Magpie Festival - revival of traditions

Spring Bird Festival

The Magpies holiday is celebrated according to the folk calendar of the Eastern Slavs on March 22, the day of the spring equinox. The very name of the holiday is associated with the day of remembrance of the forty Sebastian martyrs, celebrated by the Orthodox Church.

However, holiday ceremonies and rituals are not associated with this event, but with the belief that it is on this day that the first migratory birds - larks and waders - return home. They bring spring with them and open the way for all other birds returning from wintering in warmer climes. The spring equinox is the day when winter ends and spring begins; day and night are equal.

The holiday was popularly called differently: “Magpies”, “Larks”, “Waders”, “Teterochny Day”. The last name is associated, however, not with birds, but with a special type of ritual cookies - tethers, made on the day of the spring solstice in the northern regions of Rus'. They have a round twisted shape as they symbolize the sun.

The tradition of baking dough products in the shape of the sun or birds for the Magpies holiday was widespread throughout the country. They were called “larks”, “magpies”, “waders”.

Holiday "Magpies" for preschool children of the preparatory group of preschool educational institutions

Scenario for the spring celebration “Magpies” for children of senior preschool age
Prepared by : Posevkina Natalya Nikolaevna Place of work and position: teacher of additional education at the district Children's Art Center in the city of Korablino, Ryazan region Description: the script is intended for children of the preparatory group of a kindergarten studying “Fundamentals of Orthodox Culture” . Parents of children are invited to the celebration. Goal: to expand children’s understanding of Orthodox holidays and introduce them to folk culture. Objectives: -give children an idea of the traditions of celebrating spring; -introduce folk signs associated with spring, teach how to observe plants and animals; -continue to introduce children to folk games, develop dexterity and coordination of movements. Progress of the holiday: 1. Meeting the guests, music videos on multimedia 2. A story about the Orthodox holiday “Magpies”.
Presentation. Opening words by the presenter: Dear guests! Today we will celebrate an ancient and very beloved holiday among the people. It is called “Magpies” (from the number “forty”). This is the day of remembrance of forty martyrs - soldiers who suffered for their faith. Show presentation. Presentation on the topic: Magpies

3. Performance of children performing spring chants 4. Congratulations to the birthday people. Every Orthodox Christian bears the name of the saint after whom he is named. The name is chosen according to the church calendar, each day of which is dedicated to the memory of a particular saint. Today, on the day of remembrance of the forty Martyrs of Sebaste, many boys also celebrate their name days. These are: Alexander, Alexey, Afanasy, Valery, Dmitry, Ivan, Irakli, Kirill, Leonty, Mikhail, Nikolay, Peter, Sergey, Taras. Raise your hands whose names I mentioned! Children raise their hands and receive from the presenter rag birds made without sewing. 5. Presenter: Now let’s dance, let’s stand in a round dance to Russian folk music! (Round dance with ribbons and handkerchiefs)

6. Game “Larks in Nests” (Props: hoops)

Now we will play the game “Larks in Nests”. Do you know which larks make nests? Larks make nests on the ground, in holes. They are lined with grass, feathers, and horsehair. (the presenter puts hoops of different colors: yellow, green, blue on the floor) - now you will be birds, and these are your nests. Three or four children occupy the hoops. - Remember what color your nest is. When the music starts, the larks fly away from the nest. When the music ends, you need to take your nest. Be careful. 7. Children sit on chairs. Riddles about spring on multimedia for children. Children solve riddles in unison. 8. And now a task for the parents who came to visit us. Let parents guess Russian folk proverbs associated with spring. (On multimedia) 9. But the next task can be done by everyone together: you need to guess the voices of the birds. “The bird rejoices in spring,” people said. It must be said that Russian people have long treated birds with special affection and love. (The voices of a cuckoo, a woodpecker, a nightingale, a lark, and a rook are heard on the multimedia) Children and parents guess. 10. During the holiday, both adults and children went outside and played fun games. Game "Stream" to music. 11. Folk game “Carousel”: Children stand in a circle and, at the leader’s signal, they all say together: “Barely, barely, barely. The carousel spun, And then around, around, Everyone ran, ran, ran.” In accordance with the text, children walk in a circle, first slowly, and then gradually speed up their movements. After the children have run two circles, they gradually switch to walking, saying: Hush, hush, don’t rush! Stop the carousel! One-two, one-two! The game is over! " The movement of the carousel slows down, the children lower their hands; The game is repeated, the children move in a circle in the other direction.

12. In ancient times in Rus' they loved and looked forward to the feast of the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste and prepared for it. At this time, migratory birds were already beginning to return to their homeland. On this day, in every house they made these birds from dough (shows) - larks, and baked them. Those who did not have dough sculpted them from clay, made them from rags and paper. In the old days, people believed that spring comes because birds bring it from distant lands. They gave the children “birds” and said: “When the larks come, bring spring.” Baked larks were seated on thawed patches, roofs, trees and haystacks, and spring was called out with them. Plus, they are very tasty. 13. Treating children and parents with larks.

