The Russian people are representatives of the East Slavic ethnic group, the indigenous inhabitants of Russia (110 million people - 80% of the population Russian Federation), the most numerous ethnic group in Europe. The Russian diaspora has about 30 million people and it is concentrated in such states as Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Belarus, in the countries of the former USSR, in the USA and EU countries. As a result of sociological research, it was found that 75% of the Russian population of Russia are followers of Orthodoxy, and a significant part of the population does not identify themselves with any particular religion. national language Russian people is the Russian language.

Each country and its people have their own significance in the modern world, the concepts of folk culture and the history of the nation, their formation and development are very important. Each nation and its culture is unique in its own way, the color and originality of each nation should not be lost or dissolved in assimilation with other nations, the younger generation should always remember who they really are. For Russia, which is a multinational power and home to 190 peoples, the issue of national culture is quite acute, due to the fact that in recent years its erasure is especially noticeable against the background of the cultures of other nationalities.

Culture and life of the Russian people

(Russian folk costume)

The first associations that arise with the concept of "Russian people" are, of course, the breadth of the soul and fortitude. But the national culture is formed by people, it is these character traits that have a huge impact on its formation and development.

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

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

Diligence is another of the main features of the Russian character, although many historians in the study of the Russian people note both her love for work and huge potential, and her laziness, as well as complete lack of initiative (remember Oblomov in Goncharov's novel). But all the same, the efficiency and endurance of the Russian people is an indisputable fact, against which it is difficult to argue. And no matter how scientists all over the world would like to understand the “mysterious Russian soul”, it is unlikely that any of them can do it, because it is so unique and multifaceted that its “zest” will forever remain a secret for everyone.

Traditions and customs of the Russian people

(Russian meal)

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

A large number of rituals and traditions are associated with family life(this is matchmaking, and wedding celebrations, and the baptism of children). Carrying out ancient ceremonies and rituals guaranteed a successful and happy life in the future, the health of descendants and the general well-being of the family.

(Colorized photograph of a Russian family in the early 20th century)

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

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

Traditional holidays of the Russian people

Russia is a truly unique state, where, along with the highly developed culture of the modern world, they carefully honor the ancient traditions of their grandfathers and great-grandfathers, which go back centuries and keep the memory of not only Orthodox vows and canons, but also the most ancient pagan rites and sacraments. And to this day, pagan holidays are celebrated, people listen to the signs and centuries-old traditions, remember and tell their children and grandchildren ancient traditions and legends.

Main national holidays:

• Christmas January 7
• Christmas time January 6 - 9
• Baptism January 19
• Pancake week from 20 to 26 February

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

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

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

There is a belief that on the night of Ivan Kupala (from July 6 to 7), once a year, a fern flower blooms in the forest, and whoever finds it will gain untold wealth. In the evening, large bonfires are kindled near rivers and lakes, people dressed in festive old Russian robes lead round dances, sing ritual chants, jump over the fire, and let wreaths go with the flow, hoping to find their soul mate.

Shrovetide is a traditional holiday of the Russian people, celebrated during the week before Lent. A very long time ago, Shrovetide was rather not a holiday, but a rite, when the memory of departed ancestors was honored, appeasing them with pancakes, asking them for a fertile year, and spending the winter by burning a straw effigy. Time passed, and the Russian people, thirsting for fun and positive emotions in the cold and dull season, turned a sad holiday into a more cheerful and daring celebration, which began to symbolize the joy of the imminent end of winter and the arrival of long-awaited warmth. The meaning has changed, but the tradition of baking pancakes has remained, exciting winter entertainments have appeared: sledding and horse-drawn sledge rides, the straw effigy of Winter was burned, all the Shrovetide week a relative went to pancakes either to mother-in-law or to sister-in-law, everywhere there was an atmosphere of celebration and fun , various theatrical and puppet performances were held on the streets with the participation of Petrushka and other folklore characters. One of the most colorful and dangerous entertainments on Maslenitsa was holding fisticuffs, they were attended by the male population, for whom it was an honor to take part in a kind of “military business”, testing their courage, courage and dexterity.

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

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

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

The rich and varied culture of the Slavs managed to preserve most of the rituals and customs. The Russian people have always been original and honored their traditions from time immemorial. Over time, the cultural heritage has undergone significant changes, but still the age-old ties have not been lost, in the modern world there is room for ancient legends and superstitions. Let's try to remember the most important customs, rituals and traditions of the Russian people.

Through me

The basis of the centuries-old culture of the Slavs has always been the family, clan, continuity of generations. The rites and customs of the Russian people were part of a person's life from the moment of his birth. If a boy was born, he was traditionally swaddled in his father's shirt. It was believed that in this way he adopts all the necessary masculine qualities. The girl was wrapped in her mother's clothes so that she would grow up to be a good housewife. From an early age, children revered their father and unquestioningly fulfilled all his requirements and wishes. The head of the family was akin to God, who gave continuation to his family.

For the child to be blessed higher powers, did not get sick and developed well, the father presented his heir to the deities. First of all, he showed the baby to Yarila, Semarglu and Svarog. The Gods of Heaven should be giving their patronage to the baby. Then came the turn of Mother Earth, or, as she was otherwise called, the Goddess Mokosh. The child was put on the ground and then dipped into the water.

Bratchina

If you delve into history and look for what rituals and customs of the Russian people were the most cheerful and crowded, then bratchina will take one of the main places. It was not a spontaneous gathering of people and mass celebrations. This ritual has been in preparation for months. Especially for the bratchina, livestock were fattened and beer was brewed in large volumes. In addition, the drinks included wine, mead and kvass. Each guest was required to bring food. The place for the celebration was chosen by all honest people. random person could not get to the brotherhood - everyone had to get an invitation. At the table, the most honorable places were occupied by people whose merits were evaluated most highly. Buffoons and songwriters came to entertain the feasters. The festivities could last several hours, and sometimes several weeks.

Wedding

Modern youth does not even suspect that all wedding traditions came from ancient times. Some have undergone changes, some have remained the same as in the days of our ancestors. Of all the rites and customs of the Russian people, the wedding is considered the most fascinating.

According to a long tradition, it had several stages. Matchmaking, bridegroom, conspiracy, pre-wedding week, bachelorette and bachelor parties, vytye, collection of the wedding train, wedding, wedding feast, test of the young, separation - without these important components, it is even impossible to imagine marriage in Russia.

Despite the fact that now this is much easier, some wedding customs, rituals, proverbs of the Russian people continue to live. Who is not familiar with the expression: "You have a product, we have a merchant"? It is with these words that the groom's parents come to woo.

And the tradition of bringing a young wife into the house in her arms is associated with the desire to deceive the brownie. So the husband circled the owner of the house around the finger, making it clear that he was bringing in the hands of a newborn family member, and not a stranger. Vytye now can cause horror, but before, not a single preparation for a wedding could do without this ceremony. They lamented and wept for the bride, as in our time for the dead.

The ceremony with the shedding of young people with grain has come down to our days - for large families and wealth. In ancient times, bells on a wedding train were used to scare away evil spirits, and now they have been replaced by tin cans tied to the bumper of a car.

Theft and ransom of the bride are also old Russian customs. The composition of the dowry also did not undergo significant changes - feather bed, pillows, blankets, and now parents give the bride before the wedding. True, in ancient times, the girl herself had to make them with my own hands.

Christmas rites

After the establishment of Christianity in Russia, new church holidays appeared. The most beloved and long-awaited is Christmas. From January 7 to January 19, Christmas celebrations were held - a favorite youth fun. All the legends, superstitions, rituals and customs of the Russian people associated with these days have come down to our time.

Young girls gathered in small groups to tell fortunes about their betrothed-mummers and find out from which end of the village to expect matchmakers. The most extreme way to see your chosen one was considered to be a trip to the bath with a mirror and a candle. The danger lay in the fact that it was necessary to do this alone and at the same time take off the cross.

carols

The culture, customs and rituals of the Russian people are closely connected with the world of nature and animals. In the evenings, young people went caroling. Dressed up in animal skins or bright costumes, they knocked on houses and begged for treats from the owners with carol songs. It was fraught to refuse such guests - they could easily destroy the woodpile, freeze the door or create other minor pranks. Caroling guests were treated to sweets and it was always believed that their wishes (genuity) for the whole year would provide prosperity and peace in the house, save the owners from ailments and misfortunes. The custom of dressing up as animals is rooted in paganism - so it was possible to scare away evil spirits.

Superstitions and signs for Christmas

It was believed that to lose a thing on the eve of a holiday means to suffer losses all year. Dropping or breaking a mirror is in trouble. Many stars in the sky - for a big harvest. Do needlework on Christmas Eve - get sick all year.

