When is Zhavoronkov baked?

Larks are baked on the day of remembrance of the Forty Martyrs who suffered in Lake Sevastia. This holiday is celebrated in the Russian Orthodox Church March 22 . It is permanent, that is, its date is fixed. Baking “larks” during Lent is a beautiful folk tradition associated with the day of remembrance of the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste. These were warriors who lived in the 4th century and accepted death for Christ. We will tell you in detail about the custom of baking Lenten buns, which are affectionately called “larks”.

What are "Larks"?

Larks are baked birds made from unleavened dough. Their mistresses in Rus' prepared them for the Feast of the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste, which is celebrated in the Church March 22 according to the new style. They symbolize the souls of martyrs flying to God. According to another version, the song of these birds symbolizes the prayer of the Sebastian martyrs to God.

Who are the Forty of Sebaste
martyrs?

The Forty Martyrs of Sebaste are saints of the first centuries of Christianity, warriors of a valiant army, Christians. They refused to renounce the Savior and accepted death from the pagans in 313 - they froze in an icy lake, guarded by guards.

Folk traditions of celebrating the day of remembrance of the Forty Sevastians
martyrs

In Rus', the church holiday - the day of remembrance of the forty martyrs of Sebaste - was called Zhavoronki or Magpies. The most striking custom of this day is to bake Lenten buns in the shape of birds - “larks”.

The day of remembrance of the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste was a sign for the common people that the long and frosty winter was coming to an end. April was approaching, Lent, the “spring of the soul,” was in full swing.

Tradition of baking larks

During Lent in Rus', housewives baked “larks.” These are bird buns made from lean dough, sometimes fashioned together with nests and eggs. Larks were usually baked by the whole family on the day of remembrance of the forty martyrs who suffered in Lake Sevastia, which is celebrated March 22 according to the new style.

The finished birds were “planted” on the window, and some of them were given to children for their amusement. Children hooked baked birds onto long rods, carried them to the highest hill and shouted at the top of their lungs: “Spring is red, what did it come with? “On a plow, on a harrow, on a sheaf of oats, on a stack of rye.” Or: “Little sunshine, look out the window. Sunny, dress up, Red, show yourself! Send us, Lord, a warm summer, a fruitful year and more light!”

In addition to larks, for the feast of the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste they also baked Lenten pancakes - “fresh bread”.

Article material partially taken from http://foma.ru/zhavoronki.html

Baking larks recipe

For the test: 2 kg flour, 50 g yeast, 250 g vegetable oil, 1 tbsp. sugar, 0.5 liters of water, a whisper of salt.

For coating: sweet strong tea.

“Larks” are made from strong, elastic dough. Roll out a piece of well-fermented dough into a roller, cut into pieces weighing about 100 g, roll out ropes from them, tie in a knot, give the head the appropriate shape, stick in the raisins-eyes, lightly press the tail with your fingers, make feather-like cuts with a small knife, lubricate the surface with a strong infusion tea with sugar, bake.

“Doves”, like “larks”, are made from a rope of dough, which must be rolled out so that one end is thin and flexible - the head, and the whole body is thicker, elongated, it must be lightly pressed with your fingers. Cut the tail into a fan shape with a knife. For the wings, roll out the dough thinly, cut out the wing, cut the feathers, brush with tea, the last detail is the raisins-eyes.

You can also do this: roll out the dough, cut out circles with a diameter of 6-8 cm, cut (not to the very middle!) a segment slightly smaller than a quarter - this will be the tail. Take the part to the left of the tail and wrap it to the right, the right one to the left. Carefully form the head, stretch out the beak with your fingers, insert raisin eyes.

baking recipe taken from http://www.pravoslavie.ru/13021.html

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The spring holiday "Magpies" is an ancient Slavic tradition associated with the arrival of spring. The celebration of the meeting of the first migratory birds in kindergartens speaks of the desire to revive this Orthodox custom and introduce children to

Spring Bird Festival

The holiday "Magpies" is celebrated according to the folk calendar on March 22. The very name of the holiday is associated with the day of remembrance celebrated by the Orthodox Church.

However, holiday rites 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”.

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 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.

Holiday "Magpies" - 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 become acquainted with 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 clothes, 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.

Angelika Mosyakina

Scenario of a national holiday"Lark Day"

Goals: Expand your horizons, consolidate knowledge about birds. Introduce age-appropriate children folk signs, introduce parents to the Russian Orthodox custom of welcoming the arrival of birds. Expand your vocabulary with the help of folklore. Encourage children to be emotionally responsive. Encouraging parents to engage in joint creative activities with their children.

