The meeting of autumn has always been accompanied by special ceremonies, which were supposed to ensure prosperity and a good harvest for the next year. Observance of ancient rituals in the present time can contribute to the prosperity of your home.

Oseniny, also called "Ospozhniki", is a traditional folk festival of harvest and autumn celebrations, which our ancestors celebrated on September 21 (September 8 - according to the old style), the day of the autumn equinox. Night and day at this time were equated to each other, nature turned to winter - it was time to thank the earth and divine forces for natural gifts. By date, the Osenins coincide with the great Orthodox holiday of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos, who was very revered in Russia. The Mother of God is considered the intercessor of people before the throne of the Lord, the patroness of all mothers and babies. Therefore, many traditions of the celebration of Osenin are associated with the celebration of the Mother of God.

Festive traditions and signs

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

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

It was believed that the flame lit on the night of Oseniny promotes the renewal of everything around, gives people and animals new strength. Therefore, with a lighted fire, they walked around the house, from it they lit logs in the stove. Livestock was fumigated with smoke from the new fire to prevent disease and other threats.

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

At Oseniny, a large meal was always arranged, in which all the inhabitants of the village took part. Obligatory attributes of the festive table were kutia made from cereals and honey, bread, milk dishes. At the table, they certainly thanked their native land for presenting them with its gifts.

The tradition of visiting newlyweds on this day was widespread. The young bride was to arrange a rich dinner for family and friends, and then show them how the young family arranged their life in the house. The owner showed the yard, opened the doors to the barn and sheds. According to custom, the guests had to carefully examine everything that the young people showed them, praise them, but also not forget to give them useful advice - "to teach wisdom."

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

Autumn is the time to sum up one period and the beginning of another. On this day, people thanked the higher powers for their favor and asked for the same favor in the future, and wondered about future events. Remember the traditions of our ancestors, take the best from the past and do not forget to press the buttons and

21.09.2015 00:30

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

Since ancient times, the life of a peasant in Russia was subordinated to the repeated change of time. This is the winter and summer solstice, the autumn and spring equinox, the natural change of the seasons. This calendar ritual was opened with big calendar holidays: winter - Christmas time, spring and summer - Shrovetide, Semytsk - Trinity week, Ivano - Kupala holiday, autumn - a holiday in the name of the Savior and the Mother of God, etc.
Some calendar rituals, due to the significance of the celebrated holiday, the peculiarities of the natural situation and changing socio-economic conditions, have retained their pagan roots, while others have undergone significant changes.

Autumn in Russia was accompanied by a large number of different ritual actions, ranging from harvesting, preserving the yield of the land, thanking the higher forces for the harvest to striving to restore the strength of the peasant.

Slavic farmers considered September as the beginning of the year, the month when they were harvesting. In the pagan calendar, September was called Veresen or Ryuen, and among the people it was called "gloomy" and "leaf fall". Several important national holidays were celebrated during the month.

The first week of September, from 1 to 7, was dedicated to the goddess Makoshi, on September 8 and 9, the most important pagan gods, Rod and Rozhanits, were honored. On these days, they celebrated the folk holidays of opox and autumn. The peasants performed the rite of glorification of the Family and Rozhanitsy, made sacrifices to their ancestors and glorified family well-being.

Oseniny - harvest festival... The whole family gathered together at the table, a feast was arranged. Oatmeal, eggs, cottage cheese, honey, berry wine, venison or beef should have been on the table. A bowl of wine was passed in a circle, praising the gods. Then they played games and round dances, sang songs about hops (hop harvesting began from these days). Each family blessed oatmeal bread, which was later used to treat sick people and animals.

The Feast of Osenins in Russia was celebrated several times: in addition to 9 - another 14, 21 and 27 September. The fall of September 14 in the pagan calendar was called the Autumn Serpent - the time of snake weddings. This day was dedicated to the god Veles. On this day, it was impossible to go to the forest, because it was believed that all forest spirits ran through the forest, checking how it was ready for winter. At night, the goblin went to bed until spring, the spirits calmed down, and people could start harvesting mushrooms. And in the villages, cabbage evenings (cabbage) were held, when women gathered in turn at each other, salted cabbage together, joked, sang appropriate songs.

The holiday itself was filled with rituals. For example, it was necessary to strike a fire with the help of two dry boards. The earth was fumigated with this fire. It was also supposed to offer thanks to the earth for the harvest. And from the flour of the new harvest they baked a festive cake. Grooms on that day went out into the street to look after their brides.

Children also had their own obligatory rituals. One of them was the solemn ceremony of burying summer pests - flies and cockroaches - in specially constructed miniature coffins made of chips and turnips. And the boys were supposed to be put on a horse that day.

There were also signs - if the weather on this holiday is clear, then both the "Indian summer" and the coming winter will be warm. Well, if the weather was bad, it was believed that autumn would be rainy.

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10.09.2018Miraslava Krylova5709

This article is the golden fund of our site. It enjoys a consistently high popularity among visitors of all articles ever published with us.

Moscow, "Bit of Life!", - Miraslava Krylova.

Autumn ceremonies and customs

Rituals and customs are part of the culture of every nation, be it a huge nation or a small community. They accompany us throughout our lives. Some of them go back centuries, and we either forget about them or do not know about them at all. Others continue to exist. We invite you to get acquainted with the autumn ceremonies, the history of their occurrence and the essence. The traditions associated with the onset of autumn are interesting and diverse in different countries.

Autumn is the time of holidays

Since antiquity, the time for various celebrations has been autumn. Varied and numerous, for example, ceremonies and rituals on the day of the autumn equinox. Why did it happen? The fact is that the time of agriculture was coming to an end, everyone was harvesting, preparing for winter. The majority of the population were peasants at that time, so the seasonality had a significant impact on their way of life. Full bins and free time gave people the opportunity to relax.

