Yarilo folk holiday. We celebrate the day of Yarilo and Lelya. How it was in a magical land Northern fairy tale

Among the people of Yarilin, the day is also called the "Top of Summer", as it falls on the hottest time of the season.

Yarilo is the god of the sun, warmth, spring and carnal love, who has a bright temperament. He was considered the god of fertility - in the old days it was said that on Yarila all living things "come to the yard", that is, they begin to bear fruit.

According to legend, from the union of Yarila with Mother Earth, which until then was lifeless, all life on the planet, including man, occurred.

Yarila was considered the youngest among the solar gods, but the respectful attitude of the ancient Slavs to his cult was no less from this. Legends say that on this day the other gods measured their strength with Yarila, but he invariably won the fights.

In the old days, noisy games were held in honor of Yarila, often on a marriage theme, feasts, fairs and fisticuffs. Yarilin's day has a sacred meaning - on a sunny holiday you can look into the future, reconcile with the brownie, gain health and preserve youth.

When did the holiday

The exact date of the origin of the holiday is unknown - its roots go back to those distant times, when there was no Christianity in Rus' yet. Yarilin Day - the long-awaited holiday of the sun god, according to the ancient Slavic tradition, was celebrated on the first day of July.

On this day, the ancient Slavs asked for help from heavenly bodies, nature and animals. Yarila-Sun Day was considered a holiday of the end of spring and the beginning of summer.

Worship of the sun was an invariable attribute of the culture of the Slavs, so they tried to honor Yarila at every opportunity.

Participants in the pagan holiday of the Solar God were also honored on other days - holidays in honor of Yarila were usually celebrated from March 21 (the day of the vernal equinox, Maslenitsa) and the days following it, until mid-summer.

Despite the fact that the Orthodox Church is against such holidays, and calls it paganism and idolatry, Yarilin Day has not lost its former popularity. People continue to believe in the power of the sun and celebrate the crown of summer. This holiday is especially revered by the Eastern Slavs.

Traditions and rituals

Yarilin holiday was called special - in the old days they said that they “wait for it for a whole year” and it is “every day”.

On this day, traditionally, everyone took a break from field work, arranged festive fairs, fun folk festivals with games and competitions, in which young people showed their strength and dexterity. People believed that the more fun the holiday was, the more successful the year would be.

Feasts were also held in the fields with obligatory dishes - scrambled eggs, pies and sweets. In the evenings, young people made bonfires, near which they danced, sang songs and had fun.

Girls and boys dressed in the best and brightest outfits, treated each other with sweets, arranged processions with drumming. Girls, as a rule, decorated themselves with ribbons and flowers.

Men, for the sake of fun, dressed up in colorful dresses, put on jester's hats, decorated outfits with ribbons and bells. Passers-by treated the mummers with pastries and sweets - a meeting with them promised good luck, a rich harvest and happiness in their personal lives.

Yarila was often depicted as a handsome young man on a white horse, whose head is decorated with a wreath of spring flowers, and ears of corn in his hands. Therefore, in some places on Yarilin Day they chose a handsome guy or girl, put them on a white horse, put a wreath of wild flowers on their heads, and gave ears of corn in their hands.

The horse with “Yarila” was led through the fields, saying: “Where with the foot, there is a shock of life, and where it looks, there the ear is blooming!” This rite was called "Unlocking the Earth."

Since Yarilo is the god not only of the sun, but also of carnal love, marriage games were encouraged. On this day, as on Ivan Kupala, relations between boys and girls were free, but everything remained within the framework of decency.

Participants of the pagan holidayMarriages concluded on Yarila were recognized as legal, and children born after the holiday were considered born in wedlock. If love was non-reciprocal, they turned to love spells, which on that day were more effective than usual. Therefore, knowledgeable people tried not to miss Yarilin's day.