Characters:

Mistress - parent (Mother);

Sunny is a teacher.

Mistress:

Hello guys! Hello, dear guests! I am the mistress of forest birds. Today I have holiday!

Oh, where is Sunny? Guys, let's call him.

Children saying a chant "Sun".

Sunshine, sunshine,

Look at the log

The kids are sitting there

They're looking at you!

Music is playing. Sunny enters.

Sun:

I'm coming! I'm coming! I'm bringing spring!

Hello! How many guests have gathered here! WITH Happy holiday to you! Today is unusual day - the day the birds arrive. IN According to folk tradition, this day is called« Lark» . In that day, By folk calendar, 40 birds fly from warm countries and the first of them is lark

Mistress:

Let's welcome spring

To lure larks!

Children:

1. Lark, come,

Take away the cold winter!

2. Lark, bring

Spring is red on its tail!

3. Lark, fly to the lights.

Bring us warmth, fly!

4. Larks, fly into the field,

Bring health:

The first is cow,

The second is sheep,

Third - human!

Sun:

Lark- one of God's pure birds. There is a legend about the origin lark: God threw a lump of earth high up and turned it into a bird gray as the earth. Lark.

Mistress:

There is an interesting game "Feed the Chicks". I invite the guys to play it.

Girls are chicks, boys are birds. Birds must feed their chicks. There should be more birds than chicks. Birds fly to the music. The music stops - the birds fly to feed their chicks. A bird that does not have enough chick is eliminated from the game.

Sun:

Sank to the ground quiet: "Aw!"

On an unknown bitch shuddered: "Cuckoo!"

Knocking on the trunks: "Knock Knock!"

The forest rises to meet you us: "Who's there?".

A carousel game made from colorful ribbons.

Children:

The evil blizzard has passed away,

The night became shorter than the day.

A warm wind blows from the south,

The drops fall, ringing.

The sun warms the earth,

Ice is driving off our slide.

The snow woman is melting

And tears flow in streams.

1 child: In the earliest spring the forest singer will sing,

This finch is singing about his beloved native land!

2 child: Skvorushka, come and choose a house for yourself,

On a tall tree with a wide porch,

Whistle louder and chirp more often.

3 child: Jackdaws, jackdaws, bring a stick!

Doves, doves,

Bring me a ball!

4 child: Cuckoos, cuckoos, bring a skein!

Tits, tits, bring a knitting needle!

5 child: Canaries, canaries, bring the lath!

Tap dancers, tap dancers, bring a brush!

6 child: Mother Spring is coming - open the gates,

7 child: March came first - the white snow melted

8 child: And behind him April - opened the window and door,

9child: And when May came, invite the sun into your house.

10 child: Larks, larks, come!

Bring red spring!

Take away the cold winter.

Sun:

What beautiful poems!

And now for our birds, let's call for fair winds.

Children doing an exercise "Wind" When pronouncing words, perform the appropriate movements.

The wind is blowing in our faces.

The tree swayed.

The wind is quieter, quieter, quieter,

The tree is getting higher and higher.

They stretch their arms forward and wave their palms.

Tilts to the right, left.

Squat down, arms forward.

Stand on your toes, raising your arms.

Sun:

Now it's time to test your attention. I will read a poem, and you try to clap your hands when you hear a word that does not mean a bird.

The birds have arrived:

Pigeons, tits,

Flies and swifts.

The birds have arrived:

Pigeons, tits,

Storks, crows,

Jackdaws, pasta.

The birds have arrived:

Pigeons, martens.

The birds have arrived:

Pigeons, tits,

Lapwings, siskins,

Jackdaws and swifts,

Mosquitoes, cuckoos.

The birds have arrived:

Pigeons, tits,

Jackdaws and swifts,

Lapwings, siskins,

Storks, cuckoos,

Owls and cheesecakes.

Sun:

Well done, you know the names of the birds. Hush, hush, birds. Night has come. Only "Owl - owl" doesn't sleep, flies out to hunt.

An outdoor game is being played "Owl"

Children walk in a circle and sing. Owl sitting (sleeping) in the middle of the circle.

It's dark in the forest.

Everyone has been sleeping for a long time.

One owl doesn't sleep

Sits on a branch

Looks in all directions

How it will fly!

