Slavic holidays in May and their names. Mental calendar - folk calendar

1) The current Maslenitsa (cheese week)- This is a holiday of the Russian Orthodox Church, which replaced the great Slavic Solar celebration and does not have any pagan roots.

The clergy long and cruelly, at times bloody, but unsuccessfully fought against the Slavic holiday of Komoyeditsy. When the Slavic celebration was not defeated, the clergy used the well-known Jesuit trick - if you cannot defeat the enemy, unite with him and destroy him from the inside.

The 7-day Maslenitsa (Cheese Week, the last week of preparation for Lent) was introduced by churchmen in the 16th century to replace the ancient Komoyeditsa, the 2-week celebration of the Spring Equinox and the beginning of the Slavic New Year.

Because the former pagan Komoyeditsa fell on Great Lent, when holidays and fun were strictly prohibited by the Church, the clergy "shifted" their Maslenitsa holiday in time from the Spring Equinox by almost a month closer to the beginning of the year, giving it a week before Great Lent, i.e. made a false substitution of what is bestowed by Heaven itself. In addition to the temporary "shift", the old folk celebration was reduced from two weeks to one.

This was not a "transfer" of the Slavic spring holiday Komoyeditsa (Komoeditsa cannot be transferred, because it is associated with an annual astronomical event, over the date of which the priests have no power), but the establishment for the people of a new church holiday instead of the old pagan one, in order to destroy and erase the past traditions from the memory of the people. And they quite succeeded in this - now few of us remember Komoyeditsa, a cheerful spring holiday of their Slavic ancestors. Jesuit techniques always work well and effectively.

2) The second "replacement" holiday - Orthodox day of Ivan Kupala, which replaced the Slavic Day of Kupaila (the day the mighty summer sun-Kupaila took over), the pagan celebration of the Summer Solstice, forbidden by the clergy.

The ceremonial part of the Christian holiday of Ivan Kupala (John the Baptist, who baptized Christ by bathing in the Jordan River) is dedicated to the birthday of John the Baptist - June 24th.
Since the Russian Orthodox Church lives according to the old style, the date of birth of John the Baptist (June 24 according to the old style) falls on July 7 according to the new style.
The current fans of the former paganism claim that the Christian day of Ivan Kupala is a Slavic pagan holiday, without thinking about where the Hebrew name Ivan (John) could come from the Slavic god of the summer sun Kupala.

3) The third is a one-day celebration of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos, replacing the former 2-week Slavic Veresen, a pagan celebration of the entry into the rights of the aging wise autumn sun-old man Svetovit on the Day of the autumn equinox, an ancient holiday of the harvest.

The Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos is celebrated on September 21 according to the new style (September 8 according to the old style).

4) The fourth - the Nativity of Christ, in 273 AD. e. replacing the pagan celebration of the Nativity of the sun-baby Kolyada the morning after the Night of the Winter Solstice (the longest night of the year).

In the world, Christmas is celebrated on December 25th. Russian Orthodox living according to the old Julian calendar also celebrate this holiday on December 25, according to Art. style, i.e. January 7, new style.

Why did this happen?

In those days when a new faith was introduced - Christianity, two calendars continued to be used in all Slavic lands.
In Russia, there were 2 calendar systems in parallel - the old and the new.

But the church and secular authorities were not satisfied with the fact that the people celebrated the holidays according to both calendars. But most of all, the confusion created by the chroniclers did not suit, because the Russian chroniclers used the dates of the old, Slavic calendar, and the invited Greek chroniclers used the dates from the new calendar, where the New Year was counted from the first spring full moon.
For example, the date is March 1, 1005 AD. according to the Slavic calendar, it fell on Summer 6513 from S.M.Z.Kh, and according to the Christian calendar, on Summer 6512 from S.M. Thus, the difference between the Slavic calendar and the calendar from the Nativity of Christ was 5508 years, while the Christian calendar had 5507 years.

In order to somehow streamline the inconsistency of the new calendar, in Summer 6856 (1348 AD), by decree of Tsar Ivan III, the New Year in the new calendar was fixed on March 1, and the number of the year was taken from the old Slavic calendar.

The adjustment of the new calendar to everyday life began, some holidays were forbidden, others, which were celebrated despite the bans, the Christian church began to adapt to itself. In particular:

- Day God Veles was replaced by Blasius Day;

- Day Maslenitsa-Maryony was declared simply Maslenitsa;

- Day God Kupala became the day of John the Baptist, or as he was called in the Russian manner - Ivan Kupala, i.e. Ivan, who bathed everyone in the river;

- Day Triglav (Svaroga-Peruna-Sventovita), turned into the Trinity;

– Supreme Day of God Perun replaced by the Day of Elijah the Prophet ... etc.

But most of all, the church and secular authorities were not satisfied that the people use two calendars, celebrate two New Years - the Christian New Year on March 1 and the Slavic New Year on the Day of the Autumn Equinox.

No prohibitions of the Slavic calendar helped. And the adoption of tough measures, up to executions, had the opposite effect - in many cities and villages, unrest began and uprisings rose, everywhere there was a general destruction of Christian priests and their assistants. It came to the point that many thousands of "God's people" were destroyed, and then Tsar Ivan III had to "go to the people", because only in this way could the authorities calm the rebellious people.

So that in the future there would be no confusion and ruin, dual faith and two calendars were officially legalized on Russian soil. The church calendar began to be considered official, i.e. state, and the old calendar - folk.

The next change in the official calendar took place after the 1st Circle of Years (144 years). As Summer approached in 7000 from the Creation of the World (1492 AD), apocalyptic sentiments grew among the Christians of the Russian lands. Everyone was waiting for the end of the world and did not even make up Paschal for subsequent years. But when all the expected dates for the end of the world had passed, the Moscow Church Council in September Summer 7000 (1492) approved a new paschal and decided to postpone the beginning of the year from March 1 to September 1. This ruling is still in force in the Christian Church.

In Summer 7090 (1582), the Catholic Church, at the direction of Pope Gregory XIII, introduced a new calendar, which received his name. In the new calendar, dating was no longer from the Creation of the World, but from the Nativity of Christ.

In ancient times, this day was a holiday - the day of insemination of the earth.
The white icing on the cake is sperm, the colored sprinkling is sperm. Our neo-pagans interpret this cake as the phallus of the god Eb**na. Initially, before Christianity, it was a holiday of the first shoots. In early spring, a strict fast was established before sowing, because the grain had to be saved for sowing. Those who violated the fast - that is, ate the grain of the future harvest - were condemned. Then the grain was buried - the actual sowing. Then it died in the ground. It was the most tragic period - everyone was waiting - will it revive - will it sprout? When the first sprouts appeared, this was the resurrection of the grain, the return to the circuit of eternal life. Osiris is risen. Since there will be a new harvest, then there will be no hunger, so you can eat stocks and have fun. Including having children.
This is the original meaning of this holiday.

