Green Christmastide is a rather significant Slavic festive period. There is also another name - Semik. Since ancient times, traditions have been observed in various parts of the Russian lands. this holiday.

Description

The next after this period is the Green Christmastide - this is, in essence, the week before it. Sometimes the celebration is celebrated from Tuesday or Thursday until the end of the seventh week from Easter. In addition, there are a number of other activities that celebrate the transition between spring and summer. These are, for example, Ascension and Preparedness.

Green Christmastide is a period of time, which in earlier times was also called Rusal Week. The holiday was considered a girl's, as, in fact, the Trinity itself. According to tradition, young girls could join the company of older friends, became interested in the opposite sex, conducted fortune-telling for their betrothed, and also came to gatherings held in autumn and winter.

Distinctive features

The features that the Green Christmastide holiday has are in a subtle analogy between the beauty of a young girl and nature blooming from the rays of warmth. After all, summer is a time of fertility, rich harvests and triumphs of natural beauty. During this period, ears of oats and rye grow, from which they made stocks for the cold season.

A fairly large-scale event in the life of people can be called Green Christmastide. Rusal week is dedicated to deceased loved ones and relatives. The emphasis is on the endlessly revolving wheel of life. Green Christmastide is the moment when the Slavs thought about the boundless power of nature.

At the end of the solemn period, a detour through the territory of the settlement was arranged. During this cavalcade, the villagers saddled their horses and walked along their native streets. Also, time was devoted to games such as "Kralitsa".

The attitude of the church

For the first time, literary references to this tradition appeared on the pages that date back to 1068. The text of this document contains reproaches directed towards the pagans, who turned to the "devil" to prevent drought.

Of course, the spirits with whom the ancient Slavs tried to establish contact seemed unclean only to Christian priests. They considered such rituals to be heresy, because Green Christmastide is a custom that remained in the habits of people along with old beliefs. As soon as they called this event, "games with demons" as well. People believed that these days mermaids leave the waters and are on land, next to a person, sometimes a certain contact can occur.

Precautionary measures

In order to prevent troubles that were considered probable on the Green Christmastide, they introduced bans on difficult work, solo walks in the forest with livestock or light, rinsing clothes and sewing clothes. Of course, the rivers were the most dangerous area, so you had to refrain from swimming.

The times of greatest danger were considered midnight and noon. People believed that there was a risk of becoming a victim of mermaids and disappearing forever in the abyss of waters at their will. In order not only to avoid such a fate, but also to benefit from communication with river inhabitants, it was necessary to appease them properly. Therefore, after midnight, festivities and singing were organized, which the church authorities looked at without much approval. For example, in 1551, such rituals were condemned.

Carrying out period

Centuries changed one after another, and Semik became more and more identified with the Trinity. There is no fixed and unchanging date when Green Christmastide is celebrated. What date Semik passes must be determined differently each year. The starting point is Easter, in the seventh week after which the holiday is held on Thursday or Sunday. In 2016, Semik fell on June 16.

So its name is quite logical, in itself suggesting the moment of implementation. Due to the proximity in time to the Trinity, one can speak of a strong mixture of pagan and Christian customs and their complete unification in the 19th century. In Russia, they celebrated on the same day as Christian, that is, on Sunday. Semik is no longer celebrated on the same scale as many years earlier. They remember him, adhere to the main ideas, observe some rituals, though not always fully realizing their true meaning. In any case, this event preaches only bright and pure ideas.

Memorial service for the dead

Important features that characterize the Green Christmastide are fortune-telling, as well as commemoration of the so-called pledged dead, by which they mean people who have passed away due to unnatural death. Such send-offs were carried out on Thursday.

At this time, the souls of these people could again find themselves in the world of the living, turn to Mavka in order to continue their existence. The church was against their commemoration. Also, the funeral service was different from the usual one. It was believed that their bodies were rejected by the earth, and the spirit could not rest. Eternal wanderings and the inability to find refuge for themselves forced them to contact with living people, moreover, not always in harmless ways.

Many of them take up the service of evil forces or are themselves like demons. So Semik was the only period when people could properly remember such souls, at least somehow facilitating their existence.

