AS hart H istory of JJkrainia
B y
D R .
A L E X A N D E R
K O S H E T Z
{ F ro m
th e
s e rie s
o f
le c tu re s
\u043e \u0434
U k ra in ia n
s u b \u00ad
je c ts ,
s p o n s o r e d
b y
th e
D e p a rtm e n t
o f
E astern
E u ro p e a n
L anguages
o f
C o lu m b ia ~ U n iv e rs ity
i n
c o lla b o ra tio n
w ith
th e
U k ra in ia n
N a tio n a l
A s s o c ia tio n ,
h e ld
a t
th e
U n iv e rs ity 's
P h ilo s o p h y
H a ll
i n
M a rc h ,
1 9 4 1 .)
(T ranslated
b y
W .
P a lu k )
| N
s tu d y in g
th e
h is to ry
o f
U k ra in ia n
m usic,
i t
i s
n e c e s s a r y
f ir s t
o f
a ll
t o
s p e a k
o \u00bf
th e
r
p e o \ue000
p le 's
m u s ic o -c re a tiv e
fa c u lty ,
th e n ,
s e p a r a t e l y ,
o f
th e
fo lk
s o n g ,
w h ic h
p o s s e s s e s
a ll
th e
n a \ue000
tio n a l
c h a ra c te ris tic s ,
a nJ
w h ic h
>
becam e*,
tb e
b a s i s
fo r
U k ra in ia n
m usical
a r t ,
b o th
s e c u l a r
a n d
th a t
p e rta in in g
t o
th e
c h u r c h .
T he
m u s ic o -\u00ab re a tiv e
g e n iu s
o f
th e
U k ra in ia n
> p e o p le
h a s
ta k e n
in to
its. sphere
n o t
o n ly
th e
l i f e
o f
a n
in d iv id u a l
fro m
th e
c ra d le
t o
th e
g r a v e ,
b u t
a l s o
th e
H fe
o f
th e
w h o le
n a tio n
i n
a ll
i t s
m a n ife s ta tio n s
a n d
c h a n g e s
fro m
p r e \ue000
h is to ric
tim es
u p
t o
th e
p r e s e n t .
I n
th e
so -
c a lle d
" R itu a l
S o n g s ,"
fro n t
far-rem oved
p h a s e s
o f
o u r
e x is te n c e ,
th e
p e o p le 's ,
m em ory
h a s
b ro u g h t
dow n
t o
u s
e x a m p le s
o f
th e ..
p a g a n
p h ilo s o p h y
a n d
ritu a l
o f
\u043e \u0446 \u0433
a n c e s t o r s ;
a n d
fro n \
t\u00be e
f ir s t
b e g in n in g s
o f
U k ra in ia n
h is to ry ,
y
\u2014 g lim p s e s
o f
tn e
K ie v a n
P rin c e d o m
E ra .
I n
th e
"H istorical
S o n g s * "
w e
h e a r
re v e rb e ra tio n s
o \u00a3
th e ,
sto rm s
a n d
c a ta c ly s m s
o f
o u r.
tra g ic
h is to ry ;
i n
th e
"K ozak
D \u00be m y ,"
1
th e
o u tc rie s
o f
c a p tiv e s
a n d
th e
th u n d e r
a n d
fa n fa re
o f
K o\ue000
z a k
d e e d s .
" W e d d in g
S o n g s "
s in g
th e
h is to ry
o f
m arriag e
fro m
m atriarch al,tim es;
"C hum ak
S o n g s * *
2
b rin g
u s
th e
w in d s
o f
th e
e n d l e s s
U k\ue000
ra in ia n
s t e p p e s ;
re lig io u s
"P salm s
a n d
C ants"
m ove
u s
d e e p ly , w it\u00be
th e ir
w h o le -h e a rte d
a n d
n a iv e ly
straig h t-fo rw ard
C h ristia n
f a i t h
a n d
m o ra lity .
