Holidays in Rus' folk culture and traditions. Russian folk holidays and rituals and their traditions for children and adults
Details Created on 14.08.2013 11:07
You can understand and comprehend the culture of your people only when you feel it in yourself. When towels and tablecloths embroidered by your grandmother become priceless for you. And when you turn to rituals and traditions, not only because it is a storehouse of wisdom, but also because it is your roots. Forgetting them, we break the connection between times and generations.
Every nation has its own national holidays. Most of these holidays originated in ancient times - several centuries ago, and some even a thousand years. Everything changes in our life: things, cities, villages, professions, clothes, nature, but only folk holidays that continue to live as long as people live. National holidays are the holidays of the soul and heart of the people.
Russian folk holidays
The church has fought paganism for many centuries. However, neither persecution, nor frightening sermons, nor sovereign decrees, nor attempts to coincide with the ancient traditional church holidays and thereby completely eradicate paganism did not lead to the expected result.
The adoption of Christianity led to the mastery church calendar and the veneration of saints, each of which was dedicated to a day of the year. From Christianity - the timing of the saints to the days of the annual cycle - from paganism - the distribution between them (saints) of worries about the weather, people's health, agricultural and household work. The Slavs worshiped thunder, the sun, the month, revered stones, ponds, trees. The oak was considered a sacred tree among the Slavs, many beliefs are also associated with willow, birch, mountain ash.
The holiday has always performed important social functions, had a deep meaning, in it a person is most
Maslenitsa - one of the favorite spring holidays: cheerful, reckless. It was celebrated by the whole world - both old and young. Maslenitsa was called clean, cheerful, wide. They also called her the boyar Maslenitsa and the Lady Maslenitsa. Maslenitsa falls at the end of February - beginning of March.
In many regions of Russia, it was customary to make a scarecrow out of straw, dress it in a girl's outfit and carry it through the streets. Then the scarecrow was placed in an open place, where basically all the Maslenitsa entertainments took place. On the last day of the holiday, the effigy was burned, and the ashes were scattered on the ground: so that there would be a good harvest.
Pancakes, pies and other goodies began to be baked on Maslenitsa. Pancake is a symbol of the sun (the same round), and the sun personified resurgent life (spring has come, everything starts to grow), health, longevity, wealth.
Christians usually put the first Maslenitsa pancake on a dormer window or gave it to a beggar.
Holy Sunday of Christ is named Easter
and is considered the most important holiday of the Christian church. Memories of the suffering and ascension of Christ formed part of the church rituals of Holy Week and Holy Week of Easter. In total, Easter is celebrated for forty days.
From the spring pagan holiday, Christian Easter took the ritual of consecrating Easter cakes, making cottage cheese Easter, and dyeing eggs. The egg in the eyes of the ancients possessed a mysterious power that supposedly passed on to everything that the egg touched. Colored eggs were exchanged at a meeting, they were guessing about fate, breaking the shell in a certain way. The egg had to be rolled on the table. Good luck in games with eggs promised well-being in the family.
On June 19, 325, the First Ecumenical Council in Nicea determined the time for the celebration of Easter - after the spring equinox and the full moon following it, between March 22 / April 4 and April 25 / May 8.
It is impossible not to say about the ritual games and rituals. In addition to the well-known rolling of eggs from a hill, riding on a swing, pouring water and whipping each other with branches were very common. It was believed that this could increase the yield.
In Russia, Easter was called the Great Day, Bright Day. The peasants had a belief that the sun plays on Easter, and many tried to watch for this moment.
The weather on the first day of Easter determined the weather.
The first Sunday after Easter is called Red Hill. In the Volga region, they tried to fit weddings to Krasnaya Gorka, this day was considered happy for those entering into marriage. Red - beautiful, excellent, the best. Gorka is the place of the village, which is the first in spring. is freed from snow and dries up. There are other names for this holiday: radunitsa, radovnitsa, svadbishnik.
The holiday begins in a friendly circle on a small clearing, where there are large swings, there is a wonderful playground for games and round dances. Guests are divided into teams. Each team prepares its own game or song with a round dance, which is then picked up by everyone.
Red Hill is considered a girls' holiday. It is considered a bad omen if any guy or girl spends this holiday at home: "such a guy will either not find a bride at all, or will take a pockmarked ugly woman."
Tatar folk holidays
Tatar national holidays delight with their gratitude to the customs of their ancestors, people's respect for nature, for each other. Only two words among the Tatars mean a holiday. Muslim religious holidays are called ghats. Not religious, but folk holidays, the Tatars call beyrem. According to scientists, this word means "spring celebration" or "spring beauty". The meaning of the Tatar holiday is spring celebration and donation.
Muslim Tatars have religious holidays as templates, which include a morning collective prayer, in which only boys and men participated in the old days. Then it is supposed to go to the cemetery to pray at the graves of their loved ones. At this time, women and girls cook treats at home. On each religious holiday, which lasts for several days, it is supposed to bypass all relatives and neighbors with congratulations. It is especially important to visit the parental home. Whenever possible, Tatars try to give each other gifts and arrange dinner parties. These holidays include: the holiday of the sacrifice of Korban Gaete, the holiday of fasting Uraza Gaete, the holiday of the Tatars Sabantuy. In addition to these main religious holidays Tatars also have other holidays that are celebrated according to special customs that have been established since ancient times. During the holidays, people unite, becoming like one family.
According to the old, old tradition, Tatar auls and cities were located on the banks of rivers. Therefore, the first bayram - "spring celebration" for the Tatars is associated with ice drift. This holiday is called boz carau , boz bagu - "look at the ice", boz ozatma - seeing off the ice, zin kitu - ice drift.
