Autumn is not only the rainy season and autumn leaves. In autumn you can get a lot of positive emotions and interesting performances. To confirm this, I will cite the holidays with which they fight this gray season abroad.

Florida Fantasy Festival
Costume party in a town in Florida. The characters radiate joy and passion. You can see robots, mermaids, space aliens and just girls in bikinis. The festival began in 1979, when two entrepreneurs organized such a costume parade to attract tourists. Every year it has gained and is gaining popularity.

Day of the Dead in Oaxaca City, Mexico
It is celebrated in early November, paying tribute to the dead. In legends, the goddess Mictlancihuatl is considered to be the culprit of this event, who protects the souls of buried people. For two days you can see caramel skulls and skeletal figures everywhere. They also hold a big carnival, the noise of which fills the city with an atmosphere of incredible celebration and fun.

Devil dance in Peru
The very name of this event evokes interest and expectation of something mystical and unearthly. The best place, where you can fully enjoy this day, consider the city of Puno. When November comes, dancing demons appear on the city streets, performing their mystical round dance, and the procession is led by none other than the devil himself. The charm of the costumes and the sounds of the drums make your heart clench with an influx of feelings: it seems that in just a moment you yourself will turn into a demon and start dancing.

Fireworks night in England
Back in 1605, a group of traitors wanted to blow up the Houses of Parliament in order to get rid of the king. But the plan failed, and so that the memory of the act does not disappear, every year the sky is illuminated with a symbol of the unrealizable plan. Since that day, fireworks night has been celebrated every year.

Cuckold Day in Italy
A village in Italy became famous for its large number of betrayals. In November, many decorations of horns, symbols of treason, appear on its streets. All this is accompanied by humorous scenes and practical jokes performed by local actors. During the celebration, loud laughter fills the entire area; it is difficult to find at least one sad person.

A week with pirates in the Cayman Islands
Mid-November becomes the busiest time for this area. After all, it is then that the area is filled with songs, rum and pirates. A large costume parade extends throughout the Cayman Islands. Ship battles rage on the sea, which every year depict new scenarios from the life of lovers of freedom and the sea breeze.

These are not all the joyful events of autumn. I’m unlikely to be able to see the carnival with my own eyes this fall, but no one is stopping me from hosting it at home. Have a good mood and a bright autumn.

Rituals and customs are part of the culture of every people, be it a huge nation or a small community. They accompany us throughout our lives. Some of them go back centuries, and we forget them or don’t know about them at all. Others continue to exist. We invite you to get acquainted with autumn rituals, the history of their origin and essence. Traditions associated with the onset of autumn different countries interesting and varied.

Autumn is a time of holidays

Since ancient times, autumn has been the time for various celebrations. For example, ceremonies and rituals on the day of the autumn equinox are varied and numerous. Why did this happen? The fact is that the time for farming was ending, everyone was harvesting and preparing for winter. The majority of the population in those days were peasants, so seasonality had a significant impact on their way of life. Full bins and free time gave people the opportunity to relax.

Harvest Festival in Israel

Mostly people celebrated the Harvest Festival. So, in Israel, Sukkot takes place on September 19th. On this day, Jews perform the ritual of raising the lulav. Lulava consists of four plants - myrtle, willow, date palm leaf, etrog. Each of these plants symbolizes a person. Thus, the etrog symbolizes people who do good deeds, and the willow symbolizes people who do not know how to do good. The combination of these plants suggests that everyone should help the other, teach him right life. The holiday lasts seven days. On the eighth day they read a prayer for the granting of the harvest for the next year.

Korean autumn traditions

The harvest is called Chuseok. It lasts three days. An interesting point: all people try to go to their native places for these three days. On Chuseok, every family worships their ancestors, and after this ritual they are treated to festive dishes from the sacrificial table. Then everyone goes to the graves of relatives to honor their memory.

Wine harvest

In Europe, grape harvest holidays are considered traditional. Thus, in Switzerland in mid-September there is a festival of young wine. About one hundred and fifty varieties of wines are sent here from all over the country. Various shows, dances, and concerts take place these days.

