Maslenitsa-Komoyeditsa
- one of the four most important Slavic holidays, timed to coincide with the spring equinox. From this time on, Nature begins to awaken, bears get out of their dens. The Souls of Ancestors fly on bird wings from Heavenly Iria to visit us, their descendants.
According to one belief, the name of the holiday was given by comas - ritual bread made from several flour batches: peas, oats and barley. The comas were baked by women, the eldest in the family, brought them to the forest, and laid them on stumps for the awakened spirits of the trees. According to others, they were fed to the awakened bear, the owner of the forest.
On the spring holiday there is plenty of fun and treats for everyone! A wide celebration unfolds. People ride horses, compete in climbing poles for gifts, take on snowy towns in battle, dress up in disguises, dance in circles, bake sun pancakes - round, golden and hot! Men celebrate the holiday with a special bear dance and wrestling.
Ritual holiday requirements: pancakes, “coma” pancakes with millet, pies, flatbreads, oatmeal jelly, rolls, honey, kvass, gingerbread, gingerbread, pancakes, cottage cheese, nuts, milk, butter, fish, cookies.
The main dish of the great holiday of Maslenitsa is the pancake - in the Slavic pagan tradition symbolizing the Sun.
In the morning, people hurry to the temple, a high place where the earth has dried up. Near the temple at the crossroads, grain is scattered. This is done so that the Navyas (devils, evil spirits), who have taken the form of forty, eat the grain and do not interfere with the holiday. This is one of the oldest Russian holidays - the day of honoring the Bear God: making a sacrifice (requirement) to the great Honey Beast.
Glory to our Native Gods and wise Ancestors!
So, let's figure out what Maslenitsa is? And what is this incomprehensible word Komoeditsa?
Komoeditsa is one of the four oldest solar Slavic holidays. A two-week celebration of the Vernal Equinox (the beginning of astronomical spring, March 20 - 21), farewell to Winter and the burning of an effigy of Winter, a solemn welcome to Spring. Yarilo - the sun melts the snow, nature awakens with the force of spring, the celebration of the beginning of the New Year according to the ancient Slavic solar calendar (in Rus' until 1492 summer /year/ - March opened the account of the New Summer /year/).
In addition to celebrating the sacred entry of Spring into its rights, the bear was also revered on this day: in the morning before breakfast, in a solemn procession with songs, dances and jokes, they brought “pancake demands” to the great Honey Beast in the forest with the first baked holiday pancakes and laid them out on tree stumps. After this, the festive feast began. Our ancestors called the bear Kom (hence the rule - “the first pancake is Kom”, i.e. bears).
Komoeditsa began to be celebrated a week before the spring equinox and continued the celebration a week after. For these two weeks, relatives of each Slavic clan gathered together for many days of celebration and rituals.
For many centuries, Komoeditsa retained the character of a wide folk festival, accompanied by feasts, games, competitions of strength, and fast horse riding.
Immediately after the holiday, people began intense agricultural work that lasted throughout the warm season.
The original, sacred meaning of the ancient sacred holiday of Komoeditsa has long been lost.
After the imposition of Judeo-Christianity on Rus' and the subsequent ban on old customs, Judeo-Christian clergy and authorities fought for a long time and unsuccessfully against the traditional folk holiday.
It was the former Vedic Faith of the Ancestors that represented the main competition to the Judeo-Christian churchmen. The Church could not stand the Ancient Faith of the Ancestors, fighting it in the most cruel ways. With the introduction of the new religion of Judeo-Christianity into Rus' with its “Great” pre-Easter forty-day fast, during which everyone is supposed to fast, repent, physically and spiritually abstain, pacifying the flesh - the holiday of the meeting of the Spring of Komoeditsa is postponed from the date of the Vernal Equinox to earlier floating dates of the Judeo-Christian calendar. And since the Judeo-Christian Easter is a transitory holiday, Maslenitsa has also been moving relative to it for the last several centuries. That’s why “Farewell to Winter” sometimes happens here in February, which is generally absurd....
And also Patriarch Adrian reduced the “demonic holiday” to eight days in 1698. He never succeeded in completely banning the holiday and erasing it from people’s memory...
So what is Maslenitsa celebration like?
When, over the course of several centuries, the priests still did not achieve success in the forceful struggle with the wise folk Tradition, which they tormented in the most cruel and bloody ways, the Judeo-Christian church archpastors used the well-known Jesuit technique: "If you cannot defeat the enemy, unite with him and destroy him from within".
In the 16th century, Cheese Week (Maslenitsa) was adopted by the Church to replace the forbidden Slavic Komoeditsa.
The Church simply privatized (like many other things) the ancient folk holiday of welcoming Spring and, according to its church custom, distorted and vulgarized this meeting.
And soon the people forgot their ancient Komoeditsa, but began to celebrate the Judeo-Christian “Maslenitsa” with the same riotous scope.
Because the former Komoeditsa ended up on Lent, when holidays and fun are strictly prohibited, the Judeo-Christian clergy “shifted” the holiday in time from the Vernal Equinox to almost a month closer to the beginning of the year, allocating it a week before Lent, i.e. made a false substitution of what was given by Heaven itself. Except temporarily O of the “shift”, the previous popular celebration was reduced from two weeks to one.
Strictly speaking, it was not a “transfer” of the holiday of Komoeditsa (it is impossible to transfer Komoeditsa, since it is associated with an annual astronomical event), but the establishment of a new church holiday for the people to replace the previous one, in order to destroy and erase the former Traditions from the memory of the people. And they completely succeeded - Jesuit techniques always work well and effectively.
A significant shift to the beginning of the year, which replaced Maslenitsa-Komoyeditsa, a forcibly introduced Jewish-Christian church holiday, makes perverted the artificially invented interpretation of the current Maslenitsa in an ancient way - as “farewell to winter and welcoming spring” - at this time it is too early to welcome spring among the snows and winter colds, especially in Russia with its cold climate.
So our wise ancient Ancestors greeted Spring at a more reasonable time than today’s “Orthodox” Russians, converted by church ideology into servants of God.
The new Judeo-Christian church holiday began to be called “cheese” or “meat-free” week (week). The church “cheese week” began to precede their Great Lent.
On “cheese week” the Church Charter already prohibits believers from eating meat, but allows butter, dairy products, eggs and fish. From these products permitted by the church calendar, the holiday soon, in the same 16th century, acquired its second, popular name - Maslenitsa.
But even the former folk culture “transferred” by the clergy Slavic holiday Komoeditsy retained some of its ancient customs, turning into folk Maslenitsa in the 16th century.
The traditions of Russian folk Maslenitsa were finally consolidated in the 18th century through the efforts of the Russian liar Peter I, a great lover of all sorts of riotous festivities.
Despite the official inclusion in church holidays, Maslenitsa never received a complete rethinking and remains a national holiday (national gluttonous and drunken revelry), and a religious Christian one (this is the last of the three weeks of preparation for Lent - before that there are the “omnivorous” and “ pockmarked" - traditional Russian Maslenitsa week).
How to treat the Maslenitsa holiday depends on the perception of the celebrant.
The current Maslenitsa, the dates of which are determined by the clergy, is in no way supposedly just a “shifted” time-based holiday of the former holiday of Komoeditsa, which has always been and will be inextricably linked with the Day of the Vernal Equinox.
And the meaning of the current folk Maslenitsa, especially the church “cheese week”, is completely different than that of the previous Slavic Komoeditsa.
- Komoeditsa- this is a solemn meeting by our ancient Ancestors of the onset of astronomical spring for Nature and the beginning of the ancient Slavic New Summer (year), as well as the necessary invigoration of people after a cold winter with fun and hearty food before the start of intensive field work.
Judeo-Christian Church Cheese Week- This is the preparatory week for Lent, the last week before Lent. Devoted in the Judeo-Christian sense to one goal - reconciliation with neighbors, forgiveness of offenses, preparation for the repentant path to God - this is the Judeo-Christian component of their so-called. "Maslenitsa". During the continuation of the Church Cheese Week (Maslenitsa), they do not eat meat, but they can eat fish and dairy products. Maslenitsa is a continuous week; fasting on Wednesday and Friday is canceled.
The folk “Maslenitsa” (the colloquial name for Cheese Week), defined by the church calendar, has, strictly speaking, nothing to celebrate - it’s just the organization of some kind of party, with which the churchmen replaced the ancient Komoeditsa in order to erase it from memory. And it’s too early to get excited about Maslenitsa before agricultural work - there will be snow on the fields for a long time, winter blizzards and blizzards will swirl around.
In addition, after the church Cheese Week (Maslenitsa), a long Lent begins with huge dietary restrictions, which is completely unreasonable for people after the cold Russian winter, when the body is already weakened, and before the upcoming heavy field work.
If some customs of the ancient Jews who lived in the hot desert and gave birth to Judeo-Christianity are still acceptable in warm Europe, then they are very stupid, and even harmful in Russia, the coldest country in the world. Only Antarctica is colder than Russia, but people don’t live there; The average annual temperature in Russia is +4°C, 64% of the territory is permafrost. You can adopt other people's customs, but wisely, and not mindlessly ape.
Of course, no Judeo-Christianity, now split into Catholicism, Protestantism, Lutheranism, etc., as well as into more than 17 different “Orthodox” autocephalous (headed by patriarchs, the Russian Orthodox Church is the 5th among them) and autonomous (headed by metropolitans) churches, can set or reschedule dates national holidays other beliefs, especially the dates of astronomical events.
The ancient holiday of our Slavic ancestors, Komoeditsa, always remains in time in its original place (in different years the spring equinox is on March 20 or 21), determined only by an annual astronomical event - this is a great holiday of the entry into its rights of a long-awaited and world-renewing Rite of Spring, given by Heaven itself to people, animals, birds, plants and all earthly Nature.
The Day of the Vernal Equinox is the beginning of the astronomical Spring, which no Judeo-Christian churchmen and no Jewish god can “move.”
And in our time, everyone can cheerfully celebrate Komoeditsa - a bright and joyful holiday of our ancestors, the meeting of Spring and the spring renewal of Nature.
Our ancestors revered the Sun, professed the cult of the Sun - the cult of Life, and their calendar was based on the solar calendar, according to which today is the day of the vernal equinox. This article provides the author's version of how Solar Komoeditsa turned into Christian Maslenitsa.
From February 20 to 26, the holiday is celebrated on a grand scale throughout our vast country. Maslenitsa. Local administrations, to the best of their ability, organize various entertainment events in the settlements entrusted to them. Entire farmsteads are being built on the territory of the parks - Maslenitsa towns with village houses and shopping arcades, which are bursting with all kinds of delicacies. There are huge samovars with tea, and bundles of bagels, and mountains of painted gingerbread, and various smoked pickles, kebabs, fish and caviar, but the main delicacy these days is, of course, pancakes. Hot from the heat, with butter, sour cream, caviar, mushrooms or fish - for every taste.
On Maslenitsa, theatrical performances, round dances with folk songs, the ceremonial burning of the Maslenitsa effigy and all sorts of pyrotechnic entertainment are organized, special “Maslenitsa tours” and exhibitions of decorative and applied arts are organized. People happily ride on sleighs and huge carousels, take part in races on stilts and competitions with prizes, dance in round dances, children slide down ice slides with delight, girls dress up in townsman scarves, young people, warmed up by tea (and not only) They are scared to climb the Maslenitsa pillar to buy gifts.
There is high spirits everywhere. Yes, this is understandable. Everyone is already tired of the long, cold winter, the celebration of the New Year is already a little forgotten, and the soul is asking for a holiday. And that’s right - we need to celebrate, and we also need to have fun. But here's the question: What is the essence of this holiday? What do we celebrate on Maslenitsa, Russians?
