How Krasnaya Gorka was held in the past
The history of the Red Hill holiday dates back to the times of Kievan Rus.
There is even an opinion that they knew about it even before the advent of Christianity. It is celebrated on the Sunday that follows Easter. In some regions, the Red Hill holiday has been moved to the Monday or Saturday that follows or before the day following Easter Sunday. Now Red Hill is sometimes called Antipascha. But in this case, “anti” does not mean “against,” but “instead of.” The Church is rather cool about this holiday, explaining that Red Hill contains elements of paganism. It is believed that before the advent of Christianity, our ancestors celebrated the arrival of spring this way.
The name of this holiday is most likely due to the fact that the hills and slides are the first to appear from under the snow that has already begun to melt. And the word “red” sometimes meant “beautiful”, and not a color at all. Since previously hills were often burial mounds and burial grounds, bonfires were burned on the tops of the deceased on this day in memory of the dead. It is from this tradition that the very name of the holiday comes, as well as the attitude towards it as a memorial day.
In the old days, Krasnaya Gorka was a very cheerful holiday, but now only the tradition of setting the table and inviting guests, who should be fed heartily and tasty and entertained at the table, has been preserved. In the old days, this holiday began with brides' viewings, girls went from house to house, sang songs, trying to show themselves off to the boys and their parents. Often they walked around not only their village, but also all that were nearby.
By the time they returned, a place for walking was ready with dancing, swings, round dances and other entertainment available at that time for young people. The celebrations on Krasnaya Gorka were long, until dawn, and noisy. There are many signs that have survived to this day. Signs on Krasnaya Gorka can teach you what to do to get married, get wealth and good luck.
What holiday is it
Red Hill is a pagan holiday of fun, joy, the victory of spring over a long, harsh winter. The Eastern Slavs considered this day the beginning of spring and the birth of a new life for all nature.
In Rus', Gorka was celebrated on the first Sunday following Easter. It was a special day, for which the housewives diligently prepared: they baked lush loaves and rosy pies, and cooked scrambled eggs. Interestingly, the prepared dishes always had a round “sun” shape, which symbolically recalled the beginning of the life cycle.
The holiday was celebrated on a grand scale: with mass festivities and celebrations, bonfires with round dances and bride fairs, invocations of spring and cheerful songs. Among other things, this holiday carried its own symbol - the meeting of new love, the birth of a new family.
Krasnaya Gorka was considered a holiday mainly for girls; it was the first spring celebration of young girls. Although it was impossible to celebrate this day without the brave young men - all the young people put on their best smart clothes and went to get to know each other at the celebration, to seek their own happiness.
The celebration took place on the hills, where the snow melted first and fresh green grass appeared, hence the popular name of the holiday - “red” (that is, beautiful) hill.
Every unmarried girl and every single guy, already ready to start a family by age, was obliged to take part in the Gorka celebration. Avoiding participation in a mass celebration was condemned by public opinion, caused ridicule and was even considered a great sin, followed by severe punishment, celibacy, childlessness or early widowhood.
Signs for Krasnaya Gorka to get married
In the old days, unmarried girls and unmarried boys were forbidden to stay at home on Krasnaya Gorka.
It was believed that an unmarried person should take part in public festivities, otherwise he would never be able to get married, and if he found a couple, it would not be the first handsome man, not the most economical girl or a person without a dowry. Those sitting at home on such a holiday were also promised early widowhood or an unhappy family life. The fact is that in the distant past, Krasnaya Gorka was the day of matchmaking. As mentioned above, girls and boys met at this time, showed themselves and got married. During the festivities it was not difficult to find a partner. Therefore, if you sit through such a favorable time for organizing your personal life, you can really be left alone, because all the eligible bachelors will most likely be snatched up by their girlfriends.
Now this is not so relevant, because single people have more opportunities for dating than our ancestors had. For some, in order to find their betrothed, it is enough to go to a dating site. But still, the sign of Krasnaya Gorka will help you take the first step towards getting married. In many cities, this holiday is celebrated taking into account ancient traditions and only slightly modifying the celebration in a modern way. If you are single, you should not miss this chance to find your soulmate.
Customs and conspiracies
On this day, it is customary to put on mourning attire and go to the cemetery with various sweets, drinks and food.
After tribute has been paid, you can change into formal attire and celebrate. There is another old ritual: all the senior women of the village gathered in the square and walked along the streets, and when the young couple saw them, they began to invite them to their place. The women sang and approached them.
The singers were given an egg and a piece of pie. This meant prosperity in the young people’s house, and that they would be happy even to uninvited guests. In some regions of Rus', for singing, the newlyweds had to not only feed, but also pour a glass.
The girls were especially looking forward to this day, since it was on Krasnaya Gorka that they could meet their betrothed. The man who doused the girl with water must have wooed her. Otherwise, all family members had the right to beat him.
