☆ January 06
The holiday is dedicated to the Goddess Dana and Tur, the son of Veles and Mokosha, the patron of games, fun, fortune telling, dancing, riotousness and passion. On this day they also carol
February - Lute
Gromnitsa
☆ February 02
“Gromnitsa” is the only day in winter when you can hear thunder and see lightning.
Veles day
☆ February 11
Midwinter. All nature is in an icy sleep. And only lonely Veles Korovich, playing his magic pipe, walks through cities and towns, not letting anyone get sad
March - Berezen
Spring calls (spring Stribog)
☆ March 01
On this day, the ceremony of invoking Spring is carried out. The girls, standing on high places, hills or roofs, looking to the east, sing: Spring, red Spring! Come...
Yarilin's Day, Komoeditsa, Maslenitsa
☆ March 24
When the day becomes longer than the night, when nature awakens and the Sun-child Khors becomes the youth Yarila, the Slavs celebrate Komoeditsa
April - Kveten
Red hill
☆ April 22
A whole series of spring holidays take place under this name, starting with Lelnik and ending with Earth Day
Lelnik
☆ April 22
On this day they celebrate Lelnik - a holiday dedicated to the Goddess of maiden love - Lela. Our Slavic “Women’s Day”. Girls on this day choose the most beautiful
Yarilo spring
☆ April 23
On this day, an important ritual is held - the Unlocking of the Earth. In addition, for the first time after winter, cattle are turned out onto the grass before dawn.
Rodonitsa
☆ April 30
The last spring cold is ending. At sunset the beginning is opened. On this day they commemorate their ancestors, urging them to visit the land
Zhivin's day
☆ April 30
On the night from 30.04 to 01.05, the holiday begins - Zhivin’s Day. Women, taking brooms, perform a ritual dance around the fire, clearing the place of evil spirits. They glorify Zhiva, the Goddess of life
May - Traven
Earth Day (Rusal Day)
☆ May 10
On this day, the Slavs celebrate the name day of the Earth. You cannot carry out any excavation work, you cannot plow, harrow or stick stakes into the ground, for the Earth is at rest
Rusalya
☆ May 31
Rusalya takes place from 31.05 to 06.06. On these days, mermaids come to land and, in the light of the Moon, dance in circles, celebrate their weddings, dance and sing
June - Cherven
Semik
☆ June 05
Fire Festival. At the beginning of the dark season, nature delights the eye with a riot of colors. 5.06 Yarilo opens the sky, and green grasses are filled with magical power. Spring leaves, summer comes
Kupalo
☆ June 24
In the evening, 23.06, when the setting Sun has not yet touched the edge of the forest, the holiday begins. The whole action takes place in a clearing near the river bank. Prepare a fire-bath in advance
July - Lipen
Perunov day
☆ July 20
On the 27th day after the Kupala holiday, a military holiday is celebrated - Perunov Day
August - Serpin
Spozhinki
☆ August 07
By this day, the harvest ends in most of Slavia, hence the name of the holiday - Spozhinki (dozhinki, crimping). The last sheaf (“reaper”) is reaped in silence so that...
Khoroyar
☆ August 18
The Khoroyar holiday is a day of honoring two brothers, Khors and Yarila, patrons of horses. They are Tausen and Usen, and among the Lithuanians Tenis and Usinsh, ...
Tonsured
☆ August 31
On this day tonsures take place. When a boy turns 3 years old, his hair is cut as a sign of his transition to a new stage of life. The tonsured person is given an adult Slavic name
September - Veresen
Women in labor
☆ September 08
The holiday of the Family and Women in Birth, dedicated to the harvest and the associated family well-being. At the beginning they say praises to Rod, Lada and Lele
Radogoshch
☆ September 24
With the onset of the autumn equinox, the Slavs celebrate great holiday- Radogoshch. The Sun-husband Dazhbog becomes the wise Sun-old man Svetovit
October - Yellow
Grandfathers
☆ October 22
On Saturday, close to 22.10, the Ancestors are venerated. Day of remembrance of their relatives, “Grandfathers” - the Spirits of the Ancestors, who flew to Iriy.
Slavism is the worship of the holy spirit of nature, of which man himself is a part. This is the veneration of the Family, ancestors, and the creation of family tribal life, according to ancient Slavic customs.
The tradition of the Russian people is the invaluable experience of countless generations of our ancestors. By nurturing in us that same “mysterious Russian spirit,” the Slavic tradition presents us with customs that are eternally dear to all Russian people. And no matter how many eras pass, no matter how many times they wander in the darkness of foreign traditions, Russian people always return to their native tradition.
For thousands of years, natural calendars served our ancestors, helping them to cultivate the land, harvest, hunt and fish on time. The year, divided into twelve parts, was depicted on ritual bowls, and each month had a special sign. The annual wheel - Kolo Svarog - carried a special meaning, which consisted in the eternal rebirth and renewal of all living things. But the calendar is important not only for everyday life, it is always decorated with cheerful holidays.
Almost all holidays among the Slavs coincide with the cycle of life of the Earth, and therefore not only the spiritual principle is important, but also something else - familiarization with Nature, bringing into one’s life the feeling that the Earth is living matter. Even if you do not celebrate these days, but simply remember them, then the youth, maturity and old age of our Earth-Nurse will already pass before a person.
From December 25 to January 6 in Rus', people celebrate the Great Veles Christmastide - twelve holy days, symbolizing the twelve months of the year (six light - the light half of the year, and the other six dark - the dark half of the year), starting with the eve of Kolyada (Kolyada itself is not included in number of holy days) and to Turits. A magical time, when the light of the new Sun is still too weak to disperse the darkness (as it was in the days when Svarog was just forging the Earth’s Firmament), and the Gates connecting Reality and Nav are wide open. This is the time to commemorate our ancestors - our grandfathers, caroling, ritual excesses, various fortune-telling, wide public festivities and youth gatherings.
At this time, “feeding” of Frost (Grandfather Frost - the Winter Face of Veles, the Master of Navi, the Lord of the Dead) is performed with funeral grass - kutya (porridge prepared from wheat grains soaked in water with the addition of dry fruits and honey) - also associated with the veneration of ancestors . Costumed in the guise of people from Navi (in the form of Navi Grandfathers) and in the guise of animals, they went around houses, sang wishes for good things for the coming year and received for this gifts in the form of all kinds of treats from the festive table, as well as kutya (for it was believed that in the guise, caroling the souls of their ancestors come to people living in Yavi).
With the onset of the shortest days and longest nights of the year, according to the ideas of our ancestors, it was believed that winter had defeated the sun, that it had grown old and was about to fade away. So it was in fact, for the new sun-child Khors was born. Various magical rites and ceremonies were performed that were designed to help the sun to be reborn. In addition, it was believed that these rituals would influence the powerful forces of nature and bring a new bountiful harvest next year. Thus, in the minds of our ancestors, the essence of winter rituals and songs was to ensure a future good harvest, offspring of livestock, and a happy family life.
The time of winter Christmastide in the life of the people was full of caroling, mumming, games and horseback riding and sledding, predictions, omens, fortune-telling, songs and dances. Caroling is going from house to house with short carol songs glorifying Kolyada, the owners of the house, with congratulations on the New Year (New Year), with wishes of happiness, wealth, harmony and goodness. Each carol should consist of several parts:
1. A message that carolers are coming;
2. Glorification of the owners of the house;
3. Please give gifts to the carolers;
4. Congratulations on Kolyada and the New Year.
Carolers were presented with specially baked “roes”, “cows”, pies, fruits and money. To collect gifts, among the carolers there were mehanoshi, that is, people who carried a deep bag of gifts. Sometimes greedy owners drove away uninvited guests. Then the carolers sang special corilding carols or “curse carols” for them, in which the owners were promised various threats: “let’s take the cow by the horns,” “into the house of devils, and into the garden of worms.” Carolers always carried with them one particularly important attribute - the “Sun” with rays on a pole, as a symbol of the birth of a new Sun.
Carolers also used nativity scenes - special two-tiered boxes, inside of which, using wooden or rag dolls Scenes dedicated to the celebration of Kolyada were performed.
On Christmastide it was customary to dress up, that is, to put on outlandish, unusual costumes and masks (masks). First of all, these were costumes and masks of animals: bear, bull, horse, goose, goat, crane, fox, as well as fairy-tale and mythological creatures: kikimora, goblin, brownie, merman. In the same way, people dressed up as an old man and an old woman (a girl dressed up as an old man, and a guy as an old woman), a soldier, a doctor, a master and a servant. Each costume and each mask were traditional, that is, their meaning and meaning were passed down from generation to generation. Each mask was associated with certain actions and texts - sayings. It is believed that our ancestors turned to mummery because they were afraid of evil spirits, which became more active as the dark time of the day increased. If you dress up and hide yourself under a guise, then the evil spirits will not recognize and will not cause harm.
Sledding down the mountain also had magical meaning, it was believed that the one who descends the farthest from the mountain will have long-fiber flax stalks in the new year and the harvest will be good.
Yuletide fortune-telling arose in ancient times, when people believed that they could find out the future by looking into the past, or find out their fate by various signs. Although for most people fortune telling has become a joke, a game, one of the holiday fun, nevertheless, many took it very seriously. There are various methods of fortune telling: fortune telling with a shoe, fortune telling with snow, fortune telling under a window, fortune telling with chickens, fortune telling with wax, fortune telling under the eyes and fortune telling on things. Fortune telling was resorted to mainly by young girls who wanted to find out their future fate, and the owners of the families told fortunes about the harvest and the offspring of livestock. It is believed that the most “correct” fortune telling occurs on Kolyada (Christmas) or Turitsa (Epiphany).
Turitsa winter is dedicated to Veles in the guise of aurochs - one of the oldest animals revered among the Slavs, possessing magical powers. The tour embodies the union of Veles and Perun for the glory and prosperity of the Slavic Family.
Tour, like the Greek Pan, patronizes shepherds, guslars and buffoons, valiant prowess, games, dances and fun, as well as groves and forest animals. In the North, Tur appears as a proud deer, and in the taiga forests as an elk.
The ancient Slavs took their example from these formidable animals, who did not take care of themselves in order to protect the herd. They tried to teach the younger generation to attack and defend, to show resourcefulness and perseverance, endurance, courage, the ability to unite to repel enemies, to protect the weak and to find the enemy’s weak point.
For many years, aurochs, wild bulls, served people as a symbol of honor and courage. Cups and horns were made from turk horns, which were blown invitingly during military campaigns, and even bows were made from especially large horns.
Slavic “Winter Tours” - the most ancient rite youthful initiation into men, when the young man had to show his hunting abilities, military courage and kill his first large animal.
Unlike “Perun the Winter”, young men on this day are tested not so much on “strength of body”, but on “strength of spirit” and ingenuity - going without everything into the forest thicket, the young man must build himself a place to sleep for the night, get food for himself and make a fire .
On this day, demands are brought not only to Veles, but also to Chernobog. Near the idol of Chernobog, intoxicating drinks and honey are generously poured. Blood oozes no less generously from the wounds, for warriors today fraternize as befits real men.
The indispensable dishes of the day are sochivo (bread grains soaked in water and flavored with honey), kutia and vzvar.
The day is good for making and lighting amulets and runic tablets for divination.
In the evening they dress up as bears, wearing fur coats inside out, fool around and have fun, and at night the girls wonder about marriage.
On January 6 - 8, people can safely turn to any gods and powers for help, they can tell fortunes and bewitch their fate, etc. At night, all mirrors and other surfaces that reflect the real world become enchanting.
Snow collected this evening and thrown into a well can store water for the whole year. Snow is also collected today to bleach canvas.
January 8 - Babin’s Day, Babins, Day of Midwives and Women in Childbirth, Feast of the Family and Women in Childbirth, Babintsy (Bryan.), “Maladzeny” (Belarusian), “Winter Pakroukchyk” (Belarusian), Holy Mother of God (Belarusian), “ Babinden" (Bulgarian), "Babin Dan" (Serbian), Day of the psalter of the prophet David, Darius - the year of giving, Feast of the Council of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Christian).
