ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Slavic mythology

Slavic mythology is like a big storybook full of amazing stories about gods, goddesses, heroes, and monsters from a long time ago in Eastern Europe.

Imagine a long time ago, people didn't understand why things happened like the sun rising and the moon coming out at night. They needed stories to help explain things. The Slavs believed that there were gods and goddesses for everything like nature, the weather, and even the household.

For example, Perun was the god of thunder, lightning, and storms. He was like a superhero who threw his special weapon, a thunderbolt, to make lightning in the sky.

There were also goddesses like Mokosh, who was the goddess of fertility and spinning. People used to pray to her when they needed help having a baby or making clothes.

The Slavic people also believed in mythical creatures like vampires, werewolves, and mermaids. They believed in Baba Yaga, who was a witch who lived in a chicken-legged hut deep in the forest. She would sometimes help people who were kind, but she could also be very, very scary!

Each Slavic tribe had its own unique myths and legends, but they all shared common themes like the importance of family, bravery, and respect for the natural world. Today, Slavic mythology remains a source of inspiration for art, literature, and culture.