Goddess Lada - love in Slavic

Lada is the goddess of love in Slavic mythology. In ancient times, around it formed a cult that included a variety of rituals and rituals. The dances round the fire at Ivan Kupala were the most common ritual. And what's more, one can even say that Kupala is a holiday of Lada, in which young couples met and fell in love under the auspices of this goddess.

It combined everything that people valued in a young girl: tenderness, sincere love, meekness, affectionate nature and humble temper. Lada, like most pagan gods, has its own symbol - a white swan. He represented true purity, family fidelity and heavenly love.

There are ancient rituals, which are dedicated to the goddess Lada. Most of them are already adapted to the present, so they make their own. Such rituals are conducted to harmonize family relations, soften the character, improve one's personal life or to attract love.

The Goddess Lada, like Rod, was not part of the pantheon of the gods. Both of them were an integral part of the world view of the Slavs. Everyone should get along with each other. His favorite people called Lada-Ladushki. His wife called her beloved Lado.

The Goddess Lada has many hypostases, among them male. For example, Lad is the god of consent and friendship. Hence the word "palm". We all offer our friends open hands for a handshake. Another hypostasis is Lel. This is the god of fiery, bright love - a small, handsome boy. Sparks fly from his palms, and they can ignite even the coldest heart. As you know, among the ancient Greeks such a boy was Eros, and the Romans - Cupid.

The goddess Lada listened to the requests of the people. She was also called Shchedrin, and, accordingly, a holiday in her honor - generous (January 6/19, the present Baptism). In honor of this goddess sang songs that praised peace, harmony and love. On the frozen rivers and lakes, a hole was made (to "Lada breathe") and threw gifts there to the goddess (grain, pies, fritters), and the ice was poured with broths of herbs, which meant the imminent arrival of spring. After that, they began to celebrate and feast.

The feast of the arrival of warmth and spring - Ladoga - was accompanied by special rituals. The Slavs sang the awakening of nature. The women climbed up into haystacks, to the roofs of houses, to the hills and, raising their hands up to the sky, called for spring. Cranes were also made from dough. They were put on a high place (for example, above the door) and they had to protect the space. With the Feast of the Feast, the belief is still connected that birds are returning from the Slavic paradise, Iria, and therefore people imitated the dancing of birds.

In all of Ancient Rus, the goddess Lada was worshiped. Slavs, according to mythology, she always protected. In the name of Lada people called the whole system of life, i.e. Harmony, where everything should be good. To avoid any family problems, the goddess brought flowers, honey, berries and live birds. With her help in life there are friendliness, home comfort, mutual understanding, love, family way of life and mutual respect. The Goddess Lada bestows to the newlyweds everything they ask for a happy life together.

Despite all the antiquity of the rituals, in some families customs to celebrate Lada are still preserved, according to all rituals.