A person’s entire life is divided into weekdays and days of rest from daily work. There are also holidays when people not only relax, but have fun, dance and sing, and perform ritual actions related to the thematic component.
Historically, the calendar combines church and folk holidays. What is their difference and unity, when did they originate and how are they celebrated today?
History of origin
In already forgotten pagan times, people revered nature, rightly considering it their mother and nurse. They worshiped the sun and asked him to warm them with warmth. They raised the water and persuaded it to give them a lot of fish for food. People worshiped the sky and asked it to water the earth for a good harvest. They honored Mother Earth and asked her for generosity and abundance. Rich sacrifices were made to the pagan gods, prayers and thanksgiving were offered, and people tried to attract their favor through ritual dances.
They addressed the deities with solemnity, reverence and fear. Afraid of angering them with vanity and insufficient attention, the ancient Slavs prepared for rituals in advance and set aside not only whole days for this, but sometimes whole weeks, if the issue was very important. These traditions were the sacred values of the community, passed on from generation to generation.
It is interesting that in the old days folk children's holidays were not distinguished, since their main idea was the mythological personification of natural forces, they were magical in nature and were designed to ensure the well-being of the community.
Stages of development
The first turning point occurred in 988, when Prince Vladimir baptized Rus'. This epoch-making act changed the calendar and the nature of pagan rituals. Folk holidays, which were of a magical nature and aimed mainly at obtaining a good harvest and rich offspring of livestock, began to be gradually replaced by church holidays, the basis of which was the praise of the one God, receiving forgiveness and mercy from above.
The further deepening of the separation of folk and church traditions is due to the emergence and rapid growth of cities. When handicraft and manufacturing became the basis of the well-being of the townspeople, folk holidays and rituals closely associated with the agricultural calendar receded even further into the shadows.
The second turning point in the history of the development of this component of culture was the transformation of Peter 1, when European traditions were actively introduced into the masses.
The collapse of the autocracy left another mark on the Russian holiday calendar. During this difficult period of changing eras, paganism moved to the most remote parts of Russia. Now only in the outback areas of the northeast (in certain ethnic groups) folk holidays have been preserved. History has modified them, and today they differ from the rituals of the ancient Slavs.
The significance of folk holidays
Nature itself has implanted in each of us the organic need to alternate working days with days of rest. Bright and optimistic folk holidays are an excellent basis not only for moral and physical relaxation, but also a source of self-expression, an opportunity for spiritual unity, and the birth of cohesion.
The accumulated energy requires an outlet; you can throw it out in different ways. The worst options: arrange reckless disco dancing, an ugly party with soft drugs and alcohol. But how much better is it to hold a folk festival with beautifully dressed people, round dances and songs, with traditional games or secret fortune-telling.
As an element of spiritual revival
Russian folk holidays are not only beautiful and cheerful, they are filled with meaning and spirituality, the thematic content of each carries an ideological load, which is especially important for young people. This form of leisure puts the individual in conditions of active spiritual activity; its function becomes not only cultural and creative, but also developmental or informational work.
The atmosphere of community, a common root and familiarization with people's sacred values contribute to the formation of national pride and patriotism.
Look back into the past and return to the present
Today, Russian folk holidays in their natural form are exotic. Only in the rural hinterlands, which have not yet been absorbed by mass urbanization, can living folklore be found. In order to preserve Slavic identity, respect cultural traditions, respect for Mother Nature and promote a healthy lifestyle, active work is underway to revive the forgotten religious festivities of our ancestors.
Mass events are organized according to chronicle legends. People are happy to take part in the colorful action, which has an exclusively historically authentic basis. Creativity and modern interpretation lose in this case; folk holidays in a technological arrangement lose their exceptional originality, mythological mystery and sacredness, which is their main highlight.
What did folk festivities have in common?
The holidays of the Slavs, regardless of the theme and time of year, were endowed with common features:
- A veto was imposed on any hard work - it was forbidden to plow, sow, mow, chop wood, build, tinker, or do handicrafts.
- The huts were kept clean, quarrels were not allowed, and all hostility ceased.
- It was forbidden to complain or bring bad news; one was only allowed to talk about joyful and pleasant things. Violation of this rule was punishable by rods.
- It was necessary to dress smartly.
- A rich meal was prepared. Our ancestors believed that fun and satiety give rise to special energy. And she will enter the earth, sky and water, which will return her with good rain and a rich harvest.
And what national holidays were complete without festivities, songs and round dances, without mummers and magic?
Today, the ancient traditions of paganism are not at all outdated. Having passed through time layers, they organically merged with the rules of Christian celebrations. On special days, the Orthodox Church prohibits parishioners from working, swearing and grieving. On these days, it is customary to dress smartly, praise God with songs, set rich tables and share with others. Pagan magical acts were transformed into Christian rituals.
Russian folk holidays and church traditions are so closely intertwined that even according to the calendar, many holidays coincide - the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, Intercession, Epiphany, Annunciation and others.
Folk calendar
Old Slavic tribes celebrated the following festivities (according to the new style):
- January 6-7 - Kolyada.
- January 7-19 - Christmastide.
- February 15 - Meeting.
- Late February - early March - Maslenitsa. The start date of the holiday “floats”, it is connected with the lunar calendar and begins 8 weeks before the first spring full moon.
- March 22 - Magpies.
- April 7 - Annunciation.
- The first Sunday after Easter is Krasnaya Gorka.
- May 22 - Yarilo.
- On the night of June 23-24 - Ivan Kupala.
- July 8 is the day of Peter and Fevronia.
- July 29 - Athenogen.
- August 2 - Elijah's Day.
- August 28 - Spozhinki.
- August 31 - Flora and Laurel.
- September 14 - Semyon Letoprovedets.
- September 27 - Exaltation.
- October 26 - Bolshiye Oseniny.
- December 9 - St. George's Day.
The list does not include church ritual days. This is the national holiday of the Trinity, as well as the Savior, Christmas, Easter, Ascension of the Lord and others that are not originally pagan.
Winter holidays
On St. George's Day, complete calm from the autumn labors was celebrated. People said that on this day even the bear in the den falls asleep.
Kolyada is of original pagan origin and is associated with the winter solstice. On this day, winter turned to summer. Participants in the ritual sang carols, wished everyone a rich harvest and offspring next year, health and strength. Carolers were welcomed and treated in every home.
Christmas time is a continuation of Carols. Costumes, sowing, songs, fun, feasting, fortune telling, magic - the holiday week is oversaturated with all this.
