Kostroma (deity)

Funeral of Kostroma. Drawing from the lubok. 19th century

Kostroma (Russian: Кострома́) is an East Slavic fertility goddess. Her name is derived from костёр (kosteor), Russian word for bonfire.

The rites of Semik were devoted to her. During this festival a disguised girl or a straw figure portrayed Kostroma. First, a scarecrow was honored and revered. Then, participants of the rite mourned the death of Kostroma, and burned or tore the scarecrow. Rituals with Kostroma were aimed at improving soil fertility.

The scarecrow of Kostroma is part of East Slavic folklore.

Slavic mythology

Major deities	Dažbog Jarilo Kresnik Mat Zemlya Perun Svarog Svetovid Triglav Veles Zaria Živa Zorya

Other deities	Belobog Berehynia Berstuk Chernobog Devana Dodola Dzydzilelya Flins Hors Karewit Kostroma Lada Marzanna Mokosh Oźwiena Porenut Porewit Porvata Radegast Rod Rugiewit Stribog Zirnitra

Legendary heroes	Alyosha Popovich Dobrynya Nikitich Đerzelez Alija Ilya Muromets Ivan Kosančić Ivan Tsarevich Kyi, Shchek and Khoryv Lech, Czech, and Rus Libuše Mikula Selyaninovich Mila Gojsalić Milan Toplica Miloš Obilić Nikita the Tanner Popiel Prince Marko Sadko Solovey-Razboynik Svyatogor Vasilisa the Beautiful Vasilisa the Wise Volga Svyatoslavich

Creatures and plants	Alkonost Cikavac Fern flower-Chervona Ruta Firebird Gamayun Indrik Ispolin Kolobok Raróg Raskovnik Simargl Sirin Ved Zmey

Spirits and demons	Ala Baba Yaga Bagiennik Bannik Baš Čelik Bauk Bies Black Arab Blud Boginki Bukavac Chort Damned Jerina Dola Domovoi Drekavac Dvorovoi Dukljan German Karzełek Kikimora Koschei Krsnik Lady Midday Leshy Likho Likhoradka Mavka Nocnitsa Ovinnik Polevik Poroniec Psoglav Rusalka Samodiva Shishiga Skrzak Strzyga Stuhać Sudice Tintilinić Topielec Vampire Vesna Vila Vodyanoy Zduhać

Related topics	Bogatyr Book of Veles Films based on Slavic mythology Polish folk beliefs Russian traditions and superstitions Serbian folk astronomy Slavic fairies Slavic fantasy Slavic neopaganism Ukrainian folklore

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