In general, there will be few answer options. I will assume that faithful Christians on Meat or Cheese Week, for that is what they call this holiday, are preparing for Great Lent before, and the rest will answer that this holiday is pagan, and they are saying goodbye to winter and welcoming spring. But, have mercy, in February in Russia it is too early to welcome spring in the midst of cold weather, among snowdrifts and snowstorms. What's spring like? Look at the thermometer! And isn’t it logical to meet spring not a month before it, but, in fact, in the spring? It was then that the so-called “pagans” met her - in day of spring equinox- the day of the astronomical, not calendar, beginning of spring. It is interesting that in some European countries, in particular in Spain, spring still “arrives” on March 21, and winter on December 21.
Unfortunately, the true meaning of this holiday was lost long ago, or rather, the servants of the lunar cult deliberately tried to lose it in order to throw off the genetic memory of an entire people. At different times and different countries servants of this black cult called by different names, but now we know it under the name. However, some fragments have been preserved, because, despite the thousand-year yoke of the Christian Church and the burning out of true folk traditions with fire and sword, they sit in our genetics. We just need to awaken her. We only need recall who we are and where we came from.
The fact is that no ancient Slavic holiday Maslenitsa is not, and it does not have any “pagan” roots. This holiday received the name “Maslenitsa” from the rich oily food that was supposed to be consumed during the entire last week before Lent, when eating meat was no longer allowed, but dairy products were still possible. In addition, Maslenitsa in its modern form, as such, began to be celebrated only in the 16th century, when Christian church abandoned her vain attempts to erase the Vedic holiday from people’s memory, but she didn’t want to leave everything to chance, and simply decided to “edit” it slightly, just as she did with other Vedic holidays. As they say, if you cannot defeat the enemy, join him, and, I would add, destroy him from the inside.
A significant role in this dirty deed was played by the reform of Patriarch Nikon in the 17th century, the essence of which was not at all in correcting liturgical books according to the Greek model and changing Christian rituals, such as two-toed to three-toed, as they are now trying to present it to us. Nikon launched information virus replacing the Vedic worldview with the obscurantism of Christianity, “wearing” their clothes for Vedic holidays. All Vedic holidays were “attached” to a Christian saint, fortunately the church had more than enough of them, or a holiday. After which the holidays that the Rus celebrated for thousands of years, and some for tens of thousands of years (for example, the ancient spring holiday in honor of the destruction by Dazhdbog of the moon Lelya with the bases of the Dark Forces on it), while maintaining the Vedic form, acquired a completely different meaning, very far from initial, but so necessary for the enslavement of the most rebellious people on earth, whom the Dark Forces could never defeat in a fair fight. However, they almost succeeded in this with the help of deception, using social weapons - by placing their Christian cuckoo in the Vedic nest of the Rus, who ousted the Vedic traditions from their consciousness and replaced them with their own, so much so that the substitution is not noticed, in order to lull their genetic memory and impose on them your religion of death (on the “cuckoo principle” see the wonderful book by academician N.V. Levashova]]> “Mirror of my soul” ]]> , Vol. 2, Ch. 5).
After the bloody baptism of Rus' in the 10th century, which was a real genocide of the Slavs, after which the population of European Rus' decreased from 12 to 3 million people, a double faith. To preserve their lives, people formally followed church traditions, but continued to live according to Vedic laws. This went on for centuries, but stubborn in its policy of imposing its obscurantist rituals (see the film about this Alexandra Atakina) the Christian church gradually replaced the Vedic holidays with its own, for which it also gradually destroyed universal literacy among the Slavs. It is much easier to govern an illiterate and ignorant people! But back in the 10th century, ordinary Novgorod farmers from distant villages wrote notes to each other, calculated the harvest, collected debts, exchanged jokes and wrote instructions on the household. And this despite the fact that at the same time the king of France was illiterate and put a cross instead of a signature!
So here it is. The same cuckoo parsley happened to the Vedic holiday, which is now called Maslenitsa. It is quite possible that under the guise of Maslenitsa we secretly imposed celebration of the Jewish “merry holiday” of Purim, which annually reminds everyone of the unprecedented, bloody crime Jews who vilely massacred the Persian elite 2400 years ago, who did nothing wrong to them! (The Bible talks about this in the book).
The Christian Church “recognized” the ineradicable folk Vedic holiday from memory, but called it in its own way, moved its celebration to the week preceding Lent (just during the celebration of Purim), and now Purim is “celebrated” under different names in many countries of the world nothing unsuspecting people. This is confirmed by the date of this holiday, which for some reason turned out to be "floating", depending on the date of the “floating” Christian Easter, which, in turn, is calculated according to lunar calendar. So not only among devout Christians their god dies every year in different days, but by their grace we also meet spring in different days and even, sometimes, in different months.
In order to more reliably consolidate the “novelty” in the people’s memory, secular authorities also joined in the celebration of Maslenitsa. At the beginning of the 18th century, Peter I, or rather, false Peter(about the substitution of Peter I, see the wonderful film by Alexander Atakin), wanting to be like “enlightened” Europe in everything, he issued a decree according to which Maslenitsa was celebrated in the European style, like carnivals with cheerful carnival processions of mummers, antics of jesters, copious drinking and partying. The holiday was led by the clownish “Patriarch” appointed during Maslenitsa, who headed the “all-joking and all-drunk cathedral.”
So what kind was the ancient Vedic holiday distorted this time?
This holiday was called Komoeditsa. He Always celebrated on the day of the vernal equinox - 21 March according to the modern calendar, after which the day becomes longer than the night, and nature awakens. This holiday also had a functional meaning. It was necessary to invigorate and strengthen the strength of people after a long and cold, and often half-starved, winter with fun and abundant food before the start of intense agricultural work, which lasted throughout the warm season. The solemn celebration of welcoming spring lasted 2 weeks- a week before the spring equinox and a week after it. And immediately after it, hard, intense work began from sunrise to sunset in order to provide food for the next long winter, repair or build housing, stock up on fuel, etc., in general, “prepare the sleigh in the summer.”
In addition to the main meaning of the sacred holiday - welcoming spring and the transition to agricultural work - on this day the Slavic Bear God was revered: the first baked holiday pancakes were sacrificed to the owner of the forest, which were solemnly taken to the forest. Hence the Russian proverb: “The first pancake is for cowards, the second pancake is for acquaintances, the third pancake is for distant relatives, and the fourth pancake is for me.” Comam, and not a lump, as we were taught to say, that is, sacred animals - bears. Hence the name of the holiday - Komoeditsa.
The fact is that the Slavs called this animal differently: bear - the one who knows honey, ber - hence the den (ber's lair) and com. Hence “komanika”, koma berries - raspberries, which were called bear berries because of the bears’ addiction to feast on raspberries. In addition, raspberry juice was often popularly called bear’s blood. The ancient name of this plant is mentioned in the “Glorious Aryan Vedas” - the oldest source of information about the past of our people.
Each plant is near the Source
The properties changed and the original growth.
Mushrooms rose to arshinabove the ground
But they were endowed with stone flesh.
The feather grass rose up to a span,
And the berries coma grown up like trees...
("Slavic-Aryan Vedas", First Circle, “Source of Life”, Second Message).
So our wise, ancient “pagan” ancestors - children and grandchildren of the gods- greeted spring on a much more suitable day for this than modern Orthodox Russians, who have been turned into servants of God through the efforts of... Our ancestors had a Vedic worldview, not a religion, and therefore knew immeasurably more about the laws of the universe than we do, and, as a result, their holidays had more meaning and connection with nature. Their main holidays were four astronomically important days - four holidays focused on the natural solar cycle, expressed in the four annually repeated annual hypostases of the sun god:
- day of spring equinox(March 21) - holiday Komoeditsa in honor of the growing Sun - Yarily.
- summer solstice day(June 21) - a holiday in honor of the mighty Sun-husband Kupala.
- autumn equinox(September 21) - a holiday in honor of the retiring aging Sun - Svetovita.
- winter solstice(December 21) - a holiday in honor of the emerging Sun-baby Kolyada.
Our ancestors revered the Sun, professed the cult of the Sun - cult of Life, and their calendar was based on the solar calendar, which over the last thousand years was supplanted by the lunar cult - the cult of Death, imposed on the Rus to keep their genetic memory in a stupefied state, so that the Rus would continue to remain “Ivans who do not remember kinship”.
That's exactly why the Vedic holiday Komoeditsy, celebrated on the day of the vernal equinox, and was replaced by Maslenitsa with a floating “schedule” tied to Christian Easter (to lunar calendar). That is why the Vedic holiday Kupala on the summer solstice was replaced by “Ivan Kupala”, timed to coincide with the birthday of the biblical John the Baptist (June 24), the holiday of the autumn equinox of the Sun-Svetovit was replaced by Christmas Holy Mother of God, and the winter equinox of the Sun-Kolyada turned into.
We are Russian people. We are Russians. And we must know and honor their holidays, and celebrate them the way our ancestors celebrated them, and at the time our custom requires. Whether someone likes to celebrate the “holy” dates of Death, such as “beheadings”, “entombment”, “raising the cross” - the instrument of execution, that’s their business. Whether someone likes to pray to the black gods and demons of death is also their business.
Our business and our right is to be reasonable people and celebrate Light And Life!
Elena Lyubimova
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From an astronomical point of view, on March 20 at 20:31 Moscow time, the Sun, moving along the ecliptic, will reach a point on the celestial sphere with coordinates 0 hours 0 minutes in right ascension and 0 degrees 0 minutes in declination. This point on the celestial sphere is called the vernal equinox. It is located in the constellation Pisces. On the day of the vernal equinox, the Sun throughout the Earth rises exactly in the east and sets exactly in the west. At the poles on this day, the Sun moves exactly along the horizon during the day (thanks to refraction, which raises the Sun above the horizon, it moves above the horizon by the amount of refraction at the horizon - half a degree). When the Sun crosses this point of the celestial sphere, according to the generally accepted condition in modern astronomy, astronomical spring begins in the northern hemisphere of the Earth. It will be autumn in the southern hemisphere. On this day, the length of day and night are the same throughout the entire Earth. Of course, this is strictly mathematical. In fact, on the day of the spring (as well as the autumn) equinox, the day is still slightly longer than the night, thanks, again, to atmospheric refraction, which lifts the luminaries above the horizon. After the spring equinox, the Sun at noon will rise higher and higher above the horizon, until the day of the summer solstice, having covered a quarter of its path along the zodiacal constellations and in its orbit around the Sun.
And in the Slavic Cultural Tradition, this day means the victory of the Forces of Life, Summer over the Forces of Death, Winter. It is believed that at this time Winter leaves and Spring comes, and the Bear wakes up in his den from his winter sleep.
Maslenitsa, cheese week (before the spelling reform, also often Maslenitsa) is a festive cycle that has been preserved in Rus' since pagan (pre-Christian) times. The ritual is associated with seeing off Winter and welcoming Spring. The main attributes of Maslenitsa are pancakes and folk festivals.
Before the introduction of Christianity, Maslenitsa (Komoeditsa) was celebrated for 7 days preceding the vernal equinox and 7 days after this day. Maslenitsa is the time when Nature awakens and the Sun-child Kolyada becomes the youth Yarila, and the hormonal system is reconfigured in the human body, preparing for the spring form of activity. The foreign Christian church abandoned the main celebration of Spring, not having the power to conflict with the Traditions of the Russian People (Christmas was similarly timed to coincide with the winter solstice), but shifted the people’s favorite holiday of seeing off winter in time so that it would not contradict Lent, and shortened the duration of the holiday up to 7 days.
Maslenitsa is a mischievous and cheerful farewell to Winter and a welcome to Spring, bringing revival in Nature and the warmth of the sun. From time immemorial, people have perceived Spring as the beginning of a new life and revered the Sun, which gives life and strength to all living things. In honor of the Sun, at first they baked unleavened flatbreads, and when they learned how to prepare leavened dough, they began to bake pancakes.
The ancients considered the pancake a symbol of the Sun, since it, like the Sun, is yellow, round and hot, and they believed that together with the pancake they eat a piece of its warmth and power.