I n
th e
" S o n g s
o f
U k ra in ia n
H om e
L ife ,"
w e
fin d
th e
m ost
c o m p le te
s c e n e s
o f
l i f e
i n
a ll
i t s
m a n ife s ta tio n s , ~ r b e a u tifie d
w ith
lo v e
poem s
fu ll
o f
m a g ic
a n d
d e e p
fe e lin g ;
o r
s p a r k \ue000
lin g
w ith
jo y , h u m o r,
a n d
s a t i r e
i n
th e
"H um or\ue000
o u s
S o n g s ."
A ll these
h e lp
t o
e n liv e n
th e
p ic \ue000
tu re
o f
a
life -lo v in g ,
h e a lth y
p e o p le ,
s e n s itiv e ,
y e t
stro n g
a n d
virile. W
e
s h a l l
a tte m p t
t o
p r e \ue000
s e n t,
how ever
b rie fly ,
th e
m ain
c h a ra c te ris tic s
o f
o u r
so n g s-\u2014 th e
U k ra in ia n
n a tio n * s
p ric e le s s
tre a s u re.
. . . .
R itu a l
S o n g s
R itu a l
S o n g s ,
a s
a lre a d y
s ta te d ,.ta k e
u s
b a c k
t o
th e
d im
a n d
d is ta n t
p re \u00b7h is to ric
s y s t e m
o |
b e lie fs
o f
th e
U k ra in ia n
p e o p le .
In ,
tn e
re lig io u s o u tlo o k
o f th e
U k ra in ia n
o f
th a t
p e rio d
th e
m ain
ro le
w as
p la y e d
b y
th e
su n
a n d
b y
th o s e
e le m e n ts
o f
n a tu re
th a t
e x i s t
u n d e r
i t s
in flu e n c e \u00ab
T he
w ish
o f
th e
f ir s t
la n d U lle r
t o
e n \ue000
te r
in to
c o n ta c t
w ith
s u c h
e le m e n ts
g a v e
r is e
t o
c e rta in
a c ts
fro m
w h ic h
a
c u lt
w as
g ra d u a l\ue000
l y
e v o lv e d ,
a n d
i n
t h e s e
a c ts
o n e
o f
th e
m ain
fa c to rs
w as
s in g in g ,
w h ic h
g a v e
c h a r a c t e r
a n d
te n o r
( t e n u s )
t o
th e
w h o le
cerem ony.
T he
s ta b iliz a tio n
o f
th e
s u n 's
p h a s e s
i n
th e
c o u r s e
o f
o f
a
y e a r ,
th ro u g h
w in ter,
sp rin g ,
sum m er,
a n d
a u tu m n ,
in tro d u c e d
in to . th e
c u lt
a
c y c le
o f
a n n u a l
h o lid a y s
i n
h o n o r
o f
th e
su n
a n d
th e
fo rc e s
o f
n a tu re .
T hese
h o lid a y s
w ere
d iffe re n tly
o b s e r v e d ,
d e p e n d in g
o n
th e
i n c r e a s e
o r
th e
d e \ue000
c r e a s e
o f
th e
c re a tiv e
pow er
o f
n a tu re
u n d e r
th e
in flu e n c e
o f
th e
s u n ;
a n d
a lo n g
w ith
th e
c h a n g e
i n
th e
c h a r a c t e r
o f
th e
h o lid a y s ,
th e re
w as
a
v a ria tio n
i n
th e
c h a r a c t e r
o f
th e
s o n g s .
T hus
th e \u00b7
s o n g s
ecom passed
th e
fo u r
s e a s o n s
w ith
th e ir
fo u r
t y p e s ;
w in te r
s o n g s :
K o lia d y
a n d
N ew
Y e a r 's
S o n g s
. (S h c h e d rlv k y );
th e
S p rin g
S o n g s
(o r
V e s n i\v k y ,
H a h ilk y ,
Y ah
\u0456 lk y ,
T ro y itc h k y );
sum m er\u00b7.
