January is a prosinets. Slavic calendar January section why

In Ancient Rome, the New Year was celebrated not on January 1, but on March 1. Therefore, March was considered the first month. As a result of the calendar reform carried out in Ancient Rome at the direction of Julius Caesar, 45 BC. began not on March 1, as was previously customary, but on January 1. Perhaps that is why January received its name in honor of the ancient Roman god of all beginnings - Janus. Among the ancient Slavs, the names of the months are closely associated with natural phenomena and peasant work. IN Ancient Rus' January was called “cutting” - the time of deforestation. Another name for the month is Prosinets. It indicates the resurgent sun, as the days in January begin to noticeably increase (clear up).

The ancient Roman calendar was divided into ten months and consisted of 304 days. There were no January and February in it. They appeared later. February originally contained 28 days. It was the only month of the year with an even number of days, since, according to the beliefs of the ancients, only an odd number could bring happiness. In 46 BC. A four-year cycle of time calculation was introduced. He consisted of them three years 365 days and one leap day - lasting 366. February received an additional day. In Ancient Rus', February was called fierce and lute because of the severe frosts.

This month received its name from the ancient Romans in honor of the god of war, Mars, who was also revered as the patron of agriculture and cattle breeding. In Ancient Rus' they called it berezozol - evil for birches, since in this month they burned birches for coal. He is also a sap (a reminder of birch sap), a protalnik, spring.

The name of this month goes back to the Latin verb aperire - “to open”, since this month the buds on the trees open, or to the word apricus - “warmed by the sun”. In Ancient Rus', this month was called pollen - after the beginning of flowering of plants. We still have a name similar to this - kviten.

According to one version, the Romans called the last month of spring May in honor of the ancient Italian goddess Maia, to whom sacrifices were made on the first day of May so that she would give the earth a good harvest by autumn. Among the Romans, she is the goddess of fertility, the spring renewal of the earth. Hence May is the month of flowers and love. In May, the earth puts on its best attire. This is immortalized in the Old Slavonic name of the month - grass, pollen, summer.

In 44 BC. was renamed after the Roman statesman Julius Caesar, born this month (earlier name - "quintilis"). Its first name in Ancient Rus' is Lipets, since the linden blossoms at this time. In addition, July is popularly called senostav, roaster.

September. In Ancient Rome, September was originally the seventh month of the year and accordingly was called september from the Latin “septem”, “septimus”. After the calendar form of Julius Caesar, September became the ninth month, but did not change its name. In the old days in Rus', September was called veresne, spring - after the flowering of honey-bearing heather.

October. Before the reform of the ancient Roman calendar, October was the eighth month and was called October (from the Latin "octo" - eight). After the reform, the month took tenth place in the year, but remained with the old name, as many people still call it. In Rus', October was called Fall of the Leaves, golden autumn, leaf blower; from ancient times it was considered a wedding season - at this time weddings took place - after the completion of field work.
November. The ancient Romans considered November the tenth month of the year and called it november (from the Latin “novem” - nine). Its Old Russian name is breast or gruzden. These words are derived from the word pile - frozen rut on the road, frozen hummocky dirt, hummocks. November also has other nicknames: snowfall, leaf fall, half-winter, solstice.
December. In Ancient Rome, the month remained tenth in the calendar for a long time and received its name from the Latin word “desember”, that is, tenth. Its ancient Slavic name is jelly: it chills the earth all winter. Another ancient name is gloom: the sky is frowning more and more often.

We present to your attention several options for reconstructions of the Slavic month book, comparison and order of months in different Slavic languages, as well as detailed explanation origin and meaning of the names of each of the months of the year. It should also be noted that the true Slavic calendar was solar; it was based on 4 seasons (seasons), each of which celebrated the holiday of the solstice (rotate, solstice, equinox). With the advent of Christianity in Rus' they began to use moon calendar, which is based on the period of changing phases of the Moon, as a result of which, to date, a certain “demolition” of dates has formed by 13 days ( a new style). The dates of Slavic pagan holidays (many of which were replaced over time by Christian names) are calculated according to the old true style and “lag” behind the new calendar by 13 days.

