Winter now does not always please with snowy weather, but with the approach of New Year's celebrations, the mood still rises in anticipation of carnivals, noisy feasts, fireworks and gifts. At the end of the year, the calendar pleases us with a whole series of interesting holidays which take several weeks. If we add to them Catholic Christmas Happy Chinese New Year, and our people love to have fun on any suitable occasion, then you can have fun in clubs and at merry parties until spring. But here we will list the traditional Russian winter holidays that have become Eastern Slavs folk. Knowing history will help you better prepare for the upcoming fun and will give you the opportunity to show off your erudition in the company if by chance a debate arises on this fascinating topic.
Winter holiday traditions
Many kings and emperors, trying to look like reformers, began to redraw calendars, ban old celebrations and introduce their own in their place. Sometimes such undertakings were forgotten after the death of dictators, but in other cases interesting ideas took root, especially when they fell on fertile soil. The Slavs have always been famous for their ability to party from the heart, so they did not particularly oppose Tsar Peter’s new desire, and since 1699, the tradition of decorating green Christmas trees on New Year’s Eve gradually became nationwide. European innovations in date coincided very well with the Great Winter Christmastide ( January 7 – January 19). The country's new main winter holiday was in many ways reminiscent of Christmas games, when people dressed up as devils, animals and other creatures, collected treats from local residents, and walked with songs and carols through the streets.
For Christians, Christmas is undoubtedly in first place among the New Year's winter holidays. They begin to meet him back in ( 6th January), when you should remember the deceased at the Lenten table in the circle of your closest people. Jan. 7 It was already allowed to hold colorful processions with the star in carnival costumes. Thus, the old rituals successfully merged with Christian traditions, and the people had the opportunity to noisily spend the winter holidays, following the customs of their ancestors, without violating new laws.
(13th of January) - a consequence of Lenin's reforms, when the Bolsheviks rigidly transferred the country from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar, moving all winter holidays by as much as 13 days. Naturally, the people accepted such innovations in their own way, beginning to celebrate them both in the old and in the newly introduced style. In the Christian calendar Old New Year falls on the remembrance of St. Melania and Vasil, which was always reflected in folk rituals. For example, in Ukrainian villages they dressed up a guy as Melanka, and Vasily - beautiful girl, and they, in the company of mummered gypsies, a goat, a bear, a grandfather, a woman and other characters, went around the entire village with special songs of generosity.
Epiphany Christmas Eve ( January 18) marked preparation for big holiday- The Great Blessing of Water. 
One had to fast, eat vegetable pancakes, porridge, kutya, and honey pancakes. On the Epiphany of the Lord, Epiphany ( January 19) people flocked to the reservoirs, where services were held near the cross-shaped hole (Jordan). By the way, bathing in it, even in the cold, was considered beneficial for health, because it complete cleansing bodies from sins.
We think that our short review can end here, although after Epiphany there is much more interesting dates. You can describe for a long time what winter holidays are like, mentioning, for example, Tatiana’s cheerful day ( The 25th of January) or Valentine's Day ( The 14th of February), but the format of the article simply does not fit such a large material. We wish you a joyful celebration of New Year's celebrations in the new and old style!
Christmas time:
Christmas time is the two weeks of winter holidays between Christmas and Epiphany, from December 25/January 7 to January 6/19 of the following year. Originally, Christmastide was a pagan holiday. After all, before the adoption of Christianity in Rus', Christmastide was a festival in honor of supreme god Belbog's sky. He was also called Svyatovit, hence the name “Svyatki”. Christmastide in ancient times was not a fun activity like it is now. Christmas rituals at that time were not only fortune-telling about the future, but also spells for the whole year. Our ancestors believed in magical power rituals and believed that the harvest, success in hunting, the well-being of the next year, and therefore the lives of people depended on the correctness of their implementation.
With the adoption of Christianity, Christmastide did not disappear, but “adapted” to church calendar. They took place between the holidays of Christmas and Epiphany, but the pagan nature was preserved in various rituals, fortune telling, and signs.
“Once upon a time, Kolyada was not perceived as a mummer. Kolyada was a deity, and one of the most influential. They called carols and called. The days before the New Year were dedicated to Kolyada, and games were organized in her honor. It is believed that Kolyada was recognized by the Slavs as the deity of fun, which is why they called him and called him on New Year's festivities Strizhev A. Folk calendar- M.: Nauka, 1993 - p. 75".
