In Russia to this day they are lovingly preserved ancient rituals and are celebrated regularly. And, although there were no special children’s celebrations in ancient times, children necessarily took part in many of them and played their own special role. Both Orthodox and even more distant pagan traditions have reached us.

Holidays revered in Rus'

Since ancient times, Russians lived based on three calendars:

1. Natural.
2. Pagan.
3. Christian.

Each of them gave their great and interesting holidays, but over time many of them merged. This happened with the advent of Christianity. So, for example, Christmas merged with carols and Christmastide. Here are the main holidays revered in Rus', a kind of folk calendar.

It is worth noting that there are many more holidays, but they are less known (in a new way).

• January 6-7 – Christmas. Kolyada.
• January 7-19 – Christmastide.
• February 15 – Meeting.
• End of February – beginning of March – Maslenitsa (floating date).
• March 22 – Magpies.
• April 7 – Annunciation.
• The first Sunday after Easter is Red Hill.
• On the night of June 23-24 - Ivan Kupala.
• August 2 – Elijah’s Day.
• August 28 – Spozhinki.
• September 14 – Semyon Letoprovedets.
• September 27 – Exaltation.
• October 26 – Bolshiye Oseniny.

Many of them had common features. It was impossible to do difficult work. There had to be cleanliness all around and everywhere. And the house was put in order, and the soul. Quarrels and hostility were not allowed. We should only talk about good things, no bad news. Anyone who violated this rule could be flogged. They dressed up in their best, and filled the table with the most delicious dishes.

Winter rituals and celebrations

In December, people could already take a break from hard work and should think about a more pleasant spring preparation for new business. Our ancestors loved December 25 ( Spiridon-solstice). On the night of it, according to their beliefs, their ancestors came to people in the form of holy spirits.

Hence the name of this multi-day holiday. Custom prohibited any negativity towards each other. The evening before Christmas - nomad (Christmas Eve)) had to be fast until the shining of the first star in the sky. With the onset of sunset, a quiet family meal began.

Little godchildren ran to visit their godparents with congratulations and kutya, and they fed them all sorts of tasty treats and gave them money. This holiday ended early.

The next morning belonged entirely to the children. It was not without noise and fun. Flocks of children walked around houses and huts, carrying a star the size of an arshin, a nativity scene - a box with two tiers and figurines of biblical heroes cut out of wood. They glorified Christ with songs and poems. The cheerful singers also carried with them baskets for pies and sweets, which the owners of the houses provided them with.

There was also a treasured plate where generous peasants and townspeople put coins for the children. Such processions lasted until noon, then the adults began chanting. All Russian classes had this tradition.

On Christmastide Mummers' games were obligatory. In a cheerful crowd they entered houses, presented skits and pulled out various funny tricks. Caroling is also considered traditional. It has been preserved since the times of the Slavic Kolyada.

Carols and short songs sounded everywhere. Those who wished everyone to the owners earthly goods. If they were stingy and did not thank the singers, then they could receive an evil wish for the holiday.

Symbolic meeting spring with winter took place on Candlemas.

With the onset of spring came the long-awaited Maslenitsa. Even in Slavic paganism, it symbolized the end of the cold and the beginning of spring. Initially it was called Myasopust and only later received its real name. It is justified, since meat was prohibited in the last week before Lent, but butter was not.

All days of the week of Maslenitsa with your name and rituals. One of the most fun things the children took part in was sliding down the slide and taking over the snowy town.

A few days before the holiday, the boys sculpted a town out of snow. The mayor, the defender of the year, was chosen. On the last day of the Sami, a crowd of boys and girls, the army of Maslenitsa, stormed the city, trying to conquer it, and a battle broke out with the mayor. It was imperative to capture the flag and bind the defender of Snow Town.

For a whole week there was a farewell to winter: pancakes, guests, skating. The highest point of the festive mood is the burning of an effigy made from straw and hay. After Maslenitsa symbol burned, the ashes were released to the winds.

The period from January 6th to Maslena, as it was also popularly called, is still considered the best to start a family. The wedding weeks passed.

Annually in the spring - Easter. The rituals of this oldest holiday Christians around the world are familiar to everyone: they bake Easter cakes and paint eggs. Often it was the children who were given the role of coloring the symbols of the blood of Christ.

Spring holidays

Magpies. On this holiday, both day and night are equal. The birds are returning, waiting for them, wishing for speedy warmth. According to legend, if the finch was the first to arrive, then there will still be cold weather, but if it is a lark, warming is expected. The ancestors of the Russians made birds from ordinary dough, baked them and gave them to children. They took them outside and showed them to the sun.

In many villages the tradition still exists, the figures are called larks, due to the desire to see this particular bird. Yes, and the holiday is often called Larks.

To Krasnaya Gorka, which comes after the strict feast of the Annunciation, people were supposed to paint eggs and take them to the graves of loved ones. Children rolled them over mounds and left them as sacrifices under crosses. On this day it was believed that spring had finally arrived.

Summer holidays

Unusual and mysterious Ivan Kupala They celebrated not in the light of day, but always at night. Everyone was walking outside or going to the meadow where the fires were burning. Jumping through them they purified themselves. There was no shame in jumping with children and young people and mature villagers. Girls and boys sang and danced around.

Unmarried and lonely women wove wreaths of flowers and herbs and let rivers flow, wondering about their family future. Two plants symbolize this holiday: fern and Ivan da Marya. It is believed that a fern that never blooms suddenly throws out its bud that night, and the lucky one, having found it, will find the treasure.

Elijah's day the children didn't like it. After him, his parents forbade him to swim in the river. The water from lunch is cooling down. That's it - you can't swim.

IN Spozhiki the whole world rejoiced at the end of the harvest. There was a celebration.

Autumn holidays

All celebrations of this period are in one way or another connected with the new harvest. On the Seeds of the Summer Conductor we tried to celebrate a housewarming party, life promised to be fine. We looked after nature: the geese flew away - winter will come unexpectedly and quickly. It rained that day and soaked the field; it is unlikely that the harvest will be harvested and stored.

Exaltation– the beginning of arable land dormancy. On Sergius of Radonezh The cabbage was being chopped and fermented, snow was expected and the fun began. Intercession brought cold. People burned worn-out bast shoes and old straw beds. We turned to the elements. Asking for leniency and a mild winter. They rejoiced and thanked nature if the fields were snow-covered that day.

To Bolshiye Oseniny there was a special celebration in honor of everything that was grown on mother earth and prepared for winter storage.

Many holidays and with them associated rituals they say that the ancestors honored family and traditions. There is matchmaking, wedding feasts, and children's baptism. They sincerely believed that by carrying out the proper rituals, they would guarantee success in life, for themselves and their descendants, everyone would be healthy and happy, and the family would be strong and for life.

Scenario for a thematic conversation for elementary school students “Let's talk about winter folk holidays.”

Matveeva Svetlana Nikolaevna, teacher primary classes MBOU "Secondary School No. 9"
Ulyanovsk.
Description of work: I bring to your attention a thematic conversation with primary school students about winter folk holidays, which can be used as a extracurricular activities and classes for schoolchildren, and at classroom hours. This material will be useful to primary school teachers, after-school teachers, kindergarten teachers, health camps and sanatoriums. Thematic conversation is aimed at younger students school age, possibly for preschoolers preparatory groups.
Target: acquaintance with winter folk holidays.
Tasks:
- clarify children’s knowledge about winter folk holidays;
- broaden the horizons of younger schoolchildren;
- develop children’s cognitive interest and creative abilities;
- cultivate respect for the history of your people, for traditions.

