October 31st is a pagan holiday. Three Russian analogues of Halloween, or why do we celebrate the Day of Other Saints? December Generous evening, Shchedrets

Today, October 31, many countries around the world celebrate holidays - International Black Sea Day and Savings Day; in Russia they celebrate Sign Language Interpreter Day and Pre-trial Detention Center and Prison Workers' Day. Today you can also celebrate a Lutheran holiday - Reformation Day in Germany, a Slavic holiday - the Day of the Goddess Mokosh and a very famous pagan holiday all over the world - Halloween - the eve of All Hallows' Day.

Today you can still celebrate 2 unusual holidays with friends: the Day of Red Rowan and Arriving Tits and the Day of Mental Hygiene.

International Black Sea Day (international holiday)

This holiday is celebrated on the day of the event in 1996, when the Black Sea countries - Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Georgia, Turkey and Romania - signed a Strategic Action Plan for the protection and rehabilitation of the Black Sea.
The countries developed this plan after conducting various studies of the marine environment, which concluded that the vitality of the Black Sea had deteriorated significantly compared to the previous three decades. Since then, the countries participating in the Strategic Plan have decided every year on Black Sea Day, October 31, to hold various events dedicated to the problems of the Black Sea and the preservation of its ecosystem.

Savings Day (international holiday)

Representatives from 29 countries of the world gathered on October 27, 1924 in the Italian city of Milan for the First International Congress of Savings Banks. On October 31, the last day of the congress, they came up with an idea - in memory of this meeting of savings banking institutions, to annually celebrate this day as the “World Savings Day” holiday.
And this day was proclaimed by the Italian professor Ravizza as International Day of Savings. But, according to his plan, this day is dedicated to saving in a broad sense, and not just saving money. International Savings Day was formalized by a UN directive in 1989.

Sign Language Interpreter Day (Russia)

If all people on earth knew sign language, it would be a great help to deaf people. October 31 is the Annual Day of Sign Language Interpreters, it was established on the initiative of the Central Board of the All-Russian Society of the Deaf in January 2003 and its main goal was to draw public attention to the problems of the deaf. For example, if in Finland there are 300 sign language interpreters for every thousand deaf people, then in Russia there are only three. The number of people who can speak sign language in our country is constantly decreasing.

Day of workers of pre-trial detention centers and prisons (Russia)

This holiday is completely new for Russia. It appeared on September 14, 2006, when the director of the Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) signed a Decree, according to which October 31 became the Day of Pre-trial Detention Center and Prison Workers. And long before that, in 1963, on October 31, the Board of the Ministry of Public Order of the RSFSR created a new type of institution of the penal system (SIZO) - pre-trial detention centers. It was precisely this date that became the day professional holiday workers of pre-trial detention centers and prisons.
This holiday does not yet have any traditions. On this day, ceremonial meetings are held just for the workers of the pre-trial detention center and awarded with souvenirs and certificates.

Reformation Day in Germany (Lutheran holiday)

This holiday is celebrated in honor of the founding of the Evangelical Church. The Reformation was based on the desire of the progressive part of the church to return from the superficial human, which was acquired by the church, to the purity of the Word of God.

Day of the Goddess Mokosh (holiday of the Slavs)

This year, on October 31, the Slavs celebrate a holiday - the Day of the Goddess Mokosh - the goddess of marriage and childbirth, who is in charge of the craft of spinning. Makosh in Slavic paganism is the patroness of the feminine principle and the protector of women and girls. Since ancient times, it was Maoshu that women asked to give them easy births and healthy children.

Halloween - All Hallows' Eve (pagan holiday)

This is a modern holiday, the origins of which came from Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and is celebrated every year in all English-speaking countries on the eve of the famous holiday - All Saints' Day - October 31.
The name Halloween comes from Samhain, an Old Irish word meaning “end of summer” in Ireland, which later became the name of the month of November in Ireland.
Halloween today is not an official holiday or a day off, but it is celebrated very brightly every year in all countries that have cultural ties with Great Britain or the USA since the end of the 20th century.
The holiday Halloween began to be celebrated not so long ago in Russia and some CIS countries.

Day of red rowan and flying tits

Today, October 31st, is a special holiday. On this day, the future can be revealed to us by the trills of tits and tart rowan berries. If only we had our wish! On this day in the morning, just leave the house and, catching the singing of a tit, go to the rowan tree and, picking a berry, slightly bite it, feel the tenderness in the frosty sweetness. And this day will immediately become unusually fresh for you!

Unusual holidays on October 31

Mental Hygiene Day

This is a holiday of purity of soul. Not everyone today can boast of having a soul, much less its purity. But if you have a soul, then on this day you can think about its purity...

Church holiday according to the folk calendar - Lukov Day

On this day, all Orthodox Christians honor the memory of the companion of the Apostle Paul, the apostle of seventy - Saint Luke, who today is known as the author of one of the four known Gospels and the Acts of the Holy Apostles.
According to legend, during the earthly life of Jesus Christ, Luke, among His seventy disciples, was sent to preach the first sermon about the Kingdom of Heaven.
Luke subsequently accompanied Saint Paul on all his travels. He accepted his martyrdom in the city of Thebes.
And today St. Luke is revered among the people as the patron saint of all painters and icon painters.
There is information among the people that Luke was also good at the art of medicine.
On Lukov day, people organized onion markets; on Lukov they prayed to the saint for love between husband and wife and good relations in family.
Peasant gardeners turned to Luke for help on this day; they observed the signs of nature. According to folk superstitions, if the cherry tree leaves do not fall on this day, then snow will not fall for a long time.
Name day October 31 from: Andrey, Gabriel, David, Elizabeth, Ivan, Joseph, Leonty, Luke

Halloween is always October 31st. Halloween for children is on the evening of October 31st, and for older ones halloween party- on the night from October 31 to November 1 (All Saints' Day, All Souls' Day).

The essence of Halloween

Modern cheerful Halloween holiday originated in the USA. Brought by immigrants from Britain and Ireland, the ancient folk and religious rituals of All Hallows' Day (Memorial Day) were eagerly adopted in America. Over time, their meaning was emasculated, and the holiday turned into reckless and cheerful Halloween- a typical phenomenon of mass culture. Halloween does not carry any religious, sacred or mystical meaning (unlike its historical predecessors - Celtic Samhain, which is discussed below, and the Catholic All Saints Day. And refers to Halloween possible only with a fair amount of humor.

Name halloween holiday goes back to Old English All hallow ees – Mass of All Saints. Over the centuries, this phrase has undergone amusing linguistic metamorphoses, first turning into All Hallow's Eve – Hallowe'en, and then in Hallowe'en - Halloween .

On Halloween we traditionally display scary or funny ones in front of the house pumpkins - jack lantern , to “instill terror” in neighbors and random passers-by. Children and teenagers on Halloween dress up in costumes of skeletons, vampires, witches and ghosts (and basically, whoever they want) and set off to “scare the townsfolk” and extort mountains of sweets, which Halloween The entire child-loving district is stocking up in advance.

Curious Halloween story and rituals associated with pumpkins and the appearance of mummers on Halloween ( trick-or-treat ). According to an old Irish legend, Jack was a terrible greedy person, so he was not allowed into heaven. However, he was also not allowed into hell, because he dared to play the devil himself. After his death, Jack had to wander with his lantern all over the earth until the day of the Last Judgment. In the old days in Europe jack lantern made from improvised turnips or beets, and modern Americanized tradition prescribes the use pumpkin(it’s also much more convenient, because the pumpkins are big!).

The tradition of dressing mummers in scary costumes for Halloween has its roots in the ancient Celts' desire to confuse the evil spirits that returned to earth during Samhain. Fearing a meeting with a ghost, people put on masks when leaving the house. Seeing the frightening mask, the ghost could take the person for “one of his own.” Another measure aimed at bribing the ghost involved placing treats outside the door of the home. The ancient Celts believed that by accepting the gift, the spirits would untie themselves from the inhabitants of the house.

History of Halloween

At the end of October and beginning of November, our ancient ancestors celebrated the end of autumn and the arrival of winter - a dark and cold period of the year. For ancient people, winter meant the onset of cold and food restrictions, and a transition to living indoors. The sacred meaning of winter is “the dream of the Earth in oblivion before the birth of a new spring” (see Maslenitsa, Easter). Ancient pagan holidays - Samhain (Samhain) among the Celts, Autumn Grandfathers and Makoshya among the Slavs - filled with the same meaning and rituals. Remembering deceased ancestors, asking for protection, and communicating with the departed were important spiritual practices for the ancients.

Samhain - a holiday of the last harvest and remembrance of the dead

By the end of October, the cattle were driven into winter stalls and the final harvest was completed. Some of the livestock were slaughtered and stocks of meat were stored, which they stored in the cold and tried to hold out until spring. The end of the annual cycle of agriculture and cattle breeding was associated with the end of earthly life. Thus, Samhain was also a holiday of death in its ancient, sacred sense.