All residents, from old people to children, came out to watch the ice drift on the river bank. The youth walked dressed up, with harmonists. Straw was laid out and lit on floating ice floes. In the blue spring twilight, these floating torches could be seen far away, and songs rushed after them. Among the Siberian Tatars, during the ice drift, specially made dolls, coins, old clothes and even plunged into the still icy water: it was believed that the spring river carries away diseases ...
In our time, the ice drift holiday has lost its former popularity. But the spring holiday of the Tatars is becoming widespread and beloved again. Sabantuy . This is a very beautiful, kind and wise holiday. It includes various rituals and games. Here are some of them.
One day in early spring (the old aksakals indicated a specific day), the children went home to collect cereals, butter, and eggs. With their calls, they expressed good wishes to the owners and ... demanded refreshments! Here is one of those quotes:
“Der, der, dere ge Irte toryp berikenche sorenge. Soren sukkan-bai bulgan. Hai, hai, hai Dealer, Gali Abzy Bai, Dealer, Berer Qashlyk May, Dealer!” (Give, give, donate. In a day - soren. Who participates in soren - will be rich, who smokes - will be poor. Hi-hi-hi, they say, grandfather Gali is rich, they say, give me a spoonful of butter, they say).
With the help of one or two elderly women, children cooked porridge in a huge cauldron from the food collected on the street or indoors. Everyone brought a plate and a spoon with them. The porridge looked like a meal! And after such a feast, the children played. IN different places living Tatars, this rite was called differently: rook porridge, starling porridge, willow porridge. Why so called porridge - guess for yourself. This cheerful ritual served as a sign of the beginning of preparations for Sabantuy.
After a while, the day of collecting colored eggs came. The inhabitants of the village were warned about such a day in advance and the housewives painted eggs in the evening - most often in broth onion peel. The eggs turned out to be multi-colored - from golden yellow to dark brown, and in a decoction of birch leaves - various shades Green colour. In addition, in each house they baked special dough balls - t + sh, baursak or small buns - shishara, pretzels, and also bought sweets.
Especially waiting for this day ... What do you think - who? Of course, children. Mothers sewed bags for them from towels to collect eggs. Some guys went to bed dressed and shod, so as not to waste time getting ready in the morning, they put a log under the pillow so as not to oversleep. Early in the morning, boys and girls aged from 3-4 to 10-12 years old began to walk around the houses.
Young men or elderly men collected specially prepared gifts for the Sabantuy holiday - embroidered towels, scarves, napkins. Some givers said: "My gift is to the winner of the wrestling match," or the winner of the race, or the rider who came ... last. If someone did not give a gift, then the villagers could condemn him for being greedy. And if for some reason the collectors did not enter the house for a gift, then the owners believed that they had been offended. Sabantuy is a holiday for all Tatars. On the main day of this holiday, everyone gathers in a specially designated, equipped and decorated place, which is called maidan - meydan. Music, songs, jokes - and spring triumphant with every leaf, every blade of grass!
Traditional competitions on the Sabantuy holiday are horse racing, running, jumping and national wrestling - koresh.
At the village races, the riders were boys of eight or twelve years old. We rode 5-8 kilometers, all participants received awards. Horses were also celebrated: towels were tied around them, including the one that came last.
Lively and cheerfully passed and now there are competitions of runners, especially the races of the elderly. And the main competition on Sabantuy is sash wrestling - koresh. A towel is used as a sash. Each wrestler wraps his towel around his opponent and wrestles, trying to put him on his shoulder blades. Boys of five or six years old begin the fight, and sometimes two old men. Then older guys, young men, middle-aged men fight in turn. Winners - gifts. Then the winners fight with the winners, and finally the most important winner is revealed - the batyr. He is usually rewarded with a live ram.
Sabantuy is also beautiful because at this holiday everyone is not only spectators, but also participants - they sing, dance, show dexterity in games. And in the evening, youth games are held on the Maidan field with round dances, dances, catch-up games, and cart rides.
Another wonderful National holiday Tatars - zhyen . Its time is after the end of spring field work and the beginning of haymaking. On this holiday, the inhabitants of some villages became guests of others. Those who went to visit sewed outfits, baked pies, and brought with them the carcasses of dried geese. They arrived on decorated carts, drove into the village with music and songs, children opened the decorated field gates for guests. For each newly arrived guests, the hosts set the table again. In the evening, a common dinner was organized. On all days of the visit, the hosts heated baths: kunakny hormeshe muncha - a bath is the highest honor for a guest. So it is customary to consider the Tatars. The holiday of vien strengthened kindred and friendly relations, rallied the village and the surrounding area: people felt like one family during the days of this holiday.
Chuvash folk holidays
The ceremonial calendar opened with a holiday Surkhuri
. This is an old Chuvash holiday. In an older version, he had a connection with the worship of tribal spirits - the patrons of cattle. Hence the name of the holiday (from "surakh yrri" - "sheep spirit"). It was celebrated during the winter solstice, when the day began to arrive. Surkhuri and lasted a whole week. During the celebration, rituals were held to ensure economic success and personal well-being of people, a good harvest and livestock in the new year. On the first day of Surkhuri, the children gathered in groups and went around the village door-to-door. At the same time, they sang songs about the coming of the new year, congratulated fellow villagers on the holiday, invited other guys to join their company. Entering the house, they wished the owners a good offspring of livestock, sang songs with spells, and they, in turn, presented them with food.
