Solar calendar of the ancient Slavs. Ancient Slavic holidays. Green Christmastide. Semik, Spiritual day. Rusalia
Municipal Autonomous Educational Institution
Open lesson on the subject “Listening to Music”
on the topic - Winter holidays of the solar calendar (carols).
Prepared by: Kosheleva T.A.
The purpose of the lesson: To deepen students' interest in studying folk art.
Educational objectives of the lesson:
Educational:
To achieve a conscious understanding of the winter holidays of the solar calendar.
achieve accurate, emotional intonation of carol melodies.
Educational:
to intensify cognitive interest in folk art.
Educational:
develop self-control skills;
cultivate respect for the traditions of your people.
Winter holidays of the solar calendar.
Winter solstice -Slide number 2.
Winter... The days have become short, and the nights are long and dark. It seems that all nature has fallen asleep. But when December 24th arrives, the light begins to arrive. This day was called the day of the winter salt whirl or the winter solstice (an ancient holiday of Kolyada, the solar deity). Bonfires were lit in his honor and burning wheels were rolled down from the mountains. People believed that these rituals increased the power of the sun. The sun will now shine longer, heading towards summer.
The beginning of the holiday season falls on Christmas Eve (December 24, Old Style / January 6, New Style). It is at this moment that the strict Nativity fast ends and festivities, festivities and fun begin. One of the ancient Slavic traditions is carols, i.e. ritual songs that were used at home. Mostly young people and children caroled. This was a kind of entertainment for young people in those distant days.
Such rounds of houses were carried out three times during Christmas time: on Christmas Eve(“Christmas carol”),on New Year's Eve(on the day of Basil the Great, or Caesarea - “Vasilevskaya carol”),on the eve of Epiphany(“Epiphany carol”).
Christmastide is traditionally divided into " Holy evenings " - from December 25 (January 7) to January 1 (14) - and "Scary evenings " - from January 1 (14) to January 6 (19). Holy Evenings refer to the Nativity of Christ, and Terrible Evenings were considered a time when evil spirits raged.
Word "Kolyada" comes from Greekκαλάνδαι and Latincalendae, which means "first day of the month". Initially, the Slavs used the word “kolyada”. But in modern language the meaning has changed, now carols are understood as just entertainment rituals with songs and going around houses by “carolers”, “polazniks”, “sowers”, “generous people”.
Nativity. – Slide No. 3.
On these days of the new solar year, the entire Christian world celebrates the holiday - the Nativity of Christ.
Two thousand years ago, an event occurred that began the account of the New Time and the New Era.
The prepared story is about Christmas.
With the adoption of Christianity in Rus', the ritual of caroling was timed to coincide with the celebration . Folk carols intertwine pagan and Christian motifs. Original church carols occupy a special place.
Listening to a Christmas carol “The Son of God is born!”
1. Good evening to you,
Affectionate owner,
Rejoice, rejoice, earth,
The Son of God was born into the world.
2. We are coming to you, master,
With good news.
Rejoice, rejoice, earth,
The Son of God was born into the world.
3. With good news
From the holy city.
Rejoice, rejoice, earth,
The Son of God was born into the world.
Singing carols "A clear star has risen." – Slide No. 4
Carols, avsenki, shchedrovki, grapes. – Slide No. 5.
In Rus' they have always loved the Christmas holiday. They made a star and baked special cookies in the shape of animals. On Christmas night, young boys, girls, and children gather and go home singing songs about the Infant Christ. In front of everyone are two carolers: one with a star, and the other with a bag for gifts and treats. Approaching the house. They ask the question: “Master and hostess, should I shout a carol for you?” The answer was positive: the song began.
Slide number 6. Carols, Avsenki, Tausenki, Shchedrovki, Vinovyya - these were the names of the songs of carolers, depending on the words of the chorus. These are great songs - congratulations, in which the owners are wished prosperity, goodness, good luck, and are compared with the sun, the month, and the stars.
Singing the carol “I sow, I sow, I sing.”
Contents of the carol - Slide number 7.
The content of the carol is this: the arrival of Kolyada or the search for her. Next, a description of the owners is given: their exaltation, wishes (the carolers described the beauty of the house, the abundance of livestock, the richness of the harvest) and a request for alms.