On this day, women went to the forest for branches for wreaths. In the old days, it was believed that women were prone to disputes, gossip, envy, and in order to reconcile everyone and ensure good relations throughout the year, they came up with a ritual - it was necessary to look into each other's eyes through a wreath.

Unmarried girls on this day went to guess on the bank of the river. They threw wreaths into the water and watched where they would swim and from which side to wait for the suitors. The main thing is that the wreath does not drown, otherwise the wedding will not be seen next year.

In the old days, on this day, before sunrise, sorcerers and healers went to remote places to “listen to treasures”. And if the treasure wanted to reveal itself, it was easy and quick to get rich.

People believed that on this holiday, Mother Earth follows her secrets less carefully, so they can be unraveled.

Popular beliefs say that on this day the evil spirits hid especially carefully. Evil spirits are afraid of the sun even on ordinary days, not like on a holiday dedicated to the daylight.

Supernatural phenomena were expected on Yarila - the sun slowed down, and special “holes” formed on the earth, through which one could look at the other side of the world, and even at the other world.

To do this, at noon they took strong birch branches and wove them into a braid, from which they went to a steep river bank and looked through it. According to legend, in this way one could see the spirits of dead relatives and living loved ones, from whom there has been no news for a long time.

On Yarilin day, treats were left for the brownie, and if the treats disappeared by evening, people believed that the brownie was satisfied with the offering and was happy to live with the owners, respectively, happiness and prosperity would reign in the house.

Treats were also left on the graves of relatives, visiting them and congratulating them on the sunny holiday.

People believed that Yarila on this day could help get rid of illnesses and other hardships - you just need to sincerely ask him about it at dawn in a secluded place.

On this day, medicinal herbs and other plants endowed with magical properties were collected. People believed that a hot drink made from medicinal herbs collected on Yarilin Day relieves many ailments. Healing herbs fed livestock, decorated the house to protect against hail, drought, insect pests.

Morning dew on the Yarilin holiday was considered healing, giving youth, beauty and health. Therefore, in the old days, people washed themselves with it, collected it in small containers to give to the seriously ill, moistened the sheets and wrapped themselves in them.

Cattle, on the day of the sun god, were driven out to the pasture, so that he would be like in Yarilin's dew. By the way, on this day the cattle were fed to the full, as it was believed that the more the animals eat, the more fertile the year will be.

In the garden, they arranged harvest reviews, looked for the first fruits - they buried one cucumber so that the harvest was good, the rest were served for the meal.

On this day, people mowed and dried the grass, and then stuffed mattresses with it - it was believed that on such a feather bed you can not only sleep well, but also improve your health.

On this day, it was customary to lightly whip children and pets with willow twigs, while wishing them health and good growth.

Many signs on this day were connected with the weather. If a sunny day fell on July 1, then the seven days following the holiday will be hot.

Morning mist, a gusty wind, and a golden-yellow evening dawn with pink reflections promised good weather. And the month in the sky is such that you can “hang” a bucket on the lower horn predicted dry days.

A lot of dew - millet will be born, and midges over winter - to catch quails.

The tails of the animals also predicted the weather for the rest of the summer. If the tails are lowered - to rain, if the tails are raised - to hot weather.

Those born on this day were considered the keepers of traditions, experts in all annual holidays and signs.

Material prepared on the basis of open sources

The “crown of summer” is approaching - a holiday that the Slavs celebrated in honor of the pagan god Yarilo, who was responsible for everything that exists in nature and even for contacts with the other world.

When is Yarilin Day celebrated

Yarilin day, which is also called top of summer, noted July 1, which corresponds June 18 according to the old style. This day in Rus' since ancient times was dedicated to the Slavic pagan deity Yarila - the god of the Sun. However, with the advent of Christianity in Rus', the holiday did not disappear, but was transformed, acquiring a new folk-Christian meaning. It was believed that it was on the “crown of summer” that all the saints measured their strength with the pagan Yarila, but they could not finally win, so the deity was reborn every year.

