The word “gatherings” in Russia, familiar to a modern person, had a slightly different meaning. It spoke of a special custom when young unmarried boys or girls spent time together. Games like blind man's buff and trickle have gone from there. At the gatherings, romantic relationships were struck up, but at the same time everything was much more complicated than today.
Is “Young Time” a fun time?
Previously, young people who were no longer children, but had not yet got married, were called "young times" in the villages. And they all took part in youth gatherings, moreover, they had to come to them. If someone did not want to attend festivities, gatherings or games, then this was considered a sign of inferiority or illness. Only seriously ill, or celibate boys and girls were allowed to skip fees.
Artist A. Arkhipov. Guests.
Why did this happen? The elders believed that gatherings allowed to give freedom to the accumulated energy, although this applied to completely healthy young people who could continue the race. Spending time together was seen not just as a thoughtless walk, a waste of time, on the contrary - here young people could boast of their strength, dexterity, wit, and at the same time look after themselves a couple for later life. The girls, on the other hand, demonstrated feminine qualities that were considered mandatory for marriage - the ability to sew, cook, and also boasted of their beauty, ability to sing and dance.
You should not think that everything was left to chance, at every amusement there was an adult who looked after the youth, trying to remain invisible and not interfere with what was happening.
Promotional video:
What were the gatherings, and how they differed
Gatherings, that is, meetings of single boys and unmarried girls, were usually held in autumn and winter, when people rested from hard work in the fields. In different regions the gatherings had different names, but they all came from the word "sit": sit and sit, sit and saddle, sit and pisidki.
Gatherings in the Russian hut.
There were also names related to the time of day. For example, parties or evenings - it is clear that we are talking about an evening meeting. Young people gathered to chat and gossip - please, here's a gazebo with a talk. Will the girls spin? Then welcome to the super row.
More often the girls arranged the gatherings. They prepared delicious treats, if the gatherings were festive, they dressed beautifully, and waited for the guys who also had to bring something tasty with them - nuts, sunflowers, gingerbread, rolls. On holidays, the girls changed their clothes several times, sang songs, told fairy tales, trying to attract attention to themselves.
On everyday gatherings, the girls worked, more often they spun. At the same time, they sang loudly in chorus to invite the guys to visit. During the holidays, work was a more creative activity - embroidery, and even then not always. There were more people, special attention was paid to games and dances. Different regions had their own rules. In some places, for example, soldiers and young widows were allowed to come.
Discreet behavior
At the gatherings, young men and women behaved quite freely. Obscene chastooshkas were performed, the guys let go of "burning" witticisms, the girls conducted immodest conversations. Sometimes the fellow and the girl could even kiss, hug. There were also "gaskeys" - the candles were blown out, and then only the sounds of kisses were heard in the darkness.
The gatherings were attended by unmarried boys and unmarried girls. Painting by E. Chestnyakov.
If the gatherings were held on a weekday, then they were quieter and more relaxed. The guys talked, trying to entertain the girls, saying pleasant words and compliments to them. If the red girls did not pay attention to them and continued to work, then needlework could even be taken away from them. Of course, as a joke.
Flirting was encouraged: guys could hide a handkerchief or spinning wheel and demand a ransom in the form of a kiss. The guy could grab the young beauty and raise her high. Nobody was offended. All jokes, even not too tactful, were taken as good luck, that is, increased attention from the opposite sex.
Let's play, have some fun
The games at the gatherings were different. For example, a round dance with a demonstration of scenes from family life. The husband wants to have fun and is going to the city, but the wife does not let him in - which is not a topic for future spouses.
I. Cocker. Russian dance. Engraving from a drawing by E. M. Korneev, 1812.
The games were different, but always fun. In addition to old games, they often used cards, while the guys tried to slowly put a "bowler hat" (pretzel) or "gruzdik" (mint gingerbread) into the sleeve of a neighbor. It was a sign of affection. But these delicacies should only be eaten at home.
They played in a trickle. This game has survived to this day, and at school at recess, children often arrange "streams" when they need to take a person's hand and walk with him under the arms of the others folded in a dome.
The "string" was also popular - guys and girls held hands and began to lead a round dance along a complex trajectory, while everyone sang songs. You could unhook from the rope, sit down against the wall, and then take part again. Young people sang, played musical instruments. Until now, blind man's buffs and a ring are known, which they loved very much at gatherings.
How guys and girls spent the night together, and how it ended
Festive gatherings dragged on until late, and the girls all went to bed together. In some regions, the guys stayed with them. There was no talk about sexual intercourse in this case.
Russian round dance.
Overnight stays occurred if the house was rented. The girls came to it with their "beds". If there were guys left, then each chose the girl whom he courted during the last gatherings. By the way, the girls who paid attention to different guys at each training camp were called lost and blamed. It was supposed to answer one applicant and spend all the gatherings with him, if possible.
If, nevertheless, the young couple could not resist and entered into an intimate relationship, then the consequences were severe. The "destroyer" could be expelled from the girlish society and deprived of the right to choose an innocent bride. The girls got more: cutting off their braids, beating, public contempt - that's what could happen to them. In some provinces, unmarried lovers could be forced to change clothes and walk around the village in this form.
Author: Yuri Arbuzov
