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In Lithuanian mythology, Žemyna (derived from žemė – earth) is the goddess of the earth. Just like Zemes māte of Latvian mythology, she is also viewed as the mother goddess and one of the chief Lithuanian gods. Žemyna is the epitome of fertile earth and her duty includes nourishing of all life on earth, human, plant and animal.

According to Matthäus Prätorius, a ritual called žemyneliauti was performed during major celebrations or agricultural works like weddings and harvest time. Usually, the head of the household drinks a cup of beer after spilling some of the beer on the ground and saying a short prayer. Then, he will kill and cook a hen or a rooster that will be eaten by the whole family. Every family member will have a loaf of bread and will say prayers, blessings, and greetings. The bones and other leftovers will be offered to the goddess by burning or burying.

Other rites include the practice of burying bread that was baked from the last crops of the previous harvest before sowing and sacrificing of black piglet. The people would also kiss the ground and thank Žemyna for all the gifts that she had bestowed.

Žemyna is said to be married to either Perkūnas (thunder god) or Praamžius (manifestation of chief heavenly god Dievas).


References

  • Balsys, Rimantas (2010). Lietuvių ir prūsų dievai, deivės, dvasios: nuo apeigos iki prietaro. Klaipėdos universitetas. pp. 103–114.
  • Gimbutas, Marija; Miriam Robbins Dexter (2001). The living goddesses. University of California Press. pp. 208–209.