The festival of Indian porridge has very ancient roots and goes back to the veneration of mother goddesses. On this day, midwives were revered. Women with children brought gifts and treats: pies, pancakes. They came with their children so that the grandmothers would bless them. It was especially recommended on this day to go to the grandmothers of expectant mothers and young girls. Visits and shared meals with midwives sometimes took place from the evening “until white light”. The midwife herself sometimes performs rituals that are supposed to help women have more children. The midwife cooked porridge for women in labor from millet or buckwheat. This dish played an important role in ritual events. For example, to prevent a child from becoming short, a grandmother would lift a pot of porridge, saying: “Grow tall, tall.” To help the baby get back on his feet as quickly as possible, older children were also given a pot of porridge: they were supposed to eat it on the street, and put a rooster or hen (according to the sex of the newborn) in the empty pot. On this day, the children's first hair was cut, and in memory of the dead, a special meal was served to Rod and the Rozhanitsa.
Mara Morena - Lady of Winter, Dark Face of the Great Mother Goddess - She Who Rules in Death.
There are three Winter Faces of Mara:
1) Mara Maiden (Yunitsa) - Mara Autumn - She is met no earlier than the 9th Breast/November (“Matryona Winter” in the era of dual faith), but no later than the 21st Breast (“Introduction”);
2) Mara the Lady - Mara the Winter - She is honored on the 13th of the month of January (see details below);
3) Mara Staritsa - Mara Veshnyaya - She is escorted to Maslenitsa, no later than the 25th of Berezozol/March, burning an effigy of the Old Woman-Winter on a ritual bonfire.
The time in the Annual Circle when the Great Dark Lady, the Mistress of the Winter Colds, enters Her full power - the 13th of January - is considered by the people to be a “terrible” time, dangerous for all living things. This day is not celebrated as a holiday itself, so ethnographic information about it is extremely scarce.
So, it is known that this day is one of the most “unlucky” days of the year. This is due to the fact that, according to popular beliefs, on the 13th day the Fever, or Shaking Sisters, daughters of Mara, who live in the dark dungeons of the world of Navi, are “released” into the wild, numbering 13: Ogneya, Gnetey, Znobeya, Lomeya, Shaking, Khripey, Deafening, Chubby, Dry, Yellowing, Blackening, Coldening and Aging
Knowledgeable people honor the Winter Lady especially on this day - with rituals and devotions. A dry tree is found in the forest, a dog's skull is placed at its foot, and scraps of animal skins are tied to the branches. They bow to Mara with burnt unleavened flatbreads (pepekas) and peeled boiled eggs, which are pricked on “Navya bones” - sharpened pegs stuck in the snow around a tree.
Vodosvet is celebrated on January 19. On this day the Water becomes light, after which it retains its healing properties for a long time. According to customs, it is customary to swim in an ice hole. Another, “softer” way to receive health from Light Water is to scoop up a bucket of river Water and pour it over at home or in a place protected from the wind. Immediately after swimming in the ice hole, you should quickly wipe yourself dry and dress warmly, then continue the holiday with tea drinking with friends. The water today is magical and gives swimmers health until Kupala in the summer and the next Vodosvet in the winter.
The holiday is held in the open air, if possible - near a water source (river, lake, spring, spring). The men make ice holes, and the women decorate the ice around them with multi-colored shreds. Then the glorification of Mary-Maritsa-Voditsa begins: gifts are first thrown into the ice hole - pies and grain, after which everyone plunges into them in order to gain bodily strength and health for the whole year. According to Slavic lore, during the Water Light, the Sun, Earth and the center of the Galaxy are located in such a way that a line of communication opens between the heart of our planet and the center of the Galaxy. There is a special kind of energy channel that structures everything that falls into it in a certain way. Water on Earth and everything made from it undergoes this structuring.
On January 21, Prosinets is celebrated - Midwinter - it is believed that the cold begins to subside and, at the behest of the Gods, the warmth of the sun returns to the Lands of the Slavs. They glorify Heavenly Svarga.
The name of the holiday "Prosinets" comes from "pro-shine", which means the rebirth of the sun. In Vedic temples in Prosinets they remembered how Kryshen once in ancient times gave fire to people who died from the cold during the Great Glaciation. On the same day, Kryshen rained magical Surya onto the Earth from the heavenly Svarga. The Slavs believed that Surya poured onto the earth made all waters healing, so they always bathed in the blessed waters. The blessing of water took place in Prosinets. This day also corresponds in the annual circle of Perun’s festivities to Perun’s victory over the Skipper-beast and the bathing of his sisters Zhiva, Marena and Lelya in the milk river. Therefore, in the grandiose feasts that the Slavs organized in Prosinets, milk and dairy products certainly had to be present. Also on this holiday it was customary to swim in cold river water. It is still believed that it is in Prosinets that the cold begins to subside and the warmth of the sun, at the behest of the gods, returns to the Lands of the Slavs.
Kudesy - the day of treating the brownie. Brownie-baker, joker, cricket protector.
If the grandfather-next-door is left without gifts, then from a kind keeper of the hearth, he will turn into a rather fierce spirit. After dinner, they leave a pot of porridge behind the stove, surrounded by hot coals, so that the porridge does not cool down until midnight, when the brownie comes for dinner. The name of the holiday - kudesy (tambourines) - indicates that our ancestors communicated with the brownie or simply had fun, delighting the ears with music.
Brownie is a good spirit. Usually he is a zealous owner, helping friendly family. Sometimes he gets mischievous and plays pranks if he doesn’t like something. He frightens those who do not care about households and livestock. On this day, the brownie is fed porridge, leaving it on the bench.
April 1st was considered the Day of the Awakening of the Brownie. The ancient Slavs believed that during the winter, he, like many animals and spirits, hibernated and woke up only occasionally to do the necessary housework. The brownie slept exactly until the time when spring fully came into its own. And she came, according to the ancestors, not in March at all, but in April.
On February 1 and 2, Gromnitsa is celebrated - the meeting of Winter with Spring on the World Face of Reveal, when the forces of Young Spring give the first battle to the forces of Morena-Winter, and the only time in winter time you can see lightning. Gromnitsa is one of the names of the Mother of God (Mother of the Gods of Light), the goddess of Dawn, on this day also called Queen Molonia or Melania. On this day, the following demands are given to her: salt, garlic, chicken, porridge, bread, poppy flowers.
From February 4 to February 10, Small Veles or Wolf are celebrated, Christmastide is a series of holy days between Veles the Small (February 3) and Veles the Great (February 11): February 4 - Veles the Cold, February 5 - Veles Korovich (or Veles Korovyatnik), February 6 - Veles the Calf-maker, February 7 - Veles the Crafty, February 8 - Veles the Sickle-Seer, February 9 - Veles the Zhitny Grandfather and, finally, February 10 - Veles Zimobor. The Little Velesovy Holidays are called wolf holidays because on these days the fate of wolves is decided, who will have wolf cubs and with whom - so-called wolf weddings are played.
February 16. Kikimora's Name Day is celebrated - the day when people create amulets for their home. For Christians, this date was the day of Maremyana the Righteous, popularly nicknamed Meremyana-Kikimora. Sometimes she helps her owners, warns them of trouble, but sometimes she herself causes harm in small ways. On this day, they tried to appease Kikimora (the accomplice of Morena and Mokosha, Domovoy’s wife) with special offerings so that she would not confuse the yarn and play pranks at night. People also said: “To Maremyana Yarilo - with a pitchfork.” For, according to legend, at this time Jarilo Velesic “raises winter on his pitchforks.”
February 21 is celebrated as Vesnovey (Stribog Winter) - the day when the winter winds, Stribog's grandchildren, bring the first news of the coming spring warmth. At the time of dual faith, this date fell on the day of Timothy Vesnovey. People said: “Vesnovey welcomes you with warmth”, “Timofey Vesnovey - it’s already warm at the door”, “February Timofey - Vesnovey, no matter how angry the blizzard is, everything smells like spring”, “Live until Vesnovey, and then winter is not terrible”, “ Spring brings the spring yar", "Timofey Vesnovey is the messenger of warm days", "Welcomes with warmth - it blows warmly, warms the elderly", "Spring warmth blows - warms the old", "The spring wind of change blows from the south" and called: "Spring, spring , bring warmth to the village,” “March bought a fur coat in winter, but sold it three days later.”
On February 29, Koshcheev Day is celebrated - celebrated once every four years. On this day, the Koshny God returns to people in the form of all kinds of disasters what has been created or untruths. But the wise teach not to be afraid of this, but to turn to the Heart of the Native Gods for admonition and strength, in order to be able to reject falsehood and live according to the Truth.
March 1 is Madder Day or Navi Day - the holiday of the resurrection of the dead and the last day of the power and authority of the evil Navi Gods before the arrival of Spring. On the night before Navi Day, the Navi (alien, abandoned, buried without a ritual and not at all buried dead) rise from their graves, which is why On spring Christmastide, people again dress up in disguise.
On March 8 - 9, a ritual of invoking Spring (the goddess Zhiva) is held. They spread a new canvas on the field, put a round pie on it and, again turning to the east, say: “Here you are, Mother Spring!” From this day on, they begin to sing spring ritual songs dedicated to the goddess of maiden love Lela, the patroness of lovers.
On March 22, the second Calls of Spring (the Alive Goddess) are held, performed from the tops of the hills from which the snow has already begun to melt, popularly called “Yarilin’s bald patches.” According to Slavic beliefs, on this day forty birds fly from Bright Iriy (that’s why this holiday is called Magpies), marking the approach of the Virgin of Spring. On whose field the birds land first, the Gods will send him special luck and a good harvest this year.
On April 6 - 7, Spring finally descends to Earth - the goddess Alive. Not only people, but also all living things celebrate in her honor. On this day you cannot work, but only glorify Spring, the triumph of life over death. For the third time they call for spring. When morning comes, they treat themselves to cookies in the shape of larks, and release live birds from their cages into the wild, calling for spring.
On the days of the spring equinox, the Slavs celebrate the great holiday of Maslenitsa. The second name of this holiday is “Komoyeditsa” (white), which is celebrated when the day becomes longer than the night, when nature awakens and the Sun-child Khors becomes the youth Yarila. (20th of March). Options for the celebration date are also possible: March 21 and 22, as well as March 25.
The main dish of the great holiday of Maslenitsa is the pancake - in the Slavic pagan tradition symbolizing the Sun.
In the morning, people hurry to the temple, a high place where the earth has dried up. Near the temple at the crossroads, grain is scattered. This is done so that the Navyas (devils, evil spirits), who have taken the form of forty, eat the grain and do not interfere with the holiday. This is one of the oldest Russian holidays - the day of honoring the Bear God: making a sacrifice (requirement) to the great Honey Beast.
Cookies, hot pancakes and pies, oatmeal jelly, honey, kvass and snacks are placed on tables covered with a tablecloth. The treat is divided into five parts, and the fifth part is placed in an open place near the sacred Fire, saying: “Our honest parents! Here is a pancake for your soul.”
Madder's doll is solemnly taken to the temple on a straw "mare" (the doll is knitted from straw and dressed only by women). Everyone stands along the road, bows to the waist and hails the goddess. The ritual of burning the Maslenitsa effigy that has been preserved to this day (and where the rivers have opened up, its remains are thrown into the water) is nothing more than the solemn funeral of the goddess of Death (that is, Mary) with everyone honors. It is impossible not to honor the goddess, with whom each of the ritual participants will someday have to meet.
April 3 - Vodopol (Water Day) - awakening of the Mermen and Mermaids after winter sleep, the beginning of ice drift and river flooding.
Other names of the holiday: Awakening of the Waterman, Treat of the Waterman, Water Fill, Icebreaker, Fishermen's Festival, Nikita the Water Flow, Nikita the Spring, Nikita the Confessor, Agafya and Nikita.
The Vodyanoy wakes up from hibernation. The water spirit has weakened over the winter. Nowadays it’s not bad for him to profit from something and look around his watery kingdom. On this day, fishermen came to the water at midnight to treat the Grandfather of the Water.
On April 14, Voronets (Crow Festival) is celebrated - a holy day dedicated to the Prophetic Raven. Cawing over the house where they do not live according to the Rule, Raven, as the messenger of the Koschny God, calls upon the wicked Navia to punish. For the wise, the Raven, as the conniver of Veles, brings Living and Dead Water in its beak and reveals the secrets of Life and Death.
April 16 - 22 Rusalia - from the onset of heat to high water The mermaids begin their games.
