corresponding to the seasons (life cycle).

metal - used to create men's amulets (gold and iron);

day of the week - Sunday.

In addition to the above, the attributes of the spring sun are all solar symbols, as well as a white horse, ears of ripe wheat, and a human skull. The Yarilo amulet is created using any of the attributes and is designed to enhance fertility, including for childless couples who want to conceive and give birth to a child.

Yarovit was depicted on a white horse, holding ears of wheat in one hand and a skull in the other. So he traveled around the spring fields, bestowing fertility. This image was created based on a description of the celebration of Yaril’s Day, found in many literary and historical sources.

Symbols

The symbols of Slavic patrons are very powerful and are used in the manufacture of amulets and amulets. Each god is the patron of certain gifts. God Yarilo is no exception.

The symbols of the Slavic spring sun and love are also very powerful. The most common signs that have found evidence in mythology, legends and tales.

There are many other signs of Yarilo personifying the sun and fertility, but not all have been confirmed in historical works available to modern archaeologists and historians.

The power of the amulet

The Yarilo talisman (an amulet with the image of the sun) is a strong amulet that has a positive effect on unlocking a person’s inner potential, enhances creativity and the desire to create something new, and enhances the owner’s energy.

The image of the sun is also a symbol of male fertility.

Making a “sun” amulet from threads protects the home and family from the influence of negative energy, enhances positive thinking, and relieves depression and bad thoughts.

The image of the sun can be used to decorate clothing or interiors in the form of a panel, painting, embroidered or knitted product.

Anyone can wear a solar amulet (children, women, men). At the same time, amulets made of gold or iron are more suitable for men, while knotted (made of thread) or embroidered are well suited for women and children.

Yarila in Orthodox feces endare (personification of the spring equinox)

After the introduction of Christianity, the image of Ruevit underwent changes and was partially transferred to St. George (Egory, Yuri).

The main day is considered to be the spring equinox on March 21-22. In modern times, the holiday is called Maslenitsa and is held with the ritual burning of an effigy. This ritual has ancient Slavic roots when, saying goodbye to winter, they burned a ritual doll, saying goodbye to winter, they greeted the awakening of nature with fun and good games. The meeting of spring was called Yarilov's festivities.

Afterwards, the ritual of burning Yarilo and greeting Kupala (Ivan Kupala Day) was carried out, celebrated on June 3 and marked the end of spring - the beginning of summer.

Deities associated with Yarila

The image of the sun god changes with the seasons from the newborn Kolyada to the elderly Svyantovit.

The god of spring and fertility is associated with Yarovit (the Baltic god of fertility). Ruevit is also associated with Yarila, which is translated from the Slavic “r’vati” as breaking the ice sheets.

They also compared it with Kostroma, where, according to some legends, she was Yaril’s wife - Yarilikha. According to other sources, the female hypostasis of the sun god (this assumption is not confirmed).

There was a ritual of honoring Yarila and Yarilikha, which indicates that these are different deities and Kostroma (Kostrobunka) still refers to his wife.

This ritual took place at Kupala, at the end of Rusalya Week (April 15). The role of Yarila and Yarilikha was played by a chosen guy and girl or mummered dolls. They dressed in white elegant clothes and celebrated with games and fun. At the end of the ceremony, the effigy was buried in the ground. The ritual was dedicated to the main event of the Slavic family - the beginning of the sowing season.

Conclusion

Yarilo, the son of Veles, is the guardian of life and the patron of awakening. fertility and passion. The sun god favors people similar to him in character (cheerful, amorous and bright). The Yarilo amulet has many options, from a simple image of a celestial body to an image of the god himself and his attributes.

The power of the “sun” symbol is aimed at creation, development of talents and balancing of character. Suitable for home decoration and wearing as a body talisman. Refers to universal protective signs suitable for children and adults. However, metal options are still more masculine.

Before the adoption of Christianity, the Slavs were pagans. This means that in their view, man and nature were closely connected. They perceived the world as a living and wise being, having its own soul and living according to certain laws. This sense of the surrounding world contributed to the emergence of myths about gods and spirits that control human life.