The celebration of Kolyada, with its joy and optimism, expressed the faith of ancient Russian pagans in the inevitability of the victory of good principles over the forces of evil. To help Kolyada ward off evil spirits, those celebrating his day burned bonfires. They sang and danced around them. After the adoption of Christianity, the optimism and life-affirmation of the Kolyada celebrations received new content in the celebration of the Nativity of Christ, and ritual pagan customs turned into fun game on Christmastide. These days, just like in ancient times, bonfires were lit, boys and girls, and sometimes young people, acted as carolers. married men, And married women. To do this, they gathered in a small group and walked around peasant houses. This group was led by a fur-bearer with a large bag.
Carolers went around the houses of peasants, calling themselves “difficult guests”, bringing the owner of the house the good news that Jesus Christ was born. They called on the owner to greet them with dignity and allow them to call Kolyada under the window, i.e. sing special benevolent songs called carols.
After singing the songs, they asked the owners for a reward. In rare cases, when the owners refused to listen to the carolers, they reproached them for greed. In general, they took the arrival of the carolers very seriously, gladly accepted all the dignifications and wishes, and tried to give them gifts as generously as possible.
“Difficult guests” put the gifts in a bag and went to the next house. In large villages and hamlets, 5-10 groups of carolers came to each house. Caroling was known throughout Russia, but was distinguished by its local originality. So, in middle lane In European Russia, as well as in the Volga region, the songs of carolers were addressed to all family members and were accompanied by exclamations of “Osen, Tausen, Usen” or “Kolyada”, which gave the name to the ritual itself - “Click Osen”, “Click Kolyada”.
IN different parts In Russia, caroling took place in different ways. So. For example, in the northern provinces European Russia caroling took on a slightly different form. Here carol songs were aimed at glorifying each family member living in the house. The carolers began with songs under the window, and the ritual itself ended in the hut with a traditional request for alms.
As a result, the ritual of caroling consisted of a kind of exchange of gifts, gift for gift. The carolers “gave” prosperity to the peasant house for the whole year, and the owners gave them kozulki, as well as pies, cheesecakes, beer, and money. It is worth saying that in many areas of Russia, bread products were considered the main gift. On the eve of Christmas, kozulki were baked especially for distribution to carolers. Carol songs have always been varied. And this diversity depended on in which region, in which region the caroling took place.
The rite of caroling is considered an ancient rite, which was known not only to Russians, but also to others. Slavic peoples. For the ancient Slavs, the arrival of carolers was perceived as a return from another world of deceased ancestors to the homes of their descendants. Therefore, gifting them served as something of a sacrifice in the hope of help and protection in the coming year.
b) Glorification of our kings. Although in Russia there was no Western holiday, the journey of the three kings, but since the time of Alexei Mikhailovich, it was introduced for sovereigns to go to praise even their subjects on Christmastide. The glorification began at noon of the holiday as follows: Russians simply folk holidays. M., 1837, p. 56.. The procession is preceded by two officials with drums in their hands and striking them with sticks wrapped in cloth. The king follows them with all the clergy and a crowd of princes and boyars. They ride on a sleigh and visit the noblest nobles of the court.
Upon entering someone’s house, they sing: “We praise you to God” and congratulate you on the New Year. Then the owner gives the king a gift of money and treats him and his retinue. After the treat, they go to another nobleman. Those who shied away from glorification were punished with a whip and batogs. Under Empress Elizabeth Petrovna in Rus', on the Nativity of Christ, court singers were given a dacha (salary) under the title of glorified.
c) New Year. IN ancient times The New Year was most often associated with spring - the beginning of the rebirth of nature. In Rus', since the introduction of Christianity, the New Year was celebrated on March 1. In 1343, the Moscow Council decided to count the new year, according to the Greek church calendar, from September 1, but the custom of celebrating the New Year in the spring turned out to be so tenacious that the calculation from March continued for about 150 years, and only in 1492 at the Moscow Council it was finally decided to count year from September 1st. This resolution of the council was approved by Grand Duke Ivan III Vasilievich, and everyone had to comply with it. Celebrating the New Year in September continued for more than two hundred years, last time- in 1698.
