Presenter Biography:

Marija Kuncaitis (BA Hon) has studied and been involved in Lithuanian Pre-Christian Faith for the past 8 years. She has attended several conferences, such as the Indo-Romuvan conference held by the Internal Center for Cultural Studies, giving presentations at a number of them.

Marija is a Balt and enjoys sharing information about this little known area of European culture. She is the Coordinator for Eastern Canada for Romuva and maintains a website, Iron Crosses http://www.geocities.com/~zemyna

Speaker Topics:

Baltic Year of Ritual

A look at a year's worth of holidays/rites as celebrated by the Balts. Among the various holidays celebrated are Pusiauzemis (mid-winter), Kirmeline (Day of the Worm, a day to celebrate the sacred serpent), Spring, Herb Day, Summer Solstice, the month long reverence for the ancestors culminating on November 2nd, and the all-night vigil for the Sun Goddess during the Winter Solstice.

Gods & Goddesses of Baltic Paganism

A look at the major deities of the Balts. Would include the Perkunas, the Thunderer, Saule - the Sun Goddess, Menulis - the Moon God, Laima - Fate, Gabija - Fire, Velnias - Magic & the Underworld, Dievas - Sky Father and so forth.