The rich and diverse culture of the Slavs managed to preserve most of the rituals and customs. The Russian people have always been original and have honored their traditions from time immemorial. Over time, the cultural heritage has undergone significant changes, but still the centuries-old connections have not been lost; in the modern world there is still a place for ancient legends and superstitions. Let's try to remember the most important customs, rituals and traditions of the Russian people.
Through me
The basis of the centuries-old culture of the Slavs has always been family, clan, and continuity of generations. The rituals and customs of the Russian people entered a person’s life from the moment of his birth. If a boy was born, he was traditionally swaddled in his father's shirt. It was believed that in this way he takes on all the necessary masculine qualities. The girl was wrapped in her mother's clothes so that she would grow up to be a good housewife. From an early age, children revered their father and unquestioningly fulfilled all his demands and wishes. The head of the family was akin to God, who gave continuation to his family.
In order for the child to receive a blessing from higher powers, not get sick and develop well, the father presented his heir to the deities. First of all, he showed the baby to Yarila, Semarglu and Svarog. The Gods of Heaven must give their protection to the baby. Then it was the turn of Mother Earth, or, as she was otherwise called, the Goddess Mokosh. The child was placed on the ground and then dipped into water.
Bratchina
If you delve into history and look for which rituals and customs of the Russian people were the most fun and populous, then the brotherhood will take one of the main places. This was not a spontaneous gathering of people and a mass celebration. They had been preparing for this ritual for months. Especially for the brotherhood, livestock was fattened and beer was brewed in large quantities. In addition, drinks included wine, mead and kvass. Each invitee had to bring a treat. The place for the holiday was chosen by all honest people. A random person could not get into the brotherhood - everyone had to receive an invitation. At the table, the most honorable places were occupied by people whose merits were valued most highly. Buffoons and singer-songwriters came to entertain the feasters. The festivities could last several hours, and sometimes several weeks.
Wedding
Modern youth do not even suspect that all wedding traditions come from ancient times. Some have undergone changes, some have remained the same as in the times of our ancestors. Of all the rituals and customs of the Russian people, weddings are considered the most exciting.
According to a long tradition, it had several stages. Matchmaking, bridesmaids, collusion, pre-wedding week, hen and stag parties, wedding, gathering of the wedding train, wedding, wedding feast, trial of the newlywed, withdrawals - without these important components it is impossible to even imagine getting married in Rus'.
Despite the fact that now they treat this much more simply, some wedding customs, rituals, and proverbs of the Russian people continue to live. Who is not familiar with the expression: “You have goods, we have merchants”? It is with these words that the groom’s parents come to get married.
And the tradition of carrying a young wife into the house in his arms is associated with the desire to deceive the brownie. This is how the husband fooled the owner of the house, making it clear that he was carrying a newborn family member in his arms, and not a stranger. Vytiye can now cause horror, but previously not a single preparation for a wedding was complete without this ritual. They lamented and cried for the bride, as in our time for a dead person.
The ritual of showering young people with grain has survived to this day - for large families and wealth. In ancient times, bells on wedding trains were used to scare away evil spirits, but now they have been replaced by tin cans tied to the bumper of a car.
Theft and bride price are also old Russian customs. The composition of the dowry also has not undergone significant changes - feather beds, pillows, blankets are still given by parents to the bride before the wedding. True, in ancient times the girl herself had to make them with her own hands.
Yuletide rituals
After the establishment of Christianity in Rus', new church holidays appeared. The most beloved and long-awaited is Christmas. From January 7 to January 19, Christmas festivities took place - a favorite youth fun. All the legends, superstitions, rituals and customs of the Russian people associated with these days have survived to our time.
Young girls gathered in small groups to tell fortunes for the betrothed and find out from which end of the village to wait for the matchmakers. The most extreme way to see your chosen one was considered to be a trip to the bathhouse with a mirror and a candle. The danger was that you had to do this alone and at the same time remove the cross from yourself.
Carols
The culture, customs and rituals of the Russian people are closely connected with the world of nature and animals. In the evenings, young people went to caroling. Dressed up in animal skins or bright costumes, they knocked on houses and begged for food from the owners with carol songs. Refusing such guests was fraught - they could easily destroy the woodpile, freeze the door, or commit other minor mischief. Carolers were treated to sweets and it was always believed that their wishes (generosity) would ensure prosperity and peace in the house for the whole year, and save the owners from illnesses and misfortunes. The custom of dressing up as animals is rooted in paganism - this way it was possible to scare away evil spirits.
Superstitions and signs for Christmas
It was believed that losing something on the eve of a holiday meant suffering losses for the whole year. Dropping or breaking a mirror means trouble. Many stars in the sky - to a great harvest. Doing handicrafts on Christmas Eve means being sick all year.
Maslenitsa
The most cheerful and delicious holiday in Rus' actually has a rather gloomy interpretation. In the old days, the dead were commemorated on these days. Actually, the burning of an effigy of Maslenitsa is a funeral, and pancakes are a treat.
