Pásztor Emília (szerk.): Sámánizmus és természethit régen és ma - Bajai dolgozatok 23. (Baja, 2019)

Kerezsi Ágnes: Az állatáldozat jellegzetességei az oroszországi finnugor népeknél

The characteristics of animal sacrifice of the Finno-Ugric peoples of Russia

thus the soul could leave the body intact. In the 19th century, animals were mainly killed by hitting, cutting and stabbing tools. In this case, the animal's blood was collected and following the god, the helping spirits, participants also received some portion of it. According to their belief, the spirits primarily need blood because the soul of lives in it. The habit of collecting blood and inviting the spirits to drink it originates from this belief.

Fire played an important role in the sacrificial rites of peoples studied in this paper, in addition to probably being one of their most ancient deities who was often offered a gift, fire had a symbolical function as well. According to their beliefs, fire acted as a mediator at ceremonies, carried over people's requests, and the sacrifice to the spirits. To throw the sacrificial gift into the fire was the most effective and secure way to send the sacrifice to the spirits whose support was expected in future economic activities of the community.

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