Patron gods of the ancient Slavs

All Slavic people, in one way or another, acted as patrons of some kind of activity, or of a certain social group. Thus, Veles is considered the patron of animals and trade, Perun - of princes and warriors, Svarog - of fertility, the goddess Lada - the patroness of peace and harmony, Alive - of youth and love, Makosh - of fate and women's needlework, etc. This is due to the fact that each deity was responsible for a certain natural phenomenon and sphere of human activity, and therefore could contribute to success or failure in it.

To strengthen the connection with their patron, the Slavs made amulets with the symbols of the deity and carved idols. They also sent prayers to the Slavic gods.

Slavic sun gods

Slavic had four hypostases in accordance with the four seasons, as well as the cycles of human life:

• winter sun - Kolyada, newborn child;
• spring sun - Yarilo, a strong young man full of life;
• summer sun - Kupaila, a mature strong man;
• autumn sun - Sventovit, a wise, fading old man.

This understanding of the structure of the annual cycle embodies the pagan idea of ​​​​the infinity of the cycle of birth and death. So, the old man - Sventovit - dies before and the next morning the newborn Kolyada appears.

Yarilo - sun god

Yarilo is the Slavic god of the spring sun, youthful strength, passion, and unbridled thirst for life. This god is distinguished by purity, sincerity and fury. Yarilo fired sun rays onto the earth, which in some cases are interpreted as love arrows. The Slavs imagined God as the life-giving force of the spring sun, which fills the earth with life and joy after a long winter, awakening it from hibernation.

The Slavic god Yarilo is considered the patron saint of people with kind, pure, bright and heartfelt thoughts. People turned to him for help in conceiving children. He was also responsible for fertility and was considered the embodiment of rage in the most sublime sense.

Yarilo could be called Yarila, Yarovit and Ruevit.

What does Yarilo look like?

Yarilo, the sun god, seemed to be an attractive young man. His hair was blond or reddish, his eyes were light blue, clear, and a red cloak fluttered behind his broad, powerful shoulders. Yarilo was seated on a fiery sun-horse. Many girls fell in love with the handsome young man. And God is ready to reciprocate each one. Appearing in childbirth, Yarilo also acts as the deity of bodily love between a man and a woman. This explains the fact that the Yarila doll was often made with a large phallus, which is the oldest symbol of fertility.

Attributes of God

Yarilo - the god of the sun - was endowed with such attributes as an arrow, a spear, a golden shield or a circle representing the sun. The god's stone is considered to be amber, the metal is gold and iron, and the day is Sunday. Also, all solar symbols can be identified with Yarila.

Holidays of Yarila

Yarilo, the sun god, was revered starting from March 21, a day that also coincided with Maslenitsa. From this day began the time of the spring sun god. And it lasted until June 21-22, when the moment of the longest day and shortest night of the year arrived.

Another day of Yarila is April 15th. At the festival, a bride was chosen for God - the most beautiful girl in the settlement. They called her Yarilikha or Yarila. Yarila's chosen one was dressed up, mounted on a white horse, a wreath of spring flowers was put on her head, the girl took ears of corn in her left hand, and in her right hand - an image of a severed human head - a symbol of death. The horse and the bride were led through the fields - it was believed that this ritual promoted fertility. This ritual has another variant, when a girl portraying Yarila is tied to a tree, and then round dances are performed around her with ritual songs.

Towards the middle of summer, Yarila was honored again. At this time, young men and women gathered at the “Yarilina pleshka” - a certain place outside the village. All day long people walked, sang, ate food, and danced. At this holiday, a young man (Yarila) and a girl (Yarilikha) were honored, dressed in white clothes and decorated with ribbons and bells.

As soon as night fell, bonfires called “Yarilin fires” were lit. Often the holiday ended with a symbolic funeral of the bride and groom - straw effigies in clay masks were thrown into the water or left in the fields. Thus, people seemed to say that it was time to stop having fun, it was time to work.

Myths about Yaril

Yarilo is the embodiment of youth and life, so in myths he often plays the role of a lover. Moreover, according to some signs, it becomes clear that God is in love with all women on earth and even the Earth itself.

