There have always been various religions and beliefs in the world. Which, by the way, did not completely disappear anywhere, even if they became irrelevant. In this article I want to talk about the Gentiles: their rites, faith and various interesting nuances.
the main thing
First of all, we note that paganism is a very ancient religion that existed among the Slavs before the adoption of Christianity. It is safe to say that this is a whole universal system of views, which fully gave the general picture of the world to the inhabitants of those times. Our ancestors had their own pantheon of gods, which was hierarchical. And the people themselves were confident in the close connection of the inhabitants of the parallel world with the ordinary. The pagans believed that spirits always and in everything controlled them, therefore not only the spiritual, but also the material part of life was subordinate to them.
A bit of history
At the end of the first millennium AD, at the time when Christianity was adopted in Russia, everything related to paganism was suppressed, uprooted. They burned pagan temples, launched ancient idols on water. We tried to completely get rid of these beliefs. However, with confidence we can say that this was very bad. Indeed, to this day, elements of the rites of the pagans have been preserved in the Orthodox faith, creating an amazing symbiosis of Byzantine culture and paganism. I must say that the first memories of these beliefs appeared in medieval manuscripts, when the papal curia actively attracted people to Catholicism. Pagans (who knows this) also fell under this action. The entries in the diaries of Catholics were mainly condemning. As for the Russian chroniclers, they did not want to talk about paganism at that time, focusing on the fact that it practically does not exist.
About the concept
Understanding the concept of “pagans” (who they are, what are the features of their faith and worldview), you need to find out what it means. If you understand the etymology, it must be said that the word "language" is the root here. However, it also meant "people, tribe." We can conclude that the concept itself can be translated as "popular faith" or "faith of the tribe." The Slavic term “paganism” can also be interpreted as “a bond of bonds”.
About faith
So pagans: who are they, what did they believe in? It is worth saying that the very system of their beliefs was almost ideal and completely inseparable from nature. She was revered, worshiped and presented with generous gifts. The center of the entire Universe for the Slavs was precisely Mother Nature. She was understood as a kind of living organism, which not only thinks, but also has a soul. Her powers and elements were deified and spiritualized. However, this is not surprising, because it is Nature that is so logical that there is no problem with special wisdom. Moreover, the pagans (who this is, we basically considered) considered themselves children of nature and could not imagine their life without it, because the Vedic system of knowledge and beliefs implied close interaction and coexistence in harmony with the outside world. What was the faith of our ancestors? The Slavs had three main cults: the Sun, Mother Earth and the worship of the elements.
Cult of the earth
The pagans believed that the earth was the mother of everything. Everything is explained quite simply here, because it is, according to the ancient Slavs, that it is the center of fertility: the Earth gives life not only to plants, but to all animals. Why she was called Mother is also not hard to explain. Our ancestors believed that it was precisely their land that gave birth, it gives them strength, it is only worth leaning towards it. Note that many of the rites existing today have come to us since those times. Let us recall, for example, the need to take a handful of our land to a foreign land or bow to the young parents at a wedding.
Cult of the sun
The sun in the beliefs of the ancient Slavs acts as a symbol of all-conquering good. It must be said that pagans were often called sun worshipers. People at that time lived according to the solar calendar, paying special attention to the dates of the winter and summer solstices. It was at this time that important holidays were celebrated, such as, for example, Ivan Kupala Day (end of June). It will also be interesting that the inhabitants of those times revered the sign of the swastika, which was called the solar Kolovrat. However, this symbolism did not carry any negative at that time, but personified the victory of good over evil, light and purity. This sign of wisdom was also a charm endowed with cleansing power. It was always applied to clothes and weapons, household items.
Worship of the elements
With great respect, the pagan Slavs treated such elements as air, water and fire. The last two were considered purifying, as powerful and life-giving as the earth itself. As for fire, it is, according to the Slavs, a powerful energy that establishes equilibrium in the world and strives for justice. Fire cleansed not only the body, but also the soul (jumping in a flaming bonfire to Ivan Kupala is indicative in this regard). The flame was of great importance at the funeral. At that time, the bodies were burned, betraying the cleansing power of fire, not only the earth's shell of man, but also his soul, which after this ritual easily went to the ancestors. In the days of the Gentiles, water was highly revered. People considered her the only source of strength and energy. At the same time, they respected not only rivers and other bodies of water, but also celestial waters - rains, believing that in this way the gods give strength not only to the earth itself, but also to its inhabitants. They cleaned it with water, treated it ("living" and "dead" water), with its help they even divined and predicted the future.
Past
With great respect, the Russian pagans also belonged to their past, and more precisely, to their ancestors. They respected their grandfathers-great-grandfathers, often resorted to their help. It was believed that the souls of their ancestors did not disappear anywhere, they protect their family, helping people from a parallel world. Twice a year, the Slavs celebrated the day when they honored their dead relatives. It was called Radonitsa. At this time, relatives communicated with their ancestors at their graves, asking for the safety and health of the whole family. It was necessary to leave a small gift (this rite still exists today - a wake in the cemetery when people bring sweets and cookies with them).
Pantheon of gods
First of all, I want to say that the gods of the Gentiles represent one or another element or natural force. So, the most important gods were Rod (who created life on earth) and Rozhanitsy (fertility goddesses, thanks to whom, after winter, the earth was reborn to a new life; they also helped women to give birth to children). One of the most important gods was also Svarog - the creator and lord of the universe, the Father-Ancestor, who gave people not only earthly fire, but also heavenly (Sun). Such gods as Dazhdbog (god of the Sun) and Perun (God of thunder, lightning, thunder) were Svarozhichi. The solar deities were Horse (circle, hence the word "round dance") and Yarilo (god of the hottest and brightest summer sun). The Slavs and Veles, the god who was the patron of cattle, also revered. He was also the god of wealth, because earlier it was possible to become rich only thanks to livestock, which brought good profit. Among the goddesses, the most significant were Lada (the goddess of beauty, youth, love, marriage and family), Makosh (the donor of life to the harvest) and Moran (the goddess of death, cold, winter). People in those days also revered brownies, goblin, water - spirits who guarded everything that surrounded a person: house, water, forests, fields.
Ceremonies
The various rites of the Gentiles were also important. As already mentioned, they could be purifying for the body and soul (using water and fire). There were also guard rites, which were carried out in order to protect a person or a house from evil spirits. The Slavs were not alien to the Slavs either. So, gifts to the gods could be both bloodless and blood. The first were brought as a gift to ancestors or coasts. Blood sacrifices were needed, for example, to Perun and Yaril. At the same time, birds and livestock were brought as gifts. All ceremonies were sacred.