Like many pagans in Europe, the Slavic pagans and polytheists residing in Croatia shared a powerful connection with nature: they believed in many gods, guardians and spirits that served as patrons of the forests, meadows, suns, moons and the earth itself. They believed that each living entity, be it plant or animal, contained a soul. It was from this respect of the natural world that one of the oldest documented traditions, from the 10th century, was born: the Cult of the Trees.
In some regions, Slavic pagans believed that certain trees held a connection to the deities and spirits present in their local folk lore. Temples and statues were built using corresponding trees; however, some trees were strictly for worship and were not to be harvested. In some cases, temples were simply wooded areas filled with the trees associated with a particular deity.
Folk worshiped these trees: they prayed to them, made sacrifices to them, held important meetings under them and even confessed their sins to them. Some even performed rituals in which they would adorn the trees with flowers, red cloth and fruit. A few smaller villages in Croatia and parts of Dalmatia continue to have a Sacred Tree which serves as the patron of the village – their protector against storms, floods and droughts. It is believed that if an individual steals a piece of the Sacred Tree that their family would suffer devastating illness and even death.
Many folk still believe that the trees serve as symbols of the universe, fertility and wisdom – that the spirits share their wisdom with us if we choose to listen. Some folk in the Southern Slavic regions believe that the souls of the deceased could seek refuge and reside within the trees. In some regions, folk believed that the trees were symbolic of our own mortality and that the changing of the seasons were a metaphor for our own human experiences:
Rebirth/Birth: In Spring the trees would give birth to new buds and, eventually, new leaves, blossoms and branches.
Adolescence: In Summer the leaves and branches are reaching full size. Blossoms are slowly developing into fruit and nuts.
Adulthood: In Autumn the leaves have turned colour and the fruit and nuts have matured and are ready to be collected.
Death: In Winter the leaves are beginning to fall until the tree remains barren.
In the rural areas of Croatia, these beliefs are commonplace in villages with generations of elders. These communities have a few cult trees that serve specific purposes, with a firm logical structure regarding their positioning in relation to architectural pieces (homes, churches, markets). The reasons are rooted in old mythology and vary from community to community.
Below are a few trees that were significant in the Croatian tribe I was raised in. I do not speak for any other Slavic magic practitioners as their associations vary from region to region and are influenced by the land and their beliefs.
Dama Cherepaha 