Slovak Customs During Holy Week
Morena, Pagan Goddess of Winter, is Set Aflame and Cast into Water
Slovaks girls traditionally threw out winter and prepared for spring during the first days of Holy Week.
Spring and Holy Week were closely connected in the traditions of the Slovak village. (lm Sunday), Slovaks continued the age-old pagan custom of throwing out the winter. This was done in the custom called the vyznasanie Moreny, the tossing out of rena, the pagan goddess of winter. Long after Christianity, they continued to practice this rite of passage to spring. Slovaks girls of marriageable age traditionally threw out winter and prepared for spring during the first days of Holy Week.
After starting the week with the typical customs involving willow branches (bahniatka) on Kvetná nedela
On Monday and Tuesday of Holy Week, the nášanie Moreny was the talk of the village. The young men and ladies of the village would gather in groups segregated by gender. The girls would take the lead in throwing out winter and welcoming spring. Having made a straw dummy of Morena dressed in old tattered clothes, the girls made it represent the witch of winter.
After preparing the witch, they would parade around the village with their prize. Then they would gather in a circle and sing a medley of folk songs before sending the winter witch on her way out, usually into a nearby stream, lake or swamp. When they arrived at the place where they would toss out the witch, they sang in high-pitched voices:
Ach Morena, Morena,
Prekohozes umrela?
My vieme, preto zaspievame:
Pre stare dievky,
Pre svarne dievky!
Translation:
Oh Morena, Morena,
Whom do you die for?
For the old girls,
For the dark maidens?
After singing three verses, the young people stripped the straw witch of her clothing, set the straw lady ablaze with fire, and heaved her into the water. They would watch the witch dummy as it flowed away, making certain that she was destroyed. Ding Dong, the witch was dead! Then the girls and boys returned home in silence, hoping that the worst days were over and that spring and good fortunes were forthcoming. Now with winter put in its place, it was time to prepare for the holy days.
There were loads of preparations to be made for Easter, and church services to attend on Holy Thursday and Good Friday. Houses would be cleaned, fresh baked goods were prepared and all looked forward to the joy of Easter.