Progress of the event

Teacher: Good afternoon, guys and dear adults! Did you know that from Christmas to Maslenitsa itself, winter holidays were celebrated cheerfully in Rus'. What holidays do you know?
The children answer.
Teacher: The most beloved and famous folk holidays in Russia, of course, are snowy and frosty Christmas, Christmastide, Epiphany and many others.
It's no secret that everyone, without exception, folk holidays Russia is filled with traditions, rituals and rituals.
Today we will learn about the tradition of mummers, carols, Christmas fortune-telling, as well as the tradition of celebrating holidays and much more.
Here are some winter holidays:
December 12 - (Kolyada Day)
December 25 - (Christmas)
December 31 - January 1 (New Year)
December 25 - January 6 (Christmas time)

Teacher: All modern holidays have their roots in paganism.
For example, Kolyada Day among the ancient Slavs, it was 7 thousand years BC, it fell on the day of the winter solstice. According to legend, Teacher Kolyada descended from the sky, giving the idea of ​​a sacred calendar, talking about the change of day and night, and explaining how time moves.
The winter solstice marked both the beginning of a new life and the renewal of nature. Adults and children jumped over the fire, danced in circles, and boys competed in strength and ingenuity. Daylight hours were increasing, which meant spring was just around the corner.
It is even known that in the 16th century in Rus', with the day winter solstice a special ceremony was associated. So the bell ringer of the Moscow Cathedral, who was responsible for striking the clock, came to bow to the Tsar and reported that from now on the sun had turned to summer, now the day was increasing and the night was shortening. For this good news, the king rewarded the headman with money.
At this time, another multi-day winter holiday was celebrated - Christmastide (or Carols). It began in the last days of December and ended in early January. Christmas time was accompanied magical rituals, on the eve of Christmas, carols were sung, mummers walked around the villages, and celebrations were held in every house. festive feasts, the girls were guessing about their betrothed.
Special songs with wishes for a rich harvest, health, peace and harmony in the family were called - carols. Indispensable participants of the Christmas holidays were, of course, mummers. They dressed up as whoever they wanted.
Teacher: solve the riddles and find out.
Sample riddles:
My outfit is colorful,
My cap is sharp
My jokes and laughter
They make everyone happy.
(Parsley).

He sucks his paw
Sleeps all winter long.
But when spring comes,
Waking up from sleep
And let's roar in the forest...
Everyone calls him...
(Bear).

The wedge flies curly to the south,
Not wanting to meet a blizzard.
Flying around the floor of the Earth,
They rush into the distance -...
(Cranes).

Teacher: They dressed up as bears, cranes, parsleys and others. The mummers, within reasonable limits, were allowed everything, but only so as not to offend the owners of the house.
Perhaps one of the most important Christian holidays is Nativity. It was believed that if a happy person enters the house first at Christmas, then happiness will not leave its walls all year. Christmas was accompanied by colorful folk customs and festivities. These are Carols, and walking with a star, and the trips of mummers. It was here that paganism and Christianity coexisted peacefully with each other.
Sample CAROLS:
Kolyada, Kolyada,
Serve the pie.
Damn it,
pork leg,
A little bit of everything.
Carry it, don't shake it -
Come on, don't break it!

Go-go-go, goat,
Go-go, gray
Oh, Lyuli, Lyuli -
Go-go gray.

We are not going on our own.
Oh, lyuli, lyuli
We are leading a goat.
Oh, lyuli, lyuli...

Like our goat
Yes, from near Moscow.
Oh, lyuli, lyuli...
Yes, from near Moscow.
Oh, lyuli, lyuli
With red hair.
Oh, lyuli, lyuli...
With red hair
With little goats.
Oh, lyuli, lyuli...
Don't go, goat
Near Mikhailovka.
Oh, lyuli, lyuli...
Like in Mikhailovka
All residents are Sagittarius.
Oh, lyuli, lyuli...
They shot a goat
In the right ear.
Oh, lyuli, lyuli...
From the right ear
The yushka started leaking.
Oh, lyuli, lyuli...
Lamentations
- Oh, the goat has fallen, my dear has fallen!
- How? Has the goat fallen?
- So give her some bacon. So that the goat gets up.
Our goat is here
She got up and went.
Oh, lyuli, lyuli...

The carol has arrived
It's Christmas Eve!
The carol has arrived
Open the gate.
Give me the cow
I'm oiling the head!
And God forbid that
Who's in this house?
The rye is thick for him,
Rye is ugly!
He'll get an octopus,
From the grain he has a carpet,
Half-grain pie.
The Lord would grant you
And we live and be,
And wealth;
And create for you, Lord,
Even better than that!

Get off the stove
Serve the rolls.
You are a good uncle!
Give me money for the passage!
If you give it away, you won’t give it away,
Will wait,
Stand at the gate!..
Golden head
Silk beard!
Give me some pie
For the sake of the holiday of Christ
At least a fresh pie
At least sour
Yes, some wheat!
Cut it thicker
Give me more!
If only you had a hundred cows
One and a half hundred bulls!
I'd milk you a bucket
All with sour cream!
(During preliminary preparation, children perform some carols).
Teacher: Kolyada- god of celebrations and peace. Kolyada is perhaps one of the most beautiful ancient Christmas rituals, accompanied at Christmas by going around houses with songs, congratulations and wishes for wealth, good health, and a good harvest.
Carols are costumed processions with a star and chants that are still held in rural areas.
The day before, children, and even adults, gathered to carol under the windows of rich peasants, called the owner in songs, repeated the name of Kolyada and asked for money, sweets, etc. Rituals were carried out in the form of fortune telling, dressing up as animals, devils and other evil spirits, practical jokes, accompanied songs and music. Kolyada is the deity of fun, so they invited him, clicked on him new year holidays crowds of young people.

Ovsen, where are you going? Paving bridges!
Who should go? Kolyada to the sovereign!
What should he ride?
On a solar pig!
What to drive?
Piglet!

Teacher: Last day of Christmastide - Shchedrets, famous for its generous gifts and festive feast. The evening was popularly called generous, or rich, which is associated with the custom of preparing a rich festive table, where, unlike the Christmas evening, there were always meat dishes. The composition of the mummers is the same as on Kolyada. Carolers approached a house or a crowd of people and sang: “Generous evening! Good evening!". In carol songs, as a rule, they praised the owners, each by name, and wished them well-being in every possible way. If you entered a house, you did a symbolic sowing of grain, wishing the owners happiness, health, and a good harvest:
We sow the snow, we sow,
Happy New Year!
Be born wheat,
Peas, lentils!
On the field in haystacks,
There are pies on the table!
Happy New Year,
With all the family!
May you be healthy
We lived for many years!

Teacher: Then the carolers began “to languish a carol” that is, begging for gifts from the owners, complaining that “we came from afar”, “the goat’s legs hurt” etc. The owners resisted and laughed it off. Then the mummers began singing shchedrovki, some containing comic threats. It was considered a great shame not to give gifts to carolers. The mummers could also send comic curses to such greedy owners:
Give them a hit on the back, Svarozhe!
Destroy them, Father Perun!
Empty bag for them, leaky pot!

Kolyada, Kolyada!
And sometimes there is a carol
Christmas Eve
Kolyada has arrived
Christmas brought.

Teacher: What else do you think was sung about in carols?
The children answer.
Teacher: The owner and hostess were wished for a harvest, and the girl and boy were wished to get married. "Kolyada" is the god of festivities. He was depicted as a solar disk with the face of a baby, since on Christmas days “the sun turned to summer.” The cookies that the mummers were treated to were also supposed to be round (symbol of the solar disk). Folk performers sang loudly, with a tense timbre, to hear the echo.
Sample carols:
Kolyada, Kolyada!
And sometimes there is a carol
Christmas Eve
Kolyada has arrived
Christmas brought.

Kolyada, Kolyada,
Give me some pie
Or a loaf of bread,
Or half a buck,
Or a chicken with a crest,
Cockerel with a comb!
Open the chests, owners,
Take out your heels!
Let's give it a penny
To the carolers!

Teacher: Traditionally, children started round dances and carried a star on a stick or pole. When the door was opened, they first showered the owners with grain. If the owners to whom the children came showed greed, then the carol participants could also sing mischievous carols.
Sample mischievous carols:
Won't you give me the pie?
We take the cow by the horns.
If you don't give me some kvass -
We are a pig by the whisky.
Won't you give me a blink -
We are the host in the kick.
Serve, don't break,
Don't snack!
Don't give me the pie -
Let's take the cow by the horns!

Who won't give pie -
That's why a firebrand is born,
Who won't give me meat -
That's why the cat is in the window,
Blind eyes.