April 16 - 22 is a series of holy days preceding Yaril the Spring, a magical week (week) dedicated to honoring the Virgin Lelya - the young Goddess of Spring and virgin Nature, seething waters and awakened female water spirits - mermaids-beregins. About this time, maidens in long sleeves without amulets, like mermaids, perform a “swift dance” in the fields, not allowing guys into their circle, choose “Lelya” from among themselves - the most beautiful of all, braid and cover her body and clothes with fresh greens, lead There are round dances around her, they sing songs and perform their other sacraments, hidden from outside (male) eyes. Glorifying Young Lelya, they bring her prayers, sprinkling water from the willow branches onto the fields. Then they run to play “streams” with the guys and build a “Zhivin Bridge” with their hands.
April 22 - May 10, Krasnaya Gorka is celebrated - a holiday of spring, fun, round dances, symbolizes the meeting of guys and girls, a holiday of kissing and the beginning of sexual activity, akin to the fact that spring is the beginning of a new life for all of nature, it is also the first spring celebration of young people girls.
Krasnaya Gorka was considered a girls' holiday, and since weddings took place on this day and intense matchmaking took place, every single girl came to the games. It was even considered a bad omen if any guy or girl sat at home on Krasnaya Gorka.
Previously, girls and boys met on Krasnaya Gorka, they chose their betrothed and in a playful, humorous manner announced and showed their affection and sympathy. On Krasnaya Gorka it was customary to dress up in the most beautiful outfits and clothes. Krasnaya Gorka was considered a girls' holiday, and since weddings took place on this day and intense matchmaking took place, every single girl came to the games. Girls and women different ways they tried to attract the attention of the guys, so some of them wove colorful bright ribbons into their hair, and some tied painted scarves. Everyone wanted to stand out from the large number of girls. Staying at home and not going out on this day was simply not permissible. It was believed that a young man or girl who stayed at home during all the festivities would not find a mate, or he would get the last bride, and she would get a worthless groom, since the best ones would be “taken apart” by others, and what’s even worse, misfortune would happen to the disobedient ones. The godfather or girl, Lada, was in charge of the fun. She was the best expert on song lyrics and sayings, led round dances, sang songs, and remembered the rules of games.
April 22 celebration of Slavic Women's Day- Lelnika - on this day all Slavic girls performed rituals dedicated to Lelya and asked her for mutual understanding with her beloved young man and a happy marriage.
April 23 was considered the Day of Yarila (“Yarilo Veshny”). On this day, an important ritual is carried out - “Unlocking the Earth”, or in other words - ZaROD (birth). On this day, Yarila “unlocks” (fertilizes) Mother Cheese-Earth and releases dew, which begins the rapid growth of herbs.
By the time of the celebration of Yarilo Veshny, Nature completes its main spring cycles of awakening from winter sleep, and therefore this day is celebrated among the people as the day when the god Yarilo rides around the White Light on his white horse. On his way, Yarilo always visits the forests in order to give his instructions to the wolves. A very common rite of honor for Yarila Veshny is feeding wolves, that is, promoting the ecosystem, thereby giving young, fragile animals the opportunity not to become prey to wolves who have starved over the winter. Therefore, in Russian folk tradition, the day of Yarila Veshny is also known as Yuryev’s day - the day of the “wolf shepherd”.
On April 30, the last spring cold ends. At sunset the opening is opened. On this day they remember their ancestors and encourage them to visit the land: “Fly, dear grandfathers...” They go to the graves, bringing funeral gifts: pancakes, oatmeal jelly, millet porridge, painted eggs-pysanka. After the beginning, the funeral service begins: the warriors on the mountain “wrestle with the dead,” showing their martial art. They roll colored eggs from a high mountain in competition. The winner is the one whose egg rolls further without breaking. By midnight, wood is laid out on the same mountain for a large fire. The holiday begins at midnight - Zhivin’s Day. Women, taking brooms, perform a ritual dance around the fire, clearing the place of evil spirits. They glorify Zhiva, the goddess of life, who revives nature, sending spring to the Earth. Everyone jumps over the Fire, cleansing themselves of obsessions (Navi forces) after a long winter
May 1 is the Day of the Alive Goddess, according to the tradition of Zhivin Day, Mother Nature awakened from her winter sleep. Every day everything around is turning green, fresh, blossoming, coming to life... And how could it be otherwise, since spring is just around the corner? Meanwhile, our ancestors have long associated this process of awakening and renewal with the activities of the Slavic Goddess Zhiva. The Goddess Alive is the personification of fruitful power. Goddess of birth, life, beauty of all earthly things, springtime.
In an effort to show respect to the Goddess Zhiva, the Slavs organized special holidays in her honor. Wide celebrations were organized in forests, meadows and fields to thank the beautiful Goddess Zhiva, the creator of everything young and living. Women armed themselves with brooms and performed a ritual dance around the fire, danced in circles and sang songs, thereby clearing the place of evil spirits. Rejoicing at the arrival of spring, according to custom, everyone jumped over the fire, believing that with the help of fire one can be cleansed of obsessions after a tiring winter. People used to say about this: “Whoever jumps high, death is far away.”
May 6th is Dazhdbog Day, or Dazhdbog the Vernal. On the day of Dazhdbog, people rejoiced that Dazhdbog rejected Marena and became engaged to Zhivaya. This meant the end of Winter, the beginning of Spring and Summer. At this time, Dazhdbog was glorified in Vedic (pagan) temples and in plowed fields
On May 7, Proletye is celebrated - the holiday of welcoming summer. On this day, protective rituals of awakening the Earth are performed (in particular, the ritual of plowing), bringing strength, health and good luck. This is the holy day on which the goddess Alive is resurrected and honored as the birthday girl. On this day, the sacred fire is lit, marking the beginning of summer. Pass wide festivities, buffoon fun, games, round dances, songs and dances to traditional Slavic instruments: drums, pipes, pipes.
May 9 is Mother Earth Day. Our ancestors tirelessly thanked Her for her generous gifts, composed and sang songs in Her honor, and She paid for the loving attitude of people towards Her with Her Motherly care. The forests provided berries, nuts, and fruits. The fauna was rich and varied, the rivers and seas were full of fish. Modern man treats the gifts of nature purely consumerist, believing that everything is permitted to the “owner” of the Earth. That is why the seemingly inexhaustible abundance is becoming scarcer and scarcer, and our Mother’s love for her children is drying up.
May 9th is a holy day when Mother Earth, awakening from her winter sleep, is honored as the birthday girl. It is believed that on this day the Earth “rests”, so it cannot be plowed, dug, harrowed, stakes cannot be stuck into it and knives cannot be thrown into it. Veles and Makosh, earthly intercessors, are especially revered on this day. The Magi go out into the field, lie down on the grass and listen to the Earth.
On these days, the Magi made sacrifices and prayed to Rod for rain and a good harvest. You should pay attention to the meaning: “breast” - drops, and “dewy chest” - drops of dew, “hail piles” - pellets of hail. Apparently the word “breast” without additional definition (dewy, hail) simply means raindrops. This is more suitable to the context, for dew is formed from fog; drops of dew do not fall from the sky, and an ancient source claims that it is from the sky (“sitting on the air”) that the Rod throws its fruitful drops to the ground...
From May 26 to June 2, Green Christmastide (Second Rusalia) is celebrated - a series of holy days preceding Yaril the Wet, a magical week dedicated to seeing off spring and the accompanying female spirits - mermaids-beregins. The time when the young Virgo Lele is replaced by a mature woman - Wife Lada. At this time they are seeing off Kostroma - Yarilin's sister, dipping her stuffed animal (which is usually woven from grass and decorated with flowers) into the water, and then tearing it apart and scattering the remains across the field. This sacred act is performed by prophetic maidens, dressed in the guise of mermaids and long-sleeve shirts without amulets.
On May 30, Serpentine Spring is celebrated - the Serpentine holiday celebrated during Green Christmastide; one of the Kologod Holy Days dedicated to Veles. Wedding of Veles and Zhiva. According to legends, at this time snakes, Velesov’s accomplices, come out into the white light, bringing fertility to the Earth. During the time of dual faith in Rus', Isaac the Zmeinik was celebrated on the 30th of May/May.
According to legends, on this day snakes “have the power” to bite with impunity careless people who disturb them in any way. It was believed that a snakebite on this day “neither the priest would reprimand nor the old sorceress whisper.”
May 22 Troyan (Tribog's Day) is a holiday of the end of spring and the beginning of summer, when the Trisvetly Dazhdbog replaces the young Yaril-Spring. A sanctuary dedicated to the victory of the Trojan God over the Black Serpent. At this time, the Rodnovers glorify Svarog Triglav - Svarog-Perun-Veles, strong in Rule, Reveal and Navi. According to legends, Troyan was the embodiment of the power of Svarog, Perun and Veles, who joined forces in the fight against the Serpent, the offspring of Chernobog, who once threatened to destroy the entire Three Worlds. Troyan is the god of health, healing herbs, and witchcraft.
On June 23, the great holiday "God Kupala" is celebrated, timed to coincide with the day of the summer solstice (solstice).
Solstice is the moment in time in the annual rotation of the Earth around the Sun when the shortest day or the shortest day is observed. short night. There are two solstices in the year - winter and summer. GOD KUPALA (Kupalo) - God who gives a person the opportunity to perform all sorts of Ablutions and conducts Rituals of Cleansing the Body, Soul and Spirit from various ailments and diseases. God who guides you to a joyful and happy life.
At the holiday, everyone must undergo complete cleansing in order to begin collecting the fruits of the field and the beginning of the field harvest. A complete cleanse consists of three parts:
First cleansing (Body cleansing)
Everyone present at the holiday on God's Day Kupala must wash their body in the waters (rivers, lakes, reservoirs) to wash away fatigue and dirt.
Second cleansing (Soul cleansing)
In order for those present at the holiday on the Day of God Kupala to purify their Soul, large bonfires are lit, and everyone jumps over these bonfires, because Fire burns all negativity and cleanses the aura and Soul of a person.
Third cleansing (Purification of the Spirit)
Everyone present at the holiday on the Day of God Kupala, as well as those who wish, can cleanse and strengthen their Spirit. To do this, a Circle of Fire is created from the burning coals of a large fire, along which they walk barefoot. Those who wish to walk through the coals for the first time in order to cleanse and strengthen their Spirit are led by the hand through the Circle of Fire.
Due to the fact that Kupala is the Patron God of the Heavenly Palace of the Horse in the Svarog Circle, on this day it is customary to bathe horses, braid multi-colored ribbons into their manes and decorate them with wildflowers.
In ancient times, people celebrated this night in order to gain their strength and energy through rituals and ceremonies of worship of the Elements. For example, it was believed that the earth provides a solid foundation in life, self-confidence, and fertility. However, the main essence of this holiday is that people learn to enjoy life, love it, and enjoy it. This helps your heart open up and feel happiness. On this holiday, it is customary to go to nature, closer to the water. Until dawn, fires blaze, laughter is heard, and cheerful songs ring. Ritual bathing, flower wreaths, dancing around the fire - all this is the summer Solstice.
The Name Day of the Month is a holiday celebrated on July 5 and dedicated to honoring the clear Moon and its Patrons - the Horned Father Veles and the Moon-Faced Mother Mary. The month, according to popular beliefs, is: Velesov Boat (Boat of the Dead, on which the Prophetic God transports the souls of the dead to the “other world” - to Nav), Sickle of Mary (with which She cuts the Threads of the Living - Threads of Lives), Navya Chara (which is half of the month fills, and the other half flows out), the horns of the Heavenly Cow, etc.
On the Name Day of the Month, Veles’ amulets (including “snakes”) and some ritual utensils, especially those made of silver - “Veles Iron” - and used in rituals associated with Veles and Mara are laid out at night - under the moonlight. Amulets with images of Solar signs (Kolovrat), as well as objects made of gold - “Solar Iron” - are not blessed under Moonlight.
They say that contemplation of the clear Moon bestows wisdom on those following the Path of the Prophetic God, but can drive others crazy, whose consciousness, together with the Life Force of Mara-Luna, can “drink” in one sitting, as if from Navya Chara...
On July 19, Summer Makoshya (Summer Mokridy) is celebrated - the Holy Day of Mokosh-Mokrina. At the time of dual faith in Rus', Makrinin (Mokrinin) day was celebrated on this day. People noted: “If Mokrida is wet, then autumn is too, Mokrida is dry - and autumn is dry”, “If Mokrida is wet, then there is a stormy suffering”, “A bucket on Mokrida - autumn is dry”, “If it rains on Mokrida - all autumn If it’s rainy and there won’t be any nuts, everyone will get wet.” Summer Mokrid Day is also considered important for the next year: “If it rains on Mokrid, rye will grow next year.”