Autumn holidays among the Slavs

Autumn holidays among the Slavs often have pagan and Orthodox roots. The most famous were Obzhinki or Dozhinki (among the Belarusians). In the nineteenth century, this holiday was celebrated everywhere among the Slavs, only at different times, mainly depending on the climate. So, among the Eastern Slavs, the mentioned holiday coincided with the Assumption of the Virgin, and in Siberia - with the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. On this day, people performed several autumn ceremonies. For example, the last sheaf was reaped in silence, and then the women rolled over the stubble with certain song words. Several ears were left in the field, twisted into a beard. This ceremony was called "curling the beard."

Autumn traditions and rituals in Russia

The first of September in Russia was called the Indian summer, in some regions the countdown was from September 8. Already somewhere from Ilyin's day, and somewhere from Uspeniev, autumn round dances began to be led in many settlements. It is worth noting that the round dance is the most ancient of the dances of the Russian people, rooted in the rituals of worshiping the sun god. The round dance in Russia was of great importance. This dance reflected three epochs of the year: spring, summer, autumn.

On Semyonov's day - September 1 - they mounted a horse. In every family, the firstborn was mounted on a horse. In addition, the New Year was celebrated on the same day for 400 years. It was canceled only in 1700 by the decree of Peter 1. And on September 14 in Russia they began to celebrate the Osenins. People thanked Mother Earth for a rich harvest. They renewed the fire, extinguished the old one, produced a new one. From that time on, all activities in the field ended and work began in the house and in the house, in the garden. In the houses on the First Oseniny, a festive table was laid, beer was brewed and a ram was slaughtered. A pie was baked from new flour.

September 21 - Second Autumn. On the same day, the Birth of the Most Holy Theotokos was celebrated. September 23 - Peter and Pavel Ryabinniki. On this day, they collected mountain ash for compote, kvass. The windows were decorated with rowan bunches, it was believed that they would protect the house from all evil spirits.

Third Osenins - September 27. In another way, this day was called the snake holiday. According to legends, all birds and snakes moved to another country that day. With them, requests were passed to the deceased. On this day, they did not go to the forest, because it was believed that the snake could drag away.

Autumn traditions among Belarusians

Autumn holidays among Belarusians are similar to autumn ceremonies and holidays among other Slavic peoples. The end of the harvest has long been celebrated in Belarus. This holiday was called dozhinki. One of the main autumn ceremonies was performed at the dozhinki. The last sheaf was intertwined with flowers and dressed in a woman's dress, after which it was carried to the village and left until the next harvest. Now the dozhinki is a holiday of national importance. Similarly to the Osenins, Belarus celebrated the harvest festival - the rich man. A splint with grain and a candle inside was considered the symbol of the holiday. “The rich man” was in one of the houses of the village, where a priest was invited to hold a prayer service. After the splint with a lit candle was carried through the whole village.

No less famous ritual holiday of late autumn in Belarus - Dzyady. This holiday of remembrance of the ancestors falls on November 1-2. Dzyady means "grandfathers", "ancestors". Before Dziady we washed in a bath, cleaned houses. A bucket of clean water and a broom for the souls of ancestors were left in the bath. The whole family got together for dinner that day. They cooked various dishes, before dinner they opened the doors in the house so that the souls of the dead could enter.

During dinner they did not say unnecessary words, behaved humbly, remembered only good things about their ancestors, remembered the dead. Dzyadov was served to the beggars who walked through the villages.

Autumn equinox.

Ceremonies and rituals in different countries of the world The autumn equinox falls on September 22, sometimes 23. Day and night at this time become equal. From time immemorial, many peoples attached a mystical meaning to this day. Traditions, celebrations and ceremonies on the Day of the Autumnal Equinox are commonplace. In some countries, this is a public holiday, such as Japan. Here, according to tradition, they remember their ancestors on this day. The ancient rite of the Buddhist festival Higan is held. On this day, the Japanese prepare food only from plant components: beans, vegetables. They make pilgrimages to the graves of their ancestors and worship them. In Mexico, on the day of the autumnal equinox, people go to the pyramid of Kukulkan. The object is designed so that on the days of the equinox, the sun's rays create triangles of light and shadow on the pyramid. The lower the sun, the more distinct the contours of the shadow, in shape they resemble a snake. Such an illusion lasts a little more than three hours, during which time you need to have time to make a wish.

Autumn equinox among the Slavs

The day of the autumnal equinox was one of the main holidays among the Slavs. It had different names: Tausen, Ovsen, Radogosh. Rites and rituals were also performed in different localities. Oat is the name of a deity in mythology who was responsible for the change of seasons, so in the fall he was thanked for the fruits and harvest. Celebrated the day of the autumnal equinox (with ceremonies and rituals) for two weeks. The main festive drink was a honey drink made from fresh hops. Pies with meat, cabbage, lingonberries - this is the main delicacy on the table. The ceremony for the autumn equinox was the seeing off of the goddess Zhiva to Svarga - the heavenly kingdom, which was closed in the winter. On the day of the equinox, the Slavs also worshiped the goddess Lada. She was the patroness of weddings. And weddings were most often celebrated after the end of the field work.

On the day of the autumn equinox, special autumn folk rituals were held. To attract good luck and happiness, pies with cabbage and round apples were baked. If the dough rose quickly, then the financial situation should have improved next year.

All old things that day were taken out into the yard and burned. Special ceremonies for the autumn equinox were performed with water. She was believed to have special power. We washed in the morning and in the evening with the belief that water will keep children healthy, and women - attractive. Our ancestors often used trees in autumn ceremonies and holidays. So, the house and themselves were protected with rowan branches. It was believed that the rowan tree plucked on this day has tremendous energy and will not let the bad into the house. The girls used walnut branches. They put the second pillow on the bed to get married as soon as possible, burned the branches of the walnut, and scattered the ashes on the street. The bunches of mountain ash were used to judge the winter. The more berries, the more severe the winter.

