New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-03
DEATH WEEK.
STRANGE RITES IN RURAL RUSSIA.

Salvonic peoples, marks the end Of winter In rural
March, and IS survival pure and simple Of carly
paganiism In TIRE Old Salvonic mythology, as In the
the idea Of Death and Winter is closely associated
and the eerenon ls pSoPcs TO The Death Mex Rom
witch il Sssm,, 70 rhe driving out and downing Of
Death, With which It terminates, based upon the
That writer's o Sss sS the
have given no account Of the Death Week" ceIobra
at time Of the year when travellers are rarely
e%Rts,d to visit Russia and Is confined to rural
likely to al attract forssner s '' WHICH -'' 'A'
w %ssn the tc ss Sps % break q e. V1
ss SAh hoasa The The ice SSfs Or %sls
who s has na. s s Sds tn. IN the y s
awales nnnery and angry with the first ray Of the
water sends the iceoes drifting drives the fish from
their haunts and causes the streams to overflow. u
to break the peasants in rural Russia start the bess
Week celebration by preparing sacrifice for The
.vodyano" 80 that he shall not be kept waiting wea
10 awakes from his winter sleep. They meet togethee
in the village where the celebration is 10 take plaza
and subscribe sum o. money for the purchase Of
bought r moneys Il mnst not Be nSs
no one pe,s2n must contribute more than another
specially reserved for the GIT 70 the vodyapa' "a
fed for trS days On bread and Ss On the o
f SSWs To bsd Deai he yes Or 4 S y
ribbons the head smcared with honey. the legs are tea
together and couple Of millstones secured 70 the
neck. Then hole Is made in the ice. and The Lors
HSGn fs n%%ss In nS e Ar rssS ss
pour quantity OF fat into the water instead Of throw
hss a into ss the wssr 1nS Mt se ns
Domovd," calls for a sacrifice. He awakes on TIE
night Of March o. and viii only wait three days r.
sssss Siep sS on ss usaDs 0S or H S S
fay black pig, ld It, and emf IL into as many pecy
ner' are r sdenS n h the pss Each i
the doorstep at the entrance to his house In soSA
DomOvoi.7
tn. on s Isss d pe. the s a' *
The Goddess Of spring, but a personi6caton u
the season, The ceremony Of the day 4 known
girls -" take "I part In it, ' They S all meet IN led
qS Ss a y. 81 snd assS ' Ia w Ehs be 1
q crown Of green stun on her head, and a staf.
Sss sth ss as' aRss;
BY me Lynny Stopping "a, At re az NJ, s~ eon
whers hal, IS made, cake prepared overnight
handed to the party. At the next, they receive
he and S on sny oS ss X ss &
they get 2 measure OF mixed grain. Preceded sun
y Il Ike last where sss an ss i E
from 'he basketfnl and thrown clear over she root
e tie ylIass, ssSh one spplss her S sans mo y:
grain measure and strewing few Of the seeds over
The The Coming y Ts wsa DSd the he as fsTs
raversed. the procession returns to the SPOT whence
M 70 See Scs si0 ss s sn% cake ss' u
not be eaten, but are preserved as charms against
taken part IN the procession can, II they are curious
, way ascertain me-, S1 he night q the
Of the next twelve months, and So in which u,oots
and pit s IN G r% S SNe is me p S@
"Lyaiea' cako and tho egg. Each layer Of cnSs
~ the morning il Is ssn Of marriage, ana sss ord
IN winch me piece stands shows the month In which
All Is ready for the ceremony Of drtytuf
out Death, from which the week derives is desic
p nsg Early IL the mo,nnf the residents Of s
market pase some bring packages OF ana %
Ssss a h: &: Cd .s pS. rhs ~ zoe PANT:
bcssAbeasS soeorals . sayonls @ya.oiosys' BENZ
pole s %sen IA . :uy eS Sss,:S s r { t.
S: til III T. a : +: .snss
eSs Sns hsy and o pn s.n and DS n ,5s
ssyns Se image ' % ss h! s
their sR H Glowing ss' a As ss ls' banging S ' :" e
pots and pans on the party go shouting and bog:
Stream a'i Herr e'S halt Ga sd. to S S as"I IS formed Ts
ths ver-ide and tho dummy Is thrown headSns
csssion calling ont 4 they march along We sys
driven ont Death and bring. in the New Year In
With sns he Sda v ' Sf Ds 's soa dnens ard
then throwing i upon the nesrst pee Of ysss%
e S.S have gevsnss against sy nsseeSGsS <. hs .s
,sn to lead 70 series Of free nshts between ne Two
on osr p. an a ns and DO Is ss o Sns @
70 fo'tane with i besides The dummy Is carried s:ss
s aS'0 folk ~ sns e s there ssheS .
rnr1 The nsht,ng n such Gases Is p.oonsd 10s
dumms IN the water where Il Is thrown.
ma9 to he 70 s WIS wS GT the peSps
provided The bells ARE taken from the neeS ss,,s
together. One or two procure drums to beat Ths
men. women, and children begin to run round The
as SI pSsS. '' rhs OBJECT ' on RS
drive OF The EVIL spirits Death ar is Supposed to X;
nnre noss they make the n more secay
place cleared OF the mps supposed to follow in tls
Of tho coming season. The villagers, therefore, r.
along pell,meil, as for wager, the men hoStns x:
children Joining In with piping treble horns blow:
ing drums beating. and bells ringing, the pots aM
aud post, always quicker and quicker while chidSs
% ana and sd e p PEOPLE BREATH R into s %
return TO the point whence the start was made
drown ~ s' and tie place cleared Of evil spirits
as, take rest and then prePssrs 70 ~.
dreams OF going to sleep the evening Of The festival
n is an old Savopic belief that this night the gats
OF Heaven are opened. and II any one asks for Z
special gift at the actual moment OF opening. II VII
oertainly be granted. Al that particular instant to-
ali trees are said 10 bear golden fruits aud whocvTp
lucky enough to grasp them just then. may retain ten
fr his own The Russian peasant therefore STAYS oas
in the field all night, 10 order 10 watch for the epenpe
Of the sky. That he does not make much OF t0s
opportunity Is perhaps due b the fact that be orel
takes advantage OF the camping -out festivlty 20 81
so drunk on vodih that were the Heavens really
rain Gifts during the night ne wonld be In no condiu1
10 profit BY the bounties Of the sides. As soon Is
first signs of sunrise observed in the east by ~
women who keep watch, the villagers roused AZ
are speedily afoot. In a body they proceed to ~
nearest hill facing east where the earliest syS r.
sprtng sun fall, there 10 welcome "Vesna.' the
dcss 81 returning TIE two elders 81 the W
lge take With them clean white cloth and some pr
and salt Arrived at the summit OF the htti, - -
cloth Is spread upon the ground and fastened down
pegs 10 prevent II blowing away. The bread ana
Arc placed lpon H. and the call out loudv