Also called Svarozhits, Zuarasici, Zuarasiz, Swarożyc.
Their story
Thietmar of Merseburg describes a temple at Riedegost among the Redarii in which the chief god was Zuarasici, surrounded by helmeted idols and war banners. Bruno of Querfurt names a "Zuarasiz" in a letter of 1008. An Old Russian sermon complains that people pray to fire and call it Svarozhich, so among the East Slavs the name seems to have meant the hearth fire itself.
Best times to give to them
- Koliada
- Kupala Night
- lighting a new fire in the home
What they like being given
- bread passed over the flame
- a pinch of salt on the hearth
- grain
- kvass or beer (or a non-alcoholic version)
How to honour them
- Light a candle or stove with care and speak a greeting to the fire.
- Never spit into or insult the fire, as old custom forbade.
- Keep the hearth or stove clean as a sign of respect.
How they can help you
- warmth and home
- courage
- keeping promises
Symbols
- fire
- the hearth
- a helmet and banner
- a horse
The East Slavic fire and the Baltic Slavic temple god share a name, but how they relate is uncertain.
Sources
- Thietmar of Merseburg, Chronicon, Book VI
- Bruno of Querfurt, letter to King Henry II (1008)
- Old Russian sermon "Slovo nekoego khristoliubtsa"
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