Коляда [Kolyada] [English translation]

To a high mountain, bending over water,

The wise men came to worship Kolyada1

He came down to the earth from the heavens!

In his hand, a golden sceptre shines,

The son of Dazhdbog2, for hundreds of years

Will be teaching us the faith of the Vedas3.

Endure your pains4, Golden Maya5,

Koleda, Koleda!

From the mighty Dazhdbog

give birth to a young God!

On Svarog’s Eve6 the baby was born,

In the face of God he appeared to us.

No sooner Chernobog7

Knew of Kolyada’s birth.

Than at his behest

Dazhdbog was immured in ice.

Maya returned to the kingdom of navi8

Letting her son sail away by the water,

Instructing Kolyada to go

To Hors9 and Zarya10, towards the dawn 11

You are holy, holy and great

In heaven and on earth!

Glory to be to your face

O, Pure Kolyada!

And the wise men gathered

To search for Kolyada.

But they looked at the sky,

They gazed upon a star.

And they followed the star.

A star led them to the dawn.

In the hands of Zoryushka-Zarya

Lies the baby - Kolyada!

Endure your pains Maya

Koleda, Koleda!

From the mighty Dazhdbog

give birth to a young God!

On Svarog’s Eve the baby was born,

In the face of God he appeared to us.

1. Kolyada is the Slavic god representing the young, winter sun returning after solstice2. Dazhdbog was one of the major gods of Slavic mythology. He was the sun god, whose fame became so huge that he started to be considered as a culture hero. People used to ask him for help when they desired wealth. He was the patron of the ones who wanted to carry the power in their hands.3. Book of Knowledge and Wisdom4. translation from ancient Slavic to Russian: Потриди са = Потрудись5.

In Slavic mythology, Maya is one of the divine forces of nature, the force that gives life – the sun with the rain. Maya is therefore a goddess of nature, regarded as the bearer of the gifts of crops. She is often depicted as a beautiful mature woman, holding heads of grain and ripe fruit.6. Svarog’s Day, equinox https://slavyanskieoberegi.ru/slavyanskie-prazdniki/den-svaroga/7. Chernobog is a Slavic deity, whose name means black god, about whom much has been speculated but little can be said definitively8. https://ru.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Явь,_правь_и_навь9. God Hors helps them survive demanding time. He was a healer, whose support meant the winning over the illness. He brought healing and calming energy.10. Zorya is the goddess of beauty. Her name literally means "Light" or "Aurora" or “Dawn”, and she manifests as three goddesses, described as daughters of Dazhdbog11. Zarenitsa, Zorushka are diminutive of Zarya / Dawn