With the introduction of Christianity, the celebration ritual also changed. Maslenitsa got its name from the church calendar, because during this period of time - the last week before Great Lent - eating butter, dairy products and fish, differently this week in Orthodox Church called cheese. The days of Maslenitsa change depending on when Lent begins.
Among the people, every day of Maslenitsa has its own name.
Monday - meeting. Mountains, swings, and booths were completed for this day. They started baking pancakes. The first pancake was given to the poor to commemorate the dead.
Tuesday - flirting. In the morning, young people were invited to ride from the mountains and eat pancakes. They called their relatives and friends: “We have the mountains ready, and the pancakes are baked—we ask you to be kind.”
Wednesday - delicacies. On this day, the son-in-law came “to his mother-in-law for pancakes.” In addition to the son-in-law, the mother-in-law invited other guests.
Thursday is a big revelry. From this day on, Maslenitsa unfolded in all its breadth. The people indulged in all sorts of fun: ice mountains, booths, swings, horse riding, carnivals, fist fights, noisy parties.
Friday is mother-in-law's evening. Sons-in-law invited their mothers-in-law to visit and treated them to pancakes.
Shestnitsa - sister-in-law's get-togethers. Young daughters-in-law invited their sisters-in-law to visit them. The newlywed daughter-in-law had to give her sister-in-law some gift.
The last day of Maslenitsa is forgiven week. People asked for forgiveness for the insults caused to each other, and said goodbye to Winter.
On “Forgiveness Week” in Rus', the “Maslenitsa effigy” (also called the “Winter effigy” or “Maslenitsa effigy”) was solemnly burned. Usually the “stuffed animal”, which was a bunch of straw in a scarf tied “woman-style” and a jacket, was placed on firewood stacked in the form of a well, inside which a fire was lit. Sometimes the stuffed animal was drowned in an ice hole or torn apart. Sometimes the role of the “Scarecrow” was played by living mummers who were taken around the village, and towards the end of the holiday they were taken out and dumped in the snow. They played tricks on the scarecrow during Maslenitsa week, bringing it under windows and scaring people. However, most often Maslenitsa was burned. Sometimes the stuffed “Maslenitsa Madam” was placed on a sleigh together with beautiful girl, and the sleigh was harnessed by three young people who were carrying Maslenitsa. Other sleighs walked behind the carnival, accompanying her. The procession ended with the burning of Maslenitsa outside the village, in a field. Not only the effigy of Winter was thrown into the fire, but also various old things, the remains of festive food, which symbolized the funeral of Winter, everything that had become obsolete, old, and at the same time the renewal of Nature, the birth of spring, new forces of fertility. They brought pancakes to the fire and treated each other; they jumped over the fire; Round dances were performed around him, folk songs were sung, and people danced. Around a burning fire, people in Rus' shouted: “Where is the smoke, where is the pancake, where is Maslenka!”, “Farewell, Maslenka!”, “Burn, burn, Maslenka, so that it does not go out!”... Various competitions were also held on Maslenitsa - "fist fight", walking on stilts, on pole walkers, riding wheelbarrows, lifting weights, throwing a broom at a distance, tug of war, and getting the main prize from the top of a smooth high pole. In those places where effigies of Maslenitsa were not made, the rite of farewell to Winter consisted of lighting communal bonfires on a hill outside the village.
The tradition of this holiday lives to this day.
However, this is not all about the meaning of Maslenitsa. For the Slavs, for a long time it was also the meeting of the New Year! After all, until the 14th century, the year in Rus' began in March. And according to ancient beliefs, it was believed that as a person greets the year, that’s how he will be. That is why the Russians did not skimp on this holiday with a generous feast and unbridled fun. And people called Maslenitsa “honest”, “broad”, “gluttonous”, and even “ruiner”.
Neither the introduction of Christianity nor the change in the time of the New Year's countdown forced Rus' to abandon its favorite holiday - hospitable and wildly cheerful, which seemed to reflect Russian nature, which sometimes knows no limits and will not restrain. We can judge this from the testimonies of contemporaries that have come down to us - domestic and foreign. The Englishman S. Collins, who served as a doctor for Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich in the middle of the 17th century, wrote in his notes: “At Maslenitsa, Russians indulge in all kinds of amusements with unbridledness.”
From the history of pagan, folk and church Maslenitsa
Maslenitsa (until the 16th century - pagan Komoeditsa) - “transformed” by Christian clergy, one of the most ancient holidays of the religion of the Druids (Magi), before the adoption of Christianity was united among all the “barbarian” peoples of Europe, formerly an ancient Slavic pagan multi-day holiday of the solemn “welcoming of Spring”, which there was a transition to spring agricultural work after the vernal equinox.
Initially, during the pagan religion of the Druids (magi) and until the 16th century, the Slavs had the pagan holiday Komoeditsa (or Komoeditsa), which was celebrated by our pagan ancestors on the day of the vernal equinox, i.e. on the day of the onset of astronomical spring (March 20 or 21 according to the modern calendar), after which the day begins to become longer than the night, when nature awakens and the Yarilo sun melts the snow.
Komoeditsa is one of the oldest pagan Slavic holidays. In addition to celebrating the sacred entry of Spring into its rights, on this day they also revered the Slavic Bear God: they made “pancake sacrifices” to the great Honey Beast. The ancient Slavs called the bear Kom (hence - “the first pancake to komam”, i.e. bears).
From time immemorial, people have perceived spring as the beginning of a new life and revered the Sun, which gives life and strength to all living things. In ancient times, in honor of the sun, the Slavs baked unleavened flatbread, and when they learned to prepare leavened dough (9th century), they began to bake pancakes.
The ancients considered the pancake a symbol of the sun, since it, like the sun, is yellow, round and hot, and they believed that together with the pancake they eat a piece of its warmth and power.
The Komoedits began celebrating a week before the spring equinox and continued the celebration a week after. During these two weeks, all relatives from each Slavic clan necessarily gathered together for a joint multi-day celebration and performance of rituals.
In pre-Christian antiquity, the holiday consisted of a variety of ritual actions of a magical-religious nature, interspersed with fun games and feasts, which, gradually changing, then passed into later traditional folk customs and rituals (burning a straw effigy, baking sacrificial bread - pancakes, dressing up, etc. .d.). For many centuries, Maslenitsa retained the character of a folk festival, accompanied by feasts, games, sleigh rides from the mountains, and fast horse riding.
Immediately after the holiday, people began intense agricultural work that lasted throughout the warm season.
After the adoption of Christianity in Rus' and the subsequent ban on pagan customs, clergy and authorities fought for a long time and unsuccessfully against the traditional folk holiday.
In the 16th century, Maslenitsa was adopted by the Church to replace the ancient Slavic Komoeditsa. This is the only pagan holiday, although significantly “shifted” in time, officially recognized by the Russian Orthodox Church. The new Orthodox church holiday began to be called “cheese” or “meat-free” week (week).
Because The former pagan Komoeditsa fell during Lent, when holidays and fun were strictly prohibited by the church; the church holiday was “shifted” in time by almost a month closer to the beginning of the year. The Church's "cheese week" began to precede Lent.
During “cheese week,” the church charter already prohibits believers from eating meat, but allows butter, dairy products, eggs and fish. From these products permitted by the church calendar, the holiday soon, in the same 16th century, acquired its second, popular name - Maslenitsa.
Despite the official inclusion in church holidays, Maslenitsa never received a complete rethink and remains both a folk secular and religious Christian holiday. It depends on the perception of the celebrant.
The “shift” of the holiday in time made it incorrect to interpret the current Maslenitsa in the ancient pagan way - as “seeing off winter and welcoming spring” - at this time it is too early to greet spring among the snow and winter cold, especially in Russia with its cold climate.
In our time, folk Maslenitsa begins to be celebrated ON MONDAY, simultaneously with the beginning of the church “cheese week”, but earlier and until the middle of the 20th century, the traditional beginning of the celebration of folk Maslenitsa among Russians was on SUNDAY a week before Lent - on the so-called “meat fast”, When was the last time it was allowed to eat meat, i.e. for a day earlier than the start Church Maslenitsa.
One should not confuse, as often happens now, the current folk Maslenitsa with the pagan Komoeditsa.
The current folk Maslenitsa, the dates of which are determined by the clergy, is in no way supposedly just a “shifted” time of the former pagan holiday of Komoeditsa, which has always been and will be inextricably linked with the Day of the Vernal Equinox. And the meaning of folk Maslenitsa is completely different from that of the Slavic Komoeditsa. In addition, no Christianity has the power to determine or transfer the dates of holidays of other faiths.
The ancient pagan holiday of our Slavic ancestors, Komoeditsa, always remains in time in its original place (in different years on March 20 or 21), determined only by an annual astronomical event - this is the great holiday of the entry into its rights of the long-awaited and world-renewing Sacred Spring, given by Heaven itself to people, animals, birds, plants and all earthly nature.
The day of the vernal equinox is the beginning of astronomical spring, which no clergy and no god can “move.”
For Orthodox Christians, this wonderful time for all of nature falls during Lent, which is why it is meagerly and sadly called “Fast Spring.”
And in our time, everyone can cheerfully celebrate the annual ancient holiday of our ancestors - the meeting of Spring and the spring renewal of Nature.
In recent decades in Europe and North America, the celebration of the “pagan” Day of the vernal equinox is becoming more and more popular and widespread from year to year, more and more people in different countries want to study and festively honor the ancestral traditions of their peoples, previously diligently, if not cruelly, by clergy erased from people's memory. In Russia, we still have few such enthusiasts for studying ancient history and playing costumed restoration of traditions - this is reflected in the current emotional and financial limitations of the majority of Russians, who more often perceive holidays only as an excuse to drink extra.
In some countries, the Vernal Equinox Day is an official national holiday.
Glory to Life! Glory to Spring!
Shrovetide, Maslenitsa, Komoeditsa, Komoeditsa, Great Day. The New Year - the Spring Equinox - is one of the four most important holidays of Kologod, timed to coincide with the Spring Equinox and celebrated on the 25th of Berezozol/March, as well as the preceding Maslyanitsa Week (from 18 to 24 of Berezozol/March). According to Slavic beliefs, at this time Svarga “opens”, and the Light Gods “return” to Reality - they come into force after winter, and the souls of the Ancestors “fly on bird wings” from the Heavenly Iriy to visit us - their descendants. The time of rebirth - the spring “resurrection” (from kres - “fire”) of Mother Earth and all of Nature.
History of Maslenitsa celebration
One of the most ancient Slavic folk holidays that have survived to this day. Maslenitsa is a ritual dedicated to seeing off winter and joyfully welcoming spring. In fact, it was a New Year's Eve celebration, only at the beginning of spring (March 1, or March 23 - until the 15th century). Different regions of the state had their own special rituals, however, the concept of the ritual was the same. Of course, today's celebration format is very different from the original traditions. The dominant place is occupied by the entertainment side of the ritual, including inviting guests, a fair, round dances, bonfires and, of course, a huge amount of pancakes.
It is known from history that before the adoption of Christianity, people living on the territory of modern Russia were pagans and worshiped the sun god Yarila (according to some sources, a ritual character who personified spring fertility and sexual power). Even then, it was customary to bake pancakes as a symbol of the sun and some kind of expression of gratitude to the sun god for life on earth.
Later, until the 17th century, Maslenitsa, as “demonic fun,” was constantly condemned by the Orthodox Church. But already in the 18th century, the persecution weakened (this was greatly facilitated by the royals, who celebrated the holiday on a special scale), and very soon this truly Russian rite was accepted by the church and regulated taking into account its interests. Today, Maslenitsa is considered an Orthodox (and not pagan) holiday cycle. In the Orthodox calendar, this cycle plays the role of preparing Christians for Lent, known for its severity and duration.
