Romuva (religion)

Romuva
Flag of the Romuva religion
High priestess (krivė)Inija Trinkūnienė (2015–present)
FounderVydūnas
Origin20th century
Members~5,100 (2011)
Official websiteromuva.lt
A pattern of the World Tree (Aušros Medis) also commonly used as a symbol of Romuva.

Romuva is a neo-pagan movement derived from the traditional mythology of the Lithuanians, attempting to reconstruct the religious rituals of the Lithuanians before their Christianization in 1387. Practitioners of Romuva claim to continue Baltic pagan traditions which survived in folklore, customs and superstition.[1][2][3] Romuva is a polytheistic pagan faith which asserts the sanctity of nature and ancestor worship. Practicing the Romuva faith is seen by many adherents as a form of cultural pride, along with celebrating traditional forms of art, retelling Baltic folklore, practicing traditional holidays, playing traditional Baltic music, singing traditional dainos (songs), as well as ecological activism and stewarding sacred places.[4]

Romuva primarily exists in Lithuania but there are also congregations of adherents in Australia, Canada, Russia, the United States,[5] and England.[6][7][8] There are believers of Baltic pagan faiths in other nations, including Dievturība in Latvia.[9] According to the 2001 census, there were approximately 1,200 people in Lithuania identifying with Romuva. That number jumped to around 5,100 in the 2011 census.[10]

  1. ^ Dundzila (2007), pp. 279, 296-298.
  2. ^ Dundzila and Strmiska (2005), p. 247.
  3. ^ Ignatow (2007), p. 104.
  4. ^ Dundzila and Strmiska (2005), p. 244.
  5. ^ Dundzila and Strmiska (2005), p. 278.
  6. ^ Saulėgrįža Londono Romuvoje
  7. ^ Londono Romuva kviečia
  8. ^ Rasos šventė Londone
  9. ^ Dundzila (2007), p. 294.
  10. ^ Naylor, Aliide (31 May 2019). "Soviet power gone, Baltic countries' historic pagan past re-emerges". Religion News Service. Retrieved 8 June 2019.