Give you, Lord,
One cow
Yes, and that comela,
Milked tar
I would strain it with resin.

Teacher: Everything that the owners gave to the children: money, sweets, etc., the carolers put in a bag and thanked them with songs and poems. Having collected a full bag of gifts, the carolers went home to celebrate the first Veles Day ( New Year) in the family circle.
Sample poems and songs:
Good evening to good people!
May the holiday be merry!
Happy New Year,
We wish you happiness and joy!
Generous evening, good evening,
Good health to good people!
On a generous New Year's evening
I wish you all happiness and health!

Teacher: There were even tips that were important to follow during the Christmastide period.
Here are some sample tips:
1. Be present all the time good mood, wish all people happiness, and radiate love and joy.
2. During this period, complete abundance should reign in the house: tables are richly and deliciously set, which will ensure prosperity, a rich harvest, and good profits next year.
3. Spend more time with friends and relatives, then you will be together all year.
4. Invite as many people as possible to visit and welcome them warmly - then the world will be open to you.
5. Give and accept gifts.
6. Do not skimp and do not regret anything, then the Universe will not spare anything for you.
7. Do good deeds, help other people, show charity, take care of nature - this will come back to you.
8. Do not refuse help at this time, especially for children.

Russian people knew how to work, and they knew how to relax. Following the principle: “There is time for work, an hour for fun,” the peasants rested mainly in holidays. What is a holiday? The Russian word “holiday” comes from the ancient Slavic “prazd”, meaning “rest, idleness.”

What holidays were revered in Rus'? For a long time in villages they lived by three calendars. The first is natural, agricultural, associated with the change of seasons. The second - pagan, pre-Christian times, just like agricultural, was correlated with natural phenomena. The third, latest calendar is the Christian, Orthodox, in which there are only twelve great holidays, not counting Easter. In ancient times, Christmas was considered the main winter holiday. The holiday of Christmas came to Rus' along with Christianity in the 10th century. and merged with the ancient Slavic winter holiday - Christmastide, or carol.

The time of this holiday was of great economic importance for the ancient Slavs. Winter work was ending, and a period of active preparation for spring began. It is not surprising that people rejoiced at the long-awaited vacation. And nature itself was conducive to this: the sun shone more cheerfully, the days began to arrive. The day of December 25 in the calendar of our ancestors was called the day of Spiridon the solstice. According to Slavic beliefs, on the night of the birth of the new sun, the spirits of ancestors, who were called “saints” or “Christmastide”, descended to earth.

Slavic Christmastide was a multi-day holiday. They started at the end of December and continued throughout the first week of January.

On Christmastide it was forbidden to quarrel, use foul language, mention death, or commit reprehensible acts. Everyone was obliged to do only nice things for each other. The evening before Christmas is known as Christmas Eve, or nomad, by observing the ritual of which people, as it were, prepared for Christmas itself. On this day it was customary to fast until late evening, before the appearance of the first star, in memory of the star of Bethlehem. And as soon as the evening dawn lit up in the sky, the family sat down at the table. On Christmas Eve, the godchildren went to visit their godfathers and mothers, congratulated them on the holiday, and at the same time brought them kutya and pies. They, in turn, treated their godchildren and gave them money.

Christmas Eve - This is a modest, quiet holiday, taking place at the table, in well-mannered conversation and ending very early.

And the next morning a completely different holiday began - noisy and cheerful. His children started it. They walked from house to house with a star, a nativity scene and sang poems to the glory of Christ. A star the size of an arshin was made of paper, painted with paints and illuminated from the inside with a candle. The boys, who were most often trusted to carry the star, twirled the star in all directions for importance. A nativity scene is a two-tiered box in which wooden figures depicted scenes associated with the birth of Christ. It is not difficult to guess that walking with a star is a reminder of Star of Bethlehem, glorification is singing in praise of Christ, and the nativity scene is a puppet theater.

For their singing, singers of fame received various gifts, most often pies and money. To collect the pies, one of the Slavelians mowed down the body, and a plate was intended for the money. Around noon, worship began for adults. In the old days, all classes took part in this.

Christmastide could not do without the participation of mummers. Mummer games are an ancient Russian buffoon fun. The mummers went into the huts and had as much fun as they could: fooling around, putting on entire performances.

Caroling was also a common Christmas ritual - an echo ancient holiday Carols.

Carols are special Christmas songs. Their content was traditional - glorifying the owner, wishing his family and home well-being and prosperity. There was a reward for caroling - something tasty. If the owner was stingy and did not give anything, or gave little, then he risked hearing the following wish:

“For the New Year, an aspen coffin,

A stake on the grave, I will skin the mare!”

My favorite Christmas pastime is fortune telling. Fortune telling gave birth to people's desire to somehow foresee the future and even magically influence it. In pagan times, fortune telling was of a purely economic nature - about the harvest and the offspring of livestock, about the health of relatives and friends. On Christmastide they brought a sheaf of wheat or an armful of hay to the hut and pulled out a straw and a blade of grass with their teeth. A full ear foreshadowed a good harvest, and a long blade of grass meant good haymaking.

Over the years, only young people, especially girls, have retained interest in fortune telling. Everything pagan and magical that the ritual included was long forgotten, and festive fun was born from the rubble. But why is this particular time good for fortune telling? Popular legend says: “On the night of New Year, countless hosts of demons emerge from the underworld and walk the earth, frightening all baptized people. From her, from the unclean force, one could find out one’s fate.” At Christmas time, grown-up girls told fortunes:

Will they get married this year? In the dead of night, when everyone in the household is fast asleep, the fortune tellers, observing the strictest silence, bring a rooster into the hut. If he goes to the table, it means the girl will get married, and if the rooster retreats from the hut, then she will still remain a maiden.

The girls quietly went to the goose coop and caught the bird in the dark: if a male falls into the hands, then the girl will get married, if the female, she will remain a girl.

Single or widower? The girls secretly left the house to the tine or fence, and, clasping it with both hands, began to finger each tine with one hand, saying quietly: “Single, widower, single, widower.” If the term ends with the name of a single man, then that means that the girl will marry him.

In which direction does the betrothed live? “The shoe was taken off the foot and thrown behind the gate.” In which direction the end of the shoe points, that’s where the betrothed lives.

To find out their fate, they “drowned wax.” Based on the resulting figures, they judged their lot: if it looks like a church, it means a wedding, but if it’s a pit or a cave, expect death.

The most common was fortune telling. The girls, putting their rings in a dish and covering it with a scarf, “sang subbed songs in harmony.” After the song, the dish was shaken, and the fortune teller pulled out one of the rings at random. The content of this song, predicting fate, related to its owner.

The most interesting, but also the most terrible, was fortune telling with a mirror and a candle. The girl looked through the candle flame into the mirror and she might have dreamed something.

Fortune telling could be done during Christmas time, that is, before Epiphany, or Epiphany. The Feast of Epiphany, celebrated on January 19, is one of the great holidays Orthodox Church. Established in memory of the baptism of Jesus Christ by the prophet John the Baptist.

On the threshold of spring, a cheerful holiday was celebrated in the villages - Maslenitsa. It has been known since pagan times as a holiday of farewell to winter and welcome of spring. The original name of Maslenitsa was “meat empty”. Later they began to call Maslenitsa week “cheese”, or simply Maslenitsa. The name “Maslenitsa” is not accidental. In the last week before Lent, it was not allowed to eat meat, but dairy products, including butter, which was generously poured over pancakes - the main holiday dish, were not yet prohibited.

Like any event related to Easter- the main event of the Christian year, Maslenitsa does not have an exact calendar attachment, but is the week preceding Lent.

Each day during Maslenitsa week had its own name, each day had its own specific actions, rules of conduct, and rituals. Monday was called a meeting, Tuesday - flirting, Wednesday - gourmet, Thursday - revelry, wide fours, Friday - mother-in-law's party, Saturday - sister-in-law's get-togethers, Sunday - forgiven day, farewell.

The whole week, in addition to the official names, was popularly called: “Honest, wide, cheerful, Maslenitsa lady, Maslenitsa lady.”

