Have any mermaid stories survived to this day? What role did they play in raising children? Did the concept of coming of age even exist back then? Nowadays, for example, having sex before the age of sixteen is illegal, and sixteen is the age of consent. Back then, however, there was no criminal code, and children lived by their parents’ rules. Why do we seem to have more problems now than people did back then? Is it because more things are allowed today? Or is it because of the internet, a lack of knowledge, or an inadequate school system?
The Belarusian cultural heritage includes legends, folk tales, and customs that have shaped relationships, including those between parents and children, for centuries. In our first episode, we explore a time when children were raised through myths. These were stories passed down orally from generation to generation. However, they were not intended for entertainment. Before the existence of television, the internet, schools, and textbooks, creating myths was the only way to fill the educational gaps caused by the lack of these resources. The main purpose of these myths was to help children avoid making life mistakes.
One of the main themes we discussed was the shaping of sexuality and the creation of families. Traditionally, these aspects of life were intertwined with folk tales and myths.
In folk culture, every deed was discussed and reflected upon. This concept is similar to the modern psychological idea that one must confront and work through a problem to resolve it. The same was true in Belarusian mythology. When a girl faced tragic consequences due to her fate or choices, people turned these events into cautionary tales to help others make better decisions.
For example, the legend of mermaids always tells the story of a young woman who gave birth out of wedlock. Fearing judgment, she kills the baby. Unable to bear the weight of her guilt, she then takes her own life. According to Christian beliefs at that time, such souls could not enter the world of the living or the world of the dead. This is why, in these legends, mermaids are the souls of young women who made tragic mistakes, died, and are now condemned to wander between our world and the afterlife.
For the children who heard these stories, they offered a powerful and tragic lesson: every action has consequences, and not everything can be undone. At the same time, these tales served as warnings against suicide and provided guidelines for behavior near bodies of water, especially for young people. They were told not to visit ponds or rivers at certain times because mermaids could lure them in and drown them. The fear of becoming a mermaid and wandering eternally, unable to enter either Heaven or Hell, was a strong enough deterrent to prevent young people from acting on romantic impulses before marriage.
Belarusians often told these stories on Kupala Night, a holiday associated with love and finding a partner. It was always a risky endeavor. Emotions ran high on Kupala Night. Some people allowed themselves more freedom than on ordinary days, especially if their parents disapproved of their choice of partner. However, this freedom came with warnings and cautionary messages conveyed through songs and folktales.
Another example is a folk song about Hanna, a Belarusian woman who left with the Cossacks in hopes of finding a better life. Instead of happiness, however, she faced violence and death. The song recounts how she was sexually assaulted, tied to a pine tree, and burned alive. Before her death, she offers a warning: “If you have daughters dear, Ensure that they can hear, The lessons to be taught, And home by midnight brought.” As you can see, the entire story is wrapped in tragedy and a lesson: you must protect yourself, you cannot trust strangers, and you should always listen to your parents.
Now, let’s turn to the present. Why has sex education become such a serious issue? Is the internet to blame? Or is it due to a lack of proper education altogether? Or is it because parents are unwilling to openly communicate with their children? Children nowadays have access to pornography, which can be far more dangerous to a developing psyche than adults realize. Whereas in the past, a child might not have known what the naked body of the opposite sex looked like, today just two clicks on a phone are enough. Instead of developing a healthy understanding of sexuality through life experience and love, children are developing a distorted view of it at a very early age.
Nevertheless, the main problem is not technology itself, but rather the fact that schools and parents avoid discussing intimacy with children. Students are warned about drugs in class, yet no one explains what happens to the body when someone loses their virginity between the ages of 12 and 14. No one talks about emotions, self-respect, or responsibility. No one mentions that there’s no need to rush into your first sexual experience.
We also discussed the concept of coming of age in the past. Today, the age of consent is sixteen, but back then, there were no such laws or commonly accepted age. Everything depended on the parents. One girl might be married off at twelve, while another might not marry until she was twenty. Parents themselves decided when their daughter was ready for family life. Still, no one wished harm upon the child. They carefully considered the groom’s character, his family, and the conditions of their future life together when making this decision. Folk songs and legends reflect both dramatic stories of unhappy marriages and stories of difficult choices. And because of this, one might get the impression that traditional folk culture treated young women far more delicately than the modern information space does.
Ultimately, we return to the main question: Have we lost our children? The answer is not simple. Yes, the world has changed. Information is easily accessible, work is easier, and people have more free time. However, this change has come with a much greater responsibility: to educate, protect, communicate with, and guide our children as our ancestors once did through legends and myths.
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