Paraphrasing a well-known proverb, we can say with confidence: "What Russian does not like holidays ?!" Some of the holidays we used to celebrate since childhood, others become significant dates for us at a more mature age. It is in order to navigate in the series of holidays and related traditions, we will make a short survey of the most popular Russian holidays.
Russian holidays and ceremonies
Winter holidays
Let's start, of course, with the Russian winter holidays - the New Year , Christmas and Epiphany (Jordan). These holidays love everything - from small to large. And, first of all, for some fabulous and unusual celebration. A smart Christmas tree, glitter of tinsel and spruce Christmas decorations, refreshments, waiting for gifts from Santa Claus - all this is connected with the New Year celebration.
A Christmas fortune-telling, carols, and swimming in the ice-hole (Jordan)? - these are also festive rituals. For Christmas (or rather, on the evening of January 6, Christmas Eve), it is customary to cover the festive table, while observing a certain rite - under the table cloth hay, as a symbol of the fact that Jesus was born in a manger, is served 12 fasting dishes, including kutya ( and the Uzvar .
On Epiphany (January 19) it is customary to plunge into an ice hole cut in the form of a cross, thereby flushing away all diseases and sins. For winter, there are several secular holidays, especially those favored by young people - Tatyana's Day (December 25, the holiday of all students) and St.Valentine's Day. Valentine is the patron saint of lovers (February 14).
Winter holidays end with the wires of Winter - Pancake week with its customs to bake pancakes, ask for forgiveness on Forgiveness Sunday, and then have fun and burn the effigy of Winter. Another day, which many celebrate as festive - the New Year celebration in the old style. This unofficial holiday is no less loved and honored. On the night of 13 to 14 January, they also wonder, walk around yards with carols, prepare a rich meal (why the evening is called Shchedry).
Holidays in spring
Next comes the spring holidays, the first of which is celebrated Magpies (the day of the spring equinox, the arrival of the first birds). It is in the spring that great, especially revered, Russian Orthodox holidays are celebrated - the Palm Sunday (the last before Easter) Sunday and Easter. And on the first Sunday after Easter, a holiday is celebrated, symbolizing the final arrival of spring - Krasnaya Gorka.
To the number of great holidays of the Russian people falling in the spring, undoubtedly, one should also refer the celebration of the Victory Day over fascist Germany.
In the list of these holidays many traditions interwoven - secular, pagan, Orthodox. But, nevertheless, these holidays are celebrated everywhere and they can rightly be considered Russian national holidays.
Russian holidays of summer
Summer holidays begin with the Trinity. It is celebrated on the 50th day after Easter. Then follows everyone's favorite holiday of Ivan Kupala (its roots go back to the time of paganism) with its basic rite of jumping over the fire (thus, cleansing from the evil spirits sitting inside the person). The Honey Spas (August 14) are also referred to the great public festivals - the first expelled honey is consecrated in the church, and the Apple Savior (August 19) - apples and grapes are mainly consecrated.
Autumn Holidays
The year ends near a series of autumn holidays, which have been revered in Russia since ancient times.
- September 21 - the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin;
- September 27 - Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord;
- October 14 - Protection;
- November 28 - the beginning of the Christmas Lent.
And since autumn is harvest time, these days people celebrate the days of the national calendar - autumn (September 21, Harvest Day), cabbage (the beginning of October, Sergey Kapustnik's Day - cutting cabbage). By the days of the national autumn calendar, weather was also determined for the upcoming winter.