July 20 marks the great military holiday - Perunov Day; the great holy day of all warriors-defenders of the native land, as well as all honest radar-plowmen. According to popular beliefs, rain on this day washes away evil spells - “dashing ghosts” (evil eye and damage) and many diseases. Perunov Day was popularly called “angry day”. According to custom, it was impossible to work on this day: “They don’t throw sheaves on Perun’s Day: it will burn with a thunderstorm.” On this day, cattle were not driven out of the outskirts, since it was believed that at this time wild animals (especially wolves) and poisonous snakes roamed freely in the forest.
If there was no rain at all on Perun's Day, they were afraid of imminent forest fires. We prepared for Perun's Day for a whole week. They baked a huge pie for the whole village, prepared a large piece of cottage cheese, and brewed ritual beer. At the very beginning of the festival, the Living Fire was produced by friction, and from it they ignited steals from clean oak logs. The festival itself included two components: military and agricultural.
All men present at the beginning are required to have a weapon with them (a knife, an ax, and if there is permission, then something more suitable). After praising Perun, the warriors begin to illuminate their weapons: they place swords, axes, stakes, knives, maces and other bladed weapons on shields placed in front of the temple.
August 22 Leshy's Name Day - Honoring the Forest Master and bringing him special needs. According to legends, at night the Leshy (if he is not appeased first) scatters sheaves over the threshing floors and generally commits all sorts of outrages while celebrating his name day. People used to say: “On the name day, the Leshy comes out of the forest into the field.” In some provinces, to prevent Leshy’s amusement, peasants guarded the threshing floor all night with a poker in their hands and in sheepskin coats turned inside out in order to protect themselves from the mischief that Leshy was doing.
On October 4, Farewell to the Leshy is celebrated - farewell to the Forest Master until next spring and thanksgiving for all his gifts collected in the forest over the summer. Leshy is the personified soul of the forest. When winter comes, Leshiy and the forest under his control fall asleep. However, the belief that Lesha sleep all winter until spring was not widespread in Rus'
On September 24, the Slavs celebrate the great holiday - Radogoshch, (Oseniny), timed to coincide with the autumn equinox. The harvest has been harvested, the autumn Sun - Svetovit is no longer hot, the trees are preparing for winter sleep, shedding their beautiful outfits. This is the largest autumn holiday harvest, during which the priest or elder “hides” behind the dishes (in the old days behind a huge honey pie), piled up on a common table, asking all those gathered: “Can you see me, children?” If the answer is: “We don’t see, father (father),” then this means a rich harvest, and if: “We see,” then a bad harvest, after which the priest blesses the people with the words: “So may the Gods grant you that next year didn’t ripen!” or “So God forbid that next year there will be more!” After the beginning, at which fortune telling for the next year and divination over a thicket with surya are obligatory, the “feast on the mountain” begins (the food on the festive table is piled up, which by the end of the feast it decreases significantly.) According to Slavic beliefs, at this time Svarga “closes”, where the bright Gods “go” from Reality until next spring, remaining, nevertheless, in the hearts of people living according to the Rule.
October 1 marks the Intercession - Svarog covers the Earth with a fallen leaf and calls the Light Gods to Heaven
Intercession - (with the introduction of Christianity, this holiday was celebrated in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary and her miraculous payment). In folk tradition, this day celebrated the meeting of Autumn with Winter and the roots of this holiday go very deep. The name itself was associated by folk beliefs with the first frost that “covered” the ground, indicating the proximity winter cold, although the exact name of the holiday has not been preserved. The Day of the Intercession coincided with the end of field work and serious preparation for winter. Around these days they began to heat in huts: spinners and weavers began to work.
On this day, the Brownie goes to bed and in connection with this the ritual of “Baking corners” was associated. The brownie was asked to keep the house warm in the winter, they baked special “blini”, small pancakes, and the first pancake was divided into 4 parts and carried to the corners of the hut as an offering, so that the spirit of the house would be well-fed and calm. On this day, the girls asked Lada for marriage (during Christianity they began to ask the Mother of God.) And it was from this day that regular girls’ get-togethers began.
From October 21 to October 27 (leaf fall, yellow leaves), funeral feasts and other memorial ceremonies.
Farewell to the souls of the Ancestors in Iriy (until next spring) who, strengthening the Heavenly Family, become Spirits - Guardians of the earthly Family. In their honor, funeral food is served, which must be hot so that the spirits can inhale the steam rising from the food. In addition, more spoons are placed on the table and more glasses are placed - for the Ancestors (this custom has survived to this day). Each deceased ancestor is called by name.
September 21 is Svarog Day - the holiday of the Heavenly Blacksmith, God Svarog. The rituals of closing Svarga have already passed (interruption of the living connection between Heaven and Earth). The earth is frozen by the abyss, and the influence of the light Gods decreases. The land remains in the care of Veles.
To make it easier for people to endure such a difficult period, Svarog decided to give them an ax and teach them crafts. That is why this day honors carpenters, blacksmiths and other craftsmen. On this day, chickens begin to be slaughtered, and the first of them become sacrifices to Svarog.
From October 31 to November 1 - the magical Night of Veles, when Belobog finally transfers the Kolo of the Year to Chernobog, and the Navi Gates are wide open to Reality until the first roosters (or until dawn).
Veles' night is a night of great power, when the boundaries between worlds become thinner, when the spirits of our ancestors and those who will live after us appear as an integral whole, together with the dying and renewed world, with the elements and their power. First of all, this is a family holiday. It was believed that on Veles' night the spirits of ancestors returned to their descendants to teach them lessons and bless the entire family. Before the onset of darkness, a Fire was lit, jumping over it, as well as walking barefoot on hot coals was a rite of purification and liberation from evil forces. That is why the celebration of Veles Night was of particular importance for the Slavs. Along with understanding these phenomena comes an unexpectedly new perception national holidays, customs, as well as the opposing unity of the elements.
November 24 marks the holiday of the Goddess of Fate (maiden initiation) - Holy Doli. Girls cast spells on their spouses. It was on the day of Fate that the girls performed the main fortune telling. It was believed that it was on the night before this holiday that one could recognize one’s betrothed by very simple signs, as well as how life would turn out in the next few years and how to bypass an evil fate (not enough). Vechernitsy. Pregnant women pray to the Goddess for a good and easy birth.
November 30th marks Kalita - bachelor's initiation. Bachelor's Day - guys choose a couple. On this day, young guys are initiated into adult boys and accepted into bachelor society. Young guys jump to Kalita, joining the feminine principle of nature. Vechernitsy (musical evenings and concerts) are held.
December 6 marks the Meeting of Veles-Frost (Veles the Winter) - a holy day when Veles is met in his winter guise - in the image of Frost. Holiday of Frost, Winter, snow and cold. Frost is also the patron of all winter activities that take place outside the home. Since he is the Son of Veles and Marena, this day is often marked by thaws. In the evening of this day, feasts are held at which reconciliation takes place between those who have quarreled. Festive food (food): kvass, pies.
Korochun is celebrated on December 21-22 - the shortest day and longest night of the year. The triumph of Chernobog and Madder. The Bountiful God “shorts” the passing year. Celebrated on the eve of Kolyada (Winter Solstice). The beginning is carried out by the priests of Chernobog. According to legends, the night before Kolyada is favorable for a variety of fortune telling, magic, soul travel to Nav and other magical rites and rituals.
On December 25, Kolyada is celebrated - one of the most important holy days of Kologod, dedicated to the Winter Solstice (Solstice). On this day, the baby sun Khors is born (Khors means round, from “horo” - circle, hence the Russian word good - “sunny”, round dance). When the day “at the sparrow’s leap” has arrived and the winter sun begins to flare up, the Slavs celebrate Kolyada. Kolyada is the name of the holiday of the birth of Khors, so as not to mention the name of the deity in vain. The so-called replacement name. However, Horse is the same replacement name, only more ancient. He's Bozhich. Kolyada also means round (in ancient times it was pronounced as “KolyoNda”, with a nasal N), from “kolo” - circle, hence “kola” - cart, wheel, kolach, bun.
Before the festival, the magician howls like a wolf (prophetic howl), driving away evil spirits (before the birth of Khors there was the longest night of the year, the triumph of Chernobog), since it is the wolves that take little Bozhich to heaven after a long night. At the end of the beginning, everyone is offered a brother with honey.
Shchedrets (Generous Evening) is celebrated on December 31 - the last day of Christmastide, which is famous for its shchedrovki and festive feast. At the time of dual faith in Rus', Christmastide was divided into two parts: lasting from Kolyada to Shchedrets, and Terrible (Vorozhnye) evenings, lasting to Turits. Yuletide evenings (especially Scary ones) were considered by the people to be a time when desperation was rampant.
We continue to introduce newcomers to Slavic pagan culture. In this and the following article we will briefly talk about rituals and holidays, how to prepare for them, how to behave during them, what to wear and much more. Traditionally, the Slavs have a fairly extensive calendar of holidays. Some of them are known to everyone, like Maslenitsa, Kolyada, Kupala. Little about others [...]
On this day, carolers go around private houses and apartments and beg the owners for all kinds of gifts. Since ancient times, a large festive feast has been organized on Shchedrets with intoxicating drinks and luxurious treats, and generous songs - schedrovki - are heard from all sides. A hearty holiday meal was rarely complete without a pork dish. It is believed that this is […]
Kolyada is one of oldest holidays on the Land of Great Rus'. Now everyone knows that Kolyada means “caroling.” On this day, many children run around different houses and try to collect as many treats as possible. Basically, these are, of course, sweets and gingerbread, but today money and tropical fruits (mainly tangerines and oranges) are added to them. In the old days […]
Korochun or Karachun is a winter day, named after the God of cold and frost. God Korochun is one of the hypostases of God Veles. The Slavic Rodnovers honor God Korochun on December 21, the night before the shortest and coldest winter day. Korochun Day falls on December 22, the day of the winter solstice. On this day, God Korochun takes power into his [...]
Day of Remembrance of the Bogatyr Svyatogor (December 03) Among the Russian heroes Alyosha Popovich, Dobrynya Nikitich and Ilya Muromets, the Giant Bogatyr Svyatogor occupies a special place. There are many legends about all these heroes; many glorifying epics are dedicated to them. Svyatogor Bogatyr received his share of fame. However, he is not as famous as the Three Bogatyrs, glorified by Vasnetsov’s painting and epic tales, but he […]
On this day, the Slavs definitely tried to get into the swamp in order to show Marena that they were not afraid of her. Goddess Marena - Goddess of Death and disease, Goddess of Winter and bitter frosts. Slavic mythology directly connects Madder with seasonal ritual rites dedicated to the dying of nature and its subsequent resurrection. Goddess Mara-Marena is the daughter of the Great Goddess Lada. Her […]
Goddess Makosh is the patroness of maidens and women, the Goddess of Love, marriage and childbirth. Spinners and the craft of spinning are also under the patronage of the Goddess Mokosh. Since ancient times, the Goddess Makosh represents the feminine principle and is the protector of women and maidens. Since ancient times, Goddess Makosh has been asked for easy and painless childbirth, healthy children and a strong, hard-working husband who can protect, […]
The Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary marks the fall of the first snow. It was on this holiday that the first snow usually fell in Rus'. According to ancient Slavic traditions, on this day the meeting of Winter and Autumn takes place. The roots of this festival go back to ancient times. Today it is difficult to say how many millennia the Feast of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary dates back. There is only one thing we can talk about today with absolute […]
On Radogoshch the Priests are called upon to conjure fire. For the Slavs, Radogoshch is a great holiday. The harvest has already been collected and stored in bins, and Svetovit - the Autumn Sun, no longer warms the earth, as in the summer. Trees in gardens and forests change their leaves and prepare for winter. The branches of the trees shed their bright foliage-clothes and remain completely uncovered. […]
On the Lada holiday, girls make requests to the Heavenly Mother Goddess to help them reap a good, full harvest. The special status of the Mother Goddess Lada, the Supreme Patron Goddess of wedding celebrations, marriage life and abundant fertility, determines the emergence of many holidays dedicated to her. We celebrate these holidays at least six times a year, starting in March and ending only in mid-September. […]
Svarog Day is a holiday of craftsmen, and, in particular, blacksmiths. After all, God Svarog is the Heavenly Blacksmith who created Heavenly Svarga. By the Day of Svarog, all rituals to close Svarga are completed (the living connection between Earth and Heaven is interrupted. Cold weather gradually falls on the Earth, binds it with frosty air, gradually taking away influence from the light Gods. […]
God Volkh among the Slavic people is the God of war, as well as a reliable protector of the Irian Garden. God Volkh is the husband of the Goddess Lelya. Volkh is the son of the Mother of the Damp Earth and Indrik the Beast, a descendant of the lord of dark forces - the Black Snake. From his powerful Ancestors, Volkh inherited all their strengths. When Volkh grew up, he killed his parent Indrik the Beast. And having become [...]
