Заклаждане на селянка
Lighting the Sedyanka Fire

Summary/Abstract: The author considers the initial moment of the so-called 'Lighting the Fire of the Sedyanka (work party)' which opens the wedding season. The study is based on material from the second half of the 19th and the early 20th century. In this sense, the study sheds light on the pre-nuptial life of young people in the past. The structure of the customs is determined: 1. preparation; 2. lighting the sedyanka fire; 3. genuine ritual actions; 4. transferring the magic power, and 5. foretelling love and marriage. All the ritual moments have a clearly marked magical character. Considered complexly, they define the lighting of the fire as a group, sexual definitely love magic. The study shows an essential side of the sedyanka as a phenomenon of the way of life, and contributes to characterizing in more fully.

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