There is no consensus regarding the origin of the name of this holiday cycle. More often you can find a version according to which “Maslenitsa”, “Maslenitsa” has a gastronomic root. It is in the spring, in March, that cows calve, thanks to which there is a lot of milk, dairy products and butter in the house - “mazalo”. Butter, as a symbol of prosperity in the family, and a round, hot pancake - as the personification of the sun, were obligatory attributes in the ritual of “anointing” the deity, the desire to appease him. After all, the fertility of the earth directly depended on the sun.
In addition, there is an opinion that Maslenitsa goes back even deeper, and initially the ritual was dedicated to the worship of the Slavic god of cattle breeding - Veles.
Another version of the origin of the name of the holiday is based on the assumption that during the week of Maslenitsa, meat was excluded from the diet, but dairy products (cheese, butter, cottage cheese, etc.) were allowed for consumption. Housewives baked butter pancakes. By the way, this is where the second name of the holiday comes from - Cheese Week.
In fairness, let us remember one more legend. It is believed that the birthplace of the holiday is the far North. Once, on a harsh winter day, people, exhausted from the frost, noticed Maslenitsa - the daughter of Frost, hiding behind snowdrifts, and called her to warm them, cheer them up, and help them survive the cold. Maslenitsa appeared to people, but not as a little girl, as she seemed when she was hiding, but as a healthy, strong woman: her cheeks were rosy and greasy from oil, her eyes were cunning, and her laugh was insidious. Drawing people into cheerful round dances, the daughter of Frost warmed them and allowed them to forget about the cold. This is where the joy with which every year Russian people say goodbye to the cold and celebrate spring comes from.
Cheese week
The week preceding Lent is called in the calendar of the Russian Orthodox Church as Cheese Week (seven days, a week). It comes immediately after the meat-eating week, and, according to church custom, is intended so that a believer can prepare for Lent and reconcile with his neighbors. According to church regulations, Divine Liturgy is not held on Wednesday and Friday of Cheese Week. And on Tuesday evening the prayer of the Orthodox Saint Ephraim the Syrian is read. In addition, services on the eve of Lent include chants of the Lenten Triodion, Octoechos and Menaion. On Saturday, the reverend fathers of the church are commemorated.
Some rules of Maslenitsa days
Maslenitsa is an ancient custom, which over time has acquired many rules, rituals, and features of the celebration. Within the framework of this article, we cannot afford to list the entire list of such rules. However, let us dwell on the key ones that are relevant today.
During this period, it is not allowed to eat meat, but dairy products and fish are not excluded from the diet. The main treat of the week is pancakes. They are baked throughout the week, and from Thursday to Sunday - in large quantities.
A special feature of the holiday cycle is the permissibility to eat as much as your heart desires. The clearest proof of this can be considered numerous legends, according to which the number of meals could be easily equalized with the number of flapping tails of a dog, or the sum of crows croaking, rooster crowing, etc. Visiting and gluttony from house to house is an obligatory part of the custom.
Mass celebrations are another significant part of the holiday cycle. Round dances, singing, Maslenitsa horse-drawn sleigh rides, funny fights, burning bonfires, huge scarecrows, fairs - motley crowds of people rejoiced at the approaching warmth. In former times, mass fun, and especially horse riding, were of great importance for young men and girls who sought to attract each other's attention.
The entire Cheese Week should be devoted to fun and food, and you should not think about business. When Great Lent comes, so will things and worries.
Newlyweds who got married in the past year receive special attention on this holiday. The young are given amusing tests, put in an awkward position, and visited without an invitation.
On Sunday, which ends the Cheese Week festivities, it is customary to ask for forgiveness from close people and relatives: first, the younger ones ask for forgiveness from the elders of the clan, then vice versa. In addition, they ask for forgiveness from the dead by visiting cemeteries and leaving pancakes on the graves of loved ones.
Maslenitsa: the conceptual component of the ritual
As mentioned above, the holiday came to us from ancient times. Its ritual component is quite multifaceted and complex. At the center of the custom is the idea of the beginning of a new year, a cycle. Hence the other side - the stimulation of fertility in nature (man also treats natural components). No less significant are some elements of the cult of the ancient Slavs, which are still preserved in the Maslenitsa rituals. It is worth noting that most traditional religions are characterized by a relationship between the new year and rituals dedicated to the creation of the world, the renewal of the universe, and the renunciation of the past. In Maslenitsa rituals, the destruction of the old and the stimulation of rebirth and fertility are conveyed in many details. These include burning garbage and effigies of Maslenitsa. The memorial component of Maslenitsa plays an important role in this concept. It was believed that the dead, who were both in the earth and in the other world, could influence the fertility of the earth. Hence the special, honorable attitude towards ancestors, and many memorial rites.
Family traditions
It's obvious that family traditions Much attention is paid to Maslenitsa. The theme of love and marriage is reflected in many customs. For example, young married couples were honored on Maslenitsa. They were subjected to various funny tests: they were given a show, they were rolled in the snow, they were forced to kiss in public, they were thrown with straw or bast shoes, and they even had a “kissing party” when guests could kiss their young wife. Young men and women who did not marry during the past year underwent “punishments” in the form of various testing rituals.
Funeral rites
An important part of the holiday week. Rituals on this topic include: burning an effigy, a special diet, bonfires, fortune telling with melt water (snow as the embodiment of the souls of the dead). It was not permissible to carry out household work because it could offend the dead who were close to the living, and bring various troubles to the household and people. In a word, Maslenitsa, in essence, is a ritual of “cajoling”, appeasing higher powers for the coming year.
Special customs
Special customs include a number of fun activities. The main place among them is sleigh rides. Assorted teams raced through the village or city. The focus, however, was on the young families formed during the passing winter. Couples organized unique shows and made visits to relatives. It happened that the groom took his future wife out into the world, to the surprise of the people. Thus, the newlyweds or future newlyweds seemed to gain universal approval and blessing.
Another fun custom is sliding down the hills. This is a favorite activity for both children and adults. Rolling down the hills on Maslenitsa has always been a widespread custom. As a rule, everyone took part in it, from young to old. We rode on large and small sleds, short logs, boxes with frozen bottoms, pieces of ice from the river, and overturned benches. It’s interesting that the kids have been going down the slides all week, but the adults have been going down the slides only since Wednesday. The newlyweds, according to custom, rolled up once.
Fair
It’s a long-standing tradition to organize a meal at home during Maslenitsa and visit each other. On the streets of villages and cities during Maslenitsa they sold all kinds of pickles, pies, pancakes, sbiten and other delicacies. The fun took place on ice slides and in booths; people were entertained by buffoons. Nowadays, fairs are held just as fun and on a grand scale. Folk festivals, concerts, serving pancakes and tea from a samovar are an integral part of many modern fairs. The public is entertained not only by professional artists, but also by amateur citizens. And on Forgiveness Sunday you can admire things created by folk craftsmen, and even buy something as a souvenir.
Days of Maslenitsa week
Until the 17th century, Maslenitsa was celebrated for 2 weeks; later it began to include only 7 days, each of which had a specific name and involved the performance of certain rituals. Every day was full of traditional fun, religious or ritual activities.
Small Maslenitsa
In some provinces they prepared for Maslenitsa from the Saturday preceding the onset of Cheese Week. For some, such preparation was accompanied by baking pancakes, with which the children had to perform the ritual of celebrating Maslenitsa. For others, it was customary for children to collect old bast shoes around the village and greet those who came from the market with the question: “Are you bringing Maslenitsa?” If the answer is negative, the person encountered could be beaten with these same bast shoes. In some localities, Saturday was dedicated to deceased parents, and pancakes were left for their souls on the shrine, roof or graves.
Meat Sunday
This is the last Sunday before Cheese Week, or Maslenitsa. On this day, it is customary to visit and invite relatives and friends. The father-in-law invited his son-in-law to lavish meat treats. They ate a lot and deliciously, saying: “I’m going to eat cheese and butter.”
Maslenitsa week is conventionally divided into Narrow and Wide Maslenitsa. The first period consisted of three days of the week (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday). On these days it was possible to do any household work. And from Thursday to Sunday, Wide Maslenitsa began, and all economic activities ceased.
Monday - Maslenitsa meeting
In the morning, the daughter-in-law went from her husband’s parents’ house to her parents. In the evening, the father-in-law and mother-in-law also came to visit them and discussed the “program of events” for Maslenitsa: the composition of the guests, the places of the festivities. On Monday, housewives began baking pancakes. They made a stuffed animal out of straw and various rags and carried it through the streets.
Tuesday - flirt
They called for Maslenitsa, invited relatives and friends to visit for pancakes. The key ritual of Tuesday is the bride's viewing. We have already mentioned that special attention was paid to family and marriage during Maslenitsa: matchmaking was an important part of the rituals, since on the Red Hill holiday (following immediately after Lent) many sought to get married.
Wednesday - delicacies
The mother-in-law invites her son-in-law for pancakes. Of course, other guests were also invited. But expressing affection for one's son-in-law was a key ritual on this day.
Thursday is revelry, or Broad Thursday
Wide Maslenitsa had begun, and people were already having fun on a grand scale. Horseback riding, competitions, fist fights, taking over a town made of snow and feasting - all this allowed the people to release the negative energy that had accumulated during the long winter days.
Friday - mother-in-law's party
The son-in-law invited his mother-in-law, her relatives and friends to visit for pancakes baked by his wife. The key meaning of this custom was the son-in-law’s demonstration of affection for his wife’s mother.
Saturday - sister-in-law's get-togethers
Sisters-in-law and other relatives from the husband's side gathered to visit their daughters-in-law. The daughter-in-law gave her husband's sister a gift. According to church custom, the celebration of all holy fathers is celebrated on Saturday.
Sunday - farewell to Maslenitsa
This is the last day of the holiday cycle, its culmination. It is customary to ask for forgiveness from loved ones, and in the evening to remember deceased relatives. On this day, people go to the bathhouse; it is customary to get rid of leftover holiday food. At the end of the day, the effigy of Maslenitsa is publicly burned, and the ashes are scattered over the fields. Church custom involves holding the rite of forgiveness and the beginning of Lenten services.
Briefly about pancakes for Maslenitsa
Damn is a Slavic word, its pronunciation is similar among many peoples. So, in Ukrainians, pancake sounds like “mlinets”, in Bulgarian it sounds like “mlin” (millstone, flat and round stone). This word came from milling, one of the main crafts among the Slavs.
Despite the simplicity of the recipe, pancakes are a complex culinary dish that requires special skill and patience. In ancient times, each housewife had her own recipe for making pancakes for Maslenitsa, passed down from generation to generation. When baking, we used flour from wheat, buckwheat, corn, adding potatoes, cream, apples, semolina porridge. Ate pancakes all year round, but on Maslenitsa - during all holidays, along with other treats.
The main ritual dishes for Maslyanitsa: pancakes, cheese, cottage cheese, butter. During Maslyanitsa Week, they also celebrate Komoeditsa - the Bear Festival. According to legends, to this day the Bear (the Forest Master, the embodiment of Veles Himself) wakes up in his den after a long hibernation. Male Rodnovers honor him with a special Bear Dance and Veles Wrestling. Comas, which are baked by the eldest women in the family on Komoeditsa, are ritual bread made from a mixture of oat, pea and barley flour. Some of the lumps are taken out into the forest and placed on a tree stump, inviting the Forest Master himself to the meal, who is asked not to tear down livestock and not be mischievous in the apiaries throughout the year. At the time of dual faith in Rus', on the 25th of March 25th, the Annunciation was celebrated, which was revered as the third (after Gromnitsa/Candlemas and the Forty/Forty Martyrs) Calls of Spring. People said: “At the Annunciation, spring overcame winter,” which makes all living things rejoice: “The pretty girl does not braid her hair, the bird does not build a nest,” and even the Sun itself “plays”; “With the Annunciation, the bear gets up from its den”, “The Annunciation - the birds are set free.” It was also noted at this time: “At the Annunciation there is a thunderstorm (First Thunder - Spring Perunia) - for a warm summer.” The Annunciation itself was preceded by: 12 Berezozol/March Feofan Prolomi Nast - “There is fog on Feofan - there will be a large harvest for flax and hemp”; 17 Berezozola/March Alexey Teply (Alexey Vodotek) - “Alexey came - he broke the ice”, “Alexey - spill a jug from every snowdrift”, “Alexey - streams of water from the mountains, and fish from the wintering place”, “Alexey - turn the shafts out of the sleigh "; 19 Berezozola/March Daria Dirty Ice Holes (Daria Poplavikha) - the time from which they began to whitewash canvases. Soon after the Annunciation, Matryona Nastovnitsa or Matryona Polurepnitsa was celebrated (27 Berezozol/March) - the time of the disappearance of the last snow crust and the arrival of the “pigalits-nastovnitsa” (lapwings).