Meeting of winter and spring was celebrated on Candlemas.
Maslenitsa is one of the brightest winter Slavic holidays. It lasted a whole week, during which they loudly and cheerfully said goodbye to winter. For 7 days, the housewives baked pancakes and treated everyone around them to them. Mummers walked the streets, played musical instruments and sang, people sledded and sledded, and winter fun was held. The culmination was the burning of a straw effigy of Maslenitsa on a bonfire and the scattering of the ashes across the fields.
From January 6 until Maslenitsa, Wedding Weeks continued in the old days. This period was considered the best for matchmaking and weddings.
Spring holidays
In Soroca, day equals night. Birds fly in: a chaffinch - to the cold, a lark - to the warmth, a seagull - the ice will disappear quickly, I saw a starling - spring is at the porch. The ancient Slavs baked figurines of birds from dough, sang stoneflies, and called out “red” spring.
Annunciation - spring has finally overcome winter.
People at Krasnaya Gorka rejoiced at the arrival of spring and the complete awakening of nature.
Yarilo is the god of the Sun. It was believed that it gives courage and strength, gives life and happiness.
Summer holidays
Ivan Kupala is an amazing holiday. Celebrated at night. The revelers burned sacred bonfires, jumped over the fire, danced in circles, wove colorful wreaths and sent them across the water to “float to the betrothed and indicate the share.” The symbol of the holiday is the Ivan da Marya flower. From the depths of centuries, a legend has reached us that on the night of Ivan Kupala, a fern blooms, indicating the location of hidden treasures.
Many summer folk holidays are closely related to the agricultural calendar. For example, on the day of Peter and Fevronia, swimming games were held, feasts and cheerful folk festivities were held along the banks of reservoirs. It was believed that on this day the first mowing should be done, then there would be plenty of hay. If it rained, they expected a rich harvest of honey. Athenogenes marked the beginning of the harvest. The first sheaf was kept in the hut as a talisman.
On Ilya's Day, winter begins to fight summer; after lunch, the rivers freeze - you can no longer swim.
In Spozhinki they collectively celebrated the end of the harvest.
According to legend, Flor and Laurus are the patrons of all domestic animals, especially horses. On this day, magical rituals were performed for a good offspring and against the death of livestock. The horses were bathed, their manes were combed, they were treated to selected hay and oats, and they were freed from any work.
Autumn holidays
Semyon Letoprovedz saw off the summer and welcomed autumn. On this day it was customary to celebrate housewarming; it was believed that life would be happy. Folk signs: the last thunderstorm will thunder on Semyon, the harvest is not harvested - consider it lost, geese fly away - wait for early winter.
On the Exaltation, the pagans saw off the last birds. Nature was calming down, Mother Earth was resting.
Sergius of Radonezh is a holiday on which they chopped and fermented cabbage, had fun and began to wait for the first snow.
Intercession - in pagan times, this holiday marked the final arrival of cold weather. The Slavs burned their old bast shoes and straw beds and asked nature for help to survive the winter. If snow had already covered the fields, then a rich harvest was expected.
Bolshie Oseniny - a celebration of the collection of gifts from the earth.
In everyone's heart...
The ethnic and historical memory of the people preserves ancient pagan beliefs and rituals. It is the memory of our ancestors on a subconscious level that makes us believe in omens:
- The Savior has come - prepare your mittens in reserve.
- What is the weather like on Pokrov, will it be like that in winter.
- The Kazan sky is crying - for the coming winter.
- If it’s cold and clear on Epiphany, the summer will be dry; if it’s cloudy, expect a harvest.
- It's cold and dreary in Sidor - summer will be rainy.
- In a motley week, whoever gets married is bound to get into trouble.
- To get married on Wedding Week means to become related to goodness.
All Russian folk holidays are very original. The Slavic soul is close to cheerful round dances, jumping over the fire, snow fun, gatherings with songs - playful and sad, sincere. Gogol also wrote: “What Russian doesn’t like driving fast?” And today, during festivities, daring sleigh rides pulled by Russian troikas are very popular!
The Russian people are representatives of the East Slavic ethnic group, the indigenous inhabitants of Russia (110 million people - 80% of the population of the Russian Federation), the largest ethnic group in Europe. The Russian diaspora numbers about 30 million people and is concentrated in countries such as Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Belarus, the countries of the former USSR, the USA and EU countries. As a result of sociological research, it was found that 75% of the Russian population of Russia are followers of Orthodoxy, and a significant part of the population does not consider itself to be a member of any particular religion. The national language of the Russian people is Russian.
Each country and its people have their own significance in the modern world; the concepts of folk culture and history of a nation, their formation and development are very important. Each nation and its culture are unique in their own way, the flavor and uniqueness of each nationality should not be lost or dissolved in assimilation with other peoples, the younger generation should always remember who they really are. For Russia, which is a multinational power and home to 190 peoples, the issue of national culture is quite acute, due to the fact that in recent years its erasure has been especially noticeable against the background of the cultures of other nationalities.
Culture and life of the Russian people
(Russian folk costume)
The first associations that arise with the concept of “Russian people” are, of course, breadth of soul and strength of spirit. But national culture is formed by people, and it is these character traits that have a huge impact on its formation and development.
One of the distinctive features of the Russian people has always been and is simplicity; in former times, Slavic houses and property were very often subjected to looting and complete destruction, hence the simplified attitude towards everyday issues. And of course, these trials that befell the long-suffering Russian people only strengthened their character, made them stronger and taught them to get out of any life situations with their heads held high.
Another trait that prevails in the character of the Russian ethnic group can be called kindness. The whole world is well aware of the concept of Russian hospitality, when “they feed you, give you something to drink, and put you to bed.” A unique combination of such qualities as cordiality, mercy, compassion, generosity, tolerance and, again, simplicity, very rarely found among other peoples of the world, all this is fully manifested in the very breadth of the Russian soul.
Hard work is another one of the main traits of the Russian character, although many historians in the study of the Russian people note both its love of work and enormous potential, as well as its laziness, as well as complete lack of initiative (remember Oblomov in Goncharov’s novel). But still, the efficiency and endurance of the Russian people is an indisputable fact that is difficult to argue against. And no matter how much scientists around the world want to understand the “mysterious Russian soul,” it is unlikely that any of them can do it, because it is so unique and multifaceted that its “zest” will forever remain a secret to everyone.
