There are public holidays in any country. But also each nation has its own holidays, which came from the depth of centuries, remembered by their traditions. Folk festivals are of great importance for the whole state, and for every family. In the old days, people said: "We work hard for a whole year so that during the holidays we can have a good rest and have fun."
The most famous and revered folk festivals in Russia are, of course, the winter Christmas, the spring Maslenitsa, which marks the arrival of warm days, the bright Easter holiday, the summer Trinity and the day of Ivan Kupala. Many of them are associated with nature, its awakening, flowering, harvesting a rich harvest. On a holiday, people felt especially brightly the fullness of life, inner unity with each other, a special attitude of the world. And, of course, all national holidays were permeated with a number of customs, traditions, rituals.
It is impossible to imagine a snowy Christmas without the carols songs with which the mummers walked around the village. Entering each house, they wished the owners well-being and prosperity, and in return received a generous treat. As well as on New year, the fur-tree brightly decorated, and also baked "козули" - very tasty cookies in the form of different pets. They were treated to neighbors and all friends. Whoever will "eat" the goat, the whole year will have the positive qualities of this animal.
What Russian man did not hear about the wide Maslenitsa with its songs, dances, fairs, dances? On Pancake week it was possible to taste the most delicious pancakes with various fillings, to ride from the slides on the sledges, and on the last day of the Shrovetide week the straw dummy was burned - so was the victory of spring over the boring winter.
Easter is perhaps the most famous religious festival. On this day in all houses cakes and Easter curds are baked, eggs are painted waiting for the end of Lent. On the Holy Trinity of the house, courtyards, temples are decorated with flowers, freshly mown grass, birch branches. It was on this day that unmarried girls wove wreaths, and then wondered at them, trying to find out their fate. And the holiday of Ivan Kupala was marked by fun and mass festivities. On this day it was customary to burn bonfires until the morning, and then jump through them, pour water on each other, throw wreaths at the fire.
By value the most important holiday was Easter. Great - all the other holidays listed. There were also so-called "half-holidays", in each village, which marked the beginning or end of peasant work.
And, of course, folk festivals meant rest for the body and soul, that is, complete freedom from hard work. Mowing, harvesting, spinning, sewing, sweeping a hut, chopping wood was considered impermissible. People dressed their best outfits, went to visit each other, had fun, attended fairs, watched performances of booths and puppet theaters. For non-observance of the holiday etiquette, and could be severely punished: for example, to fix a fine, or even wholly publicly whip in the square.
Here they are, people's holidays in Russia!