Folk traditions and the Russian language. Russian traditions, customs

Our country is huge, it is inhabited by many different people, which may differ from each other in height and build, eye shape and skin color, folklore traditions. Even an ordinary average student can give examples of the peoples of Russia, and there is nothing surprising in this, since motherland studied in all educational institutions Russian Federation.

This article is aimed at revealing the most unknown and at the same time really interesting data about the customs and traditions of the peoples of Russia. The reader will receive a lot useful facts, thanks to which it will later become easier for him to understand those who, like him, are called Russians.

In fact, the peculiarities of the peoples of Russia (at least some of them, for example, those living in the Far North) cannot but surprise even the most sophisticated and experienced travelers. We will talk about this and much more in this article.

The ethnic composition of the peoples of Russia. general information

How large and vast our country is, so diverse and powerful is the population living in it. Not without reason in the days of the Soviet Union in the passports was the line "Nationality". The Union collapsed, and yet the Russian Federation still remains multinational state where more than a hundred peoples live under one sky.

According to regularly conducted population censuses, it can be argued that the indigenous Russian peoples make up about 90% of the inhabitants, of which 81% are Russians. How many peoples live in Russia? Ethnographers argue that it will not be possible to answer this question unequivocally, and in their reports they, as a rule, unite the indigenous peoples of the country into groups whose proximity is expressed not only geographically, but also culturally and historically. In total, there are more than 180 historical communities in the country. The religions of the peoples of Russia are also taken into account in the selection.

With such an abundance of representatives of the ethnic group of a vast country, one cannot help but pay attention to the very minorities whose culture and way of life are often on the verge of extinction. The inexorable facts in most cases point precisely to the fact that the number of nationalities, about which most of us have not even heard, is gradually declining. That is why the government of our country made a completely logical decision to tell the younger generation about the customs and traditions of the peoples of Russia from the primary school. secondary school. At first, all this is presented in the form of fairy tales and legends, and a little later, from grades 7-8, students get to know life and culture in more detail.

Little-known inhabitants of a huge country

There are such representatives of the peoples of Russia that you have not even heard of. Don't believe? And in vain. Although I must say that in fact there are few of them. The description of the peoples of Russia, who managed to preserve their culture, traditions, and most importantly, their faith and way of life, deserve special attention.

Vodlozers

Not everyone knows that lake people or the so-called water lakers live in Karelia today. True, only five villages have survived to this day, while the inhabitants number no more than 550 people. Their forefathers were immigrants from Moscow and Novgorod. Despite this, Slavic customs are still honored in Vodlozero. For example, the path to the forest is ordered, if you do not first appease its owner - the goblin. Each hunter must make an offering: take the dead animal as a gift.

family

Examples of the peoples of Russia will be incomplete if we do not mention the family ones. Their way of life, as it were, personifies the life of pre-Petrine times. These representatives of the peoples of Russia are considered Old Believers who once settled in Transbaikalia. The name of the nation comes from the word "family". According to the 2010 census, the population is 2,500. Their unique culture is still primordial, that is, little has changed since the time of their ancestors. Every year scientists from all over the world come to these places to study the crafts of the peoples of Russia. By the way, not everyone knows that the village family houses are more than 250 years old today.

Russian Ustintsy

The nationality owes its appearance to the settlers from the Cossacks and Pomors once created their own sub-ethnic group here. Despite the difficult living conditions, they, albeit partially, managed to preserve their culture and language.

Chaldons

That is how the Siberians called the first Russian settlers of the 16th century. Their descendants bear the same name. Today, the way of chaldons is very similar to the life of the Slavs before the establishment of princely power. Their uniqueness is also expressed in the fact that the language, appearance, culture are completely different from either Slavic or Mongoloid. Sadly, chaldons, like other small peoples, are gradually dying out.

Tundra Peasants

They are considered descendants of the Eastern Pomors. These are very friendly people who actively come into contact with others. They are characterized by unique culture, faith and traditions. True, in 2010, only 8 people considered themselves to be tundra peasants.

Disappearing peoples of the country: Khanty and Mansi

Kindred peoples, Khanty and Mansi, were once the greatest hunters. The fame of their courage and courage reached Moscow itself. Today, both peoples are represented by residents of the Khanty-Mansiysk Okrug. Initially, the territory near the Ob River basin belonged to the Khanty. The Mansi tribes began to populate it only in late XIX century, after which the active advancement of peoples to the northern and eastern parts of the region began. It is no coincidence that their faith, culture, and way of life were built on the basis of unity with nature, because the Khanty and Mansi led a predominantly taiga way of life.

These representatives of the peoples of Russia did not have a clear distinction between animals and humans. Nature and animals have always come first. Thus, the peoples were forbidden to settle near places inhabited by the beast, and too narrow nets were not used in fishing.

Almost every animal was revered. So, according to their beliefs, the she-bear gave birth to the first woman, and the Great Bear gave the fire; elk - a symbol of well-being and strength; and they owe it to the beaver that it was thanks to him that the Khanty came to the sources of the Vasyugan River. Today, scientists are concerned that oil developments can negatively affect not only the beaver population, but also the way of life of an entire people.

Eskimos are the proud inhabitants of the north

The Eskimos firmly settled on the territory of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug. This is perhaps the most eastern people of our country, the origin of which remains controversial to this day. Animal hunting was the main activity. Before mid-nineteenth For centuries, a spear with a tip and a swivel bone harpoon were the main tools for hunting.

Citing examples of the peoples of Russia, it should be noted that the Eskimos were almost not affected by Christianity. They believed in spirits, changes in the human condition, natural phenomena. Sila was considered the creator of the world - the creator and owner, who monitors the order and respect for the rites of the ancestors. Sedna sent prey to the Eskimos. Spirits that bring misfortune and illness were depicted as dwarfs or, conversely, giants. The shaman lived in almost every settlement. as an intermediary between man and evil spirits he entered into peaceful alliances, and for some time the Eskimos lived in calm and peace.

Whenever the fishing was successful, fishing holidays were held. Celebrations were also organized to mark the beginning or end of the hunting season. Rich folklore, extraordinary Arctic culture (bone carving and engraving) once again prove the uniqueness of the Eskimos. The property of the peoples of Russia, including them, can be seen in the capital's ethnographic museums.

Famous reindeer herders of Russia - Koryaks

Talking about how many peoples live in Russia in this moment, it is impossible not to mention the Koryaks living in Kamchatka, and this people still traces the features of the Okhotsk culture that existed in the first millennium of the new era. Everything changed radically in the 17th century, when the formation of Koryak-Russian ties began. Collectivism is the basis of the life of this people.

