Autumn holidays in Russia
With the arrival of autumn, a cloud hangs over people, apathy, laziness. However, our ancestors knew ways to cheer themselves and each other, seeing off sunny warm days and preparing for winter. Autumn also has a reason to celebrate before the New Year, which everyone is waiting for.
September
On September 1, Russians are used to celebrating the beginning of the school year among schoolchildren, but in Russia in each province this day was called differently: in Saratov and Penza - apiary - hives were harvested; in Yaroslavl and Vologda - onion, in Ryazan - Asposov. Agricultural work was being completed, and women had to start household chores: they were needling and preparing food for the winter. Girls could treat freshly brewed braga passers-by at the gate of their home.
Christmas of the Virgin - September 8 - another important holiday. They believe that the Mother of God will deliver from misfortune, pain, sorrow, help mothers in labor, will be an intercessor for children and girls. Spozhka (as this holiday is otherwise called) is celebrated with church chants. The Virgin is dedicated to the Autumn.
September 23 is celebrated the Autumn Equinox Day. In Russia, they prepared cabbage and meat pies, pastries with lingonberries. Between the window frames put bunches of ash, believing that the plant will keep the house from dark forces when the sun has already lost strength.
It's time to burn dry grass. Autumn is moving faster towards winter. We went to the forest for mushrooms, especially for boroughs. The girls guessed, asked the house about the betrothed.
October.
On October 3, it is customary to celebrate the Day of Astafia or Astafyev Winds. The north wind will be cold, the south wind will be warm, the west wind will rain, and the east wind will rain on clear days.
People were in a hurry to manage the alloy of bread on water until the ice arrived. The most recent cabbage was cut, from which, as our ancestors believed, the most delicious sows were obtained. “Everyone likes to talk,” they said on that day. This day is named in honor of the military commander, who during the hunt decided to convert to Christianity at the sight of the image of the crucified Savior between the horns of a deer.
October 13 - Day of Gregory, founder of the Pelmsham Monastery. In order to “give a move in winter” you need to renew the bed, fill mattresses and pillows with new straw, burn the old one. New straw covered the porch of the house and the yard – from dirt. It was believed that if it snows on this day, then it is still far from winter.
From the evil eye of the sieve on the threshold bathed children. It was impossible to make a noise because of the devil: he drives animals and himself into hibernation. It was forbidden to wake up pets and livestock, otherwise the house and the forest would be in disorder, and the firewood would not burn.
October 15 - Day of Cyprian and Ustigny, Martyrs of Faith. It is believed that they save from evil forces, temptation, charms and evil spirits. Lesha fell asleep, but the other evil spirits are mad, so conspiracies against evil forces were read. Girls on weekdays sing long songs.
November
The days are short and the nights are long. November is called a wedding, because earlier in this month, weddings were actively played (work in the field is completed, the harvest is harvested and you can spend time with fun and celebration).
Also, the first of November is the Day of St. Zadok, the heavenly patron of dead souls. It is believed that on this day the house rattles the horses mane. People cooked pies with chicken meat – chickens, poured grain in the yard so that magpies would arrive, and if they peacefully pecked grain, the house would not disturb the house during the winter.
November 1-14 - the holiday of Kuzma and Demyan, patrons of crafts, weddings, family - Kuzminka. Village women carry chickens "to the red life." In response, they receive ribbons on the headdress. Gifted chickens were kept on oats and barley - brought healing eggs, they were not given for slaughter.
The bride gathers other girls in a large hut and from the “bumps” (flour, eggs, potatoes...) prepare a feast for the guests-boys. This celebration is accompanied by games and dances, and in some cases by the "funeral of Kuzma-Demyan", a custom where the shirt and pants are stuffed with straw, and in the forest they dance on straw. After the end of "Kuzminok" at gatherings, girls knit, weave, sew - prepare a dowry.
November 22 is considered the Matryona of winter. And the people gave them clothes and gifts. The house will be in trouble if you give the old, but not washed. It is customary on this day to talk less and load yourself with worries, do not lie and cheat, agree on important meetings and negotiations. It is worth drinking medicinal herbs, they will cure diseases, and dreams seen this night become prophetic. You can make a wish - in a dream you will see the answer to your question, and such a dream will come true before lunch the next day. If you notice ducks in a pond or geese coming out on ice or cherries not all the leaves dropped - it will be a long warmth. If it is cold in the morning, but it is warm in the evening, then wait for cold.
P.S. Saratov guideshttps://www.personalguide.ru/rossiya/saratov/guidePenzahttps://www.personalguide.ru/rossiya/penza/guideYaroslavlhttps://www.personalguide.ru/rossiya/yaroslavl/guideVologda.https://www.personalguide.ru/rossiya/vologda/guideRyazanihttps://www.personalguide.ru/rossiya/ryazan/guide