Also called Perkūnas (Baltic cousin), Piorun, Perún.
Their story
The Russian Primary Chronicle records that in 980 Prince Vladimir of Kiev set up an idol of Perun with a silver head and golden moustache, and that the Rus swore their treaties with Byzantium by Perun and Volos. Scholars have reconstructed a wider myth in which Perun, from the top of the oak, pursues a serpentine enemy, often identified with Veles, and strikes him with lightning, releasing the rain.
Their day
Thursday. Thursday is widely linked to Perun in Slavic folk tradition, as the day of the thunderer.
Best times to give to them
- Thursdays
- thunderstorms
- Midsummer
- the feast of St Elijah (Ilinden, 2 August), which absorbed his lore
What they like being given
- kvass or beer, or a non-alcoholic kvass
- rye bread
- honey
- oak leaves and acorns
- a burning candle or small fire
How to honour them
- Keep an oak leaf or an axe charm on your altar.
- Draw the thunder mark over your door for protection.
- Pour a drink outside during a storm and greet him.
- Keep your oaths, since treaties of the Rus were sworn by his name.
How they can help you
- protection
- courage
- justice
- rain for crops
- keeping promises
Symbols
- the oak
- the axe
- the thunder mark (six-petalled rosette)
- the eagle
- lightning
Sources for Slavic religion are thin and mostly written by Christian chroniclers; the storm-battle myth is a scholarly reconstruction.
Herbs linked with them
- Oak Quercus robur
More Slavic gods
- 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
- Simargl The enigmatic winged guardian