In the past, holidays in Russia were an important part of family and social life. For many centuries, the people sacredly kept and honored their traditions, which were transmitted from one generation to another.
The meaning of the holidays
On weekdays, a man went about his daily business and earned his daily bread. Something opposite was a holiday. On such a day, there was a merger with the community revered by all history and sacred values, which was perceived as a sacred event.
Main traditions
At the household level, there were a number of rules that allow you to get a psychophysiological feeling of a full life on a holiday.
Russian folk holidays for children, old people and old maids simply did not exist. It was believed that the former have not yet reached the age when they can realize sacred value, the latter are already on the verge of a living and dead world, and the third, marked by celibacy, have not fulfilled their mission on this earth.
Russian national holidays and ceremonies always assumed freedom from any work. The ban on such days was imposed on plowing and mowing, chopping wood and sewing, weaving and cleaning the hut, that is, on any daily activities. On holidays, people had to dress smartly and choose only joyful and pleasant topics for conversation. If someone violated the accepted rules, then a fine could be imposed on him. One of the measures of influence was lashing.
Holiday Timeline
In the old days, all days free from work were connected in a single multi-stage sequence. The Russian national holiday calendar placed them in a certain order, which did not change from century to century.
It was believed that Easter was the most sacred force. Russian national holiday, classified as great, this is Christmas. No less important was the Trinity, Pancake week, as well as Petrov and Ivanov days. Allocated special periods, which are associated with the initiative of various peasant works. It could be harvesting cabbage for the winter or sowing cereals. Such days were considered half holidays or small holidays.
Orthodox creed established Easter with the twenties. These are twelve holidays proclaimed in honor of the Mother of God and Jesus Christ. There were also temple days. They were local holidays dedicated to significant events taking place in the lives of saints, in whose honor temples were erected.
In a special group are days that do not have a connection with church traditions. These include Shrovetide and Christmas time. There were also treasured holidays celebrated in memory of some tragic event. They were held in the hope of gaining the favor of a deity or nature. Numerous women's and men's, as well as youth holidays were celebrated.
Winter rituals
Since ancient times, the Russian people assigned a specific role to each of the seasons. Any Russian national holiday celebrated in the winter was famous for festivities, fun and games. This calm time was the best for the farmer for entertainment and thought.
In Russia, the New Year was considered the milestone date of a large list of ceremonies associated with tillage. It was accompanied by Christmas time and Carols. It was a colorful festivities.
Christmas time was the period from the New Year, lasting twelve days. Christmas Eve was celebrated the day before. For this holiday, the hut was thoroughly cleaned, went to the bathhouse and changed clothes.
After Christmas, January 19, they celebrated the Baptism, or Epiphany of the Lord. This is one of the great twelve feasts.
The Present of the Lord is celebrated on February 15. It is also one of the twelve Orthodox holidays. It is celebrated in memory of the meeting of the baby Jesus, brought to the Jerusalem temple, with the holy prophetess Anna and the elder Simeon.
Spring holidays
Winter is over. The forces of heat and light defeated the cold. At this time, the Russian national holiday is celebrated, which is known for its separate fun - Maslenitsa. During this period, which lasts a whole week before Lent, there was a farewell to winter.
Scenarios of Russian folk holidays that have come to us since ancient times dictated to Pancake weekly to visit and bake pancakes, sled and sleigh, burn, and then bury a scarecrow of winter, dress up and arrange feasts.
Magpies were celebrated on March 22, when the day was equal in duration to night. Traditionally, young people were dancing and singing songs. The gatherings ended with Shrovetide.
April 7 - Annunciation. The sixth week of Lent is Palm. The folk traditions of this holiday are associated with willow. Its branches are consecrated in the church.
The great holiday of all Christians living on our planet is Easter. On this day, the Resurrection is celebrated, that is, the fulfillment of the transition of Jesus Christ from death to life.
Krasnaya Gorka is a Russian national holiday. It is dedicated to the first Sunday after Easter, and is a symbol of the full coming of spring. On this holiday, the ancient Slavs met the time of the revival of nature.
On the fortieth day after Easter, the Ascension was celebrated. This is the last spring holiday.
Rites and traditions in the summer
The fiftieth day after Easter is considered the Day of the Holy Trinity (Pentecost). This is one of the greatest Orthodox twelve holidays. In the Bible this day is described by events that endowed the Apostles with the Holy Spirit and allowed them to preach the teachings of Christ among all nations. Pentecost is considered the birthday of the Church itself.
Russian folk holidays in the summer began with the Trinity. This day was associated with the final wires of spring. The main tradition for the celebration of the Trinity was the decoration of the house and the temple with various branches, flowers and fragrant grass. This was done so that the Holy Spirit descended. Like Easter week, eggs were painted again.
A significant Russian national holiday in July is Ivan Kupala. It is of ethnic origin and is celebrated from the sixth to the seventh when the summer solstice is observed. Traditionally, bonfires are made on this day and they jump over them, weave wreaths and dance. A feast in honor of John the Baptist is called. The main thing that distinguishes this day from other festivals is jumping over bonfires, which help to cleanse a person of the evil spirits inside him.
The summer Russian folk holidays of August are noteworthy. They begin on the second day, when Ilyin’s day is celebrated. After it there is a decline in summer heat with the establishment of moderate heat. Traditionally, for Ilyin’s day, cakes and buns of flour from a new crop were baked.
Already on August 14, together with the first Savior, the farewell of summer began. On this day, the beekeepers broke out the honeycombs in the hives. That is why the holiday is called honey. The Second Savior is celebrated on August 19. They called it apple, as at this time the deadline for harvesting the ripened fruit harvest comes.
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated on August 28. This is a big event. It belongs to the twentieth Orthodox holidays. This is a day of reverence for the memory of the great Prayer Book - Mother of God. According to folk traditions, this holiday is called Lord's Day. He is surrounded not by sadness, but by joy.
The day after the Assumption, the third Savior is celebrated. This day is marked both in the Orthodox and in the Slavic calendar. It marks the dozhinki and the last departure of the swallows, as well as the beginning of the Indian summer, which lasts until the eleventh of September.
Autumn holidays
On September 14, the Eastern Slavs celebrate a holiday named after Seeds of the Letoprovodnik. Its essence is the holding of celebrations that mark the approaching autumn. This is the day of the rituals, which include the following: housewarming and sitting out, cutting and setting fire, as well as the funeral of flies.
Exactly one month later, on October 14, Pokrov Day is celebrated. It marks the final onset of the autumn period. In the old days, bast shoes and straw beds worn over the summer were burned. It was believed that on Pokrov autumn occurs in winter.
Russian folk holidays in modern life
Since ancient times, the days when people traditionally did not work and performed certain rituals, aroused a sense of beauty in a person, allowed them to feel free and relax.
At present, some ancient holidays in Russia are not forgotten. They are celebrated, as before, with the preservation of ancient traditions. As in the old days, the Russian people have an occasion to arrange funny feasts, dances, games and festivities.
Religious holidays are also celebrated in Russia. They are also popular because the Orthodox faith cannot be separated from the values that the country's culture is rich in.