The main myth about Yaril is the story of the creation of life. There is such a variant. For a long time, Mother Earth slept soundly, but somehow Yarilo appeared and began to wake her up with his caresses and passionate kisses. The kisses were as hot as sunlight, and the Earth, warmed by them, awakened. And in the place of the kisses, fields, forests, and meadows appeared. The sun god continued to kiss the Earth. And lakes, rivers, seas, oceans appeared on it. The earth became hot from Yarila’s caresses and gave birth to insects, fish, birds and animals. Man was the last to be born.

This is one of the options for paganism and the emergence of life.

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God of the ancient Slavs Yarilo

Yarilo is the solar deity of the ancient Slavs of the period of pagan Rus', who was the youngest of the solar gods that make up the pantheon. People considered him the brother of Dazhdbog and Khors, believing that he was the illegitimate son of the werewolf god Veles and the wife of the thunder god Perun Dodola. At the same time, the data that has reached us is so scarce, and the genealogy of the Slavic gods is so confusing that today there is no way to understand it.

The legend of the Slavic god Yarilo

However, from early chronicle texts we historians know that the Slavic peoples attributed Yarilo to the generation of grandchildren and sons of the main gods. Yarilo-Sun was considered a deity who bestows people with fierce passion and healthy children. Thus, he was associated not only with the flowering of nature and human strength, but also with carnal love. Also, this deity was quite often called by ancient authors the embodiment of the spring sun and the god of spring.

Moreover, if the god Kolyada “managed” the newly born, young luminary, which was just beginning its life after a cold winter, then Yarilo was identified with the spring sun that had gained strength. The characteristic features of this divine essence were sincerity, brightness of temperament, fury and purity. In general, all the so-called “spring” character traits of a person were attributed to him. The association of this god with the cult of spring can also be traced by the name of the spring grain crops sown before the beginning of spring.

Verbal description of the god Yarilo

The ancient Slavs saw Yarilo as a young and handsome guy with blue eyes and beautiful facial features. In most cases, he was depicted naked to the waist, which symbolized not only the hot weather, for which the sun god was responsible in the spring, but also his patronage of lovers and young people. However, researchers emphasize that the deity was not responsible for people’s feelings for each other, but only “inspired” them with the desire for carnal love.

According to one of the legends that has reached us, the beautiful goddess Lelya fell in love with the god Yarilo and, having confessed to him, received reciprocity from him. At the same time, Yarilo confessed his love to Lada, Mara and many earthly women. This god did not recognize the sacred bonds of marriage and family, but advocated only uncontrollable passion.

Feast of God Yarilo

The day of veneration of this solar Slavic deity or Yarilin's day in Rus' was celebrated at the very beginning of June (according to the modern calendar). As a rule, the celebration took place on the first to fifth day of this first summer month. But this does not mean at all that they forgot about it on other important seasonal holidays. For example, Yaril was revered on the holiday of the spring equinox, on Ivan Kupala, Maslenitsa and the Magpie holiday. This demonstrates the importance for the Slavic peoples of the worship of sunlight and warmth.

Yarilin's day was a holiday of the end of spring and the beginning of summer days. According to popular beliefs, on this day the evil spirits tried to hide in the most inaccessible places (under stones, in a swamp, etc.), because on this day the sun's rays had a special magical power.

It is worth noting that this holiday was celebrated until the eighteenth century, as evidenced in the records of Voronezh and other provinces. In Kievan Rus, on this holiday, people organized bright, large-scale fairs, which ended with dances and round dances around large bonfires. There is a popular saying: “On the holiday of Yarila, all the saints fight with it, but cannot overcome it,” which once again indicates that, despite the ban of Christian priests and the state, this pagan holiday continued to be celebrated by people.

At the festival, men staged fist fights, believing that the god Yarilo himself was not distinguished by his flexible and gentle character. The obligatory dishes on this day were scrambled eggs, sweets and pies. In addition, not a single Yarili day was complete without the obligatory requirement of this solar deity for the idols. As a rule, the necessary sacrifice was beer and honey. As on every pagan holiday, bonfires were lit at night, around which young people danced, dressed in their best and brightest outfits. According to some literary sources, there were also games of a mating nature.

At the same time, all marriages concluded that evening were considered completely legal, and children born after the holiday were born in marriage. No less popular on this day were visits to those who cast love spells or knew how to tell fortunes about fate and love.

