Winter joy at the preparatory faculty for foreign citizens
On Thursday, January 19, the students of the preparatory faculty for foreign citizens at BSTU named after V.G. Shukhov had the opportunity to continue their acquaintance with the rich traditions of the Russian people. At this time in the hall of the Students Art Center of the University the students celebrated Svyatki - Russian Christmastide the last day of which is January 19, when the day Epiphany is celebrated.
The Foreign students have learned, that the Russians call twelve days from Christmas to Epiphany as “Svyatki”. These holidays are also called holy nights - in honor of the birth and baptism of Jesus Christ. The celebration combines the both Christian and ancient pagan traditions.
At the beginning of the festive evening the foreign students got acquainted with the most, perhaps, remarkable Epiphany traditions - swimming in an ice hole. According to the legend, for those who has bathed in the icy water hole the whole year is going to be healthy and happy. For lack of a traditional hole in the ice, the tradition was realized with the help of fresh snow - it was necessary to rub the neck and hands of the one to whom you want to wish health for the whole year ahead.
Then, the participants welcomed the festive evening students’ choir of the preparatory faculty for foreign citizens, who performed some Christmas songs. According to the old Russian tradition of "carols" the singers were given sweets.
The celebration continued with the performance by “Peresek”, a folklore ensemble from Belgorod State Centre of Folk Art. Initially, the students were asked to listen to traditional Russian folk songs sang during the Svyatki, lyrical songs.
The students were also shown some of Russian folk instruments such as balalaika, kuvikly, zhaleyka. Participants of the folk group sang a merry folk song to the accompaniment of folk musical instruments.
And then everything began to dance. And even those who initially stayed away, were unable to resist the universal joy that reigned in the room.
Together with the members of the folk ensemble they learned the dance after which the ensemble was named. The students played outdoor games with elements of dance performance by soloists of the ensemble of Russian folk songs, saying:
"I went to a goat in the woods, the woods, the woods"
Everyone was captured by joy that evening. Standing at one place was impossible, so the feet burst into a dance.
And when the celebrations came to an end , the students rushed to the snow, wishing health and wealth to each other.
The feast was rich in songs and jokes, rhymes and dances. Each received a charge of vivacity and good mood for the entire year.