As the carols progressed, various techniques were used, for example, showering a house with grain or knocking sparks out of a log. For such good wishes one had to pay with various goodies. The owners of the houses, of course, knew that they would come to them and prepared treats in advance. After all, if the young people who came were not treated to a treat, they could pay for it, for example, with public disgrace, which could be expressed in a song like this:
From a stingy guy
Rye is born good:
The spikelet is empty,
It's thick like straw!
Some carols towards stingy owners were real threats:
Who won't give a penny -
Let's close the loopholes.
Who won't give you some cakes -
Let's block up the windows
Who won't give pie -
Let's take the cow by the horns,
Who will not give bread -
Let's take grandfather away
Who won't give ham -
Then we will split the cast iron!
However, cases of such threats being carried out were rare, because treating carolers was a folk tradition and was taken for granted. The youth were generously presented with treats, which were then eaten together at joint gatherings. If a house was accidentally missed and not walked around, it was perceived as a bad omen, foreshadowing trouble. People did not come to caroling in houses where there had been deaths during the year.
Singing the carol "Avsen".
.
Slide number 8. Comic songs are often structured in the form of questions and answers. They are easy to remember, simple melodically and captivating with their playful character. The range of such songs is small, only a few sounds. But the simplicity here is only external - often in such tunes we cannot determine the tonic, the reference sound, a feeling of changeability of the scale (major - minor) is created.
Singing carols “Zazimka - winter”, “Who is our big guest?”
The name of the songs - subblyudnye - is associated with the game: someone would take out, without looking, a ring from a dish covered with a beautiful towel.
First they sang glory to God, the red sun and bread, and then wished well to the one who took out the ring.
Slide number 11. Singing the majestic song “Glory to God in heaven, glory!”
Slide number 12. This is how “holy” and “terrible” evenings passed, as they were called in the old days.
Cherven(June):
✅ 04/06 is celebrated as 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. After Yarila, hot weather usually sets in for seven days. That's why this holiday is also called
✅ 19/06 From June 19 to 24, Rusalya Days take place, during which an important cycle of rituals takes place associated with the “seeing off of mermaids”, “egg ritual”, “mermaid ritual”. Mermaid days take place after Semik (Yarilin Day)
✅ 24/06 the great holiday “God Kupala” is celebrated 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.
✅ 25/06 Day of Friendship, Unity of the Slavs
✅ Summer Svarozhye is celebrated on June 29 (). On this day, the Heavenly (Svarog) Fire and the Sun are celebrated, usually occurring at the very 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
Lipen(July):
✅ 03/07 Memorial Day of Prince Svyatoslav Day of glorification of Prince Svyatoslav Igorevich (circa 942-972). On this day, it was customary for the Slavs to hold ritual fights, military initiations and glorify Perun. In 964-66, Svyatoslav undertook his first independent major campaign: the liberation of the Vyatichi from the power of the Khazars and their subordination to Kyiv
✅ 05/07 marks the Name Day of the Month- a holiday dedicated to honoring the clear Moon and its highest patrons - Veles the Horned and Mary Moon-Faced.
✅12/07 is the Day of the Sheaf of Veles. The days are killing, and the heat is coming. From this day on they begin to mow and harvest hay.
✅ 20/07 marks the great military holiday -; the great holy day of all warriors-defenders of the native land, 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
✅ 27/07 celebrates the holiday of Chura (Polykopny)- God of protection, protection of property, guardian of tribal customs, patron of borders, home. 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 this Chura holiday, you cannot work away from home. The owner must be in his yard, thereby honoring Chur
✅ 19/07 is celebrated Summer Makoshe (Summer Mokridy)— 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 it is wet on Mokrida, then there is inclement 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.”
✅ 28/07 Eternal memory those who died at the hands of Christian invaders - REMEMBER WE MOURN
Serpen(August):
✅ 25/12 from December 25 to January 6 are celebrated Big- 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 of Kolyada (Kolyada itself is not included in the number of holy days) and until Turitsa (Vodokres)
✅31/12 is celebrated (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 Terrible (Vorozhnye) evenings, lasting to Turits. Yuletide evenings (especially Scary ones) were considered by the people to be a time when desperation was rampant
There are enough holidays in Slavic culture. But among all this multitude there are those that are most important. We in no way want to belittle the significance of certain holidays of the ancient Slavs... But any sane person realizes that everything has a basis. So it is with you and me. The Slavs associated the main holidays with four astrological points: Autumn equinox (Radogoshch?), Spring equinox (Komoyeditsa/Maslenitsa), Winter solstice (Kolyada), Summer solstice (Kupalo). These are the main pagan holidays of the Slavs that have survived to this day. They make it possible to trace the connection of holidays with the four seasons: Autumn, Winter, Spring, Summer. Each point (holiday) serves as the beginning of a new season. Of course, the modern calendar does not give us a guaranteed coincidence of the transition, but you can’t fool nature.