Pancake week

The most cheerful and delicious holiday in Russia actually has a rather gloomy interpretation. In the old days, these days they commemorated the dead. Actually, the burning of an effigy of Maslenitsa is a funeral, and pancakes are a treat.

This holiday is interesting because it lasts a whole week, and every day is dedicated to a separate ritual. On Monday, they made a scarecrow and rode it on a sleigh throughout the village. On Tuesday, mummers went all over the village and gave performances.

A distinctive feature of this day was considered "bearish" entertainment. The trained owners of the forest staged whole performances, portraying women in their usual activities.

On Wednesday, the main festival began - pancakes were baked in the houses. Tables were set up on the streets and food was sold. It was possible to taste hot tea from a samovar under the open sky and eat pancakes. Also on this day, it was customary to go to the mother-in-law for refreshments.

Thursday was a special day when all the fellows could measure themselves against the heroic strength. Shrovetide fisticuffs attracted guys, everyone wanted to show their prowess.

On Friday, pancakes were baked in the son-in-law's house, it was his turn to treat all the guests. On Saturday, the daughters-in-law received guests from among the husband's relatives.

And Sunday was called "forgiveness." It is on this day that it is customary to apologize for insults and visit the cemetery to say goodbye to the dead. The effigy of Maslenitsa was burned, and from that day it was believed that spring had come into its own.

Ivan Kupala

The customs, traditions and rituals of the Russian people associated with this holiday have survived to this day. Of course, a lot has changed, but the basic meaning has remained the same.

According to legend, on the day of the summer solstice, people tried to appease the great celestial being so that it would give them a good harvest and ward off illnesses. But with the advent of Christianity, Kupala joined with the feast of John the Baptist and began to bear the name Ivan Kupala.

This holiday is most interesting in that the legends speak of a great miracle taking place on this night. Of course, we are talking about the flowering of the fern.

This myth led many people to wander through the forest at night in the hope of seeing a miracle for several centuries. It was believed that the one who sees how the fern blooms will find out where all the treasures of the world are hidden. In addition, all herbs in the forest acquired a special medicinal power this night.

The girls wove wreaths of 12 different herbs and let them float down the river. If he drowns, expect trouble. If it swims long enough, get ready for the wedding and prosperity. To wash away all sins, it was necessary to bathe and jump over the fire.

Day of Peter and Fevronia

Tradition says that Prince Peter fell seriously ill and had a prophetic dream that the maiden Fevronia would help him recover. He sought out the girl, but she demanded that he marry her as payment. The prince gave his word and did not keep it. The ailment returned, and he was forced to ask for help again. But this time he kept his promise. The family was strong and it was these Saints who became the patrons of marriage. The original Russian holiday is celebrated immediately after Ivan Kupala - on July 8th. It can be compared to Western Valentine's Day. The difference lies in the fact that in Russia this day is not considered a holiday for all lovers, but only for married people. All future spouses dream of getting married on this day.

Saved

This is another sweet holiday, the roots of which go back to ancient times. On August 14, Russia celebrates Honey Spas. On this day, honeycombs are filled with sweet treats and it's time to collect the viscous amber-colored liquid.

August 19 - Apple Spas. This day marks the arrival of autumn and the beginning of the harvest. People rush to the church to bless the apples and taste the first fruits, since it was forbidden to eat them until that day. It is necessary to treat all relatives and friends with fruits. In addition, apple pies are baked and treated to all passers-by.

Nut Spas begins on August 29. From that day on, it was customary to dig potatoes, bake pies from fresh bread flour, and store nuts for the winter. Great holidays were held all over the country - festivities were held in the villages before the harvest, and fairs were held in the cities. On this day, birds begin to fly to warmer climes.

cover

On October 14, people said goodbye to autumn and met winter. It often snowed that day, which was compared to the bride's veil. It is on this day that it is customary to enter into marriages, because the Intercession gives love and happiness to all people in love.

There are special rituals for this holiday. For the first time, women made a fire in the stove, symbolizing the warmth and comfort in the house. It was necessary to use branches or logs of fruit trees for these purposes. In this way, a good harvest could be ensured for the next year.

The hostess baked pancakes and Pokrovsky loaf. It was necessary to treat the neighbors with this bread, and hide the leftovers until Lent.

Also on this day, one could ask the Mother of God for protection for children. The woman stood up with the icon on the bench and read a prayer over her family. All the children fell on their knees.

Young girls and boys arranged gatherings. It was believed that everyone who married on this day, the Mother of God gives protection.

You can learn more about all the traditions in training course Fundamentals of Religious Cultures and Secular Ethics (ORKSE). The customs and rituals of the Russian people are revealed there with maximum accuracy and described in accordance with historical facts.

Love traditions of the Slavs of Ancient Russia

Love traditions of the Slavs of Ancient Russia

Pantheon of paganism. Mokosh.

In ancient times, the people of the Slavs believed in the existence of the spirits of nature, the gods who rule over all mankind. It was in their power to bring love or hate, joy or disappointment, courage or fear ...

Until the end of the tenth century, paganism was the main and only faith in Russia. In 980 Prince Vladimir created pagan pantheon. On a hill near Kyiv, it was ordered to install idols of six gods made of wood: Perun, Stribog, Dazhbog, Svarog, Khors and Mokosh. The seventh idol - Veles - stood below. In Slavic myths, he was depicted as a huge snake. Veles and Perun - the god of heaven, did not get along with each other. Some legends say that the reason for this was the theft by the “Serpent” (Veles) of the wife of the “Thunderer” (Perun). Perun ruled in heaven, and Veles - on earth and was, in fact, the patron of all Russia.

Mokosh is the only female deity who was revered on a par with Perun and other gods. The ancient Russians represented her with a big head and long arms, spinning at night in a hut. Therefore, beliefs forbade leaving the tow for the night, "otherwise Mokosha will spin." Mokosh - "spinning threads of fate." She was the wife of the Thunderer (Perun), or, in other words, his female counterpart. After the adoption of Orthodoxy, Mokosh "replaced" Paraskeva Pyatnitsa. She was represented as a woman with flowing hair, who patronized the villages where they made sacrifices to her - women threw yarn into the well.

"Rusa braid to the waist ..."

Hair is a kind of symbol of femininity. There are many prejudices associated with them. If a woman's hair was loose, it means that she is unmarried, but in a popular way - a “girl”. The hair of the Slavs was revered long. Wearing a hoop or ribbon was "mandatory" because Bad sign- leave your hair loose without a hoop - trouble will happen. Unclean hair lives in uncollected hair. Women with loose hair were called witches - they bring trouble. There was also such a belief: it is not for nothing that a woman has long hair - it means Veles is her master. Veles is a snake, "unclean". Therefore, it was impossible to let down the hair, "so as not to invite the Master." “If trouble, what, or grief has come, it means that the demon interfered - you need to shave your hair bald.”

The braid was woven in ninety strands. Such a braid was called countless. The strands were soaked in salt or kvass, put one on top of the other. From the bottom weaved married women. The strands were interlaced with pearls. The braid was supposed to cover the neck - one of the most desirable places for men.

At the wedding, the bride was specially tangled in her braid so that the groom could not undo it for a long time. And dismissed the braid - it means he got married. The scythe was divided in two, which also had a certain sexual meaning, and then hid forever under a dress ... Now it was the property of only the husband. On the head of the bride, the groom threw a white veil - “new”, which means “cleanse”, or “ubrus” - a burden, birth, marriage. The "dark beginning" in a woman was covered with a "pure" - a sacred burden, marriage.

Married women wore kiku - a headdress in the form of horns protruding from their foreheads. Kika is a symbol of sexual and procreative power.

There are many female deities in Slavic mythology. But still, a special place was occupied by women in labor - virgins, who determined the fate of a person and birth. There were also corresponding male deities - the genus.

Lada was revered as the goddess of fertility and the patroness of marriage. She is mentioned in ancient written sources: “the fourth idol of Lado; this is the name of the Khubog of joy and all prosperity, offering sacrifices to him preparing for marriage, with the help of her imagining good fun and kindly acquiring life.

"Unusual Habits"

Ancient Slavic culture was more of a pro-sexual type, i.e. positive about sex. And only much later, thanks to the influence of Christianity, the idea was established that sensual love is an ‘evil sin’. Sexuality for a long time associated with our ancestors with a holiday, laughter, chants and some kind of musical accompaniment.

Many ancient peoples considered sexuality to be the cosmic beginning of everything that exists. The Slavs were no exception either. In romantic songs, a feminine tender birch was intertwined with a mighty solid oak... Mother Earth was fertilized by heavenly rain..

And in ancient rituals in Russia, men symbolically fertilized the Earth: they sowed flax without pants, or even without clothes at all. During the period of sowing bread, the owner and hostess had to perform a ritual during which they made love right on the field. Or, there was another custom - rolling in pairs across a sown field. And, in order to cause rain during a drought, women, lifting their skirts, “showed” their genitals to the sky.