Sacrifice was a special autumn rite in Russia. In gratitude for a good harvest in pagan times, the Slavs sacrificed the largest animal to Veles. We did it before harvesting. After the sacrifice, sheaves were tied and "grandmothers" were placed. After harvesting, a rich table was laid.

Orthodox autumn holidays, traditions, rituals

The biggest holiday is the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos (September 21). The holiday coincided with the second autumn. September 27 - Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord. In the 4th century, the mother of Emperor Constantine the Great found the Cross and the Holy Sepulcher. Many then wanted to see this miracle. So the Feast of the Exaltation was established. From that day on, they began harvesting cabbage for the winter. And young guys and girls gathered for cabbage. The table was laid, the guys looked after the brides. October 14 - Protection of the Virgin. The holiday was established by Andrey Bogolyubsky. In Russia, they believed that the Mother of God took Russia under the protection, therefore they always hoped for her protection and mercy. At this time, they were finishing work in the field, collecting the last fruits. In Pokrov, women made ten-handed dolls, which, as it was believed, were supposed to help around the house, since the woman did not have time for everything.

On the third day of November, Kazanskaya was celebrated. This is the Day of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God.

Autumn signs in Russia

September 11 - Ivan Poletny, Flightman. A day later, they began to pull out root crops, dug potatoes. September 24 - Fedora-Ripped off. Two Fedors up the hill - one in autumn, one in winter, one with mud, the other with cold. September 16 - Corniglia. The root does not grow in the ground, but chills. September 28 - guseprolet. Sheep were sheared that day. October 1 - crane years. It was believed that if the cranes fly on this day, then the first frost will be on Pokrov. If not, frost should not be expected earlier than November 1. October 2 - Zosima. The hives were removed to Omshanik. November 8 - Dmitriev day. On this day, the dead were commemorated. November 14 - Kuzminki. On Kuzminki they celebrated cock's name day. The girls arranged a feast-conversation, invited the guys. On this day, a ceremony was performed called "the wedding and funeral of Kuzma-Demyan." The girls made a stuffed animal out of straw, dressed him up as a guy and held a comic wedding. This scarecrow was seated in the middle of the hut and "married" to some girl, then carried to the forest, burned and danced on it. They made dolls Kuzma and Demyana. They were considered the keepers of the family hearth, patrons of women's handicrafts.

Photos and text: Miraslava Krylova

Tags

Description: The folk calendar is compiled using dates and folk holidays. In Russia, they have always treated with reverence everything that happens in nature - to its phenomena - whether it is rain or frost, heat or cold.
Purpose: This work will be useful for teachers of additional education, educators in the work on environmental education, everyone who is interested in folk signs, rituals and holidays.
Purpose: Acquaintance with the folk calendar (autumn).
Tasks:
- to foster interest in folk traditions;
- to instill a love for folklore;
- develop a desire to be interested in what is happening in nature in the fall.

1. Autumn chores: meeting autumn. Oseniny
Oseniny is an ancient holiday of farewell to summer and meeting autumn. What the Osenins are - is the meeting of autumn in Russia.

It was celebrated three times: September 14, 21 and 27.
September 14 is the Day of the Flyer Seed. With Semyon, the ambush began, i.e. work in huts with fire.
September 21 - Ospozhinki was celebrated - a harvest festival. It was believed that from that day on, summer ended and autumn came into its own.

September 27 - Exaltation. All the signs, characteristics and recommendations of this day were somehow associated with the word "move" among the peasants. Autumn moves towards winter, "bread is moving from the field to the threshing floor", "the bird has moved in flight", and even "the caftan with the fur coat has moved, and the hat has pulled down."

In the old days in Russia, our ancestors celebrated the Osenins on September 21, the day of the autumn equinox, when day is equal to night. By this time, the entire crop had already been harvested. The holiday is celebrated by visiting guests, wide hospitality. They certainly visit their parents and commemorate their ancestors.

September 8/21 - Nativity of the Virgin. Among the people - Small Most Pure (Great Most Pure - Assumption, August 15/28).
Autumn is the second meeting of autumn. Apiary day. They remove bees, collect onions. Onion Tear Day. The earth strives for white matinees. "To every summer amen (end)." "If the weather is good, the autumn will be good." "Indian summer has scared the quiet."

Autumn trees meet by the water. On this day, early in the morning, women go out to the banks of rivers, lakes and ponds to meet mother Osenina with oat bread. The older woman is standing with bread, and the younger ones are singing songs around her. Then they break the bread into pieces according to the number of people and feed them to livestock.

The Aztecs on this day celebrated the day of male fertility i.e. erection holiday. 09/21 was considered a favorable day for the conception of strong and healthy boys. It is interesting to note that the day of the Aztec mother goddess, Atlatonin, was not this day at all, but 06/18, which is about 9 months after this holiday.

In the old days, there was a custom of treating newlyweds to their relatives, which is why September 8 was also called "Podnesenev Day". All relatives and friends came to the newlyweds. He invited such guests: "To visit the young, to look at their life and to teach them wisdom." After a hearty dinner, the young hostess showed her entire household in the house. The guests, as usual, had to praise and teach wisdom. The owner took his guests out into the yard, showed them the wheat in the barns, summer and winter harnesses in the barns, and in the garden he treated them to beer from a keg.
September 27 - the third Osenins, "Snake holiday".

According to popular belief, on this day snakes and other reptiles along with birds migrated to an unknown blissful country called Iriy (this Christian word took on the sound of “paradise”). Therefore, they arranged to see them off with requests to convey messages to those who had passed away.

“Exaltation is a feast of snakes. The snakes move into one place. They go into the ground, move there. " On September 27th, they try not to go to the forest, completely at the disposal of the snakes. Snakes who went 27 into the forest can be dragged underground. Fleeing from snakes, you can read a rhyme. Step with your right foot and stop when you go into the forest. Make three bows to the ground and say: "Save me, Lord, from the running beast, from the creeping reptile." And spit three times over the left shoulder.