Already in next year Peter I, returning from his first trip to Europe, began to break old customs. It began with the tsar’s categorical prohibition to celebrate September 1st in a festive way, even at home. Night watchmen with large sticks in their hands, seeing the light between the cracks of the shutters, strictly ordered to “put out the lights.” And only on December 15, a drumbeat was heard across Moscow - a sign that an important royal decree was about to be announced.
And indeed, on a high platform on Red Square, the clerk loudly read the decree “On the celebration of the New Year”, that “ great sovereign“he commanded that “from now on, summers should be counted in orders and written in all matters and fortresses” not in the old way from September 1, but from January 1.
The change in chronology was called “a good and useful deed,” and it was further reported that “as a sign of a good beginning and a new centenary century,” it should be celebrated in Moscow on January 1, 1700 as follows: “On large thoroughfares and noble streets and at houses of deliberate spiritual and worldly in front of the gates, make some decorations from trees and branches of pine, spruce, juniper, fire small cannons and rifles, launch rockets, as many as you can, and light fires. And for poor people, each one should at least place a tree or a branch on his gate or over his temple.” At the end of the decree it was said: “And so that the future general is ready by the 1st of 1700. And that decoration will stand until the 7th of the same year. Yes, on the first day of January, as a sign of joy, congratulate each other on the new year and the centenary, and do this when the fiery fun begins on Big Red Square and there is shooting.”
The implementation of this decree was strictly monitored. Peter I himself began the celebration on Red Square by firing the first rocket. The next day, the king received congratulations on the New Year and arranged a magnificent feast in the palace. It is curious that the decree did not provide for the presentation of gifts on New Year's Day, although this tradition, of course, had long-standing, deep roots.
Baptism:
Epiphany - big Christian holiday, in memory of the day when Jesus Christ was declared Savior, Messiah by a voice from heaven (Epiphany) and received baptism in the waters of the Jordan from John the Baptist. Christmastide ends with the feast of Epiphany. The holiday began on the evening of January 18, when all Orthodox Christians celebrated Epiphany Eve.
Epiphany Christmas Eve is a strict fast, preparation before the great Orthodox holiday called the Epiphany of the Lord. On the day of Epiphany, the blessing of water is held. It is believed that consecrated water does not spoil throughout the year and has healing and miraculous properties.
Our pagan ancestors worshiped the elements. And if at Christmas they worshiped all-destroying fire, then Baptism was dedicated to water - the eternal nurse and benefactor. The veneration of water was connected with the memory of the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Palestinian River Jordan. The feast of the Epiphany is called water crossings, water baptisms. Despite those standing at that time very coldy brave people swam in the ice hole to wash away their sins.
The people still retain the belief that on the night of Epiphany, before the dawn, the sky opens and requires a special rise in a prayerful mood. To drive out damage, the evil eye and all other demonic presences during the hours of Epiphany Christmas Eve, it was customary to put crosses with chalk on the doors and windows of houses and outbuildings.
On Epiphany Christmas Eve, the girls baked pies and went out with them into the frosty night to call for their betrothed.
Maslenitsa:
Russian people celebrated Maslenitsa even when there was no Christianity in Rus'. The holiday marked the farewell of winter and the welcome of spring and was associated with the name of the god of fertility and cattle breeding Veles. After the baptism of Rus', Maslenitsa became customary to celebrate seven weeks before Easter, then followed Lent. And during Maslenitsa itself, which lasts seven days, people do not eat meat. They eat it for the last time on the last Sunday - Meat Sunday - before the national holiday. And since Maslenitsa crowns spring, the warmth of the sun, we couldn’t do without pancakes, which the ancients considered a symbol of the sun - just as round, yellow and always hot.
It was necessary to wrap at least 10 pancakes, or rather, one and a half to two elbows - this is the equivalent that pancakes were measured in the old days. After the pancakes, the fun began: skiing from the mountains, fist fights, songs and dances. Not going down the slides, not swinging on the swings, not laughing at the jesters in those days meant living in trouble.
As you know, Maslenitsa lasts seven days. Each day of this week has its own name and is given meaning.
Monday - Meeting. Slides, swings, booths for buffoons were set up, and tables with food were set up. Moreover, on the first day only children skied from the mountains. In the morning, the children made a doll from straw and dressed it up. On the same day, children walked from house to house singing, thereby asking the residents for a gift.
