Composition: The essence and peculiarity of folk holidays and rituals. Russian people: culture, traditions and customs Main folk holidays

Composition on the topic: Cultural folk traditions(essay)

The Veil will come, cover the girl's head.
(Proverb)

Russian folk traditions are rooted in the depths of centuries. Russia is essentially a peasant country, and our culture originates from rural life. In village life, our people themselves, according to the will of their ancestors, established the so-called “wedding weeks”, which stretched from Epiphany to Maslenitsa and were especially observed in merchant life.
The last weddings of the year were timed to coincide with the Intercession, and those who stayed in the girls these days always went to church to pray that God would send them good suitors. The prayer contained the following words: “Protection, Holy Mother of God, cover my poor head with a pearl kokoshnik, a golden cuff. The girls also turned to the Apostle Andrew, the Great Martyr Catherine, Nile and Paraskeva.
The peasants worked hard during the spring and summer. Work usually ended by the Intercession. Our ancestors also treated time thriftily, in a businesslike way, so the guys, for example, most often used these days to look for a helper, moreover, for free.
Colorful and poetic girlish round dances started in the spring and continued until the Intercession. Autumn gatherings brought boys and girls together, girls often did needlework at them, and the guys, as it were, had the opportunity to choose a craftswoman to their liking as their wife. The guys who left to work in distant lands hurried to return to Pokrov with money, because they had to celebrate a wedding for something.
As we see, crucial moment in life, our ancestors timed to more suitable annual cycles for their implementation.
If you look at it from a psychological point of view, then everything is thought out here. In Pokrov, even the most violent opponents of marriage bonds became more accommodating, and the girls dreamed of quickly unwinding girl's braid and cover your head with a woman's warrior. They believed that if the Pokrov did not cover it, then it would not cover the ground with snow even at Christmas... And without snow, the ground would freeze and the harvest would not be born.
It is also remarkable that even if hopes were not realized, the girls did not despair, but continued to have fun together with their happy girlfriends as if nothing had happened. They never envied, and therefore they were beautiful in soul and in the end they found their happiness ...
But this holiday was distinguished not only by marriage troubles. It also played an important role in the economic life of our people. It was by this day that the terms for hiring seasonal workers were most often determined. Hired "conscripts" usually worked from Ilyin's day to Intercession, and therefore they said: "Wait until Intercession - I will pay off the entire debt."
At this time, they were in a hurry to complete all trade transactions and payments. The cellars were filled in winter with various pickles and jams. The last chores for the winter table were apple. On the very eve of the Intercession, the Antonovka was soaked. In the huts these days there was an amazing apple spirit. I immediately remembered how sweetly Ivan Alekseevich Bunin described this time in his poetic prose. Through the scent of the collected Antonov apples the writer expressed the whole soul of the Russian people.
A holiday is a holiday, but there was enough work: “The house is not big, but it doesn’t let you get bored.” On Pokrov, they hurried to repair the house for the winter: “to steal a hut”, “to capture heat before the Pokrov”. Entire proverbs were composed on this topic, for example: “if you don’t steal it before the Intercession - it won’t be like that” - and you will have to ask: “Father Pokrov, heat our hut without firewood.” This is for Pokrov to send warm days - to look around and have time to prepare everything for the future.
I always admire the harmonious perception of nature by our ancestors. They, as they say now, did not twitch, but believed that “the mistress will cover the earth with her Veil and say to her son: “Lord, winter has come, everyone has worked hard, saved ... God bless them, rest, survive the fierce winter. My covering will be over them.”
Through the signs of this time, our wonderful writers talentedly conveyed the grief and joy of Russian workers. For example, one line by N. Nekrasov: “Only one strip is not compressed, it induces a sad thought ...” - the reader already sees a picture of a human tragedy. It is clear that the peasant will not leave the grain unharvested in autumn. This means that trouble happened to him ... And in Tyutchev we read: “Only cobwebs of thin hair / Shines on an idle furrow ...” An “idle” furrow tells us that everything is in order in the life of a peasant. In connection with this, I cannot help but recall the boy Vanya from I. S. Shmelev's “The Summer of the Lord”. He lived according to the Orthodox annual cycle and matured spiritually.
I want to finish this theme, which I love, with poems by E. Baratynsky, which are very consonant with my current mood and, in general, in my opinion, explain the craving of a Russian person for their roots:

I will return to you, fields of my fathers,
Oak forests are peaceful, shelter sacred to the heart!
I will return to you, home icons!