The ancient Slavic myth about Yaril talks about the love of this deity for Mother Earth, which in essence is a reflection of beliefs about the very origin of life on all earth and the resurrection of this world after each winter. From this text we learn that initially the solar deity fell in love with the empty and cold earth. Wanting to revive her, he asked permission from the other gods, who forbade him to do so. Then Yarilo directed his gaze to the ground and, against their will, awakened the lifeless earth, filling it with his warmth.

Yarilo(Yarovit, Ardent Whirlwind, Ardent God, Wolf Shepherd) - Slavic God of the Spring Sun, revered by the Slavs as the God of Fertility and passion, a skilled warrior and the first farmer. Yarilo is revered as the Wolf Shepherd. Shepherds turn to God Yarilo with requests to protect livestock from wild animals. Farmers turn to Yarilo during the festival of the first furrow. Warriors also honor him. We can say that the Slavic God of the Spring Sun is revered by everyone.

Along with Yarilo comes the revival of earthly life, the awakening of feelings, and an influx of strength. It is Yarilo who brings Lelya, the Goddess of Spring, to the people on the day of the vernal equinox.

Yarilo is the God of the Spring Sun, the son of Veles, the God of the Three Worlds, and Diva-Dodola, the Goddess of Heavenly Moisture. Slavic myths say that the God of young passion was born precisely from unexpected strong feelings. Veles once liked the beautiful Diva Dodola, but the wayward Goddess preferred Perun the Thunderer to him. Then Veles turned into a magic lily of the valley, which the Goddess Diva Dodola saw and could not resist smelling the magic flower. This is how the young God of the Spring Sun appeared.

From his father Veles, Yarilo adopted masculine strength and werewolf abilities. Therefore, Yarilo became the patron saint of wolves, the Wolf Shepherd. From his mother Diva Dodola, he adopted his attractiveness and lively character, which is why Yarilo is revered as the God of Passion.

Legends and myths about the Slavic God Yarilo

Many myths and legends have been preserved about the Slavic God of the Spring Sun, Yarilo. In many tales, Yarilo is described as an assistant to lovers or as the patron of Wolves and other wild animals. The most famous myth about Yarilo is associated with him as the God of Fertility.

According to this myth, the Slavs did not always cultivate the land and grow bread. For a long time, the ability to grow rye, make flour and bake bread from it. For the first time, God Yarilo tried wonderful cakes in an overseas country, and later he learned to make them himself. The people with whom Yarilo was visiting taught him how to make bread, and the God of the Spring Sun brought this knowledge to the Slavs. First, Yarilo gave the Gods a taste of the bread, and then everyone decided together how to teach people to sow grain. The Slavs considered the body of the Mother of the Raw Earth inviolable and would not agree to cause her pain. But the Earth Goddess herself agreed that her son Mikula Selyanovich make the first furrow, and Yarilo sow the first grains. Since then, Yarilo has been revered as the God of Fertility.

Zelen Yarilo came to us -

Ardent God on a green horse,

Green like grass

Dewy like dew.

Brought grain of grain

And good news from the Sun!

Amulet - symbol of God Yarilo

The amulet of the Slavic God Yarilo is called Yarovik. This is a swastastic, solar, four-ray symbol. The sign looks like an oblique cross ending in four crescent-shaped rays. The Yarovik symbol used to be not only worn as a personal amulet, but was drawn on barns with grain and on the gates of the yard where there were livestock. So Yarilo was asked to protect grain and livestock from wild animals that obey this Slavic God.

As a personal amulet, the symbol of God Yarilo worn for confidence, courage, vitality, vigor, for joy and happiness, for the birth of new love.

Attributes of God Yarilo

Animal- wolf, hare.

Heraldry, objects- ear, wreath, branch with young leaves.

Treba (offering)- pancakes, grain, porridge, pies, eggs, honey.

Yarilo - Patron God

Yarilo can become a patron god for those who are similar in character to him. These are people sociable, emotional, charming. They love to say kind, pleasant things to others, they know how to lift their spirits and cheer them up. Those who are close to God Yarilo are always ready to help those who are in trouble: they can give good advice or find a way out of a difficult situation. People similar in character to Yarilo are bright, creative, but quickly cool down, begin to get bored and are looking for a new business or a new lover.