The ancient religion of the Slavs did not require chastity, but it did not differ in particular liberty of morals. Sexuality was expressed in holidays, songs. Festive dances among the Slavs were considered erotic fun - during jumps and jumps, intimate places were exposed, which were usually covered with a skirt, cape or jacket.

Such amusements took place on the eve of the wedding in the groom's house. The festival was called "Jumping". Young people gathered for it. The bride was also in the "center of events." The boys and girls drank wine, stood in a circle, clasping each other by the shoulders, and began to jump, throwing their legs high, lifting up the hems of their skirts, and cheerfully sang songs with obvious erotic overtones. The holiday usually ended with a "side-by-side sleep".

"Yarovuha" is the name of another pagan holiday, it came from the name of the pagan deity of fertility Yarila. The essence of the fun was that after the festivities in the bride's monastery, all the youth remained to sleep together. Intimacy was forbidden, but otherwise there was no taboo in the behavior of the young.

The ancient Slavs also had a special game called “between villages”: during games, songs and dances, men chose brides for themselves and took them to their homes. This was the beginning of various wedding traditions, for example, the custom of kidnapping the bride, or the now familiar expression "playing a wedding."

The Slavs had many rituals and holidays, when men and women bathed naked together. One of them was dedicated to the goddess of fertility and the patroness of marriage, Lada. Later, it became known among the people as the day of Ivan Kupala. On this day, full sexual expanse reigned. Later, Orthodox monks wrote: “There is immediately a great fall for men and youths on female and girlish vacillation. It is the same for wives who are husbands, lawless desecration right there. ” The Slavs' favorite way of copulating was making love in the water - on a lake or river shallow, afloat in the middle of a wide river ...

Mauritius the Strategist, a Byzantine historian of the 6th century, was surprised by the favorite method of copulation in water by the Slavs. Amazed Mauritius claims that Slavic youth, even before marriage and marriage, had fun with group sex during the holidays.

The "brand" sign of the ancient Slavic intimate relationships there was a lack of traditions of bestiality and homosexuality, as well as a categorical unwillingness of men to make their victories over ladies for general discussion. Boasting of the successes of the ladies was practiced by both ancient Indian heroes and Western European knights.

In ancient pagan Russia, such a phenomenon as polygamy was common. In the annals, of course, there is no information about the life of ordinary people, but secular and church legislative acts help us. They often mention polygamy among ordinary residents.

A man could have two to four wives, but there were no restrictions on this either. Wives were not subordinate to their husbands. In addition, "unloved" wives could cheat on their husbands, without any punishment and national condemnation. If there was an “other” who offered a “hand and heart” and promised to make her the “main” wife, ancient Slavic women could officially “change” their spouse. The ancient pagan custom was quite tenacious. The Church had to fight against him for a long time, and it was not possible to win immediately

The concept of a harlot arose around the 7th century and meant only that the girl was looking for a husband (wandering). At the end of the 8th century, the concept of a "harlot" changed. They began to call all the ladies who lost their virginity. From the 12th to the 17th century, unmarried girls who had sexual intercourse and widows who hosted men were considered harlots. Only in the XVIII century, thanks to the titanic efforts of the church, the word harlot became a curse. But not offensive, which the church would very much like. Accordingly, in the language and in legal practice, the degree of sinfulness was divided. Fornication is an affair with an unmarried woman, adultery with a married woman. Prostitutes were called shameful girls.

Virginity

In Russia, the virginity of a girl was very much appreciated. But the meaning of this in very ancient times was understood in a very peculiar way.

For example, at the end of the eighth century, the Magi played the role of "deflorators". Namely: in the "maiden's bath" the day before the wedding, they deprived of virginity (most likely in a symbolic form) of brides who had not lost it earlier ... The founder of the struggle "for moral principles" in Russia should probably be considered ... Princess Olga. In 953, she issued the first decree known to us on a sexual and wedding theme - on monetary or material compensation for virginity.

However, only Prince Svyatoslav in 967 forbade the Magi to engage in defloration, declaring that from now on the deprivation of virginity is the direct duty of the husband and his dignity. Now washing in the bath together on the eve of the wedding and after it expressed the purity, purity of the marriage bed. And then, instead of a bed, rye sheaves were laid - for profit in the house.

Svyatoslav also attempted to ban erotic dances "in obscene times", that is, on days when there were no all-Russian holidays. But this was a clear overkill of the sexual reformers - the people began to rebel. I had to cancel

Further, in the Slavic rituals, the custom of “posada” became widespread: the bride had to sit on a special sacred place. But she no longer dared to do this if she had previously lost her virginity.
Well, if it still came to the wedding, during the wedding feast, the newlyweds performed the Old Slavonic rite - they took hold of the chicken legs and tore the chicken in half. This action personified the act of deprivation of virginity.

Some marriage ceremonies were more explicit. They also included phallic elements - kissing and caressing the genitals.

Orthodoxy. End of feeling...?

The main contribution to curbing the "satanic passions" in Russia was made by the Orthodox Church, which began to really establish itself in Russia in the 12th century.
As a class, the Magi were eliminated. Midwives-healers were declared "blameless women", subject to complete annihilation. Even protection from conception by taking herbs was considered "serious murder."

With the advent of Orthodoxy, sex even between spouses began to be considered sinful, the only exception was "coition for the sake of conception." The church even introduced a ban on the “standing” position, because it is difficult to get pregnant in it, which means that it is “not for childbearing, but only for the sake of weakness”, for pleasure. The norms of Christianity prescribed only one position for a woman during intercourse - face to face, lying motionless from below. Couples who made love in the water were called sorcerers and witches. In love affairs, kissing the body was forbidden.

Deep sensual kisses also belonged to a number of sins and were punished with 12 days of fasting. All manifestations of sexuality were considered impure and sinful ... Erotic dreams were perceived as a devilish obsession. This needed to be repented of.

The Tatar-Mongol yoke did not prevent Orthodoxy from starting a fight against such types of soaps (baths) as maiden (the day before the wedding) and marriage (joint bath of the spouses immediately after the marriage). They were replaced by the obligatory separate ablution of the spouses after the "sin of intercourse."

The newlyweds, who used the Old Slavonic rite during the wedding feast, were also cruelly punished - they took hold of the chicken legs and tore the chicken in half. The custom, which personified the deprivation of virginity, was recognized as a "demonic act."

Sexual abstinence was a mandatory and lengthy process: on all Sundays and church holidays, all fast days, on Friday and especially on Saturday. In the pagan world, it was Saturday evenings that were best suited for sex ... Numerous fasts and fast days (Wednesday and Friday) left the spouses a gap of only 50 sexual days a year. Moreover, on each of those days, even the wedding (!) - no more than one act

During confession, everyone had to report on their intimate affairs. The clergy asked many questions on a sexual topic, among which was the following: “Have you not put your mouth and fingers to your neighbors in places that are indecent and where it is unnecessary?”

Orthodox Russia valued marital fidelity, it was the main family virtue, especially for women. A husband was recognized as an adulterer when he not only had a mistress on the side, but also children from her. The wife was guilty of any exposed extramarital affair.

There was a wedding ritual of "opening" the bride. The young man announced to his wife's relatives which wife he got - a virgin or not. He came out of the bedroom with a full goblet of wine, and a hole was drilled in the bottom of the goblet. If the bride was innocent, the groom covered the hole with wax. Otherwise, he abruptly took his finger away and spilled the wine. When the bride turned out to be unchaste on the wedding night, the marriage could be dissolved. Sometimes such a girl, as a sign of shame, was put on a collar around her neck - a sign that she is now more like animals that do not know any cultural taboos.

The greatest number of prohibitions imposed by the church on female sexuality. Women were forbidden to put on any make-up, "raise their eyebrows and make up, so as not to deceive people into the death of bodily sweetness." She was portrayed as a very dangerous and powerful source of temptation. A “good wife” was considered an asexual woman who was almost disgusted with sexual life ...
Sex, like everything pagan, has become an object of gross ridicule.

titted russia

The Russian people, however, reacted suspiciously sluggishly to priestly sermons. As the most accessible means of expressing emotions in inhuman conditions of life, obscene slang grew stronger and developed. Moreover, from only six or seven non-single-root words of a dirty sexual nature, so many variations were composed that to this day all the languages ​​​​of the world, taken together, cannot be dreamed of. From them ditties, nursery rhymes, proverbs, sayings were composed. They were used in dashing quarrels, and in jokes, and in everyday conversations.

As for the church prohibitions on sexual joys, then by XVIII century there was a saying: sin - when the legs are up, and lowered - the Lord has forgiven.