Their worldview is associated with animism. This means that for quite a long time they animated everything around: stones, plants, the Universe. Shamanism also took place in their customs. Worship of sacred places, sacrifices, cult objects - all this underlies the culture of the Koryaks.

All Koryak holidays were and remain seasonal. In the spring, reindeer herders celebrate the holiday of the horns (Kilvei), and in the fall, the day of slaughtering the elk. In families where twins were born, a wolf festival was held, since newborns were considered relatives of these predators. At all events, active imitation of animals was clearly observed: in dancing, singing. In recent years, a policy has been pursued to preserve the heritage and heritage of the unique Koryak people.

Tofalars - a disappearing people of the Irkutsk region

The description of the peoples of Russia is impossible without the Tofalars, an ethnic group numbering more than 700 people, which is deployed on the territory Irkutsk region. Despite the fact that the majority of Tofalars are Orthodox, shamanism persists to this day.

The main activities of these people are hunting and reindeer herding. Once a favorite drink was elk milk, which was drunk boiled or added to tea. Until the Tofalars became a settled people, their dwelling was a conical tent. In recent times, the purity of the people is lost. However, the culture of the ancient Tofalars has survived to this day.

Original and proud people - Archins

Today Archins are small ethnic group, which during the 1959 census was classified as Avars. Despite this fact, the originality and conservative lifestyle of this people made it possible to preserve their language. Modern Archins revere their culture, many of them have a higher education. However, in schools, teaching is conducted only in the Avar language.

The fact that the Archins speak the Avar language once again proves their belonging to a large, socially significant nation. The life of the people is not subject to global changes. Young people do not want to leave the villages, and mixed marriages are a rarity. Although, of course, the gradual loss of traditions occurs.

How many peoples in Russia, so many traditions. For example, when celebrating a celebration, the Archins do not decorate a Christmas tree, but put on fur coats and sheepskin hats and begin to dance lezginka to the accompaniment of zurna, drum and kumuza.

The last of the Vod people

Let us continue to give examples of the peoples of Russia. The population of the Vod people is barely 100 people. They live on the territory of the modern Leningrad region.

Vod - Orthodox. However, despite this, remnants of paganism still take place: for example, at the beginning of the 20th century, animalism was traced - the worship of trees and stones. Rites were performed according to calendar days. On the eve of the holiday of Ivan Kupala, bonfires were kindled, and the girls began to guess. Collective feasts and ritual fishing were organized on the site. The first fish caught was fried and then lowered back into the water. The choice of a partner for the driver fell entirely on the young. Matchmaking, unlike the current one, was divided into two stages: in fact, matchmaking, when the bride and groom exchanged pledges, and tobacco, when the matchmakers already smoked tobacco and ate pies.

During the preparations for the wedding, ritual lamentations could often be heard. It is curious that the wedding until the 19th century was "two-pointed": after the wedding, the groom went to celebrate with his guests, in fact, the bride did the same. And until the middle of the 19th century, during the wedding ceremony, the bride shaved her hair on her head, as if symbolizing the transition to new stage- stage of married life.

Nivkhs - residents of the Khabarovsk Territory

Nivkhs are a people located on the territory. The number is more than 4,500 people. It seems that this is not so much, if we take into account how many peoples live in Russia at the moment, however, everything, as they say, is known in comparison, for example, with the Vod people. Nivkhs speak both Nivkh and Russian. It is believed that they are the descendants ancient population on Sakhalin.

Fishing, hunting and gathering are considered traditional crafts. In addition, dog breeding was one of the main occupations of the Nivkhs. They not only used dogs as a vehicle, but also ate them, and sewed clothes from dog skins.

The official religion is Orthodoxy. Nevertheless, traditional beliefs persisted until the middle of the 20th century. For example, the bear cult. The bear festival was accompanied by the slaughter of an animal grown in a cage. Careful attitude to nature, the rational use of its gifts in the blood of the Nivkhs. rich folklore, applied art, sorcery to this day is passed from mouth to mouth.

Indigenous peoples of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug

Fewer people than the Selkups cannot be found in the entire North. According to the latest census, their number is only 1,700 people. The name of this people comes directly from the ethnic group and is translated as "forest man". Traditionally, the Selkups are engaged in fishing and hunting, as well as reindeer herding. Until the 17th century, that is, until Russian merchants mastered sales, handicrafts and weaving actively developed.

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 has about 30 million people and it is concentrated in such states as Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Belarus, in the countries of the former USSR, in the USA and EU countries. As a result of the 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 identify themselves with any particular religion. national language Russian people is the Russian language.

Each country and its people have their own significance in the modern world, the concepts of folk culture and the history of the nation, their formation and development are very important. Each nation and its culture is unique in its own way, the color and originality of each nation should not be lost or dissolved in assimilation with other nations, 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 throughout recent years its erasure is especially noticeable against the background of 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, the breadth of the soul and fortitude. But national culture people form, it is these character traits that have a huge impact on its formation and development.

One of distinguishing features The Russian people have always been and are simple, in the old days Slavic houses and property were very often plundered and completely destroyed, hence the simplified attitude to everyday life. And of course, these trials, which befell the long-suffering Russian people, only tempered his character, made him stronger and taught him to get out of any life situations with his head held high.

Kindness can be called another of the traits that prevail in the character of the Russian ethnos. The whole world is well aware of the concept of Russian hospitality, when "they will feed and drink, and put to bed." The unique combination of such qualities as cordiality, mercy, compassion, generosity, tolerance and, again, simplicity, very rarely found in other peoples of the world, all this is fully manifested in the very breadth of the Russian soul.

Diligence is another of the main features of the Russian character, although many historians in the study of the Russian people note both her love for work and huge potential, and her laziness, as well as complete lack of initiative (remember Oblomov in Goncharov's novel). But all the same, the efficiency and endurance of the Russian people is an indisputable fact, against which it is difficult to argue. And no matter how scientists all over the world would like 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 for everyone.

Traditions and customs of the Russian people

(Russian meal)

Folk traditions and customs are a unique connection, a kind of "bridge of times", linking the far past with the present. Some of them are rooted in the pagan past of the Russian people, even before the baptism of Russia, little by little their sacred meaning was lost and forgotten, but the main points have been preserved and are still being observed. In villages and towns, Russian traditions and customs are honored and remembered to a greater extent than in cities, which is associated with a more isolated lifestyle of urban residents.