At Samhain there was silent dinner ritual (Dumb Supper) , when an empty seat was set at the table for a deceased ancestor. The night of Samhain is the border between the two halves of the year, light and dark, a magical time when, according to Celtic beliefs, the door opens between the physical, “real” world and the world of spirits. This means that with the advent of darkness, spirits can penetrate into the world of people.

At Samhain there was a tradition of dressing up as evil spirits. Young people put on masks of the dead, hiding their real faces, and walked from house to house with lamps. Lamps at that time were made from turnips, for which the vegetable was emptied from the inside, and faces were carved into the walls. A candle was placed inside the turnip to ward off evil spirits. Mummers in terrifying costumes knocked on doors and entertained villagers in exchange for treats or coins.

Another popular activity at Samhain was fortune telling. They told fortunes using egg whites, apple peels, fried nuts (and there were a lot of nuts at this time of year). The purpose of fortune telling was to find out the name of the future spouse, the number of children and the place of residence of the new family.

All Saints' Day, All Souls' Day

The days of the dead, celebrated for many centuries throughout pagan Europe, of course, could not be eradicated by Christianity. In the 8th century, the Catholic Church linked pagan festivals with Christian ones. All Saints Day(officially celebrated on November 1). In Catholic countries All Saints' Day (All Souls' Day) is still a favorite family holiday for many, sad and bright.

Ancient Russian holidays of the transition from autumn to winter

Winter colds come earlier to the north and east of Europe, so in Rus' the arrival of winter was celebrated earlier. In the middle October celebrated in Rus' Cover , or Pokrovskoye Holy . The name Pokrov is associated with the first frost that covered the ground. The cover was the “official” transition of life into the winter: by this day, the cattle were transferred to stalls, field work was completed, heating began in the houses, girls sat down to yarn, sewing, embroidery and gatherings, and it was time for weddings. With the establishment of Christianity, a different meaning was given to the Intercession: it began to be celebrated in honor of the Mother of God and her payment (veils).

Soon after the Intercession, a period of remembrance of the dead began, which was called Autumn Grandfathers (Dziady) - this holiday is still preserved in Belarus. The calendar opposite of this holiday is the spring Radunitsa, when people went to burial places to meet the dead. In the fall, they “received” the souls of the dead at home. At this time, the houses were cleaned and a lot of food was prepared. As dusk fell, people sat down at tables to remember their dead relatives. They always placed a device on the table and left food for a recently deceased relative, and the doors were left open for spirits during the meal. After the meal, dishes and food were left on the table. The rituals of the Grandfathers served as a farewell to the souls of the dead to heaven.

Finally, at the very end October was coming Makoshe - the day of “closure of earth and water” for the winter (earth and water were covered with snow and ice). Makosh (Mokosh, Makosh, Mokosh), or Makusha (Mokusha) - ancient East Slavic goddess of the family, “spinner of fate” and prosperity, patroness of women. Perhaps at some period Makosh was one of the incarnations of Veles, because Often in ancient sources one finds the spelling of her name in the masculine gender (Makosh, Mokosh). Mokosh Day was traditionally considered the fifth day of the week. The cult of Friday is an ancient pagan cult that existed not only among the Slavs, but also among other Indo-European peoples. The Slavic Mokosh has many features similar to the German Freya and Roman Venus. With the establishment of Christianity in Rus', the image of Mokosh disappeared into the features of Paraskeva Pyatnitsa.

T traditional Slavic pagan holidays are associated with nature and the events occurring in it; they contain and conceal a deep sacred essence and meaning. The rituals that were once performed in the old days by our great ancestors are designed to ensure peaceful coexistence and harmony with Mother Pri GENUS oh, connection with ours GENUS famous Slavic Gods. Kolo year among the Slavs it is divided into four seasons (winter, spring, summer, autumn), in each of which great holidays are especially celebrated: 2 solstices (solstice) in winter and summer - the time when the Sun is reborn: the old Sun fades away, but its place is taken by a new one - nascent, young and 2 equinoxes (spring and autumn). The sun has long been especially revered by the Slavs as a symbol and source of life on earth, giving warmth and light to everything alive wow. And this happens every year, constantly, h intermittent cola(circle), in the form of which the ancient Slavs represented our Universe.

TO Each Slavic holiday is a special ritual event dedicated to the veneration of a specific Deity of the Slavic pantheon or events occurring in nature at different times. As a rule, Slavic holidays are accompanied by cheerful and extensive folk festivities, songs, round dances and various fortune-telling, youth gatherings and bride shows. But there are also days in the Slavic Kologda where there is no place for fun - these are days of honoring deceased relatives and friends, as well as holidays where evil spirits and deities were revered. At some festivals, masks and disguises(skins of wild animals), which people dressed themselves in so that evil spirits would not recognize them.

WITH Slavic New Year it would be more correct to call New Year's Eve, which falls on Kolyada - December 25 (cold). For Orthodox Christians, this date falls Nativity(according to the old true style). Few people know now that in the old days our ancestors celebrated the New Year on March 1, and then on September 1, and only since 1700, by decree of Emperor Peter I, it was ordered celebrate New Year on January 1. But is it much more logical for Orthodox Christians to celebrate the New Year on the birthday of their Lord - Jesus Christ, and not on the day of his circumcision? But, turning to the ancient Jewish Old Testament tradition, it becomes clear to us why Peter I (according to some information, a Freemason) chose this day as the date for the New Year celebration. It turns out that according to ancient Jewish law and customs, an “uncircumcised” baby is none other than pagan the circumcised is revered as God's.

IN In this section of the site we tried to create a reconstruction of the Slavic pagan calendar, but without going too far from modernity into deep antiquity, so we ended up with something “in between” between the ancient Slavic calendar and the neo-pagan one. We in no way claim absolute truth and have no doubt that over time the Slavic calendar will be improved.

January (Siechen, Stuzhen)

January 1st (cutting, cold) is celebrated Morok (Frost) Day. Once upon a time, god of bitter cold Hassle walked through the villages, sending severe frosts. The villagers, wanting to protect themselves from the cold, put gifts on the window: pancakes, jelly, cookies, kutya. Now Morok has turned into a kind of kind old man - Santa Claus, who distributes gifts to children. This is how it became quite recently, in the middle of the 19th century. By the way, there is a deep ritual meaning in decorating a Christmas tree: according to legend, the spirits of ancestors live in evergreens. Therefore, by decorating the tree with sweets, we bring gifts to our ancestors. This is an ancient custom. This day, like the one before it Shchedrets, family celebration.

From January 1 to January 6 (cold) are noted Veles Days or Scary, Warlike Evenings - The second part Great Veles Christmastide, which start with Day of Morok (Frost) and end Turitsami. Among the people, these six days are marked by rampant evil spirits. The first half of Christmastide was dedicated to the future harvest and fortune telling about marriage, and the second was associated with livestock and animals. Veles could act both in the form of a bear - the “king of the forest”, and in the form of a bull-tour - a representative of horned wealth. On Veles's Christmastide they baked ritual cookies in the form of domestic animals ("cows", "kozulki", "bagels", "horns"), dressed up in animal skins and masks, and danced in sheepskin coats turned inside out (so that evil spirits would not recognize).

January 6 (Sechenya) Slavs celebrate Winter Tours. This Ancestral holiday is dedicated to one of the totemic and most revered animals among the Slavs - Tur, the embodiment of the union of Veles and Perun. Tur is the son Veles And Makoshi and patronizes shepherds, guslars and buffoons, valiant prowess, dancing and fun, as well as groves and forest animals. Another name for this day is Vodokres. This day ends the yuletide excesses. It's time when the Gates of Navi close, and the world of Revealing acquires its usual orderliness. About this time, the Spark of Heavenly Fire (Cross) from the Svarog Forge falls into the waters of the Earth, endowing them with miraculous properties. They also believe that at this time Veles, the Giver of Health, blesses all earthly waters, so that anyone who bathes in them on this day will be healed of all kinds of ailments. Orthodox Christians celebrated on this day Epiphany(otherwise known as Epiphany).

January 8th (sec.) are noted Babi Porridge. On this day, it is customary to honor midwives (now midwives) and women in labor. They were brought gifts and treats, kvass, pancakes, pies and fruits. They came with their children so that the grandmothers would bless them. It was especially recommended on this day to go to the grandmothers of expectant mothers and young girls.

January 13 (cold weather) noted Mara Winter - holy day, when the great dark mistress, the mistress of winter colds, comes into her full power. This day is considered by the people to be a “terrible” day, a dangerous day for all living things. His don't mark as a holiday itself, therefore ethnographic information about it is extremely scarce. So, it is known that this day is one of the most “unlucky” days of the year. This is due to the fact that, according to popular beliefs, at this time the Fever, or Shaking Sisters, daughters of Mara, who live in the dark dungeons of the world of Navi, are being “released”. At night on this day, porridge, milk and bread are left on the table for Brownie, asking for well-being. If Likho has “settled” in the house, they turn to Domovoy for help.

