A special Russian holiday on July 1 is Yarilina Day, The Crown of summer: history, traditions, omens

On the first day of July, Russia celebrated a special holiday dedicated to the Slavic deity of the sun and fertility — Yarilin Day, or the Crown of Summer. The ancestors believed that at this time Yarilo himself rode through the sky on a white horse, and nature reached the peak of its power. Read about the history, traditions and signs of the celebration in the Izvestia article.

Yaril's day (The Top of summer) on July 1 — what kind of holiday is this

Yarilo is one of the most ancient and revered Slavic gods. Some researchers believe that his cult originated in the 6th century BC, and folk rituals and celebrations dedicated to this deity persisted in many Russian and Belarusian regions until the beginning of the 20th century. It is noteworthy that unlike many pagan holidays that acquired Christian features after the Baptism of Russia, Yaril's Day has not lost its original meaning.

The solar god Yarilo was considered the patron saint of agriculture and cattle breeding, as well as the personification of fertility and love. They prayed to him for a rich harvest, healthy livestock, as well as for a happy marriage and the birth of children. In folk tales, Yarilo is described as a young man with golden hair riding a white horse. In his left hand he holds a bunch of ears of corn, and in his right he holds a club, from which thunderclaps shake the sky.

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The most unusual traditions and mystical rituals of the ancient holiday

In Russia, Yarila was dedicated to two major holidays: March 1 — the beginning of the spring awakening of nature, and July 1 — the Crown of summer, the time when all life "comes to the spring", that is, it begins to bear fruit.

It was believed that the hottest and most productive season began with the Top of summer. Villagers went to the forest for berries, mushrooms and useful herbs, grain ripened in the fields, and the first vegetables were harvested from the beds.

Yarilin Day holiday traditions, The Top of Summer on July 1

The July holiday in honor of Yarila was given special importance. It was called "all days day," and it was customary to celebrate it on a grand scale. Festivities and fairs were held in the villages, which were accompanied by fist fights — "yarilinami games." It was a chance for the young people to demonstrate their strength and agility.

In some regions, special rituals related to fertility were performed. To do this, they chose the most beautiful boy or the most beautiful girl and put them on a horse. The rider had to go around the whole village and the nearby fields so that they would yield a rich harvest. In the evening, young people danced around bonfires and sang songs praising the sun god.

Yaril's day in Russia was considered mystical. According to popular beliefs, the sun slowed down during the holiday, and "holes" appeared in space through which one could look into the other world. They did it this way — they braided birch branches and looked through them at the water, expecting to see the silhouette of a deceased relative or a person from whom there had been no news for a long time.

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Orthodox Christians celebrate the holiday on July 7 every year.

Unmarried girls on Yaril's day were guessing at their betrothed. They wove wreaths and threw them into the river — wherever he floated, the groom would come from there. If the wreath was sinking, they understood that it was not worth waiting for a wedding in the coming year.

What can and cannot be done on Yarilin's day on July 1st

Yarilin's main prohibition of the day concerned negative emotions. To appease the god of fertility, the celebration in his honor was held noisily. They believed that the more fun the celebration was, the richer the harvest would be. Therefore, it was considered a bad omen to be sad, complain about life and refuse to participate in the festivities on July 1.

In addition, it was forbidden to gossip and slander at the Top of the summer — according to beliefs, those who spread rumors risked becoming the object of gossip themselves. It was also forbidden to brag about their achievements or appearance — a proud man could get himself into trouble.

On Yarila, the ancestors did not drink alcohol. It was believed that alcohol negates good thoughts and good deeds, which were an integral part of the holiday.

Folk signs of July 1st

On July 1, Russia paid special attention to omens. Thus, the golden dawn was considered a harbinger of good weather. The abundance of dew in the morning promised a good harvest of millet. If dust rose over the roads, thunderstorms were expected, but if fog was spreading, they understood that the day would be hot. The greenish Moon on Yarila spoke of the approaching drought.

Earlier, Izvestia told about the history, traditions and signs of the Akulina Buckwheat holiday.