In the Perm province, it was believed that wearing the Maryin root plant on a pectoral cross protects from the snake.
"If you see a snake - shake it by the tail, then it won't bite and won't crawl away." (Vlasova M. Russian superstitions. Encyclopedic dictionary. - SPb., 2001. - S. 202.)

The snake is depicted on medical emblems: above the bowl, the staff of the god of healing Asclepius (among the Romans - Aesculapius), entwined with snakes. A snake in the hands of the sorceress Medea, who could restore youth.
Thousands of snakes are removed from nature every year to obtain poison. Gyurza and cobra have become rare.

AUTUMN. Folklore holiday

LEADING. Hello guys! Today we have a holiday called Oseniny. What the Osenins are - is the meeting of autumn. In the old days in Russia, our ancestors celebrated the Osenins on September 21, the day of the autumn equinox, when day is equal to night. By this time, the entire crop had already been harvested. And what kind of harvest could the peasants harvest? Let's remember what grows in the garden?
CHILDREN: Carrots, beets, cabbage, potatoes ...

MODERATOR: Right! And so, having harvested the harvest, the peasants arranged a holiday, sometimes for a whole week, went to visit each other, put all the most delicious on the table, the grandchildren stayed with their grandparents for several days. And we, too, will invite Autumn to visit today. Only you and I are accustomed to presenting Autumn as a beauty in a multi-colored outfit, with an armful of yellow leaves, but in Russia Autumn was depicted as a little dry peasant. He has a stern face, three eyes and shaggy hair. After harvesting, he walked through the fields - checking if everything was harvested properly. And here today Autumn will appear in the form of a girl. So, let's say the call together: Autumn, Autumn, you are welcome!

Includes Autumn and 3 Autumn months.
AUTUMN: Good afternoon, my friends!
Are you tired of waiting for me?
Summer was red
For a long time the power did not yield.
But the time comes for everything -
I came to the doorstep.
I came, guys, not alone, but with my brothers. And what are their names, you can guess now.

SEPTEMBER: Our school garden is empty
Spider webs fly into the distance
And to the southern end of the earth
The cranes reached out.
School doors swung open.
What month came to us?

OCTOBER: The face of nature is all gloomier -
The gardens are blackened, the forests are bare,
The bird voices will be silent
The bear fell into hibernation.
What month came to us?

NOVEMBER: Black field - became white,
It rains and snows.
And it got colder,
The waters of the rivers were frozen in ice.
Winter rye freezes in the field.
What month, tell me?

AUTUMN: Do you guys know what the people called these months differently?
SEPTEMBER: They called me frowning, howler, gingerbread.
AUTUMN: September - howler, from the roar of autumn winds and animals, especially deer.
OCTOBER: They called me winter, leaf fall, muddy.
AUTUMN: September smells like apples and October smells like cabbage.
NOVEMBER: They called me half-winter, chest.
AUTUMN: November - September grandson, October son, dear father in winter. Do you guys know any folk omens, proverbs, sayings?

Now, guess the Russian folk riddles:
The girl is sitting in a dungeon, and the scythe is on the street (Carrot)

SEPTEMBER: They threw off the golden feathers from Yegorushka, made Yegorushka cry without a bit. (onion)

OCTOBER: Alena dressed up in her green sarafan, curled the frills thickly. Do you recognize her? (cabbage)

NOVEMBER: There is a cake on one leg. Whoever passes by, everyone will bow. (mushroom)

SEPTEMBER: Sits - turns green, falls - turns yellow, lies - turns black. (sheet)

OCTOBER: A bird made a nest underground, laid eggs. (potato)

NOVEMBER: Round like a month, leaves like a spruce, and a tail like a mouse. (turnip)

MODERATOR: Do you know, guys, turnip was a very important vegetable (remember the tale about Turnip?).

The fact is that our favorite potato appeared in Russia only in the 18th century, and before it, turnip was the main vegetable. They ate turnips fresh, steamed, dried. They baked pies with turnip, made turnip kvass, cooked porridge.

AUTUMN: And the last riddle: It is bitter in haymaking, but sweet in frost. What kind of berry? (Rowan)

HOST: Rowan, guys, was very famous in Russia. All the berries have long been harvested, even in the summer, and the mountain ash turns red only by autumn, its berries burn brightly. Rowan kvass, laxative and refreshing, was prepared from mountain ash. There was even a special day, September 23, when rowan berries were picked and hung with tassels under the roof. But some of the berries were necessarily left on the tree - for fieldbirds, red-breasted bullfinches.

This is how Autumn was welcomed in Russia.
Well, we meet Autumn with our traditional exhibition of the gifts of nature, extraordinary vegetables grown in your country house, autumn crafts.

Autumn, we invite you to see the children's exhibitions and help select the best exhibits for the school-wide exhibition.

AUTUMN: With pleasure! Wait for me, guys, by class. I’ll go to everyone, I’ll never let anyone go, and I’ll also bring some food!

When Autumn says goodbye in class
AUTUMN: Well done, guys, did a great job! Now taste my treat - autumn apples! Autumn distributes apples from a basket. Goodbye!

September 21 - the second Oseniny, the day of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Early in the morning, women and girls went out to the banks of rivers, lakes and ponds to meet Mother Osenina with oat bread and jelly. In the minds of a Russian person, her image merged with the image of the Mother of God, therefore they turned to her: "The Most Pure Mother of God, save me from hassle, hassle, take away from others, illuminate my life!" According to custom, on this day all relatives and friends went to visit the newlyweds in order to "teach them wisdom." The young hostess was preparing a special round pie: "To our bread - welcome salt!" After a hearty dinner, the young mistress shows the house, and the young owner shows the yard, barn, shed, garden. Guests were treated to beer of their own production. All together, the Cathedral honored the Sun.