Winter solstice(December 25) - associated with the birth of the Sun. The winter solstice is the shortest day of the year. The Slavs celebrated on this day Kolyada.
Kolyada - the god of the young Sun. In honor of Kolyada, the Slavs held a holiday on this day. They sang songs and praised the Gods, in particular Kolyada, for turning the Sun towards spring. People rejoiced that, despite the frosts, the day would now begin to increase, the Sun in the sky would shine longer and brighter.
During Christianization, the Nativity of Christ was dedicated to this day. Gradually, the Christian holiday grew into a pagan one. The winter solstice has long been seen as the time of birth of the gods.
The vernal equinox(20th of March) - farewell to winter. It was believed that on this day the opening of the Iria gates took place, and the ancestors could come to the world of Reveal (our world). The birds that arrive at the spring equinox symbolize this arrival. The strength of the connection with Rod at this time is as strong as possible.
Summer solstice(July 6 - 7) - the beginning of astronomical summer. The longest day and shortest night of the year. The Slavs celebrated. From Kupala the day begins to decrease and the night begins to increase.
The ancient Slavs celebrated this holiday by lighting Kupala bonfires, dancing in circles, jumping over bonfires, performing ritual bathing in rivers and springs, girls wove wreaths and floated them across the water. It was from this day that people began to swim in rivers.
(22 - 23 September) - beginning of autumn. On this day the closing of the Iria gate takes place. The earth falls asleep and the connection with Rod “fades out”. The holiday of the Slavs during this period is associated with the harvest.
Ovsen, Tausen, Usen, Avsen - epithets of the sun (depending on the dialect of the area they were pronounced differently). These are the ancient Slavic names of the holiday in honor of the Sun.
The sun is a source of light, heat and fertility. The ancient Slavs celebrated this holiday by lighting bonfires and performing autumn round dances - saying goodbye to summer and welcoming autumn. We had fun and baked big pies so that we could reap a good harvest next year.
On this day, the fire in the huts was renewed - the old one was extinguished and the new one was lit. Large sheaves were placed in the house. They wished each other that the next year would also be fertile.
Of course, in addition to the main solar holidays, there are other holidays. For example, dedicated to the Slavic gods - Perun, Veles and others. But our primary task was to convey our ancestors’ understanding of the world through certain holidays.
Answering the question " what holidays did the ancient Slavs have?", I would like to note that the festivities were always held in the open air. People gathered in nature: in the forest, in the meadow, on hills, hills, hills. They had fun, sang and danced in circles. In folk dances, people walk a lot in a circle, as the circle preserves energy. They also used rituals to establish a spiritual connection with their gods.
Our ancestors always tied their Solar calendar to various astronomical phenomena, such as the solstice or equinox. All these phenomena are very important for our nature and they were the main holidays in Russia. Four holidays were considered the most important - Kolyada, Yarylo (Yaro), Kupalo (Red Mountain) and Svetovit (Ovsen). The day of the solstice in Rus' was called the day of the solstice, which meant that the sun turns either to the gain or to the decline of the day.
The Sun was believed to have several forms:
1. The sun is a baby Kolyada is the birth of the sun after the Night of the winter solstice.
2. The sun - the young man Yarilo - this period came at the spring equinox.
3. The sun - Kupala's husband - is the summer sun in full force.
4. The sun - the elder Svetovit - the sun during the autumn equinox, when it gradually fades away and, as it were, dies on the Night of the winter solstice.
Let's look at these four great holidays:
Kolyada (kolo+da - the beginning of the circle or the beginning of the sun) this holiday falls on the winter solstice, December 21. This is the longest of all nights, and after which the “Day of the Gods” begins. And then the sun is born, it is still very weak, like a baby and rises from the horizon quite a bit. Therefore, on this day in Rus' they always celebrated the birthday of the sun (Winter Christmastide) and dedicated it to the Divine Light. It was believed that it was on this day that people would be visited by their already deceased Ancestors, who had already fulfilled their duty to the Earth and had found their light warmth.