O father's house! Oh, always a favorite!
Native heaven!

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The Russian people are representatives of the East Slavic ethnic group, the indigenous inhabitants of Russia (110 million people - 80% of the population Russian Federation), the most numerous ethnic group in Europe. The Russian diaspora has about 30 million people and is concentrated in such states as Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Belarus, in countries former USSR, in the US and EU countries. As a result of sociological research, it was found that 75% of the Russian population of Russia are followers of Orthodoxy, and a significant part of the population does not identify themselves with any particular religion. national language Russian people is the Russian language.

Each country and its people have their own meaning in modern world, concepts are very important folk culture and the history of the nation, their formation and development. Each nation and its culture is unique in its own way, the color and originality of each nation should not be lost or dissolved in assimilation with other nations, the younger generation should always remember who they really are. For Russia, which is a multinational power and home to 190 peoples, the question national culture is quite acute, due to the fact that in recent years its erasure is especially noticeable against the background of cultures of other nationalities.

Culture and life of the Russian people

(Russian folk costume)

The first associations that arise with the concept of "Russian people" are, of course, the breadth of the soul and fortitude. But the national culture is formed by people, it is these character traits that have a huge impact on its formation and development.

One of distinguishing features of the Russian people has always been and is simplicity, in the old days Slavic houses and property were very often plundered and completely destroyed, hence the simplified attitude to everyday life. And of course, these trials, which befell the long-suffering Russian people, only tempered his character, made him stronger and taught him to get out of any life situations with his head held high.

Kindness can be called another of the traits that prevail in the character of the Russian ethnos. The whole world is well aware of the concept of Russian hospitality, when "they will feed and drink, and put to bed." The unique combination of such qualities as cordiality, mercy, compassion, generosity, tolerance and, again, simplicity, very rarely found in other peoples of the world, all this is fully manifested in the very breadth of the Russian soul.

Diligence is another of the main features of the Russian character, although many historians in the study of the Russian people note both her love for work and huge potential, and her laziness, as well as complete lack of initiative (remember Oblomov in Goncharov's novel). But all the same, the efficiency and endurance of the Russian people is an indisputable fact, against which it is difficult to argue. And no matter how scientists all over the world would like to understand the “mysterious Russian soul”, it is unlikely that any of them can do it, because it is so unique and multifaceted that its “zest” will forever remain a secret for everyone.

Traditions and customs of the Russian people

(Russian meal)

Folk traditions and customs are a unique connection, a kind of "bridge of times", linking the far past with the present. Some of them are rooted in the pagan past of the Russian people, even before the baptism of Rus', little by little their sacred meaning was lost and forgotten, but the main points have been preserved and are still being observed. In villages and towns, Russian traditions and customs are honored and remembered to a greater extent than in cities, which is associated with a more isolated lifestyle of urban residents.

A large number of rituals and traditions are associated with family life(this is matchmaking, and wedding celebrations, and the baptism of children). The conduct of ancient rites and rituals guaranteed a successful and successful future. happy life health of offspring and the general well-being of the family.

(Colorized photograph of a Russian family in the early 20th century)

Since ancient times, Slavic families have been distinguished by a large number of family members (up to 20 people), adult children, having already married, remained to live in home, the head of the family was the father or elder brother, they all had to obey and unquestioningly fulfill all their orders. Usually, wedding celebrations were held either in the fall, after the harvest, or in the winter after the Feast of the Epiphany (January 19). Then the first week after Easter, the so-called "Red Hill", was considered a very good time for a wedding. The wedding itself was preceded by a matchmaking ceremony, when the groom’s parents came to the bride’s family together with his godparents, if the parents agreed to give their daughter in marriage, then the bride was held (acquaintance of the future newlyweds), then there was a rite of conspiracy and handshake (the parents decided on issues of dowry and the date of the wedding festivities ).