Modern name of the month	Option I	Option II	Option III	IV option	VI option
January	Szechenie	Cold	Prosinets	Prosinets	Xichen
February	Lute	Lute	Lute	Szechenie	Snezhen, Bokogray
March	Berezozol	Berezen	Kapelnik	Dry	Zimobor, Protalnik
April	Pollen	Kveten	Pollen	Berezozol	Brezen, Snowgon
May	Traven	Traven	Traven	Traven	Herbal
June	Kresen	Cherven	Multicolor	Kresen	Izok, Kresnik
July	Lipen	Lipen	Groznik	Cherven	Lipets, Stradnik
August	Serpen	Serpen	Zarev	Serpen, Zarev	Zornichnik, Zhniven
September	Veresen	Veresen	Howler	Ruyen	Ruen, Khmuren
October	Leaf fall	yellow	Leaf fall	Listopad, Pazdernik	Dirt Man, Wedding Party
November	Breast	Leaf fall	Breast	Breast	Chest
December	Cold	Breast	Cold	Jelly	Studny

Table 1. Variants of names of Slavic months.

Origin of the names of the months

The Romans originally had a lunar year of 10 months, starting in March and ending in December; as indicated, by the way, by the names of the months. For example, the name of the last month - December - comes from the Latin "deka" (deca), which means tenth. However, soon, according to legend - under King Numa Pompilius or Tarquinius I (Tarquinius the Ancient) - the Romans switched to lunar year at 12 months containing 355 days. To bring it into line with the solar year, they began to add an extra month (mensis intercalarius) from time to time already under Numa. But still a civil year with holidays designed for famous times year, did not coincide at all with the natural year. The calendar was finally put in order by Julius Caesar in 46 BC: he introduced a solar year of 365 days with the insertion of one day in every 4th year (for us this day is February 29); and set the year to begin in January. The calendar and annual cycle were named after the great Roman general and statesman Julian.

The months were designated by the same names as now. The first six months are named after the Italic gods (with the exception of February, which is named after a Roman holiday), July and August were called Quintilis (fifth) and Sextilis (sixth) until the time of Emperor Augustus, they received the names Julius and Augustus in honor of Julius Caesar and Augustus . Thus, the names of the months were as follows: Januarius, Februarius, Martius, Aprilis, Majus, Junius, Quintilis (Julius), Sexlilis (Augustus), September (from the Latin "septem" - seven, seventh), October (from the Latin "okto" " - eight, eighth), November (from the Latin "novem" - nine, ninth) and, finally, December (tenth). In each of these months, the Romans counted the same number of days as they count today. All names of months are adjective names in which the word “mensis” (month) is either implied or added. Calendae was the name of the first day of each month.

In Rus', the word “calendar” has been known only since the end of the 17th century. It was introduced by Emperor Peter I. Before that, it was called the “monthly word”. But no matter what you call it, the goals remain the same - fixing dates and measuring time intervals. The calendar gives us the opportunity to record events in their chronological sequence, serves to highlight special days (dates) in the calendar - holidays, and for many other purposes. Meanwhile, the ancient names of the months are still in use among Ukrainians, Belarusians and Poles!

January so named because it was dedicated by the ancient Romans to Janus, the god of Peace. In our country, in the old days, it was called “Prosinets”, as it is believed, from the blueness of the sky beginning to appear at this time, the radiance, from the intensification, with the addition of day and sunlight. January 21, by the way, is the Prosinets holiday. Take a closer look at the January sky and you will understand that it fully lives up to its name. The Little Russian (Ukrainian) name for January “sechen” (sichen, sіchen) indicates either the turning point of winter, which, according to popular belief, occurs in January, the cutting of winter into two halves, or the bitter, severe frosts. Some researchers identify the root "blue" in the word "prosinets", believing that this name was given to January for the early twilight - with "blue". Some scientists associated the name with the ancient folk custom of going from house to house on Christmastide and asking for treats. In Rus', the month of January was originally the eleventh month, for March was considered the first, but when the year began to be counted from September, January became the fifth; and, finally, since 1700, since the change made in our chronology by Peter the Great, this month became the first.

February among the Romans it was the last month of the year and was named after Febra, the ancient Italian god to whom it was dedicated. The indigenous Slavic-Russian names for this month were: “sechen” (a common name for it with January) or “snezhen”, probably from snowy time or from the verb “sech for snowstorms”, common in this month. In Little Russia, from the 15th century, following the imitation of the Poles, the month of February began to be called “fierce” (or lute), for it is known for its fierce blizzards; The villagers of the northern and middle Russian provinces still call him “side warmer,” because at this time the cattle come out of the barns and warm their sides in the sun, and the owners themselves warmed their sides at the stove. In modern Ukrainian, Belarusian and Polish languages, this month is still called “fierce”.