Tuesday - Flirting. The second day was spent having fun with young couples who had sealed their relationship by marriage a week or two weeks ago. Now the time has come for the newlyweds to ride from the mountains. Those couples whose whole village was partying at their wedding were simply obliged to slide down the mountain. Driving from the mountains served as a kind of sign. The further you roll, the more flax you will grow. The unmarried had their own fate: young people looked for brides for themselves, and girls looked at their betrotheds. It was not without fortune-telling. For example, a girl had to take one of the first pancakes, go out and treat it to the first guy she met and ask his name in order to find out the name of her betrothed.
Wednesday - Gourmets. On this day, mothers-in-law invited their sons-in-law for pancakes. Hence the expression “to your mother-in-law for pancakes.” The newlyweds dressed as if for a wedding. On Wednesday, unmarried guys and simple girls rode the hill, and the whole village was on the lips of jokes about the guys who didn’t manage to get a wife this year.
Thursday - Take a walk. On Thursday, a lot of people gathered, fist fights took place, and snowy towns were captured. People dressed up in costumes. And finally, the effigy of Maslenitsa was raised up the mountain.
Friday - Mother-in-law's evening. In the evening, the son-in-law had to invite his mother-in-law to his place. In response, his mother-in-law sent him everything that pancakes were made from and with. And her son-in-law had to bake pancakes for her.
Saturday - Sister-in-law's gatherings or Farewell. On the sixth day, the daughter-in-law invited her relatives to her place. On the same day, the dressed straw effigy of Maslenitsa was carried to the end of the village and there, on a large bonfire, it was burned. They sang and danced around the fire.
Sunday - Forgiveness Sunday. Everyone was preparing for Lent, so they sought to be cleansed of sins and asked each other for forgiveness and heard in response: “God will forgive, and I forgive.” People went to cemeteries and left pancakes on the graves. It was believed that the very first pancake on Maslenitsa is “for the repose of parental souls.”
In this last winter holiday, ending winter, we see a mixture of pagan and Christian elements, the customs of the old and the new. So, for example, the personification of Maslenitsa in the form of a man, a straw effigy or a wooden idol, buffoon games, burning scarecrows, throwing them into water belongs to pagan rituals. Meanwhile, saying goodbye to people on the eve of Lent, going to the cemetery to say goodbye to the dead belongs to the new rites of a peace-loving Christian. However, burning effigies and throwing them into water is also attributed to the beginning of Christianity, as a remembrance of the eternal triumph of Christianity over paganism.
Give an idea of the holidays that are celebrated during the winter months;
Introduce the history of holidays, their features, customs and rituals associated with winter holidays;
Expand students' understanding of cultural heritage;
. work on speech development;
Continue to cultivate a sense of love for one’s native land;
Develop independent work skills.
Planned results:
Be able to distinguish between government and church holidays;
Know the features of winter holidays;
Develop an interest in independently searching for material.
Equipment: clusters, recording of carols, reproductions of paintings, encrypted square, video recording of cartoons, small Christmas tree, Handout.
During the classes
I. Organizational moment
II. Preparing to understand the topic
The teacher reads I. Surikov’s poem “Winter”.
About what time of year we're talking about in a poem? (About winter)
By what signs did you determine that it was winter? (Snow, short days, the sun is not warm enough)
Name the winter months. (December January February)
How would you describe winter? (cold, snowy, beautiful, magical, elegant, festive)
Winter gives us not only the miracle of nature's transformation. Winter is also fun time year, because it gives us many holidays. That's about winter holidays we'll talk today.
III. Explanation of a new topic
So, winter. The days have become shorter, and the sun is no longer warm at all, but shines dimly and dullly. But we don’t seem to notice this, because December is associated with the most solemn and significant holiday of the Orthodox. It's Christmas.
What do you know about this holiday?
What holiday is this - church or civil? Why do you think so?
Christmas in Rus' began to be celebrated more than a thousand years ago. Officially, this holiday appeared after Prince Vladimir was baptized, and Rus' became Orthodox.