Cavarni (Maslenitsa), which marked the offensive spring forces in nature. In the design of the holiday, in the content of songs, sentences and rituals, its agrarian nature and the cult of the sun were clearly manifested. To speed up the movement of the sun and the arrival of spring, it was customary to bake pancakes on the holiday, to ride a sleigh around the village in the course of the sun. At the end of the Maslenitsa week, an effigy of the “old woman of the savarni” (“savarni karchake”) was burned. Then came the holiday of honoring the sun savarni (Shrovetide), when they baked pancakes, arranged horseback riding around the village in the sun. At the end of the Maslenitsa week, an effigy of the “old woman of the savarni” (savarni karchake) was burned.
Mancun - a celebration of the meeting of the spring new year according to the ancient Chuvash calendar. The name mankun translates as "great day". It is noteworthy that the pagan East Slavic tribes also called the first day of the spring new year the Great Day. After the spread of Christianity, the Chuvash mankun coincided with Christian Easter.
According to the ancient Chuvash calendar, mankun was celebrated on the days of the spring solstice. Pagan Chuvashs started mankun on Wednesday and celebrated for a whole week.
Early in the morning on the day of the Mancun offensive, the children ran out to meet the sunrise on the lawn on the east side of the village. According to the Chuvash, on this day the sun rises dancing, that is, especially solemnly and joyfully. Together with the children, old people also went out to meet the new, young sun. They told the children ancient tales and legends about the struggle of the sun with evil witch Wupar. One of these legends tells that during the long winter, evil spirits sent by the old woman Vupar constantly attacked the sun and wanted to drag it from heaven to the underworld. The sun appeared less and less in the sky. Then the Chuvash batyrs decided to free the sun from captivity. A squad of good fellows gathered and, having received the blessing of the elders, headed east to rescue the sun. For seven days and seven nights the batyrs fought with the servants of Vupar and finally defeated them. The evil old woman Vupar with a pack of her assistants ran away to the dungeon and hid in the possessions of Shuitan.
At the end of the spring field work, a holiday was held Akatuy (wedding of a plow), associated with the idea of the ancient Chuvash about the marriage of a plow (male) with the earth ( feminine). This holiday combines a number of ceremonies and solemn rituals. In the old Chuvash way of life, akatuy began before going to spring field work and ended after the sowing of spring crops. The name Akatuy is now known to the Chuvash everywhere. However, relatively recently, the riding Chuvashs called this holiday suhatu (dry “plowing” + tuye “holiday, wedding”), and the grassroots - sapan tuye or sapan (from the Tatar saban “plough”). In the past, akatuy had an exclusively religious and magical character, accompanied by collective prayer. Over time, with the baptism of the Chuvash, it turned into a communal holiday with horse races, wrestling, youth amusements.
Uyav - the spring-summer period of youth games and round dances. The word uyav literally means "observe" (from uy "observe"). Initially, this word meant simply the observance of traditional ritual life, and later any holiday, any ritual celebration began to be called this way.
In different places the word yav has various shades meanings, and the youth amusements themselves are carried out in different ways. Riding Chuvashs spent wilting in the interval between mankun and simek. Youth games and round dances here began a week after the mancun. During the evening, young people gathered outside the outskirts and arranged round dances with dances, dances, and games. At this time, usually young guys got to know their chosen ones better. By the end of the nineteenth century. seasonal youth round dances among riding Chuvashs began to disappear.
In the wake, large tribal games were usually held. On a certain day, young people from all the daughter villages gathered in the mother village. Next to each mother village in a meadow, near a grove or in a forest clearing, there was a permanent place for holding gatherings of young people, which were called either simply vaya - “games”, or pukh, tapa - “gathering, assembly”. By the day of tapa or vaya, a bench for musicians was arranged in such a place. In treeless places near the bench, several freshly cut trees were dug in and decorated with multi-colored ribbons. Toward noon, young people gathered at this place. Dealers in sweets, small goods, and toys also came. Music played throughout the day until late at night. Musicians gathered from all over the area played in turn. At the same time, several violinists, bubble players, harp players, harmonists, drummers-percussionists performed. This large orchestra was always crowded with guys who played along on wooden pipes, metal and clay whistles, metal triangles.
Chuk - the rite of sacrifice to the great Almighty God (sylti asla Tura), his family and assistants - the guardian spirits of the living and inanimate nature, human society and people. The very word "chuk" is ambiguous. In certain cases, it means both a sacrifice, and a place for performing such a rite, and a certain deity of the highest rank, and is also used as a ritual exclamation addressed to Tura.
According to ancient Chuvash mythopoetic and religious ideas, the Universe as a single and inseparable whole is a unity of nature, society and personality. She was allegedly created by the god Tura with the help of her twin brother Kiremet. However, after the creation of the Universe, Kiremet fell under the influence of evil and was expelled by Tura from the upper world. The Almighty Tura is making efforts to keep all three components of the Universe in constant mutual harmony, and the devil, with the help of the evil forces serving him, is trying in every possible way to incite a person to unseemly deeds that ultimately violate universal harmony. Then Tura sends one of his servants to punish the person and guide him on the right path. All the rites and rituals of the ancient Chuvash life are aimed at maintaining a permanent world order or at restoring broken harmony. The individual was responsible to society, society - to nature and Tour.
