The culture of the ancient Slavs, largely lost over the millennia, is of great interest to a wide variety of people today. Bereginya is one of the most mysterious goddesses in Slavic mythology. Beliefs associated with Bereginya are studied by ethnographers and folklorists, and lovers and propagandists of Slavic culture are trying to reconstruct holidays in her honor or invent new ones based on them.
On July 2, according to the old style, or on July 15, according to the new, the ancient Slavs worshiped the progenitor of all that exists, the great goddess - Bereginya. According to ancient belief, she always appears accompanied by radiant horsemen who personify the Sun.
It was customary to turn to Beregina during the ripening of the bread, which testifies to her belonging to the supreme patron gods of the human race.
The cult of Beregini was associated with a birch, so on the day the goddess was honored, the girls went to the forest to worship this tree. They asked the birch for happiness in love. And the most desperate bewitched a loved one. To do this, they brought a small birch branch from the forest and put it secretly on the threshold. As soon as the beloved stepped over it, the girl picked up the branch, saying: "As this rod dries, so let … (guy's name) dries out of love for me," she hid it in a secret dry place.
They revered Bereginya as the patroness of the hearth and family, the keeper of the home from hostile dark forces. The goddess was also considered an assistant in any peasant affairs and undertakings (she gave medicinal properties to herbs, protected livestock and crops). On the day of veneration, Beregini took out embroidered towels into the field and, after washing, wiped themselves with them. This ritual was believed to bring strength and health. The holiday of Beregini was a weekend at our ancestors. Engaging in peasant labor on this day should not be.
With the spread of Christianity in Russia, gradually the image of Bereginya merged with the image of the Mother of God. And on July 15, they began to read "The Raw Mother of God". According to popular belief, if a lot of yellow leaves appeared on the trees on that day, it means that autumn and winter will come early.
Some scholars associate bereginas with mermaids and coastal maidens, in which the deceased, betrothed, but never married brides turned into. According to popular beliefs, at Trinity or Rusalnaya week, they came from the other world, frolicked, led round dances, lured guys. And when the bereginas left the earth, people arranged to see them off: putting on masks, having fun, playing the harp, singing, dancing, jumping over the fires.
In our time, there is a great interest in folklore traditions and Slavic holidays, so the celebration of Bereginya's day began to revive. They try to make this unofficial holiday a family one - for adults and children. Centers and clubs for the study of Slavic culture organize interactive games and educational quizzes, hold festivals of folk music and crafts.
