home » Diary » Russian folk autumn holidays. Traditional autumn holidays of the Russian people

Russian folk autumn holidays. Traditional autumn holidays of the Russian people

From time immemorial, Slavic holidays in Rus' were subject to the natural system, and each of them was not only justified from the point of view of pagan mythology, but also directly related to the weather and the change of seasons. The entire Slavic calendar obeyed this system, for example, winter holidays- there were Christmas time, spring and summer - Shrovetide, Ivan Kupala, and autumn Slavic holidays occupied a special place in the life of every Slav. And one of these holidays was September 9 - the holiday of Osenina.

In general, the autumn period among the ancient Slavs is considered one of the most important in terms of worshiping the gods, since it is accompanied big amount variety of ceremonial activities. This was due to the end of the harvest and the completion of preparations for the winter period, people rejoiced at the results of their hard work and thanked the gods for their mercy.

Our ancestors, especially farmers, considered the beginning of the new year to be unusual for modern man January, and September is the month when the harvest took place. During this autumn month, the ancient Slavs celebrated eight very important holidays at once. Each of them has its own hidden sacred meaning, but at the same time is interconnected. From the first week of autumn, the celebration and honoring of the goddess Makoshi began, then on September 8-9 they were dedicated to the prayers of the most revered gods of Rod and Rozhanitsa, and on September 9 it became folk celebration Osenin is a harvest festival. These days, our ancestors not only glorified their gods, but also brought gifts in order to appease them for the whole next year. Also, according to some data, Osenins were noted (14, 21 and 27)

How was the Slavic holiday of Osenina celebrated?

Aspens are a real celebration in honor of the harvest and the end of a difficult period in the life of every farmer. On this day, our ancestors gathered their entire family at one table and had a feast. Mandatory dishes on the table were all kinds of cereals, honey, dairy products, meat and, of course, berry wine, which was served only on big and important Slavic holidays. They drank wine from one cup, passing it from hand to hand, from the eldest in the family to the younger generation. Each member of the family drank a sip with words of gratitude to the gods for such a rich harvest, and also said prayers, asking for mercy for their family for the whole next year.

After that, the fun began, round dances were held, ritual songs dedicated to the harvest and the beginning of the hop harvest were sung, and one of the obligatory rituals of this day was the consecration of oat bread. Our ancestors believed that after such a ceremony, he was endowed with healing power, and he was used to heal from various diseases.

It is worth noting that some ceremonies were also held by the youngest members of the family, they, together with adults, held a “funeral of flies”, thus symbolizing the onset of cold weather. And their fathers put little boys on a horse for the first time on this day, taught the basics of riding and practiced a little. Naturally, for all the boys it was an important day in life, it was equated with initiation into warriors.

Also, the ancestors paid special attention to the signs on this day, if the weather on the Osenins was clear and cloudless, then the coming winter and the “Indian summer” would be very warm. But if the weather was not pleasing and it was cloudy or it started to rain, then autumn and winter will be very cold, and spring will come very late.

We are accustomed to modern calendars, so that every holiday has its own date and certainly the exact one. It wasn't like that before. Autumn in Rus' celebrated when the harvest was ripe, the tables were full of dishes, and it was a fine day. The Autumn holiday is associated with the gifts of nature, with Mother Earth, with the Sun, which will now warm the yard, in which there are tables for all big family, with the Wind-Stribog that will disperse the clouds. How, tell me, to make the nature of the North fit in the calendars? So when deciding when to spend the Osenina holiday, do not try to get attached to the calendars!

Autumn - a holiday that falls on warm autumn days

Autumn Festival - what is it?

Just listen to the other name of the Osenins: Spozhinki and Dozhinki, Avsen, Tausen, Savior Day, Last Savior, Women's Christmas, Childbirth Day, Second Meeting of Autumn, Harvest Festival.

Did you notice something unusual? That's right, then different holidays, which today, without thinking, are often called autumn. That is both true and wrong at the same time. It is true, because the Osenins in Rus' are every convoy, guest, autumn holiday. It is not true, because it is impossible to equate the Osenina holiday with other important dates for the Slavs.