Autumn holidays among the Slavs

Autumn holidays among the Slavs often have pagan and Orthodox roots. The most famous were Obzhinki or Dozhinki (among Belarusians). In the nineteenth century, this holiday was celebrated everywhere among the Slavs, only in different times, mainly depending on the climate. Thus, among the Eastern Slavs, the mentioned holiday coincided with the Dormition of the Virgin Mary, and in Siberia - with the holiday of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.

On this day, people performed several autumn rituals. For example, the last sheaf was reaped in silence, and then the women rolled through the stubble with certain words-songs. Several ears of grain, twisted into a beard, were left on the field. This ritual was called “beard curling.”

Traditions and rituals of autumn in Rus'

The first of September in Rus' was called Indian summer; in some areas the countdown was from September 8th. Already somewhere from Ilyin's day, and somewhere from Uspenev, autumn round dances began in many settlements. It is worth noting that the round dance is the most ancient of the dances of the Russian people, and is rooted in the rites of worship of the Sun God. Round dance in Rus' was of great importance. This dance reflected the three eras of the year: spring, summer, autumn.

One of the Russian autumn rituals is a round dance called “brew beer.” Young women went out into the street and treated everyone to home brew, then stood up in a round dance and pretended to be drunk. At the end, all the girls were treated to home brew.

On Semenov Day - the first of September - they mounted a horse. In each family, the first-born was seated on a horse. In addition, on this same day, for 400 years, they celebrated New Year. It was abolished only in 1700 by decree of Peter 1.

And on September 14, Osenins began to be celebrated in Rus'. People thanked Mother Earth for the rich harvest. They renewed the fire, extinguished the old one, and started a new one. From that time on, all activities in the field ended and work began in the house, in the yard, and in the garden. In the houses on the First Autumn they covered festive table, brewed beer and slaughtered a sheep. A cake was baked from the new flour.

September 21 - Second Autumns. On the same day they celebrated the Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary. September 23 - Peter and Pavel Ryabinnik. On this day, rowan berries were collected for compote and kvass. The windows were decorated with bunches of rowan berries; it was believed that they would protect the house from all evil spirits.

Third Autumn - September 27. In another way, this day was called the snake holiday. According to legends, all birds and snakes moved to another country on this day. They conveyed requests to the deceased. On this day we did not go into the forest, because it was believed that a snake could drag us away.

Autumn traditions among Belarusians

Autumn holidays among Belarusians are similar to autumn rituals and holidays among other Slavic peoples. For a long time in Belarus they celebrated the end of the harvest. This holiday was called dozhinki. One of the main autumn rituals was held on Dozhinki. The last sheaf was entwined with flowers and dressed in women's dress, after which they were taken to the village and left until the next harvest. Now Dozhinki is a holiday of national significance.

Similarly, the Osenins in Belarus celebrated the harvest festival - the rich man. The symbol of the holiday was a popular print with grain and a candle inside. The “rich man” was in one of the houses of the village, where a priest was invited to conduct a prayer service. Afterwards, the popular print with a lit candle was carried through the entire village.

No less famous ritual holiday late autumn in Belarus - Dziady. This holiday of remembrance of ancestors falls on November 1-2. Dziady means “grandfathers”, “ancestors”. Before Dzyady they washed in the bathhouse and cleaned the house. A bucket of clean water and a broom were left in the bathhouse for the souls of ancestors. The whole family gathered for dinner that day. Various dishes were prepared, and before dinner the doors were opened in the house so that the souls of the dead could enter.

At dinner they did not say unnecessary words, behaved humbly, remembered only good things about their ancestors, and remembered the dead. Dziady was given to the beggars who walked around the villages.

Autumn equinox. Rituals and rituals in different countries of the world

Autumn equinox falls on September 22, sometimes 23. Day and night at this time become equal. Many peoples attached mystical significance to this day. Traditions, celebrations and rituals on the Autumn Equinox Day are commonplace.

In some countries this public holiday, for example, in Japan. Here, according to tradition, ancestors are remembered on this day. Performing an ancient ritual Buddhist holiday Higan. On this day, the Japanese prepare food only from plant ingredients: beans, vegetables. They make pilgrimages to the graves of their ancestors and worship them.

