SOUTH SLAVIC MOON-MYTHS. 615 



STich flattery as this encourages the glass-maker, in a double 

 sense, to renew his efforts. It assures him of a continued de- 

 mand, and also that his window-pane has fulfilled its highest 

 function — in having been seen through, without being seen. 



SOUTH SLAVIC MOON-MYTHS. 



By Db. FEIEDEICH S. KEAUSS. 



THE South Slavic peoples have a number of popular songs re- 

 citing with many variations the theme of the wedding of the 

 sun or the moon with the morning star or dawn. The relatives of 

 these luminaries also play a part in the wedding processions, and 

 appear variously as the nuptial dignitaries — Saint John, the thun- 

 derer Elias, and the holy Virgin Mary. The story runs along so 

 plausibly that one can not tell by reasoning what is signified by 

 the invocation of these higher beings ; in other words, with all its 

 clearness it is quite obscure. But the learned mythologist easily 

 does away with all difiiculties, and applies his artificial explana- 

 tions with the greatest satisfaction. Parallels are easily drawn 

 from Grecian, Roman, Indian, Germanic, or Lithuanian mythol- 

 ogy, and the thing is done. The stereotyped conclusion of the 

 mythologists is drawn to the effect that a people that entertains 

 such speculations must have formerly had a high degree of cult- 

 ure, and have been of equal birth with the oldest civilized nations. 



The answer to such talk is, that the stories of these sun and 

 moon weddings have no support in the faith of the people, and 

 are in no wise consonant with their other national and religious 

 notions. Certain fables are indeed appealed to, that tell how the 

 youth, in searoh of his ever-vanishing love, inquires in turn of the 

 wind-mother, the sun-mother, and the moon-mother. But, to ac- 

 cept these in explanation, we have to pass off as specifically Slavic 

 what is really and confessedly an all-world story, and in which 

 there is, therefore, nothing significant of the South Slavic super- 

 stition. 



It is not necessary to believe that there is any illusion in the 

 matter. While the popular thinking is often illogical and takes 

 poetry for truth, real misapprehension exists only among individ- 

 uals, and the popular mind takes a fixed direction. Examination 

 of the songs in which these moon-marriages are mentioned will 

 show that they are exclusively lyrics or short songs, such as are 

 sung by the processions at the bringing of the bride from the 

 parental home, or which greet her as she enters the house of her 

 spouse. The significance of the part played in them by the stars is 

 explained by the popular custom of giving to the wedding-guests. 



