Fire Rite touched by Perkunas

Fire Rite touched by Perkunas

Tuesday, August 28, 2018

"Spring!" from the view of an Australian Romuvis

Springtime is very different here in Australia compared to Europe, but still a magical time when nature wakes from the winters' rest and I will explain the differences between the European experience of Spring and the Australian. How this difference affects us and our various Earth traditions, how indigenous people named the months and the seasons by what is happening in nature so people can complete the necessary duties to ensure survival will be explored in this article. I will also share some Lithuanian Springtime customs that are still applicable to us here in Australia even though we are on the opposite side of the earth and in different hemispheres.

The period of Springtime in Australia is in the 3 months from September. As we are in the Southern hemisphere, Australian seasons are opposite to our Northern cousins. For example, when Australia, is experiencing Winter when the North is experiencing Summer. When we are enjoying Spring, the north is in Autumn and preparing for Winter. I believe that chores are done  and nature celebrated at the seasonally appropriate time however This idea is hard for some to understand because they want to be connected with their homeland which is the Northern hemisphere no matter in what season they are. For example, the Australian Lithuanian community like to celebrate Summer Solstice customs in June here in Australia! We are at Winter Solstice! When asked,"why now?". I am told that it connects them to their homeland. I say,"fair enough" but for me, as already stated, I feel that the age old customs should be carried out at the seasonally appropriate time. It makes more sense to me but I am still happy to maintain harmony with my community and celebrate certain celebrations like Easter and Christmas in Autumn and Summer here in Australia. Regardless of being at the seasonally inappropriate time of the year. It is a tenet of Romuva to strive for and maintain harmony and this is a way of adhering to this tenet by celebrating with my community.

 In Australia during Springtime, the birds and other animals across country are building nests, mating and breeding. The wattles blossom bright yellow and many other trees and plants start to bloom. Nature in Australia really start to come alive in Springtime, just as would have for our European ancestors but there are major differences which is better understood by knowing that Indigenous peoples across the world, and how they named their seasons and months after what is happening in nature rather than using a calendar that refers to roman gods. This is not only irrelevant to the people but doesn't even reflect the seasonal understanding of a people. Many Aboriginal seasonal calendars don't even have a term for the traditional Springtime but name the period after what is happening in nature. For example:
*Spring months are described as hot/dry and pre monsoonal storms by Bininj people of the Kakadu area.
*The Wurundjeri people of the Melbourne area see birds nesting or feeding their young to signify the season.
*The Yolgnu people even mention that the first sound of thunder is heard in this season!
An in depth study of Indigenous cultural names for months and seasons would be too lengthy to explain in this short article but if you are interested, you can consult local Aboriginal weather charts on the internet of through your local Aboriginal cultural center for a better understanding of what season you are in, where you live!

.
European Spring Months
Lithuanian Spring Months and meanings
Australian Spring months
March
*Kovas
(Meaning: Rook/Blackbird/Goddess of war and conflict)
September
April
^Balandis
(Meaning:Pidgeon/Dove)
October
May
#Geguzes
(Meaning; Cuckoo Bird)
November

* Conflict can be seen in the warring weather. One day is hot and Summery and the next is cold and Wintery. It is like the seasons are struggling between themselves but, in the end, Spring and warmth will always defeat the Winter and its cold.
The country warms up a little and the Pigeons and doves return to the country and the soft cooing can be heard on the breeze.
The country warms up a little more and the Cuckoo bird returns to the country. There is a belief that a persons activities and state of being when hearing the Cuckoo call for the first time each year will predict your up coming year. for example, If you are working hard when you first hear the Cuckoo then you can expect to work hard that year. If you have money in your pocket at the time then you will have enough money. etc NB I have noticed the sound Kookool was heard in the area when it started to warm up and I used her call to predict my year. Now that I have moved state, I have found the beautiful warble of the Magpie is heard at this time.

Adherents of Romuva in Lithuania and the northern hemisphere. know February the 2nd and 5th respectively, as the "Day of Perkunas", (the Thunderer), and the ,"Day of Gabija", (Goddess of the hearth, of grains and guardian of fire). In Australia, at the same time in our seasons, these days are observed on August the 2nd and 5th respectively and I believe are just as relevant to my Spring time observances regardless of being in the southern hemisphere.  