The rite of baptism in Rus' was also interesting and unique, the child had to be baptized immediately after birth, for this godparents were chosen, who would be responsible for the life and well-being of the godson all his life. At the age of one, the baby was put on the inside of a sheepskin coat and sheared, cutting a cross on the crown, with such a meaning that impure forces would not be able to penetrate his head and would not have power over him. Every Christmas Eve (January 6), a slightly grown godson should bring godparents kutya (wheat porridge with honey and poppy seeds), and they, in turn, should give him sweets.

Traditional holidays of the Russian people

Russia is a truly unique state, where, along with highly developed culture of the modern world, they carefully honor the ancient traditions of their grandfathers and great-grandfathers, which go back centuries and keep the memory of not only Orthodox vows and canons, but also the most ancient pagan rites and sacraments. And to this day, pagan holidays are celebrated, people listen to the signs and centuries-old traditions, remember and tell their children and grandchildren ancient traditions and legends.

Main national holidays:

• Christmas Jan. 7
• Christmas time January 6 - 9
• Baptism January 19
• Maslenitsa from 20 to 26 February

• Forgiveness Sunday ( before Great Lent)
• Palm Sunday (the Sunday before Easter)
• Easter ( the first Sunday after the full moon, which occurs no earlier than the day of the conditional vernal equinox on March 21)
• Red hill ( first Sunday after Easter)

• Trinity ( Sunday of Pentecost - 50th day after Easter)
• Ivan Kupala July 7
• Day of Peter and Fevronia July 8
• Ilyin's day August 2

• Honey Spas August 14
• Apple Spas August 19
• Third (Bread) Spas August 29
• Veil day October 14

There is a belief that on the night of Ivan Kupala (from July 6 to 7), once a year, a fern flower blooms in the forest, and whoever finds it will gain untold wealth. In the evening, large bonfires are kindled near rivers and lakes, people dressed in festive old Russian robes lead round dances, sing ritual chants, jump over the fire, and let wreaths go with the flow, hoping to find their soul mate.

Maslenitsa - traditional holiday Russian people, celebrated during the week before Lent. A very long time ago, Shrovetide was rather not a holiday, but a rite, when the memory of departed ancestors was honored, appeasing them with pancakes, asking them for a fertile year, and spending the winter by burning a straw effigy. Time passed, and the Russian people, thirsting for fun and positive emotions in the cold and dull season, turned a sad holiday into a more cheerful and daring celebration, which began to symbolize the joy of the imminent end of winter and the arrival of long-awaited warmth. The meaning has changed, but the tradition of baking pancakes has remained, exciting winter entertainments have appeared: sledding and horse-drawn sledge rides, the straw effigy of Winter was burned, all the Shrovetide week a relative went to pancakes either to mother-in-law or to sister-in-law, everywhere there was an atmosphere of celebration and fun , various theatrical and puppet shows with the participation of Petrushka and other folklore characters. One of the most colorful and dangerous entertainments on Maslenitsa was holding fisticuffs, they were attended by the male population, for whom it was an honor to take part in a kind of “military business”, testing their courage, courage and dexterity.

Christmas and Easter are considered especially revered Christian holidays among the Russian people.

Christmas is not only a bright holiday of Orthodoxy, it also symbolizes the rebirth and return to life, the traditions and customs of this holiday, filled with kindness and humanity, high moral ideals and the triumph of the spirit over worldly concerns, in the modern world they are re-opened to society and rethought by it. The day before Christmas (January 6) is called Christmas Eve because the main course is holiday table, which should consist of 12 dishes, is a special porridge "sochivo", consisting of boiled cereals poured with honey, sprinkled with poppy seeds and nuts. You can sit down at the table only after the first star appears in the sky, Christmas (January 7) is a family holiday, when everyone gathered at the same table, ate a festive treat and gave each other gifts. 12 days after the holiday (until January 19) are called Christmas time, earlier at this time the girls in Rus' held various gatherings with fortune-telling and rituals to attract suitors.