It is usually celebrated when the Sun “at a sparrow’s leap” passes the Equinox point. Many Rodnovers are now celebrating the New Year - the New Year, which is born on Kolyada, but comes to reality only on the Spring Equinox, when winter ends and the Earth blossoms.
In ancient times, Maslyanitsa festivities lasted not one, but two weeks.
Since ancient times, the main ritual food for Maslyanitsa has been pancakes, whose shape resembles the Sun. They usually did not eat the first baked pancake themselves, but placed it on the dormer window in the hut, dedicating it to the souls of the Ancestors.
Each of the days of Maslyanitsa Week had its own name among the people: Meeting (Slant, or Crooked, Monday), Flirting, Gourmand, Revelry (Cow, or Velesovo, Holy), Mother-in-law's Evening, Sister-in-law's Gatherings and Forgiveness Sunday. Starting from Thursday (Razgul) - Maslyanitsa was called “wide”.
According to other ideas, the Bear leaves the den only on Vasily Pariysky (12th flowering/April), when “Vasily gives the Earth steam” and “The Earth will steam like in a bathhouse.”
According to the Gospels, on this day an “angel” appeared to the Virgin Mary and informed her that she would soon become the mother of the “Savior.”
Matryona was called “half-turnip” because at that time suitable turnips for planting were selected in the villages, which constituted the “untouchable half”.
Spring-Kostroma.
After the day of the vernal equinox, when the Sun-child Khors becomes the youth Yarila, the Russian people celebrate the Great Holiday of the NEW YEAR.
The name "Novoletie (Rodovoe)" has two definitions. The first is because the time is coming for a new natural generation. The second is the ancient Svetorus legend, according to which the clan of Svetorus was formed during the period of Yarila the Sun. That is why he is revered by the Did of the Svetorus. That is why the clan previously bore his name - Yary (Yary-Aryans-Aryans). That’s why Yarila’s Christmas is the Christmas of the New Summer - the New Year.
The onset of Spring-Kostroma is also the Feast of the Mother of God Lada. For Spring is the time of Love and Lad, subject to it. In turn, Lada, being the Mother of the Sun, gave the modern name of the holiday - Maslenitsa. And although some interpret this name from the word “butter”, this is not so, for they eat oil and fatty foods on other holidays, even more so than in the spring.
Being a Great Holiday, Maslenitsa is also called Merry, Wide, Honest, Gluttonous, etc. Among the great pagan Slavic holidays, Maslenitsa is the first not only in significance and order, but also in the sacred sphere of ritual action.
The spectral color background of the Sun during the spring equinox is red. Therefore, another name for the holiday is also valid - Krasnogor.
Yesterday day was equal to night, but from today daylight will begin to increase and night will begin to decrease. That is why this day is also called Svetobor.
With the arrival of Spring, the Forest Master, the embodiment of Veles himself, the Bear, awakens in his den after a long winter hibernation. Men honor him with a special bear dance and Veles wrestling.
Comas, which are baked by the eldest women in the family on this day, determined another name for the holiday - Komoeditsa (s). Komas are essentially ritual breads made from several flour mixtures: oats, peas and barley. Some of the lumps are taken out of the forest and placed on a tree stump, calling on the Master of the Forest for a meal, who is asked not to tear up livestock or play mischief in the apiaries throughout the year. In some regions, the bear itself is called a lump on this day, because at this time it looks like a lump of spring mud.
Who will we give the first pancake to?
- How to whom? - to whom!
- Who will we give spring honey to?
- How to whom? - to whom!
-Who will we give a piece of cheese to?
- How to whom? - To whom!
Maslenitsa is one of the four most important holidays of Kologod. According to Slavic beliefs, at this time Svarga “opens”, and the Light Gods “return” to Reality - they enter the Force after winter, and the souls of ancestors “fly on bird wings” from the Heavenly Iriy to visit us - their descendants. The time of rebirth - the spring "resurrection" (from "Cres" - "Fire") of Mother Earth and all NATURE.
In the morning, people hurry to the temple, a high place where the earth has dried up. Near the temple at the crossroads, grain is scattered. This is done so that the Navyas (devils, evil spirits), who have taken the form of forty, eat the grain and do not interfere with the holiday.
The priests light the Fire, glorifying the gods and ancestors, and the entire Slavic race. General and specific requests are submitted.
The glorification of the Sun-Yarila and Spring-Kostroma begins - Zaklichki. The girls call on Spring, meet her at the edge of the forest and bring her to the people. Everyone begins to celebrate “Spring,” and Spring goes around everyone with a kiss. From now on, she is at the center of the Holiday.
To help Light overcome Darkness (become involved in the temporary change of Day-Night), and Spring overcome Winter, various games and confrontations are organized.
Town. The girls stand on a high fenced place (town), armed with long sticks, and fight off the attack of the guys, beating them mercilessly. The guys “on horseback” are trying to break into the town and take it by storm. The one who breaks into the town first gets the right to kiss all the protective girls.
Fortress. The girls (representing the Force of Winter) are inside the fortress, and the guys (representing the Force of Spring) are outside. At the signal, the assault begins. “Winter” pelts the attackers with snowballs and snow, pushes them away from the fortress and in every possible way interferes with their assault. The task of the “Forces of Spring” is to completely destroy the winter fortress. In the end, Spring defeats Winter and the girls find themselves in snowdrifts.
After the storming of the fortress, the rest of the Maslenitsa fun begins: fists, horses, swings, climbing a pole to get a gift...
The Maslenitsa pillar is the earthly embodiment of the heavenly pillar, the “world tree” on which Iriy is located, and getting there is not easy.
After the games they start treating each other to pancakes. From this day on, the youthful sun Yarilo begins to rage and fry. The sun's rays are getting hotter and brighter. The streams are flowing with might and main. However, the owner of the forest, whose ancient name the holiday is named after, is still sleeping in the den. Therefore, the first pancake is sacrificed to the comas (bears), it is taken to the thicket. This trip is called the “Wake Up” ritual.
People, armed with burning brands, go to “wake up the bear.” In a hole, covered with dead wood, lies a mummer depicting a sleeping bear. The participants of the holiday dance around the den, shouting as loud as they can, trying to wake up the clubfoot, then they begin to throw branches, snowballs, twigs at him (a method of primitive hunting that has survived to this day in the form of a ritual). The "bear" does not wake up until one of the girls sits on his back and jumps on him. That's when the "bear" begins to awaken. The girl runs away, tearing off a piece of the bear's skin or a bear's "leg". The mummer gets up and begins to dance, imitating the awakening of the bear, then goes to look for his loss, leaning on a crutch, singing a “bear” song:
“Creak, leg, creak, fake!
And the water is sleeping, and the earth is sleeping,
And they sleep in the villages, they sleep in the villages.
One woman does not sleep, but sits on the skin,
He spins my fur, cooks my meat,
It's drying out my skin."
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Having caught his offender, the “bear” tries to strangle her in his arms with a bear hug. The girl pays off with a lump.
Komoeditsy can be translated as “festival of eating comas” (or “eating comas”), special pancakes dedicated to this beast. A similar holiday in Ancient Hellas was called “comedy” (bear holiday), where ancient comedy came from. It should be clarified that the modern name of the beast is allegorical (the “real” name cannot be pronounced out loud, so as not to accidentally call): “bear” is the one who knows honey. In addition, it is quite ancient: not a bear, but a bear. But this name also stuck, becoming “real”. After which it began to be replaced by new allegories: bear, toptygin, clubfoot, etc. “Lump” is also a figurative name: the bear looks like a big ball of wool due to its apparent clumsiness. The original name, perhaps, is contained in the name of the bear’s house: den - “ber’s den”, hence the berendei.
The doll of Vesna-Kostroma is solemnly taken to the temple on a straw “mare” (the doll is knitted from straw and dressed only by women). Everyone stands along the road and calls the goddess:
"Come to our wide yard, ride in the mountains,
Roll around in pancakes and amuse your heart.
Maslenitsa - red beauty, light brown braid,
Thirty brothers sister, forty grandmothers granddaughter,
Three mothers: a daughter, a flower, a berry, a quail."
Spring is called Kostroma because it begins from the moment it is lit and it thereby determines the beginning of bonfire gatherings. Kostroma - KOSTRA MOTHER.
And now Kostroma is hoisted with all honors on the festive stage and solemnly lit - “Hurray! Spring-Kostroma has come and Yarilo-Sun is born!” Around sunny Kostroma, round dances begin around the sun (according to the Sun, clockwise):
“Like during Shrovetide, pancakes were flying out of the chimney!
You are pancakes, pancakes, pancakes, you are my pancakes...
And cheese, and cottage cheese, everything flew under the threshold!
You are pancakes, pancakes, pancakes, you are my pancakes..."
"Come, Red Spring! Come, Hot Summer!
With times of suffering, with flowers, with grass!”
When the effigy of Kostroma burns, they begin jumping over the burning fire, turning to Semargl to light the snow. There is a belief that if you stumble in front of the Maslenitsa bonfire, you will be in trouble in the first half of the coming year, after the bonfire - in the second. If you fall into a fire, expect a big disaster. Well, if you jumped over without being poked, the year will be successful.
After the fire, be sure to wash yourself with snow or melt water. It is believed that melt water gives beauty to the face. Then Yarila, Vesna-Kostroma and Lada are glorified, and the feast begins.
The main dish of the great holiday of Maslenitsa is the pancake - in the Slavic pagan tradition symbolizing the Sun. Cookies, hot pancakes and pies, oatmeal jelly, honey, kvass and snacks are placed on tables covered with a tablecloth. The treat is divided into five parts, and the fifth part is placed in an open place near the sacred Fire, saying: “Our honest parents! Here is a pancake for your soul.”
When parting, they give each other gingerbread, saying: “Forgive me, perhaps I will be guilty of anything.” The farewell ended with a kiss and a friendly hug.
The spirits of the Great Ancestors, invisibly present at the holiday, rejoice in their place with us. The Slavic family has not yet died out, just like thousands of years ago, the Slavs come to the holiday to observe the custom. What is a holiday? A person’s memory of himself through the gods and of the gods through himself, the cleansing of the soul from vain worries and empty memory. Under the gaze of Heaven, the holiday ends, the songs fade away, and the Fire goes out. The words of the Book of Veles ring out, awakening the memory of our ancestors in our souls:
"And Svarog Heavenly will say:
Go, my son, to that eternal beauty!
There you will see your grandfather and grandmother.
ABOUT! How happy and fun they will be to suddenly see you!
Until this day they shed tears,
And now they can rejoice
About your eternal life until the end of time!"
Spring Equinox - Shrovetide, Komoeditsa
Maslanitsa is one of the four most important Solar Holidays of the Year, timed to coincide with the Spring Equinox; a cheerful folk festival dedicated to welcoming spring, lasting, as a rule, for a whole week. (The Spring Equinox itself is celebrated separately by prophetic people: to welcome Spring, special gates are built, located so that the Herald of the Red Spring - the Sun's ray - can penetrate through them exactly at the moment of the Equinox).
Many Rodnovers also celebrate the New Year at this time: the coming of the New Year, born on Kolyada - 25 cold/December.
Komoeditsa - Bear Festival, celebrated on the 25th of Berezozol/March.