January 21 (cold), according to folk legends Prosinets - a holiday of the rebirth of the Sun, which is celebrated with the blessing of water. On this day, the Slavs bathed in cold river water and held grand feasts, which certainly had to include milk and dairy products. They glorify Heavenly Svarga- the world of all Gods.

January 28 (cold weather)- the day of honoring the House Master, who is also popularly called "Kudesami." If you don’t honor the Brownie on this day, he may become “offended” and stop helping his household; the grandfather-next-door may turn from a kind keeper of the hearth into a rather dashing spirit. Then everything in the house can go to waste: the owners will lose the desire to work, illnesses will appear, troubles and misfortunes will pile up, and the economy will fall into decay. After all, the Brownie is the Ancestral guardian spirit, the spirit of the Ancestors, by insulting which a person cuts off the roots of his Ancestral Tree. To honor the Brownie, after dinner a pot of porridge is left for him on the table, which is covered with hot coals so that the porridge does not cool down until midnight, when he comes from under the stove for dinner. Since then he has been peaceful all year round.

February (Lyuten, Snezhen)

February 1 (2) (lute, snow) Slavic holiday celebrated "Gromnitsa" - the meeting of Winter with Spring on the World Face of Reveal, when the forces of Young Spring give the first battle to the forces Moraines-Winters, and the only time in winter is when Perun’s Thunder thunders and you can see lightning. That's why the Serbs call him "Svetlo". Dedicated to Perun's wife Dodole-Malanjice(Lightning) - goddess of lightning and feeding children. Gromnitsa is one of the titles of the Mother of God (Mother of the Gods of Light) goddess Dawn, on this day also called Queen Molonia or Melania. On this day, the following demands are given to her: salt, garlic, chicken, porridge, bread, poppy flowers. Gromnitsa is also revered as the first call of Spring.

February 3 (Lute) noted Small Veles Day or Veles-Wolf Matchmaker - a holy day dedicated to Veles the Wolf Matchmaker, preceding the Small Veles (Wolf) Christmastide and the Great Veles Day. At the time of dual faith in Rus', this date fell on the day of Simeon and Anna, also called Small Blasius. People said: “Semyon and Anna are repairing the harness, and Vlasy is saddling the horses.” According to popular belief, horses “ride” on Vlasiya Domovoy ("Dashing Brownie, rides in horses at night"), and to prevent this, a whip, mittens and onuchi were tied to the horse at night. The brownie then does not dare to touch the horse, imagining that the owner himself is sitting on it. This day is also called "Fixing" because at this time they are inspecting and repairing the summer harness. No wonder they say: “Prepare the cart in winter and the sleigh in summer.” On this day the straw is boiled: “The straw plant has arrived in the yard, start the repairs.”

WITHFebruary 4 to February 10 (luten) are noted Malye Velesovs or Wolf, Christmas time - a series of holy days between Veles the Small (February 3) and Veles the Great (February 11): 4 lutes - Veles the Cold, 5 lutes - Veles Korovich (or Veles Korovyatnik), 6 lutes - Veles the Calf-maker, 7 lutes - Veles the Crafty, 8 lutes - Veles the Sickle Seer, 9 lute - Veles Zhitny Grandfather and, finally, 10 lute - Veles Zimobor. The Small Velesovy Christmastide is called “Wolf” because on these days the fate of wolves is decided, who will have wolf cubs and with whom - so-called “wolf weddings” are played.

11 February (lute, snow)(the following options are also possible: 10 or 12th of February) is noted IN Christmas Day - Veles “knocks down the horn of Winter”, in the villages they celebrate the Cow Festival (for Veles is not only the God of Wisdom, but also the “Cattle God”), they create amulets for livestock and the yard, they ask Veles for patronage and protection, and for the good of all cattle - offspring. Prophetic magicians, inspired storytellers, violent buffoons especially honor Veles, the Wise God: with sorcery and chants, with zeal and glorification...

From 12 to 18 February (luten) pass "Veles Days" - six days, during which amazing things happen to those who honor Veles.

February 16 (luten) are noted Kikimora's name day - the day when people create amulets for their home. For Orthodox Christians, this date was the day of Maremyana the Righteous, popularly nicknamed Meremyana-Kikimora. Sometimes she helps her owners, warns them of trouble, but sometimes she herself causes harm in small ways. On this day, they tried to appease Kikimora (the accomplice of Morena and Mokosha, Domovoy’s wife) with special offerings so that she would not confuse the yarn and play pranks at night. The people also said: "On Maremyana Yarilo - with a pitchfork." For, according to popular belief, about this time Jarilo Velesic "raises winter on pitchforks."

February 21 (luten) noted Vesnovey (Stribog Zimniy) - the day when the winter winds, Stribozh’s grandchildren, bring the first news of the coming spring warmth. At the time of dual faith, this date fell on the day of Timothy Vesnovey. People said: “Vesnovey welcomes you with warmth”, “Timofey Vesnovey - it’s already warm at the door”, “February Timofey - Vesnovey, no matter how angry the blizzard is, everything smells like spring”, “Survive until Vesnovey, and then winter is not terrible”, “Vesnovey brings the spring yawn ", "Timofey Vesnovey - the messenger of warm days", "Welcomes with warmth - it blows warmly, warms the elderly", "The warmth of the spring blows - it warms the old", "The spring wind of change blows from the south" and called: “It’s spring, it’s spring, bring warmth to the village,” “March bought a fur coat from winter, but sold it three days later.”

February 29 (luten)- celebrated once every four years (in leap years) Koshcheev Day. On this day, the Koshny God “returns” to people in the form of all kinds of disasters the untruths they have created. But the Wise teach not to be afraid of this, but to turn to the Heart to the Native Gods for admonition and strength, in order to be able to reject falsehood and live according to the Truth...

March (Berezol, Sukhy)

March 1 (birch, dry) is celebrated Madder Day or Naviy Day - the holiday of the resurrection of the dead and the last day of strength and power of the evil Navi Gods before the arrival of Spring. For Orthodox Christians, this date fell on the day Saint Evdokia, which led the arrival of Spring. With the onset of March, the Slavs begin ritual visits to graves with the offering of required items. On this day, people who have died long ago are brought to the water, saying: “Shine, shine, Sunshine! I’ll give you an egg, Like a hen laying in the oak grove, Take it to heaven, Let all souls be happy.”

March 9 (birch) conduct the second Calls of Spring (Goddess Alive), created from the tops of hills from which the snow has already begun to melt, popularly called "Yarilin's bald patches." According to Slavic beliefs, on this day forty birds fly from Svetly Iriy (that’s why this holiday is called Forty), signifying the approach of the Virgin of Spring. On whose field the birds land first, the Gods will send him special luck and a good harvest this year.

From March 18 to March 24 (birch) takes place on Slavic soil Maslenitsa week (week), which separates the two main seasons in the Slavic folk calendar - winter and spring. This is a cheerful farewell, illuminated by the joyful anticipation of the coming warmth, the spring renewal of nature. In the old days, street celebrations began on these days and ice slides were built. To see off Maslenitsa, fist fights were held and an effigy of Maslenitsa was burned. In ancient times, Maslenitsa festivities lasted not one, but two weeks.

March 23 (24)(birch, birch) - on the day of the spring equinox the Slavs celebrate a great holiday "Maslenitsa". The second name of this holiday is “Komoyeditsa” (white), which is celebrated when the day becomes longer than the night, when nature awakens and the Sun-child Khors becomes the youth Yarila. (20th of March). Options for the date of celebration are also possible: March 21 and 22, as well as March 25. Being a purely pagan holiday, Maslenitsa was also adopted by Christianity, but not according to the solar (pagan) calendar, but according to the lunar calendar, which is why in Orthodox Christianity Maslenitsa has a floating date.

March 25 (bereznya) Svarga opens and finally descends to Earth Spring - Goddess Alive. Not only people, but also all living things celebrate in her honor. On this day you cannot work, but only glorify Spring, the triumph of life over death. For the third time they call for spring. When morning comes, they treat themselves to cookies in the shape of larks, and release live birds from their cages into the wild, calling for spring.

March 30 (birch) are noted Domovoy's name day - honoring the House owner and bringing him special needs. For Orthodox Christians, this date fell on the day John Climacus. In Rus' on this day it was customary to bake "ladders (ladders) for future ascent to heaven" from lean rye dough. The sizes, shapes and number of steps were very diverse, but usually there were 12 of them - “according to the number of months in the year.” Also on this day they tried to appease everyone who was “furious” until midnight (or until the first roosters) Domovoi.

April (Tsveten, Kveten)

3 April (bloom) holiday celebrated Vodopol(Vodyanoy’s name day)- awakening of Mermen and mermaids after winter sleep, the beginning of ice drift and river flooding. At the time of dual faith in Rus', this day was celebrated Nikita Vodopola. On this day, the fishermen brought the demand to Vodyanoy and noted: “If the ice doesn’t go away that day, the fish catch will be poor.” At midnight they came to the water and treated Vodyanoy to drowning someone else’s horse: “Here’s a housewarming gift for you, grandfather: love, be kind to our family.” For this occasion they bought the most unsuitable horse. When the fishermen appease him with a good gift, he lures large fish from other rivers to himself, saves fishermen from storms and drowning, and does not break the nets and nonsense. If there is no suitable horse, the fishermen give Vodyanoy another gift - they pour oil into the river.