Let's look at the dates. In Europe, Christmas is celebrated on December 25th. And in Russia - January 7th. This discrepancy is due to the fact that the Russian Church celebrates church holidays according to Gregorian calendar(new style). And in Europe, church holidays are still celebrated according to Julian calendar(old style). The difference is 13 days.
What is Christmas? And whose birth are we celebrating so festively?
It is believed that on this day Jesus Christ was born in the distant city of Bethlehem.
Showing an excerpt from the cartoon "The Nativity of Christ"
Christmas was celebrated widely, on a grand scale, for several days. And every day of the holiday was necessarily associated with some custom.
It all started the day before. The day before Christmas was called Christmas Eve. On this day it was forbidden to eat anything until the first star lit up in the sky. In the evening, tables were set and various treats were prepared. And the children were always given gifts.
The night before Christmas was considered magical, enchanting. Our ancestors believed that on this night all evil spirits came to life - devils and witches, vampires and mermaids. They celebrate the last night on earth, because at dawn everyone will have to disappear.
Showing an excerpt from the cartoon "The Night Before Christmas"
Since the night is so magical, and devils are dancing, and witches are flying, people have figured out how to protect themselves from evil spirits. They performed a ritual of caroling.
Do you know what carols are?
Boys and girls got together, went from house to house and sang special songs in which they wished everyone happiness, health and wealth. For this, the owners of the house rewarded the carolers with treats. And so that the evil spirits could not catch the carolers, young people dressed up: some as a devil, some as a goat, some as a witch. It was believed that in such a guise the evil spirits would not recognize a person.
Vocabulary work:
Carols are lively, cheerful songs that glorified the birth of Jesus and sounded wishes for health and happiness.
1) Christmas Eve
Who will give me some pie?
So the barn is full of cattle,
Ovin with oats,
A stallion with a tail!
Who won't give me the pie?
That's why a chicken leg
Pestle and shovel
The cow is hunchbacked.
2)We'll call you by phone
With wishes and bow.
We came to carol
Merry Christmas to you!
A recording of carol songs is playing.
Cluster design: Christmas Eve (day before Christmas, treats, gifts, carols)
After Christmas Eve came the great church holiday - Christmas. On this day, it was customary to treat everyone, congratulate, have fun and glorify the birth of Jesus. They always put on everything new, the tables were covered with rich tablecloths, the hut was always cleaned and decorated for Christmas. It was forbidden to sew, weave or knit on this day - it was believed that this would bring bad luck.
There are other traditions associated with Christmas.
Working from a painting
Look at the picture:
What do you see familiar in the picture? (decorated Christmas tree, lights, star on top)
The bright star symbolized the very star that the shepherds saw on the night when Christ was born.
But the custom of decorating a spruce came to us from Germany. The Christmas tree was considered a symbol of nature, because it remains just as green and fluffy in winter. One of the legends says that on the night of Jesus’ birth, all the trees on earth began to bear fruit. And the Christmas tree is no exception. That is why it was customary to decorate the spruce with tangerines, nuts, and apples. And later, instead of fruits and sweets, they began to hang multi-colored balls on the Christmas tree.
In winter, we celebrate another holiday, which is rightfully considered the most fun and most beloved.
Look at the table:
Can you guess what is encrypted in it?
The phrase "Happy New Year!" is encrypted.
Do you love New Year?
How do you celebrate this holiday?
What traditions associated with the most magical night of the year do you know?
New Year is celebrated on December 31, because, according to our calendar, the countdown of another year begins on January 1. But it was not always so. A long time ago in Rus', the beginning of the new year was celebrated on September 1. And even earlier, in Ancient Rome The beginning of the year was celebrated on March 1. And December was only the tenth month. Hence its name: "decem" in Latin means "ten".
Everything changed in 1700. Emperor Russian Peter I issued a decree that the beginning of the new millennium will be celebrated on January 1. The Decree noted how this day should be celebrated.
Decree:
“On January 1, decorate the streets with spruce and pine branches. Fire cannons, launch rockets and fire muskets, light fires and joyfully congratulate each other on the beginning of a new century.”
At the beginning of the twentieth century, celebrating Christmas was prohibited in Russia. And gradually this church holiday was replaced by a civil holiday - New Year. They also decorated the Christmas tree, only the star on the tree turned red - like the one that burns on the main tower of the Kremlin in Moscow. It also became customary to give gifts and prepare food.