Yarilo (Yar - the power of fertilization, that is, the birth of a new life) is the period of the spring equinox, March 21. From that day on, the daylight hours were longer than the night. The sun has become stronger, as if entering a youthful period, and now it melts the snow, inviting spring. On this day the Slavs celebrate Maslenitsa. This day is also a symbol of meetings between boys and girls, because spring is the beginning of a new life for all nature.
Kupalo (kupa - abundance of greenery) holiday falls on the summer solstice, June 22. This is the longest day of daylight, after which the “Night of the Gods” begins. On this day, all the elements are activated, and the sun is gaining power and now the Sun-husband is at the very dawn of his strength. On Kupala night, everyone girds themselves with herbs and this is a symbol of healthy and strong offspring, as well as wealth. On this holiday, the god of Fire is greatly revered, and he appears in the form of mountains, sun, water, earth and trees. People perform cleansing rituals with fire and water. People burn Kupala bonfires, which, according to legend, should be ignited with “living fire,” that is, with the help of friction between two pieces of wood. The Kupalo holiday is a celebration of Conservation.
Svetovit (light + vit - turn of life) he came on the autumn equinox, September 22. From this day on, the nights become longer and longer. The sun seems to be aging, losing its former strength and gradually dying. There is a belief that this holiday was in honor of the “red maiden” Dawn, who is the “Mother of the Dawn” of the Sun. It is also a harvest festival and the New Year, and the Slavs glorified the Sun, which gave its strength for their harvest. People burned bonfires, gathered in round dances and told fortunes. On this day the fire in the huts was renewed; the old one no longer burned, but a new one was lit.
Most of the holidays of the ancient Slavs were magical rituals (rites) that realized the unity of man and nature.
The key holidays for the ancient Slavs were those with which the seasons were associated (spring, summer, autumn and winter), that is, the transition from one season to another. On such days, people laid down tasks or some kind of program for the entire next astronomical year. In addition, these days served as a fulcrum for the beginning of harvesting or sowing crops, and the construction of important buildings began.
Ancient Slavic holidays were pagan, after Christianity spread to these lands, many of these rituals were slightly transformed into Christian holidays.
The ancient tribes of the Slavs lived according to the solar calendar, as a result of which all the rituals of the Slavs were connected and focused on the activity of the Sun.
Pagan holidays
The main pagan Slavic holidays were:
– Kolyada or the birth of the Sun, celebrated on the day of the winter solstice;
– Christmastide– coped after December 21;
– Maslenitsa served as a symbol of the wire of winter time;
– Great day– the day of the vernal equinox and the beginning of spring;
– Mermaid Week– farewell to spring, held before June 21;
– Ivan Kupala Day- summer solstice;
–Indian summer– farewell to summer;
– Harvest Festival– autumnal equinox;
And now it is necessary to consider each of the holidays of the ancient Slavs in more detail.
The Kolyada holiday played a special place.
Kolyada
December 21 has long been considered to this day the day of the beginning of astronomical winter. After December 21, the god Kolyada was born and on his day a holiday was organized, accompanied by rituals. The people sang songs and glorified the deities. The ancient Slavs rejoiced that starting from December 21, the Sun would shine longer and longer, for which they thanked him. When Christianity became the state religion, Christmas began to be celebrated on this day. In the pagan circles of the ancient Slavs, this day began to mark the birth of the gods.
On December 21, the ancient Slavs got rid of everything old, all remnants and made wishes for the new year. The three days before the winter solstice and the three days after were considered particularly energetic, so on this day wishes were especially powerful and it was believed that they were more likely to come true.
Other pagan holidays
Christmastide
Christmastide was celebrated immediately after the winter solstice; in total, they lasted for two weeks. During Christmas time it was customary to tell fortunes.
Kolyada and Christmastide were the winter holidays of the Slavs.
Maslenitsa
The the holiday was considered a farewell to winter, and is held from March 12 to 20 (the week before the Great Day). Throughout the week, people prepare pancakes with honey and other sweets.
In pagan mythology Maslenitsa is a character symbolizing death, as well as cold winter. Maslenitsa is the last week when winter still has power over the world. The forces of darkness are having fun for the last time.
We greeted the day with singing on the hills and hills. The Slavs made a stuffed animal from straw, which represented the character Maslenitsa, then the stuffed Maslenitsa was dressed in women's clothing. Next to this scarecrow, the Slavs baked pancakes and had fun, moving down from these hills.