According to the ethnographer Nikolai Galkovsky, our country reached its “sexual peak” in the 16th century — “ordinary people were mired in debauchery, and the nobles excelled in unnatural forms of this sin with the connivance, and even the dual position of the church.” Copulation was practiced not only in taverns, but sometimes on the street (syphilis, according to the most authoritative Russian historian Nikolai Kostomarov, was brought to Russia by foreigners at the beginning of the 16th century, and by the end of it it began to mow down Russians no worse than cholera or plague). The main brothels were baths, common at that time for men and women. And the tone is usually. guardsmen asked - the main culprits of the penetration of Sodom sin (homosexuality) into Russia. The number of perverts also grew in the monasteries. It got to the point that the head of the Russian church, Metropolitan Zosima, was noticed in bestiality (back in the 15th century)

Remarkable, in particular, is the reaction of the people to the "role of the breast in Russia." The Church at all times has ridiculed and derided large female breasts, to the point that harlots on icons were painted with terrible faces and huge breasts. People, on the other hand, reacted to this in the same way - they tried to marry burly girls, with a bust of the size of the seventh or eighth. Yes, and the girls used a lot of tricks to make their breasts bigger.

A recipe for a potion has survived to this day, which was used in the villages of Central Russia by those whose breasts were less than the fourth size. Three spoons of women's milk, a spoonful of honey, a spoonful of vegetable oil and a mug of peppermint decoction. The chest, they say, grew by leaps and bounds ...

Based on materials

http://www.newsword.ru/view_post.php?id=539

http://www.dayudm.ru/article.php?id=2884

http://www.donnasummer.ru/history/slav/

Full text taken from here: http://iriy.wordpress.com/2010/11/02/love-traditions-slavs-ancient-rus/

The synthetic form of culture is rites, customs, traditions and rituals, i.e. what are called patterns of behavior. Rites are standard and repetitive group events held in set time and on a special occasion to influence the behavior and understanding of employees of the organizational environment. The strength of the rite is in its emotional and psychological impact on people. In the ritual, not only the rational assimilation of certain norms, values ​​and ideals takes place, but also the participants in the ritual action empathize with them.

Rituals are a system of rituals. Even certain managerial decisions can become organizational rituals that employees interpret as part of the organizational culture. Such rites act as organized and planned actions of great "cultural" significance.

AT Everyday life enterprise rituals perform a dual function: they can strengthen the structure of the enterprise, and on the other hand, by obscuring the true meaning of the actions performed, they can weaken it. In positive cases, the rituals are stage performances of works of fundamental importance. Rituals symbolize the beliefs that play a significant role in the enterprise. In combination with outstanding events, rituals directly and indirectly highlight the image of the enterprise and the value orientations that dominate it.

Rituals of recognition, such as anniversaries, celebrations of success in foreign service, public incentives, participation in incentive trips - all these events should demonstrate what the interests of the enterprise are, what is rewarded and what is solemnly celebrated.

A similar function is performed by the so-called initiating rituals, which are usually performed when joining a team. They must clearly demonstrate to the new member what is really valued in the firm. If a freshly minted graduate engineer, who graduated from an elite university, is given a broom in the very first days of his service career in the representative office of a company in South America and is offered to start sweeping the premises, then this can cause disappointment and confusion in a young person. At the same time, he is immediately made to understand that at this enterprise, first of all, it is not formal education that is valued, but personal participation in business. A parallel can be drawn with enterprises specializing in the production of high-quality products, where almost everyone, regardless of education, starts in sales.

In the negative case, the relationship between rituals and value orientations is lost. In this case, the rituals turn into an unnecessary, prim and ultimately ridiculous formality, with the help of which they try to kill time, evade decision-making, avoid conflicts and confrontations.

The most typical example of this in ordinary life are negotiations on the conclusion of tariff agreements, especially when this was preceded by the speeches of the workers. Dramaturgy prohibits reaching an agreement during the working day. No, we have to fight all night, and the new tariff agreement should be signed as soon as possible before dawn, so that union representatives and employers, completely exhausted, can appear in front of the cameras in the first rays of the sun.

And at enterprises one can often observe how rituals turn into an end in themselves, how they become ballast in the process of implementing the main active installations.

Rituals occupy an important place within the culture of the enterprise. At the same time, it is necessary to check whether they really convey value orientations that are relevant for everyday life as well.

A custom is a form of social regulation of the activities and attitudes of people taken from the past, which is reproduced in a particular society or social group and is familiar to its members. The custom consists in steadfast adherence to the prescriptions received from the past. Various rituals, holidays, production skills, etc. can act as a custom. A custom is an unwritten rule of conduct.

Traditions are elements of social and cultural heritage that are passed down from generation to generation and preserved in a particular community for a long time. Traditions operate in all social systems and are a necessary condition for their life. A disdainful attitude to tradition leads to a violation of continuity in the development of society and culture, to the loss of the valuable achievements of mankind. Blind worship of tradition breeds conservatism and stagnation in public life.

Ancient wedding ceremonies

Wedding ceremonies in Russia developed around the 15th century. The main components of wedding ceremonies are as follows:

Matchmaking- a wedding ceremony in which the prior consent of the bride's relatives for the wedding was obtained.

Smotriny- a wedding ceremony in which the matchmaker / (matchmaker), the groom, the groom's parents could see the future bride and evaluate her strengths and weaknesses. Brides were held after the matchmaking, before the handshake.

handshake(collusion, binge, zaruchiny, wooing, arches) - part of the wedding ceremony, during which a final agreement was reached on the wedding.

Vytiye- wedding ceremony, ritual lamentation. Occurs on the half of the bride. Its purpose is to show that the girl lived well in the house of her parents, but now she has to leave. The bride said goodbye to her parents, friends, will.

hen-party- a wedding ceremony, the day before the wedding, or the days from handshaking to the wedding.

Redemption, scolding- a wedding ceremony in which the groom took the bride from home.

sacrament of wedding

Church marriage or wedding is a Christian sacrament of blessing the bride and groom, who have expressed a desire to live together as husband and wife during their later life.

wedding feast- a wedding ceremony in which a wedding was celebrated over food and drink with jokes and toasts.

holiday ceremonies

Cover

AT Veil Day (October 14) the girls ran to church early in the morning and lit a candle for the holiday. There was a belief: whoever puts a candle first, he will get married sooner.

Soon, girls, cover,

We'll have a party soon

Will play soon

Dear talyanochka.

You will have a fun Pokrov - you will find a friend.

In some areas, it is customary to put coins in glasses for the bride and groom. Newlyweds should keep these coins on their table under the tablecloth, which will always ensure prosperity in the house.

If a girl spills some drink on the tablecloth at dinner, this portends a drunkard husband.

In other places, the newlyweds had to sleep on rye sheaves. And these sheaves should be an odd number, say, 21. If this condition was met, then this meant that they would not need anything.

On a holiday, girls go to church and put candles in front of the icon of the Intercession of the Mother of God and say: “Protection is the Most Holy Theotokos, cover my poor head with a pearl kokoshnik, a golden cuff.” And if at such a moment a bewildered guy threw a veil over the head of a girl he liked, then she unquestioningly became his wife - noted one Arab writer who visited Russia in the 12th century.

Christmas time

Christmas divination

Young people of both sexes gather for the evening, take rings, rings, cufflinks, earrings and other small things and put them under the dish along with slices of bread, and cover everything with a clean towel, napkin or fly (a piece of cloth). After that, those participating in divination sing a song dedicated to bread and salt, and then other observant (Christmas, fortune-telling) songs. At the end of each, turning away, one object is taken out from under the closed dish, which first came to hand. It's kind of like a house lottery. A song was used for this rite, from the content of which a prediction was derived. But since things taken out from under the dish do not always come across to those to whom they belong, a ransom of things is awarded on this occasion. To the last one, who has already taken out the last thing from under the dish, they usually sing a wedding song, as if foreshadowing an imminent marriage. Then the ring is rolled along the floor, watching in which direction it will roll: if to the door, then for the girl - the proximity of marriage; for the guy - departure.

New Year fortune telling

In order to find out what kind of bride or groom will be, big or small, you need to go to the firewood shed on New Year's Eve and immediately take a log. If large, then large growth, and vice versa.

If a girl cuts or pricks her finger until it bleeds on New Year's Eve, she will definitely get married in next year.

They freeze water in a spoon for the New Year: if the ice is convex and with bubbles - to a long life, if a hole in the ice - to death.

But this is how Bulgarian girls guessed on New Year's Eve: they gathered together somewhere at a source, at a well, scooped up in complete silence a bucket of water, to which they attributed special magical powers. In this bucket, each girl threw a handful of oats, a ring or a bouquet with her mark. The little girl took out these items in turn, singing special ritual songs: the words of the songs referred to the future husband of the girl, whose ring was taken out. Then the girls took a little bit of oats from the bucket and put them under their pillows in the hope that they would dream of their betrothed.

