Belarusian incantations in the european perspective: the motif of three virgin helpers

Abstract

The very first studies of Belarusian incantations in the European area demonstrate a number of very close correspondences. Further identification of Belarusian­Western European parallels in subjects, motifs and images would help both to expose the genetic and typological in the Belarusian incantation compendium and to determine the possibilities and ways of borrowing, as well as the formation of unique complexes and images. The semantics of the incantation­based motif of three female assistants personified by needlewomen continue the pre­Christian ideas of goddesses and spirits of fate based on the mythology of weaving. From ancient times, the needlewoman is the embodiment of a creative goddess. A definite influence is the Gospel and, accordingly, the iconographic motif of the Virgin Mary portrayed with a spindle in her hands. Early European incantations offer a story of three virgins on a stone, one of which twists and ties, the second untwists and the third helps; in later German, English and Scandinavian incantations, these are the traveling female characters who help the sick along the way. The needlework motif begins to dominate Polish and Latvian incantations, although it is the motif of traveling that still prevails. On the other hand, Russian, especially North Russian tradition, elaborates in detail the story of a needlewoman in the sacred centre, where the Virgin dominates in this role. The Belarusian ethnic territory proves to be a place of a unique meeting of these two powerful movements, organically absorbing the key subject­semantic nodes and developing them in line with its own tradition, including through offering an original image of three female characters who do not know how but only help in healing.