Presidential Library illustrates the history of Christmastide

From Christmas to Epiphany Eve Russia has the most mysterious, mysterious and magical period begins - Christmastide. The Presidential Library's portal provides ancient Christmas games, songs and fortune telling.

“At what time did Christmastide appear in Russia? -Where did they come to us from? “There is no historical information about this”, writes ethnographer Alexander Tereshchenko in the book Way of Life of the Russian People (1848).

There were many methods of fortune telling. For example, hooting. The girl would quietly leave the room at night so that the door wouldn’t creak, and scream.

Fortune telling for the betrothed is one of the oldest in Rus'. At midnight the girl sat alone in an empty room in front of a mirror and lit a candle. She covered the table with a tablecloth and placed one cutlery for herself and the other for her betrothed, who should come to her for dinner.

The most ancient Slavic fortune telling with a horse was that the animal was transferred through a shaft or pole. If the horse gets caught on an obstacle, then the husband will be angry and life will be miserable, but if he crosses without getting caught, the husband will be caught quiet, kind, and life will be happy.

They paid special attention to fortune telling about the betrothed, trying to find out as much as possible about him.

The same publication says that richly laid tables were an integral part of the Yuletide period. People stocked up on all sorts of snacks in advance.

According to Alexander Tereshchenko: “Russian life is nowhere shown as clearly as at Christmas time. Everything rejoices there and everyone forgets their grief”.