Baba Yaga, the evil witch of Slavic folklore, has long struck fear into the hearts of those who crossed her path. With her iron teeth and skeletal frame, she rode through the night on a flying mortar, seeking to wreak havoc and bring misery to innocent souls. However, the day of reckoning finally came for Baba Yaga when a brave hero took it upon themselves to confront and ultimately annihilate the wicked witch. This hero, armed with their wit and courage, ventured deep into the enchanted forest where Baba Yaga resided. The journey was treacherous, with enchanted creatures and menacing spirits lurking at every turn. Yet, the hero pressed on, driven by the desire to rid the world of Baba Yaga's malevolence.
The American celebration of Groundhog Day was begun by the Pennsylvania Dutch (a group of German descent), which is one of the reasons why Punxsutawney Phil is the most famous weather prognosticator in North America. Early European versions of Groundhog Day featured badgers and bears instead of groundhogs, and it’s uncertain just where this part of the tradition comes from, though it may have something to do with animals waking up from hibernation.
Early European versions of Groundhog Day featured badgers and bears instead of groundhogs, and it s uncertain just where this part of the tradition comes from, though it may have something to do with animals waking up from hibernation. Candlemas adopted by the Roman Catholic Church in the seventh century is not a Christianized version of Imbolc because the earliest celebrations of Candlemas date back to fourth century Greece, and Imbolc wasn t celebrated in Greece or Rome.
Yet, the hero pressed on, driven by the desire to rid the world of Baba Yaga's malevolence. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the hero arrived at Baba Yaga's ominous hut. The hut, perched upon chicken legs, spun around on its axis, making it near impossible to enter.
The Origins of Candlemas
While there are many longstanding Pagan holidays observed in the beginning of February, the Christian holiday of Candlemas grew out of a specific Roman Pagan observance. February was an important festival month on the Roman calendar and thus began with a purification ceremony known as Juno Februa, Juno the Purifier. The most prominent of the Roman matriarchal deities, Juno is essentially the goddess of essence itself. She is thought of as a moon goddess, since her worship originally revolved around the lunar cycle, but this only partially explains her. She is the state of Being, illustrated by the waxing white moon appearing out of the black void. The Romans saw not only plants, animals, and inanimate objects such as rocks or mountains as having spirit, but core truths or principles as well. Thus the month of vital ceremonies required not simply purification practices, but the calling up of the essence of purification herself. Some say Juno Februa occurred at the second full moon following the winter solstice before Rome adopted a solar calendar, but by the start of the common era the date of the festival was fixed at forty days past the (also static) December 25th date of the winter soltice festivities. Under Christian rule, Juno Februa became a celebration of the purification of the Virgin Mary following the birth of Jesus. The mass was celebrated with a procession involving a great many candles like the earlier Roman holiday. Mary took on not only the ritual date and its association with purification, but Juno’s white lily. The lily became a symbol of Mary’s renewed purity. The goddess Juno, though like Mary also a mother, needed no such purification because the idea of pollution in childbirth was foreign to her cult. She came to bestow purification, not to partake of it, and would give birth a full month later to her own son, the god Mars. The birth of Mars was also a virgin birth: Juno conceived him through the fragrance of the white lily, the white lily being a form of Juno herself. In other words, Juno impregnated herself and her white lily symbolizes self generation.
Detail from restored statue of Juno. 2nd century. Photo by Marie-Lan Nguyen.