This holiday is interesting because it lasts a whole week, and each day is dedicated to a separate ritual. On Monday they made a stuffed animal and rolled it on a sleigh throughout the village. On Tuesday, mummers walked throughout the village and gave performances.
“Bear” entertainment was considered a distinctive feature of this day. The trained owners of the forest staged entire performances, depicting women in their usual activities.
On Wednesday, the main celebration began - pancakes were baked in houses. They set up tables on the streets and sold food. It was possible to taste hot tea from a samovar and eat pancakes in the open air. Also on this day it was customary to go to the mother-in-law for a treat.
Thursday was a special day when all the good guys could compete in heroic strength. Maslenitsa fist fights attracted guys, everyone wanted to show off their prowess.
On Friday, pancakes were baked at the son-in-law’s house, and it was his turn to treat all the guests. On Saturday, the daughters-in-law received guests from among their husband's relatives.
And Sunday was called “forgiveness.” It is on this day that it is customary to apologize for grievances and visit the cemetery to say goodbye to the dead. The effigy of Maslenitsa was burned and from that day on it was believed that spring had come into its own.
Ivan Kupala
The customs, legends and rituals of the Russian people associated with this holiday have been preserved to this day. Of course, many things have changed, but the basic meaning remains the same.
According to legend, on the day of the summer solstice, people tried to appease the great heavenly being so that it would give them a good harvest and ward off illness. But with the advent of Christianity, Kupala merged with the feast of John the Baptist and began to bear the name Ivan Kupala.
The most interesting thing about this holiday is that legends talk about a great miracle happening on this night. Of course, we are talking about fern blossoms.
This myth has caused many people to wander through the forest at night in the hope of seeing a miracle for several centuries. It was believed that anyone who sees a fern bloom will find out where all the treasures in the world are hidden. In addition, all the herbs in the forest acquired special medicinal powers that night.
The girls wove wreaths from 12 different herbs and floated them down the river. If he drowns, expect trouble. If it floats long enough, get ready for a wedding and prosperity. To wash away all sins, one had to swim and jump over the fire.
Peter and Fevronia Day
The legend says that Prince Peter became seriously ill and had a prophetic dream that the maiden Fevronia would help him recover. He found the girl, but she demanded that he marry her as payment. The prince gave his word and did not keep it. The illness returned, and he was forced to ask for help again. But this time he kept his promise. The family was strong and it was these Saints who became the patrons of marriage. The original Russian holiday is celebrated immediately after Ivan Kupala - July 8th. It can be compared to Western Valentine's Day. The difference is that in Russia this day is not considered a holiday for all lovers, but only for married people. All future spouses dream of getting married on this day.
Saved
This is another sweet holiday whose roots go back to ancient times. On August 14, Russia celebrates the Honey Savior. On this day, the honeycombs are filled with a sweet delicacy and it is time to collect the viscous amber-colored liquid.
August 19 - Apple Spas. This day marks the arrival of autumn and the beginning of the harvest. People rush to church to bless the apples and taste the first fruits, since until that day it was forbidden to eat them. You need to treat all your family and friends with fruits. In addition, they bake apple pies and treat all passersby.
Nut Spas begins on August 29. From that day on, it was customary to dig potatoes, bake pies from fresh bread flour, and store nuts for the winter. Great holidays were held throughout the country - festivities were held in villages before the harvest, and fairs were held in cities. On this day, birds begin to fly to warmer regions.
Intercession
On October 14, people said goodbye to autumn and welcomed winter. It often snowed on this day, which was compared to the bride’s veil. It is on this day that it is customary to get married, because the Intercession gives love and happiness to all people in love.
There are also special rituals for this holiday. For the first time, women lit a fire in the stove, symbolizing warmth and comfort in the house. Branches or logs of fruit trees had to be used for these purposes. This way it was possible to ensure a good harvest for the next year.
The hostess baked pancakes and Pokrovsky loaf. This bread had to be treated to neighbors, and the leftovers had to be hidden until Lent.
Also on this day one could ask the Mother of God for protection for children. The woman stood with the icon on the bench and read a prayer over her family. All the children knelt down.
Young girls and boys were having get-togethers. It was believed that the Mother of God gave protection to everyone who got married on this day.
You can learn more about all traditions in the Foundations of Religious Cultures and Secular Ethics (ORCSE) training course. The customs and rituals of the Russian people are revealed there with maximum accuracy and described in accordance with historical facts.
The rituals, customs and traditions of the Russian people go back to ancient times. Many of them have changed significantly over time and have lost their sacred meaning. But there are also those that still exist. Let's look at some of them.
The calendar rituals of the Russian people go back to the times of the ancient Slavs. At that time, people cultivated the land and raised livestock, and worshiped pagan idols.
Here are some of the rituals:
- Sacrificial rituals to the god Veles. He patronized cattle breeders and farmers. Before sowing the crops, people went out into the field, wearing clean clothes. They decorated their heads with wreaths and held flowers in their hands. The oldest resident of the village began to sow and threw the first grain into the ground
- The harvest was also timed to coincide with the festival. Absolutely all the villagers gathered near the field and sacrificed the largest animal to Veles. The men began to plow the first strip of land, while the women at this time collected grain and gathered it into sheaves. At the end of the harvest, the table was set with generous food and decorated with flowers and ribbons.