On the Sunday before Maslenitsa, the father of the young wife, taking with him a treat (most often pies), went to the matchmakers and asked to let his son-in-law and his wife go visit him. He also invited matchmakers along with the whole family. Usually the young people arrived on Friday, the whole village was waiting for their arrival. The mother-in-law was supposed to look after her son-in-law; she prepared the best dishes and, of course, baked pancakes. Therefore, it is Maslenitsa Friday that is called “mother-in-law’s evening”. The next day, the guests were received by the sister-in-law, that is, the husband’s sister. One of the main events associated with the holiday was the meeting and farewell of Maslenitsa. By Thursday of cheese week, a straw doll in the shape of a woman was made. The outfit for Maslenitsa was either bought together or dressed in cast-offs. The stuffed animal was carried around the whole village laughing and making jokes.

The most common type of wiring was lighting fires. On Sunday evening, the Maslenitsa procession went out to the winter, where Maslenitsa was burned at the stake. All the people gathered around the Maslenitsa fire. There were songs, jokes and jokes. Throwing straw into the fire, they repeated: “Maslenitsa, farewell! And come again next year.”

One of the Maslenitsa customs was the newlyweds skating down an icy mountain. Young people came to skating in their best clothes. Every young husband was obliged to give his wife a ride down the hill. All this was accompanied by kisses and bows. Cheerful young people often delayed the sled, and then the married couple had to pay off with a certain number of public kisses.

Skiing from the mountains is generally one of the favorite Maslenitsa pastimes. Starting on Monday, not only the newlyweds, but also the children rode. The ice slides were decorated with Christmas trees, lanterns were hung, and even ice statues were placed on the sides.

From Thursday onwards the slides were replaced by horse riding. We rode troikas with bells, racing and just like that.

More severe entertainment was fist fights. They fought one on one, and wall to wall. The battles took place on the ice of frozen rivers. The battles were fought mercilessly and passionately, sometimes ending in injury and even death.

One of the actions Maslenitsa week was the “capture of the snowy town.” A week before Maslenitsa, the boys built a town out of snow, giving it all kinds of looks. Next, a mayor is selected who is obliged to protect the city from the attack of Maslenitsa. They took the city on the last day of Maslenitsa, aiming to take possession of the flag on the city and the mayor himself.

The last day of Maslenitsa - Forgiveness Sunday. On this day, they ask for forgiveness not only from the living, but also from the dead. In the evening on this day they go to the bathhouse and enter Lent cleansed.

During Lent, the Feast of the Annunciation was celebrated. According to church tradition, on April 7, the Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary and announced that she would have a miraculously conceived son. It is believed that on this day the earth and all living things on it are blessed. Despite the strict fast, it was allowed to eat fish on this day.

Every spring, Christians around the world celebrate Easter, the Holy Resurrection of Christ, the oldest and most famous of Christian church celebrations. The main Easter rituals are known to everyone: dyeing eggs, baking Easter cakes. For a believer, Easter is also associated with the all-night vigil, procession of the cross and the making of Christ. Christening consists of exchanging kisses while pronouncing the Easter greeting: “Christ is risen!” - “Truly he is risen!”

For a Christian, Easter is the main and most solemn holiday of the year, the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who accepted martyrdom on the cross.

The mobility of the day of Easter celebration leads to the fact that every year the day of events directly related to the Easter cycle changes, the date of the beginning of Lent and Trinity changes.

Slavic Christmastide is popularly known as a fortnight of fortune telling and magical rituals. This week begins the year according to the Orthodox calendar. It includes the holidays of Christmas, Old New Year, Epiphany.

These days, young people are wondering about their betrothed. Ritual caroling, sowing, mummering, visiting, rituals for well-being and fertility take place. It is believed that these days the presence of spirits among people is especially significant, so the future opens up.

From the end of December, daylight hours began to increase, people associated this with the victory of good over evil. Therefore, on the holy days after Christmas, joy reigned everywhere, unbridled fun, communication, songs and festivities with a hearty meal and sincere conversations.

On holy days, hunting animals and birds is prohibited.

The Nativity of Christ is the second significant holiday of Orthodoxy. It is also noted at the state level. This date according to the Gregorian calendar commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ. In Rus', this holiday, in addition to the traditional Christmas tree and the previous fast, acquired special Slavic features and was replenished with rites and rituals:

· Conclusion of contracts. From Christmas to Maslenitsa, new annual contracts were concluded between merchants. During this period, business people sought to take stock and close last year's obligations in order to begin new contractual relationships.

· Burning of the sheaf. Christmas also ended the agricultural year. In the fall, during the harvest, the owner chose the best sheaf and placed it under the icon in the red corner of the home. On Christmas Eve this gift was burned as a sign new hope for the next harvest. On Christmas and Holy Days, people looked towards a better future. Everyone tried to wear and buy beautiful clothes, prepare the most delicious and satisfying food, give expensive gifts. Generosity of actions attracted generosity of fate and new hope.

· Nativity scene and Kolyada. From Europe to Russia came the custom of theatrical performances associated with the birth of the infant Christ, the so-called dens. In Russian villages they transformed into processions of mummers and puppet theaters in the squares. True, Orthodoxy forbade the use of dolls of the Virgin Mary and Christ; they were replaced with icons.

Kolyada (glorification) is the custom of coming to neighbors with a song glorifying the Nativity of Christ. The costumed artists were rewarded with tasty treats, pies were specially baked and sweets were prepared.

· Christmas Eve. The day before Christmas is called Christmas Eve after the Lenten porridge with honey, nuts and poppy seeds. Before the first star, we ate nothing else that day. The girls were wondering about their betrothed. After dinner on Christmas Eve, according to custom, the owner collected all the remaining food from the table and took it to his pets to share with them the joy of the birth of the Savior.

The Nativity Fast ended with the rise of the first star into the sky, which marked the birth of the baby Jesus. The most hearty food was prepared for this holiday. The dishes consisted of large pieces of meat, fish and poultry baked in the oven. All pastries were also prepared with meat filling. The famous rolls, kulebyaki, pancakes and pies decorated the Christmas table.

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January 19
EPICPANY EVE

Dedicated to the event of the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan. Baptism was performed by John the Baptist. Traditionally, on this day of purification, people purify themselves with water. For Epiphany bathing, blessed fonts and ice holes are usually created. In addition, on this day all water is considered sacred. They drink the water blessed in the church on this day on an empty stomach, and also store it in the Red Corner of the house all year, using it for consecrations and healings. During Epiphany bathing, you need to plunge your head three times, saying the prayer: “In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”

On this day you cannot do laundry or work. The Feast of Epiphany is intended for humility and cleansing of mental and physical impurities. Thoughts are directed towards unity, tolerance, mutual assistance, gratitude to God and people, peace of mind and peace.

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February, during the week before Lent
MASLENITSA

Maslenitsa is a farewell to winter and preparation for welcoming spring, Lent and Easter. This week begins with Sunday, called the “meat plot.” This is the last meat day until Easter. Pancakes are baked all week as a symbol of the solar disk. These days people go to visit with their pancakes and greet them with pancakes. In addition to pancakes, they bake gingerbread cookies, brew honey sbitni and beer, and drink liters of tea. The samovar always had to be hot.

Sledding and sleigh rides are a tribute to the fallen snow and winter. Her image in the form of a straw effigy of Maslenitsa is burned in rural and city squares. This week is marked by wild festivities, songs, theatrical performances of cheerful buffoons, and funny fights. Parsley, my love folk doll, makes the audience laugh and entertains. Young people try to show themselves in all their beauty and decoration. These days, when all the people are on the streets, couples are being looked for.

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First Sunday after the full moon after March 21
EASTER

Favorite Christian holiday in honor of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

This day is the first after a long fast. In the morning, people greet each other with the special words “Christ is risen!”, and in response: “Truly he is risen!” After the greeting, they kiss three times and exchange Easter eggs.

Housewives paint boiled eggs, bake tall Easter cakes and sweet curd Easter cakes. All holiday food is first blessed in the church. People love to play breaking boiled eggs.

