Page 51 - Studia Universitatis Hereditati, vol 13(1) (2025)

Slavic peoples it is called ‘living fire’. The history all such and similar cases, the purifying moment
of fire can be traced from the early Middle Ages, plays the greatest role (Lenček 1943, 61).
when it was described by the Church as a pagan Given the belief in the purifying proper-
superstition, to the first half of the nineteenth ties of fire, it is not surprising that some Slove-
century, when it was still occasionally practised nian literary works contain detailed descriptions
in various parts of Germany, England, Scotland of the plague and the measures taken to com-
and Ireland. Among the Slavic peoples it seems bat it. These descriptions are based on the belief
to have lasted even longer. The usual occasion for that fire has the ability to purify the air and drive
the performance of this rite was the outbreak of away the plague, as well as the idea that smoke
the plague or cattle-disease, against which the can purify the atmosphere. A vivid example of
need-fire was regarded as an infallible remedy this can be found in the book The Black Death
(Frazer 1922, 638, 639). (1911) by Franc Ksaver Meško, a writer and priest.
The Slavicist and philologist Radivoj His history-based literary work depicts the 51
Lenček (1943) confirms Frazer’s statements and period of the plague in Ptuj and the surrounding
adds that fire was used by all peoples in various area and in Hajdina from May 1645 to autumn
rituals as a means of purification. Even in the 1646. Literary figures also remember the plague
non-periodic purification fires, which purified epidemics in the period from 1623–1625. Meško
humans, animals and plants by burning and de- writes (1931):
stroying harmful physical and spiritual elements
(witches, sorcerers, evil spirits) that haunted all The world around them presented them
living beings, permanent, recurring fires were with a marvellous scene. Everywhere they Sensory Representations of Plague
lit and corresponding rituals performed. Such looked, bonfires were burning and smoul-
fires, known as ‘living fire’ among Slavic peo- dering. They were lit for the first time – al-
ples, were most often lit for infectious diseases, ready during earlier epidemics – by refu-
against which the ‘living fire’ was always an ef- gees from Ptuj in Haloze. It was an agreed
5
fective apotropaic remedy. The ‘living fire’ was sign to relatives and acquaintances that they
sacred, as its smoke and ashes were also used for were still alive. They were also lit by farmers
living alone. According to the custom of the
various medicinal purposes. But the most effec- mountain dwellers, they signalled to their
tive form of purification took place in the fire distant relatives that they had a corpse in
itself, by walking or jumping over the flames.
Lenček adds that in Upper Bavaria, for exam- the house. Because why should they signal
that they are still alive? Thank God, who
ple, cattle were driven through the solstice fire; still drives away the danger and still tames
the sick to get well, the healthy to be protected the murderer! So, the original sign of life
from the plague and other evils during the year.
Sick cattle were often driven through the smoke itself became a harbinger of death. Slowly,
the fires began to be burnt everywhere, for
and flames two or three times so that they were many claimed that fire purifies the air and
burnt to death. Every year on St Roch’s day, Pol-
ish farmers drove their cattle through the ‘liv- the smoke kills poisonous germs. So even
now the land was full of fires, all shrouded
ing fire’ three times a day to protect them from in smoke.
infectious diseases. Not only the cattle, but also
the people could be purified in such a fire. Ac- The author also refers to the doctors who
cording to Lenček, this is proven by the numer- helped the infected in various ways, including
ous cases of boys and girls who jumped over bon- with incense: ‘The doctor distributed the med-
fires and ‘living flames’ on various occasions. In icines he had brought with him: powder, various
5 Apotropaic remedy: a means of defence against evil which, according to folk belief, has the power to ward off and protect against
misfortune.