Magpie Festival - the revival of traditions

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

Spring holiday "Magpie" is an ancient Slavic tradition associated with the arrival of spring. The celebration of the meeting of the first migratory birds in kindergartens speaks of the desire to revive this Orthodox custom and acquaint children with the rites and traditions of the Russian people.

Spring Bird Festival

The holiday "Magpie" is celebrated according to the folk calendar of the Eastern Slavs on March 22, on the day of the spring equinox. The very name of the holiday is associated with the day of memory of the forty martyrs of Sevastia, celebrated by the Orthodox Church.

However, holiday ceremonies and rituals are not associated with this event, but with the belief that it is on this day that the first migratory birds, larks and waders, return home. They bring spring with them and open the way for all other birds returning from wintering in warm climes. The vernal equinox is the day when winter ends and spring begins, day and night are equal.

The holiday was called differently by the people: "Magpies", "Larks", "Wanderers", "Teterochny Day". Last thingthe name is associated, however, not with birds, but with a special type of ritual cookies - black grouse, made on the day of the spring solstice in the northern regions of Russia. They have a round twisted shape, as they symbolize the sun.

The tradition of baking for the holiday "Magpie" dough products in the form of the sun or birds was spread throughout the country. They called them "larks", "magpies", "waders".

Ceremonies of the holiday "Magpie"

The "Magpie" holiday was considered childish. Children took an active part in the production of ceremonial pastries. Children and youth were assigned the main role in the performance of festive rites. They had to call for spring, call it. With baked birds in their hands, the children ran into the field and began to call for larks and spring. For this, there were special rhymes and spring songs. Children, girls and boys danced, sang and played folk games.

According to tradition, it was necessary to decorate the ritual tree with ribbons, paper flowers, bells. It was worn throughout the village, and then installed in the place where the invocation of spring was held. Many different signs and fortune-telling are associated with the holiday, which determine the weather at the beginning of spring, the beginning of field work, happiness in family life.

In some regions of Russia, traditions are carefully preserved, and the inhabitants of villages and villages celebrate the arrival of spring, meeting it with songs, round dances, chants.

Holiday "Magpie" - children's holiday

This is greatfun for kids. Celebrating the Magpie holiday in kindergarten in March, educators give children the opportunity to plunge into the atmosphere of ancient traditions, get acquainted with Orthodox customs, and take part in inviting spring themselves. In the process of preparation, children are told about the holiday, rituals. They learn how to make birds out of paper and plasticine. Educators learn ritual songs, rhymes and sayings with children, introduce them to old folk games. Children gain knowledge about the history of their country, the traditions of the Russian people, get acquainted with the names of birds, natural phenomena.

How can you spend a holiday in kindergarten?

In kindergartens where the Magpie holiday is held, the scenario includes the story of the hosts about the signs of the coming spring, natural phenomena, migratory birds. In the course of the story, children get acquainted with sayings related to the change of seasons, for example: “In March, the frost is creaky, but not burning,” “Spring is red during the day,” “Winter scares spring, but melts itself.” The hosts, dressed in folk costumes, tell the children about how they prepared for the holiday in Russian villages: they baked "larks", taught spring songs.

Children are invited to take part in the call of spring. Children lead a round dance, tell poems, sing songs. In children's clothes, you can use elements of a Russian festive costume. One of the stages of the holiday is the decoration of the ritual tree with silk and paper ribbons, flowers.

Children are given dough birds. They are baked in advance in the kitchen orchildren cook them at home with their parents. After the performance of the songs-chants, new characters appear - "Spring" and "The Sun". Together with children, they take part in ritual folk games, lead a round dance. During the game, children name birds known to them, guess riddles. Outdoor games involve movement in a circle with the performance of various actions, running, jumping. Among the folk games associated with the traditions of welcoming the arrival of spring, one can name "Burn, burn brightly", "Brook", the round dance game "Sparrow", "Birdcatcher". The holiday ends with a tea party with a sweet treat.

The "Magpie" holiday helps children and their parents not to forget the traditions of their people, arouses interest in Russian folklore, old traditions, gives a good mood.