Natural symbol

Interesting traditions are associated with the Trinity tree, which is a rather important symbol. The girls weaved beautiful birch branches into their hair, made wreaths. The rooms in the house and the courtyard were decorated with branches. They could also be seen in the church. This tradition is typical for Siberia, the Volga region, and many other regions.

They traveled out of the village, to the field or into the forest, found a young birch, which was called a seven-tree, a bush or a pillar in different variations. Its branches broke off. Upon returning home locality it was used to decorate places for holding games, used during round dances. Also, people came to the river and left twigs to float on its waves.

Tobolsk province was characterized by the custom of dressing a tree in a girl's dress. Then he was carried home, as if brought to visit, even symbolic treats and farewells were carried out, ending with drowning in river waters. There were rituals in which a growing tree was used, curled and developed. Many people still know about them. Curling, which was most often performed by girls, was carried out during Semik, while the reverse process was at the time of the onset of the Trinity, as well as the Spirits of the day.

The magical properties of birch

Despite the fact that in the territories inhabited by the Slavs, there are a lot of varieties of trees, it was the birch that won the people's love. While still young and fresh, she was considered the possessor of magical energies aimed at ensuring fertility.

Getting a good harvest has always been a hot topic of concern for people. So that he really was rich, the Slavs tried to appease the higher powers. Analyzing the customs of the peoples of Western Europe, one can see that they attached similar importance to

Such representations are characteristic of totemism, which, as we can see, even in the 21st century is firmly entrenched in traditions that have been entrenched for centuries. In Russia, maple has always been of great importance as well, with which many rituals were performed. In this regard, you can find such names as Klechalny Monday and Saturday.

Ripening rite

You can hear a lot about kumlenie, which is an initiation carried out during the spring-summer cycle of holidays among the Slavs of the southern and western regions. In addition, it is a special type of youth union.

In the east and the European part of Russia, this term is also found and is quite famous. The ceremony was attended by adult girls, forming pairs or groups of four. It also happened that the whole company immediately started to celebrate, using the same wreath for everyone.

It was woven from branches. The process was accompanied by singing songs, driving round dances. They brought food under the birches, which they later ate. Scrambled eggs were an obligatory dish.

During the curling of wreaths, boom was carried out. The ceremony consisted of tying the branches into a circle, on which a cross was put on. Through him, the girls kissed each other in turn and exchanged things. It could have been a ring or a scarf. After that, they were considered godfathers to each other.

This marked the onset of puberty in young girls. They were accepted into the society of older friends. Kumlenie was carried out in the middle of the festive complex, which began with rituals associated with decorating and introducing a decorated Trinity tree into houses. It ended with a general maiden meal. Sometimes young men joined them. In addition, fortune-telling was carried out with the help of wreaths, the wreath that had been worn on it earlier was removed from the birch.

Although the holiday is already very many centuries old, both ordinary citizens and creative associations... They perform traditional Russian songs dedicated to old customs, create whole concert programs on this topic, for example, such groups as the Babkina Theater. Green Christmastide is a tradition deeply rooted in human hearts.

Trinity, Descent of the Holy Spirit, Pentecost - this is how this holiday is called in the Christian church. V folk calendar it is called Green Christmastide, Semik and Trinity Day. Trinity is celebrated on Sunday, on the 50th day after (on the 10th day after the Ascension).

history of the holiday

The book of Acts says that exactly 10 days after the Ascension of Christ to heaven, the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles when they were in Jerusalem in the upper room of Zion (where the Last Supper was held). This event was predicted by Jesus before he left the disciples, and indicated the trinity of God: the Father created the world, the Son atoned for human sins, and the Holy Spirit sanctified the earth, because after he touched the apostles, the apostolic church was formed.

Church celebration

The service in Orthodox churches on this day is one of the most solemn of the year. This holiday is also considered a day of remembrance for the dead, therefore special prayers are read at Vespers, including for the repose of the souls of all the dead, during the reading of which everyone, including the clergy, kneels. The floor of the church on Trinity is covered with grass, icons are decorated with birch branches, and priests wear green vestments.