The guys run away and "Owl Owl" catches up with them, and whoever she catches becomes an owl.

"Magpies", with good reason, can be called childish holiday: the day before, the women knead the dough, bake forty balls and « larks» . The balls are thrown out one by one day out the window. The peasants believed that the frost, having eaten bread balls, would go away until next year.

Children:

Larks, come,

Spring - bring red!

Bring on the spring

On your tail

On the plow, on the harrow,

On a sheaf of oats!

Larks, come,

Take away the cold winter,

Bring warmth to spring:

We're tired of winter

She ate all our bread!

Larks,

Larks,

Come!

I'll redden the spring

Bring it!

Cold winter

"Begin to dance". Children dance in pairs, performing movements according to the text.

Sun:

March 22, when day, became equal in length to the night, in every house they sculpted birds from dough « larks» , baked them. Those who did not have dough sculpted them from clay, made them from rags and paper. Children walked around the village, threw their birds up and called for spring.

Sun: Well done guys. For your efforts, please accept a treat from me. Don’t forget, guys, to give the birds a treat at home too, so that the birds will fly to your house.

The sun is handing out treats, sentencing:

The larks have arrived,

They sat on the children's heads.

Even though the birds are returning to us,

But it's still a long way from warming up.

Publications on the topic:

Entertainment in the second junior group “Valentine’s Day - the day of love and friendship” Entertainment in 2 ml. group Goal: - socialization of children; - introducing children at an accessible level to the tradition of celebrating Valentine's Day;

We decided to celebrate World Children's Day with a bow day. Without them they were not allowed into the group. However, if someone suddenly forgot the bow, there was someone on duty.

Goal: create a positive emotional environment, develop the desire to have fun and bring joy to peers. Tasks:.

Goal: reducing morbidity, maintaining and strengthening the health of children of primary preschool age. Objectives: to develop understanding.

Goal: to introduce children to the tradition of baking birds from dough for the day of the spring equinox. Program objectives: - introduce children to the Orthodox Church.

Summary of a lesson on spiritual and moral education in the middle group “The seventh day is a day of rest” Organization of continuous direct educational activities for children in the “Ladya” secondary group

Baking “larks” during Lent is a beautiful folk tradition associated with the day of remembrance of the forty Martyrs of Sebaste. These were warriors who lived in the 4th century and accepted death for Christ. We will tell you in detail about the custom of baking Lenten buns, which are affectionately called “larks”. What are "Larks"

Larks are baked birds made from unleavened dough. Their mistresses in Rus' were preparing for the Feast of the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste, which is celebrated in the Church on March 22 in the new style.

Who are the 40 Martyrs of Sebaste

The Forty Martyrs of Sebaste are saints of the first centuries of Christianity, warriors of a valiant army, Christians. They refused to renounce the Savior and accepted death from the pagans in 313 - they froze in an icy lake, guarded by guards.

When they bake larks

Larks are baked on the day of remembrance of the 40 martyrs who suffered in Lake Sevastia. This holiday in the Russian Orthodox Church is celebrated on March 22 according to the new style. It is permanent, that is, its date is fixed.

Folk traditions of celebrating the day of remembrance of the 40 Martyrs of Sebaste

In Rus', the church holiday - the day of remembrance of the forty martyrs of Sebaste - was called Zhavoronki or S O rocks (with emphasis on the first syllable). The most striking custom of this day is to bake Lenten buns in the shape of birds - “larks”.

The day of remembrance of the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste was a sign for the common people that the long and frosty winter was coming to an end. April was approaching, Lent, the “spring of the soul,” was in full swing.

The holiday coincided with the day of the spring equinox, very significant in the pagan consciousness of our ancestors. 22 was the day when Christian meanings were superimposed on old pagan ones. People praised the martyrs, but remained faithful to ancient folk customs.

Tradition of baking larks

During Lent in Rus', housewives baked “larks.” These are bird buns made from lean dough, sometimes fashioned together with nests and eggs. Larks were usually baked by the whole family on the day of remembrance of the 40 martyrs who suffered in Lake Sebaste, which is celebrated on March 22 according to the new style.

The finished birds were “planted” on the window, and some of them were given to children for their amusement. It was customary, according to an ancient tradition that dates back to paganism, to “conjure spring.” The baked birds were hooked onto long rods, carried to the highest hill and shouted at the top of their lungs: “Spring is red, what did it come with? “On a plow, on a harrow, on a sheaf of oats, on a stack of rye.” Or: “Little sunshine, look out the window. Sunny, dress up, Red, show yourself! Send us, Lord, a warm summer, a fruitful year and more light!” Calling spring, they sang special songs - stoneflies.

