The Morena celebration, literally meaning “the carrying out of the Morena effigy,” is an ancient Slovak spring ritual that symbolises the farewell to winter and the joyful arrival of spring. It remains one of the country’s oldest and most cherished folk customs, deeply rooted in pre-Christian Slavic belief, and continues to be practised in many Slovak villages today.



Morena, also known by other names such as Morana, Marmuriena, or Kyselica, represents the Slavic goddess of winter, death, and darkness. In traditional symbolism, she embodies the cold and lifeless season that must be overcome for new life to flourish. The ritual’s origins can be traced to early agrarian fertility rites, intended to ensure healthy crops, vitality, and prosperity once winter had passed.



The celebration typically takes place around the spring equinox, or about two weeks before Easter, often coinciding with Smrtná nedeľa (Dead Sunday), the fifth Sunday of Lent. In certain parts of Slovakia, it is connected with Passion Sunday, just before Palm Sunday. During this period, villagers create an effigy of Morena from straw, cloth, wood, and discarded clothing. The figure is deliberately made to look frightening or grotesque, capturing the bitterness and gloom of the departing winter.



Once completed, the effigy is carried through the village in a lively procession led by children or young women dressed in traditional folk costumes. They sing songs bidding farewell to winter as they proceed towards a nearby river or stream. Upon arrival, the effigy is ceremoniously burned or drowned, representing the destruction of winter and death. In some regions, participants tear pieces of her clothing or throw stones before submerging her in the water, a way of ensuring that she cannot make her return.



After Morena’s symbolic departure, villagers bring home green branches known as letečko – meaning “little summer.” These branches, often decorated with ribbons or flowers, represent the rebirth of nature and the awakening of spring. The use of both fire and water during the ritual symbolises purity, renewal, and the eternal cycle between life and death, highlighting the transition from darkness to light.



In modern Slovakia, the tradition has been adapted into schools, community events, and folk festivals, particularly in regions such as Prešov, Kysuce, and Horehronie. Here, the custom is celebrated with local creativity and enthusiasm, often including effigy-making contests and river ceremonies. Though the Catholic Church once tried to suppress it as a pagan practice, the Morena ritual survived through folklore and rural memory. Today it stands as a cultural emblem of seasonal renewal and a vivid reminder of Slovakia’s deep connection to its ancient Slavic roots.



In Svätý Jur, a historic wine town near Bratislava, the ancient Morena celebration has evolved into a vibrant event embraced by young adults, who mix tradition with creative, social energy. Each March, they gather in small groups to craft the straw effigy, often adding witty or artistic details before parading it through the old streets to the stream below the vineyards. Accompanied by local drummers or musicians, the procession becomes a lively display of youthful spirit and connection to heritage. Once the effigy is set ablaze or symbolically drowned, the evening often continues around bonfires in the woods or in the wine cellars, where friends share local vintages, sing, and play acoustic music. This modern reinterpretation of the Morena ritual reflects how Svätý Jur’s younger generation keeps folklore alive while celebrating community, creativity, and the coming of spring.​




Read further:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morana_(goddess)



wheelandcross.substack.com/p/episode-17-spring-equinox-eastern



spectator.sme.sk/culture-and-lifestyle/c/taking-out-morena-ends-winter-welcomes-spring