Spozhinki (28/08)

By the end of August, the harvest, harvesting and processing of wheat, barley, millet and other grain crops, as well as the procurement of seeds for the next season, are completed. Hence the name of the holiday — Spozhinki (Dozhinki, Obzhinki). The last sheaf was stung silently so as not to disturb the spirit of the field that moves into it.

This joyful and important event for farmers was widely celebrated by Slavic peoples throughout Europe. At first they celebrated Zazhinki (beginning of harvest, Day of the first sheaf). Spozhinki (Dozhinki, Obzhinki) — day of the end of the harvest, the holiday of the last sheaf, which previously fell in mid-August, on the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary (according to the old style — it was August 15) were celebrated more magnificently.

According to an ancient custom, a small part of the uncut ears of corn was left on a compressed field, tied with tape — curled «beard Veles»:

«We’re howling, we’re howling a beard At Veles's on the field... We curl our beard Veles and wide... In the great field, Yes, on a high mountain, On black-plowed land... Wey, wey, beard Beard, get out Susek fill up!».

At the beginning, the sorcerer-priests glorified Veles by raising a pot of millet above their heads:

«Velese Genera Look at us from heaven Zhitom odari Revival field Fortunately, give me weight. Then Vles is our father The land is in paradise, and the grains are sown, And reap the vein of the broom And just like God’s father».

On this day, honey, apples and grain were blessed. After the start, a cheerful feast began (but it was forbidden to eat beef). The main Slavic Strava in Spozhinki: porridge, honey, apples, bread, beer.

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