Evening on Christmas Eve is the most magical and unusual in the year. Behind the frosted window, the twilight gradually thickens, a dense canvas of snow warms the earth and dips it into a deep sleep. Around unreal silence. But as soon as the shine of the first star appears on the gloomy sky, everyone is happy to realize that the holiday has begun! The closest and native people gather at the same table, in the center of which flaunts the traditional kutya. Unmarried girls run out to the frosty yard before the start of the meal, and the hospitable mistresses drive away evil spirits from the house and attract the well-being of old rituals. But the most interesting begins after the feast. Comes a marvelous Christmas night. From the former silence there is no trace: funny laughter, verses and songs of carols in costumes are audible from everywhere. Tradition with a long history, rooted in Aryan times, is reborn with renewed vigor. Both children and adults across the wide country know how to properly caroling on January 6 and 7, what you need to say in the Old New Year, what symbolic costumes and words to prepare for caroling and giving. And you still do not know? It's time to plunge into the past, go deep into the roots of the Slavic traditions, imbued with past and present, watching a couple of educational videos.
How to properly caroling children at Christmas on January 6 and 7, 2017 and the Old New Year
Caroling is not just an ancient custom, firmly rooted in the people, it is a whole set of traditions that have survived to this day through the space of dozens of generations. In different regions, caroling in different ways: somewhere they go to guests and sing songs on Holy Eve, and somewhere - only in the afternoon. The most desirable carols are boys, boys and men in suits. Women at Christmas before dinner in the house are not allowed to not take away happiness and prosperity. A deep history of the Christmas tradition of caroling begins at the time of the celebration of the ancient pagan celebration of the winter solstice. The great goddess of fertility Kolyada at that time gave birth to a new sun - Bozhich, which ancestors sang in ritual carols. But even at the time of the introduction of Christianity, caroling did not disappear at all, but temporarily lost its relevance. Over the decades, the tradition of caroling revived again, and the pagan meaning of the texts was neatly replaced by the church one.
Today, the rules of caroling have very different outlines than thousands of years ago. Firstly, it is worthwhile to carefully navigate in the dates:
- January 6 (Holy Eve) - caroling
- January 7 (Christmas) - Christmas
- January 13 (Reverend Melania) - to give
- January 14 (Old New Year) - sowing
Secondly, it would not be superfluous to know the traditional carols and songs, and also to prepare suitable suits. A group of carols should consist of at least three people:
- The first is the Zvezdar, bearing the eight-pointed star - the symbol of the birth of Jesus;
- The second is the bell-ringer, who notifies the ringing bell of the approach of the merry company of caroling;
- The third is Mehonosh, carrying a bright sack with accumulated wealth, embroidered with stars and other elements;
- The fourth and subsequent - everyone who wants to carol and sing songs in traditional costumes, of which the company will become louder, more active and more fun;
Undoubtedly, in order not to offend hospitable hosts and not to become obsequious, you need to know how to properly caroling children on January 6 and 7 for Christmas and the Old New Year. By all customs, the first to enter the yard and into the house is a man or a boy. Before you start kolyadovat, guests must certainly ask permission from the owners, and then - bow and thank for the gifts. Candy, gingerbread and other gifts can not be handed over from hand to hand. Generous donors are obliged to put them straight into a bag of carols, not otherwise!
How to carouse at Christmas-2017: beautiful poems and songs for children
In the old days, pagan motifs and Christian overtones were closely interwoven in beautiful poems and songs for children at Christmas. Each stanza in Christmas carols or Christmas songs glorified the birth of Jesus, thanked the Lord and calls to the house to the owners good, peace, love, respect, a rich harvest, well-being. The inhospitable and rude gentlemen were punished with shame and ridicule. After all, caroling - an integral part of the winter holidays, and their refusal, according to popular beliefs - is equal to sin. In turn, everyone who wanted to carouse had to know many beautiful poems and songs to honor every house that met at Christmas and to earn traditional gifts. On a holy night in a corpulent field, Not knowing rest and dreams, Herds, walking in the wild, Paslo family of shepherds. At that moment, from the Heights of Heaven In clothes of glittering, wonderful The angel came down and said: "Do not be afraid, God sent Me!" In the sacred city of Bethlehem He was born today, at this time, the Savior of the world and people! Happy holiday to you! Merry Christmas!
Today the Angel descended to us And sang: "Christ was born!". We came to glorify Christ, And congratulate you on the holiday. Here we go, the shepherds, All sins are forgiven us. To the house is our way, we praise God the Christ.
Heaven and earth, heaven and earth are now triumphant. Angels, people, Angels, people Cheerfully exult. Christ was born, God incarnated, Angels sing, glory is rewarded. Shepherds play, Pastors meet, Miracle, proclaim miracle. In Bethlehem, in Bethlehem, Joy has come! The pure Virgin, the pure Virgin, the Son has generated! Christ was born, God incarnated, Angels sing, glory is rewarded. Shepherds play, Pastors meet, Miracle, proclaim miracle. Today, it's right to caroliate and generously popular among the people, as before, although the ritual has lost its original meaning. In the Christmas songs, in addition to the birth of Jesus, all members of the family are also glorified, to the house of which the carols were granted. Crocheted in costumes perform church and folk songs, for which they receive as a reward treats and coins. According to old customs, all sweets remained caroling, and money was transferred to a temple or an impoverished village family.
How to carolinate for Christmas: which costumes to choose
An ancient folk custom of caroling is especially pleasing to children. But even adults do not mind taking part in an amusing process. After all, caroling is not just a collection of poems and songs. This is truly a sacred action aimed at correctly setting the festive mood and urging the higher powers to help in all undertakings next year. And in order to carols do not turn into ordinary chants, you need to prepare the necessary costumes and traditional attributes. Previously, they went to caroling exclusively in masks and symbolic outfits. This part of the ritual has come from time immemorial. At that time the Slavs were dressed as buffoons, bears, goats, etc. To build a suitable suit for Christmas or the Old New Year in our time, will have to show imagination. For example, glue horns and masks, sew an outfit out of the inside case, properly make a beard.
We should not forget about the important attributes - a star on a long pole, bells, a smart bag and a den. The star, as a rule, master their own hands from cardboard and foil, and after - they put on a handle from a mop or similar element. It's much more difficult to make a small nativity scene. In order not to make up a whole theater of dolls of biblical characters, you can simply purchase small porcelain figurines and attach them to a portable wooden pallet.
How to correctly carol on the Old New Year - what to say?
In contrast to the Holy Evening and Christmas, it is customary not to carouse, but to give encouragement to the Old New Year. In the evening of January 13, young people and children bypass all the houses, sing generosity, desire prosperity to the owners of the house, health to the cattle and abundant harvest in the garden. With the onset of dusk, friendly homeowners opened their doors to women and girls. It was believed that it was the representatives of the weaker sex who could bring prosperity, comfort and full harmony to the house, correctly telling ritual verses and singing songs. And on the morning of January 14, boys, boys and men were sent generously to the Old New Year. They adopted what they had begun, sowing in corn houses with grain and small coins.
If you know how to correctly carol, learn beautiful poems and songs, make suitable suits, be calm: the residents of the oncoming houses will certainly feel your good energy and will generously reward you. But in the most popular ritual kolyadovat and generous for Christmas and the Old New Year is the main thing - not received gifts. A festive mood and the realization that you are continuing a great cause - keep the deep ancient traditions.