Calendar myths and representations of the ancients about the cyclicity of life

Mythology is a reflection in the minds of people of complex and often unexplained 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 are the stages that not only every living being passes, but also any object or phenomenon of the surrounding world. Most brightly, the cyclicity is manifested in the change of day and night and in the movement of the sun in the sky: the day is replaced in the evening, then comes the night when it seems that the sun has died, but then the morning and the new day necessarily come. And after the winter with its short day and the dying sun spring comes necessarily.

Calendar myths, dedicated to the dying and resurrecting good solar deity, are in many cultures. In them, the idea of a revival of nature, and hence of life, was symbolically expressed.

A special place these myths occupied in the beliefs of agricultural peoples. Their whole life was subordinated to natural cycles, and the time of sowing and harvesting is closely related to certain seasons. And the change of these seasons was so important that the most important gods answered this order. And they often sacrificed themselves so that the natural cycle would continue, and the cold winter would be replaced in the spring.

The oldest calendar myths

Most myths tell of gods or mighty heroes. Not an exception and calendar myths. 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 later time again revives and triumphs.

On the victory of the sun over darkness, life over death, we are told by calendar myths, examples of which are in the beliefs of Ancient Egypt (the myth of Osiris), Phenicia (the myth of the Tammuz resurrected from the dead); Ancient Greece (the tale of Demeter and Persephone), the mythology of the Hittites (Telepin), Scandinavia (Baldur) and many others. All these myths, born in the 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 reborn in a new quality.

The idea of cyclic life in the mythology of the ancient Slavs

The solar cult and various agricultural rites are 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 vividly expressed in the myth of Yaril.

Yarilo - the solar deity, the embodiment of the fertile, life-giving, male power of the sun - was one of the most revered gods among the Slavic peoples. The cult of Yaril was so significant that some of its elements have survived to this day, have become part of Christian rituals and favorite folk festivals, for example, Maslenitsa.

Calendar myths tell that in the early spring, when snow begins to melt, young Yarilo descends to the ground. He travels on a white horse barefoot and simply hair, in one hand he has a human skull - a symbol of death, and in another - a bundle of ears, embodying the rebirth and continuation of life.

Young Yarilo grows up, becomes a handsome and strong man. He gives his power to the land into which the seed is already cast. But the seed dies to give life to the green sprout. And Yarilo, having squandered his strong strength, grows old, grows old and dies. At the beginning of summer, when the fields were green from the shoots, the days of the week were celebrated, the mermaid week, named so, because in ancient times mermaids were fertility spirits.

And in the days of the summer solstice Yarila was buried, and this ritual remained in the XIX century. But it was a happy holiday, because Jarilo died for the sake of extending his life. After the winter solstice, he will again be born a little Christmas carol, so that next spring, come down to earth, giving love and life to Yarila.

The Solar Calendar of the Slavs

Slavic calendar myths are reflected in the ancient agricultural calendar, which, in turn, was associated with important seasonal events for human beings.

The farmer's year began in the spring, when people eagerly awaited the liberation of the land from snow. At this time, the farewell of the winter was celebrated with the symbolic burning of its effigies and fiery wheel wheels, which were driven from the steep banks of rivers.

After spending the winter, they called the spring-Lelya, burned bonfires, danced rounds, praised Yarila, so that in the beginning of summer after the festivities and dances of the mermaid of the week, without sorrow and regret, bury him.

Autumn was honored by the gods of the harvest and the offspring of the Mokosh and Velez cattle, cooked the honey and baked the loaves. And they waited for the coming of winter to warm the souls of their ancestors at the fires of Karachun and to drive out the forces of evil from the fire. And then with joy met the birth of a new sun, the baby - Kolyada.

Calendar myths, holidays and rituals are a part of the national culture of all the East Slavic peoples. Described by historians and ethnographers, they still have not lost their relevance, people remember and love them.