March. The Egyptians, Jews, Moors, Persians, ancient Greeks and Romans, as well as, once upon a time, our Slavic ancestors, began the year with this month. The name "March" was given to this month by the Romans in honor of the god of war, Mars; it was brought to us from Byzantium. The true Slavic names of this month in the old days in Rus' were different: in the north it was called “dry” (little snow) or “dry” because of the spring warmth, drying up all moisture; in the south - “berezozol”, from the action of the spring sun on the birch, which at this time begins to fill with sweet juice and buds. Zimobor - conquering winter, opening the way to spring and summer, thawed snow - this month the snow begins to melt, thawed patches and drops appear (hence another name drip). The month of March is often called “flight”, since it marks the beginning of spring, the harbinger of summer, and together with the months following it - April and May - it constitutes the so-called “flight” (the holiday of which is celebrated on May 7).

April comes from the Latin verb "aperire" - to open, it actually indicates the opening of spring. The Old Russian names for this month were berezen (brezen) - by analogy with March; snowrunner - streams run, carrying with them the remains of snow, or even pollen, because that’s when the first trees begin to bloom, spring blossoms.

May. The Latin name for this month is given in honor of the goddess Mai, and like many others, it came to us from Byzantium. The Old Russian name for this month was herbal, or herbal (herbalist), which reflected the processes occurring in nature at this time - a riot of growing herbs. This month was considered the third and last summer month. This name is known in the Ukrainian language.

June. The name of this month comes from the word "Iunius", given to it in honor of the goddess Juno by the Romans. In the old days, the original Russian name for this month was izok. Izokom was the name given to a grasshopper, of which there was particular abundance this month. Another name for this month is worm, especially common among Little Russians, from chervetsa or worm; This is the name given to a special kind of dye worms that appear at this time. This month is also called the month of many colors, because nature gives birth to an indescribable riot of colors of flowering plants. In addition, in ancient times, the month of June was very often popularly called kresnik - from the word “kres” (fire).

July comes from the name "Julius", given in honor of Gaius Julius Caesar, and, of course, has Roman roots. In our old days, it was called, like June - cherven - from the fruits and berries that ripen in July and are distinguished by their special reddishness (scarlet, red). The folk poetic expression “red summer” can serve as a literal translation of the name of the month, which draws attention to the brightness of the summer sun. Another original Slavic name for July is Lipets (or Lipen), which is now used in Polish, Ukrainian and Belarusian as the month of linden blossoms. July is also called the “top of summer”, since it is considered the last month of summer (July 20 is celebrated as “Perun’s Day”, after which, according to popular beliefs, autumn comes), or also “sufferer” - from the painful summer work, “thunderstorm” - from severe thunderstorms.

August. Like the previous one, this month received its name from the name of the Roman emperor - Augustus. Indigenous Old Russian names the months were different. In the north it was called “glow” - from the radiance of lightning; in the south, “serpen” comes from a sickle used to remove grain from the fields. Often this month is given the name “glow”, in which one cannot help but see a modified old name “glow”. The name “stubble” will be unnecessary to explain, because in this month the time came for harvesting the fields and harvesting. Some sources interpret the glow as associated with the verb “to roar” and denotes the period of roaring of animals during estrus, while others suggest that the name of the month refers to thunderstorms and evening lightning.

September- “September”, the ninth month of the year, among the Romans it was the seventh, which is why it got its name (from the Latin word “septem” - seventh). In the old days, the original Russian name for the month was “ruin” - from the roar of autumn winds and animals, especially deer. The Old Russian form of the verb “ryuti” (to roar) is known, which when applied to the autumn wind meant “to roar, to blow, to call.” He received the name “gloomy” due to his weather differences from others - the sky often begins to frown, it rains, autumn is in nature. Another name for this month, “heather,” is explained by the fact that the heather begins to bloom at this time.

October- "October", the tenth month of the year; among the Romans it was the eighth, which is why it got its name (from the Latin “octo” - eight). Our ancestors know it under the name “leaf fall” - from the fall of leaves in the autumn, or “pusdernik” - from puzderi, bonfire, since in this month flax, hemp, and habits begin to crush. Otherwise - a “dirty man”, from the autumn rains that cause bad weather and dirt, or a “wedding man” - from the weddings that peasants celebrate at this time.

November. We call the eleventh month of the year "November", but among the Romans it was the ninth, which is why it got its name (nover - nine). In the old days, this month was called the month itself (breast or thoracic), from piles of frozen earth with snow, since in general in the ancient Russian language the winter frozen road was called the chest path. In Dahl's dictionary, the regional word "heap" means "frozen ruts along the road, frozen hummocky mud."

December. “Decemvriy” (lat. december) is our name for the 12th month of the year; among the Romans it was tenth, which is why it got its name (decem - ten). Our ancestors called it “studen”, or “icy” - from the cold and frosts common at that time.