You may be wondering why these days should be included in Spring observances when these days are a month before the official start of Spring? The traditional custom of the Lithuanians was to listen for the first sound of thunder, from the "Day of Perkunas", (the Thunderer). This thunder is believed to be the son of Perkunas, named Jore). It is believed that this first thunder ,(Jore), shakes all of nature even down to the roots of the trees and this will wake them from Winter slumber. I  still listen out for his rumbling after August the 2nd to herald the arrival of Spring. On this day,people make death/thunder candles to burn in storms to protect the home from lightning strike. These can be easily made by wrapping a candle in linen thread and with the amount of lightning that we have in Australia, these candles can be useful

 The "Day of Gabija", is observed on the 5th of February in Lithuania and 5th of August in Australia. The Day of Gabija is a time to remember how much we still need her fire. Without fire, humankind would not have survived to flourish as we have. We thank the fire of Gabija for warming us and lighting our way in the cold dark Winter nights. Gabija cooks our food everyday and provides grains for our daily bread. The importance of fire and grains is relevant as much in Lithuania and Australia for countless reasons and so we honor Gabija. In my home, we have a meal of grains on this day. There are lots of dishes from which to choose!

I believe that the combination of these Lithuanian days of observance are equivalent, in some ways, to the to the Celtic celebration of Imbolc. Gabija is similar to Brigid, although they have a different folklore, they share a connection with fire and blessed beeswax candles. There were many Indo European tribes who settled in many a were I believe that there are remnants of an old Indo European traits in all tribes, which is quite extensive and connect us all as brothers and sisters.^

^For more information on how far reaching the Indo European tribes were in Europe and Asia.. Another reason to believe that we are all connected! Please watch youtube clip at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dl8_7n9FsoQ and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqwuOpN4CVM

I hope you have found this article informative! If you are interested in more on the Baltic Lithuanian faith please follow me on http://stevekryzius.blogspot.com.au/2015/10/the-art-of-lithuanian-spellscasting.html





Lithuanian Holidays in Australia

Lithuanian Holidays
Many Lithuanian holidays have merged with Christian holidays, sometimes changing the date of the holiday. The dates of some the Lithuanian holidays have become very confusing due to the Julian and Gregorian calendars that were simultaneously used in different parts of Lithuania during Czarist Russian occupation (1772/1792/1795-1918). This problem especially affects the movable Spring holidays, calculated based on the Spring Equinox day.
Lithuanian Ethnic Religion Calendar Holidays, with Australian references by Steve Kryzius

Date
Holiday
Brief Description

21/25 December LT
21-25 June AU

Kalėdos 
(Winter Solstice and
New Year’s Day)

Homage to the Sun and blessings for the new solar year.

21 Dec-2 Jan/       25 Dec-6 Jan LT
21 June-2 July/    25 June-6 July AU

Tarpukalėdis
 (Intra-Solstice)

Days of rest. Traditional women’s and men’s work is forbidden.

25 January LT
(in older practice: the first new moon, called the foal, after the Winter Solstice)
25 July AU


Pusiaužiemis 
(Mid-winter)

Synonymous with lunar new year baptism and new year celebration. Badgers, porcupines, and bears leave their caves or turn on their sides. This determines what winter will be like.

2 Feb LT
2 August AU

Perkūno diena 
(Perkūnas Day)
Blessing of candles, linen and ever green trees. Death candles are made to protect the home from lightning strike and ward off illness

5 Feb LT
5 August AU

Gabijos diena 
(Gabija day)

Blessing of bread and people. Honour given to Goddess Gabija, guardian of Fire, the hearth and grains.

Varies in Feb LT
Varies in August AU

Užgavėnės 
(Escort of Winter/Mardi Gras/Pancake Tues/Shrove Tues)

Pagan rite to usher out winter.

Varies in March LT
Varies in Sept. AU

Verba 
(Flower and herb lance)

Preparation for Spring

20-21 March


1 April
Same in Australia




Pavasario lygė 
(Spring Equinox)

Melų diena
(Lie day,April Fool Day)

Welcomes Spring. Blessing renewal of life.

A successful lie will bring success for the coming year. Common pagan superstition.