It is customary to send beautiful Easter cards Congratulations.

A favorite Easter game is egg rolling. The games begin on the first day of Easter and last throughout Bright Week. One game could last several hours. Wooden copies are made especially for the game. colored eggs. The egg is rolled down a not steep hill on a plank or towel. At the bottom, all participants place their eggs in a semicircle. The goal is to knock down one of these eggs. If you knock it down, then you take the knocked egg and continue the game, if not, then you give way to another and put your egg below.

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First Sunday after Easter
RED HILL

For the Slavs, the Red Hill holiday means the full arrival of spring. At this time, nature begins to bloom, trees and grasses sprout new green shoots. On Krasnaya Gorka, girls perform round dances, young people organize fun and competitions: tug-of-war, funny fights, swing rides. Young people choose hills that have dried out from the spring waters, sing songs, dance and perform rituals spelling spring, and everyone watches the sunrise together. Among the dishes, it is customary to treat yourself to dishes with scrambled eggs.

It is customary to have weddings at this time. A wedding on Krasnaya Gorka is a good omen for newlyweds.

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Before the change in chronology, the holiday coincided with the days summer solstice, the maximum flourishing of nature, the victory of light over darkness. For example, in the Baltic countries this holiday (Ligo) is celebrated according to the old style on June 23-24.

With the advent of Christianity, this day is also dedicated to John the Baptist. Therefore, according to both traditions, this holiday is dedicated to water.

Preparations begin on July 6, the day of Agrafena the Bathing Suit. Girls and women prepare bath brooms for the whole year. On this day, traditionally, the baths are heated. Young guys pour water on all passers-by and fellow villagers.

In the evening, young people gather in the clearing, start fires, and compete in jumping over the fire. Girls use plantain grass to tell fortunes about their betrothed and send wreaths of wild herbs and flowers down the river.

Wells were traditionally cleaned of silt and dirt. In some villages it was customary to ride on rye. It is considered a good sign to swim either in a bathhouse or in a pond.

By folk signs On the day of the summer solstice, water unites with fire. Therefore, fires are lit on the banks of rivers and lakes. Also, according to legend, happiness awaits the one who finds a fern flower, supposedly blooming only on this night.

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July 8
PETER AND FEVRONIA'S DAY

This is popular Orthodox holiday in honor of family, love and loyalty. Named in honor of Prince Peter and his wife Fevronia, a girl from a simple family. Saints Peter and Fevronia of Murom are the patrons of family and marital devotion. It is customary to get engaged on this day.

The symbol of pure love in Russia is the chamomile flower. Therefore, there is a tradition of telling fortunes about your future spouse using a chamomile. Now there is a special medal for the most faithful married couples. On one side there is a chamomile, and on the other there are images of Peter and Fevronia.

According to tradition, on this day the peasants have their first mowing and all the water spirits go to sleep deep into the reservoirs. Therefore, it was allowed to swim without looking back.

On the day of Peter and Fevronia, the weather for the next 40 days is determined. If July 8 is clear, then clear and fine days are ahead.

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The holiday is dedicated to the prophet Elijah. This day is also revered by the Slavs as a holiday. ancient god thunder of Perun.

This is the day of warriors and farmers. By this day, you need to finish making hay and harvesting. In addition, this is the holiday of Perun - this is the beginning of preparing fields for planting winter crops.

Perun is the patron saint of warriors; this is a holiday for the defenders and rulers of the people. On this day, men's competitions in strength, agility and martial arts are held.

In the evening, men drink beer and kvass around the fire; the preferred dishes are beef, lamb and cottage cheese.

Starting from this day, cold air begins to envelop the earth, reservoirs are covered with duckweed, and the first yellow leaves are noticed on birch trees. This day is considered the closing of the swimming season. “Ilya has come, autumn says: Here I am!”

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The beginning of the Assumption Lent opens with the Honey or Poppy Spas. On this day, peasants begin to collect honey. It is customary to first consecrate the sweet delicacy in church. You cannot eat meat and fish during your honey holiday. Traditional dishes: pancakes with honey, poppy seed cakes and mead.

At Poppy Spas, women and girls are forgiven all mistakes if they ask for it. with a pure heart. Often in villages people pour blessed honey into a large vessel, and everyone can dip white bread into it, congratulating each other.

On this day, charitable assistance to poor and starving people is especially welcomed. They are given gifts and treated to baked goods and honey. It is customary to help widows and orphans with housework: cleaning the house, fixing houses, donating utensils and clothes.

From this day the first harvest begins.

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The Feast of First Fruits is associated with the ripening of apples. Since the holiday falls on the Dormition Fast, fruits are the main food these days. Apples are used to bake fragrant pies and make jam. Each housewife should have her own special apple pie recipe with which she should surprise her guests.

Apples are blessed in the church in the morning. When finishing an apple illuminated in a church, it is customary to make a wish.

Our ancestors guessed the weather based on this day. If the weather was dry and warm on Yablochny Spas, a mild winter was expected. But if it rained, you need to prepare for a harsh winter.

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Old Slavic holiday approaching autumn. On this holiday, it is customary to celebrate housewarming, the lighting of a new fire, rites of tonsure, funeral of flies and legends about sparrows.

Kindling the fire. On Semenov's day they extinguished all the fire in the house. They left only the flame of the lamp near the icons. From this fire, a new fire was kindled in the morning, which symbolized the beginning of the next cycle of the element of fire. A renewal was taking place, attracting happiness and prosperity to the house.

The tradition of burying flies is an ancient custom that means goodbye to summer. Sweeping flies out of the house meant getting rid of quarrels and everyday troubles.

Semyonov's day begins Indian summer. From that day on, they no longer mow the grass. On this day it is not customary to work in the fields, and at night before the onset of cold weather the sparrows that need to survive the snowy winter are counted by spirits.

Semenov's day is also associated with the ancient custom of tonsure. For initiation into men, boys who reached the age of three had a small lock of hair cut off from the top of their heads. Godfather puts the child on the horse and guides him through, holding the horse by the bridle. From this moment on, the child is considered a future warrior and the father of the family; predominantly men are involved in his upbringing.

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This holiday is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It is believed that she covers the ground with snow, like her scarf. On this day, it is customary to feed and treat stray animals and feed birds with bread.

On the Day of the Intercession, it is customary to have fun and smile at everyone you meet. To save children from illness, on this day they are taken outside the threshold and doused with water from a large sieve.

Everyone who comes to the house should be fed delicious pancakes. Women take up needlework: embroider, spin and sew. They sing songs and laugh a lot.

On this holiday, a special Pokrovsky loaf is baked. You need to feed it to your loved ones, friends and neighbors, and save the leftovers and crumbs until Lent.

And, of course, on this day everyone asks the Mother of God for the protection and prosperity of the family.

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The custom of celebrating the New Year in Russia on January 1 appeared simultaneously with the New Year tree on 1799.

New Year has become family holiday. The biggest feast is organized on this day. How you celebrate the New Year is how you will live it. Therefore, before celebrating the New Year, you need to forget about your problems, make peace with your loved ones and friends, and ask for forgiveness from everyone who was offended. Pay off all material debts, fulfill everything promised. Throw away unnecessary things and thoughts and promise yourself to become better next year.

New Year's gifts, a decorated house and Christmas tree, ice skating, colorful fireworks and fabulous performances, beautiful outfits and Christmas films, corporate events, children's costume performances and New Year holidays, abundant food, congratulations to all friends and relatives are the most favorite customs of Russian people on the New Year holiday.

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Spring-summer holidays and rituals

Winter holidays and rituals

Off-season rituals and customs

Autumn holidays and rituals

Agrafena Bathing Lady (Bather)

1. Memorial Day of the Holy Martyr Agrippina. In the peasant tradition, it is known as Agripina’s bathing suit, since the day of her memory fell on the eve of the holiday of Ivan Kupala and was interpreted as a day of preparation for it.
2. The popular name for herbs collected on the night of Ivan Kupala.