What do they say about the Autumn holiday?

We know that the Osenins in Rus' are a holiday that is sure to come. So, relatives from neighboring villages and villages come to visit Osenins. Even today, city dwellers observe this custom without knowing it. Tell me, which of you has not been outside the city at least once during the warm autumn days? Who has not stopped by to visit their parents, grandparents? Who has not sat at the same table with relatives, basking in the last warm rays of the autumn sun? That is your Autumn holiday!

For Osenina, the harvest has already been harvested, counted. It is clear how much should be left for the family, how much can be sold or exchanged to good people. Rich autumn fairs have been known since ancient times. Yes, and now in almost every city to the Osenins there is certainly a fair held, where good people they sell their goods: they bring berries and apples, fresh honey, right in the golden honeycombs, and who already managed to prepare jam for the day of the autumn fair.

Rich fairs were held on Osenins in Rus'

On the Osenina holiday, the Slavs honor women, especially their mothers and their grandmothers. It is not for nothing that in other places the Osenins are also called “Indian Christmas”. Today, when the work in the fields is over, and the winter women's help has not yet begun, they thank women for their work and for raising children - there are some fine guys, taller than their father, and beautiful girls, suitors will soon come to such.

It happens that the Osenina holiday is called the end of the harvest. The holiday is big, it copes with the whole village! Together they harvested rye, now they rejoice together that the bins for the winter are full. On the Osenins in Rus' they gathered brotherhood, therefore, a common feast. The whole village prepared for it, each brought what his court was rich in. They feasted, but did not forget about work. Has the entire crop been counted? Will there be enough for the winter, or what family needs help today? How are we going to play autumn weddings, and to whom will they send matchmakers to the house in winter, if they didn’t have time to woo the girl in the summer? Everyone at the brotherhood discussed, the whole world decided how to continue to live and live.

Celebrate Autumn joyfully!

We are sure that now you will find a way to celebrate the Autumn holiday well. Whether you go to the autumn fair with your friends, whether you go to your relatives out of town to celebrate the end of the harvest together, whether you cook homemade pickles and jams to keep the strength of summer days for the whole year - everything is fine!

And we, in the country of the North, also worked hard in the summer, and prepared special goods for you, which absorbed the warmth of the short northern summer.

On September 14, or September 1, according to the old style, the beginning of autumn is celebrated - Oseniny - a harvest festival when people thank the earth for its gifts. In 325, the First Ecumenical Council established this day as the beginning of the year. According to the Orthodox Church, it was in September that the world was created.

On Osenina, as it were, nature itself dresses up in bright and festive attire. This holiday was celebrated in Rus' with all possible amusements. Young and old gathered for gatherings with the eldest in the family to meet the new summer, and then went to church for matins. On the eve, the fire was extinguished in the houses, and in the morning, by rubbing two planks, a “new” one was mined, and with this fire they began sit-downs, or gatherings.

In the morning, after the church service, the women went to the shores of lakes and ponds to meet Mother Osenina with kissel and oatmeal. The older woman held bread in her hands, and the young people around her sang songs. Then the bread was broken according to the number of those present and fed to the cattle.

In Rus', from that day they began to celebrate autumn weddings. The wedding weeks, which all unmarried women and single men looked forward to with great impatience, continued until).

To that holiday an ancient amusing rite of burial of cockroaches and flies, which pretty much bothered people over the summer, was timed. The annoying insects were buried by the girls who dressed up in best clothes, made coffins from shells of nuts or vegetables and lamented insects out of the hut to bury. It was believed that if you kill a fly before September 14, then seven more flies will be born, and if after that, then seven more flies will die. Participation in the funeral of flies and cockroaches made it possible for the girls to appear in all their glory in front of the gathered guys and, thus, find a future spouse.

Even on this day, they moved to new huts and celebrated housewarming. They believed that this would bring prosperity to the newly-made owners. Be sure to observe the rite of transfer to a new place of residence of the brownie. From the stove of the old house they took out a pot of coals, in which, according to legend, there was a house spirit, and transferred to new house. Only after that was it allowed to sit down at the festive table and celebrate a housewarming party, without fear that the brownie would get angry and take revenge on the forgetful hosts.