In the character of those for whom Yarilo can become a patron, there are such quality:

• optimism;
• goodwill;
• sociability;
• emotionality;
• mood addiction;
• dislike of order and schedule.

Yarilo in the northern tradition of fortune telling and magic

The Slavic Rez of God Yarilo depicts a sign Yarovik.

Reza number – 25.

Reza Yarilo falls out, when “spring” comes in a person’s life - a time of bright feelings, emotions, enjoyment of life in its earthly, obvious manifestation. This is the time when you should put aside calculations and trust your feelings, not be afraid to live boldly and open up to people. However, at the same time, sometimes unpleasant things are revealed that a person had not noticed before and did not find the strength to face.

Read more about the meaning of Reza God Yarilo in fortune telling in the article Reza Rod Yarilo

Holidays where Yarilo, God of the Slavs, is honored

Several holidays are dedicated to the Slavic God Yarilo:

March 20-21 (date varies from year to year)– Spring Solstice, Yarilo brings Lelya-Spring into the world of Reveal.

Yarilo is the god of the sun, spring, strength and the flourishing of life. His father is considered to be Veles, and his mother is Dodola, who is the wife of Perun. Such betrayal caused a fight to the death between the two gods. The Slavs considered Yarilo a symbol of renewal. Only kind and bright concepts are associated with it, for example, sincerity, purity, tenderness, etc.

Who is the god Yarilo?

He was depicted as a young guy without a shirt. He attracted many with his blue eyes. He had blond hair with a slight reddish tint. Behind Yarilo's shoulders flowed a large red cloak. He moved on a white horse or on foot. Where his bare foot stepped, plants rose and flowers bloomed. By the way, according to some beliefs, Yarilo was depicted as a woman, but only in men's clothing. She had her own attributes, so in her right hand she held a stuffed human head, and in the other, ears of rye. On her head was a wreath of the first wildflowers. Some myths among the Western Slavs say that Yarilo had another attribute - a shield on which the sun was depicted. Many still considered him the god of youth and carnal pleasure. According to existing legends, Yarilo was quite loving. Since this god was still considered the patron of physical love, some images feature a tense phallus - a symbol of fertility. In principle, we can conclude that Yarilo is the Slavic god not only of the sun, but also. People believed that all wild animals, nature spirits and lower deities also obey him. In winter he became Frost and killed everything he created in the spring.

The main myth involving this god has to do with the creation of life on earth. When Mother Earth was sleeping under the blanket of Chaos, Yarilo appeared. He began to kiss her passionately, which made the Earth wake up. In the place where the sun god left his kiss, flowers, fields, forests, rivers, seas, etc. appeared. The warmth of the Slavic god Yarilo heated up the Earth so much that it gave birth to animals, birds, fish and other living creatures. That is why living beings are often called “children of Yarilo.” Special and passionate kisses led to the birth of a person.

The Slavs have many different rituals associated with the god Yarilo, in which dolls and stuffed animals personifying him were used. For example, at the beginning of spring, various songs were sung and celebrations were held in honor of the sun god, where Yarila and Yarilikha were chosen. At the end of the celebration, the effigy dedicated to Yarilo was buried and buried in an open field. Such a ritual symbolized the arrival of spring. Every year the sun god died and was born again.

Symbol of the sun god Yarilo among the Slavs

The swastika played a big role in the life of the Slavs. Various symbols were painted on buildings and embroidered on clothing. The images were used to create various amulets and bracelets. Interestingly, neo-paganism constantly attributes new solar signs to Yarilo, and today there are approximately 150 of them. In general, there are several symbols whose affiliation with this god still managed prove:

1. Kolovrat - the rising sun, and it also points to the eternity of life and the victory of evil over good.
2. Salting is a symbol of the setting sun, and it indicates the end of creative, productive activity.
3. Colard is a symbol of fertility and prosperity.
4. Inglia is a symbol of the primary fire from which the universe emerged.
5. Svaor-Solntsevrat is a symbol of Yarilo’s movement across the sky.

The pagan god Yarilo is honored on March 21, the day of the first month of the pagan year. By the way, at this time they also revered other gods who awaken life: Zhiva, Dazhdbog and Svarog. They also remember Yarilo on Yuri Zimny ​​- December 9th.