The word “month” itself indicates the connection between the allocation of such a chronological period and the lunar cycles and has pan-European roots. Consequently, the length of the month ranged from 28 to 31 days; it is not yet possible to more accurately indicate the count of days by month.

Modern name	Russian	Ukrainian	Belorussian	Polish	Czech
January	Szechenie	Sichen	Studzen	Styczen	Leden
February	Lute	Lutius	Lyuty	Luty	Unor
March	Berezen	Berezen	Sakavik	Marzec	Brezen
April	Kveten	Kviten	Handsome	Kwiecien	Duben
May	Traven	Traven	Traven	Maj	Kveten
June	Cherven	Cherven	Cherven	Czerwiec	Cerven
July	Lipen	Lipen	Lipen	Lipiec	Cervenec
August	Serpen	Serpen	Zhniven	Sierpien	Srpen
September	Veresen	Veresen	Verasen	Wrzesien	Zari
October	Leaf fall	Zhovten	Kastrynchnik	Pazdzernik	Rijen
November	Breast	Leaf fall	Listapad	Listopad	Listopad
December	Cold	Breast	Snezhan	Grudzien	Prosinec

Table 2. Comparative names of the months in different Slavic languages.

In the "Ostromir Gospel" (11th century) and other ancient written monuments, January corresponded to the name Prosinets (since it became lighter at that time), February - Sechen (since it was the deforestation season), March - dry (since in some places the earth was already drying up), April - birch, berezozol (names associated with birch beginning to bloom), May - grass (from the word "grass"), June - izok (grasshopper), July - cherven, serpen (from the word "sickle", indicating the time of harvest), August - glow (from "glow"), September - ryuen (from "roar" and the roar of animals), October - leaf fall, November and December - breast (from the word "heap" - frozen rut on the road) , sometimes - jelly.

Thus, the Slavs did not have common ideas about the order and names of the months. From the entire mass of names, Proto-Slavic names are revealed, which indicates the unity of the origin of the calendar. The etymology of names is also not always clear and gives rise to various kinds of disputes and speculation on this topic. The only thing that most reenactors agree on is the connection between the names and natural phenomena, characteristic of the annual cycle.

The word “calendar” goes back to the Latin “calendae” (the first day of the month), and it, in turn, to the verb “calare”, which means “to call out”: in Ancient Rome the duty of the chief priest was to loudly proclaim the first day of each new month. In general, calendars were created to measure time, the periodicity of natural phenomena, seasons and holidays. I will try to create a “bell calendar”, where the bells will reflect the main holidays of the month, folk festivals, traditions, symbolism and the beauty of nature.

Open the calendar -
January begins.

In January, in January
There is a lot of snow in the yard.

Snow - on the roof, on the porch.
The sun is in the blue sky.
The stoves are heated in our house,
Smoke rises into the sky in a column.

(S. Marshak)

Famous sayings and signs in January:

The month of January is the sovereign of winter;

January puts on a sheepskin coat to the toes, paints cunning patterns on the windows;

January - spring grandfather;

If the echo goes far in January, the frosts become stronger;

If it's March in January, be afraid of January in March.

January - prosinets, the turning point of winter, winter break.

January weather

January is the beginning of the year, the middle of winter. The month of January received its name in honor of the Roman god Janus - the deity of the sky and sunlight, symbolizing the beginning and end, entrance and exit, past and future. He opened the gates of heaven, releasing the sun into the sky, and at night he closed them again. According to legend, Janus taught people crafts, agriculture and time calculation. This pedantic god kept count of days, months and years: the number 300 (CCS) was inscribed on the fingers of his right hand, and 65 (LXV) on the fingers of his left hand, which gave a total of 365 - the total number of days in the year.

Author's work "Winter's Tale" from the Veliky Ustyug Toy Museum

The Saxons called the first month of the year the month of the wolf. And the Slavs gave different names- snowflake, prosinets, iceman. The name “prosinets” comes from the ancient Russian word “sin” - light, bright, red. January was also called “cut” - it cuts the winter in half. January is crackling - “fierce”, “crackling”, “snowman”. And the sun turns from January to summer. According to popular belief, it, dressed in a bright sundress and kokoshnik, rides out and directs its horses onto the summer road.

Father Frost

In nature, January is the very middle of winter, the time of severe cold. Frost and wind chill all living things, drive animals into holes and lairs; In January there is snow everywhere, rivers freeze, trees are covered with frost, winter comes into its own. Despite the severe frosts, people affectionately call this time “winter-winter.”