Traditions and customs of the Russian people
(Russian meal)
Folk traditions and customs represent a unique connection, a kind of “bridge of times” connecting the distant past with the present. Some of them have their roots in the pagan past of the Russian people, even before the baptism of Rus'; little by little their sacred meaning was lost and forgotten, but the main points have been preserved and are still observed. In villages and towns, Russian traditions and customs are honored and remembered to a greater extent than in cities, which is due to the more isolated lifestyle of city residents.
A large number of rituals and traditions are associated with family life (this includes matchmaking, wedding celebrations, and the baptism of children). Carrying out ancient rites and rituals guaranteed a successful and happy life in the future, the health of descendants and the general well-being of the family.
(Colorized photograph of a Russian family at the beginning of the 20th century)
Since ancient times, Slavic families were distinguished by a large number of family members (up to 20 people), adult children, having already gotten married, remained to live in their home, the head of the family was the father or older brother, everyone had to obey them and unquestioningly carry out all their orders. Typically, wedding celebrations were held either in the fall, after the harvest, or in the winter after the Epiphany holiday (January 19). Then the first week after Easter, the so-called “Red Hill,” began to be considered a very successful time for a wedding. The wedding itself was preceded by a matchmaking ceremony, when the groom's parents came to the bride's family along with his godparents, if the parents agreed to give their daughter in marriage, then a bridesmaid ceremony was held (meeting the future newlyweds), then there was a ceremony of collusion and hand-waving (the parents resolved the issues of the dowry and the date of the wedding festivities ).
The rite of baptism in Rus' was also interesting and unique, the child had to be baptized immediately after birth, for this purpose godparents were chosen, who would be responsible for the life and well-being of the godson all his life. When the baby was one year old, they sat him on the inside of a sheep's coat and cut his hair, cutting a cross on the crown, with such meaning that evil spirits would not be able to penetrate his head and would not have power over him. Every Christmas Eve (January 6), a slightly older godson should bring kutia (wheat porridge with honey and poppy seeds) to his godparents, and they, in turn, should give him sweets.
Traditional holidays of the Russian people
Russia is truly a unique state where, along with the highly developed culture of the modern world, they carefully honor the ancient traditions of their grandfathers and great-grandfathers, going back centuries and preserving the memory of not only Orthodox vows and canons, but also the most ancient pagan rites and sacraments. To this day, pagan holidays are celebrated, people listen to signs and age-old traditions, remember and tell their children and grandchildren ancient traditions and legends.
Main national holidays:
- Christmas Jan. 7
- Christmastide January 6 - 9
- Baptism January 19
- Maslenitsa from 20 to 26 February
- Forgiveness Sunday ( before the onset of Lent)
- Palm Sunday ( on the Sunday before Easter)
- Easter ( the first Sunday after the full moon, which occurs no earlier than the day of the conventional vernal equinox on March 21)
- Red hill ( first Sunday after Easter)
- Trinity ( on Sunday on the day of Pentecost - the 50th day after Easter)
- Ivan Kupala July 7
- Peter and Fevronia Day July 8
- Elijah's day August 2
- Honey Spas August 14
- Apple Spas August 19
- Third (Khlebny) Spas August 29
- Pokrov day October 14
There is a belief that on the night of Ivan Kupala (July 6-7), once a year a fern flower blooms in the forest, and whoever finds it will gain untold wealth. In the evening, large bonfires are lit near rivers and lakes, people dressed in festive ancient Russian attires lead round dances, sing ritual chants, jump over the fire, and let wreaths float downstream, in the hope of finding their soul mate.
Maslenitsa is a traditional holiday of the Russian people, celebrated during the week before Lent. A very long time ago, Maslenitsa was more likely not a holiday, but a ritual when the memory of departed ancestors was honored, placating them with pancakes, asking them for a fertile year, and spending the winter by burning a straw effigy. Time passed, and the Russian people, thirsting for fun and positive emotions in the cold and dull season, turned the sad holiday into a more cheerful and daring celebration, which began to symbolize the joy of the imminent end of winter and the arrival of the long-awaited warmth. The meaning has changed, but the tradition of baking pancakes remained, exciting winter entertainment appeared: sledding and horse-drawn sled rides, a straw effigy of Winter was burned, throughout the Maslenitsa week relatives went to pancakes with their mother-in-law and sister-in-law, an atmosphere of celebration and fun reigned everywhere , various theatrical and puppet shows were held on the streets with the participation of Petrushka and other folklore characters. One of the very colorful and dangerous entertainments on Maslenitsa was fist fights; the male population took part in them, for whom it was an honor to take part in a kind of “military affair” that tested their courage, boldness and dexterity.
Christmas and Easter are considered especially revered Christian holidays among the Russian people.
The Nativity of Christ is not only a bright holiday of Orthodoxy, it also symbolizes the revival and return to life, the traditions and customs of this holiday, filled with kindness and humanity, high moral ideals and the triumph of the spirit over worldly concerns, are being rediscovered and rethought by society in the modern world. The day before Christmas (January 6) is called Christmas Eve, because the main dish of the festive table, which should consist of 12 dishes, is a special porridge “sochivo”, consisting of boiled cereal, drizzled with honey, sprinkled with poppy seeds and nuts. You can sit down at the table only after the first star appears in the sky. Christmas (January 7) is a family holiday, when everyone gathered at one table, ate a festive treat and gave each other gifts. The 12 days after the holiday (until January 19) are called Christmastide. Previously, at this time, girls in Rus' held various gatherings with fortune telling and rituals to attract suitors.
Easter has long been considered a great holiday in Rus', which people associated with the day of general equality, forgiveness and mercy. On the eve of Easter celebrations, Russian women usually bake kulichi (festive rich Easter bread) and Easter eggs, clean and decorate their homes, young people and children paint eggs, which, according to ancient legend, symbolize drops of the blood of Jesus Christ crucified on the cross. On the day of Holy Easter, smartly dressed people, meeting, say “Christ is Risen!”, answer “Truly He is Risen!”, followed by a three-time kiss and an exchange of festive Easter eggs.
Every country has public holidays common to all, but every nation has its own holidays that have come from time immemorial.
The most beloved and famous folk holidays of Russia are, without any doubt, snowy and frosty Christmas, early spring Maslenitsa, showing the way to spring and sunny days, the luminous celebration of Easter, spring-summer Trinity and the sunny rainbow day of Ivan Kupala. All of them, except Easter, are interconnected with the natural world, with its revival, blossoming, planting and harvesting of a generous harvest. On holidays, people especially have a unique worldview and a sense of fullness of life. Without exception, all Russian national holidays are filled with traditions, rituals, and ceremonies.