K u p a lo
o r
S u m m ertim e
S o n g s ;
a ls o
R n s a lk y
S o n g s ,
a n d
S t
P e te r's
F a s t
S o n g s ;
a u tu m n :
H arvest
S o n g s ,
a n d
W ed\u00ad
d in g
S o n g s ,
(a lth o u g h
th e
la s t
nam ed
w ere
s u n g
th ro u g h o u t
th e
y e a r
a t
m a rria g e ).
W ith
th e
p a s s a g e
o f
tim e ,
th e
d e ta ils
o f
th e
h o lid a y
ritu a l
w ith
w h ic h
th e
s o n g s
w ere
c o n n e c te d
f e l l
in to
d isu se
a n d
re a p p e a re d
i n
u n re c o g n iz e d
fo rm
i n
n a tio n a l
custom s,
i n
gam es
b o th
w ith
a n d
w ith o u t
c h o ra l
s in g in g ,
i n
v a rio u s
m a g ic
p ro n o u n c e m e n ts
a n d
im p re c a tio n s
b u t,
a lo n g
w ith
th e s e
a rc h a ic
e x c e rp ts
fro m
th e
p a s t,
th e re
re m a in e d
i n
th e
p e o p le 's
m em ory
th e
s o n g
th a t
h a d
a c c o m p a n ie d
th e
ritual,\u2014 fresh,
y o u th \u00ad
fu l,
a lth o u g h
h e re
a n d
th e re
d a r k e n e d
w ith
a g e
a n d
w ith
som e
a c c re tio n .
C h ristian ity
h a rm e d
som e
o f
th e s e
s o n g s
i n
th is
w ay;
fo r
th e
C h u rc h ,
fig h tin g
a g a i n s t
p a g a n i s m
b y
th e
m e th o d
o f
re p la c e m e n t,
m ade
i t s
ow n
h o lid a y s
re s e m b le
th e
p a g a n
o n e s ,
a n d
s tro v e
t o
c h a n g e
C h rist
w as
a d a p te d
t o
th e
b irth
o f
th e
S u n -
th e ir
s u b s t a n c e
a c c o rd in g ly .
S o
th e
N a tiv ity
o f
1
D u m y \u2014 p lu r a l
fo r m
o f
D um a:
a
K o z a k 's
la m e n ta \u00ad
tio n ;
a
h e r o ic
s o n g .
-C hum ak:
a
w aggoner,
o r
w anderer.
g o d
S v a ro h ,
th e
R e s u rre c tio n
o f
C h rist
t e
th e
a w a k e n in g
o f
n a tu re
fro m
i t s
w in te r
slum ber,
re m e m b ra n c e
o f
J o h n ,
th e
B a p tist
t o
th e
sum \u00ad
m er
K u p a lo
c e re m o n ie s
o f
s e lf-p u rific a tio n
w ith
w a te r
andL \u00b7
f i r e , ,
th e
T ra n s fig u ra tio n
o f
C h rist
t o
th e
A u tu m n
h o lid a y s
s u c h
a s
th o s e
o f
th e
h a rv e s t,
e tc .
Q f
th e
C h ristian
h o lid a y s ,
th e
m ost
e ffe c tiv e \u00ad
l y
a d a p te d
t o
i t s
\u00bf fpagan\u00a1 counterpart
w as
C h rist\u00b7
m as,
a s
i t
w as
th e
m ost
e a s ily
u n d e r s t o o d ;
a n d
i t
a f f e c t e d
th e
w in te r
songs\u2014 the
K o lia d y \u2014 m o s t
o \u00a3
a ll... T he
r e s t
o i
th e
h o lid a y s
w ere
n o t
s o
e a s y
to . e # e m n la te ,-* * * d
\u00a3 h ris U a n tty
in flu e n c e d
.
l i t t l e
o r. n o t
a t
a ll
th e
s u b j e c t
m atter
o f
th e ir
\u0456\u043bs o n g s .
S o
th e .N ew .
