The popularity of one of the oldest holidays in the world - Halloween - is only growing every year. The tradition of celebrating the mysterious night before All Saints' Day originated in the UK several hundred years ago. This is both a harvest festival and a day shrouded in myths and legends related to the afterlife and spirits. In the north of Ireland and Scotland, rituals with a long history are still performed. However, in Russia, Belarus and other CIS countries, the celebration of Halloween has nothing to do with the original idea of this holiday - rather, it is an attempt to copy the tradition of autumn costume parties and making souvenirs from pumpkin.
In order to somehow diversify the dreary October evenings, Belarusians adopt the Western European tradition of celebrating “the worst night of the year”, organize themed parties, concerts and photo sessions. Halloween has been celebrated in our country for several years, but its original meaning is significantly distorted. Halloween in Belarus is another reason to get together in a company circle, have fun, surprise your friends with the most original costume and arrange the most creative party of the year. It is easy to guess that the holiday attracts mainly young people.
Separately, it is worth noting the main attribute of the holiday - a head carved from a pumpkin, the so-called "Jack's lamp". The appearance of this symbol is associated with the Irish legend of a man who was doomed to wander the world with a pumpkin head and a smoldering ember inside it. After his death, Jack did not go to heaven or hell. Such a sinister and amazing fairy tale attracts attention, so Halloween cannot be considered complete without making a pumpkin lamp.
Halloween is celebrated on the night of October 31st to November 1st. It received the greatest scope in English-speaking countries, but it is still not considered a public holiday or a day off anywhere. On an autumn evening, children, dressed in costumes and masks, go to beg for sweets from the homeowners, while uttering the traditional phrase "Trick or Treat!", Which means "trick or treat!" The outfits of witches, magicians, vampires, werewolves, ghosts, mermaids and various nocturnal animals are especially popular.
While Western culture lovers get ready to celebrate American All Saints Day and pick up the outfit for the party, fans of local customs can plan for something more traditional.
For Belarusians, a respectful attitude towards ancestors is characteristic, therefore, in the national calendar there are more than five dates when it is customary to commemorate the dead, but the autumn holiday of Dzyady is the most important among them.
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Usually, autumn Dziady was celebrated on the third Saturday after the Intercession (October 14), but in different regions the dates could change. In modern Belarus, this holiday is clearly recorded - on November 2, the national holiday is the Day of Remembrance.
Dzyady is a Christian holiday with deep pagan roots, so it is held differently in different regions of Belarus. On this day, ancestors are invited to their home to treat and thank for their help and patronage, so the holiday is considered modest, family and home. For the celebration of the Dzyads, not only themselves, but also the house were put in order: the whole family put things in order in the house and visited the bathhouse, where they then left a bucket of clean water and a new broom for the souls of their ancestors, who would look here later.
The festive table was incredibly rich and tasty: women could cook a wide variety of dishes all day, and the owner of the house lit a candle, read a prayer, opened windows and doors, and then invited the deceased ancestors to the table. For a family dinner, each deceased was called by name, which proved the special respectful attitude of Belarusians to their family.
During the celebration of Dzyady, the old tradition was strictly observed: family members sat at the table in order of seniority - from the oldest to the youngest. The Belarusians believed that death takes away before the one who sits at the table first.
No matter how different the customs of celebrating Dziads, depending on the region, they had one thing in common - there was always a bowl and a glass intended for spirits on the table, where each member of the family poured his drink and put food. Kutia and pancakes were indispensable parts of the dinner.
The memorial dinner lasted quite a long time and was accompanied by memories of deceased relatives, of their worthy deeds. Thus, from generation to generation, information about their kind was passed on to the youngest members of the family, so that, after many years, she would tell the same to her children and grandchildren.
When the dinner came to an end, the owner said a prayer, and then put out the candle with a piece of bread or pancake. If the smoke went up, then everything in the family should be safe. And if he walked to the side to the door, then soon there would be a deceased in the house.
On Dzyady, each peasant family generously endowed beggars who walked around the village. Sounds a lot like Halloween, doesn't it?
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The first two November days in the Catholic Church are dedicated to the memory of the dead and follow one after the other: November 1 - All Saints 'Day and November 2 - All Souls' Day. Orthodox Christians celebrate Dzyady on the first Saturday before November 8 (memorial Saturday).
The Feast of All Saints was introduced at the beginning of the 7th century by Pope Boniface IV, and later, at the beginning of the 11th century, the Day of Commemoration of the Dead was established. The Catholic Church considers observance of the rites of remembrance to be an important duty of all believers. People should remember those who have passed away, but can be in Purgatory, where God cleanses them, the saved, from the consequences of sin. Good deeds and prayers and the repentance of the living can shorten the period of stay in Purgatory. On the first day (November 1), Catholics spend in churches, participating in Holy Masses, and on the second day, in the morning, they go to the cemetery, where they pray, tidy up the graves and leave burning candles.
Polina Krishchanovich