Annunciation

The great twelfth holiday of the Orthodox Church in honor of the Annunciation by the Archangel Gabriel of the Most Pure Virgin Mary of her upcoming birth of Jesus Christ. In folk tradition, it is associated with the moment of the spring equinox, when the earth woke up and the period of greatest activity of all living things began.

Holy Thursday services

Maundy Thursday

Maundy Thursday services - Matins, Liturgy and Thursday All-Night Vigil Holy Week, which are permeated by the memory of the events of the day preceding the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The Church remembers the Last Supper, at which the rite of the Eucharist was established - communion, Christ's washing of the disciples' feet, the Savior's covenants left to the disciples, his prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane and the betrayal of Judas.

Lent

From Monday after Maslenitsa week until Easter.

A seven-week period of strict abstinence, repentance and prayer in anticipation of the celebration of Easter. By folk calendar At this time there were ceremonies of invoking spring, preparing and carrying out plowing and sowing.

Palm Sunday

An attribute of the celebration of Palm Sunday, the last before Easter, when the willow tree was consecrated in the temple or in the churchyard. The people endowed the willow with magical powers, the ability to convey health, strength and beauty to a person or animal.

Palm Sunday

Sunday in the sixth week of Lent before Easter.

On this day the Church celebrates the twelfth feast - the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem. In Christian churches, palm branches of trees are blessed (for the Orthodox - willow). The holiday is associated with the idea of ​​mercy and philanthropy.

Driving boom/sula

Yegoryev day, Easter week, Ascension.

A ritual that “closed” spring and “opened” summer. It was dedicated to Yegoryev's day, Easter week or Ascension. Included the ritual burial of arrows (sula) by women for protective and reproductive purposes.

Ascension

The fortieth day after Easter (end of May - beginning of June)

The twelfth holiday of the Orthodox Church, the Ascension of the Lord. Celebrated on the fortieth day after Easter, when, according to the Gospel, Jesus ascended to heaven. On this day, according to ancient custom, meals with pancakes, “ladders” and scrambled eggs were held in the fields, marking the end of spring and the beginning of summer

Wiping away the fire

Maundy Thursday

The ritual of making “live” fire by rubbing two pieces of wood against each other in situations of disaster (death of livestock, crop failure, epidemic). As a calendar ritual, it was carried out on Maundy Thursday and Elijah Friday. In home ovens and shrines, the old fire was extinguished and a new one produced by friction was lit.

Gerasim-Grachevnik

According to the church calendar, it is the day of remembrance of St. Gerasim of Lycia (5th century) and St. Gerasim, the first Vologda miracle worker (12th century). This holiday in central Russia coincided with the arrival of rooks - the first sign of spring. On this day, people got rid of kikimora in the house.

Magical actions on the last day of the harvest, signifying the completion of the harvest and the festive meal dedicated to them. The most common ritual was “curling the beard” - the last unharvested ears of grain and ritually magical actions with sickles. The ritual was supposed to ensure the fertile power of the earth.

Dozhinochny sheaf

A sheaf of the last ears of corn harvested in the field is an attribute of the pre-zhin ritual. Cutting the sheaf was accompanied by a number of ritual actions and prohibitions. The sheaf was dressed in women's clothing, used for fortune telling, placed under icons and kept until the Intercession of the Virgin Mary, then fed to livestock to protect them from winter starvation.

Whit Monday

First Monday after Trinity

Celebrated at the beginning of All Saints' Week. Affirms the divine essence of the Holy Spirit and its unity with other hypostases of the Holy Trinity. On this day, the peasants glorified the land - the birthday girl, walked around the fields and “fed the landlady”, giving her part of the meal.

Yegoryev day

Popular name church holiday in honor of the Great Martyr George. The saint's day of remembrance is celebrated twice: winter in December, spring in May. Spring was established by the church on the day when, according to legend, St. George's head was cut off. In the popular imagination, St. George is a snake fighter, a warrior, the owner of the land and the patron of livestock.

Magical actions on the eve or on the day of sowing. The most suitable day for the start of ritual sowing was the day of the prophet Jeremiah (Jeremey the Harnesser). The day of sowing was considered a holiday, accompanied by prayers and festive meals.

Ivanovo herbs

Herbs, flowers, tree branches, roots, the collection of which is included in the ritual complex of the celebration of Ivan Kupala. According to legend, they are distinguished by special witchcraft powers and healing properties. Herbs were collected on the night of Ivan Kupala, dried and used as a remedy for all misfortunes, in maiden fortune telling, and in the treatment of people and livestock.

Games and fun with eggs

Easter week and Fomino Sunday (Red Hill)

Entertainment for rural youth using eggs: rolling eggs from hillocks and wooden trays, knocking them down with a ball, etc. These games go back to ancient agricultural rituals.

Elijah's day

Day of remembrance of the Old Testament prophet Elijah. In the popular imagination, Elijah the Prophet controlled the fertility of the earth, was the ruler of thunderstorms, lightning and rain. On Elijah’s day, peasants did not work on the land and performed protective rituals to avoid the prophet’s punishment.

During the period from Easter to Trinity

Festive entertainment for children and youth during the period from Easter to Trinity. A large swing was built for festivities during Easter week. Swinging on a swing is an echo of an ancient magical action designed to stimulate the growth of crops.

Clicking/summoning of spring

Depending on local conditions, it takes place on March 1/14 (Evdokia-Plyushchikha), March 4/17 (Gerasim-Grachevnik), March 9/22 (magpies), March 25/April 7 Annunciation, April 23/May 6 (Yegoryev Day) , May 9/22 (Nikolin's day), as well as on certain days of Lent.

The ritual was associated with the first arrival of birds and the beginning of snow melting. It was accompanied by the singing of chants, activities with larks (rye cookies) and cleansing rituals. The main participants in the ceremony were children and girls.

Red hill

First Sunday after Easter

IN Orthodox tradition The holiday was dedicated to the memory of the appearance of Christ to the Apostle Thomas on the eighth day after the resurrection. Since the times of ancient Rus', among the people it has been a holiday of the beginning of spring - with bonfires, girls' round dances, brides' fairs, and ceremonies of invoking spring. It was considered primarily a girl's holiday.

Baptism and funeral of the cuckoo

During the period from Ascension (fortieth day after Easter) to Trinity (fiftieth day after Easter)

1. Agrarian-magical maiden and women’s ritual with the “cuckoo” - this is herbal or rag doll as female figure, bird or decorated tree. The ritual was accompanied by a funeral procession, mourning of the cuckoo, the rites of girls, fortune-telling and a ritual meal.
2. Ritual meal, round dance, youth celebration during the spring period - summer holidays. Usually they were held on Ascension (late May - early June) and on Peter's Day (June 29/July 12).

Kuzma and Demyan

The popular name for the days of remembrance of Saints Cosmas and Damian. It was celebrated three times a year in accordance with the lives of the saints. According to popular beliefs, the holy brothers were considered the patrons of blacksmithing and many women's field and household work, as well as marriage, family and home.

Easter ritual bread with the custom of its consecration, refreshment and distribution to believers on Easter. This custom goes back to pagan times. Breaking the fast after fasting began with eating Easter cake. The remains of the Easter cake were used for fortune-telling about the harvest and offspring of livestock.

Cultivation (sisterhood)

During the period from Easter to Spiritual Day

The custom of establishing a spiritual relationship for a certain time between female representatives who do not have children, with a vow of friendship and mutual assistance. The ritual was accompanied by the curling of birch trees, the exchange of magical things and gifts, and a ritual meal. The ritual was usually performed on Easter, St. John the Theologian's Day, St. Nicholas Day, Ascension and Spiritual Day.

Kupala night

The night before the holiday of Ivan Kupala, the shortest night of the year. According to popular belief, this is a night of revelry evil spirits, best time for damage to crops and livestock. On Kupala night, they collected witchcraft and medicinal herbs and performed cleansing rituals.

Kupala bonfire

Ritual fire during youth festivities on Midsummer night. It was obligatory to jump individually or in pairs over the fire as a guarantee of health and good luck. The ashes from the fire were credited with a special power, bringing light and warmth, cleansing from all evil.