Y e a r 's-S o n g s
w e re , le \u00a3 t
a l\ue000
m ost
u n c h a n g e d ,
a n d
f
th e
S p rin g
a n d
K u p a lo
S o n g s
w h o lly
u n to u c h e d .
B ut
in ..th e \u00b7
p r o c e s s
o f
in te rm in g lin g
o f
th e
tw o
i d e a s ,
th e
o ld
com \ue000
b in e d
w ith
th e
n e w
i n
a
s t r a n g e
m anner:
o n
th e
o n e
h a n d ,
th e
a n c ie n t
p a g a n , c u lt
a n d
s o n g
to o k ,
o n
a
n e w
C h ristia n
c h a r a c t e r ;
o n
th e
\u00a1o th e r
h a n d ,
th e
p a g a n
s o n g
w ith
i t s
colorful ness,
f r e s h n e s s ,
a n d
n a tio n a l
s p i r i t
im parted
a
b ril\ue000
lia n c y ,
a ttra c tiv e n e s s ,
a n d
n e w
c h a r a c t e r
t o
th e
C h ristia n
h o iid a y. . . . .F in a lly ,..C h ris tia n iz a tio n
o f
|
p a g a n i s m
b e c ^ x n a .\u00ab m o \u00be s tin ^ s iia b le
fro m
U k-
ra in iz a tio n
.o f\C h ris tia n ity .
C h ristm as
C aro le
(K o lia d y )
Q h ristm aa
C aro ls
a re
,g u n g
ifro m
D ecem ber
-2 5 th
t o
J a n u a r y
.7 th ,* th a i;
is ,
fro m
th e
f ir s t
d a y
of Christm as
tp .T h e o p h a n y .
O rig in a lly
th e y
w ere
th e
s o n g s
o f
th e
a n c ie n t
p a g a n
c u lt
c e le \u00b7
.b ra tin g
th e
w in tertim e
re tu rn
o f; th e
S u n -g o d
S v a r o h
t o
h is
sum m er
c o u r s e
(w in ter
s o ls tic e ).
T he,
nam e
K o lia d k a
w as
d e riv e d
fro m
c l a s s i c a l
s o u r c e s
i n
th e
tim e , o f
th e
in flu e n c e
o f
t\u00be e
sem i-
a n c ie n t
c iv iliz e d
w o rld
o n
U k ra in e ,
th a t
is ,
b e \ue000
tw e e n
th e
s e c o n d
a n d
th e
e ig h th
c e n tu rie s
A .
D .
T he
w in te r
s o ls tic e
w as.observed
b y
th e
R om ans
w ith
c e le b ra U o n j^ S a tu rn a lii\u2014 in
h o n o r
o f
th e
G od
S a tu rn ,
a n d
b y
th e
G reeks
w ith
th e
h o lid a y
i n
h o n o r
o f
C ro n o s
(th e
g o d
o f
h a p p i n e s s ) ,
fin d in g
s u p p o r t
i n
th e
C u lt
o f
th e
S u n
w h ic h
w as
in tro d u c e d
fro m
th e
E ast
b y
R om an
le g io n n a ire s ,
a n d
in .
tb e
\u00a3 le w .
Y ear
K a le n d s
a n d
W ots.
A ll,these
c e le b ra tio n s
h a d
m uch
i n
com m on
w ith
th e
h o lid a y s
o f
o u r
a n \ue000
c e s t o r s ,
a n d
w e
c a n
s e e
w hy
th e
nam e
o f
th e
R om an
K a le n d s
i s
s o
s tro n g ly ,
e s ta b lis h e d
i n
o u r
s o n g s .
T herefore
o u r
C h ristm as
C aro ls
a re
o f
th re e
k in d s :
p a g a n ,
C h ristia n
p a g a n ,
a n d
p u re
C h ris tia n .