Yarilo in Slavic mythology was not only the god of the Sun - he symbolized fertility, the forces of the earth and nature, as well as carnal love and even passion - feelings that Christianity, as you know, do not approve of too much.

Yarilo was responsible for making everything in nature “rage”, play - the ear was filled with grain, the grass became thicker and more fragrant, berries and mushrooms began to ripen in the forests, fish were found in reservoirs, etc.

On Yarila, who was responsible for the Sun, they even expected supernatural phenomena, which included eclipses and various natural disasters. The ancients believed that on Yarilin day, doors and windows to the other world open, through which you can look into both the past and the future, as well as see missing or deceased loved ones.

Folk traditions on Yarilin Day

To see the other world and missing or dead relatives, you need to climb the high bank of the river at noon on July 1, find a birch, braid birch branches into a braid and carefully peer through them into the water.

On this day, it was customary to go for haymaking, and then stuff mattresses with mowed grass. It was believed that if you sleep on such a mattress all summer, it will bring health and give strength.

At the top of the summer, young people gathered around the fire in the evening, the boys and girls sang, danced, jumped over the fire, in short, they stood up “Yarilin games”, often very immodest - there was an abundance of booze on tablecloths laid out right on the ground, and the participants in the holiday often indulged in various amusements not approved by the church.

Also these days it was customary to organize fairs, visit cemeteries and visit relatives.

Signs for July 1

If July 1 falls on a young or old month, then you need to imagine that you are broadcasting a bucket of water on its lower horn. If so, don't expect rain anytime soon.

If on July 1 morning fog spreads over the lowlands, expect dry, hot and clear weather in the coming days.

At the beginning of July, as a rule, early raspberries bloomed and late ones bloomed. At this time, in the southern regions, cauliflower seedlings were planted in the ground. Also at this time, it was already possible to harvest the first blueberries, and blackcurrants began to ripen in the gardens.

May 22 Troyan (Tribogov Day) is a holiday of the end of spring and the beginning of summer, when the young Yaril-Spring is replaced by the Trisvetly Dazhdbog. Holy day dedicated to the victory of God Trojan over the Black Serpent. About this time, Rodnovers glorify Svarog Triglav - Svarog-Perun-Veles, strong in the Rule, Reveal and Navi. According to legend, Troyan was the embodiment of the power of Svarog, Perun and Veles, who joined their forces in the fight against the Serpent, the offspring of Chernobog, who once threatened to destroy the entire Tremirye. Troyan is the god of health, healing herbs, and medicine.

Since ancient times, ancestors have been commemorated and amulets have been created from the atrocities committed by mermaids and the restless souls of the "mortgaged" dead (who died "not their own", that is, an unnatural death). On the night of Troyan, girls and women “plowed” the village in order to protect themselves from evil forces.

The people said: “From the Spirit of the day, not from one sky - warmth comes from under the earth”, “The Holy Spirit will come - it will be in the yard, like on a stove.” According to popular beliefs, all evil spirits are afraid of this day, like fire, and just before the Sunrise on the Spirits, Mother Cheese-Earth reveals her secrets, and therefore healers go at this time to “listen to treasures”. As on Yarila Veshny, dew on this day is considered sacred and healing.

After the initiation, the rite "Venue" is carried out for young men, initiation into warriors. Then they arrange a feast in the field. Ritual Strava: sweets, scrambled eggs, pies. Ritual beer is brought in the requirement. Before the games, they play out a fairy tale or an ancient legend. Mandatory love games and dances.

After the day of Yarila, hot weather usually sets for seven days.

Yarilo, get up early, yar-yar get up early;
Yarilo, wash white, yar-yar wash white;
Yarilo, saddle the horse, yar-yar saddle the horse;
Yarilo, go to the field, yar-yar go to the field;
Yarilo, take the keys, yar-yar, take the keys;
Yarilo, unlock the Earth, yar-yar unlock the Earth;
Yarilo, let the grass, yar-yar let the grass;
Yarilo, green, yar-yar green;
Yarilo, let the dew, yar-yar let the dew;
Yarilo, honey, yar-yar honey;
Yarilo, give us a share, yar-yar give us a share;
Yarilo, happy, yar-yar happy.