Since September 21, it was believed that every summer is an Amen. Autumn came into its own. In fact, this is a religious holiday of the astronomical autumn equinox.

The Second Osenins unite, as it were, two holidays: earthly and spiritual. By its earthly nature, it is a harvest festival accompanied by games and songs, and by its spiritual, heavenly nature, it is the birthday of the Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ.

9th of September
In the agricultural calendar of the Slavs, this day was called "autumn" or "opozhinka" and was celebrated as a harvest festival. On this day, Thanksgiving was given to Mother Earth.

At the beginning of September, the harvest was completed, which was supposed to ensure the well-being of the family for the next year. In addition, the meeting of autumn was marked by the renewal of the fire: the old fire was extinguished and a new one was lit, which was mined with flint strikes.

From "autumn" the main economic activity was transferred from the field to the garden or to the house: the collection of vegetables began (first of all, onions were prepared). Usually in Oseniny (in Orthodoxy - the day of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos), a meal was arranged for which the whole family gathered. For the holiday, they brewed beer and slaughtered a sheep (ram). A pie was baked from the flour of the new crop. They glorified Mother-cheese-earth for giving birth to bread and other provisions.

Since the hop harvesting began on that day, the corresponding game songs were sung at the festive walk:

We hop, hop, hop,
To our side
As on our side there is a great freedom!
And the freedom is big, the men are rich!
That the men are rich, the chambers are stone!
That stone chambers, golden doors,
What are cast poppies!

September 27 - Third Autumn
The third Osenins are timed to coincide with the church holiday of the Exaltation of the Holy Life-giving Cross of the Lord, this is the third meeting of autumn. "Exaltation - autumn moves towards winter".

According to folk tradition, cabbage parties, girls' parties, began when young people went from house to house to chop cabbage. These parties lasted two weeks. This is a kind of sacred rite: cabbage was considered the sacred food of the Gods. On this day, a very ancient ceremony was carried out - the cross. The sign of the cross has been a symbol of the sun since prehistoric times. It was believed that on the Exaltation, he radiates a protective power. The peasants carved crosses out of wood, made rowan branches criss-cross, painted crosses in places that they wanted to protect from evil spirits: in bins, barns.

On the third Osenins, according to popular belief, snakes and other reptiles along with birds migrated to an unknown blissful country called Iriy (in Christianity this word took the sound of "paradise"). Therefore, they arranged to see them off with a request to convey a message to those who had gone to another world.

In the villages, peasants brewed beer. They carried out ritual plowing of the village, expelling Kuhoma (fever, shiver) from it, then they shared the beer at home and rested after the labors of the righteous. In the evening, bathhouses were heated and steamed, expelling evil spirits from themselves. In the woods, before the long winter, the goblin was making fun of people for the last time, arranging a look at the animals and birds to see if they were ready for the harsh winter.

According to the old calendar, the beginning of autumn fell on September 14. The first Ecumenical Council (325) established this day as the beginning of the year. According to Orthodox tradition, the world was created in September.
Autumn is the first meeting of autumn. On this day, it was supposed to “wipe off” the “new” fire with the help of two boards, and with this pure fire to begin sitting or gathering. From that day, in Russia, they began to celebrate autumn weddings (until November 15), moved to new homes, carried out the ceremony of “tonsure” (initiation) of boys who reached seven years of age, as adolescents, marking their new role in the community.

For the festive day of the first Osenins, an ancient amusing ritual of burying flies and cockroaches, annoying inhabitants of the Russian summer, was timed. September 14 - the beginning of Indian summer, which lasts up to three weeks in some areas. We noticed: if Semyon - the day is clear, then all Indian summer will be warm, and the winter must be expected to be warm.

14 september - Day of Semyon Letoprovodtsa. Simeon the Stylite (5th century) became famous as a man of a selfless lifestyle. In the history of mankind, he discovered a new type of asceticism. Wanting to test his spiritual strength, faith in God, he erected a 4-meter-high pillar on the mountain with a platform on top, surrounded it with a wall and from this “mountain” place he read sermons to numerous pilgrims. Then Simeon settled on a pillar in a small cell, indulging in intense prayer and fasting. Gradually he increased the height of the pillar on which he stood. His last pillar was 40 cubits (16 meters) high. In intensified monastic exploits he spent 80 years, of which 47 stood on the pillar.

His life was well known in Russia, they learned from him to endure in the name of a holy cause numerous difficulties of human existence. According to an old tradition, it was believed that on this day it was necessary to perform charitable deeds, to be merciful. In Muscovite Russia, not a single beggar was left without abundant alms that day, even prisoners in dungeons were presented with gifts.

2. Equinox
Autumn Equinox
The day becomes shorter than the night, the "dark" winter part of the year begins, real autumn. Harvesting ends and active autumn harvesting begins. From here begins a series of autumn holidays and associated fairs and weddings. An active decrease in energy occurs, which predetermines the rhythm of chores, personal life and ritual practice ...

In terms of astronomy and astrology, the Autumn Equinox is the moment when the Sun crosses the Celestial Equator and enters the sign of Libra. Accordingly, the day when this occurs (and the day, day, in the Indo-European tradition, is considered from sunrise to sunrise) and is considered the Day of the Autumn Equinox. The night is now longer than the daytime, the dark, winter half of the year is coming. The weather can still please people with the warmth of "Indian summer", but the trees have almost all turned into autumn colors, the flowers almost all have faded, only those few remain that bloom until the very first snow, like Alpine asters, for example. And although it is still warm on sunny days, the nights are already cold, soon the first frosts will begin (if they have not yet begun).

The Autumn Equinox is the most well-fed part of the year. By this time, the harvest for the most part has already been collected. Housewives are actively preparing for the winter. There will be no fresh vegetables and fruits until next summer, only a few autumn berries and mushrooms are still available fresh. The resulting harvest must be calculated and distributed over the entire next year, until the next harvest. That is why the sign of Libra is associated with the Autumn Equinox.