The mechanism for maintaining universal harmony was carried out through sacrifices. A person who, under the instigation of the devil, violated public order, had to atone for his guilt before Tura by a sacrifice, otherwise his unseemly deeds could lead to the death of society, which, in turn, would cause the destruction of the universe. Violation of universal harmony is always carried out from the bottom up, from the side of the individual, and the restoration of order - from top to bottom, from the side of Tura. In those cases when a person was guilty, private sacrifices were made. In addition to them, the Chuvash also had large chuk - calendar-timed public sacrifices performed by the whole society. The pagans annually during the period of ripening bread made man chuk, or asla chuk - a great sacrifice; kesen chuke - a small sacrifice, which was also called uy chuke - a field sacrifice, and sumar chuke - a sacrifice for asking for rain. These great sacrifices were made on behalf of all the villagers and were aimed at ensuring public well-being, at maintaining social and universal harmony. In connection with the strengthening of Christian enlightenment, large sacrifices ruinous for the people fell into oblivion, they began to be performed less often, and in many places the three types of chuka merged into one.
Mordovian folk holidays
Mordovian folk holidays are timed to coincide with the agricultural calendar. Solemn and crowded summer holiday Velozks, dedicated to the patroness of the village (Vel-Abba). The beginning of the field work was marked by the holiday of the plow - keretozks. With the adoption of Christianity pagan holidays gone to the past. The national character today has a holiday of a remote or small village, and in some places - a holiday of traditional Mordovian cuisine.
In the pre-Christian religious beliefs of the Mordovians, a large number of female deities attract attention. Their names usually consist of two words, that is, two-basic: the deity of the forest (vir) - Vir-ava (ava - woman, mother), water (after all) - After all, ava, earth (fashion) - Fashion-ava, wind (varma) - Varma-ava, fire (tol) - Tol-ava, houses (kudo) - Kudo-ava, etc. Along with female deities, there are also deities in a male image: Vir-atya (atya - an old man, man), After-atya, Moda-atya, Varma-atya, Tol-atya, Kudo-atya, etc., who were considered the husbands of female deities. It was believed that the gods could cause a lot of trouble and trouble if they were not propitiated and appeased in time, so prayers were held in honor of the deities in their supposed habitats, that is, in forests, fields, near rivers, in dwellings, outbuildings, prayers were arranged ( ozkst), on which prayers (oznomat) were said and sacrifices were made. Each holiday was accompanied by a purposeful prayer, with the performance of one or another complex magical rites. Prayers could be public, that is, arranged by the whole village, when the interests of the entire rural community were meant (the first cattle pasture, the beginning of plowing, sowing, harvesting, etc.), and family prayers, when the interests of an individual family were meant. In some prayers, only men participated, in others - only women, in others - both of them together. Family prayers were performed by the elders in the house, more often by the mistress of the house, and at public prayers, special old men and old women were chosen each time to perform rituals and say prayers - inyat and inbabat (from ine - great, great, atya - old man, woman - grandmother). When pronouncing prayers, they turned to the east. The pre-Christian beliefs and rituals of the Mordovians were not characterized by the worship of idols. The supreme god in the pre-Christian beliefs of the Mordovians was called Shkai, Nishke. In connection with Christianization, the name was transferred to christian god. Although the Mordovians are considered the most Christianized people of the Volga region, they still retained in their beliefs some remnants of "paganism", some of which were syncretized with Orthodoxy.
IN Palm Sunday , a week before Easter, in the early morning, young people walked around the village with willow branches and sang at the gate:
The Mordovian people (Erzya) believed that God's power lurks on every tip of a willow twig. It helps from spoilage, evil eye, diseases, contributes to obtaining high yields of bread, vegetables, fruits.
The day before, the girls and boys were celebrating "Erban Salmat"
("Palm food"). Gathered in "ashtem-kudo". Closer to midnight, they collected a table. Candles were lit in many places. At the appointed time, an older woman came to the house - pryavt (leader). After the divine song, he turns to Erbava: give us health, good thoughts - ideas, so that we do not forget about girlish beauty.
They sit down at the table. After eating, they stand in two rows. Girls on one side, boys on the other. In the hand of each willow twig. Everyone passes between them in turn, and everyone tries to whip the passer-by as sensitively as possible. Closer to dinner, the whole village gathers on the banks of the river. One half of the inhabitants on one side, the other on the other. Competitions begin, competitions in the song.
The main symbol of this Mordovian holiday seeing off spring is a birch. Young guys cut down a birch tree in the forest, brought it to the village, and together with the girls, with songs and dances, went around the yards, dressing it with ribbons and shreds of fabric.
The venue for this holiday could be the whole district: a winter field, the edge of a forest, a grove, the outskirts of a village. The holiday was celebrated in order to influence nature, to ensure a good harvest. A large place in this holiday was given to mummers. Girls dressed up as guys, guys dressed up as girls, there were characters of a bear, a horse, etc. They walked along the village with songs and dances, then went to the river or to the spring - they threw wreaths into the water, the girls wondered.
The twelfth holiday of the Orthodox calendar, celebrated on the fiftieth day after Easter, on the tenth day of the Ascension. Other names of 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 remembers 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 direct connection with the doctrine of the Trinity - one of the main provisions of the Christian faith. According to this doctrine, God exists in three inseparable and inseparable persons: the Father, the beginning without beginning, the Son, the Logos, and the Holy Spirit, the life-giving principle.
spring
seventh the last week before Easter, last 6 days, starting on Monday and ending on Saturday before Easter Sunday. The meaning of the holiday is preparation for Easter. Traditions on the holiday: cleaning the house, obligatory bathing, commemoration of ancestors, putting up a swing, painting eggs, baking Easter cakes. According to the beliefs of the people, colored eggs have magic power for example, if you put the shell on the fire, then the smoke from this egg can heal a person from night blindness, they also believe that such an egg can heal a bad tooth. Signs for this holiday: if you melt in Maundy Thursday oven with aspen firewood, then the sorcerers will come to ask for ashes, parsley, sown on Good Friday, gives a double harvest.