The wheel of life turns continuously, from birth to death and on to a new birth. That is why the holidays of the beginning of winter traditionally symbolized the dying of the old and the birth of the new. Summing up the results of the year and preparing for the new year - this is what the Slavs devoted the celebrations of December to.

Day of Dawn - the triumph of the bright gods

Julius Klever, "Sunset in winter"

In the shortest days of the year, the most important thing was to respect the bright gods, to call on their mercy to people. Therefore, on December 4, the Slavs celebrated the day of veneration of the Dawn. The legend speaks of Zara as a red maiden who unlocks the heavenly gates in the morning and releases the Sun into the sky. In another legend, the Morning Dawn precedes the Sun-Dazhbog in the sky, brings his white horses to the sky, and the second sister, the Evening Dawn, returns the horses to the stall when Dazhbog finishes circling the heavens. On the Day of Dawn, the Slavs celebrated the continuity of the change of day and night, months and years.

In the morning, the eldest man in the family cleansed the house with four elements, this ritual has survived to this day, and it can be performed if there is a need to energetically cleanse the habitat.

The house was fumigated with the smoke of various herbs, for example, St. John's wort, which symbolized the element of Air. The element of Fire was represented by candles: with a lit candle, they walked around the house counterclockwise, in the corners they also made small circles with a candle. For magical purification by the "earth element" they used salt, often still calcined in a frying pan, and thereby strengthened by the element of Fire: such salt was scattered from the evil eye. To cleanse the house with Water, the floors were washed three times with saline, it was especially important to wash the corners of the house clean so that no evil accumulated there. On the day of Dawn, it was forbidden to wash, whiten and knead clay, but any needlework was encouraged, since the Slavs believed that Dawn taught people to embroider.

It is not far from the holiday of the Dawn to Veles Day, so the children prepared for it, told adults what skills and abilities they had acquired over the year, which they could boast of before Veles.

Veles Day - the holiday of Santa Claus

Apollinary Vasnetsov. "Bath in winter"

December 6 was the time of the patron god of many aspects of Slavic life. Veles looked after everyone - people, animals and crops, all members of the Slavic community from small children to wise wise men were responsible to him.

One of his names is known to everyone: it was believed that Veles controls the winter cold, and therefore our ancestors called him Santa Claus. In other words, the New Year's character, giving joy to children and adults, is much older than is commonly believed. On the day of Veles, the Magi in red festive clothes went around the houses, and the children traditionally told them what they had learned during the year. For serious achievements, the children were entitled to gifts, but Santa Claus could punish negligent lazy people, sometimes even freeze to death. However, the children did their best not to anger the omniscient god, but to please him with their knowledge.

Veles was also considered the god of wisdom, witchcraft and divination. Legends say that he could walk between the three worlds, and came to the world of people to see if it was necessary to direct human souls to peace and goodness. Veles also took care of the sorcerers, priests and sorcerers, who received from him the gift of witchcraft and the ability to ethereally wander around other worlds in order to be enriched with eternal wisdom.

To glorify Veles, his priests dressed up in animal masks and sheepskin coats, which symbolized wealth and warmth, and walked around the yards and stables, proclaiming conspiracies about the health of domestic animals. The fact is that this omniscient god was, among other things, the patron of domestic animals, it was not without reason that he was also called the “Cattle God”.

Harvests on the Slavic fields were also in the department of Veles. When the harvest ripened, bends called the “Veles beard” were left in the field, as if sacrificing part of the ears to the guardian god. At the end of the harvest season, the last sheaf was also dedicated to Veles, and the “Veles beard” was braided at the end of the harvest and stored until spring, in the spring it was threshed and the first furrow was sown with grains from it.

Korochun - Slavic Samhain

Julius Klever. "Winter sunset in the spruce forest"

Following the good Veles, who helped people in many matters, a god with the eloquent name Korochun (Karachun), who can be called the Slavic Samhain, came to earth to celebrate his triumph. And now they say “Karochun has come”, meaning that something has come to a final and irreversible end. For our ancestors, the day of December 21 completed the annual cycle, when Koschey-Korochun, in the guise of an old man with a sickle in his hands, "shortened" the past life, giving way to the birth of a new sun and a new year.

Two weeks before the holiday, the Time of Silence began - the time to repay debts, forgive insults, complete all affairs and let go of everything that has lost value. On the Days of Silence, the Slavs cleansed their soul and body, limited themselves to food (especially meat) and strove for purity of thoughts and good deeds.

(Note from the editor of "Chronoton" - these days, throw away trash without regret, give clothes and things that you do not use to those in need. The less unnecessary in your house, the more room there will be for the good that will come next year).

On the Night of Korochun, the souls of the ancestors came to Yav to find out how their children and grandchildren live, and, if necessary, ask them what kind of life they led in the past year: how they fulfilled their ancestral duty, lived in truth or falsehood, glorified native gods or worshiped foreignness.

The Circle of Times was coming to an end on Korochun, and the time of the birth of a new world, a new circle, inevitably came.

Kolyada - new Sun, new life

Gabriel Kondratenko. "Winter evening"

The power of the night over Yavu was short - already on December 24, the holiday of the birth of a new circle of life was coming, and Bozhich-Kolyada appeared on earth. It was the God of the winter Sun, born of Mother Lada, a child of eternal being, who wakes up again and again. He began a new year for people, the sun set for the summer, the day began to arrive and it was not so long to wait for spring. Before the arrival of Kolyada, in every house they put a symbol of the Tree of the Family into the water - a decorated willow or cherry. Honoring the young Bozhich, the Slavs every year affirmed the triumph of Light, the victory of good over evil.

Until dawn on the day of Kolyada, the entire community, singing praises to the Sun, went to the sanctuary, where brushwood had been prepared in advance for the future ritual fire. Everyone became a crescent around the fire, facing east, the sacred fire was lit and people were waiting for the first rays of the sun to appear. Sunrise was also greeted with singing, and when the luminary rose above the earth, the Magi read prayers in honor of the luminary - Kolyada, recalled the glorious deeds of the Slavs, especially those that were performed with the help of the solar God.

The first heralds of the birth of the new Sun were children. In the morning, the children went around the houses of their fellow villagers with greetings “Kolyada-God for glorification”, they were eagerly awaited, like good messengers, and traditionally generously treated. It was believed that the more children came to praise Kolyada, the more abundant the New Year would be for the family. It is interesting that only boys went caroling in the morning, because on big holidays the first guest in the house should be a man who will bring happiness and prosperity to the household.

