Lada is the goddess of love in Slavic mythology. In ancient times, around it a cult developed, which included various rituals and rituals. The dances round the fire at Ivan Kupala were the most common ritual. Moreover, you can even say that Kupala is a holiday of Lada, in which young couples met and fell in love under the auspices of this goddess.
It combined everything that people valued inyoung girl: tenderness, sincere love, meekness, affectionate character and humble temper. Lada, like most pagan gods, has its own symbol - a white swan. He represented true purity, family fidelity and heavenly love.
The Goddess Lada, like Rod, was not a member of the pantheongods. Both of them were an integral part of the world view of the Slavs. Everyone should get along with each other. His favorite people called Lada-Ladushki. His wife called her beloved Lado.
The Goddess Lada has many hypostases, among themfor men. For example, Lad is a god of consent and friendship. Hence the word "palm". We all offer our friends open hands for a handshake. Another hypostasis is Lel. This is the god of fiery, bright love - a small, handsome boy. Sparks fly from his palms, and they can ignite even the coldest heart. As you know, among the ancient Greeks such a boy was Eros, and the Romans - Cupid.
The goddess Lada listened to the requests of the people. She was also called Shchedrina, and, accordingly, a holiday in her honor - generous (January 6/19, the present Baptism). In honor of this goddess sang songs that praised peace, harmony and love. On frozen rivers and lakes, a hole was made (to make Lada breathe) and threw gifts there to the goddess (grain, pies, fritters), and the ice was poured with broths of herbs, which meant the imminent arrival of spring. After that, they began to celebrate and feast.
Despite all the antiquity of rituals, in some families customs still exist to hold holidays in honor of Lada, according to all rituals.