Popular name for the holiday 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 from apples, on the holiday, on the contrary, it is necessary to pick as many apples as possible and consecrate them. The purpose of the holiday is the consecration of apples, seeing off the sun at sunset with songs. The Apple Savior has another name - the first autumns, that is, the meeting of autumn. According to tradition, one should treat apples first to all relatives and friends, then to orphans, the poor, as a remembrance of the ancestors who fell asleep in eternal sleep, and only then do they themselves eat apples. In the evening, after the holiday, everyone went out onto the field to spend the sunset together with songs, and with it the summer.
Christmas time
winter
Slavic folk holiday complex, celebrated since January 6 to January 19 . Christmas time is oversaturated with various magical rites, divination, signs, customs and prohibitions. The purpose of the holiday: folk festivals, caroling, sowing, dressing up, erotic games, ritual atrocities of youth, divination for the betrothed, visiting, rituals for well-being and fertility. Holiday sayings: wolves get married at Christmas time, from Christmas to Epiphany it is a sin to hunt animals and birds - misfortune will happen to the hunter. According to folk beliefs, the presence of spirits among living people, invisible to the ordinary eye, made it possible to look into one's future, which explains the numerous forms of Christmas divination.
spring
This festival Orthodox Church belongs to the twelve. On this day, the baptism of Jesus Christ by John the Baptist (Baptist) in the Jordan River is remembered and the Great Blessing of Water is performed. It is also an evening-preparation before the big Orthodox holiday, which is called the Theophany of the Lord or Baptism. Epiphany water is eaten on an empty stomach, a spoonful, a little bit at a time. The Orthodox keep it in the Red Corner, next to the icons. In addition, a drop of shrine sanctifies the sea. You can take ordinary, unsanctified water and add a drop of baptismal water there, and it will be all sanctified.
Folk Orthodox holiday, celebrated on July 8. Holiday traditions: swim without looking back, because. it was believed that on this day the last mermaids leave the banks deep into the reservoirs and fall asleep. After Kupala games pairs of betrothed were determined, and this day patronized the family and love, in addition, in the old days, from this day until Peter, weddings were played. The first mowing is the day of all evil spirits such as: witches, mermaids, werewolves and many others. Celebrated on July 8 (June 25, old style). Peter and Fevronia are Orthodox patrons of the family and marriage. According to the calendar of East Slavic folk holidays, which correlates with the Orthodox, this is the day of the first mowing. It was believed that on this day the last mermaids leave the banks deep into the reservoirs, so it was already safe to swim. IN Russian Federation Since 2008 July 8 has been celebrated as the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity. Sayings: there are forty hot days ahead, after Ivan there is no need for zhupan, if it rains that day, then there will be a good harvest of honey, pigs and mice eat hay - to a poor mowing.
A traditional holiday among the Eastern and Southern Slavs, celebrated on August 2. The tradition of the holiday includes: collective meals, the slaughter of a bull or a ram. The holiday has pagan roots, since at first it was the holiday of the god of thunder Perun, but with the adoption of Christianity among the Slavs, instead of the image of Perun, the image of Elijah, the prophet, appeared, from where, in fact, the name of the holiday came from. Sayings at the holiday: Ilya holds thunderstorms, Ilya holds the rain and brings down the rain, Ilya gives bread, not swords on Ilya shocks - he will burn with heavenly fire. From Ilyin's day, according to folk legend, bad weather began, and it was also forbidden to swim.
palm week
spring
Passion Week. Main folk rituals weeks are associated with willow and fall on Saturday and Sunday. There is a legend associated with this week, which says that once the willow was a woman, and she had so many children that the woman argued with Mother Earth herself that she was more fertile than the Earth. Mother Earth got angry and turned the woman into a willow. There is a belief on this holiday - a consecrated willow can stop a summer thunderstorm, and thrown into a flame - help with a fire. Holiday traditions: consecration of the willow, bitie willow twigs, invocations of spring.
Traditional holiday of pagan origin Slavic peoples, Related to winter solstice. Celebration date - on the night of January 6 to January 7. The meaning of the holiday is the turning of the sun from winter to summer. Celebration - caroling, dressing up, Christmas games, fortune-telling, family meals. According to popular belief, Mother Earth could open only because of a lie, a false oath, or false testimony.
Maslenitsa
spring
Slavic traditional holiday celebrated during the week before Lent. The purpose of the holiday is to say goodbye to winter. Traditions: bake pancakes, go on a visit, arrange feasts, ride a sleigh and sled, dress up, burn or bury an effigy of Maslenitsa. Celebrated from Meatfare Saturday to Forgiveness Sunday. The fertility of people in the popular mind was inextricably linked with the fertility of the land and the fertility of livestock, the third side of Maslenitsa, the memorial, is connected with the stimulation of fertility.
Easter
spring
The oldest Christian holiday, the main holiday of the liturgical year. Established in honor of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is celebrated on the first Sunday after the full moon, which occurs no earlier than the day of the conditional spring equinox March 21. Traditions: consecration of painted eggs and Easter cakes, greeting kissing. Majority Easter traditions originated in worship. The scope of Easter festivities is associated with breaking the fast after Great Lent, a time of abstinence, when all holidays, including family ones, were postponed to the celebration of Easter. At the end of the 19th century, it became a tradition in Russia to send open letters with colorful drawings to those relatives and friends with whom you cannot be christened on Easter as the main holiday.