By dinner, each family cut a fresh loaf - a symbol of the solar god - into eight parts, according to the number of rays of the luminary. The holiday ended with a nationwide festivity: in the evening people went out to see the Sun off for a night's rest with ritual songs and prayers.

Among other things, the day of Kolyada was dedicated to the unity of the family. Children were certainly supposed to visit their parents, and if they had already died, then take the festive treat to their grave.

Veneration of the Great Mother Lada - forever young goddess of love

Nikifor Krylov. "Winter landscape"

The day after the Kolyada holiday, on December 25, the Slavs honored the mother of all Native Gods, the wife of Svarog, the goddess Lada. Our ancestors revered Lada as the goddess of earthly love and the patroness of family happiness, it is no coincidence that the wedding conspiracy was called “ladins” by the Slavs.

Lada was often portrayed as a beautiful young woman with a baby in her arms. Her holiday was especially important for women who were just waiting for the birth of a child.

Pregnant women honoring the Great Mother hoped for an easy delivery and a happy fate for their future children. On the day of Lada, it was customary to visit and give gifts to midwives who help babies to be born. Mother Lada was especially respected by women who had daughters: it was believed that girls could receive beauty, intelligence and family happiness as a gift from the great goddess. And the girls asked the patroness of the family for help in finding a betrothed, with whom you can live in harmony all your life and never know grief.

On the day of the celebration of the Great Mother in the red corner of the hut, women put bouquets of dried flowers and leaves, laid out wreaths and winter varieties of apples. Grain, pancakes and pies were thrown into a specially made hole as a sacrifice to Lada, the edges of the hole were often watered with decoctions of herbs and decorated with ribbons and colorful shreds.

Unlike Kolyada, on Ladin's day, festive songs were sung only by girls, who were called "ladovitsy", and their ritual round dances were "ladin's kolo". Lada could bring peace and harmony to every family, save people from quarrels and strife, and therefore she was revered by all members of the Slavic community, young and old.

After the day of Mother Lada, the whirlpool of new life was considered neglected, and our ancestors began to prepare for the spring revival of nature, although they had to go through another two months of a dark cold winter.

The current generation of people is watching the world through the prism of modern science. Even the most amazing manifestations of the elements, such as earthquakes, floods, hurricanes or tornadoes, volcanic eruptions, solar and lunar eclipses, do not cause as much awe as our ancestors did. Modern people in most cases see themselves as masters of nature rather than its victims. In ancient times, people had a completely different worldview.

Everything that happened to them or around them was not entirely accessible to them, and everything that happened to them had to be explained somehow. According to modern science, in their ignorance, people attributed everything to the most diverse otherworldly forces - gods, demigods, fairies, elves, devils, demons, ghosts, restless souls, etc.

Moreover, all this lived in heaven, under the earth, in fire, and also in water. People considered themselves dependent on these entities, because a lot depended on their location, in general, their whole way of life. As a result, it is precisely because of the fear of the unknown that almost all religions, including Slavic ones, begin.

So far, exact information has not been found on how and where the Slavs appeared in Europe, and what peoples are their ancestors. Scientists believe that in the 1st millennium AD. Slavs occupied a vast territory: from the Balkans to Central Europe and the Dnieper. At that time, there were no Slavic tribes on the territory of modern Russian borders.

Approximately in the VI century, three branches stood out in the common Slavic unity: southern, western and eastern Slavs. The South Slavic peoples (Serbs, Montenegrins, etc.) later became the Slavs who settled on the borders of Byzantium, gradually merging with its inhabitants. The Western Slavs occupied present-day Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and partly Germany. And the eastern ones occupied the vast territory of modern Belarusians, Ukrainians and Russians.

The Slavs were engaged in the cultivation of wheat, barley, rye, millet, peas, buckwheat, cattle breeding, hunting and fishing. At the household level, the Slavs used the so-called ritual calendar, which reflected agricultural magic. All the days associated with the spring-summer agricultural season were marked in it, everything was calculated: both the sowing of seeds and the harvest.

Pagan holidays of the ancient Slavs

The basis of the rituals of the Slavic farmers was the doctrine of how to successfully influence the deities of the elements in order to get good harvests. A large number of ancient sanctuaries have survived to our time, in which a wide variety of ceremonies were once performed. Echoes of these sacred events can be considered children's games and round dances known to everyone at the present time.

Temples were mostly located in the open air. They had round shapes, the basis of which were two concentric shafts. Fires were kindled around their circumferences, wooden idols were installed inside. Immediately on the burning altar, they made sacrifices to the gods, and they were not limited to human ones either. The outer circles of the temples were intended for people to consume sacrificial ritual food, and they were called "treatments". And the round shapes of such temples determined their name - “mansions” (from the word “horo”, which meant a circle).

The ritual component of Slavic paganism was conditionally divided into two spheres. In the first of these there were rituals associated with the community. These are calendar holidays, an agrarian cult, and also holidays as a tribute to the gods. In the second, there were family rituals and ceremonies, such as weddings, "birth" rites, and funerals. Most of the communal rituals belonged to calendar cycles, and family rituals to life cycles.

Winter holidays of the ancient Slavs

At the end of December, the cold, when the daytime is already arriving, a holiday called Kolyada is celebrated. So, on December 25, on the day of the winter solstice, carolers dressed up as bears, goats, horses, walked from house to house with songs called “carols”. Together with the wishes of all the blessings for the house and the collection of alms - pies, loaves and sweets, they jokingly promised ruin and poverty to the misers.

Then it was generally accepted that while people were caroling, the evil spirits had to go on a rampage and steal the Moon and stars from heaven. The festival embodied the transition of the luminary from winter to spring, the victory of light forces over dark ones. To help the sun in defeating evil spirits, the people burned bonfires, sang songs and danced around the fires. In some places, Kolyada was called Avsenei or Tauseni, which, according to researchers, came from Ash and was one of the solar names.

The ancient Slavs had a belief that the dead are not deprived of all the sensations of life. That is why winter was just a night, darkness for the souls of ancestors, and spring was the awakening of a new life. During the festival of the birth of the sun - Kolyada, it was believed that the dead rose from their graves, and their souls wandered around the world, frightening the living. Consequently, during the celebration of Kolyada, a mixture of the solar cult with the cult of the dead was observed, which was also characteristic of other pagan holidays of the Slavs.

Spring holidays of the Slavs

Another holiday that has survived to this day was called Myasopusta, which was later renamed Maslenitsa. It was celebrated at the beginning of spring, but since Great Lent fell on this period, with the adoption of Christianity, the celebration was postponed a week before it and partly to Bright Sunday.

