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Green Week
Green week, or the green holidays, is a traditional Slavic seasonal festival celebrated in early June. It is closely linked with the cult of the dead and the spring agricultural rites. In Eastern European villages, the seven weeks following Easter have historically been a time of festivity. Green week takes place during the seventh week leading up to the Pentecost, and includes the seventh Thursday after Easter, called Semik. The green week is followed by Trinity week, also known as the holiday of the Trinity in Eastern Christianity. It is also widely known as Whitsuntide week in the English-speaking world, especially Great Britain, and is inaugurated by the celebrations of Trinity Sunday, the Sunday of Pentecost in Eastern Christianity. Observance In Russia on Semik (the Thursday of the green week), funeral rites are held for the unclean dead (those who had died before their time). Birch trees are particularly significant, because they are considered hosts for the souls o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lubok
A ''lubok'' (plural ''lubki''; ) is a Russian popular print, characterized by simple graphics and narratives derived from literature, religious stories, and popular tales. ''Lubki'' prints were used as decoration in houses and inns. Early examples from the late 17th and early 18th centuries were woodcuts, followed by engravings or etchings, and from mid-19th century lithography. They sometimes appeared in series, which might be regarded as predecessors of the modern comic strip. Cheap and simple books, similar to chapbooks, which mostly consisted of pictures, are called lubok literature (). Both pictures and literature are commonly referred to simply as ''lubki''. The Russian word ''lubok'' derives from ''lub'' - a special type of board (secondary phloem) on which pictures were printed. Background Russian ''lubki'' became a popular genre during the last half of the 17th century.Dianne Ecklund Farrell, Farrell, Dianne Ecklund. "Medieval Popular Humor in Russian Eighteenth-Century ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kostroma (tradition)
Kostroma () is an East Slavic fertility goddess. Her name is derived from костёр (kostyor), the Russian word for "bonfire". The rites of Semik were devoted to her. During this festival a disguised girl or a straw figure portrayed Kostroma. First, a scarecrow was honored and revered. Then, participants of the rite mourned the death of Kostroma, and burned or tore the scarecrow. Rituals with Kostroma were aimed at improving soil fertility. The scarecrow of Kostroma is part of East Slavic folklore. Mythology There is a Slavic myth about Kostroma and Kupalo. According to the myth, Kupalo and Kostroma were twins. Their parents were Simargl, the god of fire, and Kupalnitsa, goddess of the night. They were born on the summer solstice. In honor of their birthday, Perun gave Kupalo and Kostroma a Fern flower, but they presented it to people as a sign of the unity of the human world and the world of gods. Once, Kostroma and Kupalo ran into a field (or to the riverbank) to lis ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tilia
''Tilia'' is a genus of about 30 species of trees or bushes, native throughout most of the temperateness, temperate Northern Hemisphere. The tree is known as linden for the European species, and basswood for North American species. In Great Britain and Ireland they are commonly called lime trees, although they are not related to the citrus Lime (fruit), lime. The genus occurs in Europe and eastern North America, but the greatest species diversity is found in Asia. Under the Cronquist system, Cronquist classification system, this genus was placed in the family Tiliaceae, but genetic research summarised by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group has resulted in the incorporation of this genus, and of most of the previous family, into the Malvaceae. ''Tilia'' is the only known ectomycorrhizal genus in the family Malvaceae. Studies of ectomycorrhizal relations of ''Tilia'' species indicate a wide range of fungal symbionts and a preference toward Ascomycota fungal partners. Description ''T ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pentacost Odessa 01
Pentecost (also called Whit Sunday, Whitsunday or Whitsun) is a Christian holiday which takes place on the 49th day (50th day when inclusive counting is used) after Easter. It commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles of Jesus, Mary, and other followers of the Christ, while they were in Jerusalem celebrating the Feast of Weeks, as described in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 2:1–31). Pentecost marks the "Birthday of the Church". Pentecost is one of the Great feasts in the Eastern Orthodox Church, a Solemnity in the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church, a Festival in the Lutheran Churches, and a Principal Feast in the Anglican Communion. Many Christian denominations provide a special liturgy for this holy celebration. Since its date depends on the date of Easter, Pentecost is a "moveable feast". The Monday after Pentecost is a legal holiday in many European, African and Caribbean countries. Etymology The term ''Pentecost'' comes from . One of the meanings ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Koliva
Koliva, also spelled, depending on the language, kollyva, kollyba, kolyvo, or colivă, is a dish based on boiled wheat that is used liturgically in the Eastern Orthodox Church for commemorations of the dead. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, Koliva is blessed during funerals, as well as during the memorial service (''mnemosyno'') that is performed at various intervals after a person's death and on special occasions, such as the Saturday of Souls (). It may also be used on first Friday of the Great Lent, at Slavas, or at ''mnemosyna'' in the Christmas meal. In some countries, though not in Greece (and Cyprus), it is consumed on nonreligious occasions as well. A similar food item is widely popular in Lebanon where it is known as ''snuniye'' and, more commonly, as ''berbara'' as it is prepared for Saint Barbara's feast day, December 4, which is celebrated with Halloween-like festivities. In Ethiopia also similar food is popular specially with the Orthodox Christian community, it ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Knish