Presentation on the topic: Riddles about spring for children

We recommend watching:

Scenario of a folklore festival for children of senior preschool age (5-7 years old) on the topic: Spring Scenario of a spring performance for children of the preparatory group in kindergarten Musical fairy tale on the topic: Spring for children of the preparatory group of kindergarten Scenario of a spring gala concert for senior preschool children

Rituals of the holiday "Magpies"

The Magpies holiday was considered for children. Children took an active part in making ritual baked goods. Children and youth were given the main role in performing festive rituals. They had to call on spring, call upon it. With baked birds in their hands, the children ran into the field and began to invite the larks and spring. For this there were special poems and spring songs. Children, girls and boys danced in circles, sang, and played folk games.

According to tradition, it was necessary to decorate the ritual tree with ribbons, paper flowers, and bells. It was carried throughout the village, and then installed in the place where the invocation of spring was held. The holiday is associated with many different signs and fortune telling that determine the weather at the beginning of spring, the beginning of field work, and happiness in family life.

In some regions of Russia, traditions are carefully preserved, and residents of villages and villages celebrate the arrival of spring, welcoming it with songs, round dances, and chants.

Larks for the Feast of the 40 Saints

There is a very good tradition of baking dough birds, larks, for the holiday of March 22, which played the main role: to call for spring. So, let's sculpt the birds.

We start making dough for larks on the evening of March 21st, preferably butter dough - we’ll delight the kids, the birds will turn out tasty and very beautiful. You can add raisins and nuts to the dough, the main thing is to make birds with outstretched wings, as if they are flying towards spring, meeting it, and carrying it on their wings to our region. Let's not forget to make the birds' eyes and mouth - let the birds see Spring from afar and call her louder with their chirping. You can make small nests out of dough, and then put our feathered friends in them - we’ll put the baked delicacies on the windowsill so that Spring can see that we’ve been ready to meet her for a long time and hasten to drive away the boring winter.

We invite you to learn how to bake larks for the Feast of the Forty Saints from the video lesson.

We give the finished larks, waders, and other birds that we get to the children, and they should run into the field and call for Spring with joyful cries.

 Let's stick some birds, we'll welcome spring, the birds will chirp, we'll call for spring! Spring, beautiful maiden, Hurry to our lands, Tired of the snowstorm, We are just waiting for you! We're tired of the cold, Winter is gone soon, We're releasing the Larks, We're welcoming the Red Spring. The birds are flying, driving away the winter, they don’t want to freeze, they are calling for spring. Come, Spring, make people happy, Hurry Spring to visit us, quickly! The birds are flapping their wings, Spring is calling to us, You are sweeter than winter, more beautiful, People are really waiting!

The Magpies holiday is a children's holiday

This is great fun for kids. By celebrating the Magpies holiday in kindergarten in March, teachers give children the opportunity to plunge into the atmosphere of ancient traditions, get acquainted with Orthodox customs, and take part in inviting spring. During the preparation process, children are told about the holiday and rituals. They learn to make birds from paper and plasticine. Teachers teach children ritual songs, rhymes and sayings, and introduce them to ancient folk games. Children gain knowledge about the history of their country, the traditions of the Russian people, and get acquainted with the names of birds and natural phenomena.

How can you celebrate a holiday in kindergarten?

In kindergartens where the Magpies holiday is held, the script includes a story from the presenters about the signs of the coming spring, natural phenomena, and migratory birds. During the story, children become familiar with sayings related to the change of seasons, for example: “In March, the frost is creaking, but not burning,” “Spring is red during the day,” “Winter scares spring, but it itself melts.” The presenters, dressed in folk costumes, tell the children about how they prepared for the holiday in Russian villages: they baked “larks” and taught spring songs.

The children are invited to take part in the invocation of spring themselves. Children dance in a circle, recite rhymes, and sing songs. Elements of Russian festive costume can be used in children's clothing. One of the stages of the holiday is decorating the ritual tree with silk and paper ribbons and flowers.

Children are given dough birds. They are baked in advance in the kitchen or children prepare them at home with their parents. After singing the chant songs, new characters appear - “Spring” and “Sun”. Together with the children, they take part in ritual folk games and dance in circles. During the game, children name the birds they know and solve riddles. Outdoor games involve moving in a circle performing various actions, running, jumping. Among the folk games associated with the traditions of welcoming the arrival of spring, one can name “Burn, Burn Clear”, “Stream”, the round dance game “Sparrow”, “Birdcatcher”. The holiday ends with tea and sweet treats.

The Magpies holiday helps children and their parents not to forget the traditions of their people, awakens interest in Russian folklore, ancient traditions, and gives a good mood.

Fortune telling by larks

 You can also tell fortunes on this magical Spring holiday - one of the birds can be thoroughly seasoned with salt, and coins can be placed in some of the birds. Whoever gets the “lucky” bird will be rich, well-fed and very satisfied with life.  

Unmarried girls are also not averse to telling fortunes on this holiday: the girl throws the bird over her right shoulder back, and then looks - in which direction the bird pointed with its beak, that’s where her betrothed lives and lives.

 In another fortune telling, girls in a group baked larks and waders, then laid out their culinary masterpieces at the doorstep and invited a dog into the house - whose bird the dog sniffs and eats first, that girl will jump out to get married before the rest. In addition, it is believed that this girl will be very happy in her family life, and she will get a handsome, kind, generous and affectionate husband.  