View source for Gabija

{{Short description | Spirit of the fire in Lithuanian mythology}}
{{Baltic religion}}
{{for|given name|Gabija (given name)}}
'''Gabija''' (also known as '''Gabieta''', '''Gabeta''') is the spirit of the [[fire]]  in [[Lithuanian mythology]]. She is the protector of home and family. Her name is derived from ''gaubti'' (to cover, to protect).<ref name=gimbu/><ref name=bojtar/> Gabija is only mentioned in a [[list of Lithuanian gods]] by the Christian theologian [[Jan Łasicki]] in his treatise on [[idolatry]] (published in 1615). She is found in Lithuanian [[folklore]].<ref name=bojtar/> 

Gabija could take [[zoomorphic]] forms of a cat, stork or rooster,<ref name=gimbu/> or she could appear as a woman clothed in red.<ref name=trink/> Gabija was greatly respected and cared for like a living creature. People would feed Gabija by offering [[bread and salt]].<ref name=gimbu/> Fire had to be laid to bed – women would cover the charcoal with ashes every evening so that fire would not wander around.<ref name=gimbu/> Just as Gabija was the protector of the house, mother of the household was the protector of fire.<ref name=johns/> Sometimes a bowl of clean water would be left near the hearth so that Gabija could wash herself.<ref name=trink/> If angered, Gabija would "go for a walk" burning the house. Much folklore describes the ill fate of those who offended Gabija by stomping, spitting, or urinating on her.<ref name=trink/>

'''Mama Gabija''' is the Lithuanian goddess of the home, hearth, and patron of their care. She most likely originates from Gabija.

In [[microbiology]] the name Gabija, shortened to Gaj, has been attributed to a genome.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uniprot.org/uniprotkb/J8H9C1|title=J8H9C1 · GAJA_BACC6|work=UniProt|publisher=EMBL's European Bioinformatics Institute|quote=Alternative names: Gabija protein GajA}}</ref>{{fact|date=November 2021}}

==See also==
*[[List of Lithuanian gods and mythological figures]]
*[[Nëna e Vatrës]] – a similar figure in Albanian mythology and folklore

==References==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name=bojtar>{{cite book |first=Endre |last=Bojtár |title=Foreword to the Past: A Cultural History of the Baltic People |publisher=CEU Press |year=1999 |page=298 |isbn=963-9116-42-4}}</ref>
<ref name=gimbu>{{cite book | title=The Living Goddesses |first=Marija |last=Gimbutas |authorlink=Marija Gimbutas |author2=Miriam Robbins Dexter | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Xs26aFrT0YAC&pg=PA203 | page=203 | publisher=University of California Press |year=2001 |isbn=0-520-22915-0}}</ref>
<ref name=johns>{{cite book| title=Earth, Water, Fire, and Air: Essential Ways of Connecting to Spirit |first=Cait |last=Johnson |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m_M99GVLhI8C&pg=PT151 |page=135 | publisher=SkyLight Paths Publishing |year=2002 |isbn=1-893361-65-9}}</ref>
<ref name=trink>{{cite book | title= Of Gods & Holidays: The Baltic Heritage | editor= Jonas Trinkūnas | editor-link=Jonas Trinkūnas | publisher=Tvermė |year=1999 |isbn=9986-476-27-5 | pages=85–87}}</ref>
}}

[[Category:Lithuanian goddesses]]
[[Category:Domestic and hearth deities]]
[[Category:Fire goddesses]]
[[Category:Cat goddesses]]

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