Folktaleweek 2021

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I'm happy to present my latest illustrations for

November was a very Slavic month for me.
I took part in the Folktalk Week challenge, which aims to promote knowledge about beliefs and fairy tales from around the world. In the illustrations I created, I tried to present our old Slavic habits and beliefs and the holidays related to them.

• SLAVIC WORLD •

November is the time when short days stimulate our imaginations. I officially announce my readiness at @folktaleweek - a weekly celebration of folktales in illustrations on Nov 15-21. I present to you the illustration, in which I included the topics of each day: 1 - moon / 2 - dream / 3 - awakening / 4- a feast / 5 - bird / 6 - river / 7 - sky
I'm fascinated by the nature, religion of the Slavs and folk tales, and I would like to put it down on my illustrations. The challenge is international, so I would like to show our Slavic heritage.

• MOON •

Świętowit god with four faces turned in four directions of the world - omniscience - He has always listened to you.

• DREAM •

The fight between night demons. Who visited you in a dream today?

• AWAKENING •

Happy Spring Equinox.

• FEAST •
Tryzna - a funeral rite in the religion of the Slavs.

• BIRD •

Black raven - oracle bird

For the ancient Slavs selected types of birds were considered for mantic. The behavior of the birds was symbolic and could mean good or bad omen.

• RIVER •

The summer solstice, the Kupala Night, was also associated with the element of water. The girls weaved wreaths of flowers and herbs and released them with the river current. If the wreath was fished out by the boy, the fortune-telling meant a quick marriage. If the wreath was burned or drowned (e.g. it was kidnapped by Rusalka :) the fortune-telling meant old manhood.

• SKY •

The Slavs believed that the sky was inhabited by Vipers, a huge demon with a snake-like body, claws and wings, which drinks water from rivers and lakes and gives it to the clouds.