People's celebration

Green Christmastide was especially loved by girls, because most of the rituals and traditions of this holiday are dedicated to them. In fact, Green Christmastide is a complex of holidays, which included Trinity Saturday and Trinity, however with the introduction, at the beginning of the 15th century. Orthodox Church church holiday Trinity, all the rituals previously performed during the week, gradually shifted to the 50th day after Easter. In any case, Green Christmastide is the border between spring and summer, therefore the main rituals were associated with the cult of nature, as well as with the initiation of girls and the commemoration of the dead (in some localities, only the drowned).

Boom and initiation

On Trinity Day, the girls were “idolized”. To do this, they went into the forest, chose a couple of young birch trees growing nearby, and tied their tops. They hung a cross on them, kissed through the resulting wreath and exchanged handkerchiefs or rings. Then they sang songs, danced in circles, performed a ritual meal, the obligatory component of which was scrambled eggs.

In general, birch was given a significant place in the ritual of these days. On Green Christmastide, birch trees were cut down in the forest, decorated with ribbons and worn around the fields and around the village, installed in places where festivities were held. Birch branches were necessarily decorated not only with icons in churches, but also at home.

Such attention to this particular tree is explained by the fact that it is considered a repository of fertile energy, and thus people tried to join it, as well as to introduce fields and livestock to it. There is an opinion that this idea of ​​a birch is rooted in the most ancient totemic ideas.

Memorial rituals

Often Green Christmastide was considered a time of remembrance only for those who did not die natural death. According to legends, their souls were reborn as mythological creatures, and sometimes returned to the world to harm the living. Therefore, they were supposed to be remembered with plentiful meals, festivities and even fist fights in order to show respect and earn their mercy. Currently, funeral rites are held on Parents' Saturday.

Mermaids

One of the oldest names of the Green Christmastide is Rusalia. It was believed that during this period, mermaids can come out of the water, swing in trees and come into contact with people. Therefore, for several days there was a ban on visiting the forest alone, doing sewing and swimming in the river, so that mermaids could not drag a person home. It was also necessary to placate the mermaids in every possible way, so that they not only do not harm, but also help people.

To date, the custom of decorating a dwelling with birch branches on the Trinity, as well as commemorating the dead, has been preserved almost everywhere.

Green Christmastide- Slavic folk festive complex of the spring-summer calendar period, also called according to the main day - Semik... Celebration was widespread among the Eastern Slavs everywhere. Russians often called the Green Christmastide the week preceding Trinity, Ukrainians - the period from Thursday (in other places from Tuesday) the seventh week after Easter to Tuesday of the eighth week after Easter (in other places on Trinity).

In general, the period of Trinity-Semytsky holidays includes Prepolovene, Ascension, Semik, the week preceding Trinity and Trinity week before the Peter's spell, after which the Peter's fast begins. The festive complex marks the end of spring and the beginning of summer.

Other names

Festive complex: rus. Green Christmastide, Trinity Christmastide, Mermaid week, Russian week, Mermaids, Great week,Klechalnaya, Heartfelt funeral, Cuckoos, Wreath-curling, The week of the Saints Father; belor. Salmon, Sydmukha, Sydmukha, Zelyanets, Zaleonya svyatki; Polish Stado; Czech Králový týždeň.

Thursday: Russian Semik, Great Thursday, Great Thursday, Tulip, Novg. Rusalchin is a great day, Mavsky is a great day, south-rus., woodlands. Trinity of the dead, Navskaya Trinity, the basics. Ripey, belor. Salmon.

Saturday: Russian Semytskaya Saturday, Duhovskaya Saturday, Parents' Saturday, Easter of the Dead, Trinity Parents, Kursk. Klechalny Saturday, Spiritual wake, Ghost day, belor. Old, Summer, Traetsky, Semushnye Dzyady, Serene Saturday, Klyanovaya Saturday, ukr. Green Saturday, woodlands. Mikolsk grandfathers, Maple, May Saturday, Spiritual Saturday, Spiritual Saturday, May Saturday, bulg. Rusalna soul-mates, Serb. Mrtva saturdaya.

