Kako zamišljate sirenu (rusalku)? Kao djevojku s ribljim repom? U Ukrajini to uopće nije tako! Rusalke su središnje figure drevnih poganskih slavlja. I imaju potpuno ljudski oblik. Blagdan početka ljeta skladno se spojio s proslavom Duhova, ili Pedesetnice (slavi se 50 dana nakon Uskrsa). Tjedan nakon Duhova naziva se Rusalski tjedan. Cijeli ciklus slavlja naziva se Zeleni blagdani.

Tko su rusalke u ukrajinskoj mitologiji?

Rusalka je duh preminule osobe, žene, muškarca, djeteta. Smatralo se da rusalkama postaju utopljenici, nekrštena djeca, djevojke koje su umrle prije vjenčanja. Na Zelene blagdane rusalke se mogu vratiti u svijet živih u ljudskom obliku. Tradicionalno, rusalka se prikazuje kao prekrasna blijeda djevojka u dugoj košulji. Njezina koža je gotovo prozirna. 

Rusalke, duhovi umrlih, mogu komunicirati sa živima: namamiti, zagolicati, utopiti u rijeci. Stoga se na Zelene blagdane preporučuje ne lutati noću šumama i ne kupati se u vodama. Rusalku možete sresti na obali rijeke, na raskrižju putova i jednostavno na polju.

Tradicije proslave

Uvijek je zanimljivo promatrati kako se drevne tradicije preklapaju s novijima. I evo rezultata: kršćanski blagdan Duhova, sa svečanom službom u crkvi, obogaćen je običajem ukrašavanja doma zelenim travama. To može biti pelin, metvica, ljupčac, grane lipe, breze i hrasta. Posvećuju se i razlažu po sobama, ukrašavaju se vrata, prozori. Vjeruje se da biljke na taj način štite dom od zlih duhova.

A u nastavku još poganskih slavlja, mladi ljudi pletu vijence od cvijeća, pjevaju pjesme, plešu oko vatre i preskaču je. Proslava početka ljeta ima za cilj osigurati dobar urod, sačuvati plodnost. U prirodi i među ljudima. Sljedeća velika proslava nakon Zelenih blagdana je dan ljetnog solsticija, Ivan Kupala.

Rusalka Week

How do you imagine a rusalka (mermaid)? As a girl with a fish tail? Well, in Ukraine, it’s not like that at all! Rusalky are central figures in ancient pagan celebrations. And they have a completely human appearance. The holiday of early summer harmoniously combined with the celebration of Trinity, or Pentecost (celebrated 50 days after Easter). The week after Trinity is called Rusalka Week. The entire cycle of celebrations is known as Green Holidays.

Who are rusalky in Ukrainian mythology?

A rusalka is the spirit of a deceased person – a woman, man, or child. It was believed that drowned people, unbaptized children, and girls who died before marriage became rusalky. During the Green Holidays, rusalky can return to the world of the living in human form. Traditionally, a rusalka is depicted as a beautiful, pale girl in a long shirt. Her skin is almost translucent. 

Rusalky, as spirits of the deceased, can interact with the living: lure, tickle to death, or drown in a river. Therefore, during the Green Holidays, it is recommended not to wander through forests at night or swim in bodies of water. A rusalka can be met on a riverbank, at a crossroads, or simply in a field.

Celebration Traditions

It’s always interesting to observe how ancient traditions overlap with newer ones. And here’s the result: the Christian holiday of Pentecost, with its festive church service, is enriched by the custom of decorating the home with green herbs. These can include mugwort, mint, lovage, branches of linden, birch, and oak. They are blessed and placed in rooms, decorating doors and windows. It is believed that the plants thus protect the home from evil spirits. 

And in continuation of the pagan celebrations, young people weave wreaths of flowers, sing songs, dance around bonfires, and jump over them. The celebration of early summer is intended to ensure a good harvest and preserve fertility – in nature and among people. The next major celebration after the Green Holidays is the summer solstice, Ivan Kupala Day.