Gediminas Žilys, the Romuva Vaidila, talks about the celebration of Thunder Day in Vilnius:
'A white stone was opened, a deep lagoon spilled...'
'A white stone was opened, a deep lagoon spilled...'
On 2 February, in Vilnius Šventaragis Valley, the National Culture Centre, Romuva lit the sacred fire of Gabija. Together they accompanied the ceremony with the songs of Perkūnas, about how the God Perkūnas, with a divine spark, broke the stone that the God of the underworld, Velinas, had rolled over in order to capture the waters. After singing the traditional songs, having been in communion with the Gods and the ancestors, they returned home with the spark of the divine in their hearts.
'May the gods help us in our work, may the goddess Laima accompany us!'
From ethnographic sources is is known that this celebration was heavily connected with the changing weather patterns and the various attempts to predict the upcoming summer conditions. The ancient customs of Lithuanians and other European nations also confirm the day's connection to Perkūnas.
'May the gods help us in our work, may the goddess Laima accompany us!'
From ethnographic sources is is known that this celebration was heavily connected with the changing weather patterns and the various attempts to predict the upcoming summer conditions. The ancient customs of Lithuanians and other European nations also confirm the day's connection to Perkūnas.
Why is the beginning of February associated with Perkūnas, one of the main deities of the ancient Balts and Indo-Europeans? After all, Thunder is supposed to be associated with spring and summer, when it actually appears with lightning and thunder, not in winter, not in midwinter.
The very name of this month, February (Vasaris, similar to summer - vasara), is a clue to the answer, and it is also a kind of a joke - what Vasaris/February can there be in the middle of winter?
So why do we call the second month of the year summer? After all, summer is still a long way off. According to Professor Pranas Skardžius, this is because that is when the warmer winds start to blow, at the end of winter or when spring is already here.
However, there is another explanation, based on the view that our ancestors used to divide the year into two seasons rather than four. It is believed that the spring-summer period used to be called 'vasera' by the Balts.
So why do we call the second month of the year summer? After all, summer is still a long way off. According to Professor Pranas Skardžius, this is because that is when the warmer winds start to blow, at the end of winter or when spring is already here.
However, there is another explanation, based on the view that our ancestors used to divide the year into two seasons rather than four. It is believed that the spring-summer period used to be called 'vasera' by the Balts.
The beginning of this time could have started at midwinter. After all, it is at the beginning of February that the actual midwinter occurs, judging by the length of the phenoclimatic seasons in perennial Lithuania. By this time, the Sun's height above the horizon has risen to the point where it no longer sends cold winter light to the Earth, but gently warming rays. From now on, the Christmas prison of winter is slowly beginning to disintegrate, and the Earth, shackled by the rigours of winter, is becoming more and more bitter. Thaws are more frequent.
Winds are important in February. The winds of February were used to judge the approach of spring and the future harvest. If February is windy and the wind scratches the needles and twigs, then March will bring snow - spring will be here within a month. If there is a cold north wind, it will be a fruitful year, and if there is no wind in February, there will be some in April.
The weather on the Day of Perkūnas was used to predict the spring weather, the weather throughout the year and the harvest:
'If the sun is out on the Day of Perkūnas, the flax will produce a good crop.'
'If it is a clear day, there will be thunderstorms in the summer, and if it is a semi-dry day, the fodder will be blown out of the barns in the spring.'
'If it rains from the roof on the Day of Perkūnas, it will be a long winter. If it is rainy, there will be a bad harvest; if it is sunny and freezing, there will be a good harvest.'
'If the rooster comes out to drink (it is wet), the calf will be fattened on St George's Day (23 April).'
'If the sun is out on the Day of Perkūnas, the flax will produce a good crop.'
'If it is a clear day, there will be thunderstorms in the summer, and if it is a semi-dry day, the fodder will be blown out of the barns in the spring.'
'If it rains from the roof on the Day of Perkūnas, it will be a long winter. If it is rainy, there will be a bad harvest; if it is sunny and freezing, there will be a good harvest.'
'If the rooster comes out to drink (it is wet), the calf will be fattened on St George's Day (23 April).'
So if you have looked at the natural phenomena on the 2nd of February, you can already start thinking and deciding about the coming summer.