National holidays of Russia
Kolyada- a common holiday of pagan origin among Slavic peoples, connected with the winter solstice. The date of celebration is the night from January 6 to January 7. The meaning of the holiday is the reversal of the sun from winter to summer. Celebration - caroling, mummering, Christmas fun, fortune telling, home-cooked food. According to popular belief, Mother Earth could open up only as a result of a lie, an incorrect oath, or as a result of perjury.
Christmastide- Ukrainian national ceremonial complex, celebrated from January 6 to January 19. Christmas time is oversaturated with various magical rituals, fortune telling, signs, customs and prohibitions. The purpose of the holiday: folk festivities, caroling, sowing, mumming, erotic fun, ritual outrages of youth, fortune telling for the betrothed, a journey into colors, rituals for prosperity and fertility. Holiday sayings: on Christmastide, wolves marry, from Christmas to Epiphany it is a sin to hunt animals and birds - grief will happen to the hunter. According to popular beliefs, the presence of spirits among living people, unnoticed by the ordinary eye, made it possible to look into the native future, which explains the countless forms of Christmas fortune-telling.
Maslenitsa is a Ukrainian common holiday celebrated during the week before Lent. The purpose of the holiday is to say goodbye to winter. Traditions: baking pancakes, wandering into paint, hosting feasts, sledding and sledding, dressing up, burning or burying the Maslenitsa scarecrow. Celebrated from Meat Saturday to Forgiveness Sunday. The fertility of people in the popular consciousness was firmly connected with the fertility of the land and the fertility of livestock; the other side of Maslenitsa - the funeral one - is associated with the stimulation of fertility.
Clean Monday- the first day of Fedorov's week and Lent. On this day, everyone forgives each other and begins the day with a clear conscience and a pure soul. This is a day of extremely serious fasting as well as the following days. The name of the holiday comes from the zeal to keep the first day of Lent clean. On this holiday, during the main Lenten Great Compline, they begin to recite the Great Penitential Canon of St. Andrei Kritsky and other prayers of repentance. At the end of the 19th century, large fractions of oil revelers, despite the serious fast, on this day “rinsed their mouths” or got drunk. Since this is a day of fasting, all that is allowed to eat or drink on this day is: a little dark food with salt and water or unsweetened tea. The prayer of Ephraim the Syrian “Lord and Master of my life” will in the future begin to be offered on all days of Great Lent.
Palm Week- sixth week of Lent. The main folk rituals of the week are associated with willow and fall on Saturday and Sunday. There is a fairy tale associated with this week, which says that before the willow was a lady, and she had so many children that the lady argued with Mother Earth herself that she was more fertile than the Earth. Mother Earth got angry and turned the lady into a willow. There is a belief on this holiday - a consecrated willow can stop a summer thunderstorm, and thrown into a fire can help in a fire. Holiday traditions: blessing of the willow, beating with willow branches, calls for spring.
Holy Week– the seventh last week before Easter, lasting 6 days, starting on Monday and ending on Saturday before Easter Sunday. The meaning of the holiday is preparation for Easter. Traditions during the holiday: cleaning the house, obligatory bathing, remembering ancestors, setting up a swing, decorating eggs, baking Easter cakes. According to the beliefs of the people, colored eggs have magical powers; for example, if you put the shell on a flame, then the smoke from this egg can cure a person of night blindness; they also believe that such an egg can cure an unhealthy tooth. Signs for this holiday: if you heat a stove with aspen wood on Maundy Thursday, then sorcerers will come to beg for the ashes; parsley sown on Good Friday yields a double harvest.
Easter- the oldest Christian holiday, the main holiday of the liturgical year. Established in honor of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Celebrated on the first Sunday after the full moon, which occurs no earlier than the relative vernal equinox on March 21. Traditions: blessing of colored eggs and Easter cakes, welcome kissing. Most Easter customs appeared in worship. The scope of Easter folk festivities is associated with breaking the fast after Great Lent, a time of abstinence, when all holidays, including family ones, were transferred to the celebration of Easter. At the end of the 19th century in Russia it became a tradition to send open Easter letters with colorful drawings to those relatives and friends with whom you cannot share Christ.
Red hill- a spring holiday among the Eastern Slavs, which is celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter. Celebrations on this day include: spring maiden round dances, food with scrambled eggs, and youth fun. The red heap symbolizes the whole income of spring; this time of year is celebrated with this holiday. In addition to the fact that the Red Heap symbolizes the income of spring, the holiday also symbolizes the meeting of men and women, because spring is the rule of modern life for all nature. There is a saying on the Red Hill holiday that says: “Whoever gets married on Red Hill will never get divorced.”
Trinity- the twelfth holiday of the Orthodox calendar, celebrated on the fiftieth day after Easter, on the tenth day of the Ascension. Other names for the Trinity are the day of the Holy Trinity, Pentecost, the day of the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles. On this day, the Orthodox Church commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles and honors the Holy Trinity. The event described in the New Testament book “The Acts of the Holy Apostles” has a specific association with the doctrine of the Trinity - one of the main provisions of the Christian faith. According to this teaching, God exists in three unmerged and inseparable persons: the Father - the beginningless origin, the Son - the logos and the Holy Spirit - the life-giving source.
Ivan Kupala- a summer holiday of pagan origin, celebrated from July 6 to 7. The holiday is associated with the summer solstice. Traditions: burning fires and jumping through them, leading round dances, weaving wreaths, making herbs. The holiday begins in the evening. The name of the holiday comes from the name of John the Baptist (the epithet of John is translated as “bather, immerser”). The main personality of Ivan Kupala is the cleansing fires; in order to cleanse himself of the evil spirits surrounding a person, he would have to jump through these fires.
Peter and Fevronia Day is a national Orthodox holiday celebrated on July 8th. Holiday traditions: splash around without looking back, because it was believed that on this day the extreme mermaids leave the shores into the depths of the reservoirs and fall asleep. After the Kupala games, betrothed couples were determined, and this day was beneficial to family and love; in addition, in the old days, marriages were played from this day until Peter. The first haymaking is the day of every evil spirit such as: witches, mermaids, werewolves and almost everyone else. According to “The Tale of Peter and Fevronia of Murom,” King Peter reluctantly married Fevronia, but their alliance was childless and ended with the tonsure of both spouses as monks. Sayings: there are 40 hot days ahead, after Ivan there is no need for zhupan, if it rains on this day, then there will be a good harvest of honey, pigs and mice eat hay - to bad mowing.