Snow Maiden. Larisa Nagurnaya

“Good, pure Russians snowy winters. Deep snowdrifts sparkle in the sun. Large and small rivers disappeared under the ice. On a frosty, quiet morning, smoke rises into the sky in pillars over the roofs of village houses. Under a snow coat, the earth is resting, gaining strength.... And how beautiful is the winter dawn, the morning dawn, when snow-covered fields and hillocks are illuminated by the golden rays of the rising sun and the dazzling whiteness sparkles! The Russian winter is extraordinary, bright winter days, moonlit nights!..,” this is how I.S. describes. Sokolov-Mikitov Russian winter.

Christmas tree

January holidays are the most long-awaited and most fun of the year. New Year– one of the most important events of the year. Previously, on the first day of the year, farmers tried to find out about the character next months, about the harvest, about the fate of oneself and loved ones.

Christmas Eve. Elena Lapteva

The most important symbols of this holiday are Father Frost, Snow Maiden and Christmas tree. Since ancient times, Santa Claus was simply a spirit of cold. People did not expect gifts from him, but brought them themselves - they threw cakes with meat over the threshold of their homes to appease Frost. In the West, this wizard was called Saint Nicholas or Santa Claus. And only towards the end of the 19th century a different idea of ​​Grandfather Frost emerges, who congratulates, gifts and caresses children. The Snow Maiden is a positive image that appeared in ancient times. But this folklore character was poeticized by A.N. Ostrovsky in his famous spring fairy tale. Having melted with love in the spring, the Snow Maiden began her life in literature and art.

Christmas

Eve or Christmas Eve, or rather the evening before Christmas, got its name from the ritual food - sochiva, i.e. grain porridge. Although this day seems to be a holiday, feasts were not accepted; the rule “you can’t do it until the first star” makes you not only remember the Star of Bethlehem, but also look forward to it.

Merry Christmas. N. Minkova

According to popular beliefs, on the eve of the Nativity of Christ, miracles occur in nature. On Christmas Eve, it’s as if trees begin to move from place to place, or even bloom for a moment in the bitterest frost, livestock can speak to their owners in a human voice, water in a well may well turn into wine, and flooded temples suddenly rise from the bottom of lakes and monasteries, and the ringing of their bell towers can be heard.

Goat (carols). L. Ostroverkhova

Birthday God's son- the favorite Christian holiday in January. All-night services in churches, fun, feasting, gifts, noisy games are mandatory attributes of Christmas. In peasant huts, Christmas trees were not decorated; this tradition existed only in wealthy houses, mostly urban ones. But all the children received gifts, and even the poorest poor man tried to please his kids with at least a gingerbread.

Baptism. Oksana Shafieva

Christmastide will last for two whole weeks after Christmas until Epiphany - the longest holiday in the peasant calendar, a time of cheerful fun, games in the fresh air, caroling and fortune-telling. Carols or winter Christmas songs are found not only in the folklore of Slavic, but also European peoples; the name itself goes back to the Greco-Roman New Year holiday calendae. Initially, these songs had a magical meaning: the glorification of the owner of the house and his family members was supposed to evoke wealth, harvest and offspring with the help of verbal images. It was believed that the more carolers who came into the house, the better. In gratitude for the good news about the birth of Christ, the renewal of the world, it was customary to give treats from the festive table.

Winter-winter. Lakeeva

Mummering - element national holidays, ritual and play dressing up using masks. The world of Russian mummers' characters was quite diverse: they could portray various animals and birds, a lady, a gypsy, beggars, kikimora, witches, the devil, etc. The background music and noise consisted of the ringing of bells, bells, and the knocking of spoons.

Christmastide ends with Epiphany; the main event of this holiday was the blessing of water. In addition to swimming in the ice hole, bridesmaids were organized on this day: dressed up girls lined up near the ice hole, and the boys chose brides for themselves.

By magic. S. Sheronova

On long winter January evenings, it’s time to tell stories and fairy tales. We remembered the fairy tale about Emelya and the pike, Morozko and the Snow Maiden.

Morozko. Khokhlova

Snow Maiden. O. Guseva

The Catholic Christmas week ends with the feast of the Three Kings or Wise Men. The content of the holiday is a church legend about the worship of the baby Jesus by the pagan kings - the magicians Caspar, Melchior and Belshazzar, who came with gifts to Bethlehem.

Feast of the Three Kings

The traditional flower of January in England is the carnation. She personifies love and admiration, purity and freshness.