All the unmarried girls, singing songs, walked to the edge of the village. There they were met by three women with a plow and three old women with an icon of the Mother of God. The young people had to remove the scarves from their heads and undo their braids.
After which several women held the plow from different sides so that they could walk around the entire village with it. A cross was made at every intersection. It was believed that in this way people protect their place of residence from the negative influence of dark forces. The old women, carrying the icon, prayed.
It was necessary to make one circle around the territory of the village. After which the women gathered and began to walk. The holiday lasted only until sunrise, since the ancestors were sure that it was a sin to walk after the roosters crowed.
A very popular tradition was when all the unmarried girls and unmarried guys gathered in a large clearing in the evening. Among them was an adult lady, everyone’s godfather. She began to sing a song, and all the girls who were present during the ceremony joined in.
As the rain begins to fall outside, the round dance of red girls arrives. Oh, you girls, play! Don't you single people look! You can’t take girls by looking at them, how can you take them, or take them out of love, which is by father’s command, by mother’s blessing.
Kuma starts singing the first line with the first group of girls, and the second one answers them.
- And we sowed millet. Oh, Did-Lado, they sowed. - And we will trample down the millet. Oh, Did-Lado, let's trample it down. - What should you trample with? Oh, Did-Lado, trample? “And we’ll let the horses out.” Oh, Did-Lado, we'll let you out. - And we’ll take over the horses. Oh, Did-Lado, let's take over. - What should you adopt? Oh, Did-Lado, should I adopt it? - We have a silken reason. Oh, Did-Lado, a reason. - And we will buy the horses. Oh, Did-Lado, let's buy it. - What should you buy it with? Oh, Did-Lado, should I buy it? - And we’ll give you a hundred rubles. Oh, Did-Lado, a hundred rubles. “We don’t need even a thousand.” Oh, Did-Lado, and thousands. - What do you need? Oh, Did-Lado, is it necessary? - We need a girl. Oh, Did-Lado, girl.
While the charming girl from the second group goes to the first, they sing:
- Our regiment has disappeared. Oh, Did-Lado, it's gone. - Our regiment has arrived. Oh, Did-Lado, it has arrived.
Wedding on Krasnaya Gorka - signs
A wedding on Krasnaya Gorka, if you believe the signs, will be very successful. In the old days, at this time they not only engaged in matchmaking, but also played weddings. It is believed that previously the best time for this was autumn, but early spring also had its popularity as a time for marriage.
Marriages that will be concluded on Krasnaya Gorka promise to be strong and reliable. By setting a wedding date for this time, you will create a strong and friendly family and live together for a long time without quarrels or betrayals. The likelihood of divorce among couples who got married on Krasnaya Gorka is much lower than among those who set their wedding date on another day.
Even nowadays, many couples try to get married on Krasnaya Gorka. Some of them strive not only to sign at the registry office, but also consider this holiday the best time for a wedding in a church. This day plays a big role in the lives of many people who want to start a family and take into account numerous wedding signs and superstitions.
Red Hill 2021: when will the holiday be
As one of the moving holidays, Red Hill (called Antipascha, Fomino Sunday) does not have a fixed date, and is celebrated on its own day every year. To calculate the holiday number, as for other celebrations, you need to know the exact date of Easter - in 2021 it falls on May 2. Therefore, when the Easter celebration takes place, Antipascha occurs on the following Sunday.
In 2021, the Red Hill holiday will be celebrated on May 9.
Other signs and traditions on Krasnaya Gorka
In the old days, on this day, people made a wish on a coin and then threw it into a well, believing that this would help the wish come true. Nowadays it is quite difficult to find a well in the city, so coins are thrown into ponds and fountains, and a wish is also made on them. On this day, people usually make wishes that are related to personal and family life.
On the eve of Red Hill, our ancestors washed icons. This was done over a basin, because the water should not be poured out in vain. They washed themselves with it after the holiday arrived in order to become rich and successful. You cannot talk about this small ritual, otherwise you can scare off wealth and good luck, especially if you answer the question of how you managed to organize your affairs this way. It is believed that if you do not keep this secret, everything you have acquired will disappear like water through your fingers.
You can follow this tradition, especially if your icons will not be damaged by water on their surface. If you do not live alone, wash all members of your family, starting with the youngest and ending with yourself. You should not wash those older than you, it attracts poverty. It is best if the eldest in the family washes the icons.
You should find time for prayer on Krasnaya Gorka. Of course, you can pray at any time, but it is believed that on this holiday, prayers are heard not only by higher powers, but also by the souls of deceased relatives who can help. Therefore, it is better to pray not only for your health, but also for the health of your entire family. In some regions, it is customary to go to the cemetery on Krasnaya Gorka, to commemorate and visit deceased relatives - funeral signs for this day are also varied.