Not all fortune-telling was only of a love nature, it happened that the girls guessed the weather in the coming year, and through this they made forecasts for the future harvest.

Christmas

Before Christmas was coming 40-day Filippov fast. They did not eat meat, they managed with fish. The whole house fasts, and the old people have Christmas Eve. The first pancake on Christmas Eve - for sheep (from pestilence)

AT Christmas eve(on the night of December 24-25) do not eat until the first star. On the first day of Christmas, figurines of cows and sheep are baked from wheat dough. They are kept until Epiphany, but on Epiphany, after the blessing of water, the hostess soaks these figurines in holy water and gives them to livestock (for offspring, for milk yield).

At Christmas time, in the second half, when the two-week “terrible evenings” between the New Year and Epiphany began, the girls guessed especially a lot.

Baptism

“The Christian procedure of Baptism,” writes A.Yu. Grigorenko, - is a magical ceremony. Thrice immersion of the body in water, dressing the baby in a clean white shirt in order to preserve the purity of his soul, etc. - all this comes from homeopathic magic, based on the belief that "like produces like", "the effect is similar to its cause."

The custom of blowing on a baby, on water, oil, in order to give them grace and at the same time drive away Satan, to spit on Satan during Baptism also came from an ancient belief - the belief that human breath and saliva have a special witchcraft power. primitive people they believed that a breath, a spit were ways both to communicate holiness and drive away evil. The same primitive rite is “toothing hair”. Cutting the hair of a child (or an adult) at Baptism and throwing it into the font is a vestige of the ancient belief that by laying an animated particle of one’s body, which has the miraculous property of growth, at the feet of a deity, a person establishes a strong relationship with him. In ancient times, many peoples had a custom to donate hair to the gods. So, in the Phoenician temples of Astrata there was even a special position - Galab Elim - God's barber. Statues depicting gods in ancient temples were often covered with male and female hair from top to bottom.

And the main element of Baptism is water? Christian theologians explain Baptism with water by the fact that Jesus Christ blessed the Jordanian waters by receiving the first Baptism from John the Baptist. However, the magical rite of washing with water is actually much older than Christ and Christianity. Many centuries before the emergence of Christianity and the birth of the Messiah himself, the ancient Egyptians dipped babies in water, the Zoroastrians (fire worshipers) of Iran carried newborns to the temple, where the priests bought them in special vessels with water, the Romans bathed the boy on the ninth day after his birth, and girls - on the eighth. The rituals of bathing a newborn in water, sprinkling it with water are known among the peoples of Ancient Mexico, China, Japan, Tibet, New Zealand, Africa, etc. Practically in all pre-Christian religions there were rites of ritual washing of a newborn, whose purpose was to purify him from evil spirits. The central role in all these rituals was played by water, to which people have long attributed magical qualities. And this is understandable. Water, without which life on Earth is impossible, quite naturally seemed to people to be a beneficent force.

Winter meets summer at the Candlemas. In northwestern Russia, writes I.P. Kalinsky, - this holiday is known as the tombs, since there is a custom here to bring candles to church on this day for the consecration, which are called tombs. Introducing the consecration of candles instead of pagan torches into the Christian church, the Romans tried to give them a special meaning in the eyes of the people and called them tombs. The clergy claimed that “these candles smash the power of demons, so that they do not harm with thunder and lightning, torrential rains and hail, easily brought down by the permission of God, sorcerers or wizards; and therefore the faithful (believers) during a thunderstorm light these candles in order to experience the fruits of prayer; they also give the dying into the hands of a tomb to defeat and drive away Satan, the prince of darkness.

Pancake week

And we rolled Shrovetide,

And we did not see in the eye,

We thought: carnival for seven weeks,

It’s already a carnival for seven days,

Maslenitsa beckoned

Great post planted

And to hell, to the radish,

For white cabbage.

It is known, - writes R.N. Sakharov, - that since ancient times in Russia Maslenitsa has served as the most cheerful and spacious public holiday. At Shrovetide, every day in the old days had a special meaning, according to which the very nature of folk amusements and entertainments was usually determined. Monday, for example, is called a meeting, because then the beginning of Shrove Tuesday was celebrated; Tuesday - flirting, since from this day various kinds of entertainment, dressing up, riding began; Wednesday is a gourmet, since then treats were opened for everyone with pancakes and other similar dishes; Thursday - wide, because Shrovetide revelry began with it; Friday - mother-in-law parties, when sons-in-law treated their mothers-in-law; Saturday - sister-in-law gatherings, as on this day young brides invited relatives to their feast. Saturday was also the day of seeing off Shrovetide, since the next day was the day of forgiveness.

“Our Maslenitsa,” we read from I.P. Kalinsky, - could not do without the commemoration of the dead. Our Church usually devotes the Saturday before Shrovetide week to the commemoration of the deceased forefathers, fathers and brothers, and this Saturday is popularly known as Parental or Grandfather's Saturday. On the day of forgiveness, there is a touching farewell to each other, which is a kind of request for the remission of each other's sins. And this forgiveness is accompanied by kisses and the saying: "May the sun not go down in our anger."

The kids rode on a sleigh from the mountains. There was a sign: whoever slides down the mountain further, those in the family will have longer flax.

“Winter entertainment for men and women,” writes historian N.I. Kostomarov, - it was to skate on the lew: they made wooden horseshoes with narrow iron strips that bent up in front, so that the iron cut the ice comfortably. The Russians skated with amazing ease and agility.

Winter festive evenings were held in the home circle and with friends: songs were sung, swags (storytellers) told tales, interlocutors made riddles, dressed up, made each other laugh, girls wondered.

The first pancake was dedicated to the memory of the souls of the parents "our honest parents, here's a pancake for your darling!" - with these words, a pancake is placed on the dormer window of the house.

Our ancestors said that the Annunciation is God's biggest holiday. On this day, as on Easter, Ivan Kupala, Christmas, Peter's day, the sun plays at its sunrise. Our ancestors considered not only a grave sin for the annunciation to undertake any business, but believed that even an unreasonable creature honors this great holiday. They said that if a bird sleeps through the Annunciation Matins and curls a nest on that day, then as a punishment for this, its wings are taken away from it for a while, and it cannot fly, but instead walks on the ground. According to ancient folk belief, on the day of the Annunciation, God himself blesses the earth, opens it for sowing. From here the custom originated on the eve of this holiday or on the very holiday to consecrate prosphora or seeds: both are then stored by our farmers until the first spring crops, as a sign of God's visible blessing, for good growth and fertility of the fields. Many signs and observations are associated with the day of the Annunciation, according to which our commoners guess about the weather and the future harvest. Between the rites and beliefs associated with the Annunciation, some have survived from pagan antiquity. Such, for example, is the custom of burning straw beds and old shoes, jumping over bonfires (he who jumps higher will have higher flax), fumigation as a preventive measure against all kinds of diseases. These rites are close in nature to the Kupala rites. They expressed faith in the cleansing and healing power of fire, which is characteristic of all ancient pagan religions, and in particular the ancient Russian one.

Among the Greeks and Romans, during solemn public purifications, as well as during the performance of cleansing rites by private individuals, the fire on the altar played, apparently, an intermediate role between the means of burning the sacrifice and the cleansing agent. Belief in the cleansing power of fire passed to its derivatives - smoke, coals, smut, ash. We have seen many examples when people explained jumping over ritual bonfires precisely medicinal purposes. For the same purpose, cattle were driven through the smoke near the fires. This also includes fumigation with smoke (incense) of houses, sheds, cattle, etc. Often magical rites purifications dealt not with one element of fire, but with various combinations: fire was combined with water, iron, garlic and other charms. The neutralizing properties of fire and smoke, noticed in practice, are transferred to the realm of the supernatural. Hence the idea that fire can destroy all evil, protect from witchcraft, from witches, from evil spirits. Sometimes the defense against evil spirits takes a very real shapes. For example, in some regions of Finland on Thursday of Holy Week (3 days before Holy Easter), evil spirits were expelled from the yard: “... they lit a fire in a tar box or in a tar barrel, put it on a sleigh and drove around the yard. Old shoes, pieces of leather, rags were thrown into the fire.

Many ritual actions associated with fire belong to the complex of fertility magic. It is known to fertilize the soil with ash. Scattering firebrands or scattering sparks across fields and gardens is already a magical technique. The Poles tried to put straw with long stems in ritual fires, so that flax would grow tall. The joint jumps of a guy and a girl through the flames of a ritual fire were supposed to secure their future marriage. In some regions of Switzerland, in ancient times, bread baked on the coals of Ivan the fire (Ivan Kupala) served as a sacrifice to the elements; later it became one of the elements of the holiday meal.