According to legends, to this day the Bear (the Forest Master, the embodiment of Veles Himself) wakes up in his den after a long winter hibernation. Male Rodnovers honor him with a special Bear Dance and Veles Wrestling. Comas, which are baked by the eldest women in the family on Komoeditsa, are ritual breads made from several flour batches: oats, peas and barley. Some of the lumps are taken out into the forest and placed on a tree stump, inviting the Forest Master himself to the meal, who is asked not to tear up livestock or play mischief in the apiaries throughout the year. (There is also a version of the origin of the word “Komoeditsa” from the ancient Russian komon - “horse”.
According to popular beliefs, at this time the Trisvetny Dazhdbog mounts His Golden-maned Horse, the clatter of whose hooves on the Heavenly Firmament awakens the Forest Master from his winter sleep on Earth.)
At this very time, cows are calving, and milk, butter, and cheese appear in abundance in houses, for which they thank Veles, the God of Animals. The snow in the fields begins to melt, which marks the near end of winter and the onset of spring: the time comes when the spell of the Old Woman-Mara must be dispelled by the magic of the Young Zhiva, who steps on Earth in the guise of the Spring Virgin... According to Slavic tales, Spring-Virgin comes about this time to people on a horse as golden as the Sun, or as green as grass...
As it is said in the prophetic word:
SPRING IS RUNNING ON THE GOLDEN KOMON IN THE GREEN SAYAN ON THE POW SITCHING THE CHEESE EARTH ORUCHI SEEDS SOWING! GO!
The celebration of Maslenitsa begins with the words of the blasphemous Magi:
GO YOU LIGHT-BELOSVETUSHKO OUR RED SUN YOU RISE AWAKENING YOU IN YOUR BRIGHT HOUSE YOU WASH YOURSELF WITH THE DEW AND RUNNING WATER LEAD THE GOOD HORSE INTO THE FIELDS OF THE LIGHT-AZOREVY AS THE GOLDEN-MANED HORSE WILL GO THE HEAVENLY SPACE PAST PARIETIC BOR AND ON KRASNA ON GORUSHKA AS ON TOYLI ON THE GREEN MOUNTAIN THE GRASS WAS GROWING HOW THEY WERE GATHERED GATHERING ON IT WHITE SWANS YOUNG YOUTHS ALL THE RED GIRLS STANDED OVER THE RIVER HIGH ON THE MOUNTAIN SINGING SONGS - THE FREEFLY FRANKS CALLED THE SPRING IS BEAUTIFUL NUYU: YOU ARE A BRIGHT SPRING VIRGIN YOU COME IN OUR DIRECTION YOUR FLOWERS ARE ALL SCARLET HONEY DEW YOU CALL HOT SUMMER, DRIVE AWAY THE COLD WINTER! LET THE STREEKS RUNN TO THE MORYUSHKA TO THE BLUE OKIYAN SEA LET THEY SING SONG SONGS LET THEY SING SPRING SONGS GLORYING THE RED SUN OF DAZHDBOZHUSHKA HIMSELF GLORYING THE LIGHT LELYUSHKA AND THE CHEESE MOTHER EARTH! GLORY! GO!
Then a blessing is asked from the Native Gods for the invocation of Spring:
GOD BLESS BLESS MOTHER WINTER SAY AWAY TO SPRING CALL AY MATI LADO-MATI WINTER SAY AWAY AY MATI LADO-MATI SPRING CALL AWAY WINTER IN THE CARRIAGE FLIGHT IN THE SHUTTLE! GO!
Next follow the calls of Spring themselves, which are made by the maidens from the high hills - Yarilin Pleshy, already free from snow oppression, from steep banks and from the roofs of barns. They call out to Spring with a drawn-out “hoot” and recite the words:
YOU VORY VORY YARRY YOU FLY FROM OVER THE SEA YOU TAKE OUT THE KEYS THE GOLDEN KEYS YOU LOCK THE WINTER ZIMONKA THE CHICKY UNLOCK THE LETECHKO LETECHKO HOT! GO!
(According to Slavic tales, from Iriy (Vyriy) Heavenly in the spring the souls of the Ancestors return on bird wings to remain on Earth with their descendants until next autumn.)
RED VIRGIN SPRING COME TO US WITH JOY WITH GREAT MERCY WITH HIGH FLAX WITH DEEP ROOT WITH PLENTY OF BREAD! GO!
To celebrate Maslenitsa, they certainly bake pancakes, which in their very outlines repeat the Sun. The first pancake is always given to the Ancestors - placed in the attic on the dormer window. They also bake specially shaped cookies called “larks”, which they throw as high as possible, calling out to Spring:
LARK-LAKARK FLY FROM THE FAR SIDE BRING RED SPRING TAKE AWAY THE CHICKY WINTER! GO!
The play (the beginning of the mystery action) begins with the capture of the Winter Fortress, erected in advance, in which there is an effigy of Morena-Winter. (Here it should be noted that this scarecrow is certainly created by maidens and wives, who open their eyes to Morena only at the very last moment before the ceremony, covering them with rags or not depicting them at all until the very beginning of the action, for it is unbecoming of the Terrible-Eyed Lady of Death to treat honest people ahead of schedule look.) The Fortress is defended by the “servants of Morena” - girls dressed in “hari” (ritual disguises), who, having insulted everyone gathered against them, must resist the guys going to attack - the “servants of Yarila”, sitting on top of each other, as if during a game in "horses". The first one to break into the Fortress gets the right to kiss all the girls, tearing off their “hari” and thereby removing their encirclement...
After the Fortress is taken, a cart appears with the Spring Maiden, who is accompanied by mummered “young servants” - old men with gray hair, carrying a won stuffed animal and a cage with birds. The procession with songs and fun goes around the field, after which Spring blesses the people, leads everyone to the Fire, where the Magi place an effigy of Morena over the ritual fire - they see off Maru-Winter, thanking for all Her Gifts. Here, special rules are imposed on the scarecrow, so that everything that is outdated, bad, and unclean goes with them to Nav.
They set fire to Krada and chant the words:
FIRE-FIRE FLAME FIERCE CURLS GOLDEN EYES CLEAR FIRE-FIRE FLAME LIGHT GOLDEN FALCON SPREAD WINGS FIRE-FIRE FLAME PURE WAKE UP SPRING WINTER RELEASE FIRE-FIRE BURNING FLAME BLOOD BOILING FUMBEST FIRE L-FIRE FLAME GLORIOUS SPRING THE TURN COMES GOOD FIRE-FIRE FLAME FLY HIGH, SWARGA, BURN THE EARTH, INLIGHTEN! GLORY! GO!
Spring releases birds from their cages. The Magi speak, and all the people take up:
GO YESI SVA! VOYER LET OUT THE WINGS! GLORY TO YOUNG SPRING! GLORY TO YARIL-SPRING! GLORY TO THE DEAR MOTHER EARTH! NVA! GLORY! GLORY! GLORY! GO!
This Holy Day is certainly celebrated with fist fights and all sorts of valiant fun, all with noise, with uproar - boom, songs, and prophetic words:
Yari was Yaril with his strength by the welmi of the Great Sun in the sky clearly in the spring-red Ozari Horus about this day of the hundred mountains of the Krasnmi is beautiful a hundred mountains of holy, and all are rich in the gods and also ardent power of the goy you yarila! GLORY! GO!
Right now they go into the forest to “wake up the Bear.” In a specially prepared “den”, one of the knowledgeable people lies in advance, transformed into a Bear. They “wake him up” with cheerful noise - screams, blows on the tambourine, the sounds of bells and rattles. In order to appease the “angry” Forest Master, they give him a beautiful maiden “as a wife”, who leads him to the set table, treats him - feeds him and gives him something to drink, and honors him in every possible way. The “Bear” is no longer angry, forgives those who woke him up, and blesses all those gathered, after which he takes off his okruta - takes off the Bear’s mask and glorifies the Prophetic God:
GOY GRANDFATHER GOY BEAR GENEROUS FATHER! WE'LL POUR YOU A BEER, WE'LL SING FOR YOU AND WE'LL BOW YOU! WAKE UP IN YOUR DREAMS IN A FUR FUR COAT WITH A GOLDEN HAT! GO! GLORY TO VELES!
The celebration ends with the erection of a Fire Stake (Wheel) on a high pole, around which they dance in salting circles (according to the movement of the Sun), glorifying the flaring Spring Sun with the whole world:
THE HIGHEST KOLO YARI WHITE LIGHT RISE UP THE SKIES OPEN MARU-WINTER DRIVE THE HIGHEST KOLO YARI TO THE EARTH BLESSING GIVE BY FORCE THE RAIN OF THE GLORY OF THE HIGHEST FOR THE SAKE! GLORY! GLORY! GLORY! GO!
Kone.
Sundress.
1. Morenin’s inheritance in Kologda
Mara Morena - Lady of the Winter, Young in the morning of winter (i.e. at the beginning of winter) and Old in the evening (i.e. at the end of winter). Honest relatives, who endure their earthly belly in reality, meet and honor Mara Temyanaya about the autumn time - on Marin day, celebrated no earlier than the 9th Breast/November month, but no later than the 21st Breast. They accompany Her to Maslenitsa Week, timed to coincide with the Spring Equinox and the Bear Festival - Komoeditsa.
2. Honoring Morena on Komoeditsa
About this time, having properly honored the Prophetic God Veles in the image of the Shaggy Bear - the Master of the Forest, knowledgeable people recite a special glorification of Mara: VELESOVA MARA! PROTECT US FROM ALL TROUBLES, OPEN THE DOORS OF THE VEDIA, LEAD US NOT IN ANGER, WE CARE FOR THE WINTER MAID TODAY! GO BLACK MOTHER! GOY-MA!
3. Small funeral service for Ancestors
Since ancient times, Maslenitsa Week has been revered by the people as a time for bravery and games, fun and a series of merry festivities. But knowledgeable people, who know the timing of the opening of the Navya Gate from the Other to Reality, hold funeral feasts for the Ancestors at this time, paying special honors to the Navya Masters: Veles Koshchny and Mara-Morena - the Navya Lady. This is what happens:
1. After bringing the general requirement (for more details about this, see our “Small Constable”), the priest approaches Krada, pours grain into the Fire and says the words:
IN THE GOOD IN THE NEW DAY I RECOMMEND TO THE HOUSE OF HEAVEN WORDS HONEST JOYS ISTY YES DEMANDS PURE TO US BE HEALTH AND GLORY TO ANCESTORS! GO!
2. Then the priest gives way to the devotee, who says:
CHURS-ANCESTORS IN THE TRUTH STRONG OLD ANCIENTS LOYAL TO THE FAITHFUL SAINTS PURE IN THE FAITH ISTISTS IN THE VEDIA STRONG PROTECTED US FROM THE WORSE FROM THE DANGER FROM THE OTHER FROM THE BOTH! GO!
3. Next, the panhandler gives way to the priest, who completes the brief funeral service with the words: HOLY HOLY GRANDFATHERS, GUARDING THE VEDAS, BORYASH ILLNESS, GONYASH TROUBLES, GIVE OUR SHARES AND FREE WILL ON OUR WEIGHTS BY CONFIDENCE YOU ARE STILL STRENGTH IN THE FAMILY POWER BY RIGHT JUDGING BE WITH US! GO!
4. Burning the effigy of Mary
In the prophetic tale, about the Maslenitsa season, we recommend this:
Mara is walking down the street, carrying pancakes on a saucer - Whoever takes it out, it will come true, For whoever it comes true, it will not pass... About the bright time on Red Mountain, they called out to the Spring-Virgin, and saw off the Winter-Old: “Go away, Winter-Morenushka, Go away.” another shore! Come to us, Red Virgin Spring, Come to us, Lelya the Beautiful!” The Red Spring-Virgin answered the people: “You are a goy, you are Russian people! Winter is still strong in its right, The icy fortress stands high, That’s why there is no way for me to go to Rus'!”
