Introduction of Russian festivals

Russian festivals (transferred from люся)

Russian traditional festivals mainly include New Year and Four Seasons (Winter Festival, Birch Festival, Harvest Festival and Winter Festival). In addition, because the Orthodox Church has been the state religion of Russia for a long time and has far-reaching influence, many religious festivals have become an indispensable part of Russian traditional life.

New Year (New Year's Day): The Russian New Year was once held on March 1 day in early spring every year, and a grand ceremony was held on this day. At the end of 15, influenced by Byzantium, the festival was changed to September 1. It was not until 1699 that Peter the Great designated 65438+1 October1as the New Year according to the traditional habits of western European countries. 1669 At midnight on New Year's Eve, Peter the Great lit the first fireworks display in Red Square and ordered Moscow residents to build houses with evergreen trees such as pine, cypress and fir to show good luck. Then fir became the main symbol of Christmas and New Year. Because festivals are similar, the Orthodox Church celebrates New Year and Christmas together. In the celebration of the New Year, Santa Claus and Snow Girl are indispensable. They present gifts to people to celebrate the New Year. 1930, the Soviet government officially designated the New Year as a national holiday. In the new year, all public places wear holiday clothes. Tall and beautiful New Year fir trees stand in the big square of the city, and all kinds of small gift fir trees are hung in the living room of every household. The tower-shaped fir tree symbolizes evergreen life. At midnight at 12, dzmz on the Basque Tower in the Kremlin rang loudly, and the bell spread all over the country through radio and television. The whole country celebrated, and people opened champagne to celebrate the New Year. Gregorian calendar 65438+ 10/4 is New Year's Day in Russia, and Russians will celebrate it as usual, especially in rural areas.

Sending Winter Festival (Meat Festival): The second most lively festival after the New Year is sending Winter Festival. Winter Festival is one of the four seasons, which lasts for one week at the end of February and the beginning of March. The predecessor of the Winter Festival is the Spring Farming Festival of guslav people. It is believed that winter goes and spring comes, which is the result of Arillo, the god of spring, conquering the cold and dark night. Therefore, every year, a grand ceremony will be held at the end of February and the beginning of March to send winter to welcome the spring. People worship the sun with golden brown pancakes, and at night they light bonfires and burn the winter queen statue made of straw. After people celebrate the long winter, the bright sun begins to bring warmth to the earth again. Eat plough-shaped and rake-shaped bread baked by rye during the festival. On the first day of sowing, people bring bread, salt and eggs to the field. When cows and horses plow three furrows, people eat some bread and salt and feed them the rest. He also buried the eggs in the ground to show his sacrifice to the earth and pray for blessing. After the Orthodox Church was introduced into Russia, it was unable to cancel this pagan folk festival, so it had to change the name of Spring Plowing Festival to Minji Festival and arrange the festival one week before the Spring Lent. The church calls this week meatless week or cheese week, because people can still eat meat or dairy products this week. After this week, people are not allowed to eat meat and dairy products during lent, so it is called meat festival, which means to say goodbye to meat before lent. The meat festival lasts for 7 days, each day has its own name, and the celebration methods are different. Monday is to welcome the Spring Festival. Every household makes round pancakes as a necessary holiday food, accompanied by caviar, yogurt and so on. Tuesday is the beginning of the festival. Unmarried girls from relatives and friends are invited to entertain with boys, match them up and provide opportunities to choose suitable candidates. Wednesday is a banquet day. Mother-in-law fetes her son-in-law. Thursday is carnival. The celebration reached its climax. People hold all kinds of carnival activities in the street, eating, drinking and having fun. Friday is the new uncle's visit day. The new son-in-law invited her mother-in-law to eat pancakes. Saturday is farewell day. People sang and danced, and sent the scarecrow, a symbol of the goddess of winter, to burn outside the village. On this day, the newly married wife will visit her husband's sister. Sunday is forgiveness day. People visit relatives and friends, visit neighbors and ask others to forgive their mistakes. In the late 1960s, the Soviet government changed this festival into a winter festival, also known as the Russian Winter Carnival. The ancient customs and religious significance of this festival have disappeared. However, this festival is still an important festival for Russians. Pancakes symbolizing the sun are still essential food for festivals, and circle dancing during festivals is still the most important folk dance form in Russia. During the festival, costume parades will be held all over the country. Floats carry mythical figures such as the winter goddess and the Russian Three Warriors dressed up by people. People sing and dance, bid farewell to the cold winter and welcome the warm spring.

Birch Festival: The second festival of Four Seasons Day is Birch Festival, which is June 24th every year in the Russian calendar. Birch Festival originated from the ancient summer solstice festival. The summer solstice is celebrated on June 22nd, when the sun reaches the highest point in the sky. This festival is full of sun worship. In rural areas, summer is not long, and farmers have worked hard for a spring. When they have a little leisure, they should celebrate. Folk celebrations embody the worship of fire and water. People wear holiday costumes and garlands, singing and dancing around the bonfire. Some people jump down from the bonfire or burn old clothes to eliminate disasters and evil spirits, strengthen the body and get rid of diseases. People also threw birch branches and sacrifices into the lake to pray for the gods to bless the harvest. The girls put the lighted candles on the corolla and put them into the river. Whoever lights candles for the longest time is considered to be the happiest person in the future. They also predict their marriage according to the direction in which the wreath floats. In ancient times, when Russia celebrated the summer solstice, it also went to the forest to find two small birch trees that were close together as sacrifices. Some places decorate small birch trees with garlands and ribbons. Later, the Orthodox Church merged the Summer Solstice with the Holy Three Sundays and changed the date to June 24th, because the Orthodox Church commemorated John's birthday on this day. During the festival, the church is decorated with birch branches, and believers also hold birch branches for worship. People also regard this day as a day of mourning, and everyone will go to the grave. During the summer solstice, it is a season of lush vegetation and pleasant climate, and people will hold celebrations outdoors, especially young people. Therefore, during the Soviet period, the summer solstice festival became the Soviet Youth Day. This day cannot be celebrated without birch trees, so it has been called Birch Festival since 1964, or "Russian Little Birch Festival". Birch, as a symbol of Russian nation, has its historical origin. 11-15th century, many ancient Russian documents were carved on birch bark. Many Russian writers have fondly described birch trees. In the eyes of Russians, birch trees are so beautiful and straight. On Birch Festival, every family decorates their rooms with birch branches, cornflowers and bells. There will also be a get-together during the festival. The hostess is called "Little White Birch" and there will be a cross-dressing parade. The parade was surrounded by birch trees. Birch trees are everywhere.