Autumn is a harvest festival. The main symbol of the entire harvest is hops. The Slavic agricultural calendar celebrates this day as Autumn. On this day it is customary to hold a festival - Harvest Day, which should feed the entire population of the settlement or village until next summer. This day gave people the opportunity to give thanks to their Nurse, Mother Raw Earth. By this time […]
On this day the countdown of the new calendar Summer begins. By the way, while congratulating everyone around us on the New Year, we don’t even suspect what we have been turned into over the last period of time. The fact is that New Year originates from Tsar Parsley. He just decided to play a joke in front of his dumb courtiers. The joke caught on surprisingly quickly. A […]
Everyone knows that bread is the head of everything. It is a symbol of a safely passed summer, and also symbolizes good health and good mood throughout the cold winter time. The Slavic holiday of Rod and Mother in Birth is dedicated specifically to Tribal prosperity and family well-being. After the ceremony, obligatory glorifications of God Rod, Goddess Lada and Goddess Lelya take place, and then the ritual […]
God Stribog is the original Russian Slavic God of the Wind, born from the breath of the Most High God of the Family. God Stribog, together with God Semargl, are senior commanders in the heavenly army of their main commander, the Almighty God the Thunderer Perun. The master of winds, storms and hurricanes can cause or stop any natural phenomena associated with the wind. God Stribog, together with God Perun, are also the lords of thunder […]
Spozhinki are celebrated when the harvest is nearing the end, and all the people are waiting for the start of a fun and satisfying feast. In mid-August, usually, in all Slavic lands the harvest, collection and processing of a new crop of grain comes to an end: wheat; millet; barley and some other cereal crops. At the same time, selected grain is being prepared for the next season. This is where it came from [...]
Election of the victim to Perun. On this day, our Great Ancestors, the Slavs, brought abundant sacrifices to the Gods and brought Glory to the Gods through the worship and glorification of idols at the temples. The main God on this day is the Almighty God-Warrior Perun, and therefore fat and bloody sacrifices were made to him. The main victims, of course, were foreign enemies captured in battle and their slave-servants, especially […]
The Supreme Slavic Thunder God Perun on this day becomes the Main Slavic God. Since ancient times, on this day it has been customary for all men present at the ceremony to have some kind of weapon with them (axes, knives, firearms, if there are permissions). During the ceremony, armed warriors perform their solemn procession with a battle song. After the procession, praising God Perun begins, and then […]
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Slavic holidays are interesting when you need to understand how our ancestors celebrated important dates, significant events, at what time they held rituals and folk celebrations. We all want to touch the past as closely as possible. Holidays have always been considered one of the most significant and important cyclical elements of tradition. In other words, they were repeated 50 times in a person’s life, and he passed on the knowledge and understanding of the holiday to his relatives, his children and grandchildren. In science, this phenomenon is called a rudiment - a strong tradition from the past, which, despite everything, exists to this day. For example, no matter how the holidays, Kupala, or Krasnaya Gorka, or Caroling, are distorted, we know about them even in the early stages of immersion in our native faith. This, friends, is the tradition that could not be erased, destroyed, replaced, or distorted. Although no, they still managed to distort it a little with the confusion of dates, the prescription of the names of Saints instead of Gods, etc., but we did not receive complete formatting of the Slavic holidays even after a thousand years. In this article we will briefly talk about the holidays in each month. Such information will be useful in familiarizing and understanding the essence of the Slavic calendar. First of all, the calendar was, of course, solar, not lunar. Since the most iconic festivals of the Slavs always fell on the weeks of the solstice and equinox. |
Holidays are needed today among the Slavic Rodnovers:
- - In order to get live communication with like-minded people.
- - To obtain a positive ritual experience.
- - To familiarize yourself with your ancestors and their traditions.
Therefore, many who come to the Slavic Rodnoverie first try to study the holidays, and... This is completely normal and natural. To facilitate understanding and simpler inclusion of the Slavic faith in the information field, this article was created.
The Slavic calendar has 12 months, which bear their own names. These names are still retained by the Eastern Slavs. In the language of Belarusians and Ukrainians, for example. Russians have only vague memories; we no longer remember what berezozol is.
I don’t see the point in writing about the calendar system exhaustively, since it already exists.
The article will also contain references to Folk Signs for each month. This is very important for understanding the names of the months and for knowing their essence.
We will talk about the holidays, of course, from the spring equinox, when the new summer was celebrated.
Slavic holidays on Berezozol (March)
March 23 - Komoedintsy(22-24-25) - Maslenitsa is the meeting of spring. More. The vernal equinox. Special ritual comas are formed and various ritual activities take place in order to awaken the bear and welcome spring.March 24 - Day of the Awakening of the Bear (Veles)- continuation of Maslenitsa. This is a set of celebrations associated with the comedienne. The essence of the holiday is the awakening of the bear. This is played out by dressing up an adult, portly man in skins. And the goal of the entire community is to push away the “bear,” thereby awakening it.
March 25 - Invocation of spring. At this time, they tell fortunes, communicate through a candle, read hymns and spells. It is active in a Slavic manner.
March 27 - Krasnaya Gorka(Slavic New Year, spring equinox). The Liberation of Dazhbog the Living is celebrated. An effigy of Marena is burned, hymns are read to Yarila and Zhiva. Painted eggs are rolled down the mountain, so people can tell fortunes. From this day on, it is considered that the New Summer has come into force. People call the month caddisfly, pollen. The name pollen is still enshrined in East Slavic languages. The Slavs liked to name months according to characteristic features. So, in April, streams flow, everything finally awakens from winter and the first green grass appears. Nature begins to recover from its deep winter sleep. And even the first snowdrops appear.
Slavic holidays on Tsveten (April)
April 1 - Domovoy's name day. On the first of April they don’t trust anyone. The brownie always hides everything, doesn’t he? Hide something for the brownie and ask him to find it. Play a prank on your family and friends. for order in the house.April 3 - Vodopol, Water Day. The Vodyanoy wakes up from hibernation. He needs to be appeased. This is especially true for all those whose lives are in one way or another connected with fishing in water bodies. More details about the holiday.
April 14 - Semargl Day. Semargl (Simargl) - Fire God. On this day we remember the Oldest Slavic god Semargl. We give him praise, thank him for protecting the crops and ask him not to go too wild with the elements. You can read about God Semargl.
April 21 - Lelnik. The semantics of the holiday is connected with the fact that St. George’s Day was the day of the first cattle pasture in the field. All shepherds and livestock owners need to know that, according to tradition, only on this day is it necessary to let livestock go out to pasture for the first time after winter. You must definitely thank the fields and meadows for the abundance of grass, and ask him to look after the livestock.
April 23 - Yarilo Veshny Read more about the holiday. On this day, an important ritual is performed - the Unlocking of the Earth, or in other words - the Origin. This holiday logically continues the motives of the Lelnik Holiday, with the only difference that young people come out into the circle to conspire and thank Yarila, Khorsa, Lelya. On this day, horses are praised, as the solar deities protect them.
April 30 Rodonitsa. On the thirtieth of April the last spring cold ends. On this day, ancestors and departed relatives are remembered. It is necessary to take the demands to the burial site. Usually these are pancakes, millet, bread, eggs. After the funeral feast, ostentatious fights and other displays of valiant prowess are organized on Rodonitsa. More details about this holiday have been written. Traditionally, this month is called Grass or Pollen, due to the characteristic greenery of nature. This name has been preserved in the Ukrainian and Belarusian linguistic and lexical traditions.
Slavic holidays on Traven (May)
May 2 - Shooting Day. On this day the first shoots appear. This is a blessed holiday - the Slavs revered summer for its life-affirming power.May 6 - Dazhbog Day. You can read about this god. On this day the solar cycle changed, and Kolyada passed the solar baton to Dazhdbog - the summer and giving sun. He gives a harvest. On this day they honor the birth of the summer sun.
May 10 - Earth Day(). On this day no earthworks can be carried out. You must definitely thank Mother Earth for her strength and ask for a bountiful harvest.
May 20-30 - Grudye Rosnoe(Rod week). On these days, it is customary to gather the entire clan. Communicate, remember departed relatives. Discuss family events for the coming summer.
May 21 - Oleny-Lennichi(they performed a ritual to make the linen taller) This ritual was performed only by women. We remembered Makosh.
May 22 - Yarilin's Day. Christmas of Yarila at Lake Svetloyar from Diva and Veles. Yarila fights the stern Lamia and frees Yarina. On this day, tales are told about the exploits of Yarila, legends of the Rus are read to children. In Ukrainian, the month was called Cherven, because of the flowering of roses and peonies. Red color predominated in nature. In some villages, the month was called “izok” in honor of the greatest activity of grasshoppers (they were called that by the common people).
Slavic holidays on Cherven (June)
June 15 is Striglav Day. Triglav Day. This is the combined essence of several Slavic gods. Usually triglavs are placed with Caps on a community temple. On this day, you must definitely go and say hello to the community triglav, and through the ritual, enlist his support in future endeavors.June 15-20 - Green Christmastide- Trinity - Spiritual Day. Perfume is especially strong before Mermaid Week. The line between the manifest and the natural worlds is erased. Therefore, you need to realize what perfumes bothered you this summer. You need to ask them to go home and not disturb you anymore. From now until the end of the month the most accurate predictions are made. Therefore, the girls sat down to tell fortunes.
June 19-24 - Mermaid Week. The most wonderful time of the year. Communities gather to celebrate Kupala. Various festivals take place. The sun gives us the most light of the year. It's time for the sun, and this means the most important days of the year for Rodnover. People don't sleep at night. By Slavic tradition At this time, couples get married.
June 21/22 - Kupala and Kostroma. Information about the god Kupalo. This is the summer solstice holiday. A riot of fire and water. The longest round dances on this day. Mass celebrations, games and fun. The girls tell fortunes with wreaths, letting them float freely along the river. Day of magic, sacraments and rituals. Slavic spiritual energy is strongest on this day. Read more about the holiday. In the Ukrainian language, this month is called “Lipnem”; it received this name because of the flowering linden tree and was fixed under it in many Slavic languages. For example, another sound is “lipets”.
Slavic holidays on Lipen (July)
July 3 - Memorial Day of Prince Svetoslav. Day of glorification of the greatest Slav - Prince Svetoslav (957-972). This ancestor freed us from the Jewish Kaganate. He was the last true son of the native gods! His name will be remembered forever!July 12 - Choice of Perun's needs. It is not without reason that Perun is considered to be part of the Slavic pantheon of the Eastern Slavs. The choice of food is important to him, since this holiday is the second most important for the summer. And so the requirement was chosen two weeks before the holiday of Perun. The choice of requirement was determined through a meeting of the male part of each specific community.
July 14 - Stribog Day- . On this day they bring the wind to the wind - they scatter pieces of bread, millet or grain on all four sides around the house. Then flour is thrown into the wind from a high place. On this day, it is especially forbidden to “throw words to the wind,” but you need to find a place where there is the greatest echo and read praises to the god Stribog.
July 27 - Chura holiday. This is a home holiday. It is customary to communicate with household idols. I need to bring them milk. You cannot be away from home on this day, since it is at this time that there is a connection between past generations and future ones. The absence of the owner of the clan on this day can have a detrimental effect on his entire family. The month was called the sickle because of the sickle, which in ancient times was used to collect most of the harvest; this, so to speak, is a symbol of agricultural work. Also, the month is also popularly called “Zhniven” and “Soberikha” - this is all in continuation of our thought about the harvest.
