Veshneye Makoshye (Earth Day) (23/05)

Holy Day, when Mother Cheese-Earth is honored as «birthday girl». It was believed that on this day the Earth «rested», so it could not be plowed, dug, harrowed, stakes and knives could not be stuck into it. Veles and Makosh were especially honored on this day by the — Earthly intercessors. The Magi went out into the field, lay down on the grass — listened to the Earth.

At the beginning, grain was placed in a furrow plowed ahead of time and beer was poured, saying, facing east: Mother of Cheese-Earth! Thou shalt kill every unclean reptile from love spell, turnover and dashing work.

Turning west, they continued: Mother of Cheese-Earth! Absorb evil spirits into boiling abysses, into flammable tar.

Turning to noon, they said: Mother of Cheese-Earth! You shall quench all the winds of the midday with bad weather, quench the loose sands with a blizzard.

At midnight they addressed: Mother of Cheese-Earth! Calm down the midnight winds with clouds, hold back the frosts and snowstorms.

After each appeal, the beer was poured into a furrow and then the jug in which it was brought was broken. After the spells of the sorcerer, digging up the earth with your fingers and whispering: «Mother-Cheese-Earth, tell me, tell the whole truth, show » at (name), wondered about the future according to the signs found in the earth.

The warriors, putting down their weapons and placing a piece of turf on their heads, swore allegiance to Mother Raw-Earth, pledging to protect her from the enemies.

The beginning ended with glorification: Goy, Eat the damp Earth, Materia land, Our mother is our dear, She gave birth to us all, I drank and fed And she endowed me with land. For us, our children, You gave birth to greens And she gave everyone a cereal to drink Drive away the demon with polga And help with illnesses. They took the Urvati off Various needs, lands For the sake of polga on the stomach.

After the beginning, the consecrated handful of Earth was collected in bags and stored as amulets. A drunken feast and games ended the holiday.

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