Marzanna

Marzanna is a figure in Slavic folklore, a personification of winter and the cycle of the seasons. The name appears in various forms, including Morana, Morena, and Morena, and in different traditions she is seen as either a goddess or a demoness associated with winter's end. In some accounts she is linked with Vesna, the spring goddess, as a counterpart in the seasonal cycle.

Etymology traces Marzanna to Proto-Slavic morъ or mor- meaning "death" or "rot," and cognate names appear across Slavic languages. In folklore she embodies the cold, lethal aspect of winter and the force that must be banished to allow spring to begin.

Rituals typically involve constructing a straw effigy of Marzanna, parading it in a procession and then disposing of it by drowning, burning, or casting into water to symbolize the departure of winter and the return of life. Timeframes vary, but the rites are commonly associated with the vernal equinox in early spring.

Regional variations are most visible in Central Europe: Poland's topienie Marzanny; the Czech Republic and Slovakia's pálení Moreny (also Morena); and related traditions in neighboring areas. Practices differ in the method of disposal and in accompanying songs or chants.

In modern times Marzanna endures as a cultural and folkloric motif, appearing in festivals, education, literature, and media. It is viewed as part of heritage in many communities, rather than a strict religious rite, while retaining its role as a symbol of winter's departure and spring's arrival. See also Slavic mythology; Morena/Morana; Vesna.