- Maslenitsa is a calendar ritual that has survived to this day. The ancient Slavs turned to the sun god Yaril with a request to send a rich harvest. They baked pancakes, danced in circles, burned the famous Maslenitsa effigy
- Forgiveness Sunday is the most important day of Maslenitsa. On this day, people asked for forgiveness from loved ones and relatives, and also forgave all insults themselves. After this day, Lent began.
Despite the fact that Maslenitsa has lost its religious meaning, people still happily take part in mass celebrations, bake pancakes and rejoice in the coming spring.
Yuletide Traditions
It is impossible not to talk about Christmas rituals, which remain relevant to this day. They are traditionally held from January 7 to January 19 during the period from Christmas to Epiphany.
Christmas rituals are as follows:
- Kolyada. Young people and children go from house to house dressed as mummers, and residents treat them with sweets. Nowadays caroling is rare, but the tradition has not yet become obsolete
- Christmas fortune telling. Young girls and women gather in groups and perform fortune telling. Most often, these are rituals that allow you to find out who will become the betrothed, how many children will be born in the marriage, etc.
- And on January 6, before Christmas, in Rus' they cooked compote with rice, cooked delicious pastries and slaughtered cattle. It was believed that this tradition helps to attract a rich harvest in the spring and provide the family with material well-being
Nowadays, Christmas rituals have lost their magical mystery and are used mainly for entertainment. Another reason to have fun in the company of girlfriends and friends is to arrange a group fortune-telling for your betrothed, dress up and sing carols on holidays.
Family rituals in Rus'
Family rituals were given great importance. For matchmaking, weddings or baptism of newborns, special rituals were used that were sacredly revered and observed.
Weddings were usually scheduled for a time after a successful harvest or baptism. The week coming after the bright holiday of Easter was also considered a favorable time for the ritual. The newlyweds were married in several stages:
- Matchmaking. In order to match the bride to the groom, all close relatives on both sides gathered together. They discussed the dowry, where the young couple would live, and agreed on wedding gifts.
- After the parents' blessing was received, preparations for the celebration began. The bride and her bridesmaids gathered every evening and prepared the dowry: they sewed, knitted and wove clothes, bed linen, tablecloths and other home textiles. Sang sad songs
- On the first day of the wedding, the bride said goodbye to her girlhood. The girlfriends sang sad ritual songs of the Russian people, farewell laments - after all, from that moment on, the girl found herself completely subordinate to her husband, no one knew how her family life would turn out
- According to custom, on the second day of the wedding, the newly-made husband and his friends went to his mother-in-law for pancakes. We had a wild feast and visited all our new relatives
When a child appeared in a new family, he had to be baptized. The baptism ceremony was performed immediately after birth. It was necessary to choose a reliable godfather - this person bore great responsibility, almost on an equal basis with the parents, for the fate of the baby.
And when the baby turned one year old, a cross was cut on his crown. It was believed that this ritual gives the child protection from evil spirits and the evil eye.
When the child grew up, he was obliged to visit his godparents every year on Christmas Eve with a treat. And they, in turn, gave him gifts and treated him to sweets.
Watch a video about the rituals and customs of the Russian people:
Mixed rites
It is worth mentioning separately such interesting rituals:
- Celebration of Ivan Kupala. It was believed that only from this day onwards it was possible to swim. Also on this day, the fern bloomed - the one who finds the flowering plant will reveal all the hidden secrets. People made fires and jumped over them: it was believed that a couple who jumped over the fire holding hands would be together until death
- The custom of commemorating the dead has also come down from pagan times. There had to be rich food and wine at the funeral table.
Whether to follow ancient traditions or not is everyone’s business. But you can not elevate them to a cult, but pay tribute to your ancestors, their culture, and the history of your country. This applies to religious customs. As for entertainment events, such as Maslenitsa or the celebration of Ivan Kupala, this is another reason to have fun in the company of friends and your significant other.
Russians have been known since ancient times. They are mentioned in both Western European chronicles and Slavic chronicles. And today Russians remain the main people of Russia, maintaining their special character and rich culture.
Anthropologists classify Russians as the so-called Caucasoid race. The appearance, height, eye and hair color, and physique of Russians were formed as a result of the long development of their historical predecessors: the Scythians and Proto-Slavs, as well as contacts with other peoples - the Balts, Finno-Ugrians and even the Turks. An ordinary, typical Russian has blond hair, a not very wide face, and a fairly large nose. In the northern regions of European Russia, light-eyed and fair-haired people are often found; in the center - brown-eyed, with soft, usually dark brown, slightly curly hair, and in the south - dark-skinned and dark-eyed: the admixture of the blood of the Mongolian and Caucasian peoples is reflected. Russians in the northeast of the country have thin, straight hair and slightly narrowed eyes.
