Holidays of the Slavs - Pochinki

According to tradition, Slavic pagan holidays are associated mainly with nature and the events that occur in it. All the rituals that were performed by our ancestors were aimed at being in the mercy of Mother Nature. Therefore, the Slavs celebrated holidays on a special scale, noisily and cheerfully. However, not all holidays were celebrated as was customary. We are talking about a Slavic folk holiday called “Pochinki,” which was celebrated on February 16, immediately after Candlemas. Little is known about its second name - the day of Semyon and Anna There was no fun on this day; all household members were at home. There was no time to visit Pochinki for guests; every good owner was busy with work. The proverb “Prepare the sleigh in summer and the cart in winter” suits this day perfectly. There was a belief that the earlier you start the day, the better you will please the spring itself, so the peasants got up very early. They were in a hurry to prepare everything before the earth awakened after winter sleep. We only paused for lunch and then got back to work. The first thing on Pochinki was to put in order everything that had been used in the spring and summer. For example, men inspected the entire farm, checked barns, repaired agricultural tools, diligently preparing for plowing and sowing. It was interesting that the repaired horse harness was hung in a prominent place in the yard, as an indicator of a skillful owner. The women did laundry, prepared traditional salamata (porridge with cracklings) for lunch, sorted through chests, washed kitchen utensils, put things in order in all corners, throwing out stale rubbish. Even the children did not sit idle; there was feasible work for them too. The kids handed things, carried things, and ran around on small errands from their parents. Unmarried girls worked especially hard. It was believed that if you were lazy on this day, family happiness would bypass them. They said that on Pochinki even the Domovoy himself became a good helper for his masters. In the evening the whole family gathered at the festive table. After the meal, dances or competitions were held in which unmarried girls demonstrated their skills. It was often at this time that future mothers-in-law noticed the bride they liked for their son. This is how the Repairs ended among the Slavs: with benefit for everyone.