What is ritual folklore?First of all, it is folk art, collective or individual, oral, less often written. Folklore style of communication between people usually did not suggest emotions. It expressed the thoughts and desires associated with certain events and dedicated to them. Therefore, ceremonies are mainly composed of songs, lamentations, family stories, lullabies, wedding praises. Occasional conspiracies, spells and spells, counts and hexes are considered a separate category.
What is ritual folklore in a broader understanding
This is a small artwork relatedwith traditions, customs, religious and ethnographic genres. It should be noted that in all cases the rites are signs of a national character. At the same time modernity is blurred. Old traditions with customs best fit in the past tense.
The spectrum of folk rites is quite wide.This is a village choreography, choral singing in nature, during field work, haying or grazing. Since traditional customs were constantly present in the lives of ordinary people, the ritual folklore of the Russian people was and remains an integral part of their existence. The appearance of customs is always associated with long-term circumstances. Continuing drought threatening the harvest, can be a reason for people to turn to God for help. Any natural phenomena that are dangerous to humans also make him look for a way out of this situation. And most often it is prayers and requests, candles and little notes in churches.
Many rites and ritual folklore generally haveritual and magical meaning. They form the basis of behavioral norms in society, and sometimes even acquire features of a national character. This fact testifies to the depth of folkloric values, which means enduring values.
Folk rites are divided into labor,holiday, family and love spells. Russians are closely intertwined with the folklore of other Slavic peoples. And besides, they are often typologically connected with the population of some countries located on the other side of the world. The interrelationship of various cultures at first glance is often due to a historically established analogy.
Holiday of Ivan Kupala
Обрядовый народный фольклор в России всегда был self-sufficient and did not need water from the outside. The originality of Russian traditions and customs not only passed from generation to generation, but also grew in new rituals, often exotic. The most prominent folk rite is the feast of Ivan Kupala. This rite has pagan roots. On the night of Ivan Kupala, high bonfires were kindled, and each of those present had to jump over the fire. It was not always possible, there was a danger of falling and burning.
It was customary to perform on Ivana Kupala at night.ritual atrocities, stealing livestock from neighbors, ruining hives, stomping vegetable gardens and firmly bolstering the doors in the huts with sticks so that the residents could not get out. The motives of all these actions are still unclear. The next day, outraged fellow villagers again became balanced citizens.
Song Rite
Significant place in Russian ritual folkloretakes poetry, which can be divided into song (spells, korilnye, great songs) and magic (love spells, sentences, lamentations).
Songs spells turned to nature, askedwell-being in household and family affairs. The majestic sang on holidays, at the Maslenitsa, kolyada and other celebrations. Corile chants were mocking.
Rites and calendar
Along with others, in Russia there was a ritualcalendar-type folklore, which was directly related to agricultural work in the broadest sense. Calendar-ritual songs are the most ancient folk art, historically formed over the long years of peasant labor in the field and on haymaking.
Сельскохозяйственный календарь, распорядок field work on the seasons is a kind of program of the song genre. Melodies are all folk, born for the plow, harrow and weeding. The words are simple, but in this song poetry lay the whole gamut of human experiences, hope for good luck, anxious expectations, uncertainty, alternating with glee. Nothing unites people more than a common goal for all, be it harvest or choral singing. Social values inevitably take some form. In this case, it is folklore and with it Russian rituals, traditions and customs.
Folklore by the seasons
Songs spring ritual repertoire soundedfun. They look like jokes, reckless and impudent. The tunes of the summer months seemed deeper, they were sung with a sense of accomplishment, but, as it were, with secret expectations of a miracle - a good harvest. In the fall, sometimes as a harvest, ritual songs rang out like a taut string. People did not relax for a minute, otherwise you will not have time to collect everything before the rains.
Reason for fun
And when the bins were full, it was hereBegan national fun, chastochka, round dances, dances and weddings. The ritual folklore of the calendar phase of intense labor gradually turned into festivities and a free life with feasts. The youth looked to each other, made new acquaintances. And here traditional customs were not forgotten, the ritual folklore of the Russian people "rose to its full height." In the huts, fortune-telling began on the connoisseur-ryazhenykh, the girls burned candles for hours and swayed rings on thin threads. The skids and felt boots rushed over his shoulder, a whisper could be heard in the upper room.
Christmas carols
What is ritual folklore in terms ofreligion? The Christmas holiday is considered to be one of the most traditional in Russia. It immediately follows the New Year. It is believed that as you spend this holiday, and this will be the whole year. Christmas, some believe the beginning of the new year. This is the main Russian religious event. January 6, on Christmas Eve, caroling began. These are holiday rounds of houses and apartments with songs and sacks full of grain. Children usually go caroling. Everyone wants to get a pie or a handful of sweets from their hosts in response to the holiday greetings.
Самый старший в процессии колядующих обычно несет on the pole "Star of Bethlehem", which appeared in heaven when Jesus Christ was born. The hosts who came to the carols should not skimp on the gifts to the children, otherwise they will have to listen to the comic reproaches of the kids.
Main night of the year
A few days after Christmas cameThe New Year (today we call it the Old New Year), which was also accompanied by folklore rites. People wished each other happiness, long life and every success in business. Congratulations were presented in the form of short carols. Folk rites were also "podklyudnye" songs that accompanied fortune telling after midnight. That's what the ritual folklore on New Year's Eve is!
And when winter is ending, its time comeswires - and people take to the streets to meet Shrovetide. This is a time of funny folk rituals of winter with riding on threes, with races on squeaky sleds, with games on skates with clubs. The fun continues until dark, and in the late evening the whole family sits down at the stove and remembers the last holiday. During such gatherings, they sang songs, ditched chants, played games. This is also the ritual family folklore of the Russian people. It includes family stories, wedding songs, lullabies, lamentations, and much more.
