What does the holiday "Red Hill" mean: signs and description

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

The Red Hill holiday is celebrated by Eastern Slavs. Its history begins in Kievan Rus. Red Hill Day was timed to coincide with the Sunday following Easter. In some places it is celebrated on St. George's Day (immediately Sunday), in others - on Monday, in others - the day before. About why the holiday "Red Hill" has such a name, what it means and what signs are associated with it, read below.

History

To understand the significance of this day, it is worth delving into the Bible. Why is the holiday "Red Hill" (Antipaskha, Klikushnoe Sunday) so important and so massively celebrated? It is celebrated, as we have already mentioned, after Easter. More specifically, on the eighth day. Throughout the week, the church remembers Thomas - the apostle, who did not believe that the Savior was resurrected. Christ, according to the plot of the Gospel, appeared before him in order to prove that the miracle is real.happened. It was from here, by the way, that the well-known expression “unbelieving Thomas” came from. The renewal of the resurrection of Christ began to be associated with the name of this apostle. Many believers believe that Thomas cannot be reproached for unbelief. He had no doubt that Christ was indeed the savior. The apostle only longed for a meeting with his resurrected Teacher, he wanted to feel triumph, joy, and not from the words of witnesses, but personally. This is understandable - it is not always possible to take a word (even from relatives), but if you see it in person, then there will be no doubts.

Former fisherman Thomas, one of the twelve apostles, preached to many countries. According to legend, it was he who founded the Christian churches in India, Palestine, Ethiopia, Parthia, Mesopotamia. And the holy apostle died for the faith after cruel tortures. His relics are now kept on Mount Athos, in Hungary and India.

Anti-Easter

Agree, a strange name … On the one hand - this great and bright holiday - "Red Hill", what does such a contradiction mean then? It turns out that there are elements of paganism in it. Our ancestors, even before the designation of Sunday by Fomin's church, met spring at this time. Time has passed, traditions have remained. Many elements from pagan rites remained in the festivities (we will talk about them later), so the church treats this holiday rather coolly and even somewhat disapprovingly.

There is no particle of negation in the word "anti-Easter", as many people think. In contrast, "anti-" means nothing more than "instead of". Therefore, folkthe name of the holiday is interpreted as "instead of Easter".

Christianity or paganism?

To this day, this question cannot be unambiguously answered - the historical overtones are so intertwined here. We have already spoken about Krasnaya Gorka as a church event. But why is this holiday also pagan? First, it arose long before Christianity. Secondly, it is a holiday of the Sun (more precisely, its renewal). The people gathered on the hill (hill) called out: “Glory to Yarila! Hello red sun! Spells were cast for the weather, for a bountiful harvest. Spring songs praised Yarila (the sun god), the arrival of warmth, the birth of a new life (future fruits of nature). The people were still gathering in the dark, and spells were cast at dawn.

Folk festivals

One can guess for a long time about the origin of the name itself - there are really many options. Most likely, the word "red" means "bright, beautiful", but by "slide" it means a hill.

Spring starts with warm sun and melting snow. And the first to “open” are the hills, that is, the hills. What happens in total? That's right - a "red" (beautiful, already beginning to turn green) slide. It is these hills, warmed up and dried out after the snow melted and the receding flood, that are most suitable for mass festivities.

Youth Festival

Folk festivities began at dusk and lasted almost a day, until sunset. Everyone celebrated. But most of all, this day was waiting for the youth. Aroundthey walked for a long time and cheerfully - there were songs, and round dances, and riding on a large swing. The guys on the "Red Hill" met with the girls. The participation of young people of marriageable age (both sexes) was considered mandatory. Those who refused to walk were given unpleasant and offensive nicknames. They were ridiculed and called "non-travelers". Moreover, refusal to take part in the festivities was considered a very bad omen. People believed that a girl, being of marriageable age and not coming to the festival, would not get married, and a guy, if he did marry, then only the most useless "ugly girl". Misfortune was prophesied to such "untravelable" people.

Wedding time

It is believed that the marriage that took place on the Red Hill holiday is the most successful. According to popular belief, young people who get engaged on this day will never part. In addition, fasting ends at this time and you can afford a real feast for the stomach. Who will refuse a feast for the whole world? On the Red Hill holiday, the wedding necessarily took place to the wedding songs performed by couples who got married this year. Such people were specially called to the celebration. The songs they sang were supposed to attract prosperity, mutual understanding and good luck to young couples. That is why, by the way, “Krasnaya Gorka” is popularly called “Klikushny Sunday” by the people.