Russians have been known since ancient times. They are mentioned in both Western European chronicles and Slavic chronicles. There are many theories explaining the origin of the words “Rus”, “Russians”. Many modern scientists associate the name of the eastern group of Slavs with the left tributary of the Dnieper - the Ros River. In the first centuries of the new era, a large tribe of “Russians” or “Rodians” lived along the banks of this river, which, perhaps, gave the name to the first East Slavic state - Rus'.
At the beginning of the 14th century. The Moscow princes managed to unite individual lands, exhausted by internecine wars, and by the end of the 15th century. free yourself from the Horde yoke. The Russian state created by the Moscow rulers (in Western chronicles it was called Muscovy) quickly acquired, in the words of the outstanding Russian historian Nikolai Mikhailovich Karamzin, “independence and greatness.” Ivan III (1462-1505) - the first Moscow prince, who became known as the “autocrat of all Rus'.”
Muscovites XV-XVII centuries. spoke the same language and recognized themselves as a single people with a common faith (Orthodoxy) and culture. They perceived as brothers the inhabitants of the former ancient Russian lands, which ended up being part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Since that time, Russia has repeatedly declared itself as a multinational power. The idea of the special mission of Muscovy as the core of the world Christian Orthodox empire, of its unifying power, was supported by the theory of Moscow as the “third Rome.” According to the monk Philotheus (16th century), “two Romes have fallen, the third stands, and the fourth will not exist.”
The borders of the Russian state steadily expanded during the 16th and 17th centuries. The annexation of the Kazan and Astrakhan khanates (in 1552 and 1556, respectively), and the development of Siberia opened the way for Russian settlers to pour into these lands. New natural and cultural conditions forced the colonists to adopt forms of land cultivation and farming characteristic of local residents. Getting used to alien living conditions, the Russians, in turn, shared their own experience, including agricultural experience, with their neighbors.
Scientists date the beginning of the formation of the Russian nation to the end of the 16th century. A single material and spiritual culture arose, a unified administration in the created state, a common territory and, which had not existed before, economic life.
The resettlement of Russians to the lands of Left Bank Ukraine, which became part of the Russian state in 1654, the development of the Ural and Siberian lands by “willing people”, the successful struggle of Russia for access to the Baltic and the founding of a new capital in 1703 - St. Petersburg - expanded the territory inhabited by Russians . In the second half of the 18th century. the lands of Right Bank Ukraine and Crimea were annexed to it. In the same century, settlers from the center of the country moved to Kamchatka and began to develop lands beyond the Bering Strait - “Russian America” (Alaska, part of California and the Aleutian Islands).
The censuses of that time noted the religion, not the nationality, of people, so it is difficult to say exactly what the number of each people was in the multinational Russian Empire. According to data from the end of the 18th century, of the 37 million people inhabiting the Russian Empire, Russians made up approximately 53%, Ukrainians - 21, Belarusians - 8%.
By the beginning of the 19th century. There were two large ethnographic groups among Russians - Northern Russian and Southern Russian. They differed in the type of housing, clothing, language characteristics, and form of farming.
Northern Russian group at the beginning of the 19th century. occupied the territory from the Volkhov River in the west to the Mezen River and the upper reaches of the Vyatka and Kama in the east (modern Karelia, Novgorod, Arkhangelsk, Vologda,
Yaroslavl, Ivanovo, Kostroma, part of the Tver and Nizhny Novgorod regions). The inhabitants of these lands spoke (and still speak) the “okay” dialect (for example, they pronounce: fifty dollars). They built monumental tall houses; There were few courtyards in the settlements. The basis of the traditional women's costume here was a sundress and a shirt worn underneath, which were richly decorated with embroidery or linen lace. The arable tool of the northerners was the plow.
Southern Great Russians are the inhabitants of the black earth strip of Russia from the Desna River basin in the west to the Sura River (a tributary of the Volga) in the east (modern Ryazan, Penza, Kaluga, Tula, Lipetsk, Tambov, Voronezh, Bryansk, Kursk, Oryol, Belgorod regions), They say in the “aka” dialect (here they will say: paltinnik). The basis of women's clothing was a richly embroidered shirt with a blanket. Houses in the south were not built as tall as the northerners, and the settlements, on the contrary, were large.
The interfluve of the Oka and Volga (modern Moscow, Vladimir, Kaluga, Ryazan, Penza, part of the Tver and Nizhny Novgorod regions) turned out to be a “transitional” zone, in the culture of which southern Russian and northern Russian traits crossed and modified.
The Russians living in western Russia had much in common with the Belarusians (light color of clothing, culinary preferences, for example, love for potatoes), and the Russian population of the Middle Volga region borrowed from their neighbors, the non-Slav Volzhans, ornaments on clothing and features of the interior decoration of their homes.
The Russians of Siberia were distinguished by their special way of economic life and way of life. They made up almost 70% of the settlers who arrived in this region in the 18th-19th centuries. Among the Old Believers who fled here from the persecution of the Nikonians, several groups formed (see the volume “History of Russia”, part 3, “Encyclopedia for Children”). From the middle of the 17th century. Whole families of Old Believers settled in Transbaikalia, hence the name Semeiskie. As a rule, colonists occupied lands along the banks of large rivers (Ob, Yenisei, Angara, Lena, Amur, Kolyma) and their tributaries. At the end of the 19th century. Russians settled in southern Siberia along the Trans-Siberian Railway, which was built from 1891 to 1916.
