The Fall Equinox in Rodnovery is also known as the celebration of the deity Radogost or Radegast. He is the God of hospitality and leadership. He loves to be invited to a good party!
Rodogast is a large man and suited in armor. A swan graces his helmet and a bull his shield.
Who is Radogost?
Radogost, or Radegast, is the Rodnovery deity of hospitality and another aspect of war. He is one of the main deities amongst Eastern Slavic peoples but also adopted by the other varieties of the people.
It is believed that he had a somewhat different name in the past, but with the reconstruction of the Slavic Native Faith, he is called Radogost.
His name is a combination of two words that are connected to hospitality itself. Rad (Rado) - which means kind or dear, and Gost - which means guest. With the combination, we get that he resembles a “dear guest”.
Traces of his warrior aspect can be found in chronicles of the past, warriors and tribes used to offer him sacrifices before they would go on conquest campaigns or raids.
Hospitality is one of the most sacred things in Rodnovery, and the huge importance of it is the reason why one of the 4 main points of the year is the main focus of it.
God Radogost. Drawing by Andrej S. Kajsarov from Versuch einer Slavischen Mythologie, 1804.
Sacred Hospitality Aspect
Radogost, and the Equinox itself, in Rodnovery, is the celebration of the Slavic Sacred Hospitality! As a deity, it’s believed that Radogost is the one who helps and protects every well-intentioned guest and who is rewarding every exceptional and sincere host!
Being an extraordinary host to a guest is one of the most important things in our religion. Making the guest feel welcomed and cared for is sacred, and a top priority!
This tradition has deep roots in the mindset of Slavic people, and that is why we are famous for our hospitality.
Learn more about Rodnovery in our intro article.
Fall Aspect
Radogost is associated with the Equinox itself because one of his functions as a deity is to smooth the transition of Rodnovery from hot Summer days to the rainy and cold season of fall.
He brings us all the late yields of fruits, vegetables, and agricultural plants. He helps everyone at the beginning of winter preparations with storing and preserving food, gathering the last herbs, and getting our land ready for the winter rest.
Equinox is the turning point when all of this work starts, and with the blessings of Radogost, we prosper in the activities more.
War and Harvest
Things settle down slowly in Fall, with winter preparations, but that is not a reason to stop life itself. Our Rodnovery ancestors used to host huge gatherings on Fall Equinox to celebrate a successful war campaign or raid, or a good year's yield.
Bringing all three aspects together for a feast and spending time with fellow people, remembering the ancestors, and teaching the kin on the ways of Rodnovery.
With a huge gathering such as this, it is also when most of the young Rodnovery couples would choose to get married, with the Equinox and Radogost being the witness of the holy matrimony of marriage.
Read our article Pagan Weddings to learn more about how pagans celebrate weddings and handfastings.
Rodnover wedding in Russia. Photo from Union of Slavic Rodnover Communities
How Was Radogost Depicted?
Many of the Rodnovery chronicles were destroyed in the barbarian Christianization of Slavic people, but a lot of the religion remained scattered in new Christian tradition and folklore.
Radogost is one of not so many deities that has written testimonials of his depiction, worshiping grounds, temples, and connection to people.
He was a tall muscular man, with a lion's head, which provides us with the information that this deity is very old. The last wild lions in Europe were extinct around 2000 years ago.
In one hand he would carry an ax, and in the other a tray with bread and salt. On his chest, he had armor with a cattle head depicted in it.
It has to be emphasized that Slavic people were very hospitable, and still are and that every guest was highly respected. Radogost, as the aspect of Sacred Hospitality, was very valued.
The bread and salt in the tray he is holding is still a very respected Slavic tradition. When you have a guest, the first thing you offer him is homemade bread and salt on the tray, and he would have a piece of bread dipped in salt as a welcome.
The extent of hospitality with our Rodnovery ancestors went to extreme lengths, where the host was obliged to defend his guest with his life. The ax that Radogost is holding in his depiction is the symbol that the guest must be defended with weapons if it has to be the case.
How Do I Celebrate the Fall Equinox?
The first tradition I like to honor on these particular days is to wake up very early, before the sunrise, and go outside, either in nature or on my land, to soak in the first rays of sunshine as blessings.
Taking time off work is a must, like the rest of the traditions that I honor on this day require my full time. Thankfully, my workplace allows me to take time off!
I spend the morning tending my garden, harvesting the late yields of fruits and vegetables. It is a good omen to start the first work of preparation of the land for winter on this day, so I do little work in that part as well.
Later during the day, I would devote time to cook and bake, preparing nice food from things gathered in my garden and baking bread! As the winter preparations start on this day, I also start my food preservation arrangements.
Preparedness is one of my attributes, so I spend some time planning what I will preserve for this winter and cleaning some of the equipment I use.
For example, for a few years in a row, I make sour cabbage in a barrel, in traditional ways, so I use this day and blessings from Radogost to thoroughly clean the barrels and prepare them.
And, in the evening, the celebration of Fall Equinox and Radogost wouldn’t be the same if I didn’t honor one of the most sacred things in Rodnovery - hospitality!
Depending on what particular day the Equinox is, I love to invite friends over for an event I host. It’s either a dinner party or a collective watching of a sports event. I prepare everything and I try to be a host without a flaw on that day to earn the favors and good omens from this holiday!
I love being a host, not only on this day, but throughout the year, and honoring this tradition is my strongest point of connection to my faith in Rodnovery!
Rodnovery, as it is, follows natural cycles, aligning important holidays and deities to them. Our ancestors separated the year into 4 cycles, with every cycle beginning with a natural occurrence and ending with another one that is also the beginning of the next.
The Fall Equinox is only one of the four points that are connected to a deity.
Take Away
Equinox is celebrated all around the world, so no matter the neck of the woods you come from, use this opportunity to celebrate this natural phenomenon in your way and connect with your pagan self!
Oh, and if you end up in my neck of the woods, remember what is sacred to Rodnovery and come and test me as a host, I would be glad to have you!