Yarila is called “wet” now because he showed his power - he created the earth. Soon (to Kupala - see below) He, turning to the Elder, will go to Heaven, but His Yaraya Power will not be wasted in vain: Mother Earth the sacred Fruit - a good Harvest - will bring it in time! It was the same from time immemorial - everything is according to the Law of Genera; we honor Yarila in the same way - everything is according to the Russian Primordial! On this Day, people gather at the Temple, praise Yarila, ask Him for Strength:

YARILO STRONG GO TO US
STAY IN YARI! GOY!
YARILO GLORIOUS BECOME AMONG US
STAY IN YARI! GOY!
YARILO BURNING HOLD WE
STAY IN YARI! GOY!
GLORY TO YARIL!
GOY!

The Magi take out Yarun, put him on a towel, sprinkle with grain, and offer sacrificial gifts to Yarila before him. From a special jug, the priest pours nine-strong water, infused with nine magical herbs, onto Yarun. Magus asks:

What is Yarila?

The priest answers him:
- KOLO IGNITED! - That is, it shone with the Spring Sun.
Then - again pours water on Yarun. Magus asks:
- What Yarila?
The priest answers:
- GO TO ROSA! - That is, he created the offspring of Mother Earth.
And - for the third time pours water on Yarun. Magus asks:
- What Yarila?
The priest answers:
- LIFE ASCENDED! - That is, ascended the Harvest.
After this, the sorcerer addresses all those gathered and, raising his hands to grief, loudly says:
- Glory to Yarila-Father!
The people take the glory
- Goy!
Magus - all of a sudden:
- Glory to Yarila-Father !!

People:
- Goy!!
Magus - for the third time:
- Glory to Yarila-Father !!!
People:
- Goy!!!

Then the whole world bows to Yarila and let the brother in a circle with intoxicated honey or beer - the sacred drink of Yarila - not for outrageousness, but for good fun and for health. When the brother goes around all those gathered, the men and the young men go out to dance a ritual dance called a jog: they stand in a colo, clasping each other by the shoulders, and begin to move - one step anti-sun, two steps salting - with a flood, at first slowly, then gradually accelerating. The knees are raised as high as possible: so that the life grows high. At each step - with a single voice they say: "YARE-YAR" or "GOY". The dance continues until exhaustion, after which everyone falls on the grass and listens to the Earth in silence ...

The festival ends - as well as on Yarila Veshny - with an honest brotherhood and merry games.
Foreign chroniclers considered Triglav one of the numerous host of Slavic gods, not realizing that the very essence of our ancient faith was expressed in this most important symbol: God is one, but he has many manifestations. Most often, these are three main entities: Svarog, Perun and Svyatovit (Sventovit). The "Boyan Hymn" says:

Bow your head before Triglav!
That's how we started
they sang great glory to him,
Svarog - Grandfather of the Gods was praised,
what awaits us.
Svarog - Elder God of God's Family
and to the whole family - an eternally beating spring ...
And the Thunderer - God Perun,
God of battles and struggle...
And we called glory to Sventovit.
He is both Rights and Reveal God!
We sing songs to Him, because Sventovit is Light.

Therefore, we can say that any statue of the Slavic gods is Triglav. For this reason, many deities were depicted as multifaceted - polyessential, and the German chronicler called Triglav the "greatest" deity of the Slavs.

Triglav was revered by all Slavs, but some peoples worshiped him especially. Near the city of Stetin, next to a healing spring, on the main of the three sacred hills, stood on high pillars covered with black cloth, the magnificent temple of Triglav. At the foot of a single statue lay heaps of treasure - a tenth of the spoils of war.

