morana (mythology)
Morana (in Czech, Slovene, Serbo-Croatian), Morena (in Slovak, and in Macedonian: Морена), Mora (in Bulgarian: Мора), Mara (in Ukrainian: Мара), Morė (in Lithuanian), Marena (in Russian: Марена), or Marzanna (in Polish) is a pagan Slavic goddess associated with seasonal rites based on the idea of death and rebirth of nature. She is an ancient goddess associated with winter's death, rebirth and dreams. In ancient Slavic rites, the death of the Goddess Morana at the end of winter becomes the rebirth of Spring of the Goddess Kostroma (Russian), Lada or Vesna representing the coming of Spring.