The ritual cycle of field work in the southern Russian tradition (Lipetsk, Tambov, Penza region)

Buzin V.

The article analyzes the rites of the cycle of field work of the Russian population of Lipetsk, Tambov and Penza regions. Their first stage – the preparation of the field for sowing-was almost not accompanied by ritual, since its success was determined solely by human efforts. The development of the rites of the second and third stages – sowing and growing/ripening of crops-was determined exclusively by "external", mainly weather conditions, which required seeking help in overcoming their adverse effects to the higher forces. The magic actions of the last stage – the harvest-were a gratitude to the higher forces for the harvest. In General, these ritual acts were a symbiosis of Christian and pagan ideas.

Keywords:South Russian ethnographic group, agricultural rite, Christian and pagan.