By the beginning of the 20th century. Russians made up 75% of the population of Siberia, 70% of the Urals, 63% of the Volga region, 40% of the Caucasus, 7% of Central Asia. The Russian government did not provide them with advantages on the annexed lands, so there was no hostility between Russian and non-Russian peasants. However, the bulk of Russians (more than 90%) still lived not in Siberia, but in the European territory of Russia. Almost all of them (98%) were Orthodox.
For many centuries, Russians lived in accordance with their unwritten laws, “according to conscience and truth.” There was practically no xenophobia (hatred of strangers, foreigners) in the Russian national character. Vindictiveness was also uncharacteristic for Russians: either a direct reaction to an insult or forgiveness of guilt was allowed. Orthodoxy demanded adherence to strict moral standards. Modern psychologists who study the national character of different peoples consider the following to be the traditional traits of Russians: long-suffering - and at the same time the ability to recklessly rise to rebellion, “senseless and merciless,” in the words of Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin; hope for a true king (ruler) who can protect from untruth - and at the same time dreams of “free will” and freedom; asceticism, heroism - and weak character, humility (no wonder Nikolai Alekseevich Nekrasov wrote: “You are both powerful, you are also powerless, Mother Rus'”); thirst for the absolute (goodness, equality, justice) - and denial of the relative (success for oneself, happiness for a while). Russians have always highly valued a good name, honor, reputation in the eyes of friends and neighbors, and the desire for a united, “whole world” solution to controversial issues.
October 1917 opened a new page in the ethnic history of Russians. The Soviet state sought to replace everything “national” with “international”, workers’ and peasants’. The founder of the Soviet state, Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, directly spoke about the need “not to think about your nation and to put the interests of everyone, universal freedom and equality above it. The central authorities waged a decisive struggle against the “dissenters.” In the press, the word “Russian” began to be replaced with “Russian” (proletariat, revolution, culture, etc.). “It’s over with Russia...” - the poet Maximilian Aleksandrovich Voloshin sadly concluded, seeing how the lines between the national Russian and multinational cultures of the Russian Empire were blurring.
Soviet laws proclaimed the equality of all peoples, religions and languages. After the civil war, the ideologists of the new life openly announced the policy of “indigenization,” i.e., increasing the share of representatives of the indigenous, non-Russian population in government structures.
In words, the Soviet leadership strove for “the flourishing of all nations and cultures”, their “bringing together and merging.” In fact, such a policy led to a sharp reduction in teaching in national languages, and this caused a natural protest from non-Russian peoples. Russian was legally declared the “second native language” for all peoples of the Union. However, Russians did not have any advantages. Their standard of living in the RSFSR, especially in the provinces, was lower than in many republics (primarily in the Baltic states). This situation led to mutual antipathy in everyday life. The declaration of the RSFSR as “first among equals” gave rise to national discord between Russians and other peoples of the “fraternal family of republics.” The desire to develop a “multinational Soviet” (and in fact, nationally faceless) culture to the detriment of national cultures, including Russian, led to the eradication of the peculiarities of Russian folk life.
The collapse of the USSR in December 1991 changed the situation of Russians in the former Soviet republics. They turned into a national minority there and quickly began to join the ranks of emigrants.
In the 90s Nationalist parties and movements emerged in Russia. This is largely explained by the desire to return to the former moral foundations of society, which had previously been eradicated, and the desire to revive Russian culture.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia remains one of the world's largest powers. Russians live in it on a vast territory from the Kaliningrad region to the Far East, from Murmansk and northern Siberia to the foothills of the Caucasus and the former Central Asian republics. Their total number in the world is more than 146 million people; Of these, almost 120 million live in the RSFSR (out of the 148 million population of the country as a whole). Almost 24 million people ended up in the “near abroad” (i.e., in the territory of the former USSR), and 2.5 million people in the “far” (in the USA, Canada and other countries). Russians in the Russian Federation consider Russian their native language and use the Cyrillic alphabet when writing. Most believers are Orthodox.
There are more women among Russians than men (52.7% versus 47.3%), although every year this difference becomes less noticeable. The most common family among Russians today is a family of three (parents and one child), which does not even ensure simple reproduction.
Half of all Russians in the Russian Federation (49.7%) live in the center of European Russia, in the northwest, in the Volga-Vyatka region and the Volga region. Russians of the southern and northern ethnographic groups retain their characteristics, primarily the traditions of building and decorating houses, as well as culinary traditions.
Today, Russians remain the main people of Russia, maintaining their special character and rich culture.