The holiday of the Eastern Slavs, which starts september 14. The essence of the holiday is the celebration of the approach of autumn: the day before, summer ended and the new year began. On this day, ceremonies are performed: housewarming, sit-downs, kindling a fire, the rite of tonsure, the funeral of flies, the legend of sparrows. Semenov's day is considered happy, so it is advised to celebrate a housewarming. Signs: Semyon sees off summer, induces Indian summer; on Semyon - the last thunderstorm; they didn’t remove the spiked seeds on Seeds - consider them gone; if the geese fly away on Semyon-day, wait for early winter.
Clean Monday
spring
The first day of Fyodor's week and Great Lent. On this day, everyone forgives each other and starts the day with a clear conscience and a pure soul. This is a day of very strict fasting as well as the following days. The name of the holiday comes from the desire to spend the first day of fasting clean. On this feast, during the first Lenten Great Compline, they begin to read the Great Penitential Canon of St. Andrew of Crete and other penitential prayers. At the end of the 19th century, most of the oil-growing revelers, despite the strict fast, on this day "rinsed their mouths" or got drunk. Since this is a fasting day, all you can eat or drink on this day is: a little black bread with salt and water or unsweetened tea. The prayer of Ephraim the Syrian, “Lord and Master of my life,” will continue to be offered during all the days of Great Lent.
One of the holidays of the Eastern Slavs, celebrated on October 14. The meaning of the holiday is the final onset of autumn, on this day they used to celebrate the meeting of Autumn and Winter. People say that goblins stop roaming the forests from Pokrov (in another way they are called forest masters). On the eve of this holiday, young country girls they burn their old straw beds, and the old women burn their old bast shoes, worn out over the whole summer. Russian people, celebrating the days dedicated to the Mother of God, were waiting for help from Her.
Orthodox holiday, celebrated on August 14. The essence of the holiday is a small blessing of water. The traditions of the holiday are the beginning of the collection of honey, its consecration and the meal - “widow's help”. The holiday is celebrated in honor of the Origin of the woods of the Holy Cross at the end of the 14th century. The meaning of the holiday is the first day of the Dormition Fast. Honey Spas is also called "Savior on the Water", this is because of the small water blessing. According to tradition, it was on this day in Rus' that new wells were consecrated and old ones were cleaned. This holiday is called Honey Savior"due to the fact that on this day the bee hives are usually filled to capacity and the beekeepers go to collect the honey harvest.
Summer holiday of pagan origin, celebrated from 6 to 7 July. The holiday is associated with summer solstice. Traditions: burning fires and jumping over them, dance, weave wreaths, collect herbs. The party starts the night before. The name of the holiday comes from the name of John the Baptist (the epithet of John is translated as "bather, sinker"). Main Feature Ivan Kupala are cleansing bonfires, in order to be cleansed of evil spirits inside a person, he would have to jump over these bonfires.
Red hill
spring
Spring holiday among the Eastern Slavs, which celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter. On this day, the following are celebrated: spring maiden round dances, a meal with scrambled eggs, youth games. The Red Hill symbolizes the full arrival of spring, it is this holiday that celebrates this time of the year. In addition to the fact that Krasnaya Gorka symbolizes the arrival of spring, the holiday also symbolizes the meeting of boys and girls, because spring is the beginning of a new life for all nature. At the Red Hill festival there is one proverb that says: "Whoever marries on Red Hill will never get divorced."
There are many of them. And it is connected with amazing story of our state, which is many, many centuries old. One of the scientists counts thirteen of them and dates back to the reign of the Varangian Rurik. Officially, the 1153rd anniversary of Russia was celebrated in 2015. And the first mention of Rus' was found in the chronicles, which date back to 862. By the way, "Russia" is not a native Russian name: the Greeks named our ancient state with it. And somehow, by itself, it stuck with us. What is Ancient Rus'? In addition to the main thing - the power, these are customs, traditions, beliefs and the like, which have developed over the centuries, have taken root with us, even if against the background of modernity they look archaic, out of touch with reality, stuffed to capacity with technologies of a cosmic scale that our ancestors never dreamed of .
Holidays official, state
Of course, in Mother Russia they come first. And there are more than three hundred of them. To paraphrase the great Gogol, we can say: "Which Russian does not love good holidays?!" Among the popular and beloved state ones are, International Day, May Day, and so on and so on in order. A few years ago, they added. And although it does not have official and state status, the holiday is declared a day off.
And how many professional holidays we have! Let's start with peaceful professions - the Day of the Dentist, the Day of Russian Science, the Day of the Transport Police, the Day of Cosmonautics, the Day of Geodesy and Cartography Workers. Let's continue - related to military historical and memorable events - Day Navy, Engineering Troops Day, Tanker Day, Rocket Troops and Artillery Day, Day of the defeat of the Nazi troops by the Soviet troops in the Battle of Stalingrad (1943) Military Glory Day - the list goes on. And there are, although purely professional, but widely celebrated by the population - the Day of Agricultural Workers, the Day of Trade Workers, the Day of Workers consumer services and utilities - and the list goes on. There are 365 days in a year on the planet, in a leap year - a day more, 366. And almost every day we celebrate something, celebrate. So it happened in Russia!