How the Russian people heard those words, They gathered all over Bright Rus', The Russian people are honest Rodovichs, Good fellows are Yarilin’s accomplices. How they mounted fast horses, rode the ice stronghold onto Morenina, scattered the stronghold across the open field, and took Morena’s effigy from it. They took Morena carelessly, carried her out to the front of the yard, knitted Navya Nauz on a stuffed animal, placed the stuffed animal on the Ardent Fire. It was burning smoky - the Old Winter was leaving, the Young Spring was coming to Rus'! On this, the Russian people sing glory to the Red Spring, And Morena-Winter is waiting for Her in due time: “Glory today, Red Spring-Virgin! Be magnified, Dark Mother in Your time! Hey, Great Mother! Goy-Ma!”
1. The prophetic maidens call to Spring from the hills and hills, sing spring songs, especially calling out and “hooting” protractedly to the Light Goddess.
2. Spring comes from the eastern or southern side with His retinue and says, addressing all those gathered, that he will not be able to enter their circle until there is a snow fortress on the other side of the ravine, in which there is an effigy of Morena-Winter. At the same time, it must be said that the Eyes of the stuffed animal are “opened” only at the very last moment before the start of the action, so that the Navy Eyes of She Who rules in Death do not peer into Reality ahead of schedule: special priestesses of Morena, when the time comes, draw Marina’s Eyes on the face is stuffed (sometimes they are depicted half-covered) or the bandage is removed from the previously opened eyes.
3. As a rule, the snow fortress is defended by a gang of girls - Morenina's accomplices, and a gang of young men - Yarilin's accomplices - goes to storm it. Sometimes several young men in Navy disguises come to help the girls. During the assault on the fortress, you should be very careful and careful about the scarecrow you are conquering, so as not to accidentally blaspheme the Dark Lady, who rightly punishes everyone for their faults and untruths.
4. When the fortress is taken and the effigy of Morena is recaptured, it is solemnly carried to the place where the funeral Krada has already been laid out, and handed over to the hands of the Navya priest or his accomplice, who certainly accept the effigy through mittens or through the sleeves and install it near the Navya Goddess, located on the north or west side of Krada. All those gathered, if desired, approach the scarecrow one by one and impose special teachings on it, “tying” to it all the sorrows and pains of the past summer. If there are a lot of people at the festival, then the Navi priest and his accomplice surround the entire crowd with stuffed animals.
5. Saying goodbye to Morena until the next winter, the conspirator of the Navii priest says the words:
YOU ARE FORGIVE-FAREWELL MORENUSHKA PRINCESS ICE ICE PRIESTESS TEMYANA SO MUCH FROM US YOU ARE LEAVING WINTER FIRE WITH YOU IN THE COLD DAY DO NOT COOL OUR KIND DAY DO NOT JUDGE LEAVE US NOT IN ANGER REVERENCE TO THE WINTER MAID! GO BLACK MOTHER! GOY-MA!
6. Then the priest Navi himself speaks the words:
HEAR MARA WHO HONORED YOU WITH THEIR BEARS NONE BLOWING THE LESSONS OF YOUR FOLLOWING GREATNESS TO YOU WITH THE COLLECTION OF THE YEAR RETURN TO US IN YOUR TIME RETURN WITH A NEW WINTER NOT WITH TROUBLE WITH WHITE SNOW NOT WITH PETROL ERNY AND BECOME DNESE PROTECT OUR WEIGHT GET AWAY MARA KHLADNA AWAY FROM US WITHOUT RESPONSIBILITY TAKE ALL OUR DARLING TROUBLES AND SORRES WITH YOU OVER THE BLUE SEA BEHIND THE STONE LATYR OVER THE BLACK WASTE WHERE THE NAVIES ARE AND YOU CARRY ALIVE LET IT BE SO UNTIL A NEW STAKE AND HERE IS NOT YOUR TIME! GO BLACK MOTHER! GOY-MA!
7. The Navi priest and the devotee carry the scarecrow to Krada (different from the general ritual fire, which previously included the requirements of the Light Gods) and plunge it into the Fire. Then, standing opposite each other on different sides of the Krada, one by one, as if calling out to one another, they shout words at the burning effigy, while moving their hands over the Fire and moving the Force like this:
FUCK YOU MARA! HITTING MARA! ANOTHER LIFE WITH FURIOUS AGILE CARRY MARA! HITTING MARA! FULL MEASURE TO EVERYONE IN THE CASE OF KERSIA MARA! HITTING MARA! YOUNG, YOUNG, OLD, OLD, KARSYA MARA! HITTING MARA! TO THE GOOD, QUIET TO OTHERS, THE DAMN PUSH MARA! HITTING MARA! PURSE MARA! HITTING MARA! WITH THE WHITE BONE AND ASHES OF THE GRAVEYARD KARE MARA! HITTING MARA! APPEARING IN BEAUTY AND OTHERWISE IN PASSION, CURSE MARA! HITTING MARA! WATER AWAY THE SEAS-FLAWS AND FEVERS OF KARSYA MARA! HITTING MARA! GET US FROM THIS, GET OUT OF THIS MARA! HITTING MARA! TAKE AWAY BEYOND THE OKIYAN SEA KARSYA MARA! HITTING MARA! MOTHER IS GREAT IN ALL APPEARANCES! GO BLACK MOTHER! GOY-MA!
8. And in conclusion, the priest speaks three times, and all those gathered repeat the words after him:
FUCK AWAY MARA! HAPPY ALIVE! GOY-MA!
9. After this, all participants in the action, as a rule, gather for a fraternity
, where they raise glasses to the glory of the Native Gods and Ancestors, as well as for the health of all their relatives, who endure their lives in the Reveal. And only the radars of Morena, led by the Navy priest, do not participate in the general fun, retiring to perform special zeal in honor of She Who rules in Death...
In the era of dual faith in Rus', Matryona Winter was celebrated on the 9th of November/November. They noted: “If there is frost on the trees on Matryona, it means frost,” “If there is fog on Matryona, it means a thaw,” “If on this day the goose goes out on the ice, it will still float on the water.” 21 breasts celebrated the Entry of the Mother of God (Mary) into the temple. The people believed that on this day Morena-Winter finally comes into its own in the world of the Earthly Reality: “At the Introduction, winter is introduced,” “The Introduction is the gate of winter,” “The Introduction has come, and brought winter.”
Old Russian us - "us".
Those. Gate of Spiritual Knowledge.
Old Russian nikolizhe - “never”.
Mara is simultaneously Alive and Dead, Maiden and Elder, Dying and Reborn, just like Her Light in the sky - the Moon. At the beginning of winter Mara is young, at the end she is old. Accepting the Power of Mara, She is addressed as a Young Maiden, and when daring, She is called an Old Woman. True radars of the Dark Lady see Her in the image of a Beautiful Beloved, while to others She appears in the image of the Terrible Old Woman-Death with an iron jagged scythe or with a bloody sickle in her hands.
See, for example, the following. edition: 1) Vlkh. Veleslav. Ritualist. - M., 2003; 2) Vlkh. Veleslav and others. The Explanatory Ritualist. - M.: Publishing house. Communities “Rodolyubie”, 2004.
Here: on “Yarilina bald spot” - on a hill from which the snow has already melted. Not to be confused with Krasnaya Gorka - the Rodnoversky Holy Day, celebrated on Spring Grandfathers at the beginning of the month of Traven/May and dedicated to the Memory of the Ancestors.
Fortress.
During the Maslyanitsa games with the capture of the snow fortress, a gang of attacking young guys often appears as if playing “Konyashki” - riding on top of each other.
That is, without touching the stuffed animal with your bare hands, as I demand from Navya - so as not to interfere with Reality and Navya before the due date.
So that together with them everything that has expired in Reveal and in human souls will go to Nav.
Joint feast.
In general, among the “barbarian” peoples of pre-Christian Europe, including the ancient Slavs, pagan religion of the Druids (magi) the most important and most sacred holidays were 4 astronomically important days- summer and winter solstices and spring and autumn equinoxes. The Druid solar calendar was based on these astronomical events, in which the number of days in a year could vary.
In this religion, different peoples had their own favorite gods from the many gods available, and religious rituals had many local characteristics. Among our Slavic ancestors, the main god was revered Veles, god of livestock, which was extremely important to them.
When the Varangian conquerors, in order to strengthen their power, first tried to introduce their main god - the god of war and confrontation Perun, among the Slavs then a very secondary thing - they failed. As a result, this led the Varangians to the idea that for the success of the new religion and the destruction of Slavic beliefs as the basis of the Slavic spirit, it was necessary to take a previously unknown god. That’s when they chose the God of a foreign, unknown people for the Slavs. The brutal, bloody process of the baptism of Rus' in 988 was later described in detail in the chronicles.
Slavic temples, as a counterbalance to paganism, were replaced by Orthodox churches and monasteries. There are many places in Russia where the ancient temples of Veles (aka Volos) were replaced by Christian churches and monasteries. One of them is not far from Vladimir, in a village called Volosovo. From time immemorial and until now, the Nikolo-Volosov Monastery has been functioning there.
Perun and Veles
COMO E DICA (or Como e ditsy) - one of the oldest great Slavic pagan holidays; in addition to the main meaning of the sacred holiday of welcoming the heavenly onset of Spring and the beginning of the New Year, it also had the character of veneration of the local Slavic Bear god: making a sacrifice to the great Honey Beast O the first holiday pancakes to be baked, which were solemnly taken to the forest.
Komoeditsa- a very ancient celebration of European peoples, existing since ancient times. In Ancient Hellas, this spring holiday was called in ancient Greek Dresser And A(κωμωδια) or Comoidia(κωμωιδια), i.e. "bear holiday"; later, this gave rise to the ancient name for a funny entertainment performance comedy.
The Hellenes associated the time of the spring equinox with the honoring of the goddess-hunter Artemis (in ancient Roman mythology - Diana). Artemis, daughter of the goddess Leto and sister of Apollo, was often depicted with a doe and a bear. The priestesses of the goddess performed sacred dances, dressed in bear skins and sacrificing the bear. Being a virgin, Artemis demanded this from her companions. Artemis's friend, the nymph Callisto, was seduced by Zeus. When Artemis, while bathing, saw that she was pregnant, she in anger turned her into a bear and set the dogs on. Saving my beloved, Zeus moved her to the sky in the form of the constellation Ursa Major.
The modern name of the beast was previously allegorical (the “real” name cannot be spoken out loud, so as not to be called upon by accident): “bear” is the one who knows honey. It is quite ancient: not “bear”, but “bear”. Gradually this name stuck, becoming “real”. After which it began to be replaced by new allegories: “bear”, “toptygin”, “clubfooted”, etc.
Ancient name“Lump” may also be allegorical: the bear looks like a big furball due to its apparent clumsiness.
Perhaps the original name is contained in the name of the bear’s house: den - “ber’s lair.” Hence the “berendey” (a person who can turn into a bera) and the name of the city of Bern (“city of the bear”), which was founded by Duke Berthold V of Zähringen in 1191, the capital of the German-speaking canton in Switzerland; The city is named after the bear (Bär in German), which was the first animal caught in this area during a hunt by the city's founder, Berchtold von Zähringen.
The ancient Celts and Germans considered this day the first day of spring and the beginning of the agricultural season. The English name for this holiday is Easter or Ostara. Eostre or Ostara is the name of the German goddess of spring and dawn, to whom the holiday is dedicated. Ostara's return from the underworld was celebrated with small wheat buns and colored eggs, which were symbols of new life.
The day of the vernal equinox still begins New Year among many peoples and nationalities of the Earth - this is the great spring holiday Nowruz (Nowruz). Azerbaijan, Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan - almost all countries of the Great silk road They associate the beginning of the new year with this natural phenomenon.
The holiday of the vernal equinox came to these peoples from ancient teachings Zoroastrianism(fire-worshipping religions). The name of the country Azerbaijan means "land of fire". Until now, not far from Baku, natural flammable gas outlets from underground are burning inextinguishably. Such ever-burning fires burn in Azerbaijan and in the ancient temple of fire worshipers that still operates today. Ateshgah.