In addition to larks, for the feast of the 40 Martyrs of Sebaste they also baked Lenten pancakes - “fresh bread”.

How to bake larks - larks recipe

You will need:

For the dough: 2 kg of flour, 50 g of yeast, 250 g of vegetable oil, 1 glass of sugar, 0.5 l of water, a pinch of salt.
To coat larks: sweet, strong tea.

Preparation:

Larks are made from strong, elastic dough. Roll out a piece of well-fermented dough into a roller, cut into pieces weighing about 100 g, roll out ropes from them, tie in a knot, give the head the appropriate shape, stick in the raisins-eyes, lightly press the tail with your fingers, make feather-like cuts with a small knife, lubricate the surface with a strong infusion tea with sugar, bake.

Doves, like larks, are made from a rope of dough, which must be rolled out so that one end is thin and flexible - the head, and the whole body is thicker, elongated, it must be lightly pressed with your fingers. Cut the tail into a fan shape with a knife. For the wings, roll out the dough thinly, cut out the wing, cut the feathers, brush with tea, the last detail is the raisins-eyes.

Koloboks are made quite simply. Cut the roll of dough into pieces, roll them into balls, place them on a greased metal sheet (baking tray), give time for proofing, then brush with tea with a brush, then after baking the koloboks will really have a smooth, shiny, golden surface (golden kolobans ).

40 Martyrs of Sebaste

“Sincerely please the one who has endured torment, so that you too may become a martyr at will and, without persecution, without fire, without scourges, be awarded the same rewards as them.”

(St. Basil the Great)
The holy Sebastian martyrs accepted suffering for Christ just before the victory of Christianity in the Roman Empire. It happens: a war ends, and on the eve of victory someone accepts death.

In 313, under Saint Constantine the Great, the famous Edict of Milan was adopted, allowing freedom of Christian religion. But power in many provinces still belonged to the pagans, persecutors of Christians. This was the case in the province of Armenia, located on the territory of modern Turkey. Here, in the city of Sebastia, the garrison was commanded by the zealous pagan Agricolaus.

Before military operations and on pagan holidays, ritual sacrifices were performed. In the army of Agricolaus there were 40 Christian warriors, originally from Cappadocia, the color of the army - brave men who won many battles, covered with military glory. Of these, three: Kirion, Candide and Domnus were experts in the Holy Scriptures. Agricolaus decided to force these 40 people to make sacrifices to pagan idols.

At first, Agricolai persuaded them, promising them promotions and money. Then he began to threaten with prison and shameful death. But the soldiers rejected all the promises and threats, and then the ruler imprisoned them. In the dungeon, the soldiers began to loudly sing the 90th Psalm, “Alive in the help of the Most High.” At midnight the Lord appeared to them, and they heard the words: “The firstfruits of your purpose is good, but he who endures to the end will be saved” (Matthew 10:22).

A week later, the noble dignitary Lysias arrived in the city and ordered the Christian soldiers to be stoned. But the stones flew past their target; a stone thrown by Lysias himself hit Agricolaus in the face. Confused, the torturers returned the prisoners to prison to think about what to do with them. At night in prison, the soldiers again heard the comforting voice of the Lord: “He who believes in Me, even if he dies, will live. Be bold and do not be afraid, for you will receive imperishable crowns.”

The next day, the warriors were led bound to a lake near the city of Sebastia. It was bitterly cold that day. The soldiers were ordered to undress and placed directly in icy water. And on the shore there was a bathhouse, and the tormentors said that any of them could immediately warm up in it if they renounced Christ. All night the warriors bravely endured the cold, encouraging each other. They sang psalms despite the pain caused by frostbite. And this torment is comparable in strength to burns from fire. One of the warriors, after several hours, could not stand it and ran to the shore, to the bathhouse. But as soon as he stepped onto the threshold of the hot bathhouse, due to a sharp temperature change, his skin and flesh began to separate, and he died.