Slavic holidays on Serpen (August)
August 2 - Perunnitsa. . On this bright day in early August, men celebrate Perun's Day. The community squad pays tribute to the Slavic god Perun. Sent by burning a wooden sword as required by Perun. Military initiations are carried out in the community. Mandatory competitions for men to symbolize valor, courage and preparation for military affairs.August 7 - Harvest Festival - Bread. The last sheaf “For the hair of the beard” - that’s what the ancestors said. From August 7th until the end of the month, the harvest festival begins, the most valuable thing that nature has given to people. This cycle of holidays ends on September 21, when the autumn Grandfathers are celebrated - the holiday is the result of the seasonal harvest.
August 8 - Beginning of the harvest – This is more of a recommendation for when to start harvesting fields. More agricultural recommendations.
August 14 - 1st Spas - "Honey" - Honey Festival. On this day, villages and communities held festivals of honey and honey products. More of a festival day.
August 19 - 2nd Spas - "Apple" - Apple Harvest Festival. On this day, villages and communities held festivals of apples and apple products. More of a festival day.
August 28 - Spozhinki- Completion of harvesting bread. Agricultural recommendations, until what date it is necessary to remove wheat from the fields.
August 29 - 3rd Spas - "Bread" - Bread Harvest Festival. On this day, villages and communities held baking festivals. Various culinary competitions in bakery pastries were organized. More of a festival day. In Slavic folk tradition, the month is called Veresen in honor of the flowering of the legendary heather. In the common people, in the villages, this month could be called “Leaffall”, “Hmuren”, “Golden Flower”. This is due to the fact that September is the first month of autumn. Where there are already yellow trees, and the weather can often be gloomy. Hence the metaphorical names among the common people.
Slavic holidays on Veresn (September)
September 8 - 9 - Meal in honor of Lada and Lelya. On this day, Mother and Daughter, the life-affirming principle, were revered. This is a community meal in which the female half of the community treats everyone with various dishes. During the meal, they praise the Goddesses, from whom the entire human race comes.September 9 - Harvest Festival- Autumn - thanksgiving to Mother Earth. This holiday is for farmers who have harvested almost the entire harvest. And it was given by Mother Cheese Earth. It is necessary to give the largest fruits and vegetables that are available from the harvest to the Earth, burying them with honor and gratitude.
September 11 - Rod and Rozhanitsy.- these are cult characters for Slavic mythology. This is the essence that gives rise to life, the divine essence. On this day we thanked Father Rod. They thanked Rod the All-Father for this world that he created, for life and the Slavic tribe, for their native way of thinking and natural way of life.
September 21 – 22 - Autumn Didy. Day of Svarog. Other name - . Autumn equinox. The beginning of the hunting season - Meeting of Dazhbog and Madder - Small oatmeal. The main holiday of autumn, which carries one essence. The Slavs praised nature for the harvest it gave them. This is the biggest harvest festival! And this day marks the end of summer. In Ukrainian this month is called “Zhovten”, which most likely means “yellow”. We understand that nature has turned yellow and the leaves have fallen. That’s why it is also called “Leaf Fall”. October is also called “dirty”. This month is considered rainy and dull.
Slavic holidays on Listopad (October)
October 2 - "Pokrov"- Meeting Autumn with Winter. The brownie goes to bed, according to legend. And according to natural concepts, cover refers to the cover of snow. But winter has not yet come, it has only covered autumn.October 17 – Leshy goes to his winter quarters. October is a very windy month. Nature even goes wild sometimes. So know, this goes into winter. And nature accompanies him this way. On this day it is not recommended to be in forests and fields, as you may fall out of favor with Leshem.
October 26 is Parents' Day. Christians celebrate it at a completely different time, but the Slavs, in tradition, gather on this day to remember their ancestors. These days, the younger ones in the family are told who their great-grandfathers were. A family tree is being compiled. The burial places of relatives are visited.
October 27 - This day was dedicated to Mokosh. Makosh is the patron of all pregnant women. She also helps with needlework, fortune telling and household chores. More details about Mokosh Day in. The etymology of the word “Gruden” is complex and the most that can be found is a synonym for frozen earth. Etymological dictionaries do not provide more information.
Slavic holidays for the month of Gruden (November)
November 7/8 - Radogoshch. Virgo of the night. Funeral service for deceased ancestors. Honoring the deeds of ancestors, battles and victories according to "". Apparently, this refers to the Triz customs of the Slavs. A holiday of remembrance of ancestors who passed away recently, in contrast to Parents' Day. In other words, a wake. And the holiday is translated as Welcome to the guests.November 15 - Svarozhki. Day of Svarog and Semargl. Day of veneration of the great god Svarog and all craftsmen. This is a holiday for artisans, blacksmiths, builders, and creative people. It was impossible to work these days. Praises and demands were raised. The name of the month comes from the Roman word for "ten", and it used to be the tenth month of the year, before Caesar's reform. People call it Studen, for the cold season.
Slavic holidays on Studen (December)
December 9 is the day of Dazhbog and Marena. On this day they sculpted the Snowman and the Snow Maiden. They commemorated the union of Dazhdbog and Marena, from which Life (Spring) was born. This is already a snow holiday, a tribute to winter, but with great hope for summer.December 20/21 - Big autumn. Christmas Carols. Winter solstice. From this time begins the birth of Bozhich Kolyada and the birth of a new sun. Like all solar cycles, this is a galaxy of celebrations that last a whole week.
December 23 – Shchedrets. This fun party dressing up, various fairs, competitions and exchange of treats. This is a family and even community holiday that marked the birth of the sun and the victory of light over darkness. More details about the holiday.
from December 25 – Turitsy(three days after winter solstice)until January 6. The final and most important day of Kolyad is called Turitsy. The noisiest and most fun festivities were held on this day. The violent ardent power of the bull (tur) is embodied in the spirit of this holiday. On the night of Turitsa they wondered about the future. Water and melted snow collected on this day preserve magical properties whole year.
December 29 – Kolyada. On this day of the Slavs, the sun was born with hymns -.
December 26 – Korochun. This is a holiday of frost, winter, the power of frost and icy power. This is the greatness of winter and its peak. Read more about the holiday. January is not the first month of the year according to Slavic tradition, but today, whatever one may say, it turns out that this is the beginning of the calendar year. It is marked by the heaviest frosts and, in some areas, blue skies appear after frost. Hence the name of the month among the people – Prosinets. The month is also called section.
Slavic holidays in Szechenyi (January)
January 3 is Ilya Muromets Day. Ilya Muromets was from the village of Karacharova, near Murom. People have always remembered the legends about Ilya Muromets. On this day it is pleasant to remember his exploits. This date does not imply any rituals.January 8 - Babi porridge. On this day it is customary to honor midwives. Since previously there were no maternity wards, and mortality during childbirth was common, the people considered midwives as healers who lead new life to the light. They were always honored and respected. On this day people came to them with gifts and thanked them for their work.
January 12 - Kidnapping Day. On that day, they remember how, in the era of Kupala, Veles kidnapped Diva-Dodola, the wife of Perun. And earlier Koschey kidnapped Marena. These days people remember legends and honor the Alatyr stone.
January 21 - Prosinets. Prosinets is celebrated with the blessing of water. The water was illuminated and treated for the rest of the year. On this holiday they praised the sun, which “Shined”. This means that the sun is becoming brighter and things are gradually moving towards summer. At this time, wood is harvested for summer buildings, since it is at this time that there is the least sap in the trees, the tree does not grow and it cracks and turns black less. And since cutting down forest is sacred, it is part of the ritual actions these days. In the villages, February was called the month of blizzards. This is a very snowy month. And although it is the last month of winter, it is not for nothing that people called it “lute”. Because there are severe snowstorms and frosts.
Slavic holidays in Lyuten (February)
February 15 - Wednesday. The day of the meeting of Winter with Spring, Madder with Dazhbog. Winter is strong, but stronger is the love of Dazhdbog and Madder. It is this love, like light, that brings warmth in the most severe month of winter. People are starting to prepare for Spring and New Summer!February 18 - Cow Death. A gloomy holiday of Madder-winter's mischief. It is believed that on this day it is necessary to feed the cattle well, since somewhere in the forest and nearby there is an evil spirit wandering - cow death, and if the cow is hungry, he takes it away. At this time, the animal feed that was stored in the summer is already running out and it is believed that the livestock is weakened and there may be a death. We need to appease Marena, feed the cattle and thank the wolf so that he will avoid the house.
Veles Day is celebrated on February 24. Winter is finally raging with particular force and the Slavs ask Veles to knock off the horns of winter and deal a crushing blow to the irrepressible cold. It’s cold outside, but people honor Veles, gather at the temple, bring him prayers, and organize games in his honor. Read more about the holiday.
February 29 - Kashchei Day- Once every four years. He and Glory to the Gods. It is believed that such Summers are extremely difficult for the people, especially difficult for the elderly at this time. For many, this day, which happens only once every 4 years, is especially difficult...
Berezozol (March)
Continuation (Holidays until New Summer)
March 1 - Navy Day, "Madder's Day". The last holiday in praise of the Dark Gods and Queen Navi Marena. This is more of a holiday on the eve of the New Summer, personifying hopes for the speedy arrival of the god Yarila.March 14 - Small oats– Slavic New Year. It was celebrated until 1699. This only once again confirms that the celebration of the new Summer on March 21 was characteristic and conditioned in the memory of the people.
Ancient pagan and Slavic traditional holidays, main memorable dates and rituals, the significance of which is important for the entire Family, were in the calendar of a certain date or month for a reason. All holidays of Slavic peoples and traditions are closely connected with Nature and its rhythm of life. Wise ancestors understood that it was impossible to reverse it and it was pointless to rewrite old styles with new ones.
In our calendar of pagan holidays of the Slavs, we indicate dates according to the new style for your convenience. If you want to celebrate them the old way, simply subtract thirteen days from the indicated date and month. We will be sincerely glad that you will be imbued with the honesty and usefulness, reasonableness and grace of the pagan holidays of Ancient Rus' and the Slavic Ancestors, their traditions and help revive and pass them on to your Descendants to strengthen the strength of the entire Family. For those who want to enter a new rhythm with protective amulets, go to our catalog -.
The natural calendar of the Slavs is based on four main points - the days of the autumn and spring equinox, winter and summer solstice. They are determined by the astrological location of the Sun relative to the earth: possible shift in dates from 19 to 25
| Summer (year) | ||||
| 2016 | December 22,23,24 (25 -Kolyada) | March 19 | 21st of June | September 25 |
| 2017 | 18th of March | 21st of June | September 25 | |
| 2018 | December 20,21,22 (23 – Kolyada) | March 19 | 22nd of June | September 25 |
| 2019 | December 22,23,24 (25 - Kolyada) | 21 March | 21st of June | 23 September |
| 2020 | December 21,22,23 (24 - Kolyada) | 20th of March | 21st of June | September 22nd |
The annual Wheel itself - the Kolo of Svarog - consists of twelve rays-months. By the power of the Gods and the Family, it is launched into continuous rotation and forms the Cycle of Nature.
The very love of the Slavs for their Earth and the Cycle of the elements and seasons is reflected in the ancient pagan names of each month. One capacious word reflects the essence of time and an affectionate appeal to Nature, an understanding of its difficult year-round work for the benefit of its children.
This is what our Ancestors called the months in which the main Slavic holidays were celebrated:
- January - Prosinets
- February - Lute
- March - Berezen
- April - Pollen
- May - Traven
- June - Cherven
- July - Lipen
- August - Serpin
- September - Veresen
- October - Leaf fall
- November - Breast
- December - Jelly
Winter Slavic holidays and rituals
Pagan and Slavic holidays in December
December 3rd Day of Remembrance of the Hero Svyatogor
On this day, the Slavs remember and honor the giant hero Svyatogor, who brought great benefit to Rus' in the fight against the Pechenegs. His exploits are described on a par with the heroism of Ilya Muromets in Slavic epics; he lived on the high Holy Mountains, and according to legend, his body was buried in Gulbishche, a boyar mound large sizes. On such a holiday, it is good to tell your Descendants about the giant Svyatogor and prolong the Memory of his heritage, and tell about the Native Gods of the Slavs.
December 19-25 Karachun
Karachun is the second name of Chernobog, who descends to earth in the days winter solstice, Kolovorota (lasts 3 days between December 19 and December 25). Karachun is an evil underground spirit and has servants in the form of bears - blizzards and wolves - blizzards. This is frost and cold, shortening days and impenetrable night. However, at the same time, Karachun is considered a just God of death, who does not violate earthly Orders just like that. To protect yourself from the wrath of Chernobog, it is enough to follow the Rules and wear Slavic amulets.