Holiday symbols

Semik, like Trinity, was considered a maiden's holiday. Teenage girls were accepted into the company of girls and they could "get married", guess about their betrothed and take part in autumn-winter gatherings (see Kumlenie). Likewise, in nature, Mother - Cheese, the Earth was preparing for fruiting - rye and oats were spawning on the flight:

As well as before other big holidays, before Semik (Trinity) the dead were commemorated: first the pledges, then the parents.

In the Catholic tradition, Green Christmastide ended on Trinity with detours around the village on horseback (cf. Easter Cavalcade), games of "Kralia" and "Kralitsa".

Mermaids

Rusalia, Rusal days - a holiday in memory of the dead among the ancient Slavs, memorial days, a memorial ceremony.

The first mention of the Rusals is contained in the Laurentian Chronicle (under 1068). It condemns the pagan custom to call on the "devil" to prevent drought: "The devil flatter, dwelling neither from God with trumpets and buffoons, gusli and rusalya". In later monuments, Rusalia are characterized as "demonic games" and "fun with dancing", songs, dressing up in animal masks, etc.

It was believed that on Semik or Trinity (in other places from Ascension) mermaids emerge from the water and stay on earth. During the entire period, mermaids are in close proximity to a person, so they can even come into contact with him. Numerous prohibitions and customs were in force from Semik, for example, there was a widespread ban on large-scale work, it was impossible to go to the forest alone, drive cattle there, rinse clothes and do sewing. One of the ancient customs associated with this holiday is the ban on swimming in the river, especially at noon and midnight. There was a belief that mermaids dragged the drowned to themselves. In Rusalnaya week, mermaids should have been appeased - then you could count on their help.

During the Mermaids, songs and festivities dragged on far into the night. The church was extremely negative about such holidays: for example, the Stoglavy Cathedral of 1551 sharply condemned such festivities.

Semik

Semik- usually the seventh Thursday or the seventh Sunday after Easter, hence the name. In many places, from that day, birches ("Trinity Tree") were placed in the villages, and the girls were "idolized". Opens the ritual complex of the Trinity-Semitsky festival. Over the centuries, the ancient rituals of Semik were gradually transferred to Trinity. In some places, this process by the 19th century. completed completely: Trinity (Trinity Saturday and Sunday) absorbed all the rituals of Semik. In others, ritual actions were divided into Semik and Trinity. In Belarus (belor. Salmon) and in the south of Russia Semik was celebrated on Sunday, considering the name "Trinity" to be ecclesiastical.

A distinctive feature of Semik was the commemoration of the "pledged" dead, that is, those who died not by their own death ("who have not outlived their age"). The funeral was usually held on Thursday in Semitskaya week, in some places - on Tuesday ("Soul wake"). It was believed that the souls of the hostages of the dead return to the world of the living and continue their existence on earth as mythological creatures (see Rusalka, Mavka). They were forbidden to be buried in the church, and they were commemorated separately. According to popular beliefs, the earth does not accept the dead with a bad death, therefore they remain restless and can annoy the living, often are in the service of evil spirits, and sometimes even have demonic properties. It was only allowed to commemorate the pledged dead on Semik, therefore this day was considered a "joy" for their souls.

Trinity tree

The Trinity tree is one of the main symbols of the Trinity-Semitic ritual. Along with flowers, wreaths, branches, the Trinity tree is used to decorate the house, yard, street, church. Trinity customs with a felled and decorated birch are widespread in the central Russian regions, in the Volga region and in Siberia. Choosing a suitable young birch outside the village (in the forest, near a rye field, near the water), the girls each decorated it with their own ribbon, scarves, beads, and wildflowers. With felled ( broken) and a decorated birch (called in different places: godfather, beauty, garden, seven, pillar, bush and so on) young people walked around the village, set up games in place, danced in circles, and then carried them to the river and threw them into the water: “Let's cut down a birch tree, dress it up with flowers, bring it to the village, spin around with songs. The round dances are over - we'll throw the birch tree into the river. " In the Tobolsk province, dressed up in women's dress the birch was “taken to visit,” that is, they brought it into each house, symbolically treated it, and in the evening, having gathered in one hut, they “sang the funeral”, after which they went to drown it to the river.

