How was fire worshiped in Baltic religious practices?

In Baltic religion, fire was considered a holy element and held a central place in religious life, where it was actively worshiped and offered sacrifices.1

Sacred Fire Practices

• Tribal Sanctuaries: In pre-Christian times, a holy fire (šventa ugnis) was maintained in sanctuaries located on high hills and riverbanks. Priests guarded this fire constantly, and it was ceremonially extinguished and rekindled annually during the midsummer festival.2
• Domestic Hearth: The tradition eventually transitioned into the home as gabija, the domestic hearth fire. The mistress of the house was responsible for its care, tending it every evening to ensure it did not go out and praying to it for the family’s good fortune.2
• Life Transitions: Fire played a vital role in significant life events. During weddings, a bride was given fire from her mother’s hearth to ensure an auspicious beginning for her new family. In funeral rites, fire was used in cremation, where the deceased were burned on pyres alongside their possessions, horses, and weapons.21

Fire was viewed as a living power, and its importance was deeply intertwined with the daily and spiritual lives of the Baltic people.13