Many celebrations celebrated to this day have pagan roots. We are talking about holidays celebrated in Russia and other Orthodox countries, as well as in Europe and the rest of the world.
Pagan roots of Christian holidays in Russia
Most significant Christian holidays are somehow tied to the dates of pagan festivities. And, I must say, the religious calendar for the most part coped with its task, firmly displacing in the public consciousness the ancient origins of most holidays. True, some of their elements still remained.
For example, in many Russian villages, especially in the south of the country, the custom of caroling for Christmas has been preserved. This tradition is similar to the western one, tied to Halloween - the mummers (mostly children) go home and beg for refreshments. True, in Russia she is supposed to sing for a treat. And this custom dates back to the ancient holiday, celebrated in honor of Kolyada - one of the hypostases of the Slavic god of the sun. Of course, from pagan times the tradition of fortune telling during this period remained.
Another hypostasis of the sun is summer, Kupala. Once Kupala day was tied to the summer solstice. It was customary to guess, walk, dance, collect grass, weave wreaths and jump over the fire that day. This is one of the most striking pagan Slavic holidays, which is celebrated by many to this day. True, the sun-Kupala turned into Ivan. In Christianity, this holiday was tied to the birth of John the Baptist.
Pancake week in Christianity is the "cheese week" preceding Lent.
And another holiday that has remained almost unchanged since pagan times is, of course, Pancake Week. This is an ancient Slavic custom of seeing off winter and meeting the spring sun. It is the sun that symbolizes the pancakes that the furnace relies on Shrovetide. And, of course, a completely pagan custom that is still observed in many Russian cities and villages - burning a scarecrow of winter.