At the end of Karachun comes the holiday - Kolyada, Sunny Christmas
Kolyada is the young Sun, the embodiment of the beginning of the New Year's cycle. From this day began the Great Winter Holidays and the turn of the Sun to spring. At this time, children and adults dressed up fairy tale characters and animals and under the name Kolyada they entered the huts of wealthy families. Accompanied by lively songs and dances, they demanded treats from the set table and wished the owners happiness and longevity. To offend carolers meant to incur the wrath of Kolyada himself, so on the eve of Sunny Christmas the preparation of sweets and cooking of kutya began.
December 31st Generous evening, Shchedrets
On this day of the Great Winter Christmastide, people gathered and went out through the streets to play performances. Collect treats, praise generous owners and jokingly scold misers. Generous, good evening! - they shouted in greeting to every passerby. This is where the name of this winter Slavic holiday comes from the times of pagan faith.
Pagan and Slavic holidays in January
January 6 Turitsa
Tur is the son of Veles and Mokosha, the patron saint of shepherds, guslars and buffoons, young men - future warriors and breadwinners of families. On this Slavic holiday, a rite of passage into men was performed, and the chief shepherd of the village was also chosen. This holiday closes the Veles Winter Holidays and therefore everyone is in a hurry to tell their fortunes for the last time, what awaits them in the future, and set a rich table.
January 8 Babi porridge
On this Slavic holiday, midwives and all senior women of the Family are honored. They are presented with generous gifts and praise, and in return they sprinkle their children and once-adopted babies with grain with blessings and wishes for a generous Share and an Easy Fate. The Family symbol in Slavic amulets also helps to maintain connections between generations and instill in Descendants respect for their Ancestors.
January 12 Kidnapping Day
On this not a Slavic holiday, but a memorable day, Veles kidnapped Perun’s wife, Dodola, or otherwise Diva, in revenge for refusing a marriage proposal, and later Marena, the wife of Dazhdbog, who became Kashchei’s wife and bore him many demoness daughters. Therefore, on January twelfth, they are careful not to let girls go out alone and work to strengthen personal protection: they make jewelry-amulets, embroider protective ornaments on women’s shirts.
January 18 Intra
It's ancient pagan holiday Slavs, on the day of which they honor the participant of the Military Triglav Intra. He, Volkh and Perun compiled a Code of qualities necessary for a warrior. Intra symbolized Light and Darkness as a struggle of opposites and the need to choose the right, sometimes tough, decision. Also, Intra, the Indrik-beast, is also the patron of wells, clouds, snakes, the Navi God, so on such a night the Sorcerers charmed all the chimneys for protection, so that dark spirits in the form of snakes could not penetrate the house.
January 19 Vodosvet
It can be noted that the customs of this holiday are very reminiscent of the Christian holiday of Epiphany. However, Christians replaced the name of the pagan holiday “Water Light” with “Epiphany”, but the essence and traditions remained the same, although this is not a Christian holiday and even Catholics do not celebrate January 19.
On this day, the Slavs celebrated the pagan holiday Vodosvet. It was believed that on this day, the water became light and turned into healing. According to tradition, on this day we swam in the ice hole. If it was not possible to plunge, then they doused themselves with water in a warm place. After everyone had bathed, the guests gathered and wished each other health until the next Water Light.
It was believed that such bathing energizes a person with health for the whole year. The Slavs believed that on this day the Sun, the Earth, as well as the center of the Galaxy are located in such a way that the water is structured and a channel of communication opens between people and the center of the Galaxy, a kind of connection with space. That is why water and what consists of water were considered a good conductor. Water is able to “remember” both negative and positive information. And naturally it can either restore a person, or, on the contrary, destroy him.
Our ancestors believed in the healing properties of water and understood that human health depends on the quality of water.
January 21 Prosinets
This Slavic holiday is dedicated to the glorification of Heavenly Svarga and the revival of the Sun, the mitigation of cold weather. In ancient times, the pagan Sorcerers remembered and thanked Kryshen, who gave people fire to melt the Great Ice and shed life-giving Surya from Heavenly Svarga - water, which on January 21 makes all springs healing and rejuvenating.
January 28 Brownie Treat Day - Velesici, Kudesy
On this day they glorify the children of Veles - his heavenly warriors and thank God for such protection of the Family. They also don’t forget about the Brownie, treat him to the most delicious food in the house and ask him not to be offended by anything, sing him songs and fairy tales, try to appease him and entertain him. On this day there is a lot of everything: from spirits to people, so you shouldn’t be surprised at the miracles that happen and Father Veles’s jokes on us. If you want, you can bring prayers under the spruce tree or a made idol of the Native God right in the forest.
Pagan and Slavic holidays in February
February 2 Gromnitsa
On this winter Slavic holiday, you can hear amazing single peals of thunder - this is how Perun congratulates his wife Dodolya-Malanitsa, Molniya, inviting us to praise the goddess and ask her for mercy - not to burn barns and courtyards in anger, but to work for the glory of the future harvest, causing rains. Also at such times they looked at the weather and determined whether the year would be dry or not.
February 15 Meeting
This is an ancient Slavic holiday of the meeting of Spring and Winter, the last winter cold and the first spring thaw. As a sign of respect for the Sun, required pancakes were baked, and at noon they burned Erzovka, a doll made of straw, releasing the spirit of Fire and the Sun to freedom. It is curious that all the numerous signs associated with this day are quite accurate. Therefore, we recommend observing the weather for Candlemas and making plans based on what Nature predicted.
February 16 Pochinki
Pochinki is an important date that comes immediately after the pagan holiday of the ancient Slavs, Candlemas. From that day on, they began to repair carts, fences, barns, barns and agricultural equipment. Prepare your cart in winter - it was from Pochinok that such a wise proverb came to us. You should also not forget about Domovoy, bring him treats and talk in peace and harmony to establish contact and receive support in working for the benefit of the farm.
February 18 Troyan Winter, Day of the Stribozh’s Grandsons”, commemoration of those who fell at Troyanov Val
This wonderful Slavic holiday is the day of remembrance of fallen soldiers worthy of Svarozh’s grandchildren. In their honor, ritual reconstruction battles were held and generous memorials were given, and Descendants were told and clearly shown how much the warriors who took part in the battle at Troyanov Val did for the entire Russian Family.
February 28 Great Veles Day
Our ancestors celebrated the Great Veles Day on February 28, and on February 29 in a leap year.
Today you can find information that Veles Day is celebrated on February 11, without in any way explaining this fact and where it came from to celebrate on the 11th. However, we are leaning strictly towards February 28 or 29. On this holiday, they glorified the Great God Veles, brought services, performed rituals and games, as a symbol of the imminent end of the cold, his retreat along with Mara.
Spring Slavic holidays and rituals
Pagan and Slavic holidays in March
March 1st Madder Day, Vyunitsa Day, Navii Day
On this day they glorify the goddess of Winter and Death Marena, who owns the Navy world and helps people reach Kalinov Bridge after life. Along it you can pass through the line of Yavi and Navi, the Smorodina River. On the night before this holiday, all the undead, forgotten and unburied souls of the dead awakened in Yavi. They could walk around the yards, trying to get attention and even possess the living. That is why at that time people put on masks - animal masks, so that the evil spirits would not notice them and could not harm them. On the last Navi day, it is customary to honor one’s departed Ancestors and prepare a funeral table, bring demands and give Glory for the life lived and the Descendants of the Family given by them. You can treat your deceased Relatives both at the graves and by floating the shells of colored eggs on the water - if they left for another world a long time ago and the person is sorry, there is no longer a grave left or it is very far away.
March 14 Small oatmeal
According to ancient Slavic custom, Little Ovsen marked the New Year - the beginning of the awakening of Nature and its readiness for agricultural work and fertility. Accordingly, March was previously the first month of the year, and not the third. Ovsen, who was born a little later and is considered the younger twin brother of Kolyada. It is he who conveys his brother’s knowledge to people and helps to translate it into practical experience. On this day, it is customary to rejoice in the new year and make plans for the future, start new things, and glorify the awakening of Nature.
March 19-25 Komoeditsa or Maslenitsa, Velikden
The pagan holiday Maslenitsa is not just a Slavic meeting of spring and a cheerful farewell to winter. This is the day of the spring solstice, a turning point in the calendar and way of life. In the Orthodox holiday of Maslenitsa, the pagan Komoeditsa was preserved with almost all its traditions: burning the effigy of winter - Madder, treating pancakes - Komi and eating them all week. The first sunny pancakes were usually given to the Bear, the personification of Veles. They were laid out on forest stumps, and then they went to burn ritual bonfires, in which they burned unnecessary old things and cleansed themselves and their family of unnecessary burdens. They started celebrating Komoeditsy a week before the Equinox and continued to have fun for another week after it.
March 22 Magpies or Larks
This Slavic holiday is a continuation of the glorification of the spring equinox, and is so called because, according to custom, forty new species of birds begin to arrive from the winter, including the first larks. And even they were late this time, each family baked their own butter larks, which were supposed to attract the real ones. Usually this was entrusted to the children, who happily ran to call for spring, and then feasted on delicious pastries. Wooden amulets for the home were also made in the shape of a lark. They attracted happiness, health and good luck.
March 25 opening of Svarga or Invocation of Spring
At the last, third invocation of spring, with rye aromatic larks, games and round dances, the Opening of Heavenly Svarga takes place and Zhiva descends to earth. Finally, nature will wake up, come to life and begin its growth in the rivers and seedlings, young shoots and new tree branches. On this Slavic holiday one can feel the Living Breath of the Gods, who favor the living Descendants.
March 30 Ladodenie
On this March day they glorified Lada: the goddess of love and beauty, one of the two heavenly Mothers of Birth, the Mother of God. This Slavic holiday was accompanied by round dances and round dances, as well as the baking of cranes from unleavened dough for home-made family amulets. A bright day of kindness and warmth made it possible to charge jewelry for girls or married women– earrings, pendants and bracelets with ladins symbolizing harmony female beauty, health and wisdom.
Pagan and Slavic holidays in April
April 1st is Brownie Day or his awakening
This cheerful Slavic holiday was dedicated to the Domovoi - the very spirit that protected your home, yard and bins. On April 1, he woke up from hibernation, during which he did only important things - guarded your property, and began active work to bring comfort and bring prosperity to the family. In order for him to wake up faster and become more cheerful, they treated him with milk and other goodies, began to joke and play with him and with each other - act out and tell jokes, put them on inside out, and keep socks or shoes separate.
April 3 Vodopol Water Day
It was on this day that Vodyanoy woke up and ice drift and river flooding began. This Slavic holiday was dedicated to him: the fishermen brought generous gifts to Vodyanoy in the hope that he would restore order in the water kingdom and thank those treating them with a generous catch, not tear their nets, bring large fish into them, and also order the mermaids not to touch them and their loved ones. Some artels could donate a whole horse, but most often the requirements were limited to milk, butter or bread and eggs. By throwing them into cold spring water, the Slavs hoped that the Water Spirit would wake up in a good and well-fed mood.
April 14 is Semargl day
On this Slavic holiday, Semargl-Ognebog melts the last of the snow, turning into a flaming winged wolf and flying across the fields. It is this God of the Sun and Fire who protects crops and gives good harvests, and it is he who can burn to the ground all living things. They say that Semargla was forged from a spark by Svarog himself at his sacred forge. Every night he stands guard over Order with a fiery sword and only on the day of the autumn equinox he comes to Kupalo so that they can have children – Kupalo and Kostroma. Requests are brought to the Fire God by throwing them into the fire; amulets with Semargl are also activated in its flame with a request to God for protection.
April 21 Navii Day or Remembrance of Ancestors
On this spring holiday, the souls of deceased Ancestors come down to us to visit and hear about our lives, joys and sorrows. Therefore, relatives are commemorated at their graves and a funeral feast is brought: treats in memory of them. Elders in the Family are remembered by dipping shells from colored eggs into water, so that on Mermaid Day they will be given to them as dear news from loved ones. Just like the first of April, on the day of Madder, on this Slavic holiday, the restless, restless, restless, offended deceased souls come out to the side of reality. That is why many again take on disguises to protect themselves from them.