Harvesting is not enough (harvesting is mostly the concern of the previous period of the annual cycle), the harvest must also be preserved. The period between the Equinox and Samhain is dedicated to this - calculation, preservation and distribution. At this time, the housewives are actively fermenting cabbage, preparing pickles, at the same time they begin to serve pickles and jams to the table. From that day on, they began to brew beer. The peasants finished working in the field, all activity moved to the house and to the farm yard, and the preparation of the farm for winter began. And, of course, autumn fairs. Sell \u200b\u200bthe crop, buy something that they couldn't grow themselves. Accordingly, artisans by this time were preparing more of their own goods for sale. Where there are fairs, there are always festivities, where there are festivities, there are matchmaking and weddings.

The very day of the Autumn Equinox - the day when the transition from Light to Darkness occurs, like other critical days, was considered not working, idle, festive, like all holidays, it had its own name. The Celts called him Mabon, Alban-Elved, among the Slavs this day was called Osenins. The day of the Autumn Equinox is dedicated to the mother goddess (who also grants material wealth), the astrological sign of Libra is ruled by Venus.

Christians adopted this ritual: on September 21, Christian churches celebrate the Nativity of the Virgin. Interestingly, in the distorted Julian calendar, the holiday is closer to the original, correct date than in the Gregorian (Catholics celebrate the Nativity of the Virgin on September 8, all dates are given in the Gregorian, new, style), this suggests that Christians adopted this holiday quite late.

The holiday was traditionally for women. On this day, ritual bread was baked (however, agricultural peoples baked ritual bread for any holiday), with this bread, women went out to the river, to meet very much. Also, women plowed salty with a plow around the yard, protecting the house and economy from the dark forces gaining strength.

One of the most important rituals was lighting a fire. All the fires were extinguished in the houses, and then they were kindled again. It was supposed to kindle the fire in a ritually pure way - by striking stone on stone or rubbing wood on wood. By the way, an interesting incident - the fire produced by a piezoelectric lighter turns out to be the cleanest. Zoroastrians - the main fire-worshipers of our days - believe that the purest fire is when natural gas coming out of the earth ignites from a lightning strike. In a piezoelectric lighter, an electric spark - a small lightning - generated by striking a stone - a piezoelectric crystal - ignites the gas extracted from the bowels of the Earth.

Also, feasts and festivities were arranged, especially for youth. Young people made crowns for themselves from fallen leaves, girls made beads by stringing red rowan berries on a thread. These beads symbolized Brinsingamen - Freya's necklace. During the festivities, the girl threw this necklace around the neck of the guy she liked and he had to spend the whole day with her.

This is the historical and cultural background of the holiday, predetermined by the energy of the annual cycle. How and what to do today for us, city dwellers?
How can a modern city dweller celebrate the Autumn Equinox?

Actually, exactly the same. Bake a cake for your friends. Women can and should go to the river with this cake, greet autumn, leave part of the cake on the shore (eat the rest, so take with you in moderation so as not to take the demand back home).

What to do and what not to do near the Autumn Equinox?

It must be remembered that near the Autumn Equinox the decrease in solar and vital energy goes very quickly, so you should reduce the load on your body as much as possible, pay more attention to health, and avoid overload. The period near and after the Autumn Equinox is extremely unfavorable for new beginnings, new projects and deeds, on the contrary, it is very good for summing up, completing, obtaining results and renewing old contacts and connections. In a sense, this time is similar to the period of the waning of the Moon, but mostly affects long-term affairs, with a development cycle of a year or longer.

Immediately after the Equinox, it is very good to trade. During this period, it is good to both sell and buy. Right now it makes sense to bring your projects to the phase of getting results and sell them. In the period immediately after the Equinox, this can be done with maximum benefit. And, by the way, it's a good time to conduct an audit of stocks and reserves, decide what to keep and what to get rid of. The period is most favorable to sell the supplies you already do not need with the maximum benefit for yourself. If you do not do this in time, these reserves will lie with you as a dead weight, hindering development, it will be much more difficult to realize them later, they may generally "go bad", become useless. And they can interfere with further development, like excess fat in an obese person. At the same time, right now it is necessary to store what is necessary and necessary, creating a material base for further growth.

Since it is in the period immediately after the Equinox that the vital force decreases most rapidly, it is necessary to allocate time for rest and generally limit the load. It is very good and useful to combine leisure and business communication, as was usually done at fairs. The time while the Sun is in Libra is very favorable for the conclusion of any alliances, from marriage to business and political. Be sure to take advantage of this opportunity! Also, this time is extremely favorable in order to renew old connections, find old friends, renew lost acquaintances.
Magic

The dark season is suitable for dark witchcraft. This is not only the guidance of damage, love spells and curses. This is also any magic aimed at communicating with the world of the dead, with ancestors, guardians of the clan, with "dark" gods, personifying the elemental forces of nature. This also includes all fortune-telling. It is not for nothing that they almost never guess in summer, and the very peak of fortune-telling falls on the night before Christmas (Winter Solstice), the longest night of the year, the moment of triumph and the greatest power of Darkness.

In the period between Mabon and Samhain, the last demands of the devil and the water are performed, which, according to popular belief, then go into hibernation.

The dark side of magic also includes a modern hobby - spiritualism. It is much easier to communicate with the world of the dead on long winter nights. But even more dangerous!

3. Lighting a new fire
At home, you can and should light at least a few candles. Ideally, five: four on the cardinal points and one in the center of the room. You can symbolically kindle a new fire - turn off all electrical equipment in the house for a minute, which will symbolize the extinguished old fire, and after the candles are lit, turn it on again.

And, which is very important, try to free this day as much as possible from all matters. Energy on the days of the turning point is actually very unstable, any business that you do on this day will be especially difficult and can lead to completely unpredictable consequences. It is not for nothing that our ancestors declared these days to be idle.