And a very cheerful character appeared, without whom the New Year is now difficult to imagine. Have you already guessed who we are talking about?
(This is Santa Claus)
He also has a nice assistant. Who is this?
(Snow Maiden)
What are Father Frost and Snow Maiden doing for the New Year? (they give gifts, light up the Christmas tree, make the children laugh)
Showing an excerpt from the cartoon "Masha and the Bear: One, two, three, Christmas tree!"
Let's sing a song about Santa Claus together.
They sing the song “Santa Claus, what did you bring to us?”
IV. Pin a topic
We also have a Christmas tree. I decorated it with firecrackers. But each cracker is special: they contain questions that you must answer.
Students take turns removing the balls and answering questions.
Questions:
What is a carol?
Name the most important church and civil winter holiday.
When is Christmas Eve celebrated?
Where did the tradition of decorating the Christmas tree come from?
Tell a poem about the New Year.
V. Reflection
What new did you learn in the lesson?
What winter holidays would you like to know more about?
What was unclear?
VI. Homework
Learn a poem of your choice (about Christmas, a carol or about the New Year)
Many are waiting winter time just for the sake of a couple of the most significant holidays, completely unaware of how many reasons for joy pass them by. Arm yourself with our calendar, and you will always know which holidays in the winter of 2017 can be turned into a good tradition, charging the most cold season the warm energy of the festive table, the joy of loved ones.
December Holidays
The first month of winter ends very enchantingly, which is what it is famous for. But it is better to start preparing for the main event of winter gradually, from the beginning of December. Fortunately, there are plenty of opportunities for this:
— never wrote letters to Santa Claus? It's time to start, there is a special day for this - December 4;
— December 7th is celebrated all over the world civil aviation;
— On December 10, you have a choice: either celebrate World Football Day if you love this sport. Or host a feast in honor of Human Rights Day;
— don’t know what winter holidays you can celebrate while moving? Get ready revealing outfit and fiery music for the most passionate holiday - Tango Day on December 11, and before that, learn to amaze everyone;
— December 12, Constitution Day of the Russian Federation;
— tea for the winter is like gasoline for a car: without it, no one would get further than the bed. His World Day is celebrated on December 15;
— Orthodox holidays winter presents in the form of the Day of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker on December 19;
— December 22, professional celebration for power engineers;
— December 25 knocks on the doors of all Catholics and some Orthodox;
- folk holidays in winter cannot do without December 31, when exciting, troublesome, but so beloved preparations begin, because it is New Year's Eve! 
List of January holidays
An abundance of official holidays, a refrigerator bursting with goodies and a constant flow of guests - this is what we love about January. We know what holidays are celebrated in winter, and we will help you not to get confused in the endless string of red days of the calendar:
— January 1 is the first winter holiday in the new year. Few people remember its daylight hours, but only babies miss the night part of the celebration;
- church holidays in winter include such a significant event as the Nativity of Christ, which is celebrated by all Orthodox Christians on January 7;
— January 11 marks the most polite of holidays – Thank You Day. The more words of gratitude you give, the more positive things you will receive in return;
- there can never be too much of a good thing - January 14 - Old New Year;
— Wikipedia celebrates its birthday on January 15th. Thanks to her for our encyclopedic knowledge!
- what holidays in winter allow you to test the strength of spirit and faith, so this is the Epiphany of the Lord on January 19;
- take advantage of the moment to enjoy warm communication with loved ones - January 21 is Hug Day and let the whole world wait;
— Popsicle Day on January 24 is an official occasion to enjoy an atypical sweetness for the winter season;
- students are those who tested the power of attraction for themselves during morning lectures, set a record for the speed of writing coursework on the last night before delivery, and they have their own holiday - Tatiana’s Day, January 25;
— January 26 – Customs Day international scale;
- test your willpower with International Day, held without the Internet on January 31. Can you hold out? 
What holidays are there in February?
The shortest month of the year also has something to surprise you with:
— On February 5, the holiday is celebrated by all scholars for whom a book is a faithful companion in life, friend and brother;
— On February 6, it makes sense to visit entertainment and drinking establishments. So you will not only congratulate professional holiday bartenders, but also get the opportunity to take part in competitions and watch the competitions of hard workers at the bar;
— February 7 – real sports festival winter – day winter species sports;
- an excellent reason to visit the dentist and at the same time congratulate him on his international holiday- February 9th;
— On February 14, the world is illuminated with light from the heavenly white wings of the messenger of love, Cupid. This is a day of cute valentines, memorable souvenirs and warm confessions -! 
