Green week: Difference between revisions

Green Week
Green Week
	Semik. Russian lubok. 19th century
Also called	Template:Lang-ru, Template:Lang-uk, Template:Lang-pl, Template:Lang-sk
Observed by	Slavic people
Begins	Easter + 42 days
Ends	Pentecost
Frequency	annual
Related to	Pentecost, Trinity Sunday, Eastern Orthodox liturgical days, Rosalia

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Green Week (Template:Lang-ru, Template:Lang-uk, Template:Lang-pl) is an ancient Slavic fertility festival celebrated in early June and closely linked with the cult of the dead and the spring agricultural rites. In Russian villages, the seven weeks after Easter were a time of festivity, and Green Week took place during the seventh week leading up to Pentecost.^[1]

Green is followed by Trinity Week (Template:Lang-ru) in Russia, which also called Whitsuntide week in Britain. The end of Semik inaugurated the celebrations of Trinity Sunday, which came three days later.

Observance

The Thursday of Green Week was called Semik and included burial services for the unclean dead (those who had died before their time)^[2]^[3].

On Semik, funeral rites were held for the unclean dead^[2]. Birch trees were particularly significant to the holiday, because they were considered hosts for the souls of the deceased^[1]. Sometimes people would honor a particular tree by decorating it or carrying it around, while other times people would cut birch branches and hang them in their home^[1]^[2]. The birch was also seen as a symbol of vegetative power, and may have been honored with the hope of bringing its vitality to the coming season's crops^[2].

Springtime and fertility rituals were also important to the holiday. Girls brought offerings of fried eggs (a symbol of rebirth) and beer to birches, and spoke charms about improved harvest when weaving garlands for the trees^[1]. Another tradition is for girls to pledge vows of friendship before the chosen birch tree^[1]^[2]. Some believe this to be the remnant of ritual sexual activity associated with the cult of spring^[1]. Like Kostroma during Maslenitsa, a chosen birch tree was destroyed at the end of the festivities. Usually, it was drowned^[1]^[2] "in order to provide the needed rainfall for the sprouting crops"^[4].

Association with rusalka

The rusalki nature spirits were another important figure to Green Week traditions. Some believe they were associated with deceased family members^[1]^[2], or perhaps only unclean dead^[2]. Sometimes an honored birch tree would be named for a rusalka as part of Green Week^[1]. Some of the rites of Green Week (like making offerings of eggs and garlands) were thought to placate the rusalki so they would stay away from the village's agricultural fields for the season and thus not bring them harm^[2]^[3]. The rusalki are also associated with water and fertility, and so may be invoked during Green Week in an attempt to bring their moisture and vigor to the fields^[2]. During Green Week, rusalki were believed to be more active, making them a greater threat to villagers^[2]. One precaution villagers took during this week was avoiding swimming, because rusalki were thought to live in the water and might drown passers by^[2].

Related observances

There is a similar holiday celebrating Pentecost in Romania, called Rusalii.^[5] Also in Germanic tradition there is a similar tradition, for example, Pfingstbaumpflanzen in Germany. In modern-day Poland it is celebrated along with Pentecostal Sunday as Zielone Świątki.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Sokolov, Yuriy M. (1971) [1950]. Russian Folklore. Detroit: Folklore Associates. pp. 188–195. ISBN 0-8103-5020-3.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l Ivanits, Linda J. (1992) [1989]. Russian Folk Belief. Armonk, New York and London, England: M. E. Sharpe. pp. 75–82. ISBN 0-87332-889-2.
^ ^a ^b Gasparini, Evel. "Slavic Religion". Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
^ Joanna Hubbs. Mother Russia: The Feminine Myth in Russian Culture. Indiana University Press, 1998. ISBN 0-253-20842-4. Page 73.
^ "Rusalii (Pentecost) holiday customs: Calusarii dance". Romania Business Insider. Business Insider SRL. 2010-05-20. Archived from the original on 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2011-06-10. An important Romanian celebration is coming up this Sunday, May 23rd. It's called Rusalii or the Descent of the Holly [sic] Spirit (the holiday is also called Pentecost sometimes) and it is always celebrated by the Orthodox Church 50 days after Easter.

External links

Holy Trinity Day or Svyata Triytsya and Green Holidays in Ukraine

[:1-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Sokolov, Yuriy M. (1971) [1950]. Russian Folklore. Detroit: Folklore Associates. pp. 188–195. ISBN 0-8103-5020-3.

[:0-2] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l Ivanits, Linda J. (1992) [1989]. Russian Folk Belief. Armonk, New York and London, England: M. E. Sharpe. pp. 75–82. ISBN 0-87332-889-2.

[:2-3] Gasparini, Evel. "Slavic Religion". Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved December 21, 2018.

[4] Joanna Hubbs. Mother Russia: The Feminine Myth in Russian Culture. Indiana University Press, 1998. ISBN 0-253-20842-4. Page 73.