When preparing the article, photographs from V. Belov’s book “Lad” were used
Russian Civilization
The twelfth holiday of the Orthodox calendar, celebrated on the fiftieth day after Easter, on the tenth day of the Ascension. Other names for the Trinity are the day of the Holy Trinity, Pentecost, the day of the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles. On this day, the Orthodox Church remembers the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles and honors the Holy Trinity. The event described in the New Testament book “The Acts of the Holy Apostles” has a direct connection with the doctrine of the Trinity - one of the main tenets of the Christian faith. According to this teaching, God exists in three unmerged and inseparable persons: the Father - the beginningless principle, the Son - the logos and the Holy Spirit - the life-giving principle.
Holy Week
spring
The seventh and last week before Easter, lasting 6 days, starting on Monday and ending on Saturday before Easter Sunday. The meaning of the holiday is preparation for Easter. Traditions during the holiday: cleaning the house, obligatory bathing, remembering ancestors, setting up a swing, painting eggs, baking Easter cakes. According to popular beliefs, colored eggs have magical powers; for example, if you put the shell on a fire, the smoke from this egg can heal a person from night blindness; they also believe that such an egg can heal a bad tooth. Signs for this holiday: if you heat a stove with aspen wood on Maundy Thursday, then sorcerers will come to ask for ash; parsley sown on Good Friday gives a double harvest.
Popular name for the holiday Transfiguration of the Lord among the Eastern Slavs, celebrated on August 19, and even before this holiday it is forbidden to eat apples and various dishes made from apples, but on the holiday it is necessary to do the opposite - pick as many apples as possible and consecrate them. The purpose of the holiday is the blessing of apples, seeing off the sun at sunset with songs. Apple Spa has another name - the first autumn, that is, the meeting of autumn. According to tradition, you first treat all your relatives and friends with apples, then orphans and the poor, as a remembrance of your ancestors who have fallen asleep in eternal sleep, and only then eat the apples yourself. In the evening, after the holiday, everyone went out onto the field to celebrate the sunset together with songs, and with it the summer.
Christmastide
winter
Slavic folk holiday complex, celebrated from January 6 to January 19. Christmas time is oversaturated with various magical rituals, fortune telling, signs, customs and prohibitions. The purpose of the holiday: folk festivities, caroling, sowing, mummering, erotic games, ritual outrages of youth, fortune telling for the betrothed, visiting, rituals for well-being and fertility. Holiday sayings: on Christmastide, wolves get married, from Christmas to Epiphany it is a sin to hunt animals and birds - misfortune will happen to the hunter. According to popular beliefs, the presence of spirits among living people, invisible to the ordinary eye, made it possible to look into one’s future, which explains the numerous forms of Christmas fortune-telling.
Epiphany Christmas Eve
spring
This holiday of the Orthodox Church is one of the twelve. On this day, the baptism of Jesus Christ by John the Baptist (Baptist) in the Jordan River is remembered and the Great Blessing of Water is performed. It is also a preparation evening before a major Orthodox holiday called Epiphany or Epiphany. Epiphany water is tasted on an empty stomach, a spoonful at a time, a little at a time. Orthodox Christians keep it in the Red Corner, next to the icons. In addition, a drop of shrine sanctifies the sea. You can take ordinary, unconsecrated water and add a drop of Epiphany water to it, and it will all be sanctified.
People's Orthodox holiday, celebrated on July 8. Holiday traditions: swim without looking back, because... It was believed that on this day the last mermaids leave the shores into the depths of the reservoirs and fall asleep. After the Kupala games, betrothed couples were determined, and this day patronized family and love, in addition, in the old days, weddings were held from this day until Peter the Great. The first mowing is the day of all evil spirits such as witches, mermaids, werewolves and many others. Celebrated on July 8 (June 25, old style). Peter and Fevronia are Orthodox patrons of family and marriage. According to the calendar of East Slavic folk holidays, which correlates with the Orthodox calendar, this is the day of the first mowing. It was believed that on this day the last mermaids leave the shores into the depths of the reservoirs, so it was already safe to swim. In the Russian Federation, since 2008, July 8 is celebrated as the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity. Sayings: there are forty hot days ahead, after Ivan there is no need for zhupan, if it rains on this day, there will be a good harvest of honey, pigs and mice eat hay - to bad mowing.
A traditional holiday among the Eastern and Southern Slavs, celebrated on August 2. The traditions of the holiday include: collective meals, slaughter of a bull or ram. The holiday has pagan roots, since at first it was the holiday of the thunder god Perun, but with the adoption of Christianity among the Slavs, instead of the image of Perun, the image of Elijah the prophet arose, which is where the name of the holiday actually comes from. Sayings at the holiday: Ilya keeps thunderstorms, Ilya holds and brings down rain with a word, Ilya gives bread, not swords against Ilya, but he burns heaps with heavenly fire. From Ilya's day, according to folk legends, bad weather began, and it was also forbidden to swim.
Palm Week
spring
Passion Week. The main folk rituals of the week are associated with willow and fall on Saturday and Sunday. There is a legend associated with this week, which says that the willow was once a woman, and she had so many children that the woman argued with Mother Earth herself that she was more fertile than the Earth. Mother Earth got angry and turned the woman into a willow. There is a belief on this holiday that a consecrated willow can stop a summer thunderstorm, and thrown into a flame can help in a fire. Holiday traditions: blessing of the willow, beating with willow branches, calls for spring.
