Drowning of Marzanna (Morana) in the Opole region in Poland.
Photo: Mariusz Przygoda-FORUM-0436350188
Morana and Gaik: The Intertwined Pagan and Christian Traditions of the Spring Solstice in Poland
The custom of children drowning Morana is a testament to ancient traditions celebrating the arrival of spring, which have endured in various forms across Poland. For centuries, pagan rituals have blended seamlessly with Christian practices.
The first day of spring, celebrated on March 21 in Poland, marks the day after the spring equinox and is heralded across Poland with vibrant processions. These lively parades, featuring distinctive female-like puppets, wind their way through both small villages and larger towns in our country. Participants of all ages, from children to the older generations, engage in song and shout, often accompanied by the cheerful melodies of a local orchestra, typically from the fire brigade. The puppet leading the procession, crafted from wooden sticks and bundles of straw and adorned with colourful rags and ribbons, is known as Morana. While this name is commonly linked to the name day celebrated on this date, its origins trace back to ancient times. The Proto-Indo-European roots of the word ‘mar’ or ‘mor’ signify death, leading to the evolution of ‘Morana’ from earlier Slavic terms like Mara or Mora, which referred to the goddess of death.
In the territories of present Poland, winter has long symbolized death and observance. Thus, during the transition from winter to spring, our ancestors engaged in this vibrant custom to bid farewell to winter-Morana. This was often achieved through the symbolic act of drowning her effigy or destroying it by other means. Even today, in various regions of Poland and neighbouring countries, effigies representing winter – sometimes crafted as a straw female figure or even a snowman – are not only submerged in water but also set ablaze, embodying a ‘double death.’ This practice aligns with the principle of sympathetic magic in ethnography, which suggests that like causes produce like effects.
A series of black and white photographs from the 1970s in the Podhale region depicts children in traditional highlander costumes participating in a procession with Moranas. They carry broken sledges and skis, which they toss into the Dunajec River alongside the carnival effigies, amplifying the magical essence of this tradition through the removal of winter-related objects, especially the broken ones.
A procession with a gaik in Silesia (FOT. Wikipedia)
The historical roots of this custom run deep in Polish culture, documented by chroniclers such as Jan Długosz in the 15th century and historian Marcin Bielski in the 16th century. For hundreds of years, until the 20th century, the destruction of Morana coincided with Christian traditions, particularly on the Fourth Sunday of Lent – Laetare, known as the Sunday of Joy. This day offered a brief respite for the faithful, allowing a moment of celebration during a time of fasting and spiritual contemplation, thus providing a unique space for this magical custom to coexist with Catholic observance.
The burning of Morana marked the culmination of various springtime customs that began as early as Ash Wednesday, which typically falls in February or early March. Various Polish proverbs celebrate the arrival of spring, such as ‘On Saint Casimir’s Day, winter heads for the sea’ (4 March), ‘On Saint Gregory’s Day, the rivers go to the sea’ (12 March), and ‘Saint Joseph the Bridegroom opens the highway to spring’ (19 March).
The Polish people have long been astute observers of nature, watching for signs of the changing seasons to predict the future. However, they did not simply wait for spring to arrive; they actively sought to hasten its onset. In rural Poland, the arrival of storks heralds the coming of spring. Farmers often repair stork nests or place shiny objects like old cartwheels or harrows on their roofs to attract these birds, encouraging them to settle and nest.
Another deep-rooted Polish custom associated with Morana is the preparation of a gaik – a decorative symbol of spring, echoing the ancient Slavic goddess of the forest, fertility, and vitality, Devana. The gaik is crafted from evergreen pine or spruce branches, adorned with ribbons and decorations like painted eggshells, and is only made after Morana has been ceremoniously drowned. This colorful tree is then paraded through the village, accompanied by singing.
Karolina Prewęcka
Source: DlaPolonii.pl