[rom-insider-5] "Rusalii (Pentecost) holiday customs: Calusarii dance". Romania Business Insider. Business Insider SRL. 2010-05-20. Archived from the original on 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2011-06-10. An important Romanian celebration is coming up this Sunday, May 23rd. It's called Rusalii or the Descent of the Holly [sic] Spirit (the holiday is also called Pentecost sometimes) and it is always celebrated by the Orthodox Church 50 days after Easter.

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[2]

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[5]

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 {{rewrite|date=August 2018}}
 {{Infobox holiday
-|holiday_name  = Green week
+|holiday_name  = Green Week
 |type          = ethnic
 |image         = Semik crop.jpg
@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
 |caption       = Semik. Russian [[lubok]]. 19th century
 |official_name =
-|nickname      = {{lang-ru|Зелёные cвятки, Троицкие святки}}, {{lang-pl|Zielone Świątki}}, {{lang-sk|Králový týždeň}}
+|nickname      = {{lang-ru|Зелёные cвятки, Русальная неделя, Семик}}, {{lang-uk|Зелені Свята, Русалії}}, {{lang-pl|Zielone Świątki}}, {{lang-sk|Králový týždeň}}
 |observedby    = [[Slavic people]]
 |litcolor      =
 |longtype      =
 |significance  =
-|begins        =
+|begins        = [[Easter]] + 42 days
-|ends          =
+|ends          = [[Pentecost]]
 |date          =
+|duration      = 7
-<!-- Use next three if holiday is the same day of the same week every year -->
+|frequency     = annual
-|week_ordinal  = <!-- "first", "second", "last", etc. -->
-|weekday       = <!-- "Sunday", "Monday", "Friday", etc. -->
-|month         = <!-- "January", "February", "December", etc. -->
-<!-- Use next three if the date changes in an unusual pattern each year -->
-|date2014      = <!-- only for days that change each year -->
-|date2015      = <!-- only for days that change each year -->
-|date2016      = <!-- only for days that change each year -->
 |celebrations  =
 |observances   =
 |relatedto     = [[Pentecost]], [[Trinity Sunday]], [[Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar|Eastern Orthodox liturgical days]], [[Rosalia (festival)|Rosalia]]
 }}
-'''Green week''' ({{lang-ru|Зелёные Святки}}, also known as {{lang|ru|Семик}} – Semik, {{lang-uk|Зелені Свята}}, {{lang-pl|Zielone Świątki}}) is an ancient [[Slavic Europe|Slavic]] fertility festival celebrated in early June and closely linked with the cult of the dead and the spring agricultural rites. In Russian villages, the seven weeks after [[Easter]] were a time of festivity, and Green Week took place during the seventh week<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|title=Russian Folklore|last=Sokolov|first=Yuriy M.|publisher=Folklore Associates|year=1971 |orig-year=1950|isbn=0-8103-5020-3|location=Detroit|pages=188-195}}</ref>.  The Thursday of that week was called Semik and included burial services for the unclean dead (those who had died before their time)<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=Russian Folk Belief|last=Ivanits|first=Linda J.|publisher=M. E. Sharpe|year=1992 |orig-year=1989|isbn=0-87332-889-2|location=Armonk, New York and London, England|pages=75-82}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Slavic-religion#ref533514|title=Slavic Religion|last=Gasparini|first=Evel|website=Encyclopaedia Britannica|access-date=December 21, 2018}}</ref>.  Green week is also called '''Trinity Week''' in Russia, and [[Whitsun|Whitsuntide]] week in Britain. The end of Semik inaugurated the celebrations of '''[[Trinity Sunday]]''', which came three days later.
+'''Green Week''' ({{lang-ru|Зелёные Святки}}, {{lang-uk|Зелені Свята}}, {{lang-pl|Zielone Świątki}}) is an ancient [[Slavic Europe|Slavic]] fertility festival celebrated in early June and closely linked with the cult of the dead and the spring agricultural rites. In Russian villages, the seven weeks after [[Easter]] were a time of festivity, and Green Week took place during the seventh week leading up to [[Pentecost]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|title=Russian Folklore|last=Sokolov|first=Yuriy M.|publisher=Folklore Associates|year=1971 |orig-year=1950|isbn=0-8103-5020-3|location=Detroit|pages=188-195}}</ref>
+Green is followed by '''Trinity Week''' ({{lang-ru|троицкие святки}}) in Russia, which also called [[Whitsun|Whitsuntide]] week in Britain. The end of Semik inaugurated the celebrations of '''[[Trinity Sunday]]''', which came three days later.
+== Observance ==
+The Thursday of Green Week was called Semik and included burial services for the unclean dead (those who had died before their time)<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=Russian Folk Belief|last=Ivanits|first=Linda J.|publisher=M. E. Sharpe|year=1992 |orig-year=1989|isbn=0-87332-889-2|location=Armonk, New York and London, England|pages=75-82}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Slavic-religion#ref533514|title=Slavic Religion|last=Gasparini|first=Evel|website=Encyclopaedia Britannica|access-date=December 21, 2018}}</ref>.
