What is koliada?
Koliada or Koleda (Bulgarian: Коледа, romanized: Koleda) is a Slavic mythological deity, that personalizes the newborn winter infant Sun and impersonates the New Year’s cycle. In the ancient times Slavs used to sacrifice horses, goats, cows, bears or other animals that personify fertility.
How to celebrate koliada?
For Koročun, the Russian name for Koliada, it is tradition to honour your ancestors by visiting their graves and lighting a bonfire in the cemetery to keep them warm during the longest night of the year.
Where is koliada celebrated?
Koleda is also celebrated across northern Greece by the Slavic speakers of Greek Macedonia, in areas from Florina to Thessaloniki, where it is called Koleda (Κόλιντα, Κόλιαντα) or Koleda Babo (Κόλιντα Μπάμπω) which means “Koleda Grandmother” in Slavic.
Why is koliada celebrated?
Koleda, or Koliada, is an ancient pre-Christian Slavic festival, marking the winter solstice. Ancient Slavs believed that during the dark and cold winter, the border between the spiritual and the mortal worlds is the thinnest.
Did Slavs celebrate Yule?
It was celebrated by pagan Slavs on December 21, the longest night of the year and the night of the winter solstice. On this day, Western Slavs lit fires at cemeteries to keep their loved ones warm, and organized feasts to honor the dead and keep them fed. They also lit wooden logs at local crossroads.
Who is Czernobog?
Czernobog – also known as Chernabog, Chornoboh, and Tchernobog, is a Slavic deity whose name translates to the Black God. Czernobog’s origins dates back to the west Slavic tribes of the 12th century, who believed that he was the cause of all bad things in the world.
Where does the word koledari come from in Bulgarian?
Koledari. Both words come from the Church Slavonic word Koleda, a celebration incorporated later into Christmas . In Bulgaria this type of caroling is called “коледуване” ( koleduvane ), whereas in Ukraine called “колядування” ( kolyaduvannya ), in Macedonia it is called “коледарење” ( koledarenje ), or “коледе” ( kolede ).
What is the meaning of the name Koliada?
Koliada or koleda ( Cyrillic: коляда, коледа, колада, коледе) is the traditional Slavic name for the period from Christmas to Epiphany or, more generally, to Slavic Christmas-related rituals, some dating to pre-Christian times. It represents “a winter festival celebrated at the end of December in honour of the sun”.
Where does the word Kolenda come from in Polish?
The word used in Old Church Slavonic language (Колѧда – Kolęnda) sounds closest to the current Polish language pronunciation, as Polish is one of two Slavic languages which retains the nasal vowels of the Proto-Slavic language (the other is closely related Kashubian).
Where does the name Koleda come from in Greece?
Koleda is also celebrated across northern Greece by the Slavic speakers of Greek Macedonia, in areas from Florina to Thessaloniki, where it is called Koleda (Κόλιντα, Κόλιαντα) or Koleda Babo (Κόλιντα Μπάμπω) which means “Koleda Grandmother” in Slavic.