Varies in April LT
Varies in October AU

Velykos 
(The Great Day,Easter)

Springtime remembrance of the dead and celebration of new life in nature. People exchange coloured and decorated eggs.Egg games played.Blessing of certain foods to ensure you have food all year.People whipped with Verbos and sprinkling with blessed water. Magic of green branch.

23 April LT
23 September AU














11 May LT
11 Oct AU

Jorė















Deivės Mildos Šventė
Gegužinės
Celebrates new growth of Spring. Animals are herded for the first time. The earth cannot be moved on this day. Rituals of bread making Bread was buried in the fields and gardens. After placing a bread roll on the ground a farmer would put one ear to the ground, farmers would listen to the Rye to find out if it will be a good harvest. The God of the Spring Thunder was called Jore or Joris.He evoked the forces of Life. Jore owned the key to the Land, when Earth is unlocked, Jore sends rain and resurrectes all vegetation.Flowers and Herbs were offered to Zemyna Goddess Earth Goddess,Pergubis God of all plants along with 15 other vegetation Gods were honored.

27 May LT
27 October AU

Sambarės

Celebrates new growth of crops

9-20/12-24 June LT
 9-20/12-24 December AU

Pre Solstice Days. Preparation for the Solstice.

21-24 June LT
21-24 Dec AU

Rasa a.k.a. Kupolinė
(Dew, Herb Pole Day)
Homage to the Sun Mother and medicinal herbs. Summer solstice. Mostly celebrated by young people. Bon fires are kept during the night, wreaths are woven and set adrift, the fern blossom is sought. The hay harvest begins after this holiday.

21 June-2 July/                  25 June-6 July  LT
21 Dec-2 Jan               25 Dec-6 Jan AU


Post Solstice Days.

25 July LT
25 Jan AU
(Australia Day)
26 July LT
26 Jan AU

Rugių šventė      
(Rye holiday)
often combined with:
Prinokimo šventė (Ripe holiday)

Blessing of rye and other grain crops at the harvest.
End of the rye harvest. The first new bread is baked. Berries are ripe.

15 August LT
15 Feb AU

Žolinė             (Meadow Grass Day)
Deivės Žemynos šventė
(Earth Goddess festival)
Coming of autumn. People gathered grass from their fields and gardens and brought it to churches to be blessed. Rye, wheat and oat ears were tucked into these grass bundles. In the spring, these ears were crushed and sprinkled on the seeds to be planted. Other bundles of blessed grasses were used as medicine, as protection from lightning strikes and to be sewn into coffin pillows. Families always tried to gather together on this day to ensure the coming year would be a productive one. The spring crop harvest begins
Goddess of Bees and honey honoured.

20-21 Sept. LT
20-21 March AU





Dagotuvės, Rudens Lygė  
(Autumnal Equinox)

Harvest celebration.
Festival of Fire and water. Beginning of customs to remember the dead.


28 October LT
25 April AU             ANZAC Day


Rudens Samborės


Autumn remembrance of the dead

1 November LT            2 November LT
Usually commemorated on:
25 April AU       ANZAC Day

Visi šventi                     (All Saints)
and
Ilgės a.k.a. Vėlinės  (Lengthening, Day of Shades)

Public holiday so people can visit the graves of their ancestors. Time of Remembrance. Donations given to elgetos.Old and ill people,who can’t make enough to eat, become elgetos.

9-20/12-24 December LT
9-20/12-24 June AU

Prieškalėdis      (Pre-Solstice)

Preparation for the solstice

20/24 Dec LT
20-24 June AU

Kūčios              (Winter Solstice Eve)

Family holiday. After reconciliation and forgiveness, everyone sits together at the holiday table.
Some of the 13 dishes,(representing the 13 Lunar months), must be eaten by all if a prosperous year is to be had. Many divinations and prognostications are performed.

Sources: Jonas Trinkūnas, ed. Of Gods and Holidays. [ Vilnius ]: Tvermė, 1999. 110-111.

Jonas Trinkūnas.  Baltų tikėjimas: Lietuvių pasaulėjauta, papročiai, apeigos, ženklai. Vilnius : Diemedžio leidykla, 2000. 45. Pranė Dundulienė. Lietuvių šventės: Tradicijos, papročiai, apeigos. Vilnius: Mintis, 1981.(15 Sventes and 4 Solstice work/rest periods)