In Mexico, on the day of the autumn equinox, people go to the The object is designed so that on the days of the equinox sun rays create triangles of light and shadow on the pyramid. The lower the sun, the more distinct the contours of the shadow; they resemble a snake in shape. This illusion lasts a little more than three hours, during which time you need to make a wish.

Autumn equinox among the Slavs

The autumn equinox was one of the main holidays among the Slavs. It had different names: Tausen, Ovsen, Radogoshch. Rituals and rituals were also performed in different places.

Ovsen is the name of a deity in mythology who was responsible for the change of seasons, so in the fall he was thanked for fruits and harvests. They celebrated the autumn equinox (with ceremonies and rituals) for two weeks. The main holiday drink was honey, made from fresh hops. Pies with meat, cabbage, and lingonberries are the main delicacy on the table.

The ritual for the autumn equinox was the farewell of the goddess Zhiva to Svarga - the heavenly kingdom, which closed in winter period. On the day of the equinox, the Slavs also revered the goddess Lada. She was the patroness of weddings. And weddings were most often celebrated after the completion of field work.

On the day of the autumn equinox, special autumn events were held folk rituals. To attract good luck and happiness, they baked pies with cabbage and round apples. If the dough rose quickly, it means that the financial situation should have improved next year.

On this day, all old things were taken out into the yard and burned.

Special rituals for the autumn equinox were performed with water. She was believed to have special powers. We washed ourselves morning and evening with the belief that water would keep children healthy and women attractive.

Our ancestors often used trees in autumn rituals and holidays. So, they protected the house and themselves with rowan branches. It was believed that rowan, picked on this day, has enormous energy and will not let evil into the house. The girls used walnut branches. They put a second pillow on the bed in order to get married sooner, they burned nut branches, and scattered the ashes on the street. The clusters of rowan trees were used to judge winter. The more berries, the harsher the winter.

Special autumn rite in Rus' there was a sacrifice. In gratitude for a good harvest in pagan times, the Slavs sacrificed the largest animal to Veles. This was done before harvest. After the sacrifice, the sheaves were tied and the "grandmothers" were placed. Afterwards a rich table was set.

Orthodox autumn holidays, traditions, rituals

Most big holiday- Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (September 21). The holiday coincided with the second autumn.

September 27 - Exaltation of the Holy Cross. In the 4th century, the mother of Emperor Constantine the Great found the Cross and the Holy Sepulcher. Many then wanted to see this miracle. This is how the Feast of the Exaltation was established. From this day we began harvesting cabbage for the winter. And young boys and girls gathered for cabbage parties. The table was set, the guys looked after the brides.

October 14 - Intercession of the Virgin Mary. The holiday was established by Andrei Bogolyubsky. In Rus' they believed that the Mother of God took Rus' under her protection, so they always relied on her protection and mercy. At this time, they were finishing work in the field and collecting the last fruits. In Pokrov, women made ten-handed dolls, which, it was believed, were supposed to help around the house, since the woman did not have time to do everything.

On the third day of November they celebrated "Kazanskaya". This is the Mother of God.

Autumn signs in Rus'

September 11 - Ivan Poletny, Poletovshchik. A day later they began to pull out root crops and dig up potatoes.

September 24 - Fedora-Ripped off. Two Fedoras up the mountain - one autumn, one winter, one with mud, the other with cold.

October 1 is crane summer. It was believed that if the cranes flew on this day, then there would be the first frost on Pokrov. If not, you shouldn’t expect frost before November 1st.

November 14 - Kuzminki. On Kuzminki they celebrated the rooster's name day. The girls had a feast-conversation and invited the guys.

On this day, a ritual called “the wedding and funeral of Kuzma-Demyan” was performed. The girls made a stuffed animal out of straw, dressed it up as a guy and held a comic wedding. They sat this scarecrow in the middle of the hut and “married” it to some girl, then they took it into the forest, burned it and danced on it. We made dolls Kuzma and Demyan. They were considered guardians of the family hearth and patrons of women's handicrafts.

Crimson colors of autumn... And gray, cloudy weather, lower temperatures, cold winds, and even rain. What is there to celebrate, you ask? It turns out that there is something to celebrate; autumn is not only rich in crimson colors, but also in holidays. And the autumn holidays of the world are just as bright, extravagant, emotionally rich, like autumn itself. Take, for example, the Japanese holiday Momiji - admiring red leaves.

