Traditions, rituals and customs: an example of ritualistic activities on Shrovetide and Easter

Every nation that inhabits our planet does not arise out of nowhere. The roots of any nation of the world, the echoes of the past history constitute an inimitable canvas, into which the fates of people are intertwined. Unique customs, established traditions and even the most incredible and exotic rites make up the invisible but highly individual cultural baggage of each nationality. Customs and rituals are an integral part of life. Some of them came to us from religions, the other from a huge number of signs, legends, beliefs and superstitions. Let's get acquainted with the essence and deep meaning of some traditions of the inhabitants of Russia.

Wedding: a touching mystery

Paganism as the first religion of the Slavs gave us Pancake week, magnificent wedding rituals and holy fortune-telling. Traditionally, Russian weddings were played in autumn or winter, in intervals between long posts. Especially popular was the so-called "wedding" - the period from Christmas to Maslenitsa.

The ceremony of the church wedding is a touching and beautiful act, like many Russian customs. An example of this majestic mystery is embodied in the canvases of many Russian artists. At all times it was believed that the wedding is not just a majestic beautiful rite, but a ritual that obliges the spouses to realize their belonging to each other, setting up a long life together. The Orthodox Church does not accept divorce. In modern Russia, the wedding is available only after the official registration of marriage, which does not detract from the magnificence of the sacrament.

Carrying out a Russian wedding involves a whole thoughtful scenario with the obligatory observance of all the attributes that call for the custom of the Russian people: the bride's redemption of the bridegroom, passing many trials, contests, funny jokes. Traditionally, a young man pays with money and gifts with all participants in the ransom rite.

Wedding traditions today

Modern wedding customs have somewhat transformed over time, but have not changed dramatically. As before, the bridegroom buys the whole wedding attire for the bride, and her family provides her with a "dowry" - the necessary set of home textiles, kitchen utensils, furniture. The customs of the peoples of Russia dictate the obligatory dishes of the festive table. The symbol of a happy family life is a kurik - a puff pie made from pancakes or sweet unleavened dough with numerous fillings from chicken meat, mushrooms, rice, etc.

Traditional Russian rite of greeting with bread and salt is one of the most touching when a young family meets a husband. He brings a loaf with salt to his new-born husband's mother-in-law. Young must break off from him a piece. Guests at the same time ascertain: who will get a bigger piece of bread, he will be the head of the house.

Carnival: preparing for the Great Post

The custom of celebrating Maslenitsa, preserved even after the baptism of Rus, falls on the previous Great Post for a week. Now, a few know that Pancake week includes not only Maslenitsa week, but also the so-called omnivorous, and pockmarked.

Omnivorous week completely excludes fasting days, pockmarked assumes alternation of fasting days with the fast. During oatmeal or cheese, meat is no longer eaten, but dairy products are consumed in any quantities.

Merry holiday of the Russian pancake

Like many famous customs of the peoples of Russia, Maslenitsa is always accompanied by abundant and hearty food. And dances, ritual songs and games are an obligatory attribute of the holiday accompaniment. It was believed that in the Shrovetide week it is necessary to have fun, otherwise luck will turn away from the person, and the whole year will go badly.

The main character of the Shrovetide week is a pancake. Sunny symbol, round, hot, gorgeous! Pancakes baked a variety of: sweet, salty, yeast with different fillings for every taste. They started from the middle of the week, into the so-called "gourd Wednesday". On that day my mother-in-law was treated to the pancakes of her sons-in-law, trying to appease and cheer them up in every possible way.

Shrovetide customs

The general merriment and mass festivities began on a binge Thursday: skating in
Sledding, fisticuffs, ritual dances. The stuffed carnivore drove along the streets and caressed them.

On Friday, my mother-in-law received invitations to dinner or dinner from her sons-in-law, who tried to please the mothers of their wives. This day was called "mother-in-the-evening". On Saturday "zolovkin (sisters of the husband) sit-round" the daughter-in-law invited her husband's relatives to visit, trying not to violate the accepted customs. An example of a Maslenitsa table is impressive with a variety of dishes of Russian cuisine.

In Forgiveness Sunday - the last day of festivities - everyone asked for forgiveness from each other, freed from the accumulated grievances, gave their relatives. The culmination of the holiday is the burning of the effigy as a symbol of the end of a long winter. "On a rich harvest," ashes were scattered over the fields. Burned bonfires from straw and unnecessary old things to get rid of all that is superfluous. In the evening, pancakes were remembered by deceased relatives.

Christian Easter

Christianity granted us a wonderful holiday of Holy Easter. The customs of peoples of different countries are diverse in celebrating this day. We will not dwell on Orthodox church rituals. They are majestic and beautiful. Let's consider traditionally everyday customs. An example of ceremonial actions, the most common in Russia, is baking Easter cakes and staining eggs, symbols of the immortal body of Christ, which are consecrated in the temples. These are so common rites that they are not avoided by atheists.

In the morning, after the night vigils and passing through the processions around the churches, the celebration of the miraculous resurrection of Christ begins. People congratulate each other with the words "Christ is risen!", Receiving the answer "Truly risen!" And exchanging consecrated Easter cakes and eggs. The name of this custom is Christhood. These traditional rituals are so common that not only believers but also atheists are exchanged Easter food.

There are many rituals in the world. The customs, the example of which is given in the article, are the most common in Russia.