Long before the arrival of Christianity in the lands of Kievan Rus, our ancestors celebrated in late December, two important holiday Karatchoun and Kolyada. What kind of holidays? Why they were so important to the pagan Rus? What can and can not do these days? Read on Kolobok.ua
Kolyada - the ancient Slavic festival of the winter solstice and the name of the deity of the ancient Slavs. Kolyada Christmas symbolizes the cycle and is associated with the birth and the name of the young winter-sun god, who was born on the shortest night of the year - from 21 to 22 December.Although the holidays are long gone into oblivion, we are reminded of the Kolyada Christmas carols, which the children sing at Christmas. Moreover Karatchoun Koliada and a reason found in the calendar about Catholic Christmas.
What is Karatchoun?
To begin, let's say that the 21 and 22 December - the difficult days in nature. This period the winter solstice, the longest night and shortest day of the year. After December 22, by the way - is the date of the Orthodox feast Conception of the Blessed Virgin Righteous Annaand People - Anna Winter - begins the gradual addition of a sunny day. The proverb says: winter - the cold, and the sun - in the summer. Our ancestors, the Slavs, always pay attention to the natural phenomena and living in accordance with the laws of nature. For our ancestors, as well as for the whole of nature December 22 - New Year is in the nature when the old outlived her, and there comes a time of new life.
Our ancestors were very close to nature and all natural phenomena, they feared, and very honored. The brightest they built a cult. That was the winter solstice, which accounted for approximately 21 - 22 of December. Slavs relied on astronomical calendar and fixed the date of this day had not.
In Karatchoun on Earth advancing the longest night. It was for our ancestors the worst day of the year, or rather - the night when, according to the beliefs of the dark spirits have the strongest force there is the eternal struggle between light and darkness, between good and evil.
According to the beliefs of the Slavs, Karachun - god Winter brace, the shortest day, the god of death and destruction of all living things. Although it sounds scary, our ancestors worshiped it. It was believed that Karatchoun «friends» with the rest of the gods. And death - not an end but a transition to the next stage. On this night, we believed that the line between good and evil is very thin. In Karatchoun sun "dies", "go underground" to born "new". So leaving all that afraid of the sun - the evil filled settlement. And the spirits of ancestors went down to see how they live their descendants: the truth or not? Slavs were very careful in the night from 21 to 22 December.
Karatchoun - lunar day nakaNune Kolyada. They did not celebrate. Only perform the ritual to purify the house and soul. Two weeks before Karachun our ancestors had to pay it back, also commits the post - cleansing the body from within. Family was required in the bath to clean the outer shell. The Slavs were supposed to get rid of negative thoughts. Spent cleaning the house, we repaired all the broken, get rid of the trash, home decorated, because 20 of all the preparations for Kolyada had to be completed.
On the eve of Karachun women baked bread in the shape of a sun, "pulling" him. And Karatchoun brought gifts to him «cajole». After all, without good Karachun not come Kolyada.
How come Kolyada?
After the worst night of the year when "died" the sun, «was born» Young sun. Kolyada - is the Sun-Child, a very revered god in Slavic mythology. Do values "Kolyada" there are many interpretations, one of them - from the word "kolo". And the celebration is similar to Christmas. But first things first.
According Slavic mythology Karatchoun evil spirits interfere Kolyady birth, Young Sun god. They come to kill the baby. On the night of the winter sun break Slavs feared celebrating Kolyada. Only magicians performed special rites, which did not allow the evil spirits to reach the sun. Closer to the December 25 to join the magicians and lay people, when it was clear - Young Sun "won" evil.
The holiday itself early in the morning a man walked into the woods to look for dry wood - badnjak. Wood brought to the village, decorated with ribbons. This tree was seen off by the past, so it is burned in the evening. But before the ceremony badnjak "fed and watered" to thank the past. On Kolyada, as well as on Kupala, Ignited a fiery wheel. Only to bathe him thrown into the river, and Kolyada wheel raised high for all to see - the sun is now rising higher and higher. And, of course, singing carols.
This tradition has converted to Christianity. Dressed Kolyadniki Kolyada singing hymns to God, and the owner of the house wanted to generous year and good luck. Owners rewarded Kolyadniki. It was believed that if they wish you the poverty, it will come true. It was considered a bad omen if Kolyadniki bypassed house party - it was believed that happiness for a year will get a family, so Kolyadniki strongly touted in the house and tried to treat better.
On this day, nobody worked, Slavs celebrated the great holiday - New Year. After advancing Kolyada Christmas time, which lasted roughly until 6 January. From now on, the Slavs know - be spring, so sang the "birth" of the sun and waiting for spring.
Then on the land of the Slavs Christianity came. Karatchoun Kolyada and replaced on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. A new calendar moved it from December to January, so in modern Orthodox Church calendar we celebrate Christmas, Kolyada and Christmas time in January. A birth of a new sun and the New Year in nature and have remained, as in ancient times - in December.
You will also be interested to know it is interesting how the Ukrainians celebrate Christmas and New Year in the past century.