It is believed that the one born on Krasnaya Gorka will alleviate the suffering of people.
In general, this day is a bright holiday, which, according to all signs, is best spent on the street, communicating with family, loved ones and friends, as well as making new acquaintances, and you should not miss such a chance in any case, even if you and do not pay enough attention to superstitions.
history of the holiday
After the adoption of Christianity in Rus', this holiday was called St. Thomas Sunday and Antipascha. Thomas, a former fisherman and one of the 12 apostles, did not believe in the Resurrection of Jesus. Then the Savior appeared to him.
Believers do not condemn Thomas for unbelief, because he did not doubt Jesus, but only waited to meet him in reality in order to be convinced of the Resurrection. From the name of this apostle the expression “unbeliever Thomas” originated.
“Antipascha” means the expression “instead of Easter,” that is, the celebration of spring before the adoption of Orthodoxy in Rus'.
Interesting! There is another explanation for the name of this holiday. On the day of Red Hill, colored boiled eggs were rolled from a hill. It was believed that if the egg rolled to the bottom and did not break, the owner would be happy and rich for the rest of the year.
Lubomir
The Slavic ancestors had the concept of any world - the spiritual unification of 2 tribal communities. This still applies today. At the end of summer, during the Lubomir wedding holiday, marriages were illuminated. This is a semblance of a modern wedding, some traditions of which are still in effect today.
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The Lubomir wedding lasted 2 days. At the western part of the table there were relatives and elders from both clans. The eastern one could be occupied by guests. The newlyweds were in the center. With paganism they began to shout “Bitter!” The guests were indignant about the bitter hops and wanted it to be sweetened with the newlyweds' sweet drink.
Traditionally, the week starting from Krasnaya Gorka is dedicated to weddings. These days, newlyweds in Rus' tie themselves together
ties of marriage, get married and have weddings.
By this day, Great Lent had ended, Easter and Bright Week had been celebrated - the holiday week after it. Antipascha and Red Hill have arrived - the first Sunday after Easter. People were spiritually and physically renewed, prepared for eternal life and procreation. Why not get married, get married, have a wedding, have a wedding?
Krasnaya Gorka - the story of Antipascha and the week of Thomas the Unbeliever.
In the Christian world, Red Hill is better known as Antipascha, St. Thomas Day and the subsequent St. Thomas week. Antipascha does not mean a contradiction with Easter, but indicates that this day is the first day opposite Easter Sunday.
On this day, the Apostle Thomas, who did not believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ according to the stories of the other apostles, to whom the Lord appeared the day before, saw Christ with his own eyes and believed in his Bright Resurrection. He felt Christ's wounds and listened to his command about the bliss of those who did not see, but believed. Thus, the people's Red Hill, Antipascha and St. Thomas Day became for all Christians on the planet a symbol of the revival of a new Eternal Life, the Kingdom of the Lord and the Triumph of Faith. And Thomas himself was nicknamed Thomas the Unbeliever.
Why are weddings on Krasnaya Gorka in the traditions of the Russian people?
It is no wonder that people chose this important week for all living people for weddings and weddings, as a continuation of their faith in the birth of a new life.
In this, the symbolism of divine rebirth and the conception of a new life in a newly formed family are intertwined. In addition, a folk tradition from the pagan depths is intertwined here, symbolizing the triumph of nature renewed in spring. On Krasnaya Gorka it was customary to dance in circles and play fun games, rejoicing and having fun with all their might in an elevated mountainous place free from melted snow. The symbolism of rebirth, in this case the rebirth of nature, was not alien to the pagan ancient Slavs. This is where the proverb comes from: “Krasnaya Gorka invites you to get married.”
The modern church does not reject this ancient feature of the Russian people, and for churchgoers, weddings on Krasnaya Gorka are acceptable and even welcomed. When, if not on Antipascha, and the subsequent week of St. Thomas, should we begin a new Life.
Wedding and church wedding ceremonies.
According to church rites, weddings take place in the church.
The bride and groom prepare ahead of time for the sacrament of marriage, confess the day before, receive the blessing of the priest for the wedding and wedding, and call guests.
The procedure and sacrament of the wedding itself, in the shadow of the church, according to church custom, takes place in a festive atmosphere. Prayers are read over the newlyweds; they walk around the temple wearing wedding crowns and holding wedding icons in their hands. The priest, blessing the marriage, anoints them with oil and gives prayerful instructions for life together. A person who has been married once cannot be married twice. This sacrament is performed once in the life of the newlyweds together. Only widowers and widows or people divorced under a special charter due to compelling reasons have the right to remarry. So, before you get married or get married and then get married, think carefully about this step. If you get a civil divorce and remarry, then according to the Church you will begin to live in sin. A wedding is a union made in heaven, it is given for life.
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