Folk holidays stand apart
And here they are, as races, closely connected with faith (religion), customs and traditions. Let's take Easter for example. In Soviet times, especially communists and Komsomol members, celebrating it was not only not recommended, but strictly forbidden! "Religion is the opium of the people!" This expression, which later became winged, was first uttered by the English socialist Charles Kingsley (1819 - 1875). Then it was actively used by Lenin in the fight against religion. As a result, churches and temples were destroyed, clerics were persecuted for their faith in God. It got to the point that the Cathedral of Christ the Savior was blown up in Moscow. But hard times passed and it was restored, including the money collected by the people. And Easter has now become one of the most beloved national holidays and is celebrated widely, as in the old days - they paint eggs, bake Easter cakes, greet each other: "Christ is risen" and answer: "Truly, he is risen!" Easter treats are illuminated in the church and generously distributed to relatives, friends, orphans, and the poor. That is the custom.
Has taken root in Russia and the custom of meeting the Old New Year. All over the world this is very surprising. And for the Russians, this is another reason to meet at the festive table, once again celebrate the onset of the New Year, enjoy watching Eldar Ryazanov's favorite sparkling comedy "The Irony of Fate, or C light steam!", and to some "Blue light" - and you never know entertainment programs shows domestic television in the Old New Year! The origin of the holiday popular with us is explained by the discrepancy of thirteen days between the Julian and Gregorian calendars. The latter is used throughout the world. From here came - old style". According to him, on January 13, we and in many other countries celebrate the Old New Year. As, however, a little later - the New Year according to Eastern calendar which falls on the night of January 27-28.
Among popular holidays are Trinity, Holy Week, Apple Savior, Maslenitsa, Palm Week, Intercession Day, Clean Monday, Ilyin's Day, Christmas time, Epiphany Christmas Eve, Peter and Fevronia's Day, Epiphany of the Lord and others. Let's take a closer look at some of them.
Natalia Lapshina
Folklore lesson “Traditions of Russians. Russian folk holidays in Rus'»
Subject: Russian traditions(Russian folk holidays in Rus')
Goals: Enrichment and concretization of knowledge about folk holidays and their features.
Tasks:
1. introduce traditional Russian folk holidays;
2. learn to share impressions with others using artistic means of expression;
3. To promote the development of an active vocabulary, the ability to formulate judgments, express, express subjectively - a value attitude towards public holidays;
4. instill love for traditional holidays; develop understanding folk holidays;
5. cultivate kindness.
Planned results: Know about traditions of celebrating Christmas, Shrovetide, Easter, are able to independently tell about them; express positive emotions (joy, surprise, admiration) when reading poems, and performing Russian folk song"Pancakes" arr. A. Abramova; able to maintain a conversation, express their point of view; actively and benevolently interact with the teacher and peers during games.
Integration of educational regions: speech development, cognitive development, artistic and aesthetic development, social and communicative development, physical development.
Materials and equipment: physical map, egg exhibition, audio guide (bell ringing) multimedia project (pictures "Festivals on Maslenitsa", "Christmas holidays» )
preliminary work: Learning poems, carols, songs, entertainment: "The carol has come - open the gate", "Maslenitsa". Conversations about Russian folk holidays. Examining pictures.
Activity progress:
The music is quiet.
Play Look at the geographic map Russia what do you see? (seas, oceans, mountains, rivers, cities, etc.)
But what country is this? (Russia)
Play Yes it Russia the country where we live. Our country is huge, there are oceans and seas, rivers and lakes, mountains and forests. (shows these geographical places, objects on the map)
What are the people who live in Russia? (Russians, Russians)
Long time ago, from a long time ago Russians people have always respected holidays, But celebrated them differently not like us modern people. Our ancestors knew how and loved to have fun.
Guys, do you like holidays? And why?
What do you know Russian folk holidays? (Christmas, Epiphany, Maslenitsa, Easter, Trinity)
Well done, you know a lot holidays which have been known since the time of our ancestors.
And who are the ancestors? ( Russians, people who lived before us, our grandparents, dads and moms)
Guys, do you want to know how our ancestors - Russians, celebrated holidays? (want)
Let's take you on a trip to the past. Sit on the carpet, close your eyes, we are going on a journey through the past.
Music sounds. At this time, the screen appears paintings: Temple, on the other hand - Russian hut, birch. Scenes from life Russian people. (see Attachment)
Usually everything festive days began with a solemn service in the church, and continued on the street, in the field, on the lawns. To the music of the balalaika, accordion - they danced round dances, sang, danced, started games. People dressed up in the best holiday clothes , in a special way prepared holiday treat. The poor, the poor were given gifts, fed for free. was heard everywhere festive ringing of bells. All holidays in Rus' divided into large, medium and small.
So, Russian folk holiday - CHRISTMAS. This holiday celebrated every year on the same dates. Christmas is celebration birth of Jesus Christ. January 7th to January 19th. These days were called - Christmas time
What do you know about it holiday? (children's answers)
This holiday was one of the most famous and beloved. Perhaps there is no other holiday, which would be distinguished by such an abundance of customs, rituals, signs. two weeks orthodox people went home, praised Christ, caroled, sang songs, made riddles, ate, played games. Games were selected calm, without running. Bonfires were lit in the streets to add light and heat. They baked figurines of animals and birds from dough and gave them to each other.
You and I had fun: "A carol has come - open the gate" where they sang carols, played Russian folk games. Now we are going to play Russian folk game"Ring" (see Attachment)
A picture appears on the screen « Folk festivities on Maslenitsa" (see Attachment)
What do you think it is holiday?
Since ancient times Maslenitsa has been the most cheerful pre-spring holiday. It is celebrated at the end of winter and celebrate all week. Everyone is having fun, rejoicing that winter has passed and spring is coming. - What do you know about Shrovetide? (bake pancakes, ride downhill, etc.) caregiver is reading: “Are you a soul, my Maslenitsa, Your sugary lips, your sweet speech. Come to visit me in a wide yard On the mountains to ride, roll in pancakes, amuse your heart.