Elijah's day- the day of remembrance of the Prophet Elijah on July 20 (August 2) and a traditional folk holiday among the Eastern and Southern Slavs, Greeks, Georgians and some other peoples who converted to Orthodoxy. This is one of the most important and especially revered all-Russian folk holidays, since Elijah the Prophet in popularity can only compete with Nicholas the Wonderworker. They began celebrating this holiday the day before: they baked ritual cookies, stopped doing field work, and tried, with the help of various ritual actions, to protect their home from rain, hail and lightning, and themselves from illness and the evil eye. On Elijah’s day itself, any work was strictly prohibited, since it could anger the formidable saint, and then do not expect any good. Also, on Ilya’s Day in Rus', it was customary to organize religious processions and pray for weather suitable for field work, for the harvest, for protection from the evil eye and diseases, etc. On Elias Day, it was customary to bake the first loaves of grain from the new harvest, which were eaten by the entire village.
Apple saved- the popular name of the holiday of the Transfiguration of the Lord among the Eastern Slavs, celebrated on August 19, and even before this holiday it is forbidden to eat apples and various dishes made from apples, but on the holiday it is necessary, on the contrary, to pick as many apples as permitted and consecrate them. The purpose of the holiday is the blessing of apples, seeing off the sun at sunset with songs. Apple Spa has another name - the first autumn, that is, the meeting of autumn. According to tradition, it is necessary to treat apples to all relatives and friends first, then to orphans and the poor, as a remembrance of ancestors who have fallen asleep in an endless sleep, and only later do you have apples yourself. In the evening, after the holiday, everyone went to the field to live together with songs the sunset, and with it the summer.
Honey saved- Orthodox holiday celebrated on August 14. The essence of the holiday is a small blessing of water. The traditions of the holiday are the rule of collecting honey, its consecration and food - “widow's help”. The holiday is celebrated in honor of the Origin of the trees of the Holy Cross at the end of the 14th century. The meaning of the holiday is the first day of the Dormition Lent. Honey Rescued is also called “Savior on Water”, this is due to the small blessing of water. According to tradition, on this particular day in Rus', new wells were blessed and old ones were cleaned. This holiday is called “Honey Savior” because on this day bee hives are traditionally filled to capacity and beekeepers go to collect honey.
Semyon Letoprovedets- a holiday of the Eastern Slavs, which occurs on September 14. The essence of the holiday is a feast on the approach of autumn: summer ended in advance and the new year began. On this day, rituals are performed: celebration, sittings, lighting a fire, tonsure ritual, funeral of flies, the legend of sparrows. Semyonov's day is considered happy, so it is recommended to celebrate it. Signs: Semyon accompanies summer, Indian summer brings; for Semyon - extreme misfortune; On Semyon, the grain crops were not removed - they seem to have disappeared; If geese fly away on Semyon-day, wait for early winter.
Intercession Day is one of the holidays of the Eastern Slavs, celebrated on October 14. The meaning of the holiday is the final coming of autumn; on this day it was previously recorded to meet Autumn and Winter. People say that since Pokrov, goblin stop walking in the forests (otherwise they are called forest owners). On the eve of this holiday, young village women burn their old straw beds, and old women burn their old bast shoes, worn out throughout the summer. The Russian people, celebrating the days dedicated to the Mother of God, expected support from Her.
Wait...
December is the first month of winter. Jelly. Student. Zazimnik. Breast.
* December ends the year, winter begins.
Introduction. Vvedensky early frosts. On introduction, winter is introduced. The first winter fairs began, and with them the first sleigh rides for festivities. The custom of “showing off young” - taking out a young wife in her first year for showing to all the people was obligatory observed on this day.
December 22 - Anna. Winter solstice
Carols - until mid-January (winter Christmastide). The mummers walk around the courtyards with songs and jokes, begging for treats.
25 Dec - Spiridon turn. Spiridon-solstice. "sun for summer, winter for frost."
January
Prosinets, turning point of winter, winter break, among the Little Russians - a cut,
Autumn – new year, autumn, blue - radiance, ov (pro) - prefix - small. Small the beginning of a new glow. Ideas about the revival of sunlight. In another meaning - to sow, seed, Start life. Christmastide - the winter solstice, opens the people's solar year. Lasted 12 days, according to the number of months of the year.
Christmas Eve December 24/6th January Burning fires “warms the dead ancestors.” Clicking carols, Ovsenya and Plow (songs of praise to the plow are chanted)
Christmas December 25/Jan. 7 - the day of the winter solstice, the awakening of the sun after winter. The passing of the old year and the beginning of a new one, the birth of a new sun, The border between old and new is a “loophole for evil spirits.” - the beginning of Christmastide. (songs - Kolyada, Vinogradie (grapes -
garden - well-being), Shchedrovka, Avsen) In folklore - caroling, youth games, agricultural magic (spring rituals), fortune telling (the most extensive are connections with rampant evil spirits ) , mummering, commemoration of ancestors. Rich carol. Ritual outrages. Caroling - ritual walk by groups of villagers during Christmastide, singing carols. Songs of an agrarian orientation, magnifying the owners, glorifying Christ (after the adoption of Christianity) Carolers- “people from another world”, ancestors. Giving to them is a sacrifice to the ancestors. Costumes: animals, “evil spirits”, representatives of non-peasant, alien environment (lady, paramedic, etc.) Yuletide games of an erotic nature. Two themes predominate: marriage and funerals . Eroticism- a remnant of an ancient ritual, since the ancient pagan semantics of the holiday is in the renewal of the Sun-Dazhdbog, and the conception of the natural fertile force, Yarila. The meaning of pagan Christmas games is farewell to the dying year and the joy of the birth of a new one. Later, the confinement of erotic games to Christmastide was also explained by the approach of the meat-eater - the time of matchmaking and weddings. Christmastide was divided into two parts: Holy Evenings and Terrible Evenings.