The statue of the triune god was covered with a veil, and he had golden bandages on his lips and eyes. It was believed that Triglav vigilantly monitors all the kingdoms: Rule, Yavu and Navu. God's gaze and his word were so powerful that they could easily break the thin barriers between the worlds.

And then the worlds, mixed up, would change places, and this meant the end of the world. Therefore, Triglav was served by many priests who made sure that his statue was always tightly covered with cloth, and they set out the will of God themselves. The black horses of Triglav were also used for predictions.

Images of Triglav could differ significantly from each other in size. In Gostkovo, for example, it was so large that the conquerors could not knock it down even with the help of several pairs of oxen. And in Yulin, this god, cast in gold, was so small that he was hidden from the advancing knights in the hollow of a tree.

The idea of ​​a triune deity was also known to the Aryan Hindus, where he was called Trimurti. The statue consisted of the three main gods of Hinduism: Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva (in our opinion - Barma, the Most High and Siva). Thus, three most important functions were combined in one nature: creation (Brahma), storage (Vishnu) and destruction (Shiva). The Slavic-Russian idea was somewhat different: creation (Svarog), the law of Rule (Perun) and the divine Light (Svyatovit). Destruction could be used only in exceptional cases as a punishment for non-observance of the divine law of life.

Below Triglav were Belobog and Chernobog, who were in constant struggle with each other: daylight dimmed in the approaching twilight, and the darkness of the night was scattered by the morning dawn; Joy hurried to replace sadness: after cruelty and envy, the time for selfless and good deeds came. The first god was depicted as a wise gray-bearded and gray-haired old man, the second - as an ugly skeletal "koshchei". However, Belobog and Chernobog were equally revered.

In Pomerania rises a mountain called Belobog. In Poland, these are places such as Byalobozh and Byalobozhnitsa, in the Czech Republic - Belozhitsa, in Ukrainian Galicia - Belbozhnitsa. Near Moscow, near Radonezh, there was a sanctuary of Belobog, and in Kostroma, the Orthodox Trinity-Belobozhsky Monastery retained in its name the name of the ancient god of light and warmth.

This god was especially revered in Belarus, where he was called Belun. It was believed here that a person who got lost in the forest would certainly be brought home by a gray-bearded old man who looked like a sorcerer. In a happy moment, the Belarusians said: "It was as if I had made friends with Belun." Or: "It's dark in the forest without Belun."

The chronicler Helmold said that in medieval Slavia, during feasts, a bowl of intoxicated honey was passed through the rows and they swore by Belobog and Chernobog. A wooden sculpture of the latter in the form of a humanoid beast with a runic inscription in the language of the Pomeranian Slavs: “Tsarni bu” (“Black God”) stood for a long time in the German city of Hamburg. Chernobog was considered evil. In Ukraine, there was a strong curse: “May the black god kill you!”

A very interesting legend about two gods has been preserved in the lands of the Don army. The Cossacks believed that Belyak and Chernyak were twin brothers who always follow a person and write down his deeds in special books. The good "registers" Belobog, the evil - his brother. Nothing can be hidden from their gaze, but if you repent, then the record of a bad deed will fade, although it will not disappear completely - God must read it after the death of a person.

In a mournful hour, the brothers become visible, and then Belobog says to the dying man: “There is nothing to do, the son will finish your affairs.” And Chernobog always gloomily adds: "And he, too, will not be able to finish everything." The twins accompany the soul to the Other World until Judgment, and then return to earth to accompany the next newborn until his death.

Some researchers see in Belobog a symbol of the Aryan faith, in Chernobog - Shiva the Destroyer. Others note that Belobog walked in a white dress with black patches, and Chernobog - in all black, but with white patches on his clothes. This is exactly what the eastern symbols of Yin and Yang look like - two forces that, replacing each other, move the world in the eternal cycle of black and white being. The World of Reveal is a field of eternal battle, a place of testing people.