Those who sang wedding songs were traditionally given a cup and traditional eggs.

We prepared for Krasnaya Gorka seriously and thoroughly: guests were invited in advance, festive tables were laid - fried eggs were bakedloaves in the form of a circle (symbol of the Sun). And it was on this holiday that it was customary to introduce boys to girls. The youth dressed in the best, most elegant clothes. Numerous guests had the opportunity to appreciate the brides and grooms.

Since the life of farmers depended on the schedule of land work, weddings were played either in autumn or early spring.

How was Krasnaya Gorka?

Now, unfortunately, many customs are simply forgotten. There were probably only feasts left. This holiday used to be a real fun. The festivities usually began with the brides' show, when the girls, dressed in festive attire, walked around the villages, singing songs, giving potential grooms (and, of course, their parents) an opportunity to take a better look at themselves. Only by going around the whole village (and often nearby villages), future daughters-in-law went to the place where the festivities were planned. Guys were in charge of his equipment. They leveled the grounds for dancing and round dances, set up benches, swings, "attractions".

The dance part of the holiday began (opened) with girls' round dances. There were many options, but the themes of the revival of the earth, the sun, and sowing work were always put into the basis. The girls were supposed to look impregnable and chaste. However, this did not last long. Gradually, elements of flirting appear in round dances and games. All this time only girls dance. Guys take a closer look and allow themselves to release compliments, thus showing that they are interested in someone. Rude jokes and asking for kissescome much later, but for now only small liberties can be allowed. For example, to ride girls on a swing. Carousels, runners, giant steps and so-called throws were installed in advance, for Easter. In cities and large villages, large and bright structures were erected, in small ones - simpler. For swings, ordinary boards were often taken. They were fastened with thick ropes to poles or trees. Throws were made from the same boards, but more authentic. The latter were laid on high logs (they are still often used in circus tricks).

Only those girls who were invited by the guys could ride the swing. To prevent the dresses from developing in the wind, the hems were tied at the knees with special belts. Only after that, the girls could get up on the swing (not without the help of the guys). At first, young people fulfilled all the requests of their potential chosen ones: to swing harder, to stop, to roll more quietly. However, later wishes were fulfilled only for a kiss. This was especially true for stopping the swing. On the undershirts with gigantic steps, only the guys showed arrogance. Such a "demonstration performance" required considerable strength, dexterity and the ability to concentrate. Of course, the risk of injury was high, but young people went for it in order to attract the views of girls. Perhaps, among the youth, the Red Hill holiday has always been the most significant.

Signs

Some consider them superstition, others are convinced that the basis of most beliefs is the centuries-old experience of our ancestors. For example, families who got married inthis day should have been the strongest and happiest. By the way, even today, young couples are trying to find out in advance what date Krasnaya Gorka is - many want to not only sign at the registry office, but also get married on that day.

Another belief is connected with the fulfillment of the most cherished desire. It is believed that if one coin is thrown into the well at Krasnaya Gorka, then the wish will certainly come true.

They say that if a guy (girl) does not come to the Red Hill celebration, then fate will definitely turn away from him (her).

On the eve of the "Red Hill" it was customary to wash the icons. This was always done over a basin. Water was not poured out, leaving until the holiday. People believed that those who washed themselves with water from the icon would definitely get rich and live in abundance all year. The ritual, if it was performed, was not told, so as not to frighten off good luck.

Folk traditions are back

Unfortunately, the customs began to fade in the memory of modern people. Not everyone remembers the history of the holiday, its meaning and purpose. But it looks like folk traditions are making a comeback. The Krasnaya Gorka festival in Kolomna is a vivid example. On April 26, in Kolomna, in the Blyudechko square, which is located on the territory of the Kolomna Kremlin, the regional folklore festival Krasnaya Gorka in Kolomna was held, organized by the Ministry of Agriculture economy and food of the Moscow region, the administration of the city of Kolomna, the Danilov Patriarchal Monastery and the Center for the Revival of Traditions. After the Divine Liturgy held in the DormitionCathedral, and the religious procession on the Cathedral began performances of folklore ensembles, folk fun and games. Among the entertainments is the old game of throwing eggs. The main participants, of course, were children and youth. For the amusement of everyone, 10196 eggs were broken, which should be included in the Guinness Book of Records.