Holy Evenings - from Christmas Eve to Vasilyev Vechera (Shchedrets - Shchedry Vechera), Terrible Evenings from Vasilyev's Day to Epiphany. The Christmas tree (later, from Europe) is a symbol of the tree of heaven, hung with apples and nuts (fruits). Unthreshed sheaf Grandfather, straw and hay on the table, going from house to house with a plow, sprinkling grain, fortune-telling about the harvest, grain (symbol of conception) - everything speaks of sowing, harvest, the abundance of fruits desired in the coming year. meal (uzvar, porridge - homeland, honey, kutia - funeral)
According to the church calendar:
Nativity - the twelfth holiday. Jesus Christ is the “Sun of Truth.” He was born of the Virgin Mary, who immaculately conceived from the Holy Spirit. Glorification of Christ - ritual circumambulation
peasant households with congratulations and wishes for well-being, sang “Christmas” - the Christmas troparion. The youth “glorified” with a star (in honor of the star that led the Magi to the cradle of Jesus) or a nativity scene (a mechanical puppet theater depicting the scene of the Nativity of Christ.
Vasiliev's day 1 / January 14 Terrible (Vorozhnye, passionate) evenings that lasted until the Epiphany of the Lord - the middle of the Christmas holidays, the Day of the New Solar Year.. Lenten carols. Agrarian carols, the peak of Christmas fortune-telling, hearty meals. Special dish: “Caesaret” roasted pig. (St. Basil is the patron saint of pigs). The Caesaretian pig is a relic of the ancient Slavic ritual of sacrifices to the gods in exchange for prosperity. From this day forward, permission to eat pork. From Vasiliev's Day to Epiphany there were many magical rituals, because... Evil spirits were particularly “raging.” The ritual of sprinkling marks the spring insemination of Mother Earth, who enters into a marriage union with the “enlightened” (goddess Spring) Sky. Grains are a symbol of the fertilizing seed, rain and sun rays. (Same sprinkles at weddings). SOW-SHINE-OATS. Ovsen is the god who ignites the solar wheel, giving light to the world (Afanasyev)
The Christmas holidays are ending.
Baptism 6 / January 19 . Among the pagans - vodokres - , religious ablutions among pagans on the holiday of Kolyada, caused by the thought of freeing the waters with the turn of the sun, transforming them into living streams, bringing renewal and the power of fertility. The end of the Yuletide holidays, a spark of heavenly fire (Cres) from the Svarog Forge falls into the waters of the Earth, endowing them with miraculous powers. properties. In Christianity, the day of exorcism and cleansing of people from sins. The sky opens - prayer will be heard. Epiphany water blessing is the purification of waters from evil spirits that filled the world during the New Year (Yuletide). Those who participated in mummers and games especially diligently cleansed themselves of sins in the Epiphany ice hole in the Jordan. Rites of consecration of cattle. On Epiphany Christmas Eve - remembrance of the dead. On this day, brides' viewings were held. “Epiphany handshake means a happy family.” After this day comes the meat-eater. (January 20) Beginning of weddings.
The First Autumn is a holiday celebrated on September 14th. By this day, the peasants had already collected the harvest from the fields. The time has come when we need to thank Mother Earth for her generous gifts. In all the houses they baked pies mixed with flour from the recently harvested crop. From this day on, autumn weddings began to be celebrated in Rus'. This holiday connects two holidays: spiritual and earthly. In its spiritual nature it is the holiday of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and in its earthly essence it is a harvest festival, accompanied by games and songs. According to the folk calendar, golden autumn begins on this day, which will last until October 14.
Autumn people are greeted by the water. On this day, early in the morning, women go to the banks of rivers, lakes and ponds to meet Mother Osenina with oatmeal bread. In the old days, there was a custom for newlyweds to treat their relatives, which is why September 8 was also called “Presentation Day.” All relatives and friends came to the newlyweds. Today we have a holiday called Autumn. Since September 21, it was believed that every summer - Amen. Autumn has come into its own. In fact, it is a religious holiday of the astronomical autumn equinox. In the agricultural calendar of the Slavs, this day was called “Oseniny” or “Ospozhinki” and was celebrated as a harvest festival. According to folk tradition, cabbage parties began, girls' parties, when young people went from house to house to chop cabbage. Autumn's first meeting of autumn. On this day, it was supposed to “wipe” the “new” fire with two planks and begin sit-downs or gatherings with this clean fire. We noticed: if Semyon the day is clear, then the entire Indian summer will be warm, and we must expect a warm winter.
The popular name for the days of remembrance of Saints Paraskevi, of which there are four in the Orthodox tradition. The Eastern Slavs especially revered Paraskeva Pyatnitsa, the patroness of the day of the week of the same name. The folk tale dedicated to the Day of the Exaltation reveals the meaning of the holiday in its own way. The church service on this day is given a special “magnification”: “We magnify You, Most Holy Virgin, and honor Your honorable Protection.” In popular understanding, the church holiday of the Intercession of the Virgin Mary appears far removed from Christian legend. Kuzminki (Kuzmodemyanki) is a girl's holiday celebrated throughout Russia by girls on the autumn day of memory of Kuzma and Demyan - November 1/14.
Korean autumn traditions
After Christmas came the so-called holy days, which lasted until Epiphany, during which it was customary to go from house to house and glorify Jesus Christ with prayers and chants. One of the most significant holidays of the summer was Ivan Kupala or Midsummer's Day, named after John the Baptist and celebrated on the day from July 6 to 7, the summer solstice. Only with its onset could the ancient Slavs eat apples from the new harvest, which were necessarily consecrated in the church. One of the most revered autumn holidays that came to the ancient Slavs from Byzantium was Intercession Day, celebrated on October 14 (1). On this day, tables were set with treats, gifts were brought to the poor and orphans, attendance at church services was obligatory, and the time for wedding celebrations began.
The autumnal equinox falls on September 22, sometimes 23. Day and night at this time become equal. From time immemorial, many peoples have attached mystical significance to this day. An ancient ritual of the Buddhist holiday Higan is being performed. On this day, the Japanese prepare food only from plant ingredients: beans, vegetables.
The Orthodox world celebrates Christmastide - two weeks of winter holidays
Full bins and free time gave people the opportunity to relax.
Nativity of the Virgin Mary (8.09 old/21.09 new). On this day, Simeon the Stylite, the founder of Stylites, is remembered. This day is associated with the end of work in the fields and the beginning of winter. It is popularly considered a maiden holiday and the cover of weddings.
The holiday is celebrated with visits and widespread hospitality. 18/06, which is approximately 9 months after this holiday. To escape from snakes, you can read a poem. In Rus', Autumn was depicted as a small, dry peasant. AUTUMN: Do you guys know that people called these months differently? Indian summer, which lasts in some areas for up to three weeks.
