Slavic Wheel of the Year. The Burial of Flies, Spring Invocations, and Sister-in-Law Gatherings

In this book, cultural expert Ekaterina Mokrusheva immerses the reader in the world of ancient traditions, explaining what a folk calendar is, why it began with spring, what the Eastern Slavs considered a holiday, and what dangers awaited them on... these days.

Maslenitsa, Easter, Ivan Kupala, Holy Nights, and Epiphany are holidays known to many. However, few know that this is just a part of the festive calendar of the Eastern Slavs, which was much broader and combined not only religious but also folk traditions. Each holiday had its own sacred meaning and was accompanied by rituals, the violation of which could bring misfortune upon the entire family. Why did they curse during Maslenitsa? Why did they bury flies? How could one learn about their future from a kulich? Why did they baptize the cuckoo?

The book features many illustrations, interesting facts, and even recipes from our ancestors.