All Saints Day is celebrated in almost all countries of the world, and depending on the venue, this holiday has its own characteristics and traditions. As Halloween is celebrated in Russia, where did he come from Ireland, where he was initially considered a kind of struggle with dark forces? This question is now of interest to many fans of Halloween, as recently about this issue in the Russian state there have been some disputes.
history of the holiday
It turns out that earlier in Russia they also celebrated something like this triumph of dark forces. Only it was called differently - Day of Spirits - and fell on the first Monday after the bright Trinity.
At this time, our ancestors also dressed up in fancy dresses, some were a goat, some were pigs, the third was a horse. All this mumbled parade had musical accompaniment from balalaikas and button accordions. This procession was sent to the field, where they made several volleys into the air from a gun, and then threw the horse's head into the pit and buried it. Thus, farewell to spring passed.
Is Halloween celebrated in Russia now? In modern society, there are conflicting opinions and views about this pagan celebration.
Nowadays, when this holiday has returned back to the Slavic country, but under a different name, few know how many celebrate Halloween in Russia. The date of its holding falls on the night from October 31 to November 1 and is perceived simply as an occasion for fun and interesting hanging out with friends, and not as a kind of rite.
The most active part in the entertainment events dedicated to the celebration of All Saints' Day is taken by young people visiting clubs and discos decorated on the holiday theme that day. But this celebration has not yet gained such popularity in the Russian state as in America, and therefore, going to this holiday, you need to know how Halloween is celebrated in Russia.
Places to celebrate
And finally, the long-awaited autumn day came for fans of the holiday. Where is Halloween celebrated in Russia and where better to go on this holiday? Nightclubs are considered the most suitable place to meet this event. Decorators usually decorate their interior in orange and black and use pumpkin lanterns as a traditional attribute of this holiday.
On this day, you can dress up in some interesting way, as the festive program will definitely include a contest “The Best Carnival Costume”. There is also the opportunity to participate in various contests and raffles dedicated to this event.
Traditions
On this night, it is customary to light lanterns in order to drive away evil forces and various spirits from your home. A favorite pastime for children is the creation of Jack the Lantern, which is obtained by cutting faces from pumpkins, where then a candle is placed. According to legend, the lantern received this name in honor of a blacksmith who wandered around the earth with a lamp, since he was not taken to hell or to paradise.
These are generalizing traditions for all countries, but each state has its own. For example, in France, at midnight, ringleaders walk through the city streets to inform people that they need to hide faster in their homes to avoid meeting with spirits. All Mexicans bake bread that looks like a real skull on this day. And in the USA, kids put on a variety of fancy dress and go to neighboring houses with the words: "A joke or a treat!" People everywhere decorate their homes in orange and black tones - these are the colors that are the hallmark of this event.
Why is Halloween celebrated in Russia? The answer to this question is very simple - in order to have a good fun from the heart and in the gray autumn weekdays to feel a little holiday without any gloomy overtones inherent in this celebration in some countries.
Features and decorations
Since Halloween has been celebrated in Russia only since 2010, not everyone is familiar with the necessary decorations and the proper decoration of the room where the “Sabbath” will be held, dedicated to the celebration of All Saints Day. You need to prepare as many pumpkin lamps as possible and place them on each windowsill. Next to them put a treat of meat and vegetables, intended for the souls of departed ancestors. Since this night is still considered to be a time of reverence for the memory of all the departed.
On the eve of the holiday itself, it is better to stock up with a large number of candles, since electricity is not particularly welcome in this celebration, and the room should be well lit so that evil spirits can not get here.
You can decorate the room at your discretion, depending on what the theme of the party will be. If you plan to spend the night of the living dead, then it is better to equip the room under a crypt with bones scattered all over and painted skulls. In the event that a vampire coven will be held, then everywhere should be glasses with tomato juice, and no mirrors.
Costumes
We’ve figured out how Halloween is celebrated in Russia. But what to wear for this holiday? In the event that any theme party is held, then you need to come in a certain outfit to match all guests according to the declared topic. When the competition for the best costume is held, everyone will be on an equal footing - no one will stand out.
If you plan to visit a club or a disco that night, then here you can fantasize and dress up as a pretty witch or sorcerer, vampire or vampire, hell, troll, demon, goblin and many other evil characters.
Dishes
The menu for "evil spirits" at a party should be dominated by red drinks. It can be tomato juice, red wine or mulled wine. The favorite delicacy of all evil spirits is worms, which can be made from paste, chocolate or purchased in the store as marmalades.
A beautiful thematic attribute and a delicious dish will turn out a hollow pumpkin filled with cottage cheese with sour cream and whipped cream, and you can also make a traditional pumpkin soup. Meat lovers can enjoy lightly cooked beef steaks or veal liver.
Holiday fight
In the current situation, it is not entirely clear lately whether it is possible to celebrate Halloween in Russia and whether it will be legal. In a recent statement by the Moscow Patriarchate, it was said that this holiday is not peculiar to the Russian spirit and is completely undesirable for Russian culture. Vsevolod Chaplin expressed his opinion that such pagan rituals from childhood can introduce a person to evil and teach them to present him some tribute, instead of rejecting it completely.
The Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation is fully in solidarity with the church, whose members took the initiative to cancel the celebration of this event by law. That is why Halloween is not celebrated in Russia in some areas, such as Arkhangelskaya, where this holiday is officially banned, and the deputies of St. Petersburg are trying to do the same. Also, All Saints Day is under the strictest ban in all Muslim regions.
