In Lithuanian mythology, Žemyna is the goddess of Earth and all living things, associated with fertility and the natural world. She is regarded as a nurturing, maternal figure who blesses the land with abundance and ensures the vitality of crops. As the protector of agriculture, Žemyna was invoked by farmers seeking her blessings for a bountiful harvest and to shield their land from harm.

Farmers who neglected their duties were believed to incur her wrath. If they failed to till the soil properly or acted lazily, Žemyna would withhold her blessing, causing crop failure and misfortune. Rituals and offerings were made to honor her, particularly during the spring planting season and the autumn harvest. These included pouring beer in her name and offering bread and meat at funerals, requesting her mercy and protection for the deceased’s soul in the afterlife.

Žemyna’s deep connection to the Earth is evident in the customs surrounding her. For example, people would kiss the ground as a sign of respect when beginning tasks, getting up, or going to bed, as well as when bidding farewell to their homes.

Žemyna’s role as a central figure in Lithuanian mythology highlights the reverence for nature and the cyclical processes of life and death, offering a direct link between human actions and the health of the land.

For more on Lithuanian mythology and customs surrounding Žemyna, you can refer to folklore studies by scholars like Norbertas Vėlius and other cultural research sources.

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