Bright Easter has long been considered a great holiday in Rus', which people associated with the day of general equality, forgiveness and mercy. On the eve of Easter celebrations, Russian women usually bake Easter cakes (festive rich Easter bread) and Easter, clean and decorate their homes, young people and children paint eggs, which, according to ancient legend, symbolize the drops of blood of Jesus Christ crucified on the cross. On the day of Holy Easter, smartly dressed people, meeting, say “Christ is Risen!”, Answer “Truly Risen!”, Then follows a triple kiss and the exchange of festive Easter eggs.

The Veil will come, cover the girl's head.
(Proverb)

Russian folk traditions are rooted in the depths of centuries. Russia is essentially a peasant country, and our culture originates from rural life. In village life, our people themselves, according to the will of their ancestors, established the so-called “wedding weeks”, which stretched from Epiphany to Maslenitsa and were especially observed in merchant life.
The last weddings of the year were timed to coincide with the Intercession, and those who stayed in the girls these days always went to church to pray that God would send them good suitors. The prayer contained the following words: “Protection, Holy Mother of God, cover my poor head with a pearl kokoshnik, a golden cuff.” The girls also turned to the Apostle Andrew, the Great Martyr Catherine, Nile and Paraskeva.
The peasants worked hard during the spring and summer. Work usually ended by the Intercession. Our ancestors also treated time thriftily, in a businesslike way, so the guys, for example, most often used these days to look for a helper, moreover, for free.
Colorful and poetic girlish round dances started in the spring and continued until the Intercession. Autumn gatherings brought boys and girls together, girls often did needlework at them, and the guys, as it were, had the opportunity to choose a craftswoman to their liking as their wife. The guys who left to work in distant lands hurried to return to Pokrov with money, because they had to celebrate a wedding for something.
As you can see, our ancestors dated the most important moment in life to annual cycles more suitable for their implementation.
If you look at it from a psychological point of view, then everything is thought out here. In Pokrov, even the most violent opponents of marriage bonds became more accommodating, and the girls dreamed of quickly unplaiting a girl's braid and covering her head with a woman's warrior. They believed that if the Pokrov did not cover it, then it would not cover the ground with snow even at Christmas... And without snow, the ground would freeze and the harvest would not be born.
It is also remarkable that even if hopes were not realized, the girls did not despair, but continued to have fun together with their happy girlfriends as if nothing had happened. They never envied, and therefore they were beautiful in soul and in the end they found their happiness ...
But this holiday was distinguished not only by marriage troubles. It also played an important role in the economic life of our people. It was by this day that the terms for hiring seasonal workers were most often determined. Hired "conscripts" usually worked from Ilyin's day to Intercession, and therefore they said: "Wait until Intercession - I will pay off the entire debt."
At this time, they were in a hurry to complete all trade transactions and payments. The cellars were filled in winter with various pickles and jams. The last chores for the winter table were apple. On the very eve of the Intercession, the Antonovka was soaked. In the huts these days there was an amazing apple spirit. I immediately remembered how sweetly Ivan Alekseevich Bunin described this time in his poetic prose. Through the aroma of the collected Antonov apples, the writer expressed the whole soul of the Russian people.
A holiday is a holiday, but there was enough work: “The house is not big, but it doesn’t let you get bored.” On Pokrov, they hurried to repair the house for the winter: “to steal a hut”, “to capture heat before the Pokrov”. Entire proverbs were composed on this topic, for example: “if you don’t steal it before the Intercession - it won’t be like that” - and you will have to ask: “Father Pokrov, heat our hut without firewood.” This is for Pokrov to send warm days - to look around and have time to prepare everything for the future.
I always admire the harmonious perception of nature by our ancestors. They, as they say now, did not twitch, but believed that “the mistress will cover the earth with her Veil and say to her son: “Lord, winter has come, everyone has worked hard, saved ... God bless them, rest, survive the fierce winter. My covering will be over them.”
Through the signs of this time, our wonderful writers talentedly conveyed the grief and joy of Russian workers. For example, one line by N. Nekrasov: “Only one strip is not compressed, it induces a sad thought ...” - the reader already sees a picture of a human tragedy. It is clear that the peasant will not leave the grain unharvested in autumn. This means that trouble happened to him ... And in Tyutchev we read: “Only cobwebs of thin hair / Shines on an idle furrow ...” An “idle” furrow tells us that everything is in order in the life of a peasant. In connection with this, I cannot help but recall the boy Vanya from I. S. Shmelev's “The Summer of the Lord”. He lived according to the Orthodox annual cycle and matured spiritually.
I want to finish this theme, which I love, with poems by E. Baratynsky, which are very consonant with my current mood and, in general, in my opinion, explain the craving of a Russian person for their roots:

I will return to you, fields of my fathers,
Oak forests are peaceful, shelter sacred to the heart!
I will return to you, home icons!

O father's house! Oh, always a favorite!
Native heaven!

Lyubov Ozerova
Essay "My Pedagogical Philosophy" about traditional folk culture as a means of spiritual and moral education

Essay"My pedagogical philosophy»

“Human memory is short, but there is another memory, it is called culture which preserves the rules, customs, traditions, transmits information about phenomena that have come from the past, the secret of which has long been lost"

(article by I. Uvarova in the book by A. Milovsky "Song of the Firebird")

This statement leads to discussions about the problems of mankind, the goal of which is to preserve at any cost cultural heritage of their people. The problem is how to do it if modern man lives by the law today in the eternal race for wealth.

For many years I, being teacher in kindergarten , sought to solve this problem, since I myself am a devoted patriot of my Motherland. At the core of my pedagogical experience lie the origins which left a deep imprint in the soul, originating in childhood.

Since childhood I have known the culture of the people from his grandmother: listened to songs, stories about my ancestors, went caroling with her. Grandma taught me to love the old days. The sundress and bast shoes donated by my grandmother are still used by me in my work. The experience accumulated by several generations of my ancestors begged and rushed to pour out. I wanted to show everyone this depth, power and beauty, to fill children's hearts with a feeling of deep joy and gratitude for the fact that they were born in Russia.

How I understand teacher that any good undertaking needs a science-based approach, therefore, starting your pedagogical path, diligently engaged in self-education. A large amount of literature was read about the history of the emergence of folklore, bit by bit I collected material about traditions, rituals, about history folk costumes , acquired literature, attended methodological associations, seminars on ethnoculturology, Catherine's readings and much more. All this allowed me to form my life position, which is the ability to save cultural heritage people in early preschool childhood, as our people: "With mother's milk, the child must absorb the culture of your people».

Needed as soon as possible bring up in children such qualities as spirituality, patriotism, citizenship. Only in this case, a deep imprint and a steady interest in culture which cannot be imagined without folk art . IN last years system preschool education in Russia is undergoing significant changes. Among these changes are both positive and difficult problems. There are new programs, innovative methods that reflect modern ideas preschool education, but the age-old question what and how to teach still remains relevant. IN modern education, in my opinion, more attention is paid to the development of the intellect and morality remains aside upbringing. A man without morals today is the problem of our society.

We live in an interesting and difficult time, when we begin to look at many things differently, we begin to rediscover and re-evaluate many things. And each of us, looking back into our past, tries to find our roots, to compare something in our past and present. But it turns out that the past people and our family, we, it turns out, we know very superficially.

Explain and understand many points human life knowledge of the origins of domestic culture, customs and traditions of the people. Destruction of the national culture has led to, What spiritual the foundations of the Russian nation deformed the Russian mentality. It hurts to look at older generation, which most of the youth is disrespectful. What kind of cynicism and indifference do we often encounter? And the problem is to live at someone else's expense, without working at the same time? And the moral behavior, the immorality of a part of the population is simply frightening and makes you seriously think about it.

Thus, the task of reviving culture of the Russian people, and as a consequence of this, spiritual, social and economic revival. Meaning cultural Revival is also proved by the experience of many countries that, while maintaining their ancient foundations, have achieved economic and social prosperity.