5th of April(bloom)- warm winds, the Stribozhy vnutsi, bring spring warmth, interspersed with bad weather... Spring warmth comes, crickets wake up. Slavs celebrate Stribog Vershny. Orthodox Christians celebrated on this day Fedula Vetrenika And Fedor Vetrenitsa. People said: “Fedul came - he blew with warmth”, “Fedul blew with warmth”, “The northerner blew to Fedul, and from Fedul with warmth”, “Fedul came, the warm wind blew, opened the windows, heated the hut without yards.” If Fedul was in bad weather, they said: “Now our Fedul blew his lips out of the wind.”

April 14 (kvetnya, bloom) noted Voronets (Raven Festival) - a holy day dedicated to the Prophetic Raven. Cawing over the house where they do not live according to the Rule, Raven, as the messenger of the Koschny God, calls upon the wicked Navia to punish. For the wise, the Raven, like Veles’s accomplice, brings Living and Dead Water in its beak and reveals the secrets of Life and Death...

WITHApril 16 to 22 (bloom) are noted First Rusalia - a series of holy days preceding Yaril the Veshny, magical week (week) dedicated to honoring the Virgin Lely- the young Goddess of Spring and virgin Nature, seething waters and awakened female water spirits - mermaids-beregins. Nowadays, maidens in long sleeves without amulets, like mermaids, perform “swift dancing” in the fields, not allowing guys into their circle.

April 22 (kvetnya, bloom)- celebration of Slavic Women's Day - Lelnika. This holiday is not only the Russian folk analogue of the “generally accepted” March 8, but also a kind of continuation of Maslenitsa, since this is the time of a new appeal to the goddess Lele. Having fulfilled Maslenitsa, right up to Lelnik, the Holiday - the name of the Goddess herself, Lelya remains in the Kingdom of her eldest (of three) Mother - the goddess Frets. Calling Lelya on their own name day, the people meet Lelya, who is transformed in all her beauty - thanks to her Mother - the Goddess of Love.

From April 22 (bloom) By May 10 (grass) holiday celebrated "Red hill", which starts with Lelnika and end with Mother Earth Day. This is a holiday of red spring, fun, round dances, symbolizing the meeting of boys and girls, a holiday of kissing and the beginning of sexual activity, akin to the fact that Spring is the beginning of a new life for all of nature, it is also the first spring celebration of young girls. Krasnaya Gorka was not a fixed holiday of one day. The holiday lasted for several days or even weeks and therefore was a real event in the lives of young people.

April 23(bloom) was considered the Day of Yarila ("Yarilo Veshny"). On this day, an important ritual is carried out - “Unlocking the Earth”, or in other words - ZaROD (birth). On this day, Yarila “unlocks” (fertilizes) Mother Cheese-Earth and releases dew, which begins the rapid growth of herbs.

April 30(kvetnya, bloom) the last spring cold ends and it is celebrated "Rodonitsa". At sunset the beginning is opened. On this day they remember their ancestors and encourage them to visit the land: "Fly, dear grandfathers..." They go to the graves, bringing funeral gifts: pancakes, oatmeal jelly, millet porridge, painted eggs. After the beginning, the funeral service begins: the warriors on the mountain “wrestle with the dead,” showing their martial art. They roll colored eggs from a high mountain in competition. The winner is the one whose egg rolls further without breaking. By midnight, wood is laid out on the same mountain for a large fire.

May (Traven)

May 1 (grass), the holiday begins at midnight - Zhivin Day. Zhiva (short form of the name) Zhivena, or Ziewonia, which means “life-giving”) - the goddess of life, spring, fertility, birth, life-grain. Daughter frets, spouses Dazhboga. Goddess of Spring and Life in all its manifestations; the giver of the Life Force of the Family, making all living things actually alive. She is the Goddess of the Life-giving forces of nature, spring seething waters, the first green shoots; patroness of young girls and young wives. With the advent of Christianity, its cult was replaced by Paraskeva Friday.

From May 1 to May 7 (travenya) pass Spring Grandfathers(Navya Week)- a series of holy days preceding Earth Day, the week of remembrance of the Ancestors, when navi (souls of the dead) visit the living on Earth.

May 2 (herb) celebrate Day of emergence. The celebration of the Day of Emergence begins on the tops of mountains or hills. On this day they thanked Mother Earth and Yarila Svarozhich for the first sprouts in the fields. Just a few days ago the earth was empty - and now everything is coming to life right before our eyes, and from the top of the hill this is especially clearly visible. Everything begins to grow, bloom, smell with a very special spring scent, and the nightingales sing. Spring has come to Russian Land!

May 4 (grass) noted Mermaid day(Rusalkin Velikden), or Zelnik, which is usually postponed to Thursday. On this day, mermaids are revered; a special dew forms on the herbs, which is why they are considered healing. In the Kiev region, on Rusalkin Thursday, at sunrise, the girls went to the field, having previously taken with them rye bread and sacred water. In the field, the girls divided the bread equally. Then each went to her father's harvest. There, at the edge of the field, she left that bread for dunking - “so that rye gives birth”...

May 6 (grass) noted Dazhbog Day, or Dazhbog Vershny. Dazhbog- God of fertility and sunlight, life-giving force. The first ancestor of the Slavs (according to the text of “The Tale of Igor’s Campaign,” the Slavs are Dazhbozhi’s grandsons). According to Slavic legends, Dazhbog and Zhiva together revived the world after the Flood. Lada, Zhiva’s mother, united Dazhbog and Zhiva in marriage. Then the betrothed gods gave birth to Arius, who, according to legend, became the progenitor of many Slavic peoples and tribes - Czechs, Croats, Kyiv glades.

May 7 (grass) noted Proletye - An ancient Slavic holiday of welcoming summer. On this day, protective rituals of awakening the earth (in particular, the ritual of plowing) are performed, bringing strength, health and good luck. This is the holy day on which the goddess is resurrected Alive- and is honored as a birthday girl. On this day, the sacred fire is lit, marking the beginning of summer. Widespread folk festivities, buffoon fun, games, round dances, songs and dances to traditional Slavic instruments take place: drum, kugikly, pipes, pipes.

May 9 (grass) noted Earth Day (Veshnee Makoshye) - a holy day when Mother Earth, awakening after winter sleep, is honored as the birthday girl. It is believed that on this day the Earth “rests”, so it cannot be plowed, dug, harrowed, stakes cannot be stuck into it and knives cannot be thrown into it. Particularly revered to this day Veles And Makosh- earthly intercessors. The Magi go out into the field, lie down on the grass and listen to the Earth.

Celebrated from May 20 to May 30 (herb) "Breast Rosnoe" (Rod week). On these days, the Magi made sacrifices and prayed to Rod for rain and a good harvest.

May 21 (grass) perform a special ritual "Olenin-Lennichi" which is designed to ensure the growth of flax so that it becomes taller.

From May 26 (travenia) By June 2 (Monday) are noted Green Christmastide(Second Rusalia)- a series of holy days preceding Yaril Mokry, sorcery week , dedicated to seeing off spring and the accompanying female spirits - mermaids-beregins. The time when the young Virgo is replaced Lele mature woman comes - wife Lada. About this time they are seeing off Kostroma- Yarilin’s sister, dipping her stuffed animal (which is usually woven from grass and decorated with flowers) into the water, and then tearing it apart and scattering the remains across the field. This sacred rite is performed by prophetic maidens, dressed in the masks of mermaids and long-sleeved shirts without amulets.

May 30 (grass) noted Serpentine Veshny - snake festival, which is celebrated during Green Christmastide; one of the Kologod Holy Days dedicated to Veles. Wedding of Veles and Zhiva. According to legend, at this time snakes, Velesov’s accomplices, come out into the white light, bringing fertility to the Earth.

June (Kresen, Cherven)

June 4 (chervnya, kresenya) Pan-Slavic is celebrated Yarilin Day or, in other words, Yarilo Mokry. At the beginning of June, nature delights the eye with a riot of colors. Yarilo opens the sky, and the green grasses are filled with magical power. Spring leaves, summer comes. Before sunrise, they wash themselves with healing dew, go around the fields with bread, illuminate houses and gates. On this day, Yarilo-Sun shows its strength. At the beginning, the Fire burns unusually hot. Semargl-Ognebog helps his heavenly brother. After Yarila's day, hot weather usually sets in for seven days. That is why this holiday is also called Semik.

June 15 (chernya, kresenya) noted Stribogov Day. On this day they bring the required food to the wind - they scatter pieces of bread on all four sides around the house. Then, from a high place, flour or ashes from the bones of the sacrificial rooster are thrown into the wind. On this day it is especially forbidden to “throw words to the wind,” although on other days this is not welcome.