Rituals with a growing tree ("curling" and "development" of a birch) is one of the central episodes of the Semitsko-Troitsky complex among Russians, known almost everywhere. These actions were performed in two stages in different terms: They usually went to "curl" a birch to Semik, and "to develop" - to Trinity (in other versions: on Trinity and on the Day of the Spirit; on Trinity and in the Petrovsky spell). On Semik, the girls went to the forest to “curl a birch” (compare the song “There was a birch in the field”).

According to V. Ya. Propp, the reason for such increased attention to birch is that young birch was considered the focus of magical fertile energy. This energy is important both for the fields, which vitally need fertility, and for people and livestock, which need the energy of fertility. Therefore, they tried to introduce both fields and people to this life-giving energy of birch. In addition, the birch in its ritual role can be compared with the "maypole" of Western European peoples. According to DK Zelenin, both of these phenomena are rooted in ancient totemic concepts.

In the south of Russia and Ukraine, maple was often the main ceremonial tree, which is why the days were called "Klechal Saturday" and "Klekhal Monday". Klechalny- from the name of maple leaves, which were used to decorate houses and yards.

Boom

Kumlenie - a rite of initiation in a cycle spring-summer holidays eastern and southern Slavs, as well as a form of youth union. On the East Slavic territory, kumlenie is known in most regions of European Russia (especially in central Russia and to a lesser extent in the Russian North), as well as in the north-east of Ukraine and in the east of Belarus. In the overwhelming majority of cases, it was girls who had reached the age of majority who were idolized; they mumbled in pairs (very rarely - four); from time to time they all celebrated together, including putting on one wreath in turn.

Wreaths were braided from the branches. At the same time, they sang songs, danced in round dances, and ate food brought with them under the birches (in this case, there had to be scrambled eggs). When curling wreaths, the girls mumbled, that is, they performed a boom rite: a cross was hung on the branches of birches tied in a circle, the girls kissed in pairs through this wreath, exchanged some things (rings, scarves) and after that they called each other godfather (posestrism). Experts explain this custom as a relic of ancient rituals that marked the puberty of girls and their acceptance into a special age and gender group.

Kumlenie usually was the middle episode of the holiday, which began with the establishment (selection in the forest, bringing into the house, decoration, dressing up) a Trinity tree (birch, maple branches, etc.) or with the dressing of a "cuckoo" (in the southern Russian regions, was a part of the rite of the "cuckoo funeral") and ended with a joint meal of the girls (sometimes together with the guys who joined the girls after the kummeniya), and very often - fortune telling with wreaths; at the same stage, as a rule, the development of the birch, or rather the wreath curled on it, and the actual raskumivanie took place.

Green Christmastide in 2019 begins on June 17 - on the Day of Spirits, the day after Trinity. V folk tradition Slavs green Christmastide symbolizes the border between summer and spring.

Usually, on Green Christmastide, the girls arranged girls' gatherings, weaved wreaths of flowers, and dressed smartly. And it is also customary to sing carols on this day, go home and collect sweets and pies. Such holiday mood are designed to improve field work, increase the yield. Many rituals came from paganism, when people worshiped various gods of fertility and prosperity.

And it was also customary to take teenage girls into the girls' company. This suggested that girls can "get married" and walk with older girls.

In general, the Green Christmastide cycle consisted of several interesting rituals:

• weaving wreaths,
• birch frame,
• funeral of the cuckoo,
• kumlenie.

The birch was the main attribute of the holiday, it is also called the Trinity tree. It was decided outside the village, in the forest, to choose the most beautiful young birch and dress the tree with wreaths, ribbons, and beads. With birch branches, the youth walked with a birch around the village, and also installed it at the place of celebration. In some villages, it was customary to dress up a birch tree in a woman's dress and bring it to all houses. It symbolized wealth, prosperity and love. Birch branches were also brought to the house, as well as wildflowers and fragrant herbs. Plants were used to decorate the house not only from the inside, but also from the outside. This symbolized cleansing, protection from evil spirits, ailments. In addition, the plants filled the house with a pleasant aroma, freshness, disinfected the air, and helped to eliminate negative energy.

