Autumn project presents: Christmas Svaha

In Russia, Christmas began to be celebrated in the 10th century. It used to be a quiet and peaceful holiday. Christmas Eve - Schedryj Vecher - was celebrated modestly both in the palaces of Russian emperors and in peasant huts. But the next day started the fun and revelry - the festive season. With songs they went from house to house, organized round dances and dances, dressed as bears, pigs, and various nasty creatures, scared children and girls, and made predictions. And, of course, paid tribute to the "green snake". For greater persuasiveness, scary masks were made from various materials. In villages, the festive season was celebrated all together, moving from hut to hut. But even in cities, Christmas festivities were known for their scale. Common people had fun in the squares, where they set up amusement stalls, carousels, markets, tea and vodka tents. The wealthier people stayed late in restaurants and taverns. Merchants rode troikas. Noble dignitaries held balls. Peter the Great used to entertain himself with festive games. In the royal chambers, everyone dressed up, sang songs, made predictions. The tsar himself with his numerous retinue visited the houses of noble dignitaries and boyars. Everyone had to have fun vigorously - those who looked sour-faced were whipped. Elizabeth Petrovna celebrated the festive season according to ancient Russian customs. The courtiers had to come to the court in costumes, but without masks. The Empress herself often dressed up, most often in men's clothing. The Empress also loved to sing festive songs with the girls. Catherine the Great respected folk pleasures and entertainments and often took part in them. In the Hermitage, they played hide and seek, charades, cats and mice, sang songs, and the Empress danced merrily with peasants. Very few other holidays can be called as cheerful as Christmas and the festive season days, which were celebrated so noisily and cheerfully in Russia. Christmas tree, children's holidays with long-awaited gifts; predictions of young girls turning into a fun pastime. Girls would go out to the gate and ask the name of the first man they met. There was a belief that the future groom would have the same name. Peasant girls made a well-like structure from firewood under their bed, and as they went to sleep, they would say, "Fiance, come for the water." They would put a comb under the pillow, saying three times, "Fiance, the one dressed up, come comb my hair." Mandatory Christmas festivities included masquerades, carnivals, costumed plays, songs, dances, round dances. They paid visits, received guests, arranged to view brides. On Thursday, January 6, Autumn project presents a party. "Christmas Svaha"