Before the invention of agricultural machinery, the Russian peasant had a wonderful tradition called “haymaking”. This event was considered a real holiday in the life of every peasant, young and old. About the order of work, entertainment and folk signs associated with haymaking, further in the article.
Haymaking is the process of mowing grass from the field and its subsequent harvesting. Now, most likely, those people who would remember this process in its original form have not survived. In the old days, peasants haying was not just a routine harvesting of grass for livestock feed. The workers meant by this occupation something more, because it was not for nothing that this event was accompanied by rituals.
The best time for haymaking is traditionally considered the middle of summer, although this may vary depending on the climatic characteristics of the area. The Slavs believed that it is best to start harvesting hay after Peter's day and before Proclus, that is, July 25th.
Festivities
The word "haymaking" for the peasant is firmly associated with the holiday. Most of all this event was waiting for the young part of the village population. They mowed hay throughout the village, becoming families on vacation under the canopy of trees. Hot and dry weather brought special joy, because on a warm summer night you could swim in a river or lake after tiring work during the heat of the day, enjoying the smell of meadows and freshly cut grass. Young girls for haymaking put on the best of their outfits, took the rake together and, accompanied by hard work with a loud song, painted in front of young people.
Work procedure
Haymaking is a very long and laborious task, so the process began with the first rays of the sun. Men mowed the grass, and women and girls whipped the resulting layers with a rake, thereby helping the future hay dry faster. And so until late in the evening under the scorching sun. After the mowed and whipped hay was laid in numerous ridges, which in turn were gathered in shovels. In the morning, after the dew had gone, the hocks were destroyed, and the hay was scattered in a circle. After drying the grass a second time, the peasants again gathered it in mocks and haystacks.
If it rained, the hassle increased markedly. If a cloud appeared on the horizon, the cut grass was immediately piled up. When the rain ended, they broke it and dried the hay again.
Peasant lunch and leisure
Haymaking is not so much exhausting as tradition. Indeed, during such a responsible and hard work, there was time for rest and fun, although not often.
For a lunch break, several families were united. From the diet there was traditional peasant food: wheat porridge, pickles, lard, etc. In the afternoon, the elders rested, and the young people went in search of berries or mushrooms.
Not without entertainment. Young peasants had fun right during work, with a song rolling a mop to the right place. On Sunday, when work was not accepted, the guys fished, played torches, rafted on the water, and the girls played and sang. Not a single haymowing could not do without a friendly song. Now about this event you can only read or see the haymaking in the photo.