From 19to June 24 (Sunday) pass Rusalya Days, during which an important cycle of rituals takes place, associated with the “seeing off of mermaids”, “egg ritual”, “mermaid ritual”. Mermaid days pass after Semik (Yarilina Day). The clay calendar of the 4th century defines a special series of days immediately before Kupala, including the great holiday itself.

From 23 to 24 June(kresenya, chervenya) a great holiday is celebrated "Kupala" dedicated to the day of the summer solstice (solstice). The start date of the festival can also be June 21 and 22. The holiday of the Sun and Water, which gives rise to all living things, is the time when Mother Nature’s powers flourish. Orthodox Christians celebrated the day of John the Baptist (Ivan Kupala) on June 24. In the evening, when the setting sun has not yet touched the edge of the forest, the holiday begins. The whole action takes place in a clearing near the river bank. A Kupala fire is prepared in advance with a long pole in the middle, on which a Kupala wheel with six spokes is mounted. Separately, they build a funeral thief (for the doll) and a small bather, through which the betrothed will jump. It should burn not far from the large bather, but so that it would be possible to dance in a circle.

June 29 (Kresenya, Chervnya) noted Summer Svarozhye(Svarogov Day). On this day, the Heavenly (Svarog) Fire and the Sun are celebrated, usually occurring at the height of the summer heat... This is one of those rituals and celebrations that in the bustle and fleetingness of everyday life often passes us by. On the same date, Orthodox Christians celebrated Peter's Day (Peter and Paul Day).

July (Lipen)

July 5 (Lipenya) are noted Name Day of the Month - a holiday dedicated to honoring the clear Moon and its highest patrons - Veles the Horned and Mary Moon-Faced. At the time of dual faith in Rus', this date fell on the day Afanasy of Athos. People said: "Afanasyev Day - Months Holiday." About this time they come out to watch the “play” of the Month. If the Moon is visible at sunrise, it seems as if it is running from place to place, or changing its color, or either hiding behind the clouds, or coming out from behind them. All this happens because the Month celebrates its Name Day on this day. "Playing" of the Month is a happy omen: "On Athanasius the Moon plays at sunrise - for the harvest."

July 12 (Lipenya) noted Day of the Sheaf of Veles. The days are killing, and the heat is increasing. From this day on they begin to mow and harvest hay. “Mow the scythe while there’s dew, away with the dew, and we’ll go home!” On this day, the first bound sheaf was revered, into which, as the mowers believed, the spirit of the field, and therefore the spirit of Veles, passed during mowing. These days they finished plowing and began preparing for winter sowing. There was such a proverb: “To plow until the day of Veles, to harrow until the day of Perun, to sow until the Savior.” This date also falls Election of victims of Perun. Getting ready for Perun Day (20 Lipen) 8 days. Eight days before that day, lots are cast (lines, to determine the sacrifice, and cuts, to determine its quantity).

July 19 (chernya, lipenya) noted Summer Makoshye(Summer Mokrids)- Holy Day of Mokosh-Mokrina. At the time of dual faith in Rus', Makrinin (Mokrinin) day was celebrated on this day. People noted: “If Mokrida is wet, then autumn is too, Mokrida is dry - and autumn is dry”, “If Mokrida is wet, then there is a stormy suffering”, “A bucket on Mokrida - autumn is dry”, “If it rains on Mokrida - all autumn If it’s rainy and there won’t be any nuts, everyone will get wet.” Summer Mokrid Day is also considered important for the next year: “If it rains on Mokrid, rye will grow next year.”

July 20 (Lipenya, Chervnya) the great military holiday is celebrated - Perunov Day; the great Holy Day of all warriors-defenders of the Motherland, as well as all honest radar-plowmen. According to popular beliefs, rain on this day washes away evil spells - “dashing ghosts” (evil eye and damage) and many diseases.

July 27 (chernya, lipenya) holiday celebrated Chura (Palikopa, Polykopny) - God of protection, protection of property, guardian of tribal customs, patron of borders, hearth. The Slavs remember their ancestors, so that they would take care of our bread, preserve not only our sheaves, but also our Rus' and the centuries-old great culture. On this day, milk is brought to Churu. A hole is dug at the boundary stone and milk is poured into it. On Chura holiday you cannot work away from home. The owner must be in his yard, thereby honoring Chur.

August (Serpen, Zhniven)

1 August (sickle) The First Savior is celebrated, which is popularly called honeyed or wet. The name “honey” is explained by the fact that it was at this time that bees stop collecting nectar from flowers, the honeycombs in the hives are filled to capacity and beekeepers begin to collect honey, while the first honeycombs were donated to departed spirits, in commemoration of deceased parents. On this day, according to folk tradition, holy e When the honey of the new harvest is collected, its use in food is blessed - they bake honey gingerbreads, pancakes with poppy seeds and honey, pies, buns, buns with poppy seeds.

August 6 (serpnya) called Apple Savior, since at the beginning of August the picking of apples and vegetables begins, while before this day it was forbidden to eat garden apples. “The second Savior has come - it’s only an hour: the fruits are ripening,” “The Savior is not without supplies.” Orthodox Christians celebrated the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord on this day. There was a popular belief that whoever eats an apple before the Savior, his dead children will not receive an apple in Iria (Paradise).

August 8 (Serpenya) noted Carminative(Stribog Summer)- violent winds, Stribozh’s grandchildren, bring the first news of the coming autumn... At the time of dual faith in Rus', this date fell Mirona Vetrogon. According to signs, strong winds blow on this day. People said about this: “The carminative winds are driving dust along the road, they are moaning along the red summer,” “The carminative winds are driving dust across the world, they are crying over the red summer,” “Like Myron the carminative, so is January.”

August 15 (serpenya, stubble) The holiday of the end of the harvest is celebrated, which is popularly called Spozhinki. On this day they thank Dazhbog the Trisvetly and Mother Cheese-Earth for the harvest, bring the demands of Mokosh (Mother of the Harvest) and braid Veles’ “beard” from the last ears of corn in the field. Orthodox Christians celebrated the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary on this day. By August 9, the harvest ends in most of the Slavic Land, hence the name of the holiday - Spozhinki(dozhinki, crimps).

WITHAugust 15 to August 28 (Serpenya) noted Ladino Poletye - “young Indian summer”, a series of holy days dedicated to the Goddess Lada, one of the last warm days of summer.

August 16 (serpnya) The Third Savior is celebrated, which was popularly called bread, because on this day pies were baked from the bread of the new harvest for the first time. This holiday was also popularly called "Savior on the canvas" or "Spas on Canvas" (“Canvas Savior”), because in places of large fairs, from the day of the third Savior, linen trading began, the sale of linen and canvases. They called it the Third Savior and nutty, for by this day the hazelnuts were ripe and their collection and subsequent harvesting began.

August 18 (crescent) holiday celebrated "Khoroyar" - a day of honoring two solar brothers, Khors and Yarila - patrons of horses. In the era of dual faith in Rus', the day of Flora (Frol) and Laurus, the patron saints of horses, was celebrated at this time: “On Frol and Lavr there is a horse festival”, “I begged Frol and Lavr - expect good things for the horses.”

August 22 (serpenya, stubble) are noted Leshy's name day - honoring the Forest Master and bringing him special needs. At the time of dual faith in Rus', this date fell on the day Agathon Ogumennik. According to legend, on the night of Agathon, Leshy (if he is not appeased first) scatters sheaves across the threshing floors and generally commits all sorts of outrages while celebrating his Name Day. People said: “The Goblin comes out of the forest into the field towards Agathon.” In some provinces, to prevent Leshy’s amusement, peasants guarded the threshing floor all night with a poker in their hands and in sheepskin coats turned inside out in order to protect themselves from the mischief that Leshy was doing.

September (Veresen, Ruen)

From September 1 to September 7 (Spring) noted Makoshino Poletye - “old Indian summer”, a series of holy days dedicated to the Goddess Mokosh the Ancestress, the last warm days of the passing summer. Orthodox Christians celebrated September 1st Simeon the Flyer. People talked about it like this: “Semyon says goodbye to summer, Indian summer begins.”

September 8 and 9 (Ruen, Veresen) holiday celebrated ROD and Rozhanits (Osenins, Ospozhinki) dedicated to the harvest and related family well-being. Time to sum up. Welcoming autumn - honoring Makoshi like Mother Osenina. On this day they bring the demand to the All-Holder Family (All-God) and the Heavenly Family (our Ancestors-Forefathers), and also glorify the Earthly Family (all relatives according to Rule living): “Glory to God (ROD) forever, praise to us according to our deeds”... Orthodox Christians celebrated the Nativity of the Mother of God on this day. Autumn was celebrated, as a rule, by the water and always with oatmeal bread. People used to say: “If the weather on the Little Most Pure Mother of God (Mother of God) is good, autumn will be good.”

September 14 (Verseny, Ruen) noted Zmeynik Autumn - autumn snake festival; one of the holy days of Kologod, dedicated to Veles. Wedding of Veles and Mary. Orthodox Christians celebrated on this day Exaltation of the Cross (Simeon the Stylite). In the folk calendar, this day was associated with the beginning of autumn work and the end of the harvest. It is believed that on this day the birds begin to fly away, the bear goes to his den, and the snakes celebrate the wedding of their king, after which they begin to hibernate.