I n
th e
p a g a n
c a ro ls
th e
n a \ue000
t u r a l i s t i c
e le m e n t
i s
p re d o m in a n t,
i s
th e
m ost
im p o rta n t
s u b je c t,
a n d
tb e
a c tio n
i s
c a rrie d
o u t
b y
th e
fo rc e s
o f
n a tu re ,,w h ic h ,
i n
c o n fo r\ue000
m ance
w ith
an im istic
p h ilo s o p h y ,
liv e s th e
sam e
l i f e
a s
m an.
I n
th e
C h ris tia n iz e d
C aro ls,
th e
m ost
im p o rta n t
c h a ra c te ris tic
i s
th e
C h ristia n
th e m e ,
th e
p a g a n
p e rs o n a litie s
p la y in g
a
s e c \ue000
o n d a r y ,
d e c o ra tiv e
ro le .
I n
th e
la te r,
C aro ls,
th e
B irth
o f
C h rist
i s
p ic tu re d
a g a i n s t
a
b a c k \ue000
g ro u n d
o f
U k ra in ia n
d e c o ra tiv e
p ro p e rtie s ,
U k ra in ia n
hom e
l i f e ,
U k ra in ia n
c h a r a c t e r ,
a n d
a
ty p ic a lly
U k ra in ia n
s p i r i t .
T he. pagan
p e r\ue000
s o n a litie s
th a t
e n te r
into, these, C arols
c o lo r
t | i e
s c e n e
w ith
th e ir
s t r a n g e
o u t la n d is h n e s s
a n d
sym bolism ,
a n d ,
to g e th e r
w ith
th e
n a iv e
a n d
im pressive
m e lo d ie s , m a k e
t h e s e
C a ro ls th e
m ost
b e a u tifu l
i n
w o rld
C h ristm as-so n g
lite ra tu re .
T he
p u re ly
C h ristia n
C aro ls,
w ith o u t
th e
p a g a n
e le m e n t,
b u t
w ith
U k ra in ia n
p ro p e rtie s
a n d
m e lo d ie s ,
a re
a n
in c o m p a ra b le
ty p e
o f
n a tio n \ue000
a l
C h ristm as
hym n,
v e r y
c lo s e ly
re s e m b lin g
C hurch
m usic
i n
c h a r a c t e r ,
b u t
s u p e r i o r
t o
i t
b y
d in t
o f
i t s
o rig in a lity
a n d
i t s
fo lk \u00b7s o n g
m e lo d ie s .
L ast
o f
all, the
C hurch
g a v e
th e
p e o \u00b7
p * \u00b7c
C h ristm as
C aro ls
h a v in g
n o
n a tio n a l
e le \ue000
m ents,
u s in g
a t
tim es
fo lk
m e lo d ie s :
b u t
th is
c l a s s
o f
C aro ls
i s
l e s s
in te re s tin g
(som etim es
w h o lly
w o rth less).
O f
t h e s e
C aro ls,
w h ic h \ue000
e v e r
o n e s
h a d
a
fo lk
m e lo d y ,
th e
p e o p le
a d o p te d ,
a n d ,
u s in g
th e m
o v e r
a n d
o v e r
a g a in ,
g ra d u a lly
m ade
o v e r
th e
s u b j e c t
m atter,
g iv \ue000
in g
th e m
th e
c h a ra c te ris tic s
o f
fo lk
p o e s y ,
s o
th a t
som etim es
o n ly
l i t e r a r y
r e s e a r c h
w ill
re \ue000
v e a l
th e
d is ta n t
fo lk
o rig in
o f
s u c h
a
C h rist\ue000
m as
C aro l.
N ew
Y e a r 's
S o n g \u00ab \u00bb
(S h c h e d riv k y )
I n
s u b je c t-m a tte r,
c h a r a c t e r ,
a n d
aim ,
U k\ue000
ra in ia n
N ew
Y e a r 's
S o n g s
a re
p a n e g y r i c - c e l e \u00b7
b ra tiv e
N ew
Y e a r 's
g re e tin g s
a n d
w ishes.