Maslenitsa is a holiday in honor of the sun god, of which the Slavs had four, so such a solar ritual was carried out: during the celebration, a mummer man was carried on a large sleigh, sitting on a wheel, which was located on a pole fixed on a sleigh. And the wheel, of course, among the Slavs symbolized the sun. In addition, during the celebration of Maslenitsa, the peasants were engaged in fisticuffs, wrestling, and the children were pleased with the performances with bears. Pancakes were and remain a traditional Shrovetide dish.

In addition, Maslenitsa was also considered a memorial week, and pancakes were baked for a wake. The first pancakes were always given to the poor so that they could remember the dead. Opara was prepared by the river or lake in the evenings, when the stars appeared with the call of the month to look in and blow on the dough. All this was done in secret from everyone, be it home or outsiders.

There is also the so-called undisturbed Maslenitsa. This is the time when, with the beginning of spring, people visit the graves of their deceased ancestors. It was believed that their souls rise from their graves to share funeral pancakes with those who brought them. The arrival of spring was usually met on the “red hills”, where round dances were held, spring ceremonies were held, and finally a straw effigy was burned. It was Mara, who was considered the personification of not only winter, but also death.

April 12 was also celebrated as Navi day. On this day, people visit the graves of deceased relatives. Navi day was considered a rite of resurrection of the dead.

Summer holidays of the Slavs

The third most important holiday was the feast of Ivan Kupala. It was celebrated on Ivanov's day of the summer solstice in honor of the deity of summer and fertility Kupala. It should be noted that on the night of June 23-24, it was believed that herbs had miraculous powers.

People believed that only on this night the fern blossomed, and the one who found it recognized the language of all living beings. At this time, the canvas of the rivers was covered with a silvery glow, and the trees moved and communicated with themselves with the noise of branches. The sun itself left its house to meet the moon in a team of three horses, which were: one gold, the other silver, and the third diamond.

On this day, bonfires were lit in the forests to hold all sorts of nightly meetings and games. So, the youth, holding hands, jumped over the fire, which was considered a ritual cleansing. In addition to everything, and on the day of Ivan Kupala, they repeated the ritual extermination of a straw effigy, all the same Mary, with the only difference that it was allowed to sink.

Autumn holidays of the Slavs

Of course, in the autumn, as in all other seasons, the Slavs had many holidays, but you can stop at two of them. These are such holidays as: the closing of Svarga (Vyriya) and the day of Svarog. These days were celebrated on September 14 and 21, respectively.

September 14 - Svarga (Vyria) day

It was believed that on this day the goddess Alive, who was the personification of fruitfulness, youth, the beauty of all nature and people - in general, spring - leaves the Earth, and Frost and Winter begin to enter into their possessions. The harvest is coming to an end, and people are trying to thank Zhiva for the absence of hunger and for the fertility that she sent down to Earth. The ancient Slavs believed that birds about to fly to warmer climes make a flight to the upper world, in which the souls of the dead are located. At such moments, people had to turn to birds, with a request to deliver news from them to their dead relatives.

Vyriy (or Iriy-sad) the ancient Eastern Slavs called Paradise. They believed that on the other side, behind the clouds or where the warm eastern sea with endless summer is located, was the location of the bright heavenly kingdom. A world tree grew in Paradise (according to scientists, it could be an oak or a birch), at the top of which birds or the souls of the dead lived. Once the keys to Iriy-Sad were held by a crow, but after the wrath of the gods, the swallow received the keys.

According to folk legends, in Iriy-Sad, near the wells, there were places prepared for the future lives of good, kind people. They had pure spring water, and around the wells flowers were fragrant, many rejuvenating apples ripened on the trees, and flocks of birds of paradise sang sweet songs.

September 21 - Svarog Day

With the onset of the holiday of the Heavenly Blacksmith - Svarog, Svarga was already closed, which was considered an interruption of the link between Heaven and Earth. The earth is gradually being shackled by frost, and the influence of the Light Forces is decreasing.

The girls had to rent huts to arrange brotherhoods. Sometimes they gathered throughout the village, and for a three-day period they invited young men to parties, and the bride-girls present in the company were considered mistresses in such houses. During the evenings, many magical, scary and playful tales were told, with mischievous games in which there were kisses.

Bratchina (eve, candle) was a joint meal, in which full members of the community from one village participated. She arranged a pool after the prayer service. Despite the fact that the authorities forbade brotherhoods, they were everywhere preserved at the everyday level among the peasantry. Bratchina was based on pious customs. These were the commemorations of the saints, to whose help the communities once turned in order to be saved from disasters.

Holidays of the ancient Slavs and Christianity

On Troyan, boys were initiated into warriors, ancestors were commemorated and amulets were made from the souls of the restless dead, and women and girls were cleansed of haze before wedding ceremonies and childbearing

People changed, thought processes changed, consciousness changed, religions became more complicated. Christianity, which came to the territory of Kievan Rus through the most severe violence from the sword of Prince Vladimir, was destined to trample on pagan shrines, idols and temples. Christianity, as a religion given for one people, for its mentality and its level of consciousness, came into conflict with Slavic paganism. It opposed the ethical considerations of the people, their aesthetic habits, and naturally did not take into account the formed way of life of the Eastern Slavs. However, paganism did not give up just like that. It simply could not come out of the mass consciousness of entire peoples in an instant. It took at least three hundred years for this to disappear from Christian temples many pagan symbols, such as the swastika or the rotisserie, although they did not disappear completely.

For example, on the royal crowns of the Romanovs, you can find a swastika, which meant the rotation of the sun, and not a symbol of Nazi Germany during the time of Adolf Hitler. By the way, the swastika could also be found on some of the first awards of the young Soviet republic.

Even after a millennium of the march of Christianity across Russia, many pagan holidays are safely celebrated, and Maslenitsa is not the only one of them.

In addition, neither winter nor summer Christmas time, which were considered games in honor of the deity Svetovid, which took place during the solar turns either by summer or by winter, also remained forever forgotten. Summer Christmas time to some extent had to merge with the Trinity of Christianity, and winter - with Christmas festivities.

If you have any questions - leave them in the comments below the article. We or our visitors will be happy to answer them.

Calendar of Slavic holidays and a list of pagan rites
Ancient pagan and Slavic traditional holidays, the main memorable dates and rituals, the significance of which is important for the entire Family, were on the calendar of a certain day or month for a reason. All the holidays of the Slavic peoples and traditions are closely connected with Nature and its rhythm of life. Wise ancestors understood that it is impossible to reverse it and it is pointless to rewrite old styles with new ones.

In our calendar of pagan holidays of the Slavs, we indicate the dates according to the new style for your convenience. If you want to celebrate them in the old way, just subtract thirteen days from the indicated date and month. We will be sincerely glad that you will be imbued with honesty and usefulness, reasonableness and grace of the pagan holidays of Ancient Russia and Ancestral Slavs, their traditions and help to revive and pass them on to your Descendants to strengthen the strength of the entire Family.