A traditional holiday of pagan origin among the Slavic peoples, associated with the winter solstice. Date of celebration - on the night from January 6 to January 7. The meaning of the holiday is the turning of the sun from winter to summer. Celebration - caroling, mummering, Christmas games, fortune telling, family meals. According to popular belief, Mother Earth could only open up because of a lie, a false oath, or perjury.
Maslenitsa
spring
Slavic traditional holiday celebrated during the week before Lent. The purpose of the holiday is to say goodbye to winter. Traditions: baking pancakes, visiting, having feasts, sledding and sledding, dressing up, burning or burying an effigy of Maslenitsa. Celebrated from Meat Saturday to Forgiveness Sunday. The fertility of people in the popular consciousness was inextricably linked with the fertility of the land and the fertility of livestock; the third side of Maslenitsa - the funeral - is connected with the stimulation of fertility.
Easter
spring
The oldest Christian holiday, the main holiday of the liturgical year. Established in honor of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Celebrated on the first Sunday after the full moon, which occurs no earlier than the conventional day vernal equinox March 21. Traditions: blessing of colored eggs and Easter cakes, welcome kissing. Most Easter traditions originate in worship. The scope of Easter folk festivities is associated with breaking the fast after Great Lent, a time of abstinence, when all holidays, including family ones, were transferred to the celebration of Easter. At the end of the 19th century, it became a tradition in Russia to send Easter open letters with colorful drawings to those relatives and friends with whom you cannot share Christ on Easter as the main holiday.
Holiday of the Eastern Slavs, which starts September 14. The essence of the holiday is a celebration of the approach of autumn: the day before summer ended and the new year began. On this day, rituals are performed: housewarming, sitting, lighting a fire, tonsure ceremony, funeral of flies, the legend of sparrows. Semyonov's day is considered happy, so it is recommended to celebrate a housewarming party. Signs: Semyon sees off summer, brings on Indian summer; on Semyon - the last thunderstorm; On Semyon, the grain crops were not harvested - they were considered lost; if geese fly away on Semyon-day, wait for early winter.
Clean Monday
spring
The first day of Fedorov's Week and Lent. On this day, everyone forgives each other and begins the day with a clear conscience and a pure soul. This is a day of very strict fasting as well as on subsequent days. The name of the holiday comes from the desire to spend the first day of Lent clean. On this holiday, during the first Lenten Great Compline, they begin to read the Great Penitential Canon of St. Andrew of Crete and other prayers of repentance. At the end of the 19th century, most of the oil revelers, despite strict fasting, “rinsed their mouths” or got drunk on this day. Since this is a day of fasting, all that can be eaten or drunk on this day is: some black bread with salt and water or unsweetened tea. The prayer of Ephraim the Syrian “Lord and Master of my life” will continue to be offered on all days of Great Lent.
One of the holidays of the Eastern Slavs, celebrated on October 14. The meaning of the holiday is the final onset of autumn; on this day the meeting of Autumn and Winter used to be celebrated. People say that from Pokrov, goblin stop wandering through the forests (they are also called forest masters). On the eve of this holiday, young village girls burn their old straw beds, and old women burn their old bast shoes, worn out throughout the summer. Russian people, celebrating days dedicated to the Mother of God, expected help from Her.
Orthodox holiday, celebrated on August 14. The essence of the holiday is the small blessing of water. The traditions of the holiday are the beginning of the collection of honey, its consecration and the “widow's help” meal. The holiday is celebrated in honor of the Origin of the trees of the Holy Cross at the end of the 14th century. The meaning of the holiday is the first day of the Dormition Lent. The honey savior is also called the “Savior on the Water”, this is because of the small consecration of water. According to tradition, it was on this day in Rus' that new wells were blessed and old ones were cleaned. This holiday is called “Honey Spas” because on this day the beehives are usually filled to capacity and beekeepers go to collect the honey harvest.
Summer holiday of pagan origin, celebrated from July 6 to 7. The holiday is associated with the summer solstice. Traditions: burning fires and jumping over them, dancing in circles, weaving wreaths, collecting herbs. The holiday begins the night before. The name of the holiday comes from the name of John the Baptist (the epithet of John is translated as “bather, immerser”). The main feature of Ivan Kupala is the cleansing bonfires; in order to be cleansed of the evil spirits inside a person, he would have to jump over these bonfires.
Red hill
spring
Spring holiday among the Eastern Slavs, which celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter. Celebrations on this day include: spring maiden round dances, a meal with scrambled eggs, and youth games. The Red Hill symbolizes the full arrival of spring; this is the holiday that celebrates this time of year. In addition to the fact that Red Hill symbolizes the arrival of spring, the holiday also symbolizes the meeting of boys and girls, because spring is the beginning of a new life for all nature. At the Krasnaya Gorka holiday there is one proverb that says: “Whoever gets married on Krasnaya Gorka will never get divorced.”
Folk crafts have reached us from ancient times - painting, carving, lace, but there are also new folk crafts. Most often they began with peasant household art.