A knish or knysh ( or , ) is a traditional food of Eastern European origin, characteristic of Ukrainian and Ashkenazi Jewish cuisine. It typically consists of a filling covered with dough that is baked or sometimes deep fried. In most traditional versions, the filling is made entirely of mashed potato, kasha ( buckwheat groats), or cheese. Other varieties of fillings include beef, chicken, sweet potatoes, black beans, or spinach. Knishes may be round, rectangular, or square. They may be entirely covered in dough, or some filling may peek out of the top. Sizes range from those that can be eaten in a single bite hors d'oeuvre to sandwich-sized. Etymology Knish (קניש) is a Yiddish word of Slavic origin, related to Ukrainian words ''knysh'' (книш) and Polish ''knysz'', the exact origin of which is unknown. It could be connected to the Ancient Greek term κνίση - "smell of roasting meat". In Ukraine and other Eastern European countries The ancestor of the kn ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Galicia (Eastern Europe)
Galicia ( ;"Galicia" ''Collins English Dictionary'' also known by the Variant name (geography), variant name Galizia; , ; , ; ; see #Origins and variations of the name, below) is a historical and geographic region spanning what is now southeastern Poland and western Ukraine, long part of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.See also: It covers much of the other historic regions of Red Ruthenia (centered on Lviv) and Lesser Poland (centered on Kraków). The name of the region derives from the medieval city of Halych, and was first mentioned in Hungarian historical chronicles in the year 1206 as ''Galiciæ''. The eastern part of the region was c ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kalach (food)
Kolach or kalach is a traditional bread found in Central and Eastern European cuisines, commonly served during various special occasions – particularly wedding celebrations, Christmas, Easter, and Dożynki. The name originates from the Old Slavonic word ''kolo'' (коло) meaning "circle" or "wheel". Korovai is sometimes categorised as a type of kolach. Etymology The name slightly varies between countries, but its general meaning originally comes from the Early Slavic root vocabulary that references the circular shape of the bread (Proto-Slavic: *kolačь, derived from "kolo"). Variants of "kolach" ( Bulgarian, Macedonian, and , Polish: kołacz, Silesian: kołocz, , , ) are the most commonly used forms, but "kalach" ( Belarusian, Russian, and , ) is also widespread. The is cognate with all of these. The nouns "korovai" (, , ), "karavai" (, ), and "kravai" () are not etymologically related to "kolach", but are used as names for a very similar type of bread, one that can b ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hutsuls
The Hutsuls (Hutsul/; ; ) are an East Slavic ethnic group spanning parts of western Ukraine and northern Romania (i.e. parts of Bukovina and Maramureș). In Ukraine, they have often been officially and administratively designated a subgroup of Ukrainians, and, among the Ukrainian scholars, are largely regarded as constituting a broader Ukrainian ethnic group. However, in eyes of some scholars and of some Hutsuls, they are either their own nation, or a part of the Rusyn nation, alongside the closely related ethnic groups of Boykos and Lemkos. Etymology The origin of the name ''Hutsul'' is uncertain. The most common derivations are from the Romanian word for "outlaw" (cf. Rom. ''hoț'' "thief", ''hoțul'' "the thief"), and the Slavic ''kochul'' (Ukr. ''kochovyk'' "nomad") which is a reference to the semi-nomadic shepherd lifestyle or the inhabitants who fled into the mountains after the Mongol invasion. Other proposed derivations include from the Turkic tribe of the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Egg Decorating In Slavic Culture
The tradition of egg decoration in Slavic cultures originated in pagan times,Kazimierz Moszyński – Kultura ludowa Słowian, Kraków 1929Anna Zadrożyńska – Powtarzać czas początku, Warsaw 1985, and was transformed by the process of religious syncretism into the Christian Easter egg. Over time, many new techniques were added. Some versions of these decorated eggs have retained their pagan symbolism, while others have added Christian symbols and motifs. While decorated eggs of various nations have much in common, national traditions, color preferences, motifs used and preferred techniques vary. This is a Central and Eastern European, and not strictly Slavic, tradition since non-Slavic ethnic groups in the area (ex. Hungarians, Lithuanians, Romanians) also practice it. Etymology The names of the various types of Slavic decorated eggs come from the method of decoration, as noted in detailed descriptions below. Many of the names of wax-resist style eggs derive from ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Wreath
A wreath () is an assortment of flowers, leaves, fruits, twigs, or various materials that is constructed to form a ring shape. In English-speaking countries, wreaths are used typically as household ornaments, most commonly as an Advent and Christmas decoration. They are also used in ceremonial events in many cultures around the globe. They can be worn as a chaplet around the head, or as a garland around the neck. Etymology The word ''wreath'' comes from Middle English ''wrethe'' and from Old English ''writha'' 'band'. History Ancient Etruscan wreaths Wreaths were a design used in ancient times in southern Europe. The most well-known are pieces of Etruscan civilization jewelry, made of gold or other precious metals. Symbols from Greek myths often appear in the designs, embossed in precious metal at the ends of the wreath. Ancient Roman writers referred to Etruscan ''corona sutilis'', which were wreaths with their leaves sewn onto a background. These wreaths rese ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Polesia
Polesia, also called Polissia, Polesie, or Polesye, is a natural (geographic) and historical region in Eastern Europe within the East European Plain, including the Belarus–Ukraine border region and part of eastern Poland. This region should not be confused with parts of Russia also traditionally called "Polesie". Extent One of the largest forest areas on the continent, Polesia is located in the southwestern part of the Eastern-European Lowland, the Polesian Lowland. On the western side, Polesia includes the crossing of the Bug River valley in Poland and the Pripyat River valley of Western Ukraine. The westernmost part of the region, located in Poland and around Brest, Belarus, historically also formed part of the historic region of Podlachia, and is also referred to as such. The modern Polish part was not considered part of Polesia by the late 19th-century '' Geographical Dictionary of the Kingdom of Poland'', which defined the region as roughly a triangle between ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