September 20 (Spring) noted Leafbreaker, or Stribog Autumn. On this day, cold winds, Stribozh's grandchildren, bring autumn cold, interspersed with the last warm days. At the time of dual faith in Rus', this date fell day of Evstafiya (Astafiya) Leafboy.

21 September (Ruen, Veresen) noted Svarog Day - holiday of the Heavenly Blacksmith, God Svarog. The rituals of closing Svarga have already passed (interruption of the living connection between Heaven and Earth). The earth is frozen by the abyss, and the influence of the light Gods decreases. The land remains in the care of Veles. So that people could survive the difficult (winter) time, Svarog gave them the art of forging iron, from which they can make all kinds of hunting and labor tools. Therefore, on this day blacksmiths, carpenters and all craftsmen are especially honored. From this day on, chickens are slaughtered, and the first ones are sacrificed to Svarog.

September 24 (Verseny, Ruen) Slavs celebrate a great holiday - Radogoshch (Tausen), timed to coincide with the autumn equinox. The harvest is harvested, the autumn sun Svetovit It’s no longer hot, the trees are preparing for winter sleep, shedding their beautiful outfits.

October (Leaf fall, Yellow)

October 1 (leaf fall) celebrates the holiday of meeting Autumn with Winter, popularly called Cover. The roots of this festival go very deep into the original pagan Rus', and, perhaps, it was called earlier First or Small Autumn Svarozh. On this day, Svarog covers the Earth with a fallen leaf and calls the Light Gods to Heaven (to Svarga). On earth - the end of autumn round dances and games, the beginning of winter girls' gatherings and weddings.

October 4 (leaf fall) are noted Farewell to Leshy - farewell to the Forest Master until next spring and thanksgiving for all his gifts collected in the forest over the summer. Leshy is the personified soul of the forest. When winter comes, Leshiy and the forest under his control fall asleep. However, the belief that Leshy sleep all winter until spring was not widespread in Rus'.

From October 21 to October 27 (leaf fall, yellow leaves) are noted Autumn Grandfathers (Navya Week) - a series of holy days preceding the Autumn Makosh, a week (week) of commemoration of the Ancestors, holding funeral feasts and other memorial rites. Farewell to the souls of the Ancestors in Iriy (until next spring), who, strengthening the Heavenly Family, become Spirits - Guardians of the Earthly Family.

28 of October (leaf fall, yellow)[on the Friday closest to November 1] is celebrated Autumn Makoshye (Autumn Mokrids) - a holy day when Mother of Cheese Earth and Empress Water “fall asleep” until next spring. At this time, demands are brought to them and they ask for forgiveness for “everything that has annoyed” them with this year. This holy day is also dedicated to the Mother Makoshi- To the Heavenly Spinner, the Lady of the Fates, the Holder of the Pokutny Threads (Threads of the Fates) of all things.

From October 31 (leaf fall) to November 1 (breast)- enchantress Velesova (Marina) Night, when Belobog finally transfers Kolo Goda to Chernobog, and the Navi Gates are wide open to Reality until the first roosters (or until dawn). The next day (November 1) is sometimes called Marina's day.

November (Gruden)

November 1 (chest) noted Svarogov Day, day of God Svarog, who is the Forefather of the entire family of Gods. It was he who forged the first plow and a golden wedding ring for the Russians, therefore he is the heavenly blacksmith (Creator of the World and people), the patron of agriculture and marriage, as well as the God of the Heavenly Zodiac - Circles of Svarog.

From November 1 to November 7 (chest) noted Second, or Great Autumn Svarozhye, also called Svarozhki - a series of holy days dedicated to Svarog, To the Heavenly Farrier and the Father of the Light Gods - Svarozhichi. Svarog week (week). It’s time for the final “closure” of Svarga, as well as the time when the Earth begins to be covered with ice for the winter. A rooster is sacrificed at the temple.

November 21 (breast)- the arrival of Morena-Winter, the day of the Slavic goddess of death Madders . The weather is disgusting: it’s drizzling, it’s snowing, a cold wind is blowing, there’s slush underfoot. At the beginning, no praise is uttered. The obavnitsa proclaims: “And neither Mara nor the hassle can be praised.”

November 24 (breast) The holiday of the Goddess of Fate (maiden initiation) is celebrated - Holy Doli . Girls cast spells on their spouses. It was on the day of Fate that the girls performed the main fortune telling. It was believed that it was on the night before this holiday that one could recognize one’s betrothed by very simple signs, as well as how life would turn out in the next few years and how to bypass an evil fate (share). Vechernitsy. Pregnant women pray to the Goddess for a good and easy birth.

November 30 (chest) noted Kalita - bachelor initiation. Bachelor's Day - guys choose a couple. On this day, young guys are initiated into adult boys and accepted into bachelor society. Young guys jump to Kalita, joining the feminine principle of nature. Vechernitsy (musical evenings and concerts) are held.

December (Cold)

December 4 (cold) holiday celebrated "Vesta". The dawn (zorya) is revered, which symbolizes the struggle between light and dark forces.

December 6 (cold) noted Meeting of Veles-Moroz (Veles the Winter) - a holy day when they meet Veles in his winter guise - in the form of Santa Claus. Holiday of Frost, Winter, snow and cold. Frost is also the patron of all winter activities that take place outside the home. Since he is the Son of Veles and Madders, This day is often marked by thaws. In the evening of this day, feasts are held at which reconciliation takes place between those who have quarreled. Festive food (food): mash, kvass, pies.

December 9 (breast) noted Day of Dazhbog and Marena. Orthodox Christians celebrated on this day Yuri Kholodny, or Winter Egor. According to popular legend, real winter frosts begin on Yuri: “Winter pleases the eyes with snow, but tears the ears with cold.” Apparently, unable to bear the cold, the bears on Yuri are buried in dens, and the wolves visit the village backyards. Yuri was considered by the people to be the patron saint of wolves, therefore not a single wolf will slaughter (gnaw) livestock without Yuri’s command.

December 24 (breast) noted Korochun - the shortest day and the longest night of the year. The triumph of Chernobog and Madder. The Bountiful God “shorts” the passing year. Celebrated the day before Kolyada(Winter Solstice). The beginning is carried out by the priests Chernobog.

December 25 (cold) noted Kolyada - one of the most important holy days of Kologod, dedicated to the Winter Solstice (Solstice). On this day, the new sun-baby Khors (God of the Solar Face and Winter Sun) is born and therefore the Khors Festival is celebrated. At this time they perform a ritual of renewal - the revival of Fire and burn sacred bonfires on the tops of the hills all night, “helping” the newborn Sun. They also feed Moroz kutya (funeral grass), carol and sing carol songs.

From December 25 (cold) to January 6 (cold) are noted Great Velesovy Christmastide - twelve holy days, symbolizing the twelve months of the year (six light ones - the light half of the year, and the other six dark ones - the dark half of the year), starting from the eve Kolyada(Kolyada itself is not included in the number of holy days) and until Turits (Vodokresa). A magical time, when the light of the new Sun is still too weak to disperse the darkness (as it was in the days when Svarog was just forging the Earth’s Firmament), and the Gates connecting Reality and Nav are wide open. This is the time to commemorate our ancestors - our grandfathers, caroling, ritual excesses, various fortune-telling, wide public festivities and youth gatherings.

December 31 (breast) noted Shchedrets (Generous Evening) - the last day of Christmastide, which is famous for its generous gifts and festive feast. At the time of dual faith in Rus', Christmastide was divided into two parts: lasting from Kolyada to Shchedrets, and the Terrible (Vorozhnye) evenings, which lasted until Turits. Yuletide evenings (especially Scary) were considered by the people to be a time when demonic behavior was rampant.

R section development: Yarisvet (structure, texts) and Lynx (postcards, buttons, logos).

IN We express our sincere gratitude for your help: Magus Veleslav And Vadim Kazakov (for the texts provided), Ragnar (for holiday photos), Bratimil (for the video of the celebrations) and to all other honest people who helped us in our work for the benefit of the common cause - the revival of the NATIVE Slavic culture and the faith of our ancestors.

From the breadth of their souls, the Russian people have always shared in the joys and sorrows of others. Not without foreign holidays, which we all celebrate as our own: Catholic Valentine's Day, also known as Valentine's Day, Irish St. Patrick's Day, All Hallows' Eve, also known as Halloween...

Novosibirsk residents actively celebrate this mystical holiday - the evening of October 31 in the city resembles an eerie carnival. Photo: www.globallookpress.com

But the list of ancient Russian holidays includes many such celebrations. All of them are connected with the mysterious and unknown that exists in the world around us.

