Mother RussiaMother Russia

The Feminine Roots of RussiaThe Feminine Roots of Russia

Russia is inherently close to Russia is inherently close to the earth because of its the earth because of its long-standing agrarian long-standing agrarian existence existence

The personification of the The personification of the land as “Mother” conveys land as “Mother” conveys the protective and life-the protective and life-giving qualities of the earthgiving qualities of the earth

In the peasant tradition, all In the peasant tradition, all things are borne by the things are borne by the earth and derive from her earth and derive from her fertilityfertility

The soil is considered sacred The soil is considered sacred because it provides because it provides sustenance for the villagesustenance for the village

MatrioshkaMatrioshka We can view Matrioshka as a symbolic We can view Matrioshka as a symbolic

embodiment of “Mother Russia”embodiment of “Mother Russia” Matrioshka doll contains progressively Matrioshka doll contains progressively

smaller versions of her own images within smaller versions of her own images within her bodyher body

““Like the ancient Great Mother Goddess, Like the ancient Great Mother Goddess, the Matrioshka spills all creation out of the Matrioshka spills all creation out of her body; like the protective and her body; like the protective and nurturing individual mother, she gathers nurturing individual mother, she gathers her children ‘under her skirts,’ where they her children ‘under her skirts,’ where they must find identity through nature’s must find identity through nature’s cyclical rhythms of confinement and cyclical rhythms of confinement and release” (Hubbs)release” (Hubbs)

Historical ContextHistorical Context The concept of “Mother Russia” is deeply rooted in The concept of “Mother Russia” is deeply rooted in

Slavic pastSlavic past Well-organized, sedentary society existed in the general Well-organized, sedentary society existed in the general

area of Russia for millennia. This “Old Europe” area of Russia for millennia. This “Old Europe” characterized as a peaceful, matrilineal culturecharacterized as a peaceful, matrilineal culture

Worshipped an all-powerful Goddess of creation, death, Worshipped an all-powerful Goddess of creation, death, and regeneration that encompassed various attributes and regeneration that encompassed various attributes of goddesses of other culturesof goddesses of other cultures

First invasion affecting the culture of Old Europe was First invasion affecting the culture of Old Europe was the Indo-European tribes from the East. These warriors the Indo-European tribes from the East. These warriors invaded around 3000 B.C. from the Eastern steppesinvaded around 3000 B.C. from the Eastern steppes

This resulted in a change towards a warfare-oriented, This resulted in a change towards a warfare-oriented, class stratified, and patriarchal societyclass stratified, and patriarchal society

Remnants of the PastRemnants of the Past

Old European way of life still found in Old European way of life still found in several “corners” of Europe today, its several “corners” of Europe today, its traditions preserved in myths, traditions preserved in myths, legends, tales, popular beliefs, legends, tales, popular beliefs, customs, and ritualscustoms, and rituals

The cult of the Mother Goddess was The cult of the Mother Goddess was carried into religious and folk carried into religious and folk traditions of various formstraditions of various forms

In the North of Russia during the winter festival of In the North of Russia during the winter festival of Koliada, this folksong is sung about a girl who sits Koliada, this folksong is sung about a girl who sits inside a white tent in a meadow embroidering a inside a white tent in a meadow embroidering a napkin as she waits for her future husband:napkin as she waits for her future husband:

And the first thing she embroidered was And the first thing she embroidered was

the moon,the moon,

The shining moon and then the stars.The shining moon and then the stars.

Then she made the beautiful sun,Then she made the beautiful sun,

The beautiful sun and the warmed clouds.The beautiful sun and the warmed clouds.

And after them the wet pine trees in the forest,And after them the wet pine trees in the forest,

The wet pines in the forest with wild animals The wet pines in the forest with wild animals

around them,around them,

And then the shining sea with its waves…And then the shining sea with its waves…

The girl of the song creates all nature like a The girl of the song creates all nature like a goddess; she then populates nature, becoming goddess; she then populates nature, becoming fertile as she embroiders herself a husband. fertile as she embroiders herself a husband. The napkin she embroiders in the meadow is The napkin she embroiders in the meadow is like those offered by peasant girls in northern like those offered by peasant girls in northern Russia to an all-encompassing female divinity.Russia to an all-encompassing female divinity.

This goddess of all creation has been revealed This goddess of all creation has been revealed in three figures representing the progressing in three figures representing the progressing life stages of a woman; the young maiden life stages of a woman; the young maiden (rusalka), the mother/lover (Mother Moist (rusalka), the mother/lover (Mother Moist Earth/Mokosh), and old wise woman (Baba Earth/Mokosh), and old wise woman (Baba Yaga)Yaga)

Each aspect associated with the three figures Each aspect associated with the three figures contains all the others. For example, the old contains all the others. For example, the old wise woman figure Baba Yaga sometimes wise woman figure Baba Yaga sometimes appears as a young maiden, as represented in appears as a young maiden, as represented in the figure of rusalka. the figure of rusalka.