- there is a magical day in the year - February 17, when the Day of Spontaneous Acts of Kindness is celebrated. On this day you cannot restrain your noble impulses: if you want to feed a kitten - go ahead, take part in a charity marathon - please, the main thing is that you sincerely want it;
— it’s hard to imagine winter holidays in Russia without Maslenitsa. In 2017, it will be celebrated on February 20;
— On February 23, a number of countries celebrate Defender of the Fatherland Day;
— each of us has our own lottery ticket, we just don’t always take it seriously. Trust fate and take part in the lottery on her birthday on February 24;
- a unique opportunity to forgive all spiteful critics and clear your conscience yourself, having received the forgiveness of dear people - February 26. It is on this day in 2017 that Forgiveness Sunday will be celebrated.
Now you will always be aware of what holidays are celebrated in winter. Winter should be a magical time, full of joy and fun for those who know how to greet it and what to prepare for. What holidays are you most looking forward to? Share with us in the comments!
For our ancestors, who lived in ancient times in Rus', holidays were an important part of both family and public life. For many centuries, the Russian people honored and sacredly preserved their traditions, passed on from father to son in every generation.
The daily life of an ordinary Russian person in those days was difficult and dedicated to the hard work of obtaining his daily bread, so holidays were a special event for him, a kind of sacred day, when the life of the entire community merged with their sacred values, the spirits of their ancestors and their covenants.
Traditional Russian holidays included complete ban to perform any daily activities (mowing, plowing, chopping wood, sewing, weaving, cleaning, etc.). During the holiday, all people had to dress in festive clothes, rejoice and have fun, conduct only joyful, pleasant conversations; failure to comply with these rules was subject to a fine or even punishment in the form of lashing.
Each season played its own specific role in the life of a Russian person. Winter period, free from work on the land, was especially famous for its festivities, noisy fun and games.
The main Russian holidays in Rus':
Winter
On January 7 (December 25), the Russian Orthodox people celebrated Christmas. This holiday, dedicated to the birth of God's son Jesus Christ in Bethlehem, ends the Nativity fast, which lasts for 40 days. In anticipation of it, people prepared to come to him with clean souls and bodies: they washed and cleaned their homes, went to the bathhouse, put on clean holiday clothes, helped the poor and needy, and distributed alms. On January 6, on Christmas Eve, the whole family gathered at a large festive table, where the obligatory first course was the ritual porridge kutya or sochivo. They started dinner after the first star appeared, eating silently and solemnly. After Christmas came the so-called holy days, which lasted until Epiphany, during which it was customary to go from house to house and glorify Jesus Christ with prayers and chants.
Christmastide (Holiday week)
Holidays among the ancient Slavs, and then passed into church celebration, the days of Christmastide, begin from the first star on Christmas Eve until the feast of Epiphany, the blessing of water (“from the star to the water”). The first week of Christmastide is called Christmastide week, associated with Slavic mythology associated with the turn of winter to summer, there is more sun, less darkness. During this week, in the evenings, called holy evenings, holiness was often violated by mythological rituals of fortune telling, which was not welcomed by the church, and during the day, dressed in clothes with flags and musical instruments magicians walked the streets, entered houses and amused the people.
January 19th was celebrated Orthodox Baptism, dedicated to the sacrament of the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River, on this day the Great Blessing of Water was performed in all churches and temples, all water in reservoirs and wells was considered holy and had unique, medicinal properties. Our ancestors believed that holy water could not spoil and kept it in the red corner under the icons, and believed that it best medicine from all ailments, both physical and spiritual. On rivers, lakes and other bodies of water, they made a special ice hole in the shape of a cross called a Jordan, swimming in which was considered a godly and healing activity that relieved illnesses and all sorts of misfortunes for the whole year.
At the very end of winter, when, according to the beliefs of our ancestors, the Red Spring, with the help of warmth and light, drove away the cold and cold, the Maslenitsa holiday began, known for its freewheeling joy, which lasted for whole week on the eve of Lent. At this time, it was customary to bake pancakes, which were considered a symbol of the sun, go to visit each other, have fun and dress up, sled down the hills, and on the final Forgiveness Sunday, burn and bury a scarecrow symbol of the defeated winter.