 On '''Semik''', funeral rites were held for the unclean dead<ref name=":0" />.  Birch trees were particularly significant to the holiday, because they were considered hosts for the souls of the deceased<ref name=":1" />.  Sometimes people would honor a particular tree by decorating it or carrying it around, while other times people would cut birch branches and hang them in their home<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" />.  The birch was also seen as a symbol of vegetative power, and may have been honored with the hope of bringing its vitality to the coming season's crops<ref name=":0" />.
@@ Line 34: / Line 33: @@
 Springtime and fertility rituals were also important to the holiday.  Girls brought offerings of fried eggs (a symbol of rebirth) and beer to birches, and spoke charms about improved harvest when weaving garlands for the trees<ref name=":1" />.  Another tradition is for girls to pledge vows of friendship before the chosen birch tree<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" />.  Some believe this to be the remnant of ritual sexual activity associated with the cult of spring<ref name=":1" />. Like [[Kostroma (tradition)|Kostroma]] during [[Maslenitsa]], a chosen birch tree was destroyed at the end of the festivities. Usually, it was drowned<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /> "in order to provide the needed rainfall for the sprouting crops"<ref>Joanna Hubbs. ''Mother Russia: The Feminine Myth in Russian Culture''. Indiana University Press, 1998. {{ISBN|0-253-20842-4}}. Page 73.</ref>.
+== Association with rusalka ==
-The [[Rusalka|rusalki]] nature spirits were another important figure to Green Week traditions (Russian: русальная неделя).  Some believe they were associated with deceased family members<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" />, or perhaps only unclean dead<ref name=":0" />. Sometimes an honored birch tree would be named for a [[rusalka]] as part of Green Week<ref name=":1" />.  Some of the rites of Green Week (like making offerings of eggs and garlands) were thought to placate the [[Rusalka|rusalki]] so they would stay away from the village's agricultural fields for the season and thus not bring them harm<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />.  The [[Rusalka|rusalki]] are also associated with water and fertility, and so may be invoked during Green Week in an attempt to bring their moisture and vigor to the fields<ref name=":0" />.  During Green Week, [[Rusalka|rusalki]] were believed to be more active, making them a greater threat to villagers<ref name=":0" />. One precaution villagers took during this week was avoiding swimming, because [[Rusalka|rusalki]] were thought to live in the water and might drown passers by<ref name=":0" />.
+{{main article|Rusalka}}
+The [[Rusalka|rusalki]] nature spirits were another important figure to Green Week traditions. Some believe they were associated with deceased family members<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" />, or perhaps only unclean dead<ref name=":0" />. Sometimes an honored birch tree would be named for a [[rusalka]] as part of Green Week<ref name=":1" />. Some of the rites of Green Week (like making offerings of eggs and garlands) were thought to placate the [[Rusalka|rusalki]] so they would stay away from the village's agricultural fields for the season and thus not bring them harm<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />.  The [[Rusalka|rusalki]] are also associated with water and fertility, and so may be invoked during Green Week in an attempt to bring their moisture and vigor to the fields<ref name=":0" />. During Green Week, [[Rusalka|rusalki]] were believed to be more active, making them a greater threat to villagers<ref name=":0" />. One precaution villagers took during this week was avoiding swimming, because [[Rusalka|rusalki]] were thought to live in the water and might drown passers by<ref name=":0" />.
+== Related observances ==
+{{see also|Rosalia (festival)|Pentecost}}
 There is a similar holiday celebrating [[Pentecost]] in [[Romania]], called ''Rusalii''.<ref name="rom-insider">{{cite web | url = http://www.romania-insider.com/rusalii-pentecost-holiday-customs-calusarii-dance/1984/ | title = Rusalii (Pentecost) holiday customs: Calusarii dance | accessdate = 2011-06-10 | date = 2010-05-20 | work = Romania Business Insider | publisher = Business Insider SRL | quote = ''An important Romanian celebration is coming up this Sunday, May 23rd. It’s called Rusalii or the Descent of the {{sic|Holly}} Spirit (the holiday is also called Pentecost sometimes) and it is always celebrated by the Orthodox Church 50 days after Easter.'' | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110606103149/http://www.romania-insider.com/rusalii-pentecost-holiday-customs-calusarii-dance/1984/ | archive-date = 2011-06-06 | url-status = dead }}</ref> Also in Germanic tradition there is a similar tradition, for example, ''Pfingstbaumpflanzen'' in [[Germany]]. In modern-day [[Poland]] it is celebrated along with [[Pentecost|Pentecostal Sunday]] as ''Zielone Świątki''.
-==References==
+== References ==
 {{reflist}}
-==External links==
+== External links ==
 {{Commons category|Zielone Swiatki (slavic festival)}}
 * [http://itsukraine.com/events/holy-trinity-day-or-svyata-triytsya-and-green-holidays-in-ukraine/ Holy Trinity Day or Svyata Triytsya and Green Holidays in Ukraine]