At three o'clock in the morning, the Lord sent consolation to the martyrs: suddenly it became light, the ice melted, and the water in the lake became warm. All the guards were asleep, only one named Aglaius was awake. Looking at the lake, he saw that a bright crown had appeared over the head of each martyr. Aglaius counted thirty-nine crowns and realized that the fleeing warrior had lost his crown. By an incomprehensible Divine Providence, it was revealed to him that where these martyrs stood there was life and glory. There is that warmth that cannot be found anywhere and never, there is the Lord Himself. Then Aglaius woke up the rest of the guards, took off his clothes and told them: “And I am a Christian!” - and joined the martyrs. Standing in the water, he prayed: “Lord God, I believe in You, in whom these soldiers believe. Join me to them, so that I may be worthy to suffer with Your servants.” “Following the example of those standing in the ranks, who, as soon as someone in the first row falls, immediately replaces him with themselves, so that their ranks are not broken by the dead. This one did the same. He saw Heavenly miracles, learned the truth, came to the Lord, and became numbered among the martyrs!

Judas went away, and Matthew was brought in to take his place! Yesterday's persecutor, and now the evangelist, became Pavlov's imitator. And he had a calling from above, neither from man nor by man (Gal. 1:1). I believed in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, baptized into Him not by anyone else, but by my own faith, not in water, but in my blood” (St. Basil the Great).

In the morning the chiefs of the tormentors returned and saw that the soldiers were still alive, and in addition one of the jailers was among them! In a rage, Lysias and Agricolaus ordered the martyrs' legs to be broken with hammers to make the suffering unbearable. But even dying from torment, the soldiers did not stop praying and praising the True God. Among them was one very young local native named Meliton. His mother, also a Christian, was afraid that he would not withstand the torture. She stood up persistently in front of him and persuaded him not to be afraid.

The bodies of the martyrs were placed on chariots and taken to be burned. Saint Meliton, still alive, was picked up by his mother and carried along. He died in her arms. After being burned at the stake, the charred bones of the holy forty martyrs of Sebaste were thrown into the river. But the Lord preserved them. Three days later, the martyrs appeared in a dream to Blessed Peter, Bishop of Sebaste, and ordered their remains to be taken from the bottom of the river and buried. He, along with several clerics, came to the river at night, and they saw that the bones, even a small particle of them, glowed in the dark. Having collected all the bones, they were transferred to the appropriate place. Their martyrdom in the Lord began on February 26, and they accepted death on March 9. On this day their memory is celebrated.

The names of the holy martyrs: Kirion, Candide, Domnus, Hesychius, Heraclius, Smaragdus, Eunoicus, Valens, Vivian, Claudius, Priscus, Theodulus, Eutyches, John, Xanthius, Ilian, Sisinius, Haggius, Aetius, Flavius, Acacius, Ecditus, Lysimachus, Alexander, Ily, Gorgonius, Theophilus, Dometian, Gaius, Leontius, Athanasius, Cyril, Sakerdon, Nicholas, Valery, Philoctimon, Severian, Khudion, Meliton, Aglaius - “Forty men, who had, as it were, one soul in separate bodies, in agreement and unanimity of faith showed patience in torment, the same steadfastness for the truth. All are similar to one another, all are equal in spirit, equal in feat; therefore, they were awarded equal crowns of glory.”(St. Basil the Great).

The rapidly spreading veneration of St. Forty martyrs reached the Christian West already in the 5th century. Particles of their relics were placed at the base of the altar of the basilica in Brescia, during its consecration; a special chapel was consecrated in honor of the 40 martyrs in Rome's Santa Maria Antiqua.

On March 9, 1230, the Bulgarian Tsar Ivan II Asen defeated the army of Theodore Komnenos and captured him with his family and most of the army. Ivan II Asen attributed his victory to the intercession of the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste. As gratitude, the king built or renovated the temple that was on this site (remains not fully understood) and consecrated it in honor of the Forty Martyrs, and also left a significant inscription on the column of this church in memory of the glorious victory.

A feat similar to that of Sevastia was performed in 1919 by forty-two Russian priests who were tortured by executioners in the snow near Perm. There Saint Theophan of Solikamsk suffered his death for the Lord. The torturers stripped the holy elder naked and lowered him into the hole until his body was covered with a crust of ice. And there are countless such examples of the death of our passion-bearers.

In Russia, it has long been a custom on the day of remembrance of the Sebastian Martyrs to sculpt dough and bake “larks” - buns in the shape of birds. These buns (cookies) were usually decorated with all sorts of frills and even gilding and were sold at church entrances and at the market. Why larks? The peasants, paying attention to the fact that the singing lark either soars high or “falls” to the ground like a stone, explained this by the special boldness and humility of these birds before God. The lark quickly rushes upward, but, struck by the greatness of the Lord, it bends down in deep reverence. Thus, the larks, according to the thoughts of our pious ancestors, represented the song of glory to the Lord raised by the martyrs, their humility and aspiration upward, to the Kingdom of Heaven, to the Sun of Truth - Christ.