Art painting in Russia
Wooden and metal products, children's toys and furniture have been painted in Rus' from time immemorial. Technology in different regions of the country differed significantly from each other. Further details about the most famous types of painting.Gorodets painting
Gorodets painting originated in the Volga region, in the villages of the Nizhny Novgorod province. They were located near a large village called Gorodets. There were fairs where crafts made by craftsmen were sold. This is where the name came from - Gorodets painting.Polkhov-Maidan painting
The birthplace of Polkhov-Maidan painting is the south of the Nizhny Novgorod region. There, in the village of Polkhovsky Maidan, the village of Voznesenskoye and the village of Krutets, the center of this painting is located. It arose just a hundred years ago on the basis of the turning industry developed in those places. Masters painted nesting dolls, children's toys, mushrooms, Easter eggs, and used only four colors - green, blue, yellow and red. 
Palekh painting
Palekh painting appeared quite recently - already in Soviet times, however, the roots of this painting go back to antiquity. Thanks to this unique craft, the village of Palekh, Ivanovo region, became known throughout Russia. It is known about Palekh painting, Palekh miniatures, Palekh icon painting. The peculiarity of painting is that artists create not just ornaments, but draw entire scenes and compositions with the smallest details. 
Zhostovo painting
Zhostovo painting is lacquer painting on trays, which appeared in one thousand eight hundred and twenty-five. Such trays are made at a factory in the village of Zhostovo and in the city of Nizhny Tagil. The main difference of this craft is the abundance of colors, incomparable tones, and the realism of all elements. 
Gzhel
Gzhel painting, as the name implies, originated in the city of Gzhel. Her patterns are predominantly floral patterns and simple geometric patterns, done in cobalt bright blue paint on a snow-white background. The city of Gzhel is a center for the production of ceramics. In many ways, this was the reason for the appearance of its unique painting in this city. Gzhel artistic craft is not young; its roots go back to the fourteenth century. It was then that the Kudinovskoye clay deposit was discovered. 
Russian crafts that became trades
Sometimes Russian crafts became trades. They arose when folk craft products were put on stream. We know about making toys from clay, about special wood carvings, about lace craftsmanship, and so on.Dymkovo toy
Near the city of Vyatka there was a settlement called Dymkovo, now it is one of the districts of the city. In the settlement of Dymkovo in the nineteenth century, painted ceramic toys for children appeared. Deposits of clay and sand in those places became the reason for the production of clay jugs and jars by craftsmen. Bright, cheerful toys were made for the children's amusement. Only women or children were involved in modeling and painting toys. The pattern on the Dymkovo toy is always geometric, consisting of circles, stripes, and cells. In addition to its unique painting, the toy stands out because it is trimmed with gold. 
Filimonovskaya toy
The production of Filimonovo toys arose on the basis of the production of clay dishes located near the village of Filimonovo. These toys are a variety of whistles. A distinctive feature is the elongated shape of the products, which is due to the characteristics of the local clay. To this day, whistles are painted only with a quill pen. 
Abramtsevo-Kudrinskaya carving
Carving, which became a trade, appeared in the Abramtsevo estate, near Moscow in the nineteenth century. Its name is Abramtsevo-Kudrinskaya carving. The carvers studied and worked in the carpentry workshop, where they were also taught painting and drawing. Thus, a small workshop became the basis for a future craft, distinguished by its unique carving style. 
Vyatka lace
Vyatka lace has been known since the eighteenth century. In the second half of the nineteenth century, a zemstvo school of lacemakers was organized in the Vyatka province. For many years there was a lace factory in those places, but it was closed in the early nineties. Lacemakers have preserved their unique skills, traditions and craft technology. They delight with new products, uniting in artels or small enterprises.New folk crafts
Not all folk crafts have a rich history. Some have appeared quite recently. What kind of crafts these are, we will find out later.Painting Christmas tree decorations
Christmas tree painting as a craft originated in the nineteenth century in the village of Danilovo. The toys were also made there. Peasants did this at home, using simple burners for blowing. The demand for such toys grew, and the number of single craftsmen also increased. Soon, some home owners organized small productions with hired workers.Factory "Ariel"
The oldest factory in Russia producing New Year's toys is the Ariel factory. It is located in Nizhny Novgorod. Despite fashion changing over the years, the factory does not change the tradition of making handmade toys. Next to the factory there is a museum of Christmas tree decorations and a store. 
The most recognizable folk craft in Russia
Perhaps the most recognizable Russian folk craft is Khokhloma gold painting. It originated at the end of the seventeenth century in the Nizhny Novgorod region, when at fairs in the village of Khokhloma they sold wooden products painted by locals from the surrounding villages. 
All items are elegant and colorful. A distinctive feature of the painting is the presence of a gold background or gold ornament. While painting, the masters come up with their drawings on the fly; this is always an improvisation when following the rules of Khokhloma painting. The master turns a simple wooden object into a work of folk art. Housewives still use such utensils. It is also exhibited in museums. There is a website about the largest museums in the world.
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