Stribog

**Stribog** (Russian, Ukrainian: Стрибог) is the Slavic god of the winds. Above him is Perun, god-king who rules over thunder, lightning, storms, and all weather.

## Mythology

Stribog's grandsons are the gods of the world's seventy-seven winds, his sons.

According to folklore, Stribog lives on the mystical island of Buyan, in the Okiyane Sea.

In the 12th century, Stribog was one of several gods whom Vladimir the Great worshipped as his royal pantheon for Kyivan Rus, along with Perun, Mokosh, Khors, Dazhbog, and Simargl.

## Worship

Stribog's sacred day is at August 21.

The ancient Slavs worshipped Stribog by offering grains, bread, and ribbons. Temples to Stribog were usually built on islands and near the banks of rivers and seas. The most famous temple to Stribog was built at the mouth of the Dnieper on the island of Berezan, located at western Ukraine.

Farmers worshipped Stribog as the bringer of rain for their crops, sailors worshipped him as the protector from storms, and merchants also brought rich gifts for his blessing for their voyages.

## In the Rabydosverse

### Lord of Sevraeja

Stribog is the national god of the Republic of Sevraeja, where he is locally known as Stereibogo. In Sevraejan mythology, he is served by the okorokjo, a race of dragons. One Sevraejan myth claimed that he raised a monstrous son of Perun, who was rejected by Heaven for his six arms, and raised this demigod to fight against evil demons.

Sevraejans worship Stribog using bells, banners, and wind chimes. In fact, temples and shrines to Stribog within Sevraeja have prayer flags, a practice influenced by the distant mountain nation of Zhang La across the ocean.

Six is considered a holy number in Sevraeja, due to it representing Stribog, the winds, gentleness, snowflakes, water, and creativity.

His sanctuary in the republic is the Temple of the Four Winds in the capital city, known as Veljegoroda. Other holy sites associated with the Wind God include the holy city of Ustjara, and the great temple of Mount Ronara.

### Sea and Wind God of Rukania

He is also worshipped as one of two main deities in the neighbouring Kingdom of Rukania, and is represented by the blue colour and trident in the flag. The other national deity is Dazhbog, god of the sun and crops, represented by yellow and the flower-like emblem on the trident. In Rukanian mythology, Stribog's weapon is a trident, honoured as the chief national symbol of Rukania. This leads to the trident being revered in Rukanian religion as a holy weapon, from the pikes of leaders of knighthoods to the gem-studded sceptres of its kings.

### Morskoi and Stribog

The sea god of the nation of Bujan, Morskoi, is considered as one of Stribog's aspects, so all worship to Morskoi is seen in Rukania and Sevraeja as worshipping Stribog. Stribog is also worshipped in Bujan, but not as often as with Perun or Morskoi. He is still venerated in regards with cold weather and windy days.

### Saturday

In Bujanski and Sevraejan culture, Saturday is the day of Stribog. Saturday is a holy day in Sevraejan religion, so people rest on that day either to pray or to relax. In Bujan, Saturday became associated with cats because of a local word "Vetraedan" (Wind Day, Saturday) being changed to "Maeutredan" (Cat Saturday). So cats are also associated with Stribog, leading to cute greeting cards in Sevraeja to usher any coming Saturday.

### Ded Moroz

The festive character Ded Moroz is seen in Bujan as a servant of Lord Stribog. According to Bujanski folklore, he was once a mortal who sacrificed his life to save his people, as they entered the warm tunnels under the polar continent. Touched by his kindness, the Lord of the Winds picked up his body and turned him into a beautiful, benevolent spirit of winter.

Ded Moroz is a festive character in Kolieda, bringing gifts to children. And because he is considered as a divine servant of the Lord of Winds, performers who dress up as Ded Moroz might end up with people mistakenly burning food to worship them!

In Sevraeja, Ded Moroz is not a separate being, but an aspect of Stribog as the god of favourable winter and the Lord of Snow. His holy city as that beautiful aspect is Ustjara in northern Sevraeja, where children pray to him for his blessings. It is also a pilgrimage site where people from all over the world visit to pray.