Perkūnas the musician
This short tale highlights the transformation of thinking in the early stages of Christianity being the main religion in Lithuania. The old gods and believes were very resistant and did not want to go away for a long time.
A reminder — Christianity tried to make Velinas, the underground god, the devil himself. They left the name and the fact that he lived underground and took care of the souls and underground water fit perfectly. But in the people’s mind he still remained their old god, whom you could go ask for help if you needed too. The transformation in thinking was that the man did ask for help his old god but did it secretly and didn’t want him to attend to his wedding, because Christianity did not tolerate old believes.
The funny thing though that new religion could not keep Velinas from attending, but the argument with another god could.
Perkūnas (Thunder god) the musician
Once lived a man who didn’t have any money for his own wedding. So he decided to borrow them from Velinas (underground world god). But Velinas wanted to be invited to the wedding for that and the man thought he would rather celebrate without him.
- Who will be the matchmaker?-asked Velinas.
- The local priest, -said the man hopping that Velinas will not want to come because of him.
- Oh good! I don’t often have a chance to talk to priests, on your wedding we will talk at last! — happily commented Velinas.
- Who will be the matron of honor? — asked he again.
- My neighbor Maria, — answered the man, knowing how devoted to Christianity she was.
- I know her, she is a good wife. Who will be the musician? — asked Velinas once more.
- Oh I invited the very best musician as my wedding is going to be the best wedding ever — I invited Perkūnas! — answered the man.
- Not good, not good at all! — despaired Velinas, — I don’t like him and I don’t want to meet him! We had an argument some time ago and he hit me so hard that up until know I have an ace in my ribs. I will not come to your wedding after all and you can keep that money too…
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