T hey
a r e ,
s o
t o
s p e a k ,
c o m p le m e n ta ry
t o
th e
C aro ls,
a n d
r e v e a l
th e m s e lv e s
t o
b e
a n
in te g ra l
p a rt
o f
C h ristm as
s in g in g .
M ore
la c o n ic
i n
* s iz e ,
a n d
p o o r e r
i n
r e g a r d s
t o
m e lo d y
th a n
th e
C aro ls,
c o n s tru c te d
som etim es
o n
th e
a n c ie n t
f ir s t
a n d
s e c o n d
in te rv a ls ,
th e y
le a v e
a n
im pression
o f
archaism ,
a l s o
b e c a u s e
th e y
a re
alm ost
u n \ue000
a f f e c t e d
b y
C h ris tia n ity .
T he
a n c ie n t
p a g a n
e le m e n t
r e p r e s e n t s
th e ir
m ain
s u b je c t.
T his
|
e le m e n t
g iv e s .th e
s o n g
a
-stra n g e
te n o r
(to n u s)
b y
i t s
u se
o f
fa n ta s tic ,
s y m b o lis m
i n
i t s
s a lu ta \ue000
tio n s ,
a n d
p r o p h e s ie s ;
o f
u n to ld
w e a lth
a n d
h e a lth
fo r.th e ..c o m in g
y e a r \u00bb
I t , . a l s o
s e r v e s
t o
p ro v e
th e ir
a g e
a n d
p u rity .
I n
t | i e
c o u r s e
o f
th e ir
lo n g
h is to ry ,
som e
p f.th e m >
\u0430 * > ,e v e n ,s o m e
C aro ls,
g a th e re d
h is \u00ad
to ric a l
d a ta
fro m
th e
P rin c e d o m
E ra ,
a n d
o fte n
p a in t
p ro c e e d in g s
a t
th e
R oyal
C o u rt\u2014 -
th e
P rin c e 's
g u a rd ,
m arches,
a n d
o th e r
c e re \u00b7
m onies.
8
M erry
a n d
h a p p y ,
th e y
alm ost
s e e m
t o
b e
c o n tin u a tio n s ,
o r
im itatio n s,
o f
tb e
a n \u00ad
c ie n t
R om an
W ots, so
m uch
m ore
s o
s in c e
th e y
a re
a c c o m p a n ie d
b y
th e
sam e
c u s to m
o f
w e ll>
w is h in g ,
th ro w in g
o f
s e e d s ,
m a s q u e ra d in g ,
m er\u00ad
r y
q u ip s ,
e tc .
A lo n g s id e
t h e s e ,
th e
p e o p le
c re a te d
e n tire ly -C h ris tia n
N ew
Y e a r 's
S o n g s ,
i n
w h ic h ,
in s te a d
o f
fa n ta s tic
a n d
s y m b o lic a l
p e r s o n n a g e s ,
a re
C h rist,
M o th e r
M ary,
a n g e ls ,
th e
T h re e
S a in ts ,
e tc .,
b u t
th e
re fra in
a lw a y s
re m a in s
p a g a n :
"O i
D ai
B ozhel
4
o r
" S h c h e \u00b7
d riy
v e tc h ir!
D o b rly
v e tc h ir!"
("A n
e v e n in g
o f
b o u n tifu l
g i f t s !
A
fin e
e v e n in g !" ).
T hese
N ew
Y e a r 's '
S o n g s
a re
s u n g
s ta rtin g
a t
m id n ig h t,
N ew
Y e a r 's
E ve, and
a re
n e v e r
su n g .,
to g e th e r
w ith
th e
C h ristm as
C aro ls,
W hereas
i t
i s
o b \u00ad
lig a to ry
t o
s in g
C aro ls
c h o ra lly ,
N ew
Y e a r 's
\u0407
S o n g s
c a n
b e
s u n g
a s
a
s o lo .
