Northern European Mythology
Contents
| CHAPTER I. | |
| INTRODUCTORY. | |
| | PAGE |
| Khorovod, or Choral, Songs | 1 |
| The Posidyélka, or Social Gathering | 32 |
| The Besyéda | 36 |
| Divisions of Songs | 39 |
| Cossack and Robber Songs | 42 |
| Soldier Songs | 61 |
| The Builínas, or Metrical Romances | 65 |
| Story of Svyatogor | 68 |
| Story of Sukhman | 64 |
| Ruibnikof's Researches | 67 |
| CHAPTER II. | |
| MYTHOLOGY. | |
| SECTION I.--THE OLD GODS. | |
| Old Slavonic Mythology | 80 |
| Perun | 86 |
| Other Slavonic Deities | 103 |
| SECTION II.--DEMIGODS AND FAIRIES. | |
| Ideas about the Soul | 107 |
| The Domovoy, or House-spirit | 120 |
| p. xiv | |
| | PAGE |
| House-changing Ceremonies | 136 |
| The Rusálka, or Naiad | 139 |
| The Vodyany, or Water-sprite | 148 |
| The Lyeshy, or Wood-demon | 153 |
| SECTION III.--STORYLAND BEINGS. | |
| The Bába Yagá, or Ogress | 161 |
| Koshchei the Immortal | 164 |
| The Witch | 168 |
| The Snake | 172 |
| The Water-king | 178 |
| Swan Maidens | 179 |
| Tom Thumb | 183 |
| CHAPTER III. | |
| MYTHIC AND RITUAL SONGS. | |
| Kolyádki, or Christmas Songs | 186 |
| Gadániya, or Guessings | 195 |
| Ovsen and New Year Songs | 202 |
| Feast of the Epiphany | 207 |
| Death of Winter | 210 |
| Reception of the Spring | 211 |
| Cuckoo Christening | 214 |
| Eastertide | 219 |
| Krasnaya Gorka | 222 |
| Dodola Songs | 227 |
| St. George Songs | 229 |
| Semík and Whitsuntide Songs | 233 |
| Midsummer Rites | 239 |
| Kupálo | 241 |
| Funeral of Kostroma, or Yarilo | 244 |
| Harvest Rites | 247 |
| p. xv | |
| | PAGE |
| Volos, the Cattle-God. | 251 |
| September Customs | 254 |
| The Ovín, or Corn-kiln | 257 |
| Dmitry's Saturday | 260 |
| CHAPTER IV. | |
| MARRIAGE SONGS. | |
| A modern Peasant Wedding | 263 |
| Old Slavonian ideas about Marriage | 282 |
| Purchase of the Bride | 283 |
| Bride's Sorrow at leaving her Home | 287 |
| Her affection towards her Parents | 292 |
| Mitigation of Patriarchal Severity | 293 |
| Love Songs | 295 |
| A Bride's Complaint | 303 |
| Songs of Married Life | 305 |
| Mythical Wedding Guests | 306 |
| CHAPTER V. | |
| FUNERAL SONGS. | |
| Death Weddings | 309 |
| The Rádunitsa | 310 |
| Modern Funeral Rites | 313 |
| Funeral Banquets | 320 |
| Ghost Banquets | 321 |
| Ancient Funeral Rites | 322 |
| Human Sacrifices | 327 |
| Strava, and Trizna | 331 |
| p. xvi | |
| | PAGE |
| Lament of Orphans | 334 |
| A Widow's Lament | 338 |
| Wailings at Graves | 343 |
| CHAPTER VI. | |
| SORCERY AND WITCHCRAFT. | |
| Zagádkas, or Enigmas | 346 |
| Zagovórs, or Spells | 357 |
| Buyan, the Elysian Isle | 374 |
| The stone Alatuir | 376 |
| Wizards and Witches | 378 |
| Amulets | 387 |
| Cattle-spells | 389 |
| Poisoners | 393 |
| Cattle-plague Spells | 395 |
| Cholera and Small-pox | 402 |
| Werewolves | 404 |
| Vampires | 409 |
| History of Russian Witchcraft | 417 |
| Mythological Explanations | 427 |
| Conclusion | 433 |
| APPENDICES. | |
| (A) List of Authorities | 437 |
| (B.) Note on Metres | 440 |