Japanese holiday Momiji, or Admiring the red leaves

The Japanese tradition of admiring cherry blossoms has been known in the world for a long time; this happens every year in the spring. But a resourceful person will always find something to admire in order to get a charge of positive emotions. The Japanese are a resourceful nation, and in the fall many begin the “momiji hunt,” as they call it there. Hunting means observing the red leaves of the native maple, momiji, which grows throughout the country. And since the country is very elongated, autumn, and with it the red color of maple leaves, moves from the northern regions very gradually.

So you can “hunt for red leaves” during several autumn months, usually October-November. This is called “momiji-gari” and from our point of view it looks like a picnic, no pomp. People simply relax in nature, perhaps with treats or even small libations.

The holiday, symbolizing the victory of good, is celebrated not only in India itself, but wherever there are Indian communities. That is, not only does it not matter what religion a person professes, but even nationality does not play a role. If you come from India and belong to the Indian community, then this is your holiday. However, the idea of ​​the holiday - victory over evil - is important for everyone, so Diwali, or the festival of light and fire, is celebrated by everyone with pleasure. The first five days of November, clay katori lamps, deepa lanterns and candles become ubiquitous decorations because fire is a symbol of the victory of good.

In these holidays It is customary to give and receive gifts. It is clear that for this you must first purchase them. Therefore, preparing for Diwali is a little reminiscent of our New Year: fussy putting things in order and crowding in stores. Different regions of India have different, slightly different celebration traditions. Although the celebration as a whole is dedicated to the exploits of the Indian gods, it evokes associations with the harvest festivals so characteristic of the Indo-European peoples.

This means that we are moving from Asia to Europe, more precisely, to Great Britain, and there we observe the Apple Festival, which is very close in meaning to the harvest festival. It is dedicated not only to apples, but also to all fruits, orchards and local attractions in general. This “delicious” holiday is not at all ancient; it was first celebrated only in 1990. Since then

On October 21, not only local residents, but guests visiting Foggy Albion can try the most original varieties of apples. On ordinary days it is impossible to find them in any store, but here they are freely sold at the fair.

The “Apple” holiday initially aimed to support all domestic horticultural products. On this day, it is customary to sell and buy rare varieties of apple seedlings, give free advice on their cultivation, and even prepare a wide variety of apple dishes. The British media rushed to call Apple Day " Between national holiday“, but in fact it is not such at all, it is not even official yet. Only in the USA has a similar festival taken root, but it is celebrated there not in the fall, but on February 21st. Who knows, maybe this is just the beginning and soon Apple Day will begin to spread across the planet?

It should be noted once again that the British Apple Festival is indeed very reminiscent of those Harvest Days that are held every year in Slavic countries.

India

Onam(Thiru-onam) - a harvest festival in India - is celebrated in late August - early September, on the day when Chandra [Moon] transits the Sravana nakshatra.

Onam is celebrated as the day of Mahabali's return from exile. On this auspicious day, King Maha-Bali visits his kingdom and his people again. The entire state comes alive with celebrations and energy. This is a time of ceremony, celebration and joy, fun and sports.

Onam is often called the folk harvest festival of Kerala. It celebrates nature's bounty and a year of good harvest. Ten days of feasting, singing and dancing.

The festival begins ten days in advance and flower garlands (Pukkalam) decorate every home. Decorated elephants in a spectacular procession, fireworks displays and Kathakali dances are an integral part of the festivities.

The beauty of floral decorations, Onam melodies and songs, and the grace of traditional dances characterize the celebration of the golden era of King MahaBali, whose reign was prosperous.

Vallamkali (boat racing) is one of the main events of Onam. Hundreds of rowers sit in a row in huge and beautiful boats (odi) with scarlet silk umbrellas. Their number shows the wealth of the family or village that owns the boat. The oars of each boat are lowered to the rhythm of the drums.

