She is exotic and mysterious, zesty and modern. Earlier, I had posted about the Slovenian name Zarja (ZAHR-yah). Zora is its original Old Slavonic counterpart, meaning “dawn” It is used in vitually every Slavic speaking country, though it has yet to catch on in Poland. It is even used in Hungary. Due to its easy pronunciation and spelling, the name is due to catch on in English speaking countries.

The name has somewhat of an ancient history, in Slavic mythology, it was borne by the three guardian goddesses known as the auroras. Their names were numerous, including, Zvezda, Zory and Danica. Included are, Zorya Utrennyaya also known as Zvezda Danica, Zvezda Zornitsa and Zwezda Dnieca. She is responsible for opening the heavenly gates so that the sun chariot can enter each morning, giving the world sunlight in the day time. She is often associated with horses and the planet venus, and is known as a great warrior woman. Zorya Vechernyaya is the goddess associated with the evening star, also known as Zwezda Wieczernica, she is responsible for closing the gates behind the sun as it leaves each evening. Then we have Zorya Polunochyaya, the goddess of the midnight star. It is in her arms that the sun curles up and dies each night and is brought back to life at dawn. She is known as the goddess of rebirth, death and mysticism. In some myths, Zorya is a chief goddess, and is considered to be the wife of the moon god Myesyats. In other legends, the zoryas are considered the protectors of the constellation Ursa Minor. If it breaks from the chain, the doomsday dog will eat it, and then the world will end. In other myths, Myesyats is a goddess and the zoryas are her virgin attendants. In this form, they are associated with marriage, exorcism and protection.

In other myths, we have Zaria or Zarja, (Old Slavonic for “sunrise”). She was known as the goddess of beauty and was named the “heavenly bride,” by her worshippers. She was often associated with the morning. She is most likely a variation of the zoryas. In Croatia and in Slovakia, the name day is July 19.