The natural calendar of the Slavs is based on four main points - the days of the autumn and spring equinoxes, winter and summer solstices. They are determined by the astrological position of the Sun relative to the earth:

shift in dates from 19 to 25 is possible

Calendar of Slavic holidays and Pagan rites

The very same annual Wheel - Kolo Svarog consists of twelve rays-months. By the power of the Gods and the Family, it is launched into a continuous rotation of salting and forms the Cycle of Nature.

The very love of the Slavs for their Earth and the Cycle of the elements and seasons reflect the ancient pagan names of each month. One capacious word reflects the essence of time and affectionate appeal to Nature, understanding of her difficult year-round work for the benefit of her children.

This is how our Ancestors called the months in which they celebrated the main Slavic holidays:

January - Prosinets
February - Lute
March - Berezen
April - pollen
May - Traven
June - Cherven
July - Lipen
August - Serpen
September - Veresen
October - Leaf fall
November - Breast
December - Studen
Winter Slavic holidays and rituals
Pagan and Slavic holidays in December

December 3
On this day, the Slavs remember and honor the giant hero Svyatogor, who brought great benefits to Russia in the fight against the Pechenegs. His exploits are described along 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 large boyar mound. On such a holiday, it is good to tell your Descendants about the giant Svyatogor and extend the Memory of his heritage, and tell about the Native Gods of the Slavs.

December 19-22 Karachun
Karachun is the second name of Chernobog, descending to earth on the days of the winter solstice, Kolovorot. Karachun is an evil underground spirit and has servants in the form of bears - snowstorms and wolves - snowstorms. It is frost and cold, shortening day and impenetrable night. However, along with this, Karachun is considered a fair God of death, who does not violate the earthly Orders just like that. To protect yourself from the wrath of Chernobog, it is enough to follow the Rules and wear Slavic amulets-amulets.

December 25 Kolyada, Sunny Christmas
Kolyada is the young Sun, the embodiment of the beginning of the New Year cycle. From that day on, the Big Winter Christmas time began and the Sun turned to spring. At this time, children and adults dressed up as fairy-tale characters and animals and, under the name of Kolyada, stepped into the huts of wealthy families. Under fervent songs and dances, they demanded treats from the laid table and wished the owners happiness and longevity. Offending carolers meant incurring the wrath of Kolyada himself, so on the eve of Sunny Christmas, the preparation of sweets and cooking kutya began.

December 31 Generous evening, Schedrets
On this day of the Great Winter Christmastide, they prepared for the New Year coming at midnight and, just like on Kolyada, they gathered and went out through the streets to play performances. Gather treats, praise the generous hosts and jokingly scold the stingy. Generous, good evening! - Shouted to every passerby in greeting. Hence the name of this winter Slavic holiday came from the time of the pagan faith.

Pagan and Slavic holidays in January

January 1 New Year, Day of Ilya Muromets, Avega Perun
On the first of January, out of habit, today we celebrate the New Year. However, the traditions of this modern spinner are pagan. The Slavs believed, decorating the fir tree with sweet pastries, cones and nuts in the forest, we can appease Veles and for one day he will become Santa Claus familiar to our children. Christmas trees decorated at home are nothing more than a remembrance and respect for our Ancestors, inviting them to a common family table. Also at this time, Ilya Muromets, an epic hero, one of the images of the just and mighty Perun, was lightly remembered.

January 6
Tur is the son of Veles and Makoshi, the patron of shepherds, guslars and buffoons, young men - future warriors and breadwinners of families. On this Slavic holiday, a ceremony of initiation into men was performed, and the main shepherd in the village was also chosen. This holiday closes the Veles Winter Christmas time and therefore everyone is in a hurry to tell fortunes for the last time what awaits them in the future, they set up a drunken table with a generous snack.

January 8
On this Slavic holiday, midwives and all the older women of the Family are honored. Generous gifts and glorifications are presented to them, and in return they sprinkle their children and once adopted babies with grain with a blessing and a wish for a generous Share and an Easy Fate. The symbol of the Family in Slavic amulets also helps to keep the connection between generations, to instill in the Descendants respect for their Ancestors.

January 12 Abduction Day
On this not a Slavic holiday, but a memorable day, Veles kidnapped Perun's wife, Dodola, or otherwise Diva, in retaliation for refusing a marriage proposal, and later Marena, the wife of Dazhdbog, who became Kashchei's wife and bore him many demonic daughters. Therefore, on the twelfth of January, they are wary of letting the girls go out alone and are working to strengthen personal protections: they make jewelry-amulets, embroider protective ornaments on women's shirts.

January 18 Intra
This is an ancient pagan holiday of the Slavs, on the day of which they honor the participant of the Military Triglav Intra. He, Volkh and Perun made up the 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, Indrik the Beast, is also the patron of wells, clouds, snakes, Navi God, therefore on such a night the Veduns spoke to protect all chimneys so that dark spirits in the form of snakes could not enter the house.

January 21 Prosinets
This Slavic holiday is dedicated to the glorification of Heavenly Svarga and the revival of the Sun, softening the cold. In ancient times, pagan Veduns 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
On this day, they praise the children of Veles - his heavenly warriors and thank God for such protection of the Family. They also do not forget about the Brownie, treat him to the most delicious in the house and ask him not to be offended by anything, sing songs and fairy tales to him, try to appease and entertain him. On this day, everything is a lot: from spirits to people, so you should not be surprised at the miracles happening and the banter of Father Veles over us. If you want, you can bring the trebs under the spruce or the 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-Malanyitsa, Lightning, inviting us to praise the goddess and ask her for mercy - not to burn barns and yards in anger, but to work for the glory of the future harvest, causing rain. Also at such a time they looked at the weather and determined whether the year would be dry or not.

February 11 Great Veles Day
The Great Veles Day marks the middle of winter, a certain milestone. On this holiday, they praised the Father and performed game ceremonies of a comic battle between Marena and Veles, as a symbol of the imminent end of the cold, his retreat together with Mara. Also on this day, they put up protection for livestock and applied Veles chirs to all the gates in the courtyard, praised and brought the requirements of the Cattle God, asked for health to cows, pigs and other breadwinners of the family.

February 15
This is an ancient Slavic holiday of the meeting of Spring and Winter, the last winter colds and the first spring thaws. As a sign of respect for the Sun, pancakes were baked, and at noon they burned Yerzovka, a straw doll, 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 the 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 of the Presentation. From that day on, they began to repair carts, fences, barns, barns and agricultural implements. Prepare the cart in winter - it was from Pochinki that such a wise proverb came to us. You should also not forget about Domovoy, bring him treats and talk with harmony and peace in order to establish contact and receive support in working for the benefit of the economy.