Baba YagaBaba Yaga One of the most well-One of the most well-

known figures in known figures in Russian folk tales is Russian folk tales is Baba YagaBaba Yaga

She is represented as She is represented as an old witch with an old witch with magical powersmagical powers

Associated with the Associated with the goddess of embroideriesgoddess of embroideries

Dually “good” and Dually “good” and “bad”“bad”

She is bringer of life and She is bringer of life and death, both devours death, both devours children and reunites children and reunites couplescouples

The Frog PrincessThe Frog Princess Baba Yaga helps a young prince Baba Yaga helps a young prince

win the competition for the win the competition for the kingdom. He acquires a frog-bride, kingdom. He acquires a frog-bride, who is actually an enchanted who is actually an enchanted princess – the daughter of a princess – the daughter of a sorceress. The King gives his sorceress. The King gives his kingdom to this youngest son kingdom to this youngest son because his bride’s abilities cannot because his bride’s abilities cannot be matched by the brides selected be matched by the brides selected by the older sons.by the older sons.

This tale speaks to the matriarchal This tale speaks to the matriarchal past. The criteria of the competition past. The criteria of the competition set by the king is based on the set by the king is based on the abilities of the brides, not his sons.abilities of the brides, not his sons.

By analyzing the symbolic meaning By analyzing the symbolic meaning of such tales, the pre-Indo-of such tales, the pre-Indo-European social structure is European social structure is recreated recreated

RusalkaRusalka Slavic folk figureSlavic folk figure Young maiden with long, Young maiden with long,

flowing hair; runs amongst flowing hair; runs amongst lakes and treeslakes and trees

She represents the She represents the untamed life-giving and untamed life-giving and life-taking force of woman life-taking force of woman and natureand nature

Associated with fertility, Associated with fertility, reproduction, as well as reproduction, as well as deathdeath

Connected with the Connected with the underworld and the deadly underworld and the deadly waters; siren-like, she lures waters; siren-like, she lures men to their deathsmen to their deaths

She looked at him and shook her hairShe looked at him and shook her hairThrew kisses, laughedThrew kisses, laughedAnd like a childAnd like a childCried to the monk: “Come to me Cried to the monk: “Come to me

here….”here….”-Alexander Pushkin, Rusalka-Alexander Pushkin, Rusalka

Mokosh / MoistMokosh / Moist Mother EarthMother Earth Mokosh closely associated Mokosh closely associated

with the most ancient of the with the most ancient of the Slavic gods, Moist Mother Slavic gods, Moist Mother Earth. Earth.

Mokosh was a great female Mokosh was a great female deitydeity

Mokosh the sole female in the Mokosh the sole female in the pantheon of gods that Duke pantheon of gods that Duke Vladimir of Kiev attempted to Vladimir of Kiev attempted to establish before the spread of establish before the spread of ChristianityChristianity

Venerated as goddess of the Venerated as goddess of the soil, fertility, and weavingsoil, fertility, and weaving

Paraskeva PiatnitsaParaskeva Piatnitsa

She is a “transitional” figureShe is a “transitional” figure Believed to be the pagan Believed to be the pagan

deity Mokosh transferred to deity Mokosh transferred to a Christian contexta Christian context

In contrast to the pure In contrast to the pure image of Mary, Mother or image of Mary, Mother or God, she is the “Dirty One” God, she is the “Dirty One”

Like Mokosh, she is Like Mokosh, she is associated with spinning, associated with spinning, fertility, health and fertility, health and marriagemarriage

Piatnitsa, meaning “Friday,” Piatnitsa, meaning “Friday,” is connected with the is connected with the Fridays of other cults (such Fridays of other cults (such as the Roman Venus and as the Roman Venus and the Scandinavian Freya)the Scandinavian Freya)

Mary, Mother of GodMary, Mother of God

Orthodox Church Orthodox Church venerates the Mother venerates the Mother and not the Virgin, as and not the Virgin, as does the Western does the Western ChurchChurch

Mary, Mother of God, Mary, Mother of God, absorbed properties of absorbed properties of the more ancient the more ancient goddess goddess

The Tree of Life, usually The Tree of Life, usually depicted with the depicted with the fertility goddess fertility goddess Mokosh, here appears in Mokosh, here appears in connection with Maryconnection with Mary

QuestionQuestion

What are some of the ways in which What are some of the ways in which the feminine roots of Russia the feminine roots of Russia reemerged?reemerged?