Gabija

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Gabija (also known as Gabieta, Gabeta) is the goddess of fire and of the hearth of homes in Lithuanian mythology.^[1] Sometimes she takes the zoomorphic form of a cat or a bird. People respected Gabija and feared her wrath. Gabija was identified with St. Agatha after Christianization.

The fire of Gabija was cared for like a domesticated animal. Before laying the bed for a fire, people would leave a utensil filled with water. They believed that Gabija would use that to bathe her face. When the bed of the fire was laid, prayers would be said to the goddess of fire.

The belief was that the fire would provide protection from unclean people. These included thieves and other reprobates. Unclean people also were women during their monthly period or for 40 days after the delivery of a child. The fire itself could become unclean -- then a new fire would have to be lit. Gabija sometimes is identified with Gabjauja, one of the Lithuanian household gods.

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