The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-01-04

Fetes in the Cars Realm.
Russian Holiday Customs.
- BY SOPHIE FRIEDI.AND.

SPECIAL ARTICLE

EaseeI Is broken Dy Ascension Day.
which, although celebrated without
any particular ceremony, is one OF
the great days of the twenty HOLIDAYS
observed by the Greek Church. In
the southern provinces of Russia.
where spring begins earlier, the Bla-
goveschtschenie, in English "Lady's
Day. is one of the principal festivals
OF the year. On this day the peasants
ask Gods blessing for the success of
their work, and their plows, bar.ows
and other materials used for agricul-
ture are got ready for this day and
brought to church for the sprinkling
OF holy water. The next day they
start their work.
Paying Prisoners Debts.
In olden days, even to the Begin
ming of this century, multitudes of
beggars were allowed to gather on
Lady's Day before the gates of the
imperial palaces, where they received
food and money. A great many
religious Russians are still in the
habit of giving thousands to the poor
on this day, and their benevolence
even goes SO far as to liberate num-
Der OF prisoners who were imprisoned
for debt. Some years ago wealthy
merchant spent nearly million in
paying the debts of others. Old ira
ditions are fast dying out, or at least
changing. In this case instead of
giving freedom to men, freedom is
now given to birds on Lady's Day.
Ii stranger passes our markets the
day before he will surely be sur
prised to see the number of Gagged
birds offered for sale, whose destiny
1T is to gain freedom on the morrow.
From Whitsuntide to the day of the
Assumption of the Holy Virgin on
the 10Th of August there is no merry
making among the Russian peasants,
for our summers are short and they
have to work hard during the few
months. Whitsuntide is the festival
at which the young and old rejoice.
On this day it is the custom to wear
something new, and every church
goer carries a little bouquet, with
which he decorates the altar. In
every corner of the house or hut they
put young birch tree, and the floors
are strewn with sweet rush. Singing
and choral dances, pick riding and
flower gatherings are the pleasures of
Whitsuntide. We have number of
holidays which are kept up by ira
dition and are celebrated by the.
common classes.
st. Johns Day.
st. Johns day is celebrated in the
Baltic provinces and little Russia.
On the eve of this day great fire is
lighted in an open square, and the
youth who succeeds in jumping over
it is sure to marry the same year.
New Years eve and the eve of st.
John is the time when our young
peasants try, through different
charms they employ, to get a peep
into the future. Our poets have often
taken these nights as subject for
their songs.
have nearly forgotten to speak of
another festival day, which, if not
considered as important by the
church, is regarded as indispensable
by the priest, the government officer
and all serving classes, as we'll as
society people. This is New Years
day, the day of calls.
The priest and his deacon have
long been waiting for this occasion
to make round of visits to the mem
bers of their parish. People who are
not anxious for call of their pastor
take care to send him before Christ.
mas certain sum of money-for
these congratulation calls are re-
garded by the civilized world as
begging tour.
On New Years day the govern
ment gazette publishes the promo
tions of the government officials, and
many as yet undecorated breast
heaves in hope and fear.
If the owner of house means to
live in peace with the officials of his
ward (police station) should advise
him to be liberal on New Years day;
for, from first to last they (the police
men) all expect to be remembered.
The afternoon of New Years day
is devoted by the gentlemen of the
"beau monde" in m aking calls. On
this occasion the parties most to be
pitied are the ladies, for they often
have to receive hundreds of callers.
The person most to be envied is the
footman, who opens the door, for he
often finds himself wealthier bv q
large sum of money, thanks to the
generosity of our gentlemen, who
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