So, in Israel, Sukkot takes place on September 19th. On this day, Jews perform the ritual of raising the lulav.
Autumn equinox among the Slavs
The autumn equinox was one of the main holidays among the Slavs. Ovsen is the name of a deity in mythology who was responsible for the change of seasons, so in the fall he was thanked for fruits and harvests. The ritual for the autumn equinox was the farewell of the goddess Zhiva to Svarga - the heavenly kingdom, which was closed in the winter. Our ancestors often used trees in autumn rituals and holidays.
Bright and optimistic folk holidays are an excellent basis not only for moral and physical relaxation, but also a source of self-expression, an opportunity for spiritual unity, and the birth of cohesion. But how much better is it to hold a folk festival with beautifully dressed people, round dances and songs, with traditional games or secret fortune-telling.
On St. George's Day, complete calm from the autumn labors was celebrated. Kolyada is of original pagan origin and is associated with the winter solstice. From January 6 until Maslenitsa, Wedding Weeks continued in the old days.
With an apparently successful harvest, the “Opozhinki” sometimes last for a whole week: the more productive the summer, the longer the holiday. On this day, it was customary for the Poles to do the first sowing of winter crops: they sow several handfuls of rye from the ears, blessed in a wreath on Obzhinki. Czechs, Moravians and Slovaks blessed wheat for sowing in the church or blessed bunches of the first ears; both were decorated with flowers. According to Slovak beliefs, on this day snakes go into the ground - to Yuri. They believed that whatever the weather would be like on the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, it would then last for another four weeks.
On January 21, Prosinets is celebrated - Midwinter - it is believed that the cold begins to subside and, at the behest of the Gods, the warmth of the sun returns to the Lands of the Slavs. They glorify Heavenly Svarga. The name of the holiday “Prosinets” comes from “pro-shine”, which means the rebirth of the sun. February 16. Kikimora's Name Day is celebrated - the day when people create amulets for their home. For Christians, this date was the day of Maremyana the Righteous, popularly nicknamed Meremyana-Kikimora. On March 22, the second Invocations of Spring (the Alive Goddess) are held, performed from the tops of the hills from which the snow has already begun to melt, popularly called “Yarilin’s bald patches.” The main dish of the great holiday of Maslenitsa is the pancake - in the Slavic pagan tradition symbolizing the Sun. April 16 - 22 Rusalia - with the onset of warmth, mermaids begin their games in high water. Therefore, in Russian folk tradition, the day of Yarila Veshny is also known as Yuryev’s day - the day of the “wolf shepherd”.
October 22 Autumn Grandfathers, 27th Day from Autumn. October 26 Mokosha Shifts to the 8th Friday from Rozhanitsy. Nov. 1. Day of Svarog. December 4 is the holiday of Dawn (Ushas and Vesta). December 23 - Holy Evening. Christmas Eve. Summer holidays are holidays of the cult of birth, harvest and protection of this harvest from various misfortunes.
Religious holidays are also celebrated in Russia. They are also popular, because the Orthodox faith cannot be separated from the values with which the country’s culture is rich.
In December, people could already take a break from hard work and should think about a more pleasant spring preparation for new business. Our ancestors loved December 25 (Spyridon Solstice). On the night of it, according to their beliefs, their ancestors came to people in the form of holy spirits. Those who wished the owners all earthly blessings. If they were stingy and did not thank the singers, then they could receive an evil wish for the holiday. All days of the Maslenitsa week with your name and rituals. In many villages the tradition still exists, the figures are called larks, due to the desire to see this particular bird. Yes, and the holiday is often called Larks. Asking for leniency and a mild winter. They rejoiced and thanked nature if the fields were snow-covered that day.
1. Systematize and enrich children’s knowledge about the holidays and traditions of the Russian people. In the evening of Christmas, everyone went to church, the people, led by a priest, made a procession of the cross. His obligatory attribute was a Christmas lantern. Baptism was considered by the people to be a special day that could bring happiness. In Rus' they have always been loved; they contributed to bringing people closer together and strengthening family ties.
Holidays have been preserved, which we continue to observe, having become accustomed to them, without even thinking about their origin. But there are holidays that are again applicable in our modern life. Ancient Slavic traditions with their unique ethnic baggage are being revived. At the end of the round dance, the women brought jugs of mash and treated the girls. In Rus', on Semyonov Day (September 1), tonsures and mounting of horses took place. This ancient rite was performed in some families with every son, in others - only the firstborn. There, in Tolmachevsky Lane, beyond the Moskva River, women gathered around the Church of Kozma and Damian with chickens and held prayer services after mass. In the villages, women came with chickens to the boyar's courtyard and petitioned them to present them to their boyar "for a good life." In response, the noblewoman gave the peasant women ribbons for their ubrusnik (headdress). Such “petition chickens” were kept in a special way: they were fed mainly on oats and barley and were never killed.
Our ancestors believed that fun and satiety give rise to special energy. Having passed through time layers, they organically merged with the rules of Christian celebrations. On special days, the Orthodox Church prohibits parishioners from working, swearing and grieving.
Rituals and customs are part of the culture of every people, be it a huge nation or a small community. We invite you to get acquainted with autumn rituals, the history of their origin and essence. Traditions associated with the onset of autumn are interesting and varied in different countries.
There are also holidays when people not only relax, but have fun, dance and sing, and perform ritual actions related to the thematic component. What is their difference and unity, when did they originate and how are they celebrated today?
Russian folk holidays are not only beautiful and cheerful, they are filled with meaning and spirituality, the thematic content of each carries an ideological load, which is especially important for young people. The atmosphere of community, a common root and familiarization with people's sacred values contribute to the formation of national pride and patriotism.
Wine harvest
Autumn holidays among Belarusians are similar to autumn rituals and holidays among other Slavic peoples. One of the main autumn rituals was held on Dozhinki. Similarly, the Osenins in Belarus celebrated the harvest festival - the rich man. The symbol of the holiday was a popular print with grain and a candle inside. Dziady means “grandfathers”, “ancestors”.
In Europe, grape harvest holidays are considered traditional.
It was believed that on this day the first mowing should be done, then there would be plenty of hay. If it rained, they expected a rich harvest of honey. Athenogenes marked the beginning of the harvest. The first sheaf was kept in the hut as a talisman. On this day, magical rituals were performed for a good offspring and against the death of livestock. The horses were bathed, their manes were combed, they were treated to selected hay and oats, and they were freed from any work.
