Bear worship facts for kids

Bear worship is a very old religious practice. It means showing respect or worshiping bears. Many groups of people in North America and northern Eurasia have religions that include honoring bears.

These groups include the Sami, Nivkhs, Ainu, and the Finns before they became Christian.

Some gods from ancient Celtic Gaul and Britain were also similar to bears. Bears are also important symbols on many totems carved by northern cultures. People might have started worshiping bears as far back as the Middle Palaeolithic period, which was a very long time ago, among Neanderthal societies.

Bear Worship: Honoring Bears

Bear worship is a type of religious practice where people show great respect or even worship bears. This practice is also known as the Bear Cult or Arctolatry. It's a way for people to connect with nature and the powerful animals around them.

Who Practices Bear Worship?

Many different groups of people, especially those living in northern parts of the world, have traditions of bear worship. These include:

• The Sami people, who live in northern Europe.
• The Nivkhs, who are an indigenous group in the Russian Far East.
• The Ainu, who are native to Japan and Russia.
• The Finns, before Christianity became common in their land.

These cultures often see bears as strong, wise, or even sacred animals.

Bears in Ancient Times

People might have started worshiping bears a very, very long time ago. This could have been during the Middle Palaeolithic period. This was a time when Neanderthal societies lived on Earth. Scientists have found clues that suggest these ancient humans had special rituals involving bears.

Bears and Other Cultures

Bears also appear in the beliefs of other ancient groups. For example, some Celtic people in Gaul (ancient France) and Britain had deities (gods or goddesses) that were linked to bears.

In many northern cultures, bears are also featured on totems. Totems are special symbols, often carved poles, that represent a family, clan, or tribe. The bear's presence on these totems shows its importance in their culture and beliefs.

Images for kids

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  The bear-goddess feeds a bear (1918)

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  Volos (also called Veles) in the background of the Millennium of Russia Monument

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  A bear festival by Nivkh around 1903

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  The Ainu Iomante ceremony around 1930

See also

In Spanish: Culto a los osos para niños