T he
m id n ig h t
th ro w in g
o f
s e e d s
a fte r
th e
re n d itio n
o f
th e
N ew
Y e a r 's .S o n g
i s
a lw a y s
d o n e
w ith
th e s e
w o rd s :." F o r
y o u r
h a p p i n e s s ,
fo r
y o u r
h e a lth !
M ay
G od
b le s s
y b u
w ith
a
g o o d
c ro p
o f
ry e ,
.
W h e a t,
a n d
e v e ry th in g
g o o d !
A nd
fo r
u s ~ a
,
r
b\u00b5 n
(i\u00b7\u00a2 o ~ g iv e )!"S p rin g
S o n g s
-m
T he
reaw akening
a n d
re b irth
o f, n a tu re
h a s
b e e n
s u n g
b y
o u r
p e o p le
i n
th e
S p rin g
S o n g s ,
\
w h ic h
a re
c a lle d -d iffe re n tly
.V e * n i a n k y , V e \u00be \u00bb n i\v -
.
k y ,
H a h ilk y ,
Y a b ilk y ,
a n d
H a l|.
T hese,
s o n g s
h a v e
com e
dow n
t o
u s
fro m
tim e l o n gp a s t
w h o l\ue000
ly ,
u n im p a ire d ,
(a lth o u g h
p e r h a p s
i n
m o d ifie d
fo rm ^,
a lo n g
w ith
th e
c h o r a l
fo rm s,
th e
gam es,
th e
p la y -a c tin g ,
a n d
p a n to m im e ,
w ith
w h ic h
th e y
a re
a lw a y s
a c c o m p a n ie d ,
a n d
w h ic h
a re
fra g m e n ts
o f
o ld . ,fo rg o tte n
p a g a n ,
ritu a l.
T ak\ue000
in g
in to
c o n s id e ra tio n
e v e ry th in g
c o n n e c te d
w ith
i t ,
th e
ritu a l
w as
in te n d e d
t o
c a ll
fo rth
th e
re p ro d u c tiv e
fo rc e s
o f
n a tu re ,
a n d
w as
sim ilar
t o
a n c ie n t
G reek
E le v s ia c
m ysteries
o f
th e
g o d d e s s
o f
a g ric u ltu re
D
e rn ete r
( i n
G er\u00af
m an y-T l \u00b7lO stra),
t o
th e
E g y p tia n
m ysteries
o f
O z iris,
A sia
M in o r's
A donis,
a n d
K ib e lia ,
a n d
th e
R om an
b a rb a ria n
c u lts
o f
A ttic a
a n d
th e
G reat
M o th e r. - A lth o u g h
th e
C hurch
a d a p te d
i t s
P a s c h a l
H o lid a y
o f
C h rist's
R e s u rre c tio n
t o
th e
S p rin g
c e le b ra tio n s ,
b e c a u s e
o f
th e
in c o m \ue000
p a tib ility
o f
th e
tw o
id e a s ,,
C h ris tia n iz a tio n
o f
p a g a n i s m
d id
n o t
s u c c e e d
t o
th e
e x te n t
i t
d id
i n
th e
c a s e
o f
th e
C h ristm as
h o lid a y ,
e x c e p t
p e r h a p s
th a t
S p rin g
S o n g s
e v e n
to d a y
a re
t o
b e
h e a r d
n e a r
a
c h u r c h ,
som etim es
e v e n
i n
th e
c h u r c h
g r a v e y a r d .
T h e re fo re ,
e v e n
th e
p a g a n
n a tu re
o f
th e
s o n g s
w as
n o t
e n c r o a c h e d
u p o n ,
a n d
th e y
rem ain
p u r e ,
w ith
th e ir
o rig in a l
s y m b o lis m
a n d .
im agery, \u2014
c h a ra c te ris tic s
o f\u00a1 f
an im istic
p h ilo s o p h y .