Only the heavens of the Rule are free from Darkness, and Nav does not know Light.
The brothers Belobog and Chernobog follow a person everywhere and write down all his deeds, good and evil, in the books of fate. Later they were replaced by a guardian angel behind the right shoulder and the devil behind the left.

Yarilo the Strong (Yarilo Wet) is the most extensive and reckless holiday from the entire complex of Spring celebrations of Yarila. This is how the Christian priest Tikhon Zadonsky, who took place in Voronezh, describes this holiday in the source of 1765 already mentioned above: “... many husbands and wives of old and small children (...) gathered. drunk, quarrels among others, fights between others, I noticed the dancing of drunken wives with bad songs ... "8. According to these lines, having discarded the purely Christian desire to denigrate everything folk, everything connected with the original Slavic Culture, one can judge the scale and general mood of the holiday.

On this day, along with chants and dances, fistfights were also organized, often reaching the point of murder. According to ethnographers, on this holiday a guy was also chosen to portray Yarila. He led the procession and the shepherds played the zhaleykas. In other cases, Yarila's "horse" was made from tied poles, on which a shepherd sat with a pipe. Often, as part of this holiday, along with the usual fisticuffs, a ritual duel was also arranged - the "elected" Yarilo fought with his fists with the same "Yarilo" from a neighboring village. Along with the culmination of the Spring Yari, the holiday of Yarila the Strong is also a reflection of the fact that the Spring Force of Yarila is waning starting from this day (and this continues until Kupala, when the "Funeral of Yarila" is held, when the Young Spring Sun - Yarila - turns into Mature Husband - Trisvetly Dazhdbog - Summer Sun). A symbolic reflection of this process in folk rituals is the rolling of burning wheels from the Yarilin Pleshes.

Yarilin Day is celebrated on March 1, 2020 (date according to the old style - February 16). The folk holiday is dedicated to Yarila - the Slavic god of spring and fertility, seeing off winter and welcoming spring. In some regions, this day was called Danilo-novichok, in honor of the first day of spring.

Story

In Slavic mythology, Yarilo (Yarila, Yarovit, Jaromir, Ruevit) is the god of the earth, the sun, spring, heat, a sunbeam and fertility. This is the son of the god Veles and the goddess Dodola, also known as Perunitsa - the wife of the god Perun. More often, Yarilo is depicted as a young boy or man with a wreath of flowers on a blond head, dressed in white clothes, sitting on a snow-white horse.

Before 1492, the new year began on March 1st. This day was considered a significant holiday. Until the 19th century, it was a holiday.

Traditions and rituals

The holiday is celebrated with folk festivals, fairs, songs and round dances. At this time, field workers rest and have fun. For them, this is the last opportunity to take a carefree walk before starting field work.

If snow falls at night, the children are sent to clear the steps of the porch, the paths to the well, or the walkways to the river or lake. Such a rite, according to legend, brings happiness to the house, and gives children health.

If it is a clear morning on Yarilin, a pregnant woman should look at the rising sun and bask in its rays for at least a couple of minutes. It is believed that this gives strength to the mother to endure and give birth to a healthy baby.

In the old days in Rus', midwives brought snow into the house on this day and washed their faces and hands with it. It was believed that the melted spring water would give them purity.

Signs

A branch thrown on the snow sank - soon it will get warmer.

Crows scream loudly - wait for a cold snap.

Yarilo came - it's time to take on the pitchfork.

The snow melted on this day is considered healing.

Do's and Don'ts on this day

Yarilin's day is distinguished by the scorching sun, it is a day for all days, the one and only. All the saints with Yarila, a pagan god, are measured, they cannot overcome. In Rus' they said: “Yarilo is a good fellow, he rides on a white horse, on fair-haired curls - a wreath, in his left hand a bunch of rye, in his right - a club. Yarilo waved his rye - the fields grew fat, the grain was eared, he waved his club - thunders rumbled, it rained. Wherever the horse goes, silk grass with azure flowers spreads there.