K. D. Ushinsky said that "Language is the most alive, the strongest link between the past and the present". It is he who reveals the original origins spiritual life of the Russian people. Folk art passed on by word of mouth is called folklore. M. Gorky said: “Collect our folklore, learn from it, process it. The better we know its past, the more deeply and joyfully we will understand the great significance of our present. The look of the great philosopher helped solve the transmission problem cultural heritage to young children using small folklore genres. Small in volume, but unusually wise in content, they are capable in an accessible form, and sometimes on a subconscious level, to form a personality distinguished by patriotism and devotion to the Motherland. Children surprisingly quickly memorize proverbs, sayings, incantations. And unlike adults, whose speech is clogged foreign words, and sometimes with scolding, the speech of children is saturated figurative expressions. It's nice to watch how the guys use proverbs in their speech, know how to tell fairy tales, sing in free time lullabies and ditties. They are sociable, learn to reason and make generalizations. As a result, children develop and expand lexicon, which is another important cultural education.

Introducing children to the origins folk culture helps to solve the problem of moral education. Upbringing a real citizen of his homeland is impossible without nurturing love for her, To native land to the house where you live. We must help children understand what the Motherland means to them, native language, everyday life people, our Russian nature, family. From childhood, a child should feel the inner national core, which he must carry through his whole life.

In the process of introducing children to folk culture, the process of development of the child is very clearly visible. I think folklore classes help educate children on folk traditions, promote creative activity, stimulate the desire to show their talent, individuality. And here it is important to see it in time and direct it in the right direction. It is also important to note the importance of introducing children to culture of the Russian people in social and personal development. In children, during the lessons of folklore, there is an active development of the emotional and moral spheres of the personality, interpersonal relationships, and as a result, a friendly and creative team children, educators and parents. Traditional on native culture , How means of raising children, forms open, trusting relationships between children, parents and teachers. And this is so important for us in our difficult time. IN modern families, where parents work hard in order to decently dress and feed their children tasty, try to take them to sections, circles, develop mental abilities, arranging children in good schools so that in the future children take their rightful place in society. But unfortunately, spiritual and the moral side of the development of the personality of the child remains in most cases in the shadows. Parents, referring to employment, somehow thoughtlessly and unjustifiably pushed into the background the formation of love for the Motherland, for its past, for the older generation in children. In rare families there are family traditions, communication of generations is lost. Therefore, the question of the development of morality and patriotism in the family is now so acute. And for us, teachers, it is necessary to understand and study this problem more deeply ourselves, and then help the families of our pupils. And here, in my deep conviction, help should come traditional folk culture. Required via various forms activities to involve parents in joint work to familiarize children with the origins of folk culture. Conducting joint events brings everyone together, makes both children and parents kinder, more emotional, and teaches them to be creative in solving a particular problem.

We must not forget about our past, we must be proud of our Motherland, we must be an authoritative nation among other nations. Therefore, native culture must become part of the soul of the child, the beginning that generates the personality. And help in this children's folklore- special area folk art, which includes a whole system of genres, unusually rich and diverse.

Thanks to folklore, we begin to relate to our past in a new way. We learn together with children to learn rituals, traditions and old holidays.

I really want to believe that as adults, many of my little fidgets will bring up their children in accordance with traditions will take good care of culture, honor your roots, observe family traditions. Moreover, let this generation of children grow up confident in themselves, in their tomorrow harmoniously developed, worthy citizens of Russia. Each of them should be proud and admire the piece of land on which we live. Today, having a considerable teaching experience behind I can confidently say that my pupils who are already bringing their children to me, know culture of the Russian people, his traditions, take care of their home, Russians sing with pleasure with their children folk songs , ditties, lead round dances, know and play folk games , yes, they can just dance "Russian"…

The best result of my work will be a child who can proudly say: "I am a citizen of Russia"- and that's it…"

Cultural Folk Traditions (essay)

The Veil will come, cover the girl's head.
(Proverb)

