Survive the Jive Podcast Europe's Last Pagans
Mar 20, 2026
Professor Francis Young, historian of Baltic paganism with a Cambridge PhD, explores late medieval and early modern sources on Lithuanian and Latvian rites. He discusses Perkunas and Žemyna, sacred trees, snakes and household spirits. Conversations cover archaeology, seasonal festivals, animal offerings and modern Romuva revival. Familiar myths and landscape rituals are brought vividly to life.
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Perkunas Pole Appeared On English Coast
- A 2023 carved pole resembling a Volin idol with the name Perkunas was erected on the Kent coastal path and left in place.
- Francis Young suspects a Lithuanian or Slavic practitioner created the work and called it a wonderful artwork.
Rich Layer Of Domestic Spirits Persisted
- Baltic belief retained numerous household and landscape spirits that persisted post-conversion: granary stones, laumės (water fairies), and domestic spirits.
- Paginnes are stones in granaries; laumės spin, babysit, or steal children in folklore.
Grass Snakes Were Positive Household Spirits
- Tame grass snakes (žaltys) were venerated and fed at meals; their role may be guardian, ancestor spirit, or linked to immortality rather than demonic.
- Missionaries likened them to classical lares; Lithuanians show no strong snake revulsion found elsewhere.