A large number of rituals and traditions are associated with family life(this is matchmaking, and wedding celebrations, and the baptism of children). Carrying out ancient ceremonies 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 in the early 20th century)

Since ancient times, Slavic families have been distinguished by a large number of family members (up to 20 people), adult children, having already married, remained to live in their own home, the father or elder brother was the head of the family, they all had to obey and implicitly fulfill all their orders. Usually, wedding celebrations were held either in the fall, after the harvest, or in the winter after the Feast of Epiphany (January 19). Then the first week after Easter, the so-called "Red Hill", was considered a very good time for a wedding. The wedding itself was preceded by a ceremony of matchmaking, when the groom’s parents came to the bride’s family together with his godparents, if the parents agreed to give their daughter in marriage, then the bride was held (acquaintance of the future newlyweds), then there was a rite of conspiracy and handshaking (the parents decided on issues of dowry and the date of the wedding festivities ).

The rite of baptism in Russia was also interesting and unique, the child had to be baptized immediately after birth, for this godparents were chosen, who would be responsible for the life and well-being of the godson all his life. At the age of one, the baby was put on the inside of a sheepskin coat and sheared it, cutting off a cross on the crown, with such a meaning that impure forces could not penetrate his head and would not have power over him. Every Christmas Eve (January 6), a slightly grown godson should bring godparents kutya (wheat porridge with honey and poppy seeds), and they, in turn, should give him sweets.

Traditional holidays of the Russian people

Russia is a truly 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, which go back centuries and keep the memory of not only Orthodox vows and canons, but also the most ancient pagan rites and sacraments. And to this day, pagan holidays are celebrated, people listen to the signs and centuries-old traditions, remember and tell their children and grandchildren ancient traditions and legends.

Main national holidays:

Christmas January 7
Christmas time January 6 - 9
Baptism January 19
Maslenitsa from 20 to 26 February

Forgiveness Sunday ( before Great Lent)
Palm Sunday ( the Sunday before Easter)
Easter ( the first Sunday after the full moon, which occurs no earlier than the day of the conditional vernal equinox on March 21)
Red hill ( first Sunday after Easter)

Trinity ( Sunday of Pentecost - 50th day after Easter)
Ivan Kupala July 7
Day of Peter and Fevronia July 8
Ilyin's day August 2

Honey Spas August 14
Apple Spas August 19
Third (Bread) Spas August 29
Veil day October 14

There is a belief that on the night of Ivan Kupala (from July 6 to 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 kindled near rivers and lakes, people dressed in festive old Russian robes lead round dances, sing ritual chants, jump over the fire, and let wreaths flow, hoping to find their soul mate.

Shrovetide is a traditional holiday of the Russian people, celebrated during the week before Lent. A very long time ago, Shrovetide was rather not a holiday, but a rite, when the memory of departed ancestors was honored, coaxing them with pancakes, asking them for a fertile year, and spending the winter by burning a straw effigy. Time passed, and the Russian people, longing 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 has remained, exciting winter entertainments have appeared: sledding and horse-drawn sleigh rides, the straw effigy of Winter was burned, all the Shrovetide week a relative went to pancakes either to the mother-in-law or to the sister-in-law, the atmosphere of celebration and fun reigned everywhere , various theatrical and puppet performances were held on the streets with the participation of Petrushka and other folklore characters. One of the most colorful and dangerous entertainments on Maslenitsa was fisticuffs, they were attended by the male population, for whom it was an honor to take part in a kind of “military business”, testing their courage, courage and dexterity.

Christmas and Easter are considered especially revered Christian holidays among the Russian people.

Christmas is not only Holy holiday Orthodoxy, it also symbolizes the rebirth 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, in the modern world are re-opened to society and rethought by it. The day before Christmas (January 6) is called Christmas Eve because the main course is holiday table, which should consist of 12 dishes, is a special porridge "sochivo", consisting of boiled cereals sprinkled with honey, sprinkled with poppy seeds and nuts. You can sit at the table only after the first star appears in the sky, Christmas (January 7) - family celebration, when everyone gathered at the same table, ate a festive treat and gave gifts to each other. 12 days after the holiday (until January 19) are called Christmas time, earlier at this time the girls in Russia held various gatherings with fortune-telling and rituals to attract suitors.

Bright Easter has long been considered a great holiday in Russia, which people associated with the day of general equality, forgiveness and mercy. On the eve of Easter celebrations, Russian women usually bake Easter cakes (festive rich Easter bread) and Easter, clean and decorate their homes, young people and children paint eggs, which, according to ancient legend, symbolize the drops of blood of Jesus Christ crucified on the cross. On the day of Holy Easter, smartly dressed people, meeting, say “Christ is Risen!”, Answer “Truly Risen!”, Then follows a triple kiss and the exchange of festive Easter eggs.

1. Introduction

2. Holidays and rituals

· New Year

Celebration of the New Year in pagan Russia.

Celebration of the new year after the baptism of Russia

Innovations of Peter I in the celebration of the new year

New Year under Soviet rule. Calendar change.

old New Year

New Year in the Orthodox Church

· Christmas post

On the history of fasting and its significance

How to eat on Christmas Day

· Christmas

Christmas in the first centuries

New holiday victory

How was Christmas celebrated in Russia?

Picture of Christmas

History of spruce decoration

Christmas wreath

Christmas candles

Christmas presents

Christmas on a platter

· Maslenitsa

Easter Christian

Agrafena Bathing suit yes Ivan Kupala

・Wedding Ceremony

Variety of Russian weddings

The figurative basis of the Russian wedding

Word and object environment in the Russian wedding. wedding poetry

Wedding clothes and accessories

3. Conclusion

4. List of used literature

5. Application

Target:

To study the interaction of pagan and Christian traditions in the worldview of the Russian people

Expand and consolidate your knowledge on this topic

Tasks:

1. Gaining knowledge about the folk calendar and its constituent seasonal holidays and rituals.

2. Systematization of information about Russian holidays.

3. The difference between the traditions and customs of the Russian people from the traditions and customs of another people

Relevance of the topic:

1. To trace the trends in the development of folk culture and its influence on the daily life of a person.

2. Find out which of the traditions have lost their relevance and disappeared, and which have come down to us. Guess further development existing traditions.

3. Track how elements of different cultural eras are combined

In the life and culture of any people there are many phenomena that are complex in their historical origin and functions. One of the most striking and revealing phenomena of this kind are folk customs and traditions. In order to understand their origins, it is necessary, first of all, to study the history of the people, its culture, get in touch with its life and way of life, try to understand its soul and character. Any customs and traditions basically reflect the life of a particular group of people, and they arise as a result of empirical and spiritual knowledge of the surrounding reality. In other words, customs and traditions are those valuable pearls in the ocean of people's lives that they have collected over the centuries as a result of practical and spiritual comprehension of reality. Whatever tradition or custom we take, after examining its roots, we, as a rule, come to the conclusion that it is vitally justified and behind the form, which sometimes seems to us pretentious and archaic, hides a living rational grain. The customs and traditions of any nation are its “dowry” when joining the huge family of humanity living on planet Earth.