April 22 Lelnik Krasnaya Gorka
On this amazing holiday and for a long time after it, they glorified Lelya, the goddess of spring, youth and helper in obtaining the future harvest. On a high hill, Krasnaya Gorka, the youngest and beautiful girl, brought her all sorts of gifts: milk, bread, sweets and eggs, danced around her and rejoiced at the life awakened after winter. Painted and painted eggs were distributed to relatives and friends, and were also carried to the already deceased Ancestors as a memorial. Such colored, painted eggs are generally part of Slavic culture; some of them should have been saved for the subsequent spring holidays of the awakening of Nature and the glorification of Yarila, Zhiva, Dazhdbog.
April 23 Yarilo spring
On this Slavic holiday, people go out into the street to meet and thank the patron of shepherds and protector of livestock from predators, Yarila the Spring Sun. From this period, the first spring weddings begin and symbolic fertilization is carried out - the opening of the Yarila Earth and the release of the first dew, which was considered strong and was used during ritual rolling of men on the ground to increase their health and heroic will. Yarilin's dew was carefully collected and used for future use as living water to treat many ailments.
April 30 Rodonitsa
On this last day of April and Krasnaya Gorka, the spring cold ends and people go to commemorate their ancestors, bringing them the standard requirements: kutya, pancakes, oatmeal jelly and written eggs. Also on this day there are competitions: rolling eggs down a mountain. The winner is the participant whose egg rolls the furthest without breaking. This rolling out of the earth with eggs symbolizes its future fertility. By midnight, all the celebrants prepare the beginning and gather a huge large bonfire on the same mountain to celebrate Zhivin’s day.
Pagan and Slavic holidays in May
May 1st Zhivin's day
Immediately at midnight on the first of May, the Slavic spring holiday begins in honor of Zhiva: the goddess of spring, fertility, and the birth of life. The daughter of Lada and the wife of Dazhdbog, Zhivena gives life to all living things and fills the entire Family with this creative power. When a fire is lit in her honor, women and girls, who are patronized by the goddess, take brooms in their hands and perform a ritual dance to clean up evil spirits, jump over the Life-Creating Fire, cleansing themselves of winter sleep and darkness. Alive is the movement of nature, the first shoots, the first streams, the first flowers and the first love.
May 6 Dazhdbog Day - Big Oats
On this day they glorify Dazhdbog, the Ancestor of the Slavs, the God of Fertility and the spouse of Zhiva. It was on this day that he renounced Madder and made a choice in favor of his daughter Lada, thereby becoming, together with Living, in defense of Nature and its Fruits. On the sixth of May, people go out into the field and make the first ritual sowings, take livestock to fresh fields, and also begin building new houses, and of course, they bring generous demands to grandfather Dazhdbog and rejoice in the hot sun as a symbol of real spring and a future bountiful harvest.
May 10 Veshnee Makoshye
This is a day of honoring Mother Raw Earth and her patrons - Mokosh and Veles. On this day, it was forbidden to injure the earth: dig, harrow, or simply stick sharp objects into it - after all, it wakes up after winter sleep and is filled with life-giving juices. All the sorcerers and Slavic brothers who simply revere Nature came out on this day with generous gifts into the fields and poured full glasses for Mother Earth, praising her and asking for a good harvest, lay down on her and listened to her affectionate parental whisper with advice and instructions.
May 22 Yarilo wet Troyan, Trigods day
On this day there is a farewell to Yarila - the spring Sun and the three summer Gods of Svarog Triglav, strong in Rule, Navi and Reveal, are glorified: Svarog, Perun and Veles. It is believed that Troyan has collected the strength of each of them and daily stands guard over Nature from the attack of Chernobog. Troyan was dedicated to the initiation of boys into warriors, commemorated ancestors and made amulets from the souls of the restless dead, including plowing entire villages with a protective, protective circle from evil forces, and women and girls were cleared of trouble before wedding ceremonies and childbirth.
May 31 Cuckoo Festival or Kumlenie
This very interesting Slavic holiday implies that we are all brothers and sisters of the same Family. Therefore, on the last day of spring, those who want to make love - to become related, without having a direct blood relationship, are given such an opportunity. You can also ask Zhiva for what you want - just tell your hopes and dreams to the cuckoo, she will bring them to the Goddess and tell her about you. Also on this ancient pagan holiday, the Slavs exchanged gifts and amulets with people dear and close to them in spirit.
Summer Slavic holidays and rituals
Pagan and Slavic holidays in June
June 1 is Spiritual Day or the beginning of Rusalya Week
Spiritual Day begins on the first day of summer and continues throughout the week called Rusalya. From this day on, Marena lets her deceased ancestors out to visit Yav, and their Descendants invite them to their homes, placing birch branches in the corners, symbolizing Ancestral ties. However, people who are not dead, who committed suicide and who drowned are also activated along with them. Most often these are women and Mermaids. At this time, water most actively receives and conducts the energy of Prav, Silavi and Yavi. With its help you can recover, damage or learn something. As a requirement, clothes were also brought to the river banks for mermaid children, and so that spirits could not penetrate the body, they wore amulets with.
June 19-25 Kupalo
This is the main summer pagan holiday among the Slavs - Solstice Day, Kolovorot. Many rituals are performed on this day - after all, the power of such a period is very great. The herbs collected at Kupala are of great value. The ardent fire of a fire cleanses people, and the water washes away all sorrows and illnesses from them. The feast, games and round dances with rituals continue from dawn to dusk. This is a Slavic cheerful and cheerful holiday, the symbol of which remains for the whole year in amulets with the Odolen-grass, the Fern Flower and the Colo of the Year.
June 23 Agrafena Swimsuit
This pagan ancient Slavic holiday opened the swimming season. In each house, healing bath brooms began to be prepared and a ritual heating of the baths was carried out for cleaning relatives - steaming, and subsequent charging - restoring health by plunging into open bodies of water. On the day of Agrafena the Bathing Suit, as on other Christmastides, girls of all ages walked with praises and requests to present gifts: Slavic outerwear, silver jewelry with protective symbols.
Pagan and Slavic holidays in July
July 12 Sheaf of Veles Day
From Veles Day, the heat begins to arrive and hay is cut for the cattle, and the first sheaves are formed, absorbing the fertile spirit of the fields. Therefore, demands and praises are brought to Veles, as the patron of agriculture and cattle breeding. Also on this day, Alatyr was also called, and Veles was asked to move it for a while and allow the souls of their ancestors to pass to Nav and find their peace there. Chiry Veles in this Slavic summer holiday were applied to his idols, as well as personal and home amulets. Also on this day, prayers are offered in the Holy Fire.
Pagan and Slavic holidays in August
August 2 Perunov day
This ancient pagan Slavic holiday was dedicated to honoring and glorifying the Supreme God of fire and thunder, Perun. On such a date, all men consecrated their weapons so that they would serve their owner faithfully, be sharp, and also cause rain after a long drought to save fields and harvests. Sacrifices and simply generous demands were made to Perun at the altar with an idol and a dish: baked goods, bread, wine, kvass. Worn with the blessing of God or another Slavic talisman, they protected the owner in a foreign land and in difficult situations.
August 15 Spozhinki
Spozhinki, pozhinki or crimping is a pagan holiday of the ancient Slavs with the glorification of Veles and the cutting of the last harvest sheaves of grain. In each field, the last bunch of wheat was left and tied in the shape of Veles’s beard, as a sign of respect and understanding of all the great gift of agriculture given to him. Also at this time, they began to consecrate the collected honey, apples and grain on the Great Fire, and bring them as required along with bread and porridge to the Native Gods.
August 21st Stribog Day
This is a Slavic holiday in honor of Stribog, the lord of the wind and the controller of tornadoes and natural disasters God. On this day they bring demands to assure their respect: shreds, grain or bread and ask for indulgence - a good harvest in next year and whole roofs over your head. Stribog is the brother of Perun and holds the seventy-seven winds in his fist, living on the island of Buyan. That is why the ancestors believe that he can convey a request or desire to the Native Gods and punish the offenders, no matter where they are.
Autumn Slavic holidays and rituals
Pagan and Slavic holidays in September
September 2nd Memorial Day of Prince Oleg
Russian Prince Oleg did a lot for his people: he concluded an agreement with Byzantium and established trade routes with duty-free sales, united the scattered Slavic Clans into the United Kievan Rus, gave a decent education to Rurik’s son Igor, and nailed his shield as a symbol of victory to the gates of Constantinople. Prophetic Oleg died due to the fault of his horse, as the wise Priests predicted. No matter how hard he tried to change the course of fate, it was impossible.
September 8 Rod and Mother in labor
This Slavic holiday is dedicated to the family and its well-being. On such a bright day, they glorify the Rozhanits: Lelya and Lada and the entire Family produced by them. After bringing the demands to the Native Goddesses, ritual games and ritual funerals of flies begin, symbolizing the rapid numbness of all insects and hibernation until spring. In addition to the feast for the whole house, close people exchanged gifts and amulets with Slavic symbols: Ladinets, Rozhanitsa, Rod and Rodimych, and also solemnly hung and placed the faces and idols of the Gods on the Altar.
September 14 First Autumn, Day of the Fiery Magus
On this day, farmers began to celebrate the First Autumns - Harvest Day and thank Mother Earth for it. It is also worth remembering the honoring of the Fiery Volkh - the son of Indrik the Beast and Mother Earth, the husband of Lelya, whose love withstood all obstacles and circumstances, and the wise, brave and pure image of the Volkh is clearly reflected in Slavic fairy tales in the main character Finist the Clear Falcon.
September 21st Svarog Day
On this September day, the Slavs celebrated the holiday of Svarog and praised him for the fact that he condescended and taught people crafts together with Veles, and gave the sacred Ax and Forge. Thus, the Russian Family could survive and get down to business in the autumn and winter. On this day, it is customary to slaughter chickens that have been fattened over the summer, and give the first one from the farmstead to Svarog as a requirement. Autumn viewings and weddings also began on this day, and the brothers gathered a huge number of young guys in the girls' huts. On this day, the closing of Svarga and the departure of the goddess Zhiva into it until spring also took place.
September 22 Lada Festival
Lada, as the Mother of God and the giver of family well-being, the patroness of all living things, deserved a holiday from the Slavs in honor of herself. At this time, she was thanked for the harvest and prosperity, as well as for sending her soul mate and creating new family, played weddings with ritual wedding rings, and also gave their grown daughters protective jewelry with Ladins as a talisman for beauty and harmonization of women's destiny.
September 19-25 Radogoshch, Tausen, Ovsen or Autumn Equinox (New Year)
On this day, the results were summed up and the harvested crops and supplies made were counted. People praised the main God of Rod and Rozhanitsy and brought them generous demands in gratitude for their protection and help. In some territorial regions, the Slavs began to celebrate the Autumn Equinox with the closing of Svarga, the Festival of the Heavenly Blacksmith or the Rich Man, and all this time they had lavish feasts.
Pagan and Slavic holidays in October
On October 14, Intercession, with the introduction of Christianity, this holiday was celebrated in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary and her miraculous payment.
In folk tradition, this day marked the meeting of Autumn with Winter, and this holiday goes back very deeply. Popular beliefs associated the name itself with the first frost that “covered” the ground, indicating the proximity of winter cold, although the exact name of the holiday has not been preserved. The Day of the Intercession coincided with the complete completion of field work and serious preparation for winter.
October 30th Day of the Goddess Mokosh
On an autumn day they glorified Makosh, the one who spins human destinies, patronizes families and children in her, gives a happy bright hearth and helps to learn women's crafts: weaving, spinning, sewing, embroidery. Requirements were brought to her under the idols on the Altar or in the fields and rivers: sweet buns, red wine, coins and wheat as a symbol of prosperity. Also on this day, pre-embroidered amulets for the home, chiras and Slavic amulets-decorations were activated.
Pagan and Slavic holidays in November
November 25 Madder Day
In the last days of autumn, Marena finally drives Yarila out and covers Reality with her blanket of cold, snow and ice. This pagan holiday of the Slavs does not contain joy. People come to terms with the fact and initially make modest demands to the Goddess, but still try to show Mara their fearlessness and readiness to survive even in the most severe winter. Also on this date, they are attentive to the spirits of the deceased Ancestors, their whispers in the last remaining leaves and try to bring remembrance and appease the Navya Forces.
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