It was believed that these days, grass, flowers, trees, shrubs have healing energy. Until the end of the Green Christmastide, it was impossible to sweep in the house and on the street in order to preserve the full strength of the plants. Branches of various trees were also brought to the church for their consecration, and then also carried into the house.

Taken on Green Christmastide to inspect the fields. Mostly girls did it. They "entered the fields" and looked at the cereals. And the girls gathered in groups, kindled a fire, fried eggs and treated each other with pies. In addition, during such gatherings, the girls asked to send them a good harvest, good weather, and enough rain.

On this day, the graves were also sprinkled with water, especially those people who drowned. In general, after the church they went to the cemetery and decorated the graves with birch branches.

By the way, it was believed that Green Christmastide is a good time to communicate with dead people. Therefore, the girls often arranged so-called spiritualistic séances. All this is also associated with paganism, because the church does not approve of such actions. The people believed that mermaids - dead girls and children - appear on the Green Christmastide near the coast. And despite the fact that many rituals are associated with bathing in a reservoir, it was still considered dangerous to swim in lakes and rivers, because mermaids could drag them to the bottom with them.

They defended cattle on the Green Christmastide. The shepherd brought two wreaths to the house. The hostess hung one wreath on the cow's horns, and with the second she decorated her head. Then ritual actions were performed, which, according to legend, were supposed to protect the health of livestock. After the ceremonies, the wreaths were hidden in the barn until the next year.

The wreath is an integral attribute of this holiday, therefore, the girls must throw their wreaths into the water, thereby guessing at the betrothed. Girls spend a lot of time on this day with guys, giving them the opportunity and the chance to propose marriage. Many rituals are similar to the holiday of Ivan Kupala, because on Green Christmastide, young people also jump over the fire, bathe at night in water bodies, beat each other with nettles.

Also, young people arranged impromptu weddings. The guy and the girl called each other "groom" and "bride". The couple went through all the rituals that a couple go through when they really get married. In addition, stuffed men and women were made from straw and left overnight in a stable, and in the morning it was customary to ask how their night was.

One more interesting tradition is the preparation of wheat pies, which are, as it were, wrapped in beet and cabbage leaves. And there was also a tradition when young girls had to cook small pies with meat filling with their own hands and throw them into a pond to appease the water spirits. It was believed that then the mermaids would become kinder and would be allowed to swim in the water and would not be taken to the bottom.

Fortune-telling on Green Christmastide

On Green Christmastide, most fortune-telling has traditionally been associated with a love theme. The girls wondered in dozens of ways to find out when the betrothed would meet and how good the future husband would be.

Divination by the betrothed

The girls wondered at their betrothed to find out exactly when he would meet them, what would be their character. So, there was a custom when girls went into the forest and bent a birch tree to the ground, tying it with ribbons or braiding it with long grass. A week later, the birch tree had to be untied so that it would not be "offended." If the branches have become lethargic, and the leaves have completely fallen or faded, then the girl will have a lonely year and failures, and if the birch tree has remained healthy and strong, then this year the girl will probably meet her betrothed.

And there was also a funny fortune-telling, which was supposed to show where the groom would come from. The girl stood in the center of the field and began to unwind strongly. In which direction the fortuneteller will fall, from there it is worth waiting for the groom. In the same way, they untwisted part of the old plow: in which direction it flies, falling out of the girl's hand, from there the betrothed will come.

Fortune telling on a chain

Among modern traditions there was also such a fortune-telling: if you have never counted the links in your chain, then on Green Christmastide you have such an opportunity. Make a wish or ask a specific question and count the links, guessing like a daisy. Or another option: they usually count three times so as not to be mistaken with the quantity. An even number of links will mean that the wish will come true, and the answer to the question will be positive, if an odd number falls out, then it is better not to implement the plan. After fortune-telling, you cannot remove the decoration for three days.

Divination with candles

Take three small pieces of paper, write on each as desired. Now take the oak bark, attach the leaves to it and turn it over, mix well. Now take three tapers and place them on the bark. Set fire and watch. Whichever first candle burns out faster, then the wish will come true faster than everyone else. And if the candle went out before it could light up, then this wish will not come true very soon.

