Mythology is a reflection in the minds of people of complex and often inexplicable phenomena of the surrounding reality. Calendar myths are associated with one of the most mysterious laws of the world - the cyclical nature of life.
In the cycle of being
Birth, development and death - these are the stages that not only every living creature passes, but also any object or phenomenon of the world around it. The cycle is most clearly manifested in the change of day and night and in the movement of the sun in the sky: the day changes in the evening, then the night falls, when it seems that the sun has died, but then morning and a new day necessarily come. And after winter, with its short day and the dying sun, spring is sure to come.
Calendar myths dedicated to the dying and resurrecting good solar deity exist in many cultures. The idea of the revival of nature, and therefore of life, received a symbolic expression in them.
These myths occupied a special place in the beliefs of agricultural peoples. Their whole life was subject to natural cycles, and the time of sowing and harvesting is closely connected with certain seasons. And the change of these seasons was so important that the most important gods were responsible for this order. Moreover, they often sacrificed themselves so that the natural cycle continued, and the cold winter gave way to spring.
Ancient calendar myths
Most myths tell of gods or mighty heroes. Calendar myths are no exception. The oldest of them - solar - are associated with the cult of fertility. In them, the solar, life-giving deity dies in battle with the forces of darkness and cold. But after a while, it revives again and wins.
Calendar myths tell us about the victory of the sun over darkness, life over death, examples of which are in the beliefs of
Ancient Egypt (the myth of Osiris), Phenicia (the myth of Tammuz resurrected from the dead); ancient Greece (the legend of Demeter and Persephone), in the mythology of the Hittites (Telepin), Scandinavia (Balder) and many others. All these myths, born in cultures of different nations, have much in common. But the main thing is that in them the deity, personifying the fertile power of the sun, perishes, and then is reborn already in a new quality.
The idea of cyclical life in the mythology of the ancient Slavs
The solar cult and various agricultural rituals were reflected in the beliefs of the ancient Slavs. Their myths are well studied, including calendar myths, examples of which can be found both in solid scientific works and in popular literature.
Beliefs of the Slavs are diverse, but the idea of cyclicity is most clearly manifested in the myth of Yaril.
Yarilo - a solar deity, the embodiment of the fertile, life-giving, masculine power of the sun - was one of the most revered gods among the Slavic peoples. The cult of Yarila was so significant that some of its elements have survived to this day, have become part of Christian rituals and favorite folk holidays, for example, Shrovetide.
Calendar myths tell that in early spring, when the snow begins to melt, young Yarilo descends to the ground. He rides barefoot and fair-haired on a white horse, in one hand he has a human skull - a symbol of death, and in the other - a bunch of ears of corn, representing the rebirth and continuation of life.
The young man Yarilo grows up, becomes a handsome and strong man. He gives his power to the earth into which the seed has already been thrown. But the seed dies to give life to the green sprout. And Yarilo, wasting fierce power, grow old, decrepit and die. At the beginning of summer, when the fields were green from seedlings, the Yarylins were celebrated, Rusalya was the week so named because in antiquity mermaids were fertility spirits.
And in the days of the summer solstice, Yaril was buried, and this rite was preserved in the XIX century. But it was a fun holiday, because Yarilo died to prolong his life. After the winter solstice, he will again be born a little Kolyada, so that next spring he will go down to earth giving love and life to Yarila.
Sunny calendar of the Slavs
Slavic calendar myths are reflected in the ancient agricultural calendar, which, in turn, was associated with seasonal phenomena important to humans.
The year of the farmer began in the spring, when people eagerly awaited the liberation of the land from snow. At that time, the farewell of winter was celebrated with the symbolic burning of her stuffed animal and fiery cart wheels that rolled from the steep banks of the rivers.
After spending the winter, they called out spring-Lelya, burned bonfires, performed round dances, praised Yaril, so that in the beginning of summer, after walking and dancing the mermaids of the week, he would be buried without sadness and regret.
In autumn, the gods of the harvest and offspring of livestock Mokosh and Veles were honored, honey and baked loaves were cooked. And they waited for the arrival of winter, so that on the day of Karachun to warm the souls of their ancestors by the fires and drive away the evil forces with fire. And then with joy they met the birth of a new sun, the baby - Kolyada.
Calendar myths, holidays and ceremonies are part of the national culture of all East Slavic peoples. Described by historians and ethnographers, they still have not lost their relevance, people remember and love them.