From pagan times, rather rude and ignorant signs have been preserved on the day of the Annunciation: thieves on this day try to steal something in the hope that if they fail to do this now, then they can be sure of the success of their enterprises for a whole year.

To be lucky, one must burn a pinch or two of salt in the oven: burnt salt is also useful in the treatment of fever or delirium.

Whoever happily played toss on the Annunciation will win money in this game all year long.

If the hostess drives the hens off the perch with a broom on this day between morning and midday, then by Easter they can already lay fresh eggs for Christ.

If the day is rainy on the Annunciation, then in summer and autumn there will be a lot of mushrooms, and fishermen can count on good catches.

If swallows did not fly to the Annunciation, then spring is expected to be cold.

Whatever you celebrate the Annunciation, such is the whole year.

Easter

“For the Passion Day throughout Russia, they were preparing for the meeting of Easter. Everywhere they made Easter, baked Easter cakes, painted eggs, washed, cleaned, cleaned. The youth and children tried to prepare the best and most beautiful painted eggs for the Great Day.

Colored eggs are an inevitable part of the Easter break. There are many legends among the people about the origin of Easter eggs and, in particular, about the origin of Easter eggs. According to one of them, drops of the blood of the Crucified Christ, having fallen to the ground, took the form of chicken eggs and became hard as a stone. The hot tears of the Mother of God, who sobbed at the foot of the Cross, fell on these blood-red eggs and left traces on them in the form of beautiful patterns and colored specks. When Christ was taken down from the Cross and placed in the tomb, the believers collected His tears and divided them among themselves. And when the joyful news of the Resurrection swept among them, they welcomed the tears of Christ from hand to hand. After the Resurrection, this custom was strictly observed by the first Christians, and the sign of the greatest miracle - tears-eggs - were strictly kept by them and served as the subject of a joyful gift on the day of the Bright Resurrection. Later, when people began to sin more, Christ's tears melted away and were carried away along with streams and rivers to the sea, coloring the sea waves in a bloody color ... But the most common custom of Easter eggs was preserved even after that ... "

Another legend says the following:

“Jesus Christ, as a child, loved chickens, willingly played with them and fed them. And the Mother of God, in order to please Him, painted chicken eggs and gave them to Him as toys. When the trial of Christ began, the Mother of God went to Pilate, and in order to propitiate him, she brought him eggs painted with the greatest art as a gift. She put them in her apron, and when she prostrated herself before Pilate, begging for the Son, the eggs rolled out of her apron and rolled all over the world ... Since then, they have served for us as a remembrance of the sufferings of Christ and of His resurrection that followed."

“The images and patterns reproduced on Easter eggs are very diverse and originated in antiquity. Both simple arabesques and stylized images of various sacred and simple objects that serve as decoration for Easter eggs were created a long time ago and are passed down from generation to generation by inheritance and tradition. The technique of making Easter eggs and the art of their tradition. The technique of making Easter eggs and the art of painting them are among the Little Russian and South Slavic women at a very high level. A special brass handle with horsehair is made, natural colors are selected (yellow, red, green and less often black). Paints are certainly bred on “clean” water, that is, brought from a well or source that has not yet been clouded by anyone, especially an “unclean” woman or animal. The Easter egg craftswoman is very afraid of any witchcraft and the evil eye. Therefore, anyone who enters the house while painting eggs considers it his own to spit in the direction of the artist for a long time and say: “Chur, chur, do not jinx it!” And she, in turn, takes a pinch of salt, sprinkles it on paints, eggs, a writing pen and wax, and says: "Salt in your eyes." The culmination of painting eggs falls on Good Thursday. Here comes the egg yolk, wax, both brushes. The artist heats the eggs on the stove and begins to paint them with wax. Wax applied to a warm egg does not allow the paint to soak the shell in this place. Under the wax, a white pattern will remain, and the paint (say, purple, obtained from sunflower seed husks, will cover the entire egg with a purple tint). The wax will rub off, but the pattern will remain. The process then continues with other colors - in a word, a whole art.

On Easter days, girls do not take salt in their hands so that their palms do not sweat.

And they wash themselves with red water easter egg to be ruddy...

“The whole Easter week is one day; for when Christ was risen, then the sun did not set all that week.”

“On the Easter holiday,” writes N.I. Kostomarov, - some organizers of the games made up a profitable business for themselves from this: they arranged a swing and let it swing, collecting silver money (half a penny) from their faces.

The Germans of the Rhinelands held an "auction of girls", first timed to Shrovetide, later to May 1 or Easter. The girls were played like at a real auction: which of the guys offered the maximum price for the girl, he received her as a dancing partner for a month or the whole year. The girl for whom the highest price was paid was considered the “May Queen”, and the guy was the “May King”. The guy had to protect and protect the girl in every possible way. Sometimes such comic grooming turned into a real one. (Spring holidays)

Trinity

When the magicians (they are also magicians and astrologers) who lived east of Palestine saw the appearance of a wonderful star, they realized that the messiah, the "king of the Jews", was born. They go to Jerusalem to inform the Jewish king Herod about this, and at the same time ask for help to find this baby. Herod was frightened and called on his wise scribes, who reported that, according to ancient predictions, such a messiah should be born in Bethlehem. Herod sends aliens there so that they find out the name of their future rival, the pretender to his throne.

The star accurately indicates to the magi the place where the baby Christ could be. The Magi bow before him as before the future king, bring him a gift of gold, incense and fragrant resin - myrrh.

A prophetic dream predicts to them that it is dangerous for them to return to Jerusalem, and the Magi go to their homeland. According to the number of gifts presented by the Magi, it was established that there were three of them. This correlated with the three persons of the Trinity, with the three ages of man and the trinity of the human race, with the Three Handed One, one of the revealed icons of the Mother of God.

The trinity of fingers puts a cross.

Trinity Trinity, but three candles are not placed on the table.

But Trinity rain - a lot of mushrooms.

Holy Trinity Day is celebrated on the 50th day after Easter. Since ancient times, “Pentecost” has been accompanied by many rituals, such as weaving wreaths, divination, swinging, boating, decorating the house with flowers and birch branches inserted behind the images.

The holiday was associated with the ancient Slavic cult of commemoration and veneration of ancestors, as well as the glorification of blossoming nature. The young birch served as its symbol. On Trinity Saturday, families went to the cemetery. The graves were carefully decorated with wreaths and birch branches.

People have long believed in magical powers naked human body, which can serve as a factor in soil fertility. The Lusatians (a Slavic tribe in Germany) had a custom: a girl who weeded flax, after finishing weeding, had to run around the field three times, stripped naked and uttering a conspiracy.

On the night before the Trinity, it was customary in Russia to “plow the village” so that the cattle would not fall. The girls in all white are harnessed to the plow, and the guy with the whips is escorted in complete silence. They plow a cross with a plow, put incense, bread, juniper or birch branches in the middle. The procession goes around the whole village and returns to this cross. After that, the girls begin to guess.

- They are spinning, and whoever falls in which direction, from there, wait for the groom.

- They scatter the fragments of the old plow: in which direction the fragment fell - from there the betrothed will come.

- They burn old men's trousers - then there are more brides.

Whit Monday

Every evil spirit is afraid of the spirit of the day. People said: "From the Spirit of the day, not from one sky - from under the ground heat comes."

Before sunrise on the Spirits of the day reveals its secrets mother earth cheese. That is why on this day, after praying to the Holy Spirit, the treasure hunters go to “listen to the treasures”.

Meet the wedding on the road - the day will be unprofitable, and the funeral - on the contrary.

The lip itched - you have to kiss with a sweetheart.

Eyebrows itch - to the meeting. If the right eyebrow itches - to a date with a loved one, if the left eyebrow itches - a meeting with a deceitful and hypocritical person.

This is how Abbot Pamfil, who lived in the 16th century in the Pskov region, describes this festival, which has come down from pagan times: splashing and dancing; wives and girls and nodding heads, and their mouths are hostile to screaming, all bad songs, and their backbone is wobbling, and their feet are jumping and stomping; there is a great fall, male, female and girlish whispering, fornication to them, and defilement to wives of men, and corruption to virgins.

“From these rites of the Kupala holiday,” writes I.P. Kalinsky, one cannot fail to see that for our ancestors it was some great day of purification by fire and water, and at the same time served as the holiday of the summer solstice, when nature acts with a special all-revitalizing and all-exciting force. In order to prove that it was the ancient Russian Kupala that was a cleansing holiday, it is enough to recall that in general, among many peoples of antiquity (we have already talked about this above), fire was revered as the highest cleansing element. It is known, for example, that our princes could appear before the face of the Tatar khans only after passing through fiery bonfires. In the same way, washing with water was constantly recognized among almost all ancient peoples as an act of purification.

