Russian Christmas time - a period of time, usually dedicated to the so-called winter solstice.Typically, they offer the national solar year.Currently Yule celebrated throughout Russia and are generally considered the youth festival.Youth Favorite entertainment during this period - Christmas carols and various divination.But the Christmas days spent their youth in Russia?We'll talk about all this in detail.
What a holiday - Christmas time?
What is the Christmas day?It is a festive complex having a Slavic origin.Yule period consists of 12 public holidays (by the number of months) and extends from the appearance of the first star (the eve of the Nativity, in Kolyada) until Epiphany.This Christian tradition is celebrated Yule celebration.
What is the Christian tradition in this case?It's simple!Under the influence of the Christian church in Russia originally Slavic holiday - Christmas time - merged with many of the January Christmas rituals.All this has led to what he says has become the church calendar - from the Nativity of Christ (the first star) until Epiphany.
Christmastime in Russia has always divided into two periods: the Holy Supper and terrible evening.The first period started with Christmas and lasted a week.The second began after the first and lasted until Epiphany.If the Holy Supper with the all clear, why follow them started terrible evening?
The fact is that in the old Russian peasants blindly believed in evil.They believed that before Epiphany dark force begins to walk on the ground, so that hell is let loose.True, not everyone understands that the role of the evil forces were young boys and girls, naughty actively in these holidays.For example, at Christmas time it was decided to plug anything chimney, as well as the roll out of the courts of civilians firewood.
How was Christmas time in Russia?
to a series of events in January in the old village youth began to prepare in advance.Girls and boys like to spend time in those days as it is possible more fun.Their favorite pastime was, of course, the legendary caroling.By the way, this custom we owe to the ancient pagan god - Kolyada.So, how were the chants in the winter Christmas time?
To carols were successful, young people had to walk from village to village, holding a silver paper glued star.Girls and boys knocking at the different houses, and when they opened the door, they joyfully sing (caroling) and congratulated the hosts with the current holidays.In return, the boys received any edible (and not) gifts.
In the old days it was decided not only to bestow caroling youth, but also warmly invite boys and girls to his house, sat down at his desk and treating the Christmas dishes.What's really nothing to say, it was a pleasant work - caroling at Christmas time!
What is the Christmas masquerades?Learn more about this.
Masquerades at Christmastime
On the second day after the birth of Christ began the so-called the Christmas masquerades.Each of the boys tried to make myself any original mask-mask.For example, a young man dressed up as wolves and bears, and girls - in chickens and goats.The essence of this masquerade was the fact that you can dress up as a skillful none of the whole village was not supposed to know you!
For this purpose it was necessary not only to make a suit of the animal, but also to dress up as pretty.The boys rubbed their cheeks black with soot, his chin was tied very long loofah, fasten mustache under his nose, fasten the head horns, carved from a turnip teeth, fangs, etc.Then the whole crowd of the masked youth roamed the countryside, sang and danced, scaring the kids.Passersby tried to see them as their friends, children and grandchildren.Who learned he had to take off the mask mask.
most important thing in the Christmas days
The more famous winter Christmas time?Of course, fortune telling!Better time than January holidays, and for that you can imagine.As you know, young people in Russia had a reputation enviable zeal to the knowledge of their immediate future: boys and girls liked especially interesting in the Christmas days, lifts the veil of their own destiny.
Maid, for example, were eager to know when the day of their wedding and who are they - their grooms.Men, in turn, are interested in the character of the bride, her external data.At that time, young people mainly accumulate in the churches, in the baths and the so-called evening, in a word, in a place intended for divination.
Vorozhba and podblyudnye songs
Christmastide in January There are many divination, list them all is simply impossible, so tell only one.One of the highlights of Christmas divination was the so-called divination with podblyudnymi songs.The girls had to dress up and sit down on the bench, standing along someone's hut.Across from them sat a young man.Between them was a table covered with a tablecloth on it.He was put on a huge dish with water.
In this dish had to leave their jewelry: earrings, rings.When she threw into the water, such as a ring, then she had to make a wish and sing a song.Such songs were called podblyudnymi.When the song ended, the young man shook the dish, and then pulled out any one decoration.On the content of the songs sung podblyudnoy and judged on the future fate of the owner of the jewelry.
Interesting facts
So, in this article we learned what had Svyatka: what is this festival, as well as when it was held.But something we are yet to know!For example, at one time in the Russian Empire it was a law, according to which the Christmas day is strictly prohibited, "revels of ancient idolatrous tradition" and "make the streets dancing and singing alluring songs, dressing up in kumirskie and demons of clothes."Fortunately, all of this - the vestiges of the past.