In Aranmulla, home to the Krishna and Arjuna Temple, thousands of people gather on the banks of the Pamba River to witness the exciting Snake Boat races. About 30 boats take part in the celebration. The boats belong to the villages adjacent to the river from the hills of the plains for 40 kilometers and are driven by oarsmen dressed in white robes.

Singing traditional songs, the boat rowers lower their oars into the water to the rhythm of the songs. They move their boats like fish move along a river. Although it seems that they are competing, this festival is still more of a visual extravaganza for the audience.

On the eve of Onam, boats float down from Katurman, accompanied by the sounds of conch shells, music and drums and burning torches. A colorful boat festival is held on Uthruttati - the fifth day after Thiru Onam.

Each boat belongs to a village on the banks of the Pamba River and is revered like a Devata. You can even enter the boat only barefoot. Every year the boat is oiled with coconut oil and charcoal. The black mixture keeps the wood strong and the boat glides well in the water. Every year the boat is lovingly repaired by the village carpenter and the people are proud of their boat, which represents their village and is named after it.

According to tradition, a Namboodiri Brahmin steers the rudder of the boat, which is approximately 4 meters long. Four oarsmen propel the boat. And instantly the boat can turn just by turning the steering wheel. Everyone - a carpenter, a hairdresser, a jeweler, a blacksmith, a peasant - has a place in the boat. And in close harmony and synchronicity they row their oars. A colorful procession with magnificently decorated elephants sets off from Trichur.

Legends

Many years ago, a boat loaded with food came down the river. Suddenly she turned over.
The spiritual head Bhattathiripad considered this to be a bad omen and went to the river bank. There he saw a hut in which a dim light was burning.

Entering the house, he heard the crying of a poor widow and saw children sleeping on the kitchen floor.
The widow told the Namboodiri Brahmin that they had no food and that her children had fallen asleep in hunger.
Nambudiri Brahmin brought food and gave it to the poor family.
This long tradition continues for many years among landowners and spiritual heads of villages - to feed poor people before the holiday. Feeding the poor is considered service to God.

The second legend of the Onam festival is mentioned in the stories of King Mahabali, the emperor of the Asuras.

The people of his kingdom were very happy and content during his reign - the golden era. When Mahabali ruled his kingdom, all people were equal, they lived happy life, and no one was in distress. There was no dishonesty, no deception, no lies in words, no injustice. There was perfect harmony in society and it was a time of perfect prosperity.

But the gods began to envy the king and asked the ruler Vishnu to take his kingdom. Vishnu, disguised as the dwarf Brahmin Vamana, asked the king for land measuring three paces, which the king readily agreed to give. Then Vishnu threw off his disguise and walked across Earth and Heaven in two steps. For the third step, King Mahabali offered his head. However, before placing his foot on Mahabali's head, Lord Vishnu granted the king's last wish that he should be able to visit his kingdom once every year.

Since then people wait and welcome Mahabali to his kingdom and Onam is celebrated with great joy and merriment.

Preparations for the holiday

Preparations for the celebration begin ten days in advance - floral decorations are made in the front yard of the house. Women decorate the entrances of their homes to welcome Mahabali. The Thrikkakkara-Appana murti, made of clay, is placed in the middle of the flowers.
On the day of Onam itself, every person takes a bath early in the morning and visits the temple.
Gifts are given to younger family members.
Then the Onam feast begins with delicious food served on plantain leaves.
Relatives who live far from their native places visit their family home to celebrate Onam in the company of their relatives, friends and loved ones.

Keralites (residents of Kerala) celebrate Onam by organizing community dinners, cultural programs and so on.

After lunches, sports and games are held, in which men and women of all ages participate. Comic wrestling, ball games, chess are the favorite pastimes of men, while women find pleasure in folk games(Unjalattom, Thumbithullal, Thiruvathirakalim, Kaikottikali and others). Boat racing (regatta) attracts thousands of people, including tourists from other countries.

The best autumn holidays in the world on the “Subtleties of Tourism”

Rainy autumn is not the best time for fun. Or not? Apart from the already annual celebration of Halloween, there seem to be no reasons for holding parties and costume balls in the Motherland. However, this does not mean that the same is true in other countries of the world. At the end of October and beginning of November, a number of fantastic performances are staged in different parts of the world, so lovers of fireworks and grand celebrations will definitely be satisfied. Six alternatives to Halloween are presented below.

