Spring holiday "Magpies" - an ancient Slavic tradition associated with the advent of spring. The celebration of the meeting of the first migratory birds in kindergartens indicates a desire to revive this Orthodox custom and introduce children to the rites and traditions of the Russian people.
Spring Bird Festival
The holiday "Magpies" is celebrated according to the folk calendar of the Eastern Slavs on March 22, the day of the vernal equinox. The name of the holiday is associated with the memory day of forty Sebastian martyrs, celebrated by the Orthodox Church.
However, the festive rites and rituals are associated not with this event, but with the belief that it was on this day that the first migratory birds returned - larks and waders. They bring spring with them and open the way for all other birds returning from wintering in warm places. The vernal equinox is the day when winter ends and spring begins, day and night are equal.
The holiday was called differently by the people: "Magpies", "Larks", "Sandpipers", "Tetero day". The last name is connected, however, not with birds, but with a special type of ceremonial cookies - teters made on the day of the spring solstice in the northern regions of Russia. They have a round twisted shape, as they symbolize the sun.
The tradition of baking for the holiday "Magpies" dough products in the form of sun or birds was distributed throughout the country. They called them “larks”, “magpies”, “waders”.
Rites of the holiday "Magpies"
Holiday "Magpies" was considered children's. Children took an active part in the manufacture of ceremonial pastries. Children and youth were given the main role in the performance of holiday ceremonies. They had to call spring, call it. With baked birds in their hands, the children fled into the field and began to call for larks and spring. For this, there were special rhymes and spring songs. Children, girls and boys took round dances, sang, played folk games.
By tradition, it was necessary to decorate the ritual tree with ribbons, paper flowers, bells. It was worn throughout the village, and then installed in the place where the spring was called. The holiday is associated with many different signs and fortune-telling that determine the weather at the beginning of spring, the beginning of field work, happiness in family life.
Traditions are carefully preserved in some regions of Russia, and residents of villages and villages celebrate the arrival of spring, meeting it with songs, round dances, and chants.
Holiday "Magpies" - a children's holiday
This is great fun for the kids. Celebrating the "Magpies" holiday in kindergarten in March, educators give children the opportunity to plunge into the atmosphere of ancient traditions, get acquainted with Orthodox customs, and take part in the invocation of spring themselves. In the process of preparation, children are told about the holiday, rituals. They learn to make birds of paper and plasticine. Teachers learn ritual songs, rhymes and sayings with children, introduce them to old folk games. Children receive knowledge about the history of their country, the traditions of the Russian people, get acquainted with the names of birds, natural phenomena.
How can I spend a holiday in kindergarten?
In kindergartens, where the “Magpies” holiday is held, the script includes a story of the hosts about the signs of the coming spring, natural phenomena, and migratory birds. During the story, children learn proverbs related to changing seasons, for example: “In March, frost is creaky, but not hot”, “Spring is red during the day”, “Winter scares spring, but it melts itself.” The presenters, dressed in folk costumes, tell the children how they were preparing for the holiday in Russian villages: they baked “larks” and learned spring songs.
Children are invited to take part in the spell of spring themselves. Children dance, recite poems, sing songs. In the clothes of children, you can use elements of the Russian festive costume. One of the stages of the celebration is the decoration of the ritual tree with silk and paper ribbons, flowers.
Children are given birds of the dough. They are pre-baked in the kitchen or the children cook them at home with their parents. After the performance of song-calls, new characters appear - “Spring” and “Sun”. Together with the children, they take part in ritual folk games and lead a round dance. During the game, children call the birds known to them, and solve riddles. Outdoor games involve moving in a circle with the implementation of various actions, running, jumping. Among the folk games related to the traditions of meeting the arrival of spring, one can name “Burn, burn clearly”, “Trickle”, round dance game “Sparrows”, “Birds”. The holiday ends with a tea party with a sweet treat.
The “Magpies” holiday helps children and their parents not to forget the traditions of their people, arouses interest in Russian folklore, ancient traditions, gives a good mood.