Feast of Magpies - the revival of traditions

Spring holiday "Magpies" - 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 introduce children to the rites and traditions of the Russian people.

Holiday of spring birds

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

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

The holiday in the people was called differently: "Magpies", "Larks", "Kuliki", "Teterochny day." The latter name is connected, however, not with birds, but with a special kind of ceremonial biscuits - the theaters produced on the day of the spring solstice in the northern regions of Russia. They have a round, twisted form, since they symbolize the sun.

The tradition of baking at the festival "Magpies" made of dough in the form of the sun or birds was common throughout the country. They were called "larks", "magpies", "waders".

Rites of the holiday "Magpies"

The holiday "Magpies" was considered childish. Children took an active part in making ritual baking. Children and young people were assigned the main role in the performance of festive rites. They had to call for spring, to call it. With baked birds in their hands, the children fled into the field and began to call the larks and spring. To do this, there were special rhymes and songs, vesnyanki. Children, girls and boys were playing dances, singing, playing folk games.

Traditionally, it was necessary to decorate the ritual tree with ribbons, paper flowers, bells. He was worn throughout the village, and then installed in the place where the spring was called. With the holiday is associated a lot of different signs and predictions, determining the weather for 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 him with songs, dances, and rolls.

Holiday "Magpies" - a holiday for children

It's great fun for the kids. In March, celebrating the "Soroki" holiday in kindergarten, educators give children the opportunity to plunge into the atmosphere of ancient traditions, to get acquainted with Orthodox customs, to take part in the invocation of spring themselves. In the process of preparation, the children are told about the holiday, rituals. They learn to make birds from paper and plasticine. Educators learn with ritual songs, rhymes and sayings, introduce them to ancient folk games. Children get 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 a kindergarten?

In the kindergartens where the festival "Soroki" is held, the script includes a story about the signs of the coming spring, natural phenomena, migratory birds. During the narrative, children are introduced to proverbs related to the change of seasons, for example: "In March, the frost is creaky, but not burning", "Spring is in the Afternoon of Red", "Winter is frightening and melts in the spring." Leading, dressed in folk costumes, tell the children how they prepared for the holiday in Russian villages: bake "larks", they taught songs, spring songs.

The children are invited to take part in the spring. Children lead dance, tell poems, sing songs. In the clothes of children you can use the elements of the 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 a bird of dough. They are baked in advance in the kitchen or children prepare their homes with their parents. After the performance of the song-rolls, new characters appear - "Spring" and "Sun". Together with the children they take part in ritual folk games, they lead a round dance. During the game, the children call the birds they know, guess riddles. Moving games involve moving in a circle with the performance of various actions, running, jumping. Among the folk games associated with the traditions of the meeting of the arrival of spring, you can call "Burn, clear," "Brook", the play-round "Vorobushek", "Ptitselov." The holiday ends with a tea party with a sweet treat.

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