Also called Gerovit, Gerovitus, Jarowit.
Their story
Otto of Bamberg's biographers describe a temple of Gerovit at Wolgast where a huge golden shield hung on the wall and was carried before the army in war. A feast of the god was also kept at Havelberg with green banners. Many scholars link his name to jar, meaning spring vigour, and so to the East Slavic Jarilo.
Best times to give to them
- spring
- Maslenitsa
- the first green shoots
What they like being given
- green branches
- bread
- a shield or round token hung on the wall
How to honour them
- Hang a round shield-like token or wreath in your home in spring.
- Mark the return of green growth with a walk and thanks.
How they can help you
- courage
- new beginnings
- defending what you love
Symbols
- a great golden shield
- banners
- green branches
The link with Jarilo is a common scholarly suggestion based on the name, not stated in the sources.
Sources
- Herbord, Dialogue on the Life of Otto of Bamberg
- Ebo, Life of Otto of Bamberg
More Slavic gods
- Perun The thunder god of oak and axe
- Veles Lord of cattle, wealth and the underworld
- Dazhbog The giving god, the sun
- Svarog The heavenly smith, father of fire and sun
- Jarilo The youthful god of spring and growth
- Rod The god of kin, birth and fate
- Stribog Grandfather of the winds
- Khors The bright disc of the sun