Kolyada (25/12)

Kolyada — sun-infant, in Slavic mythology — is the embodiment of the New Year's cycle. Kolyada — turns the Sun into spring — was celebrated during the Great Winter Christmastide, which took place from December 24 to January 5.

The Slavs celebrated Kolyada when the day « on the passerine skok» arrived, and the winter sun began to flare up (that is, during the winter solstice).

Before the celebration, the magician howled like a wolf (prophetic howl), driving away evil spirits. At the end of the initiative, my brother was brought to everyone with a intoxicating drink, and the obavnik (reading glorifications and sentences at rituals during the holidays) exclaimed:

«Autumn, where are you going? Bridge! Who should go? Kolyada sovereign! What should he drive? On a sun pig! What to drive? Piggy!»

The children gathered to carol under the windows of rich peasants, called the owner in songs, repeated Kolyada’s name and asked for money. Yule games and fortune telling — remains of this ancient holiday. The rituals have been preserved among the people and have recently become increasingly popular. «Carolers» dress up in clothes, depict animals, devils, with music, with bags in which they collect treats, walk the streets, sing carols. Kolyada — is a cheerful, desired deity.

Eating ritual cookies in the form of cows (loaf, bagels), they remember Thor. Instead of a sacrificial lamb, they eat cookies in the form of a lamb's head (steering wheel, pretzel). You definitely need to try uzvar and kutya.

The holiday ended with games. It was imperative to roll the burning wheel uphill with the words: «Go uphill, turn back in the spring».



Postcard «December 25 — Kolyada»

443