Each ethnic group enriches and improves it by its existence.

In this work we will talk about the customs and traditions of the Russian people. Why not all of Russia? The reason is quite understandable: to try to present the traditions of all the peoples of Russia, squeezing all the information into the narrow framework of this work, means to embrace the immensity. Therefore, it would be quite reasonable to consider the culture of the Russian people and, accordingly, explore it more deeply. In this regard, it is very important to get acquainted, at least briefly, with the history and geography of a given people and its country, since the historical approach makes it possible to reveal layers in a complex set of folk customs, find the primary core in them, determine its material roots and its initial functions. It is thanks to the historical approach that one can determine the present place religious beliefs and church rituals, the place of magic and superstition in folk customs and traditions. Generally speaking, only from a historical point of view can the essence of any holiday as such be understood.

The theme of the customs and traditions of the Russian people, as well as of any people inhabiting the Earth, is unusually broad and multifaceted. But it also lends itself to division into more specific and narrow topics in order to delve into the essence of each separately and thereby present all the material more easily. These are such themes as the New Year, Christmas, Christmas time, Shrovetide, Ivan Kupala, their connection with the cult of vegetation and the sun; family and marriage customs; modern customs.

So, let's set ourselves the goal of finding out how the geography and history of Russia influenced its culture; observe the origins of customs and traditions, what has changed in them over time, and under the influence of what these changes have occurred.

Considering the traditions and customs of the Russian people, we can understand what are the features of their culture.

National culture is the national memory of the people, what distinguishes this people among others, keeps a person from depersonalization, allows him to feel the connection of times and generations, receive spiritual support and life support.

Folk customs, as well as church sacraments, rituals and holidays are connected both with the calendar and with human life.

In Russia, the calendar was called the calendar. The calendar covered the entire year of peasant life, “describing” day by day month after month, where each day corresponded to its own holidays or weekdays, customs and superstitions, traditions and rituals, natural signs and phenomena.

The folk calendar was an agricultural calendar, which was reflected in the names of the months, folk omens, rituals and customs. Even the determination of the timing and duration of the seasons is associated with real climatic conditions. Hence the discrepancy between the names of the months in different areas.

For example, both October and November can be called leaf fall.

The folk calendar is a kind of encyclopedia of peasant life with its holidays and weekdays. It includes knowledge of nature, agricultural experience, rituals, norms of social life.

The folk calendar is a fusion of pagan and Christian principles, folk orthodoxy. With the establishment of Christianity, pagan holidays were banned, reinterpreted, or moved from their time. In addition to those fixed to certain dates in the calendar, mobile holidays of the Easter cycle appeared.

Rites dedicated to major holidays included a large number of different works folk art: songs, sentences, round dances, games, dances, dramatic scenes, masks, folk costumes, original props.

Every national holiday in Russia is accompanied by rituals and songs. Their origin, content and purpose differ from church celebrations.

Most of folk holidays arose in the days of the deepest paganism, when various government decrees, trade operations, and so on were combined with liturgical rites.

Where there was bargaining, there were trials and reprisals and a solemn feast. Obviously, these customs can be explained by German influence, where the priests were at the same time judges, and the area that was set aside for the assembly of the people was considered sacred and was always located near the river and roads.

Such communication of pagans at gatherings, where they prayed to the gods, conferred about business, sorted out lawsuits with the help of priests, was completely forgotten, since it was the basis of the life of the people and was preserved in their memory. When Christianity replaced paganism, the pagan rites were put to an end.

Many of them, which are not part of the direct pagan worship, have survived to this day in the form of entertainment, customs, and festivities. Some of them gradually became an integral part of the Christian rite. The meaning of some of the holidays ceased to be clear over time, and our famous Russian historians, chronographers and ethnographers found it difficult to determine their nature.

Holidays are an integral part of everyone's life.

There are several types of holidays: family, religious, calendar, state.

Family holidays are: birthdays, weddings, housewarmings. On such days the whole family gathers together.

Calendar or public holidays are New Year, Defender of the Fatherland Day, International Women's Day, World Spring and Labor Day, Victory Day, Children's Day, Independence Day of Russia and others.

Religious holidays - Christmas, Epiphany, Easter, Shrovetide and others.

For residents of Russian cities, the New Year is the main winter holiday and is celebrated on January 1. However, there are exceptions among urban residents who do not celebrate the New Year. The real holiday for the believer is Christmas. And in front of him is a strict Christmas fast, which lasts 40 days. It begins on November 28 and ends only on January 6, in the evening, with the rising of the first star. There are even villages, settlements where all residents do not celebrate the New Year or celebrate it on January 13 (January 1 according to the Julian style), after Lent and Christmas.

And now back to the history of the celebration of the New Year in Russia

The celebration of the New Year in Russia has the same difficult fate as its history itself. First of all, all the changes in the celebration of the new year were associated with the most important historical events that affected the entire state and each person individually. Undoubtedly folk tradition even after the officially introduced changes in the calendar, it retained ancient customs for a long time.

Celebration of the New Year in pagan Russia.

How was it celebrated New Year in pagan ancient Russia - one of the unresolved and controversial issues in historical science. No affirmative answer was found from what time the countdown of the year began.

Old Russian rituals originate in pagan times. Not even Christianity could destroy their power. Many traditions have come down to our times.

How did the old Russian rites appear?

The most important old Russian rituals are associated with elemental forces, or rather with their natural mystical side. The basis of the life of every peasant was hard land work, so most of the traditions were associated with coaxing rain, sun and harvest.

During the seasons, a certain amount was used aimed at improving the harvest and protecting livestock. Among the most important sacraments, baptism and communion are in the first place.

Caroling is a ritual of the Christmas holidays, during which the participants of the ceremony receive treats for performing special songs in the homes of relatives and friends. It was believed that during Christmas time, the sun receives a huge amount of energy to awaken the earth and nature.

Now caroling has remained a tradition associated with Slavic history, both in Ukraine and in Belarus. Divination is considered one of the components of the ritual. Many experts in the mystical sphere claim that during this period you can get the most accurate predictions.

The end of March is considered the period of the equinox, in which Shrovetide rites are held. As the personification of the pagan god Yarilo, pancakes are considered a traditional dish of this holiday.