4. Fieldfare
September 23 - Peter and Pavel Ryabinniki. Mass collection of mountain ash. On this day, rowan was prepared for future use, for compotes and making kvass. Rowan infusion was considered a good anti-inflammatory remedy for winter colds. They decorate the windows for the winter with rowan bunches from any dishonesty.

Rowan is a faithful helper against sickness and evil spirits. Rowan infusion was considered a good anti-inflammatory remedy for winter colds. The people believed that if a malicious spirit torments you, it does not give you sleep, it starts to strangle your chest, you need to take a rowan branch, outline its space around you - and the evil spirits will perish, as it never was. And therefore the windows for the winter were decorated with rowan bunches from all dishonesty.

In Russia there are two Peter - Paul - big and small, summer and autumn. Autumn Peter - Pavel - fieldfare. At this time, after the first frost, the mountain ash becomes sweeter and they begin to collect it for food. Collecting mountain ash, leave a part of the berries for the birds on each tree. Few mountain ash - dry autumn, and a lot - severe winter.

Rowanberry OR SORBARIA is a flowering ornamental shrub with leaves very similar to Rowan. The height of the bush reaches 2 m. Numerous white or creamy small flowers are collected in large fluffy paniculate inflorescences that adorn the plant for quite a long time in the middle of summer. The plant is very resistant, unpretentious and even quite aggressive - it reproduces by root shoots with good care in large numbers and can oppress other plants.

The root suckers of most species form dense thickets. They can grow both in the sun, but there they are shorter and fade faster, and in partial shade - the plants are taller and bloom longer.

The field ash (Latin Turdus pilaris) is a common species of European thrush.
It nests everywhere in Europe, from the northern border of forest vegetation to the northern border of the steppe strip, as well as in Siberia - to the watershed between the Yenisei and Lena. In southern Europe, North Africa, the Caucasus, Central Asia and Kashmir, it is found as a migratory, wintering bird, although with a significant harvest of forest berries it also winters in Central Europe.

The fieldfare differs from other thrush primarily in its way of life. Although some pairs breed in isolation, most of them gather in medium-sized colonies of 30-40 pairs. They like to settle in parks and copses, along the edges of forests, closer to wet meadows. In dense forests, the fieldfare does not occur. Its main habitats are in the north and middle of Europe and Asia. Some of the birds are sedentary, some are nomadic. Scandinavian fieldfare, like a number of Central European ones, fly to the south for the winter, primarily to the south and west of Europe. The nesting period lasts from April to July. Fieldfare eats both animal and plant foods. In winter, flocks of fieldfare flock to feast on ripe mountain ash and other berries (eg sea buckthorn). The field thrush is not a particularly valuable commercial species, its shooting is allowed all year round without a license. The main purpose of shooting is to protect gardens, and the meat of thrushes is also used for food.

Larisa Mukhina

Goal and tasks:

Create a joyful mood in children, evoke positive emotions from the holiday.

To acquaint with the Russian tradition - autumn gatherings.

Arouse interest in Russian folk culture, foster a sense of patriotism, love and respect for their homeland.

To develop in children musicality, creativity, public speaking skills.

Build self-confidence and self-confidence by engaging preschoolers in individual and collective performance.

Preliminary work: Conversations about autumn, about Russian traditions of Sitting. Acquaintance with the peculiarities of the Russian folk costume. Learning Russian folk songs, nursery rhymes, round dances, games.

The hall is decorated in the form of a Russian hut.

The Mistress comes out:

I'll flood the stove hotter, (walks around the hut)

Everyone will be home soon.

And then I go to the river

Over the icy water.

I will add birch firewood

Heat of golden logs.

And then I'll put it on the table

Old Russian samovar!

The hostess addresses the guests:

Good afternoon, dear guests!

We ask you to come to my room on Oseniny. (looking around)

Something few guests in my room.

I'll call the children to my place:

Dress up, pack, go for a walk

The girls are red, but good fellows!

You have fun, sing and dance.

To celebrate the autumn.

A group of children is included in the folk music "Shines the Month".

Hostess: Come in, dear guests, have fun and joy!

Children: Thank you, hostess!

Children: Guests are people forced

Where they sit, they sit there.

Hostess: Come in, we have a place for everyone and a kind word.

Another group of children enters to the folk music "The month is shining".

Children: We drove past and turned up to smoke.

Hostess: We've been waiting for you for a long time

We don't start the holiday without you (sit down)

A girl and a boy come into the hall to the song "Oh, you canopy!" with a tray.

(There is a loaf and salt on the tray).

Girl and boy:

We got a festive role.

We brought you bread and salt.

Hostess: Thank you, kids!

(The hostess thanks her and makes the guests sit down.)

Hostess: Are you comfortable, dear guests?

Does everyone see? Does everyone hear? Was there enough space for everyone?

Child: For guests, of course, there was enough room

Isn't it a little crowded for the owners?

Hostess: In cramped quarters, but not offended.

Let's sit side by side and talk okay.

Let's tell everyone how it was before.

1 child. On the heaps, in the light

Or on some logs

Gathered gatherings

Elderly and young

2 child. Did they sit at a torch

Or under the bright sky-

They spoke, they sang songs

And they danced around

3 children: They played and danced!

Oh, how good the songs are!

In a word, these gatherings

Were a celebration of the soul!

4 child: Rest is not trinkets

Time for games and news

Let's start the gatherings!

We open gatherings!

Chorus: For friends and for guests!

Girl. Hey girls run out

Ava guys help

Sing a song fast

A joke song.

The song "Like at our gates" rus. n. P.

Hostess: Our gatherings are dedicated to autumn. In the good old days, there was such a custom among the Russian people: how the field work ended, the crops were harvested, and the grain was poured into the bins - they whiled away the autumn evenings together, arranged gatherings. Harvested, it's time to have fun and dance!