After such words, Maslenitsa left and the fun began. People walked all week, every day had its own name. Monday - "meeting", girls and boys sang songs, made a straw effigy and walked with him around the village. Tuesday - "flirt", on this day they arranged horseback riding, riding from the icy mountains. Wednesday- "gourmet", on this day they ate pancakes. Thursday - « wide Maslenitsa» , on this day they walked from morning to evening, sang ditties, danced, danced round dances. Friday - "mother-in-law of the evening". Saturday - "gatherings", these days we went to relatives and treated ourselves to pancakes. Sunday - "forgiveness day", seeing off Winter, on this day they burned an effigy "Winters". On the eve of the first day of Maslenitsa, the housewives began to bake pancakes. Traditional pancake was not just a piece of fried dough, but a symbol of the red sun. The first pancake was given to poor people.
Now we will sing with you Russian folk song"Pancakes" arranged by A. Abramov (see Attachment)
After Maslenitsa, began great post. During which it was impossible to eat pancakes, meat, butter, milk, cheese, pies, but ate lean food: mushrooms, vegetables, nuts. Fasting lasted until Easter.
What else do you know Russian folk holiday?
The greatest and most beloved Easter was a holiday. This holiday always celebrated solemnly and cheerfully.
The poem by A. Maikov is read by the child “Christ is risen! Everywhere the blessing is buzzing From all the churches people bring down The dawn is already looking from heaven ... Christ is risen! Christ is risen!" (good news, that is, good news)
On Easter night, everyone went to church, only small children and old people remained at home. Bonfires and colored lanterns were lit near the churches. Easter service was held in the church.
The child is reading:
We remember at Easter the commandment of the Lord again: Consent, peace and affection And love for our loved ones!
Returning from church in the early morning, people kissed - christened - and exchanged colored eggs. The red egg is the symbol of Easter. A whole art was created by people in coloring eggs.
Exhibition of eggs (see Attachment)
Come to the exhibition. Examining painted eggs.
They made eggs from glass, wood, crystal, porcelain, bone, clay, sewed and embroidered with pearls and beads. Chocolate and sugar eggs were sold in confectioneries. On Easter, eggs were exchanged, presented to relatives and friends. Various games were played with eggs.
And why should this be done? And then, so that only goodness and light stick to our souls, and everything bad on this day lags behind. All Easter week bell sounded.
The bell sounds (audio recording)
Anyone who wanted to could climb the bell tower and call. Roundabouts were installed on the squares, competitions were arranged. People went to visit each other, and the whole week passed in joyful meetings. This is how our ancestors celebrated their holidays.
Reflection:
About what holidays we talked today?
Which holiday you like more? Why?
IN Russia inhabited by people of other nationalities. About them traditional holidays we'll talk next time.
Sounds like Russian folk melody.
Play I walk, I walk, I carry a samovar in my hands. I carry a samovar in my hands, I sing jokes. As for you, my friends, Navarila, baked ninety-two pancakes, Two troughs of jelly, fifty pies - Do not find eaters!
You will amuse the hostess - eat my pies. The hut is not red with corners, but red with pies (brings out a treat)
Tea party, to which kindergarten staff are invited.
APPS
A game "Ring"
Then the driver clamps a ring in his palms folded in a boat. Children sit on chairs or stand in a circle, also folding their hands like a boat. The host goes around everyone, leaving a ring with someone alone. Then he calls out: "Ring, ring, come out on the porch!", and a child with a ring runs out to him. Then the leader and the partner chosen by him think of a word - either an object of the environment, or some kind of natural phenomenon, or the name of a fairy tale. They offer the players to guess what they have planned.
Russian folk song"Pancakes" arranged by A. Abramov
We have not eaten pancakes for a long time, We wanted pancakes. Oh, pancakes, pancakes, pancakes, you are my pancakes!
My older sister Baking pancakes is a craftswoman Oh pancakes, pancakes, pancakes, you are my pancakes!
She puts it on a tray And she brings it to the table Oh, pancakes, pancakes, pancakes, you are my pancakes!
Guests, be healthy, Here are our pancakes ready Oh, pancakes, pancakes, pancakes, you are my pancakes!
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 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. The national language of the Russian people is Russian.
Each country and its people have their own meaning in 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 over the 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." Unique combination 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.
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 Rus', little by little sacred meaning was lost and forgotten, but the main points have been preserved and are observed to this day. 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 both matchmaking and wedding celebrations, and the baptism of children). The conduct of ancient rites and rituals guaranteed a successful and successful future. happy life health of offspring 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 the 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 matchmaking ceremony, 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 handshake (the parents decided on issues of 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 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, cutting a cross on the crown, with such a meaning that impure forces would not be able to 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, 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. And to this day, pagan holidays are celebrated, people listen to the signs and centuries old traditions, remembers and tells his children and grandchildren old traditions and legends.
Main national holidays:
- Christmas Jan. 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 go with the 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, appeasing 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 activities: sleigh rides and horse-drawn sleigh rides, the straw effigy of Winter was burned, all Shrovetide week relatives went to pancakes to mother-in-law, then to sister-in-law, everywhere there was an atmosphere of celebration and fun, various theater and puppet shows with the participation of Petrushka and other folklore characters. One of the most colorful and dangerous entertainments on Maslenitsa was holding 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.
especially revered Christian holidays among the Russian people are Christmas and Easter.
Christmas is not only a bright holiday of 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 they 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 poured 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 Rus' held various gatherings with fortune-telling and rituals to attract suitors.
Bright 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 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.