Ritual cookies in the shape of a ladder. Baked on Ascension (the fortieth day after Easter) and on the day of memory of John Climacus. According to popular beliefs, ladders made the road to heaven easier and symbolized the spiritual ascent of the soul of the righteous to heaven. At the Ascension, they were supposed to help Jesus Christ ascend to heaven on the fortieth day after his resurrection.

The magic of Easter Matins

Magical actions and sentences of parishioners during the Easter service in the church. The fishermen asked for a successful catch, the hunters - for luck in the hunt, the girls - for good groom. Such witchcraft in the church was contrary to Christian morality, but was widely practiced in folk life.

Morgossier

During the period from the third week after Easter to Trinity

Young people's holiday married women with children, with joint secret meals in the forest or on the banks of reservoirs. The custom has its roots in extreme antiquity and is associated with the worship of a vegetation deity.

Week of Myrrh-Bearing Women

Third Sunday and fourth week after Easter

The holiday is dedicated to the Myrrh-Bearing Women, the first witnesses of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Among the Russians it is known as a “women’s holiday” with women’s festivities and meals, in the south of Russia - with rituals of the cumulation of girls and the funeral of the cuckoo.

Nikita Vodopol

Memorial Day of St. Nikita. One of the dates of the beginning of ice drift, noted by fishermen as the beginning of the fishing season. According to legend, a merman, awakened from hibernation, breaks the ice, torments the fish and demands a treat. The fishermen sacrificed bread, wine and tobacco to the waterman, otherwise there would be no good catch.

Calling out to Yegory

Ritual walk around the courtyards on the eve or on Yegoriev day itself in the Kostroma province. The “callers” sang spell songs, made noise and collected alms from the owners. Yegoryevsk rounds were of a pastoral nature and coincided with the first pasture of livestock, ensuring their protection and well-being.

Flaxdeer

Popular name Christian holiday in memory of Saints Constantine and his mother Helen. An important stage in the agricultural calendar, when they finished sowing grain and began to sow flax, hemp, oats and buckwheat, and plant cucumbers. Accompanied by magical rituals in the fields when sowing flax.

Paraskeva

March 20/April 2 (Roman Martyr Paraskeva, who suffered at Neuron), July 26/August 8 (Reverend Martyr Paraskeva, born near Rome in 138), October 14/27 (Reverend Paraskeva of Serbia, famous in the middle of the 11th century), October 28 /November 10 (Great Martyr Paraskeva Friday).

The popular name for the days of remembrance of Saints Paraskevi, of which there are four in the Orthodox tradition. The Eastern Slavs especially revered Paraskeva Pyatnitsa, the patroness of the day of the week of the same name. Girls and women considered her their intercessor: she helped during childbirth, patronized marriage, home, women's activities, especially spinning. Paraskeva healed from mental and physical ailments, patronized land, livestock and water, and was the intercessor of trade.

Celebrated on the first Sunday after the March full moon following the spring equinox (between April 4 and May 7).

The Great Twelfth Feast of the Church Calendar - Svetloye Christ's Sunday. Christian Easter commemorates the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, his death on the cross and miraculous resurrection. Includes Easter Matins, religious procession, blessing of eggs and Easter cakes in the church, preparation of cottage cheese Easter, family meal, commemoration of the departed. The ancient custom of children and youth making protective rounds of houses and collecting treats was preserved.

Easter week

First week after Easter

The festive week after Easter (Bright Week), with daily services, laying of the shroud on the throne, ringing bells. The whole week was accompanied by youth partying, swinging, sports games, treats, celebrating Christ with family and friends. The second half of Easter week was celebrated especially solemnly.

Easter prayer services

Easter week

The custom of going around the houses of parishioners in a religious procession led by a priest, serving prayers and congratulations. In gratitude, the owners presented the priest with money, food and a handful of grain, after which “all evil spirits leave the house.”

First cattle drive

The first spring drive of livestock to pasture, usually timed to coincide with Yegoryev's Day. It was accompanied by traditional rituals before or at sunrise: walking around three times and ritual feeding of livestock, giving gifts to the shepherd, and prayers.

The first one saved

The popular name for the holiday of the Orthodox Church dedicated to Jesus Christ the Savior (Savior). The church organized a solemn removal and veneration of the cross, a religious procession to reservoirs and the blessing of water. On this day there were mass celebrations, bathing of people and livestock, and tribute to water was paid everywhere. Beekeepers blessed honey on this holiday. Folk tradition associated the first rescue with the farewell of summer.

Peter's Day

The great Orthodox holiday in memory of the apostles Peter and Paul, the first preachers of Christian teaching. In the popular worldview, these saints are the keepers of the keys to heaven and hell and control the habitats of the souls of the dead. The holiday was revered among fishermen and shepherds, and was also considered a holiday for youth. Preceded by haymaking and preparation for the harvest.

Funeral of Kostroma

Sunday of All Saints' Week or Spiritual Day

Completes the Trinity-Semitic holidays, hence the rituals of seeing off - the funeral of spring in the image of Kostroma. Kostroma was depicted as a girl or guy in women's clothing. The funeral ceremony was accompanied by fun, swimming, and games.

Transfiguration (Apple Spas)

The great twelfth holiday of the Orthodox Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord God and our Savior Jesus Christ. The popular name of the holiday is associated with the ripening of apples on this day, which parishioners carried to church to bless, after which they were allowed to eat. From this day they began to collect apples, and treated the sick and poor with Spasov apples.

Puberty

Mid-fourth week after Easter

The holiday is halfway through the period of fifty days separating Easter from Trinity. On this day, the Orthodox Church remembers Christ’s instructions about the meaning of the salvation he brought to people. A small blessing of water is performed, after which the water is considered healing. The holiday is predominantly for women.

Seeing off (funeral) of mermaids

Sunday of Mermaid Week

A holiday of symbolic expulsion of mermaids to the fields outside the village away from human habitation. Mermaids were portrayed by mummers in images of frightening wickedness, a stuffed animal in a “woman’s” outfit or in the form of a mummered horse.

Radunitsa

On the tenth day after Easter, less often on the first Sunday after Easter (Fomino Sunday)

All Souls' Day, dedicated to Easter. According to popular beliefs, on this day the dead rise from their graves, break their fast after Lent, and rejoice that children remember them. Genetically, the holiday goes back to the cult of ancestors.

Mermaid Week

1. Demonological character in the mythology of the Eastern Slavs. According to popular beliefs, girls who died before marriage, suicides and unbaptized babies became mermaids. Mermaids are known in the form of a young beautiful girl with a fish tail or an ugly, unkempt evil spirit. In all cases, mermaids were feared and avoided.
2. In some provinces of Russia, witches and sorceresses who fly on a broom were called mermaids.

Mermaid Week

Week before Trinity

According to popular belief, this is the time when mermaids are on earth, when they can come into harmful contact with a person. It was full of cleansing rituals, accompanied by festivities, round dances, mummer games, and meals. In Rusal week there was a ban on women's work- spinning, weaving, bleaching canvas. The last day of the mermaid week was called the mermaid or nettle fast.

Spring Summer Autumn

A village-wide holiday with a meal - a fundraiser in the southern and western provinces of Russia. Timed to coincide with patronal and cherished holidays. On these days, ritual actions were performed with a wax candle, which was made from wax collected from all yards. Every year new pieces were stuck on it, over time it could weigh up to five pounds. The candle was kept in turns in families.

Semik (Green Christmastide)

Seventh Thursday after Easter

1. Holiday three days before Trinity. It opened the complex of Trinity festivities, marked the end of spring and the harbinger of summer. With the adoption of Christianity, the pagan Semik was dedicated to the Trinity, but continued the ancient rituals and beliefs.
2. A decorated Trinity birch tree or an anthropomorphic scarecrow, with which young people went around houses in the seventh week.

Popular name church day in memory of the Forty Martyrs - Christians, who, under torture of infidels - pagans, went to their deaths, but did not renounce their faith. This day was given special significance by its proximity to spring equinox- one of the key points of the calendar year. According to popular beliefs, on Forty and Forty birds on their wings brought spring. On this day, birds were baked from dough and with them the children called for spring.