The Slavic holiday Yarilin Day is celebrated on July 1 (June 18 according to the old style) every year. It is dedicated to the Slavic god of the sun. The people called this day “the crown of summer” because it just falls on the hottest time of the season.

Other holiday names

Yarilki, Yarilov's day, Midsummer, Senozarnitsa.

Yarilo is the god of the sun, warmth, spring and carnal love. He is distinguished by a bright temperament, according to legend, people descended from the union of this deity with Mother Raw Earth, which until then was lifeless.

The holiday arose in those days when there was no Christianity in Rus' yet, and the ancestors of the Slavic peoples revered and asked for help from heavenly bodies, nature and animals.

Yarila (Yarilo) is a character of Slavic ancient legends. He is considered a deity. It is associated with the sun, warmth, fertility, male power and war.

Legends say that on this day the other gods measured their strength with Yarila, but he invariably emerged victorious from the fights. Although the Orthodox Church is against such holidays, and calls it paganism and idolatry, Yarilin Day has not lost its former popularity. People continue to believe in the power of the sun and celebrate the crown of summer. This holiday is especially revered by the Eastern Slavs.

Traditions and customs on Yarilin day

The main traditions on July 1: stuffing mattresses with freshly cut dried grass, collecting herbs for tea, bathing in the morning dew, fairs, folk festivals, the funeral ceremony of Yarila.

On this day, it was customary to collect fragrant herbs and brew tea from them. Our ancestors believed that such a drink would help to cope with a variety of ailments.

- July 1 - mystical day. The heavenly body suspends its course across the sky in order to thoroughly warm the earth. It opens "windows" through which you can see the other end of the world, and sometimes other, other worlds. On Yarilin Day, you can see a person from whom there has been no news for a long time. To do this, you need to weave birch rods into your hair and look through the braid, standing on the high bank of the river towards the other bank.

- On Yarilin's week, conspiracies for prosperity are especially powerful. - Our ancestors, seeing a spider on this day, made a wish. Then they watched the spider: if he crawled down, then the desire would certainly come true, if up, then the plans were not destined to come true.

- On July 1, children and pets are lightly beaten with willow twigs. At the same time, we wish them health and good growth.

- Morning dew on Yarilin's day is endowed with special magic. On this day, she gives people beauty, strength or health, which they need more than anything else. To do this, you need to swim in the morning dew.

- On Yarilin day, the girls woke up early and washed themselves with morning dew, so that there would be no end to the guys all year.

- It was believed that children born on this day could become the keepers of traditions, experts in all annual holidays and signs. The talisman of children who were born on Yarilin's day was the Agate stone.

- The Yarils tried to coincide with the celebration and glorification of various fairs, which were accompanied by folk festivals, entertainment for men and women - real fun for everyone.

- At the celebration, a bride was chosen for Yarila and named her Yarilikha. The girl was dressed in all white, her head was decorated with a wreath and, tied to a lonely standing tree, danced around her, singing songs:

Yarilo dragged all over the world, He gave birth to a field, He gave birth to children, Where he steps, There is a wall of life, And where he looks, There an ear will bloom.

Signs on Yarilin Day

- There was a sign that after Yarilin's day the heat would last exactly seven days, because it is not for nothing that the symbol of God is the Sun.

- Morning fog creeps along the lowlands - the coming days will be fine.

- Pink sunset in the evening - the next day will be hot.

- The new moon on this day - to the drought.

- A lot of midges in the fields - to a successful hunt for quails.

- Crows fly up under the clouds - to bad weather.

- A month in the sky is such that you can “hang” a bucket on the lower horn - for dry days.

- Fedul looked into the yard - it's time to cram the sickles, preparing for the harvest ahead of time.

- In the sun, the dress fades, and lying on the morning dew - takes beauty from the dawn.

- That's what the hay dew is for, so that the eyes become sharper. There is dew on the grass - the scythe walks easier.

- Wind screw - to fine days.

- A lot of dew - millet will be born.