It is believed that “On Soroka day and night are measured, forty different birds fly in, forty little birds make their way to Rus'.”

The memory of the 40 martyrs is one of the most revered holidays. St. Basil the Great, Gregory of Nyssa and Ephraim the Syrian delivered their teachings on this day, and John of Damascus and Theophan of Nicaea wrote stichera for the holiday. On this day, the severity of Great Lent is eased and the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is celebrated.

Troparion, tone 1:
Through the illnesses of the saints, who suffered for You, / pray, O Lord, / and heal all our illnesses, / Lover of humanity, we pray.

Troparion, tone 1:
Passion-bearers of all honor, / the fourty soldiers of Christ, / the firmament of the armorer, / for they passed through fire and water / and fellow citizens faster than the Angel, / with them you pray to Christ for those who praise you with faith / Glory to Him who gave you strength, / glory to Him who crowned you, / glory to Him who bestows upon you healing to all.

Kontakion, tone 6.
All the armies of the world have left, / cling to the Lady of Heaven, / the fourty passion-bearers of the Lord, / having passed through fire and water, blessed ones, / worthily received glory from Heaven / and many crowns.

I wanted to make a fun, light post about early bird cookies in March. which is baked just this month. I thought I'd find it photo and to him I will attach a text from Pokhlebkin’s “Culinary Dictionary”.

« Larks- lightly rich (milk) buns made from wheat flour in a shape reminiscent of a sitting bird. They were baked as a festive Russian national bread (not a confectionery!) product by the 1st week of March (usually by March 8) to commemorate the turn “from winter to spring.” In Moscow, the Moscow region and in some other cities in the central regions of the European part of Russia, they were produced by the baking industry in the first half of March until the end of the 70s, according to tradition. » .

Then I began to read about this ancient Slavic folk tradition and... I realized that the deep meaning of this seemingly frivolous action needs to be told thoughtfully and unraveling the tangled tangle of dates, forms, etc. along the way. and most importantly - collecting together numerous scattered information.
I'm starting.

Spring holiday time.

It's important to know that all Slavic Spring festivals were firmly attached to the solar phase.
The First Call of Spring began February, 15(slav. Gromnitsy/Orthodox Candlemas). “Spring meets Winter in a duel”
Second - March 14(slav. Vesnovka/Orthodox torment Evdokia). “Zhiva-Avdotya is the goddess of Spring, she holds the keys to the spring waters. If he wants to, he will release the water, if he doesn’t want to or gets angry, he will hold it back, or even let the frosts come.”
Third - March 22(slav. Deadlines/Orthodox Forty Martyrs of Sebaste).

In general, March 21-22 is a special date. From an astronomical point of view, it is from March 21 to 22 that spring begins (Vernal Equinox) and continues until June 22 (Summer Solstice).

March 21/22 is Spring New Year. And people have long endowed this March day with special magical properties. It was believed that it was on this day that the paths of the Earth and the Sun intersect, creating a kind of “stairway to heaven.”
In this regard, on March 22, a special “Bird” holiday was celebrated - Dates. « On this day, birds fly from Bright Iria (the Land of the Ancestors), signaling the approach of the Maiden of Spring" And “the first to return from there are the larks, who lead forty birds carrying spring on their wings.”
It was believed that it is the lark that God gives the keys to the earth that he opens, and the birds bring real, warm spring on their wings.
They believed that “the lark brings spring to the fields, the swallow to the house, the cuckoo and nightingale to gardens and groves, the turtledove to forests...”.
(At the same time, it was believed that spring warmth would appear in full force only after 40 days...).

The entire week from March 22 to 28 was called Maslyanichna.
March 24 (Wednesday) celebrated the Bear holiday - Komoeditsu.
After Komoeditsa ( since Thursday) Maslenitsa games (fun) began.

* Now, according to the Orthodox calendar, the holiday of Maslenitsa (Cheese Week) is celebrated a little earlier, and is not timed to coincide with the spring equinox. At the same time, different memories have been preserved about Maslenitsa symbols. The pancakes were lucky - they remained “during Maslenitsa”, and in general they were held in high esteem. But about the “larks” cookies, almost were.

As the Deadline is celebrated (March 22).