Not a single Maslenitsa will be considered complete without burning an effigy on the last day of the celebration. The doll symbolizes the end of severe cold and the arrival of spring. At the end of the burning, Maslenitsa transfers its energy to the fields, giving them fertility.

In mythology, he is considered a powerful deity associated with the worship of the power of the Sun. In early times, it was held on the day of the summer solstice, but over time it was associated with the birthday of John the Baptist. All ritual actions take place at night.

Flower wreaths, which are used for divination, are considered a symbol of the ceremony. On this day, unmarried girls float their wreath down the river in order to find their betrothed with it.

There is a belief that a rare fern flower blooms on this night, indicating ancient treasures and treasures. However, it is almost impossible for an ordinary person to find it. Chants, round dances around the fire and jumping over the fire became an invariable part of the holiday. This helps to cleanse the negative and improve health. In addition, separate

Among all sorts of ancient customs, you can stumble upon rather strange and incomprehensible rites:

Daughterhood

This was the name of the intimate relationship between the father-in-law and the son's wife. Officially, this was not approved and was considered a minor sin. The fathers tried to send their sons under any pretext for a long time, so that the daughter-in-law would not be able to refuse. Nowadays, law enforcement agencies deal with such things, but in those days there was no one to complain to.

dump sin

Now this sin can be observed in special German-made films, and many years ago it was staged in Russian villages on. After the traditional activities, the couples would leave to look for fern flowers. But this was just an excuse to retire and indulge in carnal pleasures.

Gasky

The custom is known from the words of the traveler Roccolini. All the young people of the village converged in one house, sang songs and danced under the torches. When the light went out, everyone began to indulge in carnal pleasures with the first one that came to hand. Whether the traveler himself participated in such a rite is unknown.

overbaking

The rite was used in cases of the birth of a premature baby in the family. If the mother's body could not give the necessary strength to the baby, then it should have been baked. The newborn was wrapped in unleavened dough, leaving one spout, and baked, pronouncing special words. Of course, the oven must be warm, then the bundle was laid out on the table. It was believed that this cleanses the baby from diseases.

Scarier than pregnant

Our ancestors were very sensitive to childbirth. They believed that during pregnancy, the child goes through a difficult path to the world of the living. The very process of birth is very complicated, and midwives made it even harder. Near the woman in labor, they rattled loudly and shot, so that it would be easier for the child to go out into the light with the mother's fright.

Salting

In addition to Russia, such a ritual was carried out in France and England. He provided for the addition of strength to children from salt. The child was completely rubbed with salt and wrapped in a cloth, more prosperous people buried it completely. All the skin could peel off the child, but at the same time he became healthier.

Rite of the Dead

Otherwise, this ritual is called a wedding. Ancient times White dress and the veil was considered a funeral garment. Marriage is associated with the new birth of a woman, but for a new birth one must die. Hence the belief that the bride should be mourned as a dead woman. When handing over the ransom, the groom, as it were, was looking for her in the world of the dead and brought her to the light. The bridesmaids acted as guardians of the underworld.

Traditions and customs of the Russian people

Introduction

Folk customs, as well as church sacraments, rituals and holidays are connected both with the calendar and with human life.

The folk calendar was an agricultural calendar, which was reflected in the names of the months, folk signs, rituals and customs. Even the determination of the timing and duration of the seasons is associated with real climatic conditions. Hence the discrepancy between the names of the months in different areas. For example, both October and November can be called leaf fall.

The folk calendar is a kind of encyclopedia of peasant life with its holidays and weekdays. It includes knowledge of nature, agricultural experience, rituals, norms of social life.

Ceremonies dedicated to major holidays included a large number of different works of folk art: songs, sentences, round dances, games, dances, dramatic scenes, masks, folk costumes, original props.

MASLENITSA

What did they do for carnival?

A significant part of the customs on Shrovetide, one way or another, was connected with the theme of family and marriage relations: newlyweds who got married during the past year were honored at Shrovetide. The young people were arranged for a kind of bride in the village: they put them at the gate posts and forced them to kiss in front of everyone, “buried” them in the snow or showered them with snow. They were also subjected to other trials: when the young people rode in a sleigh through the village, they were stopped and thrown with old bast shoes or straw, and sometimes they were given a “kissing man” or “kissing man” - when fellow villagers could come to the house of the young and kiss the young. The newlyweds were rolled around the village, but if they received a bad treat for this, they could ride the newlyweds not in a sleigh, but on a harrow. Shrovetide week also took place in mutual visits of two recently related families.

This theme was also reflected in the specific Maslenitsa customs dedicated to the punishment of boys and girls who did not marry during the past year (in fact, they did not fulfill their life purpose). Such rituals are widespread in Ukraine and in the Slavic Catholic traditions. For example, in Ukraine and in the southern Russian regions, the most famous custom was “pulling” or “tying” the shoe, when a guy or girl was tied to the leg with a “box” - a piece of wood, a branch, a ribbon, etc. and forced to walk with it for some time. To untie the block, the punished paid off with money or treats.

Among the various Shrovetide customs, a prominent place is occupied by rituals related to economic affairs and, in particular, magical actions aimed at enhancing the growth of cultivated plants. For example, in order for flax and hemp to grow “LONG” (HIGH), in Russia women rode down the mountains, trying to move as far as possible, and also fought, sang loudly, etc. In some places in Ukraine and Belarus, women they had fun and walked on Maslenitsa Thursday (called Vlasiy and Volosiy), believing that this would make the livestock on the farm better.

The most important day of the Maslenitsa week was Sunday - the conspiracy before the start of Great Lent. In Russia, this day was called Forgiveness Sunday, when close people asked each other for forgiveness for all the insults and troubles caused to them; in the evenings it was customary to visit cemeteries and “say goodbye” to the dead.

main episode last day there were “seeing off Shrovetide”, often accompanied by the lighting of bonfires. In Russia, on this day, they made a stuffed animal of Winter from straw or rags, usually dressed it up in women's clothes, carried it through the whole village, sometimes putting the stuffed animal on a wheel stuck on top of a pole; leaving the village, the scarecrow was either drowned in the hole, or burned, or simply torn to pieces, and the remaining straw was scattered across the field. Sometimes, instead of a doll, a living “Maslenitsa” was taken around the village: a smartly dressed girl or woman, an old woman or even an old man - a drunkard in rags. Then, to the sound of shouting and hooting, they were taken out of the village and planted there or dumped into the snow (“they held Maslenitsa”).

