Longnica

The Slavic amulet or was preserved by Longnica. Lunar cult. Ancient Russia 10-12th century. From silver. (Copy)

Lunnitsy-Slavic charms in the form of the turned month (Moon) are filled with deep sacral meaning. The first razomnuty amulets of a lunnitsa have appeared in Russia and were the Scandinavian origin, Rurik's Varangians who have come to Russia differed in them. From the date of the emergence amulets and charms - Longnici have strongly taken the place in pagan rituals and have extended on all Slavic lands.
Are known two a name or epithets of a lunar deity - Kolyad and Vasyl.
It is remarkable that the church incapable to destroy celebration of Generous Evening - a holiday of the birth of the Moon, compelled was to appoint to this day Christian Saint Vasily's slavleniye - Vasily. Leplenny pie was a symbol of the Moon. That was the sacrificial food extended in Russia and at Etruscans in Generous Evening when to a night star sang the calling anthems - shchedrivka as to the owner of water and all genetic processes of a plant and animal life.
The moon, month – the men's deity at Germans, Balts, in general Indo-Europeans, means also Russians. Manya (the moon, month) at Scandinavians had two aspects, two forms, as well as the sun. Sacred spiritual light was esteemed especially therefore at water worshipped the moon since from water the reflected sunlight was reflected once again. Velez and Mara are connected with a night, the moon and death, the other world, monasteries of the dead, water spaces, the hidden and first-born, special vital force.