Already in ancient times, Zoroastrianism laid the foundations of modern science, including the principles of fundamental practice and scientific evidence in the knowledge of the world. The worldview of the Zoroastrians was essentially based on a scientific model of the world, the truth of which was proven by their successes in astronomical, physical, mathematical, biological, anatomical and medical research.
Many of the greatest scientists of ancient antiquity and the Middle Ages learned from the Zoroastrians: the first scientist-encyclopedist of antiquity, Democritus, who experimentally discovered the existence of atoms (as the ancient Greeks then called molecules) through observations of the evaporation and condensation of water; the first encyclopedist of antiquity, Democritus; the great mathematician and philosopher Pythagoras; the historian Plato, Herodotus; the brilliant Aristotle and many others (this list is very long).
The last great student of Zoroastrianism was one of the greatest founders of modern scientific medicine, Abu Ali ibn Sina (in Latinized form - Avicenna, Avicenna, 980-1037; in total he wrote more than 450 works in 29 areas of science, of which only 274 have reached us). His teaching among the Zoroastrians occurred during the years associated with the mortal danger of severe persecution of the already few remnants of Zoroastrians from Islam. Once, during his youth, only the cleverly constructed defense of the scientifically inclined emir saved Avicenna, who was then studying anatomy, from imminent execution by the Muslims. Soon this emir himself, who was friendly towards the Zoroastrians and their sciences, was killed by Islamic fundamentalists who were dissatisfied with his scientific views.
About Zoroastrianism
The Zoroastrian religious and philosophical system, which has existed for more than 3 thousand years, has become the basis for other world religions: Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam. Its pagan basis in historical, gnostic and ritual terms - Mazdaism - was formed in a much earlier period - in the 5-3 millennium BC.
The prophet Zoroaster (Zarathustra) began preaching his revelations around the 1200s BC. among the fire-worshipping pagans - the Aryans, who originally lived in the territory of the modern Middle Urals.
The information that has reached us about the astronomical knowledge of the ancient Zoroastrians still surprises us with its depth and accuracy. In particular, they knew not only the phenomenon of precession of the Earth’s rotation axis, but even its period, which was then believed to be 25,920 years (the modern exact value is 25,776 years). Hence the later Old Slavic circle of Svarog. The knowledge of ancient Zoroastrianism was widely used in Ancient Egypt and in Ancient Babylon, later they formed the basis of ancient science. Many famous scientists of the early Middle Ages studied with Zoroastrians.
One of the famous chemical inventions of Zoroastrians is greek fire, a military incendiary mixture that not only burned even in water, but also spontaneously ignited in it. Therefore, the Greek fire could not be extinguished. This mixture consisted of petroleum and saltpeter with the addition of a mixture of sulfur, quicklime and calcium phosphide to ignite spontaneously in water. In naval battles, the effect of Greek fire on wooden ships was simply terrifying, and after its invention, the sea borders of Byzantium became reliably protected from enemy attacks. Siphons firing Greek fire were first installed on Byzantine dromons during the Battle of Cilicia. The historian Feofan wrote about her:
“...in the year 673 the overthrowers of Christ undertook a great campaign. They sailed and wintered in Cilicia. When Constantine IV learned of the approach of the Arabs, he prepared huge double-decker ships equipped with Greek fire and siphon carrier ships... The Arabs were shocked... They fled in great fear.”
In 941, the Byzantines, with the help of Greek fire, defeated the fleet of Prince Igor Rurikovich that approached Constantinople. Subsequently, the Greek fire of the Zoroastrians became the prototype of modern napalm mixtures and flamethrowers.
Ancient Zoroastrianism with its extensive scientific knowledge, including in the field of astronomy, at one time became the basis of a single European pre-Christian pagan religion of the Druids/Magi, which was subsequently destroyed by Christians.
After the advent of militant Islam, Zoroastrianism and its scientific knowledge were practically destroyed, along with the bearers of this knowledge, and the records were burned.
Completely destroyed by Muslims, Zoroastrianism over the course of 2-3 centuries turned into a backward dogmatic teaching with the current very small number of adherents.
Currently, adherents of the teachings of Zoroaster - the Parsis - live in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, and India. In today's independent Azerbaijan, fire-worshipping Zoroastrian temples are diligently preserved and restored as their national distinctive feature, attractive to tourists.
Some current Russian patriots believe that Russians are the spiritual and genetic heirs of the ancient Aryans who adopted Zoroastrianism, but this is only their personal patriotic speculation, coloring the poverty of current Russian existence.
Our Slavic ancestors celebrated Komoeditsy on the sacred day of the spring equinox (according to the modern calendar in different years on March 20 or 21), after which the day becomes longer than the night, when nature awakens and the Yarilo-sun melts the snow.
Today's enthusiasts of studying ancient Slavic history, united in the so-called “Rodnoverie communities,” for some reason celebrate this holiday on March 23 - our ancient ancestors had more accurate knowledge of astronomy and the date of the vernal equinox.
Celebration of Komoeditsa
One of the modern versions of the holiday script, restored from various fragmentary sources; over many centuries of cruel Christian persecution, the true historical customs of this ancient Slavic holiday were lost irrevocably.
Start holiday
In the morning, people hurried to the sanctuary (temple), to a high place where the earth had already dried up. Grain was scattered at some distance from the temple and at crossroads. This was done in order to A The vyi (dead ancestors), who certainly appeared at the festival in the form of magpies, ate their grain on the side and did not fall under the feet of their playing and actively having fun descendants.
Hot pancakes and pies, oatmeal jelly, honey, kvass and snacks were placed on tables covered with tablecloths.
The treat was divided into five parts, the fifth part was placed in an open place near the Sacred Fire, saying:
“Our honest parents!
Here’s a pancake for your soul.”
Scarecrow of Madder (Winter)
A straw effigy of Marena was solemnly carried to the temple on a pole. Everyone stood along the road, bowed from the waist and called Marena Svarogovna:
"Come to us
To the wide yard:
Ride in the mountains
Roll in pancakes
Make fun of your heart.
Maslenitsa - red beauty, light brown braid,
Thirty brothers sister,
Forty grandmothers granddaughter,
Three mothers, daughter, Kvetochka,
Berry, quail.”
Pancake treat
They started treating each other to pancakes. First damn komam(Kom - bear, hence “komanika” - bear berry, also known as blackberry, snowberry), he was carried into the thicket, sacrificing to the clubfooted owner of the forest - the great Honey Beast whom...
Afterwards the beginning was carried out. They lit a fire. They glorified the gods and ancestors, the entire Slavic family. They spun the salting round dance, wearing a hari, so that the evil spirits would not recognize it, the buffoons showed a performance, and the buffoons helped them:
“Like at a pancake shop during the week
Pancakes were flying from the chimney!
You are pancakes, pancakes, pancakes,
You are my pancakes..."
Jumping over the fire
Then everyone jumped over the fire (it was during such jumps on the day of the spring equinox that the fairy-tale Snow Maiden melted in Ostrovsky’s play), and after that they always washed themselves with snow or melt water. It was rightly believed that soft melt water gives the face a special freshness and beauty (with the current pollution of atmospheric precipitation, this is no longer recommended).
They honored young people who got married during the past year. Unmarried and unmarried people had a bandage or rope tied on their arm. To remove it, it was necessary to pay off by bringing a treat with you to the common table.
Drinking surya
Everyone was poured a wonderful cheerful and strength-increasing solar drink - suryu
(the name of the drink goes back to the Sanskrit word “surya” - “sun”). The priestess Marena carried the first cup of surya to the altar. The Priestess of Zhiva knocked out this cup, making sure that not a single drop fell on the altar, because then it would get colder again and Madder would return:
“Go away, Winter is cold!
Come, Summer is hot!
With difficult times,
With flowers, with grass!
Burning Madder (an effigy of annoying Winter)
Then they solemnly burned Madder’s effigy at the stake, throwing garbage, straw and old things into the fire:
"Madder is tanned,
The whole world is tired of it!”
Burn, burn clearly so that it doesn’t go out!
Celebration of Komoeditsa by the Moscow “Rodnoverie community”, uniting enthusiasts of studying the history and customs of our ancient pagan ancestors.
NOTE ON THE PICTURE. It should be noted that in pagan times and several centuries later, the Slavs did not wear pants and made do with long clothes. Even Russian princes performed their princely duties without pants. Pants came into use among Russians after the Mongol-Tatars appeared in Rus'. That's why a real Russian Santa Claus, unlike Western European Santa Claus, no pants should be visible from under his long fur coat.
They again jumped over the fire, turning to Semargl to light the snow. Burning wheels were rolling. Then they glorified Yarila, rolling the burning wheels down the mountain in honor of the flaring sun:
“Roll down the mountain,
Come back with spring!
"Awaken"
Then, armed with burning brands, they went to “wake up the bear” (awaken). In the pit, covered with dead wood, lay a mummer depicting a sleeping bear. The participants of the holiday danced around the den, shouting at the top of their lungs, trying to wake up the clubfoot. Then they started throwing branches, snowballs, and twigs at him.
The “bear” did not wake up until one of the girls sat on his back and jumped on him. That’s when the “bear” began to awaken. The girl ran away, tearing off a piece of bear skin or a bear leg. The mummer stood up and began to dance, imitating the awakening of the bear, then went to look for his loss, leaning on a crutch:
“Creak your foot,
Squeaky fake!
And the water is sleeping,
And the earth is sleeping.
And they sleep in the villages,
They sleep in the villages.
One woman doesn't sleep
Sits on my skin.
He spins my fur,
My meat is cooking.
It dries out my skin."
Having caught his offender, the “bear” squeezed her in his arms with a bear hug.
Games
After waking up, the games began.
The first game is a town. The girls stood on a high fenced place (town). Armed with long sticks, they fought off the attack of the guys, beating them mercilessly. The guys “on horseback” tried to break into the town and take it by storm. The one who breaks into the town first gets the right to kiss all the protective girls.
After the capture of the town, the mountain feast began, and then the rest of the Maslenitsa fun: fists, horses, swings, climbing a pole to get a gift, a stream...
Usually Komoeditsa was celebrated a week before the spring equinox and a week after.
Parting
When parting, they gave each other all sorts of sweet “snacks” (later - gingerbread) and said:
"Forgive me, perhaps,
I will be guilty of anything to you."
The farewell ended with a kiss and a low bow.
Sacred
The spirits of the great ancestors, invisibly present at the festival of the spring equinox, rejoiced along with all their descendants and fellow tribesmen at the long-awaited onset of the predominance of day over night, the final expulsion of the annoying cold of Winter by the gentle warmth of Spring and the coming Summer, glorified the Slavic family, and approved that, following the original tradition, The Slavs come all together to the great Spring Festival to observe the ancient sacred Custom.
In general, the Slavic pagan holiday, timed to coincide with the annual astronomical event, was held to the delight of everyone in fun and entertainment. And the red summer was just around the corner, especially valued in our cold climate.
We know little about the details of the Slavic pagan religious rites of pre-Christian times, which were led by the Magi. Attempts to reconstruct them based on the historical documents that have reached us from Western Europe, Ireland and England about rituals similar to the Slavic Komoeditsa (Rite of Spring) in the West pagan holiday Beltane (also the spring holiday of the Druid religion) seems very conventional and more suitable for cartoons.
Lovely Soviet fairytale cartoon "The Snow Maiden" 1952 based on the play by Ostrovsky to the music of Rimsky-Korsakov, arranged by L. Schwartz, this is an attempt at an animated “reconstruction” of the customs of the pagan holiday of Komoeditsa and the Slavic meeting of the Holy Spring on the Day of the Vernal Equinox, on which the Snow Maiden melted. In ancient times, this day was the first day of the New Year among our Slavic ancestors.
East. supercook.ru