It should be noted here that the concept of the "Scarecrow of Maslenitsa" is somewhat erroneous, since in reality a scarecrow of _Zima was made, it was rolled, it was seen off and burned, but since this action took place on Maslenitsa (that is, a holiday), very often the scarecrow is mistakenly called Shrovetide, although this is not true.

In the same place, where they did not make stuffed animals, the ceremony of “seeing off the carnival” consisted mainly in the lighting of all-village bonfires on a hill outside the village or near the river. In addition to firewood, they threw all sorts of junk into the fires - bast shoes, harrows, purses, brooms, barrels and other unnecessary things that were previously collected by children throughout the village, and sometimes stolen specially for this. Sometimes they burned a wheel in a fire, a symbol of the sun, associated with the approaching spring; it was often worn on a pole stuck in the middle of a fire.

Among the Western and Southern Slavs, the Russian “Maslenitsa” corresponded to Zapust, Mensopust, Pust and some other characters - scarecrows, the “wiring” of which ended the Maslenitsa week.

In the central regions of Russia, “seeing off Shrovetide” was accompanied by the removal of fast food, symbolizing Shrovetide, from the cultural space. Therefore, the remains of pancakes and butter were sometimes burned in bonfires, milk was poured there, but more often they simply told the children that all the quick dishes were burned in the bonfire (“the milk burned down, flew to Rostov”). Some customs were addressed to children and were supposed to frighten them and force them to obedience: in the Nizhny Novgorod region, on the last Sunday of Maslenitsa week, a pole was set up in the center of the village, on which a peasant with a broom climbed and, pretending to beat someone, shouted: “Do not ask milk, pancakes, scrambled eggs.”

Farewell to the MASLENITSA ended on the first day of Great Lent - Pure Monday, which was considered the day of cleansing from sin and fast food. Men used to “rinse their teeth”, i.e. they drank vodka in abundance, ostensibly in order to rinse out the remnants of fast food from their mouths; in some places fistfights, etc., were arranged to “shake out pancakes”. On Clean Monday, they always washed in a bathhouse, and women washed dishes and “steamed” milk utensils, cleaning it from fat and the remnants of the milk.

Among other customs and entertainments of Shrovetide week were mummers (in Russia, mummers accompanied a stuffed Shrovetide), driving a “goat” or “goat” (eastern Ukraine), fistfights and ball games (sometimes very cruel and ending in mutilation), cockfights and goose fights , swings, carousels, youth evenings, etc. Monday - meeting On this day, a stuffed animal was made from straw, put on old women's clothes on it, planted this stuffed animal on a pole and drove it around the village with singing. Then Maslenitsa was set on a snowy mountain, where sleigh rides began. The songs that are sung on the day of the meeting are very cheerful. Yes, for example: And we met Maslenitsa, We met, soul, we met, We visited the mountain, They lined the mountain with pancake, They stuffed the mountain with cheese, They watered the mountain with butter, They watered, soul, watered. on a sleigh, festivities, performances. In large wooden booths (rooms for folk theatrical performances with clowning and comic scenes), performances were given led by Petrushka and Shrovetide grandfather. On the streets there were large groups of mummers, in masks, driving around familiar houses, where cheerful home concerts were impromptu. Large companies rode around the city, on troikas and on simple sledges. Another simple entertainment was held in high esteem - skiing from icy mountains. Wednesday - gourmet She opened treats in all houses with pancakes and other dishes. In each family, tables were set with delicious food, pancakes were baked, and beer was brewed in the villages. Theaters and trade tents appeared everywhere. They sold hot sbitni (drinks made from water, honey and spices), roasted nuts, and honey gingerbread. Here, right under the open sky, one could drink tea from a boiling samovar. Thursday - revelry (break, wide Thursday) This day was the middle of games and fun. Perhaps it was then that the hot Shrovetide fistfights took place, fists that originated from Ancient Russia. They also had their own strict rules. It was impossible, for example, to beat a recumbent (remember the proverb “they don’t beat a recumbent”), to attack one together (two fight - don’t get the third one), to hit below the waist (there is a saying: blow below the waist) or beat on the back of the head. There were penalties for violating these rules. It was possible to fight "wall to wall" (again a saying) or "one on one" (as the French tete-a-tete - "eye to eye"). There were also "hunting" fights for connoisseurs, lovers of such fights. Ivan the Terrible himself watched such battles with pleasure. For such an occasion, this entertainment was prepared especially magnificently and solemnly. Friday - mother-in-law evening A whole series of Shrovetide customs was aimed at speeding up weddings and helping young people find a mate. And how much attention and honors were given to the newlyweds at Shrovetide! Tradition requires that they dressed up to go out "to people" in painted sleighs, pay visits to everyone who walked with them at the wedding, so that they solemnly roll down the ice mountain to the songs (and in this also had a secret meaning). However, (as you probably already understood from the name of this day of Shrovetide week), the most important event associated with the newlyweds and celebrated throughout Russia was the visit of the mother-in-law by the sons-in-law, for whom she baked pancakes and arranged a real feast (unless, of course, the son-in-law was to her liking). In some places, “mother-in-law pancakes” took place on gourmets, that is, on Wednesday at Shrovetide week, but could be timed to coincide with Friday. "- invited to pancakes. The former boyfriend usually appeared, who played the same role as at the wedding, and received a gift for his efforts. The mother-in-law was obliged to send in the evening everything necessary for baking pancakes: a frying pan, a ladle, etc., and the father-in-law sent a bag of buckwheat and cow's butter. The disrespect of the son-in-law for this event was considered a dishonor and insult, and was the reason for the eternal enmity between him and the mother-in-law. Saturday - sister-in-law gatherings Let's start with the fact that the "sister-in-law" is the husband's sister. Where did such a name come from? Maybe from the word evil? After all, she always noticed too much in her brother's wife negative traits, and sometimes did not hide his dislike for her? Well, this happened too... (but not always). who came not from here, from their village, for example, but from nowhere - it was customary in some places before: "Do not marry your own, local." Sunday - seeing off, kissing, forgiven day it is told how, at the beginning of the 17th century, the foreigner Margeret observed the following picture: if during the year the Russians insulted each other with something, then, having met on “forgiveness Sunday”, they would certainly greet each other with a kiss, and one of them would say: “Forgive me, perhaps." The second answered: "God will forgive you." The offense was forgotten. For the same purpose, on Forgiveness Sunday, they went to the cemetery, left pancakes on the graves, prayed and worshiped the ashes of their relatives. Shrovetide was also called Cheese Week and was the last week before Lent.

EASTER CHRISTIAN.

Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is the most important holiday in the Christian calendar.

Easter Sunday does not fall on the same date every year, but is always between March 22 and April 25. It falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon following March 21, the vernal equinox.

The date of Easter Sunday was approved by the church council in Nicaea in 325 AD.

The name "Passover" is a direct transfer of the name of the Jewish holiday, celebrated annually during the week, starting from the 14th day of the spring month of Nissan. The name "Passover" itself is a Greek modification of the Hebrew word "pesah", which was interpreted as "passing"; it was borrowed from an older shepherd's custom of celebrating the transition from winter to summer pastures.

The death and resurrection of Christ coincided with the Easter holiday, and He Himself became like an innocent lamb (lamb), slaughtered according to custom before the start of this holiday. Christians honored Sunday as the day of the Resurrection of Christ.

The events of the gospel story coincided with the Jewish holiday of Passover, they were close in time of celebration.

The calculation of the timing of the celebration of Easter is currently carried out in most Christian denominations according to the lunisolar calendar.

Any sacred rite can only benefit us when we understand its meaning and spiritual importance. When did the custom come to the Orthodox Church to greet each other with the words "Christ is Risen", give colored eggs for Easter and decorate the table with Easter cakes and curd Easter? There is a church tradition that after the ascension of Christ, Saint Mary Magdalene, traveling to different countries with a sermon about the risen Savior, was in Rome. Here she appeared to the emperor Tiberius and, offering him a red egg, said: "Christ is risen", and thus began her sermon about the risen Christ. The first Christians, having learned about such a simple, cordial offering of a wife Equal to the Apostles, began to imitate him, while remembering the Resurrection of Christ, they began to give red eggs to each other. This custom quickly spread and became universal. Why donate eggs? This symbol is of ancient origin. Ancient philosophers showed the origin of the world with the image of an egg. In Christianity, the egg reminds us of the future resurrection after death, and the red color means the joy of our salvation by the resurrected Lord. People with great unexpected joy are ready to pass it on to everyone they know. So Christians, out of an excess of Paschal joy, mutually exchange kisses when they meet, expressing brotherly love with the words: "Christ is Risen!" - "Truly Risen!" By the way, the custom of christening and gifting with eggs is a distinctive feature of Russia. There is nothing similar in other countries.

Russian Easter is also characterized by a number of traditions, such as decorating tables with consecrated cottage cheese Easter and Easter cakes. Cottage cheese Easter is made in the form of a truncated pyramid - a symbol of the Holy Sepulcher. On its lateral sides are depicted the instruments of Christ's suffering: a cross, a spear, a cane, as well as symbols of the resurrection: flowers, sprouted grains, sprouts, the letters "Х.В.".

But the most important culinary masterpiece of the table has always been the Easter cake consecrated in the temple, which is, as it were, a homemade Artos, which is an obligatory symbol of the Easter service. Artos is an all-round prosphora, a large bread with an image of a cross, which recalls the sacrificial death of the Savior to atone for the sins of mankind. Artos is placed on a lectern in front of the iconostasis and stands until the end of Holy Week, and then it is divided into small pieces and distributed to believers in the temple.

NATIVITY

Christmas is not only a bright holiday of Orthodoxy. Christmas is a holiday returned, reborn. The traditions of this holiday, filled with genuine humanity and kindness, high moral ideals, are being opened and comprehended again today.

Why Christmas Trees Are Decorated

It is believed that the first undecorated Christmas trees appeared in Germany in the 8th century. The first mention of spruce is associated with the monk Saint Boniface. Boniface preached to the Druids a sermon on the Nativity. To convince the idolaters that the oak was not a sacred and inviolable tree, he cut down one of the oaks. When the felled oak fell, it knocked down all the trees in its path except the young spruce. Boniface presented the survival of the spruce as a miracle and exclaimed: "Let this tree be the tree of Christ." In the 17th century, the Christmas tree was already a common Christmas decoration in Germany and the Scandinavian countries. At that time, the Christmas tree was decorated with figurines and flowers cut out of colored paper, apples, waffles, gilded gizmos, and sugar. The tradition of decorating a Christmas tree is associated with a paradise tree hung with apples.

The success of the Christmas tree in Protestant countries was even greater thanks to the legend that Martin Luther himself was the first to come up with the idea of lighting candles on a Christmas tree. One evening he was walking home, writing a sermon. The glitter of the stars twinkling among the fir trees filled him with awe. To demonstrate this magnificent picture to the family, he put up a Christmas tree in the main room, fixed candles on its branches and lit them. The first Christmas trees were decorated with fresh flowers and fruits. Later, sweets, nuts, and other foods were added. Then - Christmas candles. Such a load was certainly too heavy for the tree. German glassblowers began producing hollow glass Christmas decorations to replace fruit and other heavy ornaments.

Christmas wreath

The Christmas wreath is of Lutheran origin. This is an evergreen wreath with four candles. The first candle is lit on the Sunday four weeks before Christmas as a symbol of the light that will come into the world with the birth of Christ. Every following Sunday, another candle is lit. On the last Sunday before Christmas, all four candles are lit to illuminate the place where the wreath is located, or maybe the altar of the church or the dining table.

Christmas candles

Light was an important component of winter pagan holidays. With the help of candles and bonfires, the forces of darkness and cold were expelled. Wax candles were distributed to the Romans on the feast of Saturnalia. In Christianity, candles are considered an additional symbol of the significance of Jesus as the Light of the world. In Victorian England, merchants gave candles to their regular customers every year. In many countries, Christmas candles signify the victory of light over darkness. Candles on the tree of paradise gave rise to our all-time favorite Christmas tree.

Christmas presents

This tradition has many roots. Saint Nicholas is traditionally considered the giver of gifts. In Rome, it was a tradition to give gifts to children on the feast of Saturnalia. Jesus himself, Santa Claus, Befana (Italian female Santa Claus), Christmas gnomes, various saints can act as a gift giver. According to an old Finnish tradition, gifts are scattered around the houses by an invisible man.

Christmas on a platter

Christmas Eve was called "Christmas Eve" or "Novel", and this word comes from the ritual food eaten on this day - sochiva (or watering). Sochivo - porridge made from red wheat or barley, rye, buckwheat, peas, lentils, mixed with honey and almond and poppy juice; that is, it is kutya - a ritual funeral dish. The number of dishes was also ritual - 12 (according to the number of apostles). The table was prepared plentiful: pancakes, fish dishes, aspic, jelly from pork and beef legs, suckling pig stuffed with porridge, pork head with horseradish, homemade pork sausage, roast. honey gingerbread and, of course, roast goose. Food on Christmas Eve could not be taken until the first star, in memory of the Star of Bethlehem, which announced to the Magi and the Nativity of the Savior. And with the onset of twilight, when the first star lit up, they sat down at the table and shared the hosts, wishing each other all the good and bright. Christmas is a holiday when the whole family gathers together at a common table.