The beginning of Spring was associated with the arrival of birds. Therefore, this arrival had to be depicted and imitated. That's why For the holiday of the Meeting of Spring, images of birds were always baked(unleavened buns, cookies) in the form of flying larks, waders, buntings, etc.., as well as bird's nests made of dough - with eggs and birds. They “called out” to Spring, asking the baked bird to “fly to God” and “bring the keys” in order to “unlock spring-summer and lock winter.”
Most often, birds made from dough were called “larks”. In the south of Russia they also used the name “waders”, in the north (Kargopol, Arkhangelsk) they were called “grouse”, in the middle zone they were called “lastovki” (swallows) or “snegirki” (Eagle), “sparrows” (N. Novgorod). In Belarus they baked “storks”.
But still, the most common name was “larks” (“larks”, “zhuvarenki”, “larks”).

Cookie shape.

"Larks" were baked In most cases - "Flying"- i.e. with outstretched wings. But also "Seated" One or several “cubs”—smaller birds—could be placed on the back of a large “lark.”
The shape and size of the “larks” were very diverse and could differ even in neighboring villages. For example, in one village, to make a “birdie” corpuscle, the housewife rolled out the dough into a rope and tied it with a knot, and in the next room it was customary to roll out small round cakes, the edges of which were bent towards the middle, in the form of “wings”. The bird's body was decorated - covered with a glaze of dissolved sugar, coated with honey, sprinkled with small hemp seeds, painted with a pattern of holes, which were applied with a comb for combing yarn (a key, a pipe, a thimble).
Very carefully sculpted "head". Eyes marked with holes and inserted raisins, juniper berries, peas, corn, buckwheat, hemp seeds. Sometimes they made a “comb” or “tuft” - they pinched the dough in the middle of the head, from right to left. Instead of a “hairstyle,” they could decorate it with a feather or a paper flower. On the neck they could hang an impromptu necklace made from multi-colored pieces of paper. head or wings sometimes they were even gilded with gold leaf.

Number of cookies.

Here are several versions:
1. Forty pieces;
2 . As much as you want, the quantity is unlimited;
3. “Larks” were baked everywhere, one for each family member - if they wanted to tell fortunes. Then various “oracle” objects were baked in them - money, a ring, hops, grain, wood chips or coal, which were then used to judge what year awaited someone. And sometimes they simply hid a coin under the lark’s wing, and the one who found it was considered “lucky.”

What did they do with the “larks”. Spring songs.

...When they took the baking sheet out of the oven, they looked: were the “larks” baked well, were they burnt? And then the well-being of the family was judged by the quality of the baked goods.
...The baked birds were distributed to children, and they ran to “call/call/call out” Spring and its messengers - migratory birds.
...The Sroki holiday was celebrated so widely that children (in villages) even refused to go to school until they “called the birds.”
...The children had to place the “bread larks” “high.” To do this, they were hung on rowan trees, birches, oaks, apple trees, and fences; impaled on a long stick; placed on the head; or they tied them to a pole with threads so that the wind would sway them and they would appear as if they were “flying.”
...At the same time, the children sang lyrical songs of the awakening of nature, which were called “vesnyankas.”

Oh, my spring, you little freckle! Come from behind the dark forests, from across the blue seas! The sun, illuminate it with light! Larks, quails, swallows! Come and visit us! Clear spring, red spring
Bring it to us!

Come, the larks, drive away the white winter. Ghouls - ghouls Drive away the white winter, convene the red spring. Ghouls - ghouls Convene the red spring, dress our Earth.
Ghouls - ghouls Dress our Earth, warm all the glades. Ghouls - ghouls, warm all the glades, kindly invite the sun. Ghouls - ghouls Summer, Summer, come here! And you, Winter, go beyond the seas!...

Here comes Spring, red Spring, oh, lyuli-lyuli, red Spring.
Spring brought golden keys, ah, lyuli-lyuli, golden keys.
You close, Spring, the fierce winter. Open up, Spring, warm summer,
Ay, lyuli-lyuli, it’s warm to fly.

* It is interesting that the melodies of “freckles” were repeatedly used in the works of Russian composers (for example, the operas “The Night Before Christmas” and “May Night” by Rimsky-Korsakov, Tchaikovsky’s 1st piano concerto, etc.).

...In the spring, one preserved “lark” was placed in a potato hole and the sentence was said: “So that the potatoes are round.” Or the “larks” were placed in seeds, and when they were sown, they were thrown into the ground along with the seeds.

