Also called Marzanna, Morena, Mara, Maržena.
Their story
Across Poland, Czechia, Slovakia and beyond, villagers carried a straw figure of Marzanna out of the village in spring, then drowned or burnt it to drive out winter and death. The custom is well recorded and still performed, often by children. Some reconstructions pair her with Jarilo in a yearly cycle of love, death and return.
Best times to give to them
- the spring equinox, when her effigy is drowned or burnt
- the first frost
- Winter Nights
- the dark moon
What they like being given
- a small straw figure
- bread
- dried winter flowers
- a candle
- a letting go of something old
How to honour them
- Make a small straw doll at the end of winter and let it go into a stream, being careful to use natural materials only.
- Write down what you are ready to end and burn it safely.
- Walk in winter woods and accept the stillness.
- Think on those who have died with gratitude.
How they can help you
- endings and letting go
- grief
- transformation
- getting through winter
Symbols
- a straw effigy
- rivers
- the sickle
- frost
- black and white
The spring ritual is genuine folk tradition, but her status as a goddess and her myths are largely reconstruction.
Festivals
- Maslenitsa Moveable: the week before Orthodox Great Lent, usually between mid February and mid March