Russian folk traditions are rooted in the depths of centuries. Russia is essentially a peasant country, and our culture originates from rural life. In rural life, our people themselves, according to the will of their ancestors, established the so-called "wedding weeks", which stretched from Epiphany to Maslenitsa and were especially observed in merchant life.
The last weddings of the year were timed to coincide with the Intercession, and those who stayed in the girls these days always went to church to pray that God would send them good suitors. The prayer contained the following words: “Protection, Holy Mother of God, cover my poor head with a pearl kokoshnik, a golden cuff.” The girls also turned to the Apostle Andrew, the Great Martyr Catherine, Nile and Paraskeva.
The peasants worked hard during the spring and summer. Work usually ended by the Intercession. Our ancestors also treated time thriftily, in a businesslike way, so the guys, for example, most often used these days to look for a helper, moreover, for free.
Colorful and poetic girlish round dances started in the spring and continued until the Intercession. Autumn gatherings brought boys and girls together, girls often did needlework at them, and the guys, as it were, had the opportunity to choose a craftswoman to their liking as their wife. The guys who left to work in distant lands hurried to return to Pokrov with money, because they had to celebrate a wedding for something.
As you can see, our ancestors dated the most important moment in life to annual cycles more suitable for their implementation.
If you look at it from a psychological point of view, then everything is thought out here. In Pokrov, even the most violent opponents of marriage bonds became more accommodating, and the girls dreamed of quickly unplaiting a girl's braid and covering her head with a woman's warrior. They believed that if the Pokrov did not cover it, then it would not cover the ground with snow even at Christmas... And without snow, the ground would freeze and the harvest would not be born.
It is also remarkable that even if hopes were not realized, the girls did not despair, but continued to have fun together with their happy girlfriends as if nothing had happened. They never envied, and therefore they were beautiful in soul and in the end they found their happiness ...
But this holiday was distinguished not only by marriage troubles. It also played an important role in the economic life of our people. It was by this day that the terms for hiring seasonal workers were most often determined. Hired "conscripts" usually worked from Ilyin's day to Pokrov, which is why they said: "Wait until Pokrov - I'll pay off the entire debt."
At this time, they were in a hurry to complete all trade transactions and payments. The cellars were filled in winter with various pickles and jams. The last chores for the winter table were apple. On the very eve of the Intercession, the Antonovka was soaked. In the huts these days there was an amazing apple spirit. I immediately remembered how sweetly Ivan Alekseevich Bunin described this time in his poetic prose. Through the aroma of the collected Antonov apples, the writer expressed the whole soul of the Russian people.
A holiday is a holiday, but there was enough work: “The house is not big, but it doesn’t let you get bored.” On Pokrov, they hurried to repair the house for the winter: “to steal a hut”, “to capture heat before the Pokrov”. Entire proverbs were composed on this topic, for example: “if you don’t steal it before the Intercession, it won’t be like that” - and you will have to ask: “Father Pokrov, heat our hut without firewood.” This is for Pokrov to send warm days - to look around and have time to prepare everything for the future.
I always admire the harmonious perception of nature by our ancestors. They, as they say now, did not twitch, but believed that “the mistress will cover the earth with her Veil and say to her son: “Lord, winter has come, everyone has worked hard, saved ... God bless them, rest, survive the fierce winter. My covering will be over them."
Through the signs of this time, our wonderful writers talentedly conveyed the grief and joy of Russian workers. For example, one line by N. Nekrasov: “Only one strip is not compressed, it induces a sad thought ...” - the reader already sees a picture of a human tragedy. It is clear that the peasant will not leave the grain unharvested in autumn. So, trouble happened to him ... And in Tyutchev we read: “Only cobwebs of thin hair / Shines on an idle furrow ...” An “idle” furrow tells us that everything is in order in the life of a peasant. In this regard, I cannot help but recall the boy Vanya from I. S. Shmelev's “The Summer of the Lord”. He lived according to the Orthodox annual cycle and matured spiritually.
I want to finish this theme, which I love, with poems by E. Baratynsky, which are very consonant with my current mood and, in general, in my opinion, explain the craving of a Russian person for their roots:
I will return to you, fields of my fathers,
Oak forests are peaceful, shelter sacred to the heart!
I will return to you, home icons!
...
O father's house! Oh, always a favorite!
Native heaven!