I n
t h e s e
s o n g s ,
th e
a c tio n
i s
c a rrie d
o u t
b y
e x c lu s iv e ly
p a g a n
e le m e n ts ,
s o
th a t,
a lo n g
w ith
p e o p le ,
th in g s
i n
n a tu re
a p \ue000
p e a r
a n d
fig u re
i n
th e
s t o r y
i t
te lle ,\u2014 fa u n a
a n d
flo ra ,
s u c h
a s
th e
ja c k -d a w ,
th e
fa lc o n ,
th e
e a g le ,
th e
ra b b it,
th e
q u a il,
th e
k id ,
th e
d r a k e ;
a n d
p in k -c h e rrie s,
a
p e a r
tre e ,
a
w illo w ,
c r a n \ue000
b e rrie s ,
p o p p y ,
cucum bers,
a
r o s e ,
b a s il,
v io le ts ,
p o is o n - h e r b s ,
g r a s s ,
p e riw in k le ,
e tc .
T here
a re
a l s o
p e rs o n n ific a tio n s
o f
e v e n t s ,
e v e n
a b s t r a c t
id e a s ,\u2014 S p rin g
w ater,
G reen
m urm urings,
M ist,
S p rin g ,
W inter,
a n d
e v e n
th e
S p rin g
S o n g
i t s e l f
i n
th e
g u is e
o f
a
y o u n g
g irl.
T here
a re
m ay
o n
th e
s u b j e c t
o f
lo v e ,
a n d
p r o p h e s ie s
o f
m a rria g e a b le
c o u p lin g -u p
o f
p e o p le ,
th e
to ta l
e f f e c t
b e in g
o n e
o f
jo y
a n d
lig h t.
T he
P rin c e \ue000
d o m
E ra
c o n trib u te d
i t s
a d d ita m e n t
t o
t h e s e
|
s o n g s ,
a s
i t
d id
i n
th e
c a s e
o f
th e
C h ristm as
\u0456
C aro ls
a n d
N ew
Y e a r 's
S o n g s ;
a ls o
o th e r
h is -
I
to ric a l
e v e n ts
a n d
h a * p p e n in g s .
F o r
e x a m p le ,
w e
fin d
m im icked
th e
o c c a s i o n
o f
th e
K in g s
s i e g e
o f
a
tow n
(T he
K in g
gam e),
a n d
th e
ta b le a u
o f
th e
c ro w n in g
o f
P rin c e
D a n iio
i n
G a lic ia
(1 2 1 1
A . D .)
i n
w h ic h
i s
m e n tio n e d
th e
nam e
o f
h is
fa th e r,
th e
V o lh y n ia n
P rin c e
R o\u00ad
m an
(V o ro ta r
gam e),
o r
th e
la te r
s ie g e
b y
K h m e ln its k y
o f
Z barazh,
i n
w h ic h
P rin c e
J e re \u00ad
m y
V yshnevetsky had
lo c k e d
h im self
u p
(1 6 4 9 ).
O ne
m ig h t
fu rth e r
a d d
th a t
th e
S p rin g
S o n g s
a re
s u n g
o n ly
b y
g irls ,
a n d
i n
u n is o n
a t
th a t,
w ith
sh o rt
h e te ro p h o n ic
d e p a rtu re s
in jth e
d ire c \u00ad
tio n
o f
p o ly p h o n y ,
w h ic h
c h a ra c te ris tic
p ro v e s
th e ir
g re a t
a g e
a n d
p u rity .
D u rin g
th e s e
g irls '
s o n g s
a n d
gam es,
th e
y o u n g
m en
b e g in
th e ir
ow n
s e p e ra te
gam es
th a t
re c a ll
o ld
h e ro ic
b a ttle s .
(T o
b e
c o n tin u e d )
3
e .
g .
M a r r ia g e
o f
P r in c e
V o lo d im ir
w ith
th e
G reek
P r i n c e s s
A nna;
th e
m arch
o f
R oyal
t r o o p s
o n
C o n sta n tin o p le ,
e t c .
*
D a (h )y -b o h ,
o r
D azh-B oh,
a r e
v a r ia n ts
O f
S v a ro h
(S u n -g o d ).
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