Fortune telling with poultry

It is advisable to spend in a house or in a country house, in a village where there are chickens, geese, ducks. If this is not possible, then fortune-telling can be carried out on the street, in the area where pigeons and sparrows accumulate. Pour millet into two plates, put a ring on one plate, a coin on the other, and do not put anything in the third and just pour the grain. Place these plates in your yard. Where birds peck grains faster, wait for news in that area. A ring means receiving a marriage proposal or a meeting of fate, a coin means inheritance, promotion, profit. If the birds ate grains in an empty plate, then the year will pass exactly, unchanged. Instead of a coin and a ring, you can use some other attributes: car or house keys, a globe-shaped keychain, a baby pacifier, a calendar. You can also write wishes on a piece of paper and also place them on a plate under the grains.

What not to do during Green Christmastide

It was believed that during the Green Christmastide, livestock should not be given fresh grass, and flour should not be sifted into a barrel or trough through a sieve.

On Green Christmastide, they are afraid to swim in reservoirs, because mermaids can take them to the bottom. But if you carry out the ceremony of "reconciliation", throw pies with meat into the water and say certain words, then the aquatic inhabitants will be allowed to swim.

These days we tried not to swear, to help each other, not to use foul language, but to smile and have fun more.

After the Green Christmastide came the time of humility and limitations, which was also an important part of people's lives.

The second half of June is rich in holidays - both Orthodox and ancient, still pagan. Pagan Holidays this pore, as a rule, is associated with the feminine principle, water, divination, the world of spirits. Orthodox - with the acquisition of faith.

The Slavs had a week Green Christmastide. They were celebrated in early to mid-June. Orthodox Christianity by this time timed the feast of the Trinity, the date of which depends on the day of Easter (in 2019, Trinity - June 16 ).

There was also an ancient Lita holiday, on the day of the summer solstice, June 21. And there and then pagan Agrafena Kupalnitsa and Ivan Kupala.

The beginning of the Green Christmastide falls on June 20. What kind of Christmas time is this? They have one more name - the Second Rusalia. The first Rusalia falls in April and is dedicated to the celebration of the virgin Lelya - the young and blooming goddess of spring. Second Rusalia - the time when the maiden Lelia becomes the wife of Lada, spring turns to summer.

In the Green Christmastide ceremonies, the first greenery and the beginning of summer field work were welcomed. Green Christmastide consists of several rituals: bringing birch trees into the village, curling wreaths, kumleniye, funeral of the Mermaid. The girls went to the forest - "boom", weaved wreaths from birch branches, collected bouquets from forest and wild flowers, brought them into the house, dried and kept in a secluded place all year round. It was believed that plants at this time have magical powers. The Second Rusalia ended with the funeral rite of the Mermaid, which she portrayed beautiful girl or a young woman dressed in white clothes... They surrounded her with a girlish round dance, bowed, and showed all kinds of respect. Then they laid them on the boards and the procession went to the river, where the Mermaid was "awakened", and the celebration ended with a ritual bathing.

Russian week

Merry Week is a time of remembrance and communication with Navkas, mermaid spirits. It was believed that mermaids and rusals are those who died prematurely, not becoming an adult, or died voluntarily. In the old days, women performed secret rituals. Those with children left for the little mermaid children in the field or on the branches at the springs old clothes and food to appease the mermaid spirits. And those in gratitude should contribute to the fertility of fields, forests and vegetable gardens, filling them with the juices of the Earth.

People believed that during Rusal Week mermaids could be found near rivers, in fields and groves, at crossroads and in cemeteries. According to popular beliefs, such a meeting is either for wealth or unfortunately. Especially mermaids should be feared by girls and children. It was believed that mermaids can pull into their round dance, tickle or dance to death. Therefore, during the Rusal Week, children and girls were strictly forbidden to go out into the field or meadow. The people said:

"It's dangerous to swim during the Rusal Week - the mermaids will tickle"

To protect yourself from the mermaid love spell, you need to carry sharp-smelling plants with you: wormwood, horseradish or garlic. Best amulet against evil spirits- Elderberries collected on the night of the summer solstice - in Litu - as well as birch twigs nailed above the doors or above the gates.