Some attribute the instigation of Candlemas to Pope Gelasius I in the fifth century, but it appears that he was railing against the climactic February festival of Lupercalia, which eventually became St. Valentine’s day. Gelasius may have been successful at driving Lupercalia underground, where it began its own long transformation, but people continued to openly celebrate the Juno rite. In 684 Pope Sergius I officially instituted the mass of the Purification of the Virgin Mary at February 2nd on the church calendar. From the start many theologians protested the event, arguing that Mary would have needed no purification since she was impregnated not through sexual intercourse but by the Holy Spirit. Within the logic of Christianity they were right, but as time wore on the church had conflicts at Candlemas not only with remnants of the Roman pagan cult but with propitiation to weather deities and and fire goddesses elsewhere. The tension between theological purists and synergistic forces was eventually satisfied by fixing the time of the presentation of Jesus at the temple, which is referenced in scripture, at forty days following his birth, or February 2nd. The focus on Mary on this day remained popular with the masses, however, so the celebration of the purification of the Virgin, while declining in emphasis, never totally went away. Today among witches and many other Pagans February 2nd is a time for vows and initiations. There are many reasons for this having to do with Celtic and Germanic beliefs, but the Roman observation of Juno Februa also fits nicely with this understanding of the holy day. During this time of commitment intentions need to be unassailable, informed by the essence of purity Herself. Sources Durdin-Robertson, Lawrence. The Year of the Goddess: A Perpetual Calender of Festivals. Wellborough, UK: Aquarian Press, 1990. Hazlitt, William Carew and John Brand. Faiths and folklore of the British Isles. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1905. http://books.google.com/books/about/Faiths_and_folklore_of_the_British_Isles.html?id=JDXYAAAAMAAJ Monaghan, Patricia. The Book of Goddesses and Heroines. St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn, 1990. Perowne, Stewart. Roman Mythology. London: Paul Hamlin, 1969. Walsh, William Shepard. Curiosities of Popular Customs and of Rites, Ceremonies, Observances. 1898. Detroit: Gale Research Company. 1966 Reprint. http://books.google.com/books?id=VKwYAAAAIAAJ&dq=Candlemas+Pope+Innocent+XII&source=gbs_navlinks_s Walker, Barbara G. The Woman’s Dictionary of Symbols and Sacred Objects. San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1988.
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Other pagans aim their rituals towards the cycles of the season. Some people do house cleaning rituals as a part of getting ready for spring. Other families find a pile of snow, gather some musical instruments, and chant to drive away the winter. An example of one such chant is:
Undeterred, the hero cleverly solved the riddles posed by the hut, gaining entry and setting the stage for the ultimate showdown. Inside, Baba Yaga awaited, her eyes glowing with malice. She conjured a whirlwind of dark magic, attempting to overpower the hero. But the hero, armed with their own powers and determination, fought back. They dodged the blasts of energy and countered with their own spells, slowly weakening Baba Yaga. As the battle waged on, it became clear that the hero's unwavering resolve and righteousness were stronger than Baba Yaga's wickedness. The hero harnessed the forces of good, channeling them into a final, powerful strike that incapacitated the evil witch. With a thunderous crash, Baba Yaga collapsed, her reign of terror finally brought to an end. The world rejoiced at the annihilation of Baba Yaga, her malevolence banished forever. The hero, hailed as a savior and protector, was celebrated far and wide. No longer would innocent souls have to live in fear of Baba Yaga's wrath. In the end, it was the hero's determination, bravery, and unwavering belief in the power of good that led to the annihilation of the evil witch Baba Yaga. Their triumph serves as a reminder that no matter how formidable the darkness may seem, it can always be overcome by the light of righteousness..
Reviews for "Defenders of Light: Joining Forces to Defeat Baba Yaga, the Maleficent Witch"
1) John - 2 stars - I had high expectations for "Annihilation of the evil witch baba yaga" based on the title and premise, but I was sorely disappointed. The storyline was convoluted and confusing, with little explanation of the characters' motivations or backstories. The action sequences were poorly executed and lacked any real intensity or suspense. Overall, the movie felt like a cheap and lazy attempt at cashing in on a popular folklore character.
2) Sarah - 1 star - "Annihilation of the evil witch baba yaga" was simply dreadful. The acting was wooden and forced, making it difficult to connect with any of the characters. The dialogue was cringe-worthy, filled with cliches and poor attempts at humor. The special effects were laughably bad, ruining any chance of the movie being taken seriously. I would not recommend wasting your time or money on this disaster of a film.
3) David - 2 stars - I was really looking forward to watching "Annihilation of the evil witch baba yaga", but it ended up being a major letdown. The pacing was all over the place, with the story dragging in some parts and rushing through important plot points in others. The ending felt rushed and unsatisfying, leaving many unanswered questions. The film also suffered from poor editing, with noticeable continuity errors throughout. Overall, it felt like a wasted opportunity to bring the Baba Yaga character to life in an engaging and thrilling way.
4) Emily - 1 star - "Annihilation of the evil witch baba yaga" was a complete mess from start to finish. The plot was nonsensical and hard to follow, with random and unrelated events happening with no clear purpose. The acting was atrocious, with the cast delivering their lines with little conviction or emotion. The movie was filled with unnecessary and gratuitous violence, which felt more like shock value than serving any real purpose for the story. Overall, it was a forgettable and disappointing experience that I would not recommend to anyone.