Fantasy Festival, Key West, Florida, USA

Subtropical Florida is home to one of the most bizarre festivals in the US, with lots of nudity, flamboyant costumes and body art. It began in 1979 when two businessmen decided to revitalize the local tourism industry in Key West and organized a series of costume parties, parades and other fun street events. This celebration of life took place in the last week of October and lasted ten days. Since then, the Fantasy Festival has become a tradition. If you try to somehow determine the main theme that runs like a red thread through the entire festival, then after considerable effort you can come to the conclusion that it does not exist. What do Dungeons of Dragons costumes, the world's first fantasy tabletop role-playing game, a DIY bikini contest, and a Scottish themed party have in common? The Monster Ball with people dressed as giant snakes, mermaids and other strange creatures reminds us of our subconscious, the dark depths of which hide all this splendor. The festival usually opens with a Caribbean-style party.

Day of the Dead, Oaxaca, Mexico

“Day of the Dead” is one of the most famous holidays in the world, designed to remember the souls of those who will not return. Its symbols in the form of candy skulls and specially crafted figurines of female skeletons dressed in beautiful costumes are no less famous than the Halloween pumpkin (both of which are used by the wonderful director Tim Burton in his cartoon “Corpse Bride”). The festival in Oaxaca lasts two days, in early November, and refers to the ancient cults of the Mayans and Aztecs, bringing gifts to the goddess Mictlancihuatl, a woman in the form of a skeleton, dressed in a skirt made of rattlesnakes. In addition to all kinds of decorations and sweets in the form of skulls, a carnival is held these days, and special baked goods are also made - the Bread of the Dead.

Day of the Dead in Oaxaca

Devil's dance, Puno, Peru

Puno is considered the folklore capital of Peru, carefully preserving the traditions of its ancestors. One such custom passed down from generation to generation is La Diablada or the Devil's Dance. This South American dance with colorful costumes is popular in Bolivia, Chile and Peru and is an important part of many festivals and carnival processions. In Puno, in particular, it is performed during the most important religious festival dedicated to the Virgen de la Candelaria in February. You can see Diablada separately in early November. The essence of the action is that men appear in the form of dancing demons. The devil himself leads this whole procession. The origin of the tradition is not precisely established. Firstly, each of the South American countries has its own version, and secondly, even within regions there are different ideas. According to one legend, the street carnival is a legacy inherited by the inhabitants of Peru from the era of the conquistadors, who came to conquer this land not at all in angelic form.

Fireworks Night, East Sussex, England

Fireworks Night is an annual holiday in England held on November 5th. Its distinctive feature is a huge number of fireworks and fireworks, creating a gigantic fire show. The fires are lit in memory of long-standing events, known in history as the Gunpowder Plot. In 1605, a group of Catholics attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament with King James I, who clearly and openly supported the Protestants, sitting there. The conspiracy failed. One of the most famous participants in the alleged terrorist act was Guy Fawkes, and the holiday glorifying the king’s miraculous deliverance from danger, “Guy Fawkes Night,” was originally named after him. Now the holiday is also known as “Fireworks Night”. In addition to the night turning into day due to numerous lights, on this day you can see a burning straw effigy of Guy Fawkes.

Fireworks night in England

Cuckold Festival, Rocca Canterano, Italy

No one remembers why Rocca Canterano, a village near Rome, decided to celebrate Cuckold Day. The only thing left in the centuries is the noisy fun that accompanies the events held in November in honor of all deceived wives and husbands. Characteristics holidays - cute horns on the heads of those around and actors in bright costumes, showing various kinds of satirical performances with the participation of lovers - devoted and betraying.

Pirate Week, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

Appealing to the dreams of every child on the planet, this ten-day holiday spans all three Cayman Islands. Music, dancing, games and dressing up are important parts of Pirate Week. The holiday opens with a comic military invasion. Two galleons, built on the basis of originals from the 17th century, in the company of other ships invade one of the harbors of Grand Cayman. Every year you can see a new performance, but the essence of what is happening does not change: real seamen capture the city and send the local ruler to prison. Pirates Week is usually held in mid-November.

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