February 18 Troyan Winter, the day of Stribog's grandchildren, commemoration of the fallen at Troyanov Val
This wonderful Slavic holiday is the Day of Remembrance of the fallen soldiers worthy of Svarog's grandchildren. In their honor, ceremonial reconstruction battles were performed and generous commemorations were brought, and the Descendants were told and clearly shown how much the soldiers who participated in the battle near Troyan Val did for the entire Russian Family.

Spring Slavic holidays and rituals
Pagan and Slavic holidays in March

March 1
On this day, they praise the goddess of Winter and Death Marena, who owns the Navi world and helps people after life to reach the Kalinov Bridge. On it you can go 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 move in alive. From that, 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 their deceased Ancestors and prepare a memorial table, bring trebes and give Glory for the life lived and the Descendants of the Family given by them. You can treat your dead Relatives both at the graves, and by throwing shells from colored eggs on the water - if they left for another world a long time ago and it’s a pity, the grave is no longer there or it is very far away.

March 14
According to the ancient Slavic custom, the New Year fell on Maly Ovsen - 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 to people the knowledge of his brother and helps to translate them into practical experience. On this day, it is customary to rejoice in the new year and make plans for the future, start new business, glorify the awakening of Nature.

March 20-21 Komoyeditsy or Maslenitsa, Velikden
The pagan holiday Maslenitsa is not just a Slavic meeting of spring and a cheerful farewell to winter. This is the spring solstice, a turning point in the calendar and way of life. In the Orthodox holiday of Maslenitsa, the pagan Komoyeditsa has been preserved with almost all of its traditions: burning an effigy of winter - Madder, treating pancakes - Komami and eating them all week. The first solar pancakes were usually given as treb 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 junk and cleansed themselves and their families of unnecessary burdens. They began to celebrate Komoyeditsy a week before the day of 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 called so because, according to custom, forty new species of birds begin to arrive from the winter hut, including the first larks. And even they were late this time, then each family baked their own rich larks, which were supposed to attract real ones. Usually, this was entrusted to children, who gladly ran to call for spring, and then enjoyed delicious pastries. In the form of a lark, wooden charms for the house were also made. They attracted happiness, health and good luck.

March 25 Opening of Svarga or Invocation of Spring
On the last, third call of spring with fragrant rye 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 to grow in the course of rivers and seedlings, young shoots and new tree branches. On this Slavic holiday, one can feel the Living breath of the Gods, who favorably relate to the living Descendants.

March 30
On this March day they praised Lada: the goddess of love and beauty, one of the two heavenly Rozhanitsa, the Mother of God. This Slavic holiday was accompanied by round dances and dances, as well as baking cranes from unleavened dough for home family amulets. The bright day of kindness and warmth made it possible to recharge and jewelry for girls or married women - earrings, pendants and bracelets with Ladins, symbolizing the harmony of female beauty, health and wisdom.

Pagan and Slavic holidays in April

April 1 Brownie Day or his awakening
This cheerful Slavic holiday was dedicated to Domovoy - the very spirit that protected your house, farmstead and bins. On the first of April, he woke up from hibernation, during which he did only important things - guarded your property, and began active work to bring comfort and prosperity to the family. So that he woke up faster and became more cheerful - they treated him with milk and other goodies, they began to joke and play with him and with each other - play and tell jokes, put on clothes inside out, and socks or shoes separately.

April 3
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 carried generous gifts for the Water Man in the hope that he would restore order in the water kingdom and thank those who treated him with a generous catch, would not tear their nets, drive large fish into them, and also punish the mermaids not to touch them and their loved ones. Some artels could bring a whole horse as a gift, but most often the requirements were limited to milk, butter or bread with eggs. Throwing them into the cold spring water, the Slavs hoped that the Water Spirit would wake up in a good and full mood.

April 14 Semargl Day
On this Slavic holiday, Semargl-Firebog melts the last snows, turning into a flaming winged wolf and flying through the fields. It is this God of the Sun and Fire that guards the crops and gives good harvests, and it is he who can burn down all living things. It is said that Svarog himself forged Semargl from a spark at his sacred forge. Every night he stands guard over the Order with a fiery sword, and only on the day of the autumn equinox comes to the Bathhouse so that they have children - Kupalo and Kostroma. Trebs of Firebog are brought by throwing them into the fire, amulets with Semargl are also activated in his flame asking God for protection.

April 21 Navi Day or Commemoration of the Ancestors
On this day of spring Christmas time, the souls of the dead Ancestors descend to us to visit and hear about our life, joys and sorrows. Therefore, relatives are commemorated at the graves and feasts are brought: treats in memory of them. The older ones in the Family are commemorated by dropping the shells from colored eggs into the water, so that by Rusal Day they will be given to them as dear news from loved ones. As well as the first of April, on the day of Marena, on this Slavic holiday, going to the side of reality and the undead, restless, restless, offended dead souls. That is why many again put on masks to protect themselves from them.

April 22 Lelnik Krasnaya Gorka
On this amazing holiday and for a long time after it, they praised Lelya, the goddess of spring, youth and assistant in obtaining the future harvest. The youngest and most beautiful girl was seated on a high hill, Krasnaya Gorka, they brought her all sorts of gifts: milk, bread, sweets and eggs, danced around her and rejoiced at the life that had awakened after winter. Painted, painted eggs were distributed to relatives and friends, and also rushed to the already deceased Ancestors as a memorial. Such colored, painted eggs are generally part of the Slavic culture, some of them should have been reserved for the subsequent one after another spring holidays of the awakening of Nature and the glorification of Yarila, Zhiva, Dazhdbog.

April 23 Yarilo vernal
On this Slavic holiday, they go out into the street to meet and thank the patron saint of shepherds and the protector of livestock 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 skating of men on the ground to increase their health and heroic will. Yarilina dew was carefully collected and used for the future as living water for the treatment of many ailments.

April 30
On this last day of April and Krasnaya Gorka, the spring cold ends and people go to commemorate their ancestors, bringing them standard trebes: kutya, pancakes, oatmeal jelly and hand-written eggs. Also on this day, competitions are organized: skiing from a mountain of written eggs. The winner is the one whose egg rolls the farthest without breaking. Such rolling out of the earth with eggs symbolizes its future fertility. By midnight, all the celebrants prepare the beginning and collect a huge big fire on the same mountain to celebrate Zhivin's day.

Pagan and Slavic holidays in May

May 1 Zhivin day
Immediately at midnight on the first of May, the Slavic spring holiday begins in honor of Zhiva: the goddess of spring, fertility, 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-cleaning from evil spirits, jump through the Life-Creating Fire, clearing themselves of winter Navi sleep and haze. Alive is the movement of nature, the first shoots, the first streams, the first flowers and the first love.

