Rodonitsa (30/04)

On the last day of April, when the spring cold ends, the beginning was opened at sunset.

On this day, they remembered their ancestors and called on them to visit the earth: «Fly, dear grandfathers...». They went to the graves, bringing memorial gifts: pancakes, oatmeal jelly, millet porridge, painted eggs and Easter eggs. After the beginning, the trizna began: warriors on Mount « fighting for the dead», showing their martial art.

Dyed eggs were rolled from a high mountain, competing. The winner was the one whose egg would roll further without breaking. By midnight, firewood was being laid out on the same mountain for a large fire.

Midnight began the holiday — Living Day. The women, taking brooms, performed a ritual dance around the fire, clearing the place of evil spirits. They glorified Zhiva, the goddess of life, who revives nature by sending spring to Earth.

Everyone jumped over the Fire, clearing themselves of obsessions (Navius) after a long winter. On the same high mountain they started fun games and round dances around the fire. They played a fairy tale telling about a journey to the world of Naviy and a return to Java.

With the onset of morning, they treated themselves to cookies in the form of larks, released living birds from cages into the wild, calling for spring.

Let us remind you that the Orthodox Church celebrates Radonitsa on Tuesday of the second week after Easter, a day after Thomas Sunday (or Antipascha).

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