In the Rumyantsev collection of 1754 we read: “On Ivanovo night, treasures are guarded, and they bathe on the grasses in the baths, and tear the grasses, and dig the roots, tie up the birch trees, weave the branches, so that the person will live that summer.” In Little Russia, the feast of the Nativity of John the Baptist is simply called Ivan Gulyashchiy, as can be seen from the fact that this day has long been celebrated with all sorts of folk pleasures, amusements, and entertainment.

Grass Nechuy-wind

Along with fern and other herbs endowed with magic power, in our people is revered and immortelle. It is called so because it does not fade for a long time, but dries up and retains its color and shape well. Ancient people endowed it with supernatural properties, believing that the soul of the deceased moves into this flower so that through it it can communicate with friends and relatives. It is also popularly called in a special way - nechuy-wind. This nechuy-wind, according to legends and legends, helps the blind to open treasures. On the night of Ivan Kupala with a crazy wind, a catchment area and a flowering fern in your hands, you had to pick a gap-grass flower and walk around the lawn until a pain appeared in your eyes. And as soon as she appears, pick up a spade and quickly tear the ground: the cursed treasure should be under your feet.

This grass, according to the sorcerers, grows in winter along the banks of rivers and lakes. The common people think that the one who possesses this grass can always stop the wind on the water, save himself and the ship from drowning, and finally catch fish without nets. Nechuy-wind should be collected on January 1, under Vasiliev evening, at dead midnight. The villagers think that at this time, the evil spirits, walking along the lakes and rivers, throw the Nechuy-wind grass to destroy the storm. Only blind people can find it, and even then they should take it not with their hands, but with their mouths. Then they begin to wield her power.

Grass Adam's head is highly respected by the villagers. The sorcerers, like the fern, collect it on Midsummer's Day and keep it secretly until Maundy Thursday. According to the popular concept, the magical power of Adam's head extends only to wild ducks. Hunters who received this herb from the hands of a sorcerer's note, fumigate all the shells they use when catching ducks on Maundy Thursday, not otherwise.

Midsummer night is starry - there will be a lot of mushrooms!

Midsummer Day came, he went to collect grass.

On Midsummer's Day, as on the eve of it, they lay out bonfires, light them, jump over them, and also bathe in water and dew, dance around a tree. On this day, brownies, mermen, mermaids and goblin commit pranks. The fern blooms at midnight on Ivan Kupala, and with its help they open treasures. Kupala dew is sprinkled on the walls of the house, beds and furniture to drive away bedbugs and cockroaches.

On this day, everyone pours water on each other, laughs, and has fun. In the evening, the bath is heated. Girls from the roofs of the baths throw a broom and find out which side to wait for the groom.

The night of Ivan Kupala or Kupala Night is the time of the highest power of nature: the herbs collected that night were considered the best medicine, just like the dew of that night. AT European countries girls tell fortunes by throwing wreaths on the water on Midsummer Night. On this night, the girls ride naked in the dew. Everything is done in silence. Silence is a sign of belonging to the world of the dead. Silently they collect and bring water for magical actions, and it is called "silent water."

The girl silently tears and brings flowers home to put them under her pillow and see her betrothed in a dream.

Polish girls guessed at Ivan Kupala on flowers: they pour water taken from a spring or a fast-flowing stream into a basin and throw into it two flowers without stems, say, two daisies; if they parted ways, then the lovers will part, if, while floating, the flowers converge, then they will be married this year.

To bewitch the groom, you need to feed the rooster from the stove damper, while saying: “As if this damper kept its mouth, so the rooster would keep its home.”

“Fun and laughter,” writes A.Ya. Gurevich, - are not ordered to a Christian, we see that the preachers themselves often strive to make their listeners smile. But excessive laughter is sinful. Jacques of Vitry tells of a person who saw the Blessed Mary with many virgins and wished to be with them. The Mother of God told her: "Do not laugh for thirty days, and you will be with us." She did so, did not laugh for a whole month, after which she died and gained the promised glory. Undoubtedly, concludes Jacques de Vitry, that if she had not abstained from laughter, songs and round dances, the Virgin would never have accepted her into her host.

Wet Honey Spas

On the first Savior, holy wells.

On the first Spas the last bathing of horses and other cattle.

Bees stop carrying honey.

Beekeepers break (cut) honeycombs.

Picking raspberries, bird cherry, harvesting medicinal herbs.

If the first berries are large when raspberries ripen, then winter rye should be sown earlier.

Poppies are harvested on Makavei.

The poppy was not born, we will stay like that.

The wild poppy was also collected as a remedy for witches. It was taken on faith that it was only necessary to sprinkle the house with this poppy - and after all, all the intrigues would be removed as if by hand.

From this day on, it is allowed to eat honey.

On the first Spas, peas are pinched.

In the Urals and Siberia, the beginning of the cone formation of cedars.

From the first Savior, cold dews.

In August, the sickles are warm, and the water is cold.

The month of August is rich - just enough.

August and fish have a full time.

During the harvest, the reapers tried to find the largest number of grains on one stalk. Such an ear is called a "vital uterus" or "ergot". They are cherished all year until a new sowing, sowing begins with these grains, with the hope of getting a big harvest from them.

These days follow stock up weed-grass, which protects from all misfortune and human malice. “Weapon grass,” writes I.P. Sakharov, - grows into an arrow; the color of her crimson, horned root. It is good to make a cross from such a root and wear it on yourself - then do not be afraid of the enemy and adversary. God will keep you from every calamity."

“Healers,” writes Zabylin, “use the root of Plakun to expel brownies, witches and evil spirits guarding the treasure. This herb is credited with making unclean spirits weep, hence the name."

Apple Spas

The Second Savior is an hour for everything (fruits ripen).

On the second Savior, fruits and honey are consecrated, apples are eaten (and before that, only cucumbers).

And an increase in hay. Otava - autumn hay, summer hay will save.

love apples

“These are apples through which you can win the attention and love of a desired person. This is done very simply: you just have to cut the apple in half, put a note with the name of your beloved person in the middle of it and put it in the sun. As if, as the apple dries, the beloved person will also suffer for you.

The first farewell of summer and the meeting of autumn, autumn; people went to the field with songs to see off the sunset.

Nativity of the Virgin

On this day, women meet autumn by the water. Osenins, the second meeting of autumn. Relatives are visiting the newlyweds. And after three days Fedora - soak your tails. It is believed that on this day autumn rides on a bay mare. “Autumn Fyodors tuck in their hem,” says the proverb. And I remember the summer, when the girls, during festivities and games with the guys, did not really hold their skirts, flying on a rope swing over the heads of astonished men. A.M. Gorky wrote about how the guys liked to “bare the hemlines for the girls, pulling them right up to the very head ...” The girls perceived this quite peacefully, and were not even in a hurry to hide their naked bodies, but deliberately fiddled with the hem stretched over their heads for a long time. "Not every Indian summer will reach Fedora." Ripe rowan. It is collected directly with tassels and hung under the roof. Rowan is used for rowan kvass or strong tincture. Mature viburnum is also hung out. In the cold, the berries become sweet. These days, a peasant's house is filled with all sorts of vegetables: mountains of carrots, turnips and rutabaga, from which they prepare "boys" (boiled and dried in a Russian oven). The bow is tied and hung on the walls. Cabbage is chopped and sour in tubs. Sunflowers peel, bite seeds, having gathered with the whole house. There is a thick layer of husk on the floor - this is done on purpose so that the day of harvest celebration will be remembered. The smell of apples and vegetables, currant leaves, oak, dill reigns in the house.

September smells like apples, October - cabbages.

In October (dirty) neither on wheels nor on sledges.

“These days, Kapustin's parties begin,” writes I.P. Kalinsky, for two weeks. Bread moved from the field to Vozdvizhenie (the last hay from the field), the bird moved away, snakes and snakes hid. "Wheel road!" - they shout to the cranes to turn them back. AT Astafiev day they guess the weather from the winds: north to cold, south to heat, west to bad weather, and east to the bucket. Among the steppes, the south winds are called "sweet" and promise fertility.

Bread is dried in barns by making a fire in it. On the fire, the boys bake potatoes, they say different stories associated with a barn or bean goose - the owner of a barn, who can shove in the side so that he takes his breath away if you don’t please him with something. It can also throw fire on sheaves and burn the crop. So you can’t sleep, but you have to guard the fire day and night.

A handful of bread for the owner, and a pot of porridge for threshers.

You can't thresh a sheaf with folded hands.

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Moscow, "Bit of Life!", - Miraslava Krylova.

Autumn rituals and customs

Rites and customs are part of the culture of every people, whether it is a huge nation or a small community. They accompany us throughout our lives. Some of them go back centuries, and we forget them or do not know about them at all. Others continue to exist. We invite you to get acquainted with the autumn rites, the history of their occurrence and essence. The traditions associated with the onset of autumn are interesting and varied in different countries.