January girl. Marjorie Sarnat

Sources:
I.I. Shangina. Russian traditional holidays. – St. Petersburg: ABC-classics, 2008. -336 p.
Big book about nature: Poems, stories, riddles, signs, proverbs / Artist. V. Dugin. – M.: Bustard-Plus, 2008. – 208 p.
All year round. Russian agricultural calendar. - M: “Pravda”, 1989. – 496 p.
Discovery magazine No. 1, 2011.
http://retroman.ru/origin-of-month-names.html
http://origin.iknowit.ru/paper1133.html
http://rudocs.exdat.com/docs/index-359439.html#10846391
http://www.razumniki.ru/korotkie_rasskazy_pro_zimu.html

This is a holiday dedicated to the month, which on the 9th day after Kolyada transfers the Sun-Sivoyar to Other, so that the new Sun-God may reign in the world. In honor of the Month of Veles, dumplings, a ritual dish of the New Year, are prepared. Boys and unmarried young men sow at home, marking the birth of a new life, while a ritual prayer is said:

I sow sow and sow. Happy New Year. Sow and be born live-wheat, live-wheat, all arable land. For happiness, good health, much for the Master, the hostess, and the entire White World!

New Year is the holiday of the birth of a new month or the holiday of Vasily. This ancient Slavic name is associated with the month and Varna Vesey, that is, peasants who, according to Ori mythology, were formed from the womb of the first man - the World. This is where the words “whole” (village), “all” come from.

The ritual dish of the New Year is dumplings. Ears of the month

For 1 kg of dough you need: 600 g flour, 3 eggs, 40 g melted butter, 250 g sugar, 10 g salt. Types of filling: braised cabbage, cottage cheese mashed with yolk, butter and sugar, boiled potatoes with fried onions and mushrooms (per 100 g of dough - 110-115 g of filling).

Pour milk into the sifted flour, add eggs, salt, sugar, pour in the melted butter(you can use fresh milk) and knead the dough of medium thickness. Roll out the prepared dough into a layer 1-1.5 mm thick. Using a glass, cut out circles. Place the filling on each circle and pinch the edges of the dumpling to form a month. Prepared dumplings are placed in a large number of salted boiling water and cook for 5-6 minutes until they float to the surface. Fry in oil with onions, pour it over the prepared dumplings and serve. Pour sour cream into a separate bowl.

It should also be noted that on New Year’s Day the yard is plowed with a plow - the owner of the house symbolically walks around the house with a plow. This symbolizes the descent of Divine power onto the earth and its fertilization for the new birth of the harvest. Before Christmas, the “old sun” seemed to have died, and on the ninth day (January 1) it set off in a moon boat along the river (the passage of time is “year”) to Paradise, that is, a funeral took place (Hore - God of the month among the Slavs, Charon - carrier of the dead across the river of death among the Greeks). We can consider the time when the boat went to Eternity as a reference. According to our Slavic custom, the funeral was accompanied by sowing for “eternal life,” because a funeral is not death, but a transition to another life. Therefore, on New Year's Day, people sow their homes for Wealth and Goodness, despite the fact that it is winter outside.

Seeding

The boys go home to sow seeds before sunrise. They put mixtures of grains (rye, wheat, peas, millet, etc.) into a bag or mitten and in each house they shower the owner and the house with these grains, saying:

For happiness, for health, for a new summer;

Give birth, O God, rye-wheat, and all arable land;

Good afternoon, Happy New Year and be healthy;

I sow, weed, I sow, I congratulate you on the New Year;

Sow, be born rye-wheat and all arable land.

Happy New Year and be healthy!

The chief sower is invited to sit down, saying:

“Sit down with us and sit, so that everything sits well with us: the chickens, and the geese, and the ducks, and the swarms, and the elders.”

During sowing, girls and boys catch grains and guess from them: if the number of grains turns out to be in pairs, then there will be a wedding this year, and vice versa. The grain that was sown is carefully collected by the owners and stored until sowing, and then thrown into the ground with other seeds. Some of them are also given to chickens to help them lay eggs better.

The owners themselves go to wish the local sorcerer a Happy New Year and, instead of mixed grain, bring him a bag of buckwheat, oats, wheat, etc. Returning from the temple, the owner fumes the house with thyme, and then the family sits down to dinner.

If children sow at dawn, then after the service adults also do this when visiting friends. friend. At the same time, there was one difference - they do not sow the house with grain, but sprinkle it on the owners, saying:

Sow, be born rye-wheat, all arable land,

For happiness, for health, for the New Year,

To give birth better than last year

Hemp to the ceiling, and flax to the knee,

So that you, the grandchildren of Dazhbozhy, don’t have a headache.