Spring
On this feast of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem, although in Orthodoxy there is no pre-celebration, since Holy Week begins next, believers bring willow branches to the church (in Slavic they replaced palm branches), which at Matins after all-night vigil sprinkled with holy water. Then the Orthodox decorate their houses consecrated willows icons.
Holy Easter was considered the greatest holiday of all Christian people in Rus'; on this day the resurrection of Jesus Christ and his transition from death on Earth to life in heaven was revered. People cleaned and decorated their houses, put on festive clothes, made sure to attend Easter services in churches and temples, went to visit each other, treating each other to Easter colored eggs and Easter cakes after Lent. When meeting people they said “Christ is Risen!”, in response they should say “Truly He is Risen!” and kiss three times.
The first Sunday after Easter was called Krasnaya Gorka or Fomin's Day (on behalf of the Apostle Thomas, who did not believe in the resurrection of Christ), it was a symbol of the arrival of spring and the long-awaited warmth. On this holiday, folk festivities began at night and lasted the whole day, young people danced in circles, rode on swings, young guys met and got to know girls. Covered festive tables with a hearty treat: fried eggs, loaves in the shape of the sun.
Summer
One of the most significant holidays of the summer was Ivan Kupala or Midsummer's Day, named after John the Baptist and celebrated on the day from July 6 to 7, the summer solstice. This holiday has ethnic origins and deep pagan roots. On this day, people burn large bonfires, jump over them, symbolizing the cleansing of the body and spirit from sinful thoughts and actions, dance in circles, weave beautiful wreaths of flowers and meadow grass, set them adrift and tell fortunes about their betrothed.
One of the national holidays revered since ancient times, which is associated with many beliefs, signs and prohibitions. On the eve of the holiday, ritual cookies were baked on Thursday and Friday and stopped field work. And on Elijah’s day itself it was strictly forbidden to carry out any household work; it was believed that it would not bring results. A “brotherhood” was held, all residents of nearby villages were invited to a common meal, and after the refreshments they ended with folk festivities with songs and dances. And most importantly, Ilya’s day is considered the border between summer and autumn, when the water becomes cold, the evenings are cool, and the first signs of autumn gilding appear on the trees.
In the middle of the last summer month, namely August 14 (1), Orthodox Christians celebrated the holiday Honey Spas(saved from the word savior), which was used to honor the death of the seven Maccabean martyrs who took martyrdom for his Christian faith from the ancient Syrian king Antiochus. The houses were sprinkled with poppy seeds, protecting them from evil spirits; the first honeycombs, collected on this day, when the bees stopped collecting nectar, were taken to the temple for consecration. This day symbolized farewell to summer, after which the days became shorter, the nights longer, and the weather cooler.
August 19 (6) came Apple saved or the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, among our ancestors it was one of the very first harvest festivals, symbolizing the beginning of autumn and the withering of nature. Only with its onset could the ancient Slavs eat apples from the new harvest, which were necessarily consecrated in the church. The festive tables were set and they began to eat grapes and pears.
The last, Third Spas (Bread or Nut) was celebrated on August 29 (16), on this day the harvest season ended and housewives could bake bread from the new grain harvest. Festive loaves were blessed in churches, and nuts were also brought there, which were just ripe at that time. Finishing the harvest, farmers always knitted the last “birthday sheaf”.
Autumn
One of the most revered autumn holidays that came to the ancient Slavs from Byzantium was Intercession Day, celebrated on October 14 (1). The holiday is dedicated to an event that occurred in the 10th century in Constantinople, when the city was besieged by the Saracens, and the townspeople brought prayers for help to the Holy Mother of God in temples and churches. Blessed Virgin Mary heard their requests and, removing the veil from her head, hid them from their enemies and saved the city. At this time, the harvesting work was completely completed, preparations for winter began, round dances and festivities ended, and gatherings with handicrafts, chants and conversations began. On this day, tables were set with treats, gifts were brought to the poor and orphans, and a visit was obligatory. church service, the time for wedding celebrations began. Marriage during the Intercession was considered particularly happy, rich and long-lasting.