May 6 Dazhdbog Day - Ovsen big
On this day they praise Dazhdbog, the Ancestor of the Slavs, the God of Fertility and the wife of Alive. It was on this day that he renounced Marena and made a choice in favor of his daughter Lada, thereby becoming, together with the Alive, 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 cattle to fresh fields, and also begin the construction of new houses, and of course, they bring generous gifts to grandfather Dazhdbog and rejoice in the hot sun as a symbol of this spring and future abundant harvest.

May 10 Spring Makosh
This is the 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 a winter Navi sleep and is filled with life-giving juices. All sorcerers and simply honoring Nature brothers-Slavs went out on this day with generous gifts: beer and wine on the fields and poured full cups to Mother Earth, glorifying 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, Tribog day
On this day, there is a farewell to Yarila - the spring Sun and the three summer Gods of Svarog Triglav, strong in the Rule, Navi and Reveal: Svarog, Perun and Veles are famous. It is believed that Troyan gathered the strength of each of them and every day stands guard over Nature from the attack of Chernobog. On Troyan, boys were initiated into warriors, their ancestors were commemorated and amulets were made from the souls of the restless dead, including plowed entire villages with a protective, protective circle from the evil Navi forces, and women and girls were cleansed of the haze before wedding ceremonies and childbearing.

May 31
This very interesting Slavic holiday implies that we are all brothers and sisters of the same Genus. Therefore, those who wish to make a fuss - to become related, without having a direct consanguinity, on the last day of spring, such an opportunity is provided. 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 forge her about you. Also on this ancient pagan celebration, the Slavs exchanged gifts-amulets with people dear and close to them in spirit.

Summer Slavic holidays and rituals
Pagan and Slavic holidays in June

June 1 Spirits day or the beginning of Mermaid week
Spirits day begins on the first day of summer and continues throughout the week, called Mermaid. From this day Marena releases the dead ancestors to stay in Yav, and their Descendants invite them to their homes, laying out birch branches in the corners, symbolizing Family ties. However, along with them, not dead, suicidal and drowned people are activated. Most often these are women and Mermaids. Water at this time most actively receives and conducts the energy of Rule, Silavi and Reveal. With it, you can recover, damage, or learn something. As a requirement, clothes and towels for mermaid children were brought to the banks of the rivers, and so that the spirits could not penetrate the body, they wore amulets with Odolen-grass.

June 20-21 Kupalo
This is the main summer pagan holiday among the Slavs - the Day of the Solstice, the Kolovorot. On this day, many rituals are performed - after all, the power of such a period is very great. The herbs collected on Kupalo are of great value. The ardent fire of the fire cleanses people, and the water washes away all sorrows and illnesses from them. Feast, games and round dances with rituals continue from dawn to dusk. This is a Slavic merry and cheerful holiday, the symbol of which for the whole year are amulets with Odolen-grass, Fern Flower and Kolo Goda.

June 22 Skipper Serpent Day or Serpent Day
Once on this day, Naviy the Serpent Skipper came to the Slavic lands, kidnapped the baby, and imprisoned him in a dark cellar, took away his sisters: I live, Lelya and Marena to his possessions. Subsequently, Veles, Khors and Stribog will be able to defeat Skipper in a difficult fight. However, from that day on, this time was considered dangerous - bloody, evil and bringing trouble. Many of our Ancestors claimed that real snake weddings begin on such a day and woe to those who step in the way of snakes crawling to the place of celebration. People put on the strongest Slavic amulets against the Navi Forces and tried to wait out the burst of energy together with their families and cattle in a safe place.

June 23 Agrafena Bathing suit
This pagan ancient Slavic holiday opened the bathing season. Healing bath brooms began to be prepared in each house and a ritual heating of baths was carried out for cleaning relatives - steaming, and subsequent charging - restoring health by dipping into open water. On the day of Agrafena Kupalnitsa, as well as at other Christmas holidays, girls of all ages went with praises and petitions to present gifts: Slavic outerwear, embroidered shirts, silver jewelry with protective symbols.

Pagan and Slavic holidays in July

July 12 Veles Sheaf Day
From the Veles day, the heat begins to rise and hay is mowing for livestock, the first sheaves absorbing the fertile spirit of the fields are tied up. Therefore, demands and glorifications 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 let the souls of their ancestors go to Nav and find their peace there. On this Slavic summer holiday, Veles's chirs were applied to his idols, as well as personal and home amulets-amulets. Also on this day, the election of a victim to Perun is made - domestic animals for burning in the Sacred Fire.

Pagan and Slavic holidays in August

August 3 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 faithfully to the owner, be sharp, and also cause rain after a long drought to save the fields and harvest. Sacrifices were made to Perun and simply generous requests to the altar with an idol and chir: pastries, bread, wine, kvass. Worn with the blessing of God, the ax of Perun or another Slavic talisman guarded the owner in a foreign land and in difficult situations.

August 15
Pozhinki, pozhinki or squeezing is a pagan holiday of the ancient Slavs with the glorification of Veles and the cutting of the last fruitful sheaves of grain. In each field, they left the last bunch of wheat and tied it in the beard of Veles, as a sign of respect and understanding of all that great gift of agriculture given to them. Also at this time, they began to consecrate the collected honey, apples and grain on the Great Fire, bring them to the requirements along with bread and porridge to the Native Gods.

August 21 Stribog Day
This is a Slavic holiday in honor of Stribog, the lord of the wind and God who controls tornadoes and natural disasters. On this day, they bring trebes to assure their respect: shreds, grain or bread and ask for indulgence - a good harvest next year and whole roofs over their heads. Stribog is the brother of Perun and holds seventy-seven winds in his fist, living on the Buyan Island. That is why the ancestors believe - he can convey a request or desire to the Native Gods and punish the offenders, wherever they are.