Dance "Chamomile-chamomile" audio recording

Hostess: People spent their time at their favorite pastime: some sat at a spinning wheel, some embroidered a pattern on a towel. Some made dishes of clay, others made spoons and bowls from wood.

They work and pull the song, then they will joke around. And today we will sing autumn songs, recite autumn poems.

Children come out.

5 child. Who paints the leaves

So beautifully painted?

Who is in the garden path

Softly covered with leaves?

6 child. - Why did they blush

Maple and aspen leaves?

Why did they eat so tasty

Birds rowan berries?

7 child. Because it came

Autumn is a wonderful time!

She gilded everything

A whole mountain of leaves!

8 child. - In a flock of birds she called

Decorated the forests

The queen is a miracle of the ball

Autumn Russian beauty!

9 child. Summer flew by like a big bird

Autumn is already knocking to visit us

And the autumn leaf is quiet and sad

Falls to the ground, as if by accident.

10 child. Long-legged rain will pour tears

Thin rowan by the window to be sad

A rain fell on the bunches of mountain ash,

Maple leaf circling above the ground

Oh, autumn, again you took us by surprise

And again put on a gold outfit.

SONG "Sweet autumn rustling" muses. Eremeeva (standing in a semicircle)

Who else came to our gatherings? (opens the door).

Grandmother Vasilisa enters (music)

Hello, good fellows and red girls! I found out that you were here for a gathering, so I hurried to you. She brought her magic chest with her. And in it are magical riddles! (opens the chest). Do you children know much? Answer these riddles for me! Who of you guesses, he is wise as I will become!

1. Troubled Egorka took up cleaning,

I went to the dance in the upper room,

I looked around - a clean floor. (Broom)

2. They go forward - they sing,

They go back - cry. (Buckets)

3. Wooden girlfriend,

Without her, we are like no hands.

At leisure - merry

And feed everyone around.

He wears porridge directly into his mouth,

Doesn't let us get burned. (The spoon)

4. And hisses and groans,

The water boils quickly.

He ate some coals

Tea is ready for us.

The belly tap opens

Pours boiling water. (Samovar)

5. Black horse

Jumps into fire. (Poker)

6. Sleeps in the summer,

It burns in winter.

The mouth opens.

swallows firewood. (Oven)

Grandma Vasilisa: It is good to be visiting you sincerely, warmly, and fun.

Well, good fellows and red girls! And what a gathering without a fun game! I brought you a rejuvenating apple, let's play with it.

Game: "Voivode"

Children stand in a circle. They pass the apple to music to each other with the words: "The apple is rolling in a round dance, whoever took it is the Voivode!"

The child, who has an apple, walks into the circle and says: "Today I am the Voivode, I am going out of the round dance!", Stops in front of two children. They turn their backs to each other. "Voivoda" stretches out his hand with an apple. All children say: “One, two, three! Run! " Two children are racing around the circle. Whoever took the apple first is the "Voevoda". The game is repeated several times.

11 child. Gave the guest autumn

Fruit yields

Drizzling rains

A body of forest mushrooms.

12 child. How not to be happy with people

How not to have fun?

The harvest is not experienced

Everyone can be proud!

And now, guys, I’ll ask you riddles about our harvest!

1. Dig a little under the bush,

Looks out into the light ... (potatoes);

2. Is the garden empty,

If it grows there ... (cabbage);

3. For the tops, like a rope

You can pull out ... (carrot);

4. Don't be alarmed. If suddenly

It will make you shed tears ... (bow);

5. Well done people grow in the garden,

And their names are ... (cucumbers).

Autumn round dances were very fond of in the villages. Let us and you, red maidens and good fellows, start a round dance!

The song "Harvest" muses. Fillipenko

Hostess: In ancient times, hostesses prepared a lot of cabbage for the winter. Now we will play the game "KABUSTA" and invite your parents to play with us.

"GAME" CABBAGE "

Everyone stands in a circle. The hostess begins to transmit to the music of cabbage forks, on which maple leaves with ditties for parents are attached. On whom the music stops, he sings ditties, pulling out a leaf from the cabbage, and if the children run out of music, they dance.

Parents' ditties.

Cabbage heads ripen

Round in the garden.

Autumn will be colder -

Salt them in a tub.

Cabbage will grow for me

White, heady.

For salads on the table

The most coveted.

Chop the cabbage finely

Yes, I'll season with garlic

Serve to the table in a plate

With a gilded bezel.

I annoyed cabbage

I decided to treat you all.

Oh, cabbage is just honey!

It goes well with potatoes!

Autumn red has come

And she brought us gifts,

We will collect them in a basket,

Ah, beautiful picture!

Hostess: No wonder it is said that with a song any business is argued. Our cabbage is good, so let's sing about it.

The song "Cabbage" rus. bunk bed R. P.

Grandma Vasilisa: Well done guys, you know everything, and how fun you play. Business time for fun is an hour, but let's dance more fun now. I brought you miraculous balalaikas for the holiday.

Boy: Come on, balalaika

Balalaika three strings

Sing along, don't yawn

Come out, dancers.

Pair DANCE WITH BALALAIKA to the song "Miracle Balalaika"

(The hostess brings out the cake for the children and for the guests)

Hostess: Here, dear guests, we had some fun, we learned a lot at our autumn gatherings. While you were singing and dancing, I baked a cake for you. (treats the children to a cake)

Good fellows and red girls, help yourself!

Gain good health!

We are glad to stay with you,

We will come again.

Now hey guys,

Let's drink tea with pies!

Thank you, hostess, for the treat, thank you for the holiday! (bow,

Grandma Vasilisa: I'll also drink tea with you

Well, why are you sitting?

Are you looking at all the little eyes?

Legs to hands and forward:

The samovar has been waiting for everyone for a long time!

(go off to cheerful folk music.)