Kolyada came on the eve of Christmas

Perhaps the Russian holiday closest to Halloween is Svyatki, that is, the period between Christmas and Epiphany (from January 6 to January 19). At this time, it is believed that the world has not yet been baptized, so spirits and evil spirits walk freely on the earth, from whom you can ask about the future - to guess. On other days, fortune telling is a sin for Christians. According to legends, spirits are especially sociable on Epiphany Eve (the night of January 19) and Vasilyev's evening (January 13).

The folk entertainment that perhaps brings Christmastide closer to Halloween is carols. Photo: www.russianlook.com

On one of the holidays, younger children dressed up in costumes of various animals or unknown evil spirits, knocked on the doors of houses, and sang songs. For this they were treated to sweets. This custom comes from pagan Rus': in this way our ancestors glorified their gods and hid under disguises from evil spirits.

Today in Russia, as a rule, it is not customary to carol at Christmas time, but, apparently, you want to. Maybe that's why young people do this on the eve of the Catholic All Saints Day.

Makosha - Friday

This Slavic holiday - Mokosh Day - appeared about 40 thousand years ago. On Fridays, our pagan ancestors glorified Makosh, the goddess of marriage and childbirth, the patroness of women and girls. Friday was considered the day of remembrance of this deity. On this day, women were forbidden to spin, weave, wash, as well as bathe and bathe children.

You can find analogues of Western holidays among the Slavs Photo: www.russianlook.com

The Mokosh holiday was celebrated on October 25. On this day, they performed a two-ring round dance, the outer ring of which was twisted in a salting direction (clockwise) - for life, and the other ring was twisted in an anti-salting direction (counterclockwise) - for death. This meant the approaching winter, which marks the beginning of a harsh, life-threatening period, as well as great winter work: spinning, weaving, sewing, embroidery.

Birds, trees, flowers come to life

One of, perhaps, the largest holidays of the Slavic calendar is July 7, Ivan Kupala Day, which Christianity also “dragged” into its calendar. It coincides with the Orthodox Nativity of John the Baptist, whose second name is associated with the baptismal rite - Bather.

The significance of the holiday in ancient times was determined by the fact that this day is at the turn of two periods of the solar cycle: according to popular belief, the sun moves “for winter,” the days become shorter, and nature prepares for sleep.

Ivan Kupala is one of the favorite and large-scale holidays in Novosibirsk Photo: AiF / Elena Ivanova ​

The main traditions of this holiday, which have survived to this day, are purification by fire and water. As a rule, bonfires were lit on the banks of rivers at sunset and young couples jumped over them, holding hands. If sparks flew after them, and their hands did not separate, the couple was predicted to have a quick wedding and happy marriage. In addition, everyone tried to swim in a river or lake - the water on Ivan Kupala was considered healing. In addition, on this day, mermaids and mermen left the reservoirs until Ilyin’s day, August 2, so there was no need to be afraid of them. Apparently, this is where the popular Novosibirsk tradition of pouring water on passers-by came from.

On the night of Ivan Kupala, it is customary to stay awake until dawn, since at this time all evil spirits become active again; mermaids, mermen, goblins and werewolves are especially dangerous. In addition, the people believed that on this night trees, birds and animals could think intelligently, talk and play petty tricks.

Month names:
Lute - January
Komoed - February
Taen - March
Traven - April
Listen - May
Rosten - June
Stozhen - July
Serpin - August
Leaf fall - September
Mokreni - October
Jelly - November
Snezhen - December

January - Prosinets, Kryshen

First full moon holiday Khorsa - hearth and home
From January 6 to January 12, the week of the spirit of the Mokoshi holidays is Friday, until January 6 - the Mokoshi holiday (until Friday - the 12th Friday). Spirit dances and acceptance of new witches.
January 18-19 are brownie days. If the wind blows like a broom on this day, expect blizzards this coming Pancake Week.
January 20 - Veles, the cattle were cleaned (Veles week). If there is frost all week, then there will be frost even before the Stibozh holiday.
January 25 - Perun, Voron Voronovich gave Perun a drink of living water - brother's holiday. If the sun is bright on this day, then spring will be red.

February - Szechen, bokogrey.

February 5 is the day of Stribog carminative.
They asked for the wind to pass.
February 3-8 - Veles days,
days of the last hunts, everything is preparing for motherhood, for spring birth, from 3 to 11 seven cool matinees.
The stars call for the appearance of cattle.
10 - 14 February -
Moarena's holidays, Moarena was honored, but not allowed home, the heart was not cooled by anger and quarrels in the family, kindness and love were called into the family.
February 15 - 22 - meeting (Gromnitsa),
- holiday of the Meeting. We welcomed spring - Lada. Spring was called out. They poured love from their hearts into God's light. And the more love people give into the world, the faster and more friendly spring will come. The faster Lada will drive Moarena away. Everyone in the villages walked around cheerfully, everyone congratulated each other and smiled. The gloomy ones were pelted with snowballs.
“And today we have a Meeting, a Meeting,
Winter met Spring, met,
Spring pushed Winter, pushed it,
And the little knife twirled, twirled,
Winter has gone to cry, cry,
Spring has begun to gallop, gallop!”
There's snow at the beginning of the season - rain all spring.
First Friday. On the same day, Peruno's admirers celebrate Gromnitsa. Perun Svarogovich (Svarozhich) is revered. Gromnitsa - Perun's candle. They surrounded houses, barns, and stables with this candle, then lit it all year long during a thunderstorm, when someone in the house died or was born. Christians replaced this holiday with “The Presentation of the Lord” (1st Thursday among the Perunists).
February 25-Khorsa,
holiday of merchants - daredevils.
February 28 is Veles Day.
If the day is warm, rye will grow; if it’s a starry night, there will be a harvest for peas and berries.

March - Thrush, no water in March, no grass in April.

March 1 is the holiday of Stribog, I flew to rest
If the full moon falls on the day of Stribog, there will be a harvest of milk mushrooms and cucumbers. If the month is new, there will be a hailstorm of summer. If the north wind blows - Winter Road, then the summer will be cold. If the Shelomnik wind is southwestern, then the summer is wet. If the midday wind is south, then the summer is warm.
March 9 - Svarog Day -
Since the rooks have arrived, a friendly spring is coming. Celebrate 40 matinees on Svarog Day.
March 19-24 - Lada, lasted 7 days.
Awakening of the earth. We chose the most beautiful girl- Dodolu, they decorated it with green branches and doused it with water, 2nd Friday (in the south, near Kiev). Awakening of the earth. Lighting of the temple.
March 25 - Yarilin's day -
If it rains on this day, expect a rich birth. Thunderstorm - for nuts and mushrooms.
The first full moon after the feast of Lada - the feast of Veles
The spring equinox is a holiday of the goddess Swa, a holiday of time. Holiday Rodogosh.

April - Berezen, the earth is crumbling.

April 1 is water day,
If there is a flood, and there is ice drift, there is a lot of grass, early haymaking.
April 1st - brownie weddings!
April 3 - April 12 Svarog,
Since it’s warm, get the bees out of the alder forest.
April 16 is Dazhdbog Day,
sow cabbage for seedlings so that it is as round as the sun.
April 22 - Lyalnik (Lala holiday), (Lyalnik). “Red Hill” is celebrated for a whole week, round dances are held, and the birth of life on Earth is welcomed (3rd Friday). In the same week they celebrate the days of all the gods, make amulets for livestock, and charm weapons. The birds are released from their cages, the larks are called.
“Hey, you are small birds,
Larks,
Yellow-marbles,
You are flying to us,
Bring it to us
Welcome flyer,
Bring Leleka,
You call Yarilka,
Fly larks,
Carry summer on your wings."

They lead round dances, a symbol of the solar movement, place amulets on cattle, and place those who have become de-legged. The first Sunday of April 22 was the holiday of Rodunitsa, now it is specifically tied to May 1.
23 - Veles day.
If Veles's day is with warmth and water, then winter is with goodness (with food). Rain and warmth - belly and goodness for the cattle. When it's frosty, it's dewy. A clear morning means early sowing, a clear evening with a bad day means late sowing.
April 25 - 30 Lelya went for a walk on the ground!

May - Bloom.

May 1 - Rodunitsy, Rozhenits.
12 fires were lit. Memorial day for the spirits of ancestors. We remembered their Favorite songs, jokes, ate, drank, told funny Stories, and organized competitions (4th Friday). On the same day the holiday of Perun was celebrated. When the weather is nice, harvesting bread is good. Once upon a time on this very day there was a holiday of the willow, they broke it, they beat the boys they met with it, fevers, sores, failures, bad life people were driven away. It was necessary to beat the willow twig from the leaves. But in fact, the girls looked to see which of the couples was behaving, whether they were laughing or angry. Although you couldn’t yell, you had to show your youth. He won't disgrace himself in front of the girls. Otherwise, shame cannot be avoided for a whole year; people will make fun of it.
“The willow whip,
Beat me to tears.
Be healthy,
Be lucky
Be happy,
Be beautiful
Fast as a vine
Grow, don't break,
Worship your mother and father!”