According to tradition, on the first day of autumn, relatives and acquaintances went to the newlyweds in order to “look at their life and life and teach them to reason”. The young hostess fed the guests a hearty dinner, and showed them all her household in the house. As usual, those who came praised her and gave her good advice. The host took the guests to the yard, showed them the grain in the barns, and winter and summer harness in the sheds, then everyone went to the garden, where they drank wine from a barrel.

At the end of the harvest in the villages, they often arranged a rural brotherhood. The more fruitful the summer was, the more hospitable and longer the holiday was celebrated. On Osenina, boys of 4-5 years old were put on horseback for the first time, and they also carried out the rite of “monsowing” into boys who had reached the age of seven, marking their new role in the community.

September 14 begins Indian summer, which in some places lasts up to three weeks. They noticed that if the day is clear, then the whole Indian summer will be warm, and winter too. Pay attention to the weather of Indian summer:

If during this period of time it often rains, then the autumn will be dry.
A lot of cobwebs on Indian summer - to a clear autumn and frosty winter.

Before this date, you need to remove the spiked crops (otherwise the entire crop will be lost - the grain will fall to the ground) and sow winter rye.

According to an old tradition, on September 14, one should be merciful and do charitable deeds. Our ancestors on this day distributed alms to the poor, treated widows and orphans, visited prisoners in dungeons and gave them gifts.

There are a great many signs dedicated to this day. They judged the near and distant future, the fertility of livestock, the quantity and quality of the crop:

The wind blows from the southern edge - to a warm and damp winter.
If the wind is from under the sun, then in winter the north wind will often blow.
Rainy day - to a rainy autumn.
A lot of cobwebs promise a long and clear autumn.
If wild geese flew away, then winter will be early.

Video: Osenins in Rus'

Holiday traditions and signs

The twenty-first of September ends the period of Indian summer, which lasts from Semyonov day. Autumn finally comes into its own, therefore they say about this day: "Amen to every summer."

The meeting of autumn traditionally begins with the ritual of renewing the fire. On the night of Oseniny, light sources were extinguished in all houses. The fire had to be extinguished even in the lamps - it could burn only in the church sanctuaries. After that, a new fire was lit, and the sparks from which it was to be born were carved from flint or mined by rubbing two pieces of wood.

It was believed that the flame, lit on the night of Osenina, contributes to the renewal of everything around, gives people and animals new strength. Therefore, they went around the house with a lit fire, from which they lit logs in the oven. The smoke from the new fire was used to fumigate livestock to prevent diseases and other threats.

If living flames were usually mined by men, then only women took part in the ritual of meeting Osenin by the water. At dawn, they went to the banks of rivers and lakes with oatmeal and jelly. The eldest of the women was supposed to hold bread in her hands. She stood in the center of the round dance, the rest of the girls surrounded her and sang songs. The eldest had to turn with a small prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos, ask her to save the family from misfortune, to instill prosperity and harmony in their home. The oat loaf was broken into such a number of parts that was equal to the number of those present at the ritual. Upon returning home, this bread was fed to cattle - this was supposed to attract material wealth to the house.

On the Osenins, a big meal was necessarily arranged, in which all the inhabitants of the village took part. Required attributes holiday table there was kutya from cereals and honey, bread, dishes from milk. At the table, they always thanked their native land for the fact that it presented them with its gifts.

It was a common tradition to visit the newlyweds on this day. The young bride had to arrange a rich dinner for relatives and friends, and then show them how the young family arranged their life in the house. The owner showed the yard, opened the doors to the barn and sheds. The guests, according to custom, had to carefully examine everything that the young people showed them, praise them, but also not forget to give them helpful advice- "to teach the mind-reason."

Young mothers and childless women turned their prayers to the Mother of God on Osenin Day. Mothers asked the Heavenly Queen to protect their child, to protect him from human evil, life's hardships and illnesses. Childless women prayed to the Mother of God to send them a child. There is a custom according to which a woman who wants to give birth to a child sets the table on this day and calls all the beggars to dinner with requests to pray for her children.