HOW TO CELEBRATE

Twelve days after the feast of the Nativity of Christ are called Christmastide, that is, holy days, since these twelve days are consecrated by the great events of the Nativity of Christ.

For the first time in three centuries of Christianity, when persecution interfered with the freedom of Christian worship, in some Eastern Churches the feast of the Nativity of Christ was combined with the feast of Baptism under the general name of Theophany. A monument to the ancient union of the Nativity of Christ and the Holy Theophany is the perfect similarity in the administration of these holidays, which has come down to our times. When these holidays were separated, the celebration spread to all the days between December 25 and January 6, and these days, as it were, constituted one day of the holiday. The people call these days holy evenings, because, according to ancient custom, Orthodox Christians stop their daytime activities in the evening, in remembrance of the events of the Nativity and Baptism of the Savior, which were at night or in the evening. The Church began to sanctify twelve days after the feast of the Nativity of Christ from ancient times. Already in the church charter of the Monk Savva the Sanctified (died in 530), which included even more ancient rites, it is written that on the days of Christmastide "there is no fasting, there are below the knee, lower in the church, lower in the cell", and it is forbidden to perform the sacrament of marriage .

By the Second Council of Turon in 567, all the days from the Nativity of Christ to the Epiphany were called holidays.

Meanwhile, the holiness of these days and evenings is now violated by calls to the customs of pagan festivals. From TV screens, on the radio, from newspapers, we are told that in Russia during the days of Christmastide, fortune-telling, dress-up games, and folk festivals were accepted. The Church, taking care of our purity, has always forbidden these superstitions. The canons of the Sixth Ecumenical Council say: “Those who resort to magicians, or others like them, in order to learn something secret from them, in accordance with the previous fatherly decrees about them, are subject to the rule of a six-year penance. The same penance should be subjected to those who perform fortune-telling about happiness, fate, genealogy, and many other similar rumors, equally called cloud-catchers, charmers, makers of protective talismans and sorcerers. "For what fellowship of righteousness with lawlessness? What has light to do with darkness? What agreement is there between Christ and Belial? (2 Corinthians 6:14-16). The so-called kalends (that is, pagan celebrations of the first day of each month). Bota (pagan celebration of Panu), Vrumalia (celebration of the pagan deity - Bacchus) and the people's gathering on the first day of March, we wish to completely expel from lives of the faithful. Likewise, national dances, which can cause great harm and destruction, as well as in honor of the gods, who are so falsely called the Hellenes, dances and ceremonies performed by men and women, performed according to an ancient and alien rite of Christian life, we reject and determine: none of the husbands dress in women's clothing, not peculiar to her husband; don't wear masks. Therefore, those who from now on, knowing this, dare to do any of the above, we command the clergy to be cast out of the holy dignity, and the laity to be excommunicated from church communion.

The Holy Scriptures say: "A woman should not wear men's clothes, and a man should not put on a woman's dress, for everyone who does this is abominable before the Lord your God" (Deut. 22:5). The Orthodox government of the Russian Empire in its laws forbade "on the eve of the Nativity of Christ and during Christmas time, according to old idolatrous legends, games and, dressing up in idol robes, dance along the streets and sing seductive songs."

Christmas divination

Everyone always wants to look at least a little into the future, and Christmas time was considered an ideal time for fortune telling - and people wondered. For fortune-telling, "unclean" places were chosen, where, as it was believed, an unclean force lives, which became very active during the Christmas period - non-residential and non-standard places: abandoned houses, baths, barns, cellars, canopies, attics, cemeteries, etc.

The fortune-tellers had to take off their underwear crosses and belts, untie all the knots on their clothes, the girls loosened their braids. They went secretly to fortune-telling: they left the house without crossing themselves, they walked in silence, barefoot in one shirt, closing their eyes and covering their faces with a handkerchief so as not to be recognized. In order not to finally disappear, "protective" measures were taken against evil spirits- they drew a circle around themselves with a poker and put a clay pot on their heads.

The topics of fortune-telling varied from issues of life, death and health to the offspring of livestock and honey bees, however, the main part of the fortune-telling was devoted to marriage issues - the girls tried to find out the most detailed information about their betrothed.

The technology of divination was based on the universal belief that if certain conditions are met, "signs" of fate will be received, which, if correctly interpreted, will open the veil of time and suggest the future. "Signs" could be anything - dreams, random sounds and words, forms of melted wax and protein poured into water, the degree of wilting of plants, the behavior of animals, the number and even-odd of objects, etc., etc. etc.

The barking of a dog indicated from which side the groom would arrive, the sound of an ax promised misfortune and death, music for a quick wedding, the tramp of a horse - a good road; they guessed not only by random sounds and provoked them: they knocked on the gate of the barn, on the fence, etc. And they guessed about the temper of the future husband by the behavior of cockroaches, spiders and ants.

In order to have a prophetic dream, the girl had to wash herself with water brought from nine wells, weave blades of grass into a braid, sweep the floor before going to bed in the direction from the threshold to the corner and run around the house naked. It also helped to put under the bed and under the pillow men's pants, a pillow with grain, a comb or a cup of water.

But still, the central moment of the Christmas celebrations was a family meal. An odd number of dishes were prepared, the main of which was kutya - a kind of steeply boiled porridge made from barley or wheat groats (and sometimes prepared from a mixture of different types of grain), pancakes and oatmeal jelly were also prepared. Additional appliances were placed on the table according to the number of family members who died in the past year.

In the evenings and at night, mummers went home - carolers, especially in order to receive ritual food from the owners and express good wishes to them in the coming year, the prosperity of the family next year, it was believed, directly depended on the degree of gifting carolers.

CHRISTMAS POST

How the Advent was established

The establishment of the Nativity Fast, as well as other multi-day fasts, dates back to the ancient times of Christianity. Since the fourth century, St. Ambrose of Mediodalan, Philastrius, and Blessed Augustine mention the Nativity Fast in their works. In the fifth century, Leo the Great wrote about the antiquity of the Nativity Fast.

Initially, the Advent fast lasted seven days for some Christians, and a few more for others. At the council of 1166, which was under the Patriarch Luke of Constantinople and the Byzantine emperor Manuel, all Christians were supposed to fast before the great feast of the Nativity of Christ for forty days.

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