Be healthy. Happy New Year. God grant!

During the New Year's day, groups of young people walk around the village in disguise. Among them there must be Vasily, Melanka, grandfather, woman, etc. They take with them a goat, a horse, a plow or ralo, a sickle and a stick. Entering the yard, they do the New Year's sowing: they plow and sow the snow, and then drag it. Having entered the house, they perform a variety of playful actions: they sprinkle water on those gathered, paint the chimney, smear clay on household items, “talk” to the stove, sweep the floor “inside out,” make “quarrels” and “peace settlements,” and in the end they demand refreshments. The purpose of these actions is to deceive evil forces and attract wealth into the house.

Holy evening. Hungry Kutia

On the eve of the Blessing of the Waters, Christmas Eve is celebrated - Hungry Kutya. Just like on Bogataya Kutya, only Lenten dishes are prepared, but in smaller quantities.

In the evening, a service is held in the temples and the “evening water” is blessed, which is also considered useful against any misfortune. Returning from the temple, the owner takes a bunch of ears or medicinal herbs and sprinkles the house with sacred water.

On the eve of the Blessing of the Waters, one must remain in strict fasting; a hungry kutia is being prepared.

During this period, the Sun is closest to the Earth and begins to rage and fill with youthful strength. At this moment it influences the water - Dana, filling it with divine power. Therefore, the Blessing of Waters is also called Yar-Dana. In the morning, people go to reservoirs to stock up on holy water for the whole year, which at this time has miraculous healing powers. On a river or pond, an equilateral cross or a circle-hole is cut out of ice, which symbolize the Sun. Next to the cross there is a throne made of ice entwined with pine branches - the so-called “heavenly gate”.

Magi and priests consecrate Yar-Dan water. People, having taken consecrated water, wash their eyes so that they can see well, their ears so that they can hear well (and only good words), the forehead so that the head is wise, and at home they wipe the body so that it is as healthy as water. The brave souls swim in the ice hole, knowing that they will not get sick for a whole year and will be blessed.

The water collected at the Blessing of Waters is used for various diseases - they wash sore spots, sprinkle houses and households. In every house throughout the year, under the images there had to be a bottle of consecrated water, which, if consecrated according to all the rules, could stand for a whole year without spoiling.

On a river or pond, an equilateral cross or a circle-hole is cut out of ice, which symbolizes the Sun. Next to the cross there is a throne, also made of ice and entwined with pine branches - the so-called “heavenly gate”.

From the church where the service took place, people carry banners and flags. After the service on the river, the pigeons they brought with them are released, and the hunters salute with their guns. People draw water from the ice hole carefully so as not to fall. Having collected consecrated water, people wash their eyes here so that they can see well, their ears so that they can hear well (and only good words), their forehead so that their head can be wise, and at home they wipe their body so that they can be as healthy as water. The brave souls swim in the ice hole, knowing that they will not get sick for a whole year and will be blessed.

Prayer for God's grace Said before diving into the hole

The path of the Orthodox Faith-Veda

I believe in the Most High Race - the One and Many-Faced God, the source of all that exists and bears, which is the Eternal treasure for all Gods.

I know that the Universe is a Genus, and all the many-named Gods are united in it.

I believe in the trinity of existence of Rule, Reveal and Navi, and that Rule is the Truth, and it was retold to the Fathers Our forefathers.

I know that Prava is with us, and we are not afraid of Navi, for Navi has no power against us.

I believe in unity with the Native Gods, because Dajbozh’s grandchildren we are the favorites of the Gods. And the Gods keep their right hands on our rallies.

I know that life in the Great Family is eternal, and we must take care of the eternal, walking the paths of Rule.

I believe in the power and wisdom of the Ancestors who are born among us, leading us to good through our Guides.

I know that strength lies in the unity of the Slavic-Orian Clans, and that we will become glorious by glorifying the Native Gods.

Glory to the Most High Family, Gods and Ancestors!

Dana- Goddess of Water, Mother Voditsa, the primordial water Dyva, cosmic water, manifests itself in reality in all bodies of water and
rivers, feminine peace. Dana is young Lada, she comes to us along with fire and light during the birth of the Universe by the Goddess Lada. It is the basis of physical health and beauty. The Gods bequeathed water to sanctify Dana - this is the wife of Dazhdbog and his opposite. Dana and Dazhdbog are Lelya and Polel, children of the Great Mother Lada. We know that water is also multi-manifest and, like the Sun-Dazhdbog, resides in four states throughout the year. The wedding of Dana and Dazhdbog is celebrated by the Gods and the whole world on Kupala.