Osenins - the time of summing up the results of one period and the beginning of another. On this day, people thanked the higher powers for their favor and asked for the same favor in the future, guessed at future events. Remember the traditions of our ancestors, take the best from the past and do not forget to press the buttons and

21.09.2015 00:30

Christmas Eve is called the eve of Epiphany, one of the most important holidays in Orthodoxy. On January 18, customs are observed, ...

In the old days in Rus', our ancestors celebrated the Osenins three times. The first time is September 14th. September 14 - the beginning of the Indian summer, which lasts in some areas up to three weeks. From that day on, in Rus', they began to celebrate autumn weddings (until November 15), moved to new homes. On the festive day of the first Osenins, an ancient amusing rite of burial of flies and cockroaches, annoying inhabitants of the Russian summer, was timed. For this rite, the people composed various conspiracies, proverbs and sayings, as well as teasing verses. For example, like this:

cockroach chopping wood
The mosquito carried a water bottle,
Got my feet stuck in the mud.
The louse was steaming
Yes hit
Inadvertently -
Right side:
The rib dislocated.
The bedbugs were raised
Belly torn.
The cockroaches are gone
You flew summer
And we winter winter.

The second time they celebrated autumn September 21 , on the day of the autumnal equinox, when day equals night. Early in the morning on September 21, women went to the banks of rivers, lakes, ponds to meet Mother Osenina with oatmeal bread. One of the women stood with bread, while others walked around with a song. Then the bread was divided according to the number of people and fed to the cattle. By this time, the entire harvest was already harvested, and the peasants arranged a holiday, sometimes for a whole week, went to visit each other, put all the most delicious on the table. Among the people, these autumn months had a different name.

SEPTEMBER - frowning, howler, zarevnik.

OCTOBER - winter snow, leaf fall, dirt.

NOVEMBER - semi-winter, chest.

Folk signs, proverbs, sayings?

Thunder in September portends(dry autumn);
If birch trees turn yellow from the top in autumn, next spring will be(early, and if below - late);
Birds fly low in autumn(to cold, high - to warm winter);
autumn frost (to dry and sunny weather, to heat);
The bigger the ant heaps(the more severe the winter will be);
The leaf, although yellowed, falls off weakly(frosts will not come soon);

In September, when the crop was harvested, another work began for the Russian peasants - harvesting vegetables and fruits for the winter, i.e. their salting and pickling.

September 27 - the third OSENINS. One of the most important works- cutting and salting cabbage. These days the yards were littered with heaps of heads of cabbage. Chopped cabbage in troughs. Separately, the one that is greener (with bitterness), separately white (which is sweeter) - to the taste. Before the start of the felling, it was supposed to cross itself “WITH GOD!” Sprinkling cabbage with salt, they read a prayer for salt. During the cutting of cabbage in the hut there was a peculiar sound. They said: “It chews, as if they are chopping in the snow.” How did the first vegetable garden appear? You ask, and I will answer you. It was a long time ago. Our ancestors lived in huts and dugouts, and garbage was thrown out next to the dwelling, ripe vegetable seeds fell here along with scraps. They sprouted, and our ancestors were convinced that harvesting at the doorstep of the house is very convenient and profitable, so 2 thousand years ago our grandfathers planted the first turnips. And so that no one trampled the seedlings, they began to enclose the crops, hence our Russian word "garden" came from. Now, with the word garden, we imagine beds with vegetables. But in the old days it was difficult to distinguish a garden from a kitchen garden. The owner of the garden tried to plant everything he needed for food, treatment, and beauty near his house. Therefore, in the Russian garden-garden, next to carrots and turnips, currants grew, mint and poppy blossomed. Autumn is a very generous time. She gives us vegetables, fruits, mushrooms, and berries, but the most valuable, most expensive gift is ... bread.

After all, it is often said that

Bread is the head of everything.

Bread on the table - and the table - the throne,

Not a piece of bread - and a table - a board.

Lunch is bad if there is no bread.

It is not easy to grow bread, but how much joy when the harvest is harvested.
Now you know how Autumn was celebrated in Rus' before.