Autumn Slavic holidays and rituals
Pagan and Slavic holidays in September

September 2 Memorial Day of Prince Oleg
Prince Russian Oleg did a lot for his people: he concluded an agreement with Byzantium and established trade routes with duty-free sales, united the disparate Slavic Clans into a single one - Kievan Rus, gave a worthy education to Rurik's son Igor, and nailed his shield as a symbol of victory on the gates of Constantinople. Prophetic Oleg died through 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
This Slavic holiday is dedicated to the family and its well-being. On such a bright day, Rozhanitsy is glorified: Lelya and Lada and all the Rod produced by them. After bringing the requirements to the Native Goddesses, ritual games and ritual funerals of flies begin, symbolizing the imminent numbness of all insects and falling into hibernation until spring. In addition to a feast for the whole house, loved ones 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 Osenins, Day of the Fiery Wolf
On this day, farmers began to celebrate the First Osenins - 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 21 Svarog Day
On this September day, the Slavs celebrated the holiday of Svarog and praised him for descending and teaching people crafts along with Veles, giving the sacred Ax and Forge. Thus, the Russian Rod could survive and do business in the autumn and winter. On this day, it is customary to slaughter chickens fattened over the summer, and give the first of the farmstead to Svarog as a requirement. Autumn brides and weddings also began from 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 Holiday Lada
Lada, as the Mother of God and the giver of family well-being, the patroness of all living things, deserved a holiday among the Slavs for her own glory. At this time, they thanked her for the harvest and prosperity, as well as for sending a soul mate and creating a new family, they played weddings with ritual wedding rings, and also gave their grown-up daughters protective jewelry with Ladins as a talisman for beauty and harmonization of women's fate.

September 22-23 Radogoshch or Autumn Equinox
On this day, the results were summed up and the harvested crop and stocks made were considered. People praised the main God of the Family and Rozhanitsa and brought them generous requests in gratitude for their patronage and help. In some territorial areas, the Slavs began to celebrate the Autumn Equinox from the closing of Svarga, the Feast of the Heavenly Smith or the Rich Man - on September 21, and all this time they were generous feasts until September 23 - the astrological peak of the event.

September 27 Rodogoshch or otherwise - Tausen
On this autumn Slavic holiday, according to ancient pagan traditions, a feast was arranged by the mountain - yes, this is how the festive food was laid on the table, and a huge pie was placed in its center with wishes for a generous harvest next year. Letting the generous Nature and the spring-summer Gods and Goddesses go to rest, people began festive fortune-telling and ideas about the hero and the underworld, symbolizing a quick meeting with the awakened earth and its fruits.

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, on this day, the meeting of Autumn with Winter was celebrated, and this holiday has very deep roots. The very name of folk beliefs was associated with the first frost, which "covered" the earth, 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 preparations for winter.

October 30 Goddess Mokosh Day
On an autumn day, they praised Makosh, the one that spins human destinies, patronizes families and children in it, gives a happy bright hearth and helps to learn women's crafts: weaving, spinning, sewing, embroidery. Trebs were brought to her under idols on the Altar or in the fields and in the rivers: sweet buns, red wine, coins and wheat as a symbol of prosperity. Also on this day, pre-embroidered amulets for the home, chirs and Slavic amulets-decorations were activated.

Pagan and Slavic holidays in November

November 25 Marena Day
In the last days of autumn, Marena finally kicks out Yarila and covers Yav with her veil of cold, snow and ice. This pagan holiday of the Slavs does not contain joy. People reconcile themselves to the fact and in the beginning put modest demands on the Goddess, but they 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 dead Ancestors, their whisper in the last remaining leaves and try to bring a remembrance, appease the Navi Forces.

Worm(June):

✅ 04/06 Yarilo Wet is celebrated. In early June, nature pleases the eye with a riot of colors. Yarilo opens the sky, and green herbs are filled with magical power. Spring is leaving, Summer is coming. Before sunrise, they wash themselves with healing dew, go around the fields with bread, illuminate houses and gates. On this day, the Yarilo-Sun shows its strength. After Yarila, hot weather usually sets for seven days. Hence this holiday is also called

✅ 19/06 From June 19 to June 24, Rusal Days are held, in which an important cycle of rituals takes place, associated with the "seeing off the mermaids", "egg charm", "mermaid charm". Mermaid days pass after Semik (Yarilin Day)

✅ 24/06 the great holiday "God Kupala" is celebrated timed to coincide with the day of the summer solstice (solstice). The start date of the festival can also be June 21 and 22. The holiday of the Sun and Water, which give rise to all living things, is the time for the flowering of the forces of Mother Nature.

✅ 25/06 Day of friendship, unity of the Slavs

✅ 29/06 Summer Svarozhye is celebrated (). On this day, the celebration of the Heavenly (Svarog) Fire and the Sun is performed, as a rule, falling at the very height of the summer heat ... This is one of those rituals and festivities that in the bustle and fleetingness of everyday life often passes us by

Lipen(July):

✅ 03/07 Memorial Day of Prince Svyatoslav Day of glorification of Prince Svyatoslav Igorevich (about 942-972). It was customary for the Slavs to hold ritual fights, military initiations and praise Perun on this day. In 964-66, Svyatoslav undertook the first independent major campaign: the liberation of the Vyatichi from the power of the Khazars and their subordination to Kiev

✅ 05/07 Name Day of the Month is celebrated- a holiday dedicated to honoring the clear Moon and its highest patrons - Veles the Horned and Mary the Moon-faced.

✅12/07 Veles Sheaf Day is celebrated. The days are killing and the heat is coming. From this day on, they begin to mow and make hay.

✅ 20/07 the great military holiday is celebrated -; the great holy day of all the 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.

✅ 27/07 Chura (Polykopne) holiday is celebrated- God of protection, protection of property, guardian of tribal customs, patron of borders, home. The Slavs remember their foolish ancestors to take care of our bread, to keep not only our sheaves, but also our Russia and centuries-old great culture. On this day, milk is brought to Churu, A hole is dug at the boundary stone and milk is poured into it. On this Chura holiday, one cannot work away from home. The owner must be in his yard, thereby honoring Chur

✅ 19/07 Summer Makoshya (Summer Mokrids) is celebrated- Holy Day of Mokosh-Mokrina. At the time of dual faith in Russia, Makrinin (Mokrinin) day was celebrated on this day. People noted: “If Mokrida is wet, then autumn is also, Mokrida is dry - and autumn is dry”, “If it’s wet on Mokrida, then it’s rainy suffering”, “A bucket on Mokrida is dry autumn”, “If it’s raining on Mokrida - all autumn it will be rainy, and there will be no nuts - everything will get wet. Summer Mokrid Day is also considered important for the next year: “If it rains on Mokrid, rye will be born next year.”

✅ 28/07 Eternal memory who died at the hands of Christian invaders - REMEMBER GROWING

Serpen(August):

✅ 25/12 from December 25 to January 6 are celebrated Big- twelve holy days symbolizing the twelve months of the year (six bright ones - a light half-year, and the other six dark ones - a dark half-year), starting from the eve of Kolyada (Kolyada itself is not among the holy days) and up to Turits (Vodocres)

✅31/12 is celebrated (Generous Evening)- the last day of Christmas time, which is famous for its lavenders and festive feast. At the time of dual faith in Russia, Christmas time was divided into two parts: lasting from Kolyada to Shchedrets, and Strshnye (Vorozhnye) evenings, which continued to Turits. Yuletide evenings (especially Terrible) were considered among the people as the time when the devil walks