The tree of the Goddess Dana is the linden tree, the day for glorification is January 6, as well as every Friday. They glorify Dana near healing springs, before they are cleaned and decorated with ribbons, images are sharpened and idols are placed. There should always be vessels at springs and wells so that the traveler can drink. The water of Dana not only cleanses and sanctifies, that is why it is called right, living and dead, it also washes evergreen tree Rhoda. Dana is often called by young girls, trying to find a loved one, they also call her at Glorifications, so that she can purify and sanctify their bodies and souls.

Dana is mentioned in ancient folk choruses: “Oh Dana, Dana,” “Shidi-ridi, Dana.” The name of the Goddess of Water is also indicated by the names of many of our rivers: Don, Danube, Dnieper, Dniester, Desna, Dvina. The goddess Dana was also revered by the Celts and Indo-Aryans. Hindus still have temples dedicated to the goddess Danu (at lakes Batur and Bratan in Indonesia), who is considered the embodiment of primeval waters.

Prayer-Praise to Dana

Dana the Maiden, Holy Water! You flow with milky rivers and fertile rains, you saturate the Earth, you please the Sun, you release rays from behind the cold clouds. The ant grass grows tall, the spring wheat grows rich. We sing Glory to You with all our Family, we let the loaf of bread flow into the holy river. Receive him, Dana, a week early from the Orthodox Family, from the Life-Manifested World. Your holy water, Young Dana, Your happy water, Our beautiful Virgin. They did not seethe with floods, hail, or dark waters, but only with rich rains and murmuring streams, from which the harvests grow and our bins are filled with bread. Bless, Dana, show us your will. Glory to Mother Dana!

Ritual dish - crucian carp or just river fish

Fish on this day is considered a direct manifestation of the Almighty, therefore all Slavs, regardless of the level of spiritual dedication, use it to sanctify their body and unity with God.

2 large crucian carp, 1 onion, 6-8 salted or pickled mushrooms, a pinch of salt and ground black pepper, 2 tablespoons of sunflower oil.

Clean the crucian carp, gut it, remove the gills, but do not cut off the heads. Rinse well in cold water, blot dry. Then rub with salt, sprinkle with pepper and stuff with chopped mushrooms and fried onions.

Place the fish in a deep, generously greased sunflower oil frying pan Lubricate the crucian carp with oil too. Bake in a stove or oven at average temperature until done, carefully turning occasionally.

Dedications

A kind of transitional day between entertainment and everyday chores is the dedication, which falls on the second day after the Blessing of the Waters. On this day, they take bread and salt out of the house, which lie in Pokutya from Bogata Kutya, and, breaking it into pieces, feed the animals. They do the same with hay.

On this day the Christmas holidays come to an end. People don’t work, they gather for the last vespers, where they say goodbye to Christmastide.

The beginning of the week, when it is customary to guess the future, the middle of the calendar winter - the conditional plunge of the world into darkness, Nav - where the past and the future intersect. Fortune-telling rituals based on the weather, birds and animals are carried out. This week you should pay attention to your spiritual life, think about your purpose and its best fulfillment.

Fortune telling for the future, the Magi's appeal to the Other World. The Magi perform the holy sacraments. The holiday is held only by Spiritual Guides.

Almost all holidays among the Slavs coincide with the cycle of life of the Earth, and therefore not only the spiritual principle is important, but also something else - familiarization with Nature, bringing into one’s life the feeling that the Earth is living matter. For thousands of years, natural calendars have served people, helping them to cultivate the land, harvest crops, hunt and fish on time. The year, divided into 12 parts, is depicted on ritual thickets, and each month corresponded special sign, The annual wheel - Kolo Svarog - carried in itself special meaning, which consisted in the eternal rebirth and renewal of all living things. But the calendar is important not only for everyday life, it is always decorated with joyful holidays.

January (Siechen, Stuzhen)

January 1 (sickness, cold) noted Morok (Frost) Day. Once upon a time, the god of severe cold Morok 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 Shchedrets that precedes it, is a family holiday.

From January 1 to January 6 (cold) are noted Veles Days or Scary, Warlike Evenings- the second part of the Great Veles Christmastide, which begins with the Day of Morok (Frost) and ends with Turitsy. 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 of Veles and Mokosha and is the patron of shepherds, guslars and buffoons, brave 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 the Epiphany of the Lord (otherwise called Epiphany) on this day.

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 the winter cold, enters her full force. This day is considered by the people to be a “terrible” day, a dangerous day for all living things. It is not celebrated as a holiday itself, so 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 Domovoy, with a request 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.