Once upon a time, a white bull was slaughtered on this holiday. The cattle were released into the field. Tops of rye (winter crops) began to appear in the fields. The constellation of the Pleiades, Stozhary, rose.
They exhibit a hive of bees.
May 5th - Khorsa, brownie day,
they cleaned huts and yards, burned all the garbage in the fire.
May 5 - 11 - Yarila holiday,
They called out to Yarila and placed the cups. Grooms' Festival.
May 7 is the holiday of the Morning Dawn of Zarnitsa - the Red Mare. Horse Festival.
May 9 is the day of the snake Skoropeya - the copperhead,
The snakes woke up and crawled out to bask in the spring sun. The first full moon from the snake day of the night of Veles, mermaids and goblin woke up, the week of the forest. If it is foggy on this day, it will be wet all summer. And the sunrise is copper, crimson - the copperhead snake will send a thunderous summer.
May 10 is Dazhdbog Day.
Dazhdbog rejected Moarena and became engaged to Dennitsa. They read for love, they tie it to their own doorstep.
May 14 is Stribog Day,
The seas have passed, the winds are cold and bitter.
May 16 - Lyalnik,
A holiday was organized for children and small animals. Lyalka came and brought warmth.
May 20-Veles,
They hung bells around the cattle's necks. If the top of an oak tree has a edge, you will measure the oats with a tub.
May 29 - holiday of Perun, Mokoshi
they asked for water, but no hail. When the rain came, they showed him the scythes, and sharpened the scythes and sickles.
May 30 is the day of Veles and Stribog,
They began to build baths and huts.

June - Izyuk, Cross, Solstice.

June 4 - Yarily,
They greeted Yarila and asked for a warm summer and a harvest. We met the sun in the fields. If the sun rose bright in the morning, rye and pearl barley would be good in the fields. If it broke through the clouds, with a gloomy and rainy day, then only hemp was a freak.
June 5 is Stribog Day,
If the Midday wind (south) - for the spring harvest, if Poberezhnik (northwestern) - for damp autumn, if Voskhodnik (eastern) - for pestilence.
The first full moon from Yarilin's day was Sivka, now the specific date has become.
June 11 - Perun, birth of Perun.
Celebration of death and rebirth.
June 15 - mermaids (witch's week), Rusalya week, Swirl -
they wove wreaths from birch branches, and wove their destiny with them. Round dances are held, and on the last day of the week the mermaids go to the graveyard and sweep flowers over the graves of loved ones. Sun for winter, summer for heat.
June 19-24 - Mokoshi week,
Includes the holiday of Kupalo - the summer solstice. June 24 is snake day, in honor of the fact that Perun defeated the Scepter, pierced him with a spear and bathed him in the seven sacred waters. On this day they poured water on each other (6th Friday). But in general, these days everyone celebrates all the gods. The first full moon from the Kupava holiday is the Day of the Quiet Sun. We must meet the Sun and draw strength from the first rays. Cone of power. (Horn of power) Before Kupala Day, children ask the god of rain, but after that there is no need.
June 27 - Perun's day,
If it rains, it will rain for seven weeks. And Zarnitsa will light the bread.

July - Cherven, Pollen.

July 4 - Great Veles holiday, Veles's birthday
(milk ripeness of grain). The blueberry (blueberry) is ripe, the rye is sickly.
July 5 - Perynya,
They asked not to rain, they took off the hard times, and used them for the harvest.
July 6, 7 - Rainbow Holiday,
they collected dew in the meadows, made them look beautiful, and helped the children get along from fears and troubles. They put gratitude.
July 6 -15 - Mokoshi Rodunits (dew was collected from the meadows).
Great dew, since it is very wet on them, suffers badly.
July 12 is the holiday of Veles. Veles Foot Day. The grass in the meadows is mowed. Honoring Veles.
July 14, victory over the serpent Indrik.
Forgiveness to all people for unnecessary insults. A memorial for the departed and fallen warriors. I am reaping the beginning.
July 15 - Yarila's holiday.
Widow's Day - to get married again. The mornings are cold.
July 20 - Perun, chief.
Sacrifice, veneration of all those who died for the Russian Land, celebration of future and past victories of the Russians. 8 fires are burned all night. Summer before lunch, autumn in the evening.
July 24 is the day of Simargl, Roda.
If the morning is cold and rainy, winter is cold and frozen. They asked for it to pass and not be hit by frost or hail.

August - Zarev

August 3 - Stribozhy Day, Day of Stribog Vetrogon.
Whirlwinds for a cool winter.
August 1-7 - Veles and Yarilin week,
mushroom picker - berry picker, grain picker and offspring. Winter sowing begins. The first full moon from Veles Day, the Khorsa holiday, is now timed to August 5th.
August 5-Khors,
Huts are cleaned, envious ghosts are driven out, stoves and huts are celebrated.
August 19 - Veles Day,
the end of the harvest, Veles's beard was curled. The little ones are the little ones. Horse holiday.
The star Spica was rising in the sky.
August 28 - Mokoshi, Rodunits and Lada.
Honey was collected from beehives. Once the lingonberries are ripe, the oats are ready.

September - Autumn, a lot of acorns for a warm winter.

The first full moon was his holiday. Now they have made it September 1 and renamed the autumn holiday to Semin Day. First meeting of autumn.
September 9-Mokoshi,
They sprinkled grain on their heads, burned 7 bonfires, the harvest festival (9th Friday). Summer is over.
September 15 is the feast of Svyatogor the hero.
Cabbage evenings.
September 16 - Lelya,
They celebrated a holiday for the children, the cattle that were born in the spring were looked at as to who would be kept for the family, and who would go under the knife or be sold. Sheep were sheared. If the cranes and storks fly, then frost will fall on the cover, but if not, then later.
September 20 - Night of Good Spirits,
they went to sacred groves, to graveyards, appeased the spirits, asked for advice.
September 23 - Divas (Divons), - autumnal equinox.
The first Sunday after the autumn equinox is the holiday of Dazhdbog (saying goodbye). The first full moon after the autumn equinox is the night of Viya.
September 24 is the day of Veles fieldfare,
We started making mash, beer, and honey. Determine the bees for the winter. The ants began to lock the huts.

October - Breast.

If a leaf falls from a birch tree cleanly, expect an easy year, but if it doesn’t fall cleanly, it will be a bad winter. The willow is covered with frost early - a long spring is expected.
October 4 - Veles and the goblin.
Leshes, water creatures, and mermaids hibernate. The Vokhodnik (eastern) wind is blowing - the winter will be cold. Hunters' Festival.
With the appearance of the star Arcturus in the sky, the holiday of the Rodunits was celebrated. All their ancestors were remembered and thanked for the year.
The first full moon after the appearance of the star Arcturus - the festival of Dawn, is now dedicated to a specific date.
October 14 - Morning Dawn,
I started sewing a veil for my brother, and sewed the grooms to their hem. The powder settled on the dirt on the roads.
October 28-31 - Mokosha days,
Festival of living fire. The whole week of Mokosha (10th Friday). A holiday of good luck and good fate. And also the night of all the spirits of the Earth (the main holiday is the witch holiday!).
October 31-2 is the night of the elements and Grandfather's night,
holiday of fire, water, wind, earth. Rising of the star Antares, 7 days of the holiday of Moarena and her 12 daughters,
They revered them and commemorated them in the swamps and forests.
The first full moon from the rising of the star Antares, the holiday of Svarozhichi, the holiday of the cup, and abundance.

November - Breast

November 3-9 - Mokoshina week.
If the ice has frozen the river, then the winter is fierce, and the spring is friendly.
November 10th is the day of the brownie,
The yard is freezing, the house is keeping the stove. Kiln Festival.
The first full moon from Brownie Day is the night of Viy and the snake Skoropeya. If the rain has passed, then wait for the thaw until the Rodion holidays.
15 -11 - November day of Svarog,
threw God's things to the ground.
November 28-Mokoshi spinners.

December - Jelly

December 5-Khorsa,
holiday of the merchant, and at home. The frost is cracking, take care of the cattle.
December 10 - Striboga carminative.
If the winds cover the trail, there will be no road.
December 11 is the holiday of grandfather Karachun.
They baked kulebyaki pies, treated everyone (the more layers in the kulebyaki with different fillings, the better), and paid tributes to the dead.
December 12 is Dazhdbog holiday.
Sun for summer, winter for frost. They baked pancakes and pancakes, beat chickens and roosters.
December 20 - 24 - holidays of Yarila (Yaruna)
The week before Kolyada is the week of Veles and Viy.
December 25-Dazhdbog.
A clear day for the harvest, a starry sky for a large litter of livestock.
December 26 - Mokoshi holiday (Friday 11), Rod holiday (Monday 1).
If the paths are black to the buckwheat harvest.
The holiday of Perun - the brother's cups. On the first full moon from Kolyada, Perunov Ovsen is celebrated. Peruno's admirers pour barley, oats, buckwheat into the corners of houses:
“Perun walks on Ovsen - day,
Carrying grain around the huts is not lazy,
Wherever it flutters, life grows.
In the field there is a nucleus, in the house there is goodness.”
Zo December-Lelya