Dough for early risers.

When the dough was kneaded, it was placed in the sun so that the sunlight (Yarilo) would enter it.
Recipe 1 - “On dough”.
We will need:
SOUND: 1 glass of water, 0.5 cups of flour, 3 teaspoons of sugar, 10~11g of dry yeast (2 tablespoons or 1 sachet).
DOUGH: 1/4 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, 5 tbsp. spoons of vegetable oil, 3~3.5 cups of flour (from these products you will get approximately 870g of dough).
Dissolve the yeast in warm (not boiling water!) water and stir in sugar and flour. Place in a warm place until the dough doubles in size by 2~3 times.
Put sugar, salt into the dough, pour in vegetable oil and add 2.5 cups of flour. Mix.
Pour half a glass of flour onto the table, dump the dough onto the flour. Knead, adding flour little by little, until the dough becomes smooth, homogeneous, moist, but not sticky to your hands.
Cover the dough with cling film and leave to rise.
When the dough has increased 1.5~2 times, cut it into equal pieces, which we then roll into balls.

Recipe 2 - “Lenten dough” (from the monastery)
1 kg flour
2-3 tbsp granulated sugar
A packet of dry yeast
Half a glass of water
Tablespoon sunflower oil
teaspoon salt
Tablespoon of vodka
Pour dry yeast into a bowl, dilute it with warm water (30-40 degrees). Add salt, 2-3 tablespoons of sugar, 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil. Mix everything well. To make the dough rise well, add a tablespoon of vodka. Gradually, sifting through a sieve, add flour. Knead the dough until it stops sticking to your hands.
Leave the dough until it rises. Those. will increase several times. The criterion for readiness is that the dough has stopped rising or even begun to fall.

Recipe 3 - “Rye”
These larks are not very rich and will only be truly tasty when they are hot. Therefore, they should be molded and immediately frozen, and put into the oven only on Sunday morning.
DOUGH: For a glass of rye flour (2nd grade, with bran) - two tablespoons of vegetable oil (unrefined sunflower) and two tablespoons of honey (light linden), a pinch of salt. Add water slowly.
The dough should be cool. It is kneaded thoroughly, no less than 15 minutes. Remember that the larks must retain their exact shape.

Methods for sculpting “Larks”.

sitting lark.
Roll out the dough ball into a long sausage. Tie the sausage in a knot.
At the end that is at the top, pull out the nose and insert (punch in) raisin eyes. Flatten the second - bottom - end with your fingers and cut, which will indicate the feathers on the tail.

Upright lark
Roll out the sausage and cut into more or less even pieces. By volume, each piece is the size of a medium walnut. We draw out the beak of our bird and generally make a head. Then flatten the tail with your thumb. And we make cuts on it with a knife. The final touch is eyes made from small raisins or pieces of raisins.

Flying lark (1)
Pinch off a small piece from the ball of dough. Roll it into a thin circle and cut half of the circle into fringe. Roll out a large ball into a roller, pull off the beak on one side and insert the eye. Flatten the other end a little and cut into pieces. Moisten a small circle - a wing - with water on one side and place it on the body blank, cut side up.

Flying lark (2)
Roll out the dough ball into a short thick sausage. At one end, draw out the beak and insert the eyes. From the other end, flatten 2/3 of the length of the sausage with your fingers or roll it out. When rolling, you need to stretch the dough in width, not length. Make a cut in the middle of the rolled part, along the roller. Then cut both resulting halves with shorter cuts. Raise one part and lay it on top of the other so that these parts are perpendicular to each other.

What else did the ancient Slavs do to summon Spring? Koloboks.

...For the Spring Call, eggs are painted in all the colors of the Sun and Spring: red, yellow, red, green.
...They burned an effigy of Winter, which symbolized the final victory of heat.
...They woke up the willow: they decorated it with colored ribbons and paper flowers, asking it to bloom quickly.
…On the “Sroki” holiday, in addition to “Larks,” they also baked “Koloboks.” But in the event that after the call of spring frosts continued.
Baking “koloboks” is a special ritual addressed to Frost. They were baked from rye or oat flour. A total of 40 balls - “forty saints - golden colobans” and one ball was thrown out of the window every day, saying: “Frost, red nose, here’s bread and oats for you. Now get out as quickly as possible!” It was believed that Frost, having eaten enough bread balls, would leave until next year and would not interfere with spring sowing work.