Sredokrestie

Wednesday (or Thursday) of the fourth week of Lent.

On this day, the Orthodox Church worshiped the Honest and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord. People called the whole week “Sredokrestnaya”, when the post was “broken” in half. On this day, cookies were baked in the shape of crosses, which were supposed to influence the future harvest, the health of people and livestock, and the successful completion of field work.

Holy Week

The last week of Lent, preceding Easter.

The Church remembers the suffering of Jesus Christ and prescribes especially strict abstinence, repentance and communion for believers. Preparations for Easter began on Monday. There were especially many rituals on Maundy Thursday. At this time, in the spring, the premises were decorated with willow, Easter cakes, Easter cottage cheese and colored eggs were prepared and blessed in the church.

Third Spas

The popular name of the church holiday in honor of the transfer of the Miraculous Image of the Lord Jesus Christ to Constantinople from Edessa in 944. On the third Spas there were fairs where canvases were sold. The harvest and sowing of winter rye were also timed to coincide with it.

On the fiftieth day after Easter

Great Twelfth Holiday Orthodox calendar in memory of the descent of the holy spirit on the apostles, when the Holy Trinity is honored. In Rus', the Trinity is also associated with the name of St. Sergius of Radonezh. In folk tradition, flowering vegetation was glorified on Trinity, birch trees were curled, idols were celebrated, and fortune telling was held for girls.

Trinity (Semitskaya) birch tree

Trinity Week

A felled birch tree, the main attribute of Trinity-Semitic rites. It was cut down, curled and decorated, placed in houses, left in fields. These actions were supposed to influence the future harvest, and give young women offspring.

Trinity Saturday

On the eve of Trinity Sunday

One of the four all-Russian days of remembrance of the dead, when the church remembers all Orthodox Christians who have died since centuries, and parishioners remember their deceased relatives. On this day, they visited and decorated graves with greenery, communicated with the souls of the deceased, and held ritual meals.

Trinity wreath

Trinity Week

A ritual maiden wreath made of fresh greenery and flowers, an attribute of participants in Trinity rites and festivities. They were worn on the head or hung around the neck, and girls used them to guess about their future marriage. Trinity wreaths were kept and used as amulets and medicines.

Carnival celebrations for Maslenitsa

One of the days of the first week of Lent

Individual manifestations of Maslenitsa amusements as regret for the past Maslenitsa. On this day they baked “tuzhenniks” - bread from leftover pancake dough, had fist fights, rode down icy mountains, baked Lenten pancakes, and went around as mummers.

Dormition of the Virgin Mary

The popular name of the great twelfth holiday of the Orthodox Church. Dormition Holy Mother of God and the Ever-Virgin Mary in memory of her ascension. Widely celebrated among the people. It coincided in time with the completion of the grain harvest and was accompanied by many harvest rituals. On this day, farewell to summer was held, fires were lit in the huts for the first time and they had dinner in the light.

Feodor Stratelates

Memorial Day of the Holy Great Martyr Theodore Stratilates. In the Russian tradition, it is known as “well”: if you dig wells on this day, the water in them will be “clean and drunk.” From that day on, the peasants began to weed the weeds and transport manure to the field.

Flor and Laurel

Memorial Day of the Holy Martyrs Florus and Laurus. Among the people, saints were considered patrons of horses; on this day they celebrated the horse holiday; horses were not used for work, they were bathed and fed “to the fullest.” They performed prayers for death and for the offspring of livestock.

Thursday candle

Maundy Thursday

Candle lit in church in Maundy Thursday Holy Week ( last week Great Lent) as a sign of the love of believers for the Savior. The fire of this candle was considered holy; they walked around every corner of the house and yard with it, set fire to wood in the stove, and blessed the young.

Maundy Thursday (Maundy Thursday)

Thursday in Holy Week

On this day the Church remembers the Last Supper on the first day of the Passover. It was popularly perceived as a day of spiritual and physical cleansing during the border period between Lent and Easter. On this day they commemorated the dead, strictly abstained from fast food, cleaned houses and yards of garbage and dirt, and washed in the bathhouse.

An attribute of spring-summer agricultural rituals. Occupies central place in the Easter ritual. The Church sees in it a symbol of the Holy Sepulcher, and in the red color of Easter eggs - a symbol of the rebirth of believers “by the blood of Christ.” Painted eggs were exchanged during the celebration of Christ and given to relatives and friends. Easter egg attributed magical powers: healing the sick, the ability to put out a fire, find a missing cow, help find treasure

Yegoryev day

November 26 / December 9
The popular name for the church holiday in honor of the Great Martyr George. The saint's day of remembrance is celebrated twice: in December and in May. The winter one was established in honor of the consecration of the Church of St. George in Kyiv in 1051. In the popular imagination, St. George is a snake fighter, a warrior, the owner of the land and the patron of livestock, one of the most revered saints.

Clicking frost

December 24 / January 6 - January 6 / January 19
The ritual of inviting frost to a meal and treating him with ritual food. Usually timed to coincide with the Christmas period (Christmas Eve, Vasilyev's evening, Epiphany Eve). In some provinces of Russia, the ritual was performed on Easter.

Caroling

A magical Christmas ritual that was performed on Christmas Eve, on Christmas morning, on New Year's Day or on the eve of Epiphany. Bands of young people walked around the courtyards, congratulated and praised the owners, demanded and received gifts, and in case of refusal, threats followed, promising great troubles in the family and household.

Christmastide, days of remembrance of the dead

Ritual porridge made from whole grains, berries and honey. It was prepared on the eve of the holidays: Christmas, New Year, Epiphany, days of general remembrance of the dead (parents' days). The ritual significance of kutya is determined by the symbolism of its three constituent ingredients.

Maslenitsa

Starts 56 days before Easter

The oldest truly folk holiday of seeing off winter and welcoming spring. Maslenitsa week fell during the cheese-free week before the start of Lent. “Rampant”, “wide”, “abundant” Maslenitsa is the favorite winter holiday of the Russian people. Each day of Maslenitsa week was distinguished by its traditional rituals and entertainment.

Nikolin's day

December 6/19
Feast of the Orthodox Church in memory of St. Nicholas of Myra (Nicholas the Wonderworker). This saint was perceived in Russia as the patron saint of the Russian people, a peasant saint, a “peasant protector.” It was celebrated twice a year: in December and in May.

Onisim - Shepherd

Memorial Day of one of the seventy apostles, St. Onesimus, who was popularly considered the patron saint of sheep. On this day, there were customs to “call out to the stars” in the sky so that the sheep would lamb well, and expose the seed grain to the frost for a good harvest.

Telling tales

One of the entertainments at Christmas time with family or at youth tea parties after caroling. The process was partly ritual in nature and was intended to have a magical effect on the surrounding world.

On Christmastide, on Maslenitsa

Ritual change in the appearance of people and special shape play behavior during calendar holidays, especially Christmastide. They also dressed up for Maslenitsa, Kuzminki, Rusal Week, Semik and Spiritual Day. Since pagan times, mummering has been endowed with special magical powers, but gradually turned into a playful pastime for young people.

December 24/January 6 - January 6/19
One of the oldest and main holidays of the peasant calendar. Marks the transition from the old agricultural year to the new. During the Christmas season, the church celebrates the Nativity of Christ, the New Year (Vasil's Day), and the Epiphany of the Lord.

Yuletide riots

A form of unusual behavior that differs from generally accepted norms. Accepted during Christmas time, but condemned during Everyday life. Yuletide outrages most often occurred on the night of the New Year and on the night of the Epiphany.

Glorification of Christ (Glorification of Christ)

December 25/January 7
Yuletide ritual in honor of the arrival of the Magi on the occasion of the Nativity of Jesus Christ. Children, boys and girls walked around the yards with the Christmas star, glorified Christ, congratulated the owners on the holiday, collected treats and money.

Candlemas of the Lord

The twelfth holiday of the Orthodox calendar. The name is associated with the significant gospel meeting of the Infant Jesus Christ with the righteous Simeon in the Jerusalem Temple. The people interpreted the name as a meeting on this day of winter and summer; many agricultural signs are associated with the holiday.