The oat loaf was broken into a number of pieces equal to the number of people present at the ritual. Upon returning home, this bread was used to feed livestock - this was supposed to attract material wealth to the house. On Oseniny, a large meal was always held, in which all residents of the village took part. The obligatory attributes of the festive table were kutia made from cereals and honey, bread, and milk dishes.
The following signs relate to this day: “Lenten Ivan has come, he has taken away the red summer,” “Lenten Ivan is the godfather of autumn,” “No man leaves Lenten Ivan without a caftan.” Dormition Fast, also known as Spozhenki; by consonance and coincidence of time, it is mixed with spozhinki - autumn, the birthday sheaf, the end and celebration of the end of the harvest). September 21 - autumn, the second meeting of autumn. We continued harvesting onions, which had begun the day before. In the villages, the Exaltation is associated with the end of the harvest, this is the third meeting of autumn, the first winter. These days were called thaw, kiselnitsa, October - mud. In everyday life, Pokrov is associated with the end of field work, the collection of the last fruits, with the first frosts and snow cover of the ground. Veil is traditionally a time to attract grooms and weddings. Among other signs about the weather, the following also stood out: “Dmitry’s day of transportation does not await”, “Dmitry in the snow - late spring.”
Velesen is the seventh month of the ancient year, the first month of autumn, dedicated to the god Veles. Nine houses of Maya. Before giving birth to Kolyada, Maya went through nine signs of the Zodiac, visited nine heavenly houses: the house of Maya (Virgo), the house of Veles (Libra), and on the day of Veles - Ryabinkin they collected rowan berries. Memory of Zlatogor and Bus. On the same day, the god of the winds Stribog and his bird Stratim (ostrich) are commemorated. The old recipe was this: “To cure damage in children, you need to go to three lakes or three springs at dawn, silently, without looking back. Celebration of summing up the agricultural year. Weddings begin with Intercession.
Slavic farmers considered September to be the beginning of the year, the month when they harvested their crops. The peasants performed a ceremony to glorify the Family and Rozhanitsy, made sacrifices to their ancestors and glorified family well-being. Autumn on September 14 in the pagan calendar was called the Autumn Serpentine - the time of snake weddings. For example, it was necessary to strike a fire using two dry planks. The earth was fumigated with this fire. It was also necessary to give thanks to the earth for the harvest.
There are several other names for the holiday - Aspozhok, Spasov or Asposov day - a triple derivative of the words Spas, Mistress and reap - after the harvest. This whole week is called Asposova. December 9 is St. George's Day. Yuri is cold. Here’s to you, grandma, and St. George’s day!” - people began to say after its abolition by Tsar Boris Godunov.
People worshiped the sky and asked it to water the earth for a good harvest. Rich sacrifices were made to the pagan gods, prayers and thanksgiving were offered, and people tried to attract their favor through ritual dances. Afraid of angering them with vanity and insufficient attention, the ancient Slavs prepared for rituals in advance and set aside not only whole days for this, but sometimes whole weeks, if the issue was very important.
Dmitrov's Saturday was always celebrated solemnly: they went to the graves and served memorial services there, and arranged rich treats. November 27th is the day of St. Nicholas the Saint, the winter and cold St. Previously, in many places in Russia, the so-called Nikolshchina was celebrated on Nikolina Day.
Look back into the past and return to the present
The first turning point occurred in 988, when Prince Vladimir baptized Rus'. This epoch-making act changed the calendar and the nature of pagan rituals. When handicraft and manufacturing became the basis of the well-being of the townspeople, folk holidays and rituals closely associated with the agricultural calendar receded even further into the shadows. During this difficult period of changing eras, paganism moved to the most remote parts of Russia.
Today, Russian folk holidays in their natural form are exotic. Only in the rural hinterlands, which have not yet been absorbed by mass urbanization, can living folklore be found. People are happy to take part in the colorful action, which has an exclusively historically authentic basis.
Already somewhere from Ilyin's day, and somewhere from Uspenev, autumn round dances began in many settlements. It is worth noting that the round dance is the most ancient of the dances of the Russian people, and is rooted in the rites of worship of the Sun God. They renewed the fire, extinguished the old one, and started a new one. From that time on, all activities in the field ended and work began in the house, in the yard, and in the garden. On this day we did not go into the forest, because it was believed that a snake could drag us away.
Calendar rituals, having arisen in ancient times, reflected the worldview of the people; they changed in accordance with the development of society. The Slavs did not create their own fortune-telling systems, but “a holy place is never empty”: they had their own way of predicting the future. The formation and establishment of new holidays and rituals in everyday life among the peoples of our country was examined by L. A. Tultseva. Currently, practical needs have put forward the task of developing modern Russian calendar holidays, taking into account the features that have appeared in the new region. Currently, most of the customs and traditional actions associated with autumn rituals are a thing of the past. To some extent, the old ritual actions are retained in the games of children of those families where the older generation tells about this to the young.
In the 4th century, the mother of Emperor Constantine the Great found the Cross and the Holy Sepulcher. Many then wanted to see this miracle. This is how the Feast of the Exaltation was established. On the third day of November, “Kazanskaya” was celebrated.
Exaltation moves heat away, and cold advances. The rise of autumn moves towards winter. The bird took flight towards Vozdvizhenie.
Gogol also wrote: “What Russian doesn’t like driving fast?” And today, during festivities, daring sleigh rides pulled by Russian troikas are very popular!
The word “mother” is sacred for every person, but the name of the Mother of God is even more sacred... The Mother of God has revealed herself to all of us and is given eternal life - Christ.
Late February - early March - Maslenitsa. The start date of the holiday “floats”, it is connected with the lunar calendar and begins 8 weeks before the first spring full moon.
Traditional autumn holidays of the Russian people
September 24 – Fedora-Ripped off. Two Fedoras up the mountain - one autumn, one winter, one with mud, the other with cold. On this day, a ritual called “the wedding and funeral of Kuzma-Demyan” was performed.
The work done was completed by drawing up the program “Holidays and rituals of the Russian people, as part of the optional course Folk Art”, and a selection of didactic material. Trinity Trinity games and songs. Reproduction of Rublev’s painting “Trinity”.
In the nineteenth century, this holiday was celebrated everywhere among the Slavs, only at different times, mainly depending on the climate. For example, the last sheaf was reaped in silence, and then the women rolled through the stubble with certain words-songs. This ritual was called “beard curling.”