Throughout the week, people visited guests and spent evenings at the table. For entertainment, they also organized fist gods, various staged performances, skated on ice, threw snowballs, went and had fun at fairs. In recent days, people have used clay whistles to invite spring. These sounds were something like birdsong, arriving with the onset of warmth, that is, in early spring.
The children made small stuffed animals from straw, although they were more likely dolls; in the last days they were thrown into the fire. A large effigy of Maslenitsa was burned on the last day.
Great day
Celebrated on March 21, it is at this time that day is equal to night - the spring equinox. On March 21, it was customary to conduct round dances, various games, praise the pagan gods; on this day, a wheel engulfed in flames was launched from a mountain or any high point in the landscape. It was considered symbol of the Sun, and tongues of flame carried out tongues of light.
Birds on March 21 had a special meaning, since it was believed that the souls of the departed were infused into the birds. To appease their ancestors, the birds were fed cereals and bread crumbs. Towards evening, people gathered on the hills and feasted with the souls of their ancestors.
The holiday played a special role for those who decided to get engaged. In ancient times, March 21 was considered the most popular day for a wedding. In addition, even now this day is the most popular for tying the knot. There is one old Russian proverb about this, which reads as follows: “He who gets married on Great Day will never get divorced.”
The holiday was also called Red slide. Most likely, this name was due to the fact that the ancient Slavs celebrated rituals exclusively at various heights: hills, hillocks, hills.
On March 21, no one worked, people rested throughout the day, work was considered a sin. The whole day had to be spent outdoors with a cheerful company.
Mermaid Week
It is believed that the period from June 14 to June 20 was the time for the rampant forces of darkness, which meant fortune telling. They guessed mainly about the future and about the betrothed/betrothed. In addition to fortune telling, the ancient Slavs made wishes and prayed to the forces of nature to give generous gifts. This week was special specifically for girls, because it was the most favorable for fortune-telling about their marriage.
During this week it was strictly forbidden to swim in lakes and rivers. The reason for this is that these days were dedicated to sea deities: mermaids and other small gods.
Mermaid Week was celebrated cheerfully, mainly on the banks of rivers, lakes, and also in forest groves.
Kupalo
June 21 is considered the beginning of astronomical summer; in addition, this day is the longest of the year, and the night is the mildest. After Kupalo, the day shortens in favor of night.
Celebrated summer solstice day quite magnificently, with many pagan rituals. They made a big fire, which they jumped over all night, and danced around the fire.
By jumping over the fire, people were purified, and in addition, such a ritual served as a talisman against evil forces.
On June 21, it was already allowed to swim - such bathing had a ritual character. For unmarried girls, Kupala was a special day, since right now they could find their betrothed. The girls wove wreaths from flowers and sent them down the river. The guy who caught the wreath must become the husband of the girl who launched the wreath.
Swimming in rivers and lakes was allowed. It was believed that the Kupala night was magical; at that time the line between the real world and the other world was thinnest. People believed that on this night animals talked with other animals, just like plants with plants. They even believed that trees could walk that night.
The sorcerers on Kupalo prepare special potions, mostly love potions. The grasses in Kupalo were especially strong.
Babino's summer
This holiday lasts from September 14 to 20. At this time, the ancient Slavs collected the harvest and counted it, and also made supplies for the next year.
Harvest Festival
September 21st was the autumnal equinox. The ancient Slavs celebrated rituals on this day, lit large bonfires, and held so-called autumn round dances around them. People welcomed autumn and saw off the warm summer. We whiled away the day with great fun and prepared delicious dishes. Mostly there were big pies; they meant a good harvest next year.
People wished each other all the best and hoped that all their wishes would come true in the new year. In addition, the Slavs renewed the fire in their huts: they completely extinguished the old one, raked out the ashes and lit a new one.
Other holidays of the Eastern Slavs
Solar holidays were described above, but besides them, the Eastern Slavs also celebrated other significant days. They were dedicated to pagan gods. On these days, pagan rituals and ceremonies were carried out.
Rituals and rituals were performed for the following gods: Veles, Yarilo, Perun and others.
The Eastern Slavs always celebrated such holidays in the open air. Mostly the Slavs gathered in forests and on lawns. Elevations - hills, small hills, hillocks - were considered special places for holding such holidays.
Rituals served for the Slavs as a kind of means for conversation, communication, communication with deceased relatives, ancestors and with the spirits of nature.