Autumn is the time of holidays

Since ancient times, autumn has been the time for various celebrations. Diverse and numerous, for example, ceremonies and rituals on the day of the autumn equinox. Why did it happen? The fact is that the time of agriculture was ending, everyone was harvesting, preparing for winter. Most of the population in those days were peasants, so seasonality had a significant impact on their way of life. Full bins and free time gave people the opportunity to relax.

Autumn holidays among the Slavs

Autumn holidays among the Slavs often have pagan and Orthodox roots. The most famous were Obzhinki or Dozhinki (among Belarusians). In the nineteenth century, this holiday was celebrated everywhere among the Slavs, only in different time, mainly depending on the climate. So, among the Eastern Slavs, the mentioned holiday coincided with the Assumption of the Mother of God, and in Siberia - with the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord. On this day, people performed several autumn rites. For example, the last sheaf was reaped in silence, and then the women rolled through the stubble with certain words-songs. A few ears of corn twisted into a beard were left on the field. This ceremony was called "curling the beard."

Traditions and rituals of autumn in Russia

The first of September in Russia was called the Indian summer, in some areas the countdown was from September 8th. Already somewhere from Ilyin's day, and somewhere from Uspenyev, in many settlements, autumn dances began to dance. It is worth noting that the round dance is the oldest of the dances of the Russian people, rooted in the rites of worship of the sun god. The round dance in Russia had great value. This dance reflected three epochs in a year: spring, summer, autumn.

On Semyonov's day - the first of September - they mounted a horse. In each family, the first-born was seated on a horse. In addition, the New Year was celebrated on the same day for 400 years. It was canceled only in 1700 by decree of Peter 1. And on September 14, Osenins began to celebrate in Russia. People thanked mother earth for a rich harvest. They renewed the fire, extinguished the old, mined a new one. From that time on, all activity on the field ended and work began in the house and in the garden, in the garden. In the houses on the First Osenins, a festive table was laid, beer was brewed and a ram was slaughtered. A pie was baked from the new flour.

September 21 - Second Osenins. On the same day they celebrated the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary. September 23 - Peter and Pavel Ryabinniki. On this day, they collected mountain ash for compote, kvass. The windows were decorated with rowan clusters, it was believed that they would save the house from all evil spirits.

Third Osenins - September 27. In another way, this day was called the snake holiday. According to popular beliefs, all birds and snakes moved to another country on this day. With them, requests were passed on to the deceased. On this day, they did not go to the forest, because it was believed that the snake could drag.

Belarusian autumn traditions

Autumn holidays among Belarusians are similar to autumn rites and holidays among other Slavic peoples. It has long been celebrated in Belarus the end of the harvest. This holiday was called dozhinki. One of the main autumn rituals was held in dozhinki. The last sheaf was intertwined with flowers and dressed up in a woman's dress, after which it was taken to the village and left until the next harvest. Now dozhinki is a holiday of national importance. Similarly to the Osenins, Belarus celebrated the harvest festival - the rich man. Lubok with grain and a candle inside was considered a symbol of the holiday. The "rich man" was in one of the houses of the village, where a priest was invited to conduct a prayer service. After that, a lubok with a lit candle was carried through the whole village.

No less famous ritual holiday of late autumn in Belarus is Dzyady. This holiday of commemoration of ancestors falls on November 1-2. Dzyady means "grandfathers", "ancestors". Before the Dzyads, they washed in the bathhouse, cleaned the houses. In the bath, they left a bucket of clean water and a broom for the souls of their ancestors. The whole family gathered for dinner that day. Various dishes were prepared, before dinner the doors were opened in the house so that the souls of the dead could enter.

At dinner, they did not say unnecessary words, behaved humbly, remembered only good things about their ancestors, commemorated the dead. Dzyadov was given to beggars who walked around the villages.

Autumn equinox.

Ceremonies and rituals in different countries of the world The autumn equinox falls on September 22, sometimes 23. Day and night become equal at this time. From time immemorial, many peoples have attached mystical significance to this day. Traditions, celebrations and rituals on the Day of the autumnal equinox are commonplace. In some countries it is a public holiday, such as Japan. Here, according to tradition, the ancestors are remembered on this day. Conduct the ancient rite of the Buddhist holiday Higan. The Japanese on this day prepare food only from vegetable ingredients: beans, vegetables. They make a pilgrimage to the graves of their ancestors and worship them. In Mexico, on the day of the autumnal equinox, people go to the pyramid of Kukulkan. The object is arranged in such a way that on the days of the equinox, the sun's rays create triangles of light and shadow on the pyramid. The lower the sun, the more distinct the contours of the shadow, in shape they resemble a snake. Such an illusion lasts a little more than three hours, during which time you need to make a wish.

Autumn equinox among the Slavs

The day of the autumn equinox among the Slavs was one of the main holidays. His names were different: Tausen, Ovsen, Radogoshch. Rites and rituals were also performed in different areas. Ovsen is the name of the deity in mythology, who was responsible for the change of seasons, so in the fall he was thanked for the fruits and harvest. They celebrated the day of the autumn equinox (with rites and rituals) for two weeks. The main celebratory drink was honey, made from fresh hops. Pies with meat, cabbage, lingonberries - this is the main delicacy on the table. The ceremony for the autumn equinox was the seeing off of the goddess Zhiva to Svarga - the kingdom of heaven, which was closed in winter. On the day of the equinox, the Slavs also revered the goddess Lada. She was the patroness of weddings. And weddings were most often celebrated after the completion of field work.

On the day of the autumn equinox, special autumn festivals were held folk rituals. To attract good luck and happiness, they baked pies with cabbage and round apples. If the dough quickly rose, then next year the financial situation should have improved.

All old things that day were taken out into the yard and burned. Special rituals for the autumn equinox were performed with water. She was believed to have special powers. They washed themselves in the morning and in the evening with the belief that water would keep children healthy, and women attractive. Often our ancestors used trees in autumn rituals and holidays. So, they protected the house and themselves with rowan branches. It was believed that the mountain ash, plucked on this day, has great energy and will not let the evil into the house. The girls used walnut branches. They put a second pillow on the bed in order to get married soon, burned the branches of the walnut, and scattered the ashes on the street. By clusters of rowan trees they judged winter. The more berries, the more severe the winter.

Sacrifice was a special autumn rite in Russia. In gratitude for a good harvest in pagan times, the Slavs sacrificed the largest animal to Veles. They did this before harvest. After the sacrifice, sheaves were tied and "grandmothers" were placed. After the harvest, a rich table was laid.

Orthodox autumn holidays, traditions, rituals

The biggest holiday is the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin (September 21). The holiday coincided with the second autumn. September 27 - Exaltation of the Holy Cross. In the 4th century, the mother of Emperor Constantine the Great found the Cross and the Holy Sepulcher. Many then wished to see this miracle. So the Feast of the Exaltation was established. From that day on, they began harvesting cabbage for the winter. And young guys and girls were going to the cabbage. They laid the table, the guys looked after the brides. October 14 - Protection of the Virgin. The holiday was established by Andrey Bogolyubsky. In Russia, they believed that the Mother of God took Russia under protection, therefore they always relied on her protection and mercy. At this time, they were finishing work in the field, collecting the last fruits. In Pokrov, women made ten-handled dolls, which, it was believed, were supposed to help around the house, since the woman did not have time to do everything.

On the third day of November, Kazanskaya was celebrated. This is the Day of the Icon of Our Lady of Kazan.

Autumn signs in Russia

September 11 - Ivan Poleniy, Flight Pilot. A day later, they started pulling out root crops, digging potatoes. September 24 - Fedora-Ripped off. Two Fedoras uphill - one in autumn, one in winter, one with mud, the other with cold. September 16 - Corniglia. The root does not grow in the ground, but chills. September 28 - goose flight. On this day sheep were sheared. October 1 - crane years. It was believed that if the cranes fly that day, then the first frost will come to Pokrov. If not, frost should not be expected before November 1. October 2 - Zosima. The hives were removed into the omshanik. November 8 - Dmitriev's day. On this day, the dead were commemorated. November 14 - Kuzminki. Cock name days were celebrated on Kuzminki. The girls arranged a feast-conversation, invited the guys. On this day, a ceremony called "the wedding and funeral of Kuzma-Demyan" was performed. The girls made a scarecrow out of straw, dressed it up as a guy and held a comic wedding. They seated this effigy in the middle of the hut and “married” some girl, then they took it to the forest, burned it and danced on it. They made Kuzma and Demyan dolls. They were considered the keepers of the family hearth, the patrons of women's needlework.

Photos and text: Miraslava Krylova