The peoples of the North conduct an ancient ceremony with a beautiful celebration that lasts for several days. Previously, such a holiday was organized in honor of a dead bear. The duration of the holiday among such peoples as the Mansi and the Khanty depended on who the hunters killed.
If it was a male, then they celebrated at least 5 days, the female – 4 days, and the cubs 2-3 days. Then they began to hold the holiday not all the time, but no less than once every seven years.
Often, each of us could hear such phrases as “Clumsy as a bear”, “Barefoot bear”, “Bear stepped on the ear”.
But very often one can hear about him and affectionately – “Bat Father Bear”, respectful – “Mikhail Potapich”, “Forest Old Man”, “Guest”, “Old Man Prince”. Many nations of the world have a special relationship to the bear. After all, it is a beautiful, clever animal.
The animal-like representative of the animal world appeared 5-6 million years ago. It is believed that bears, in their present form, appeared on Earth two million years ago. The first representative is considered an Etruscan bear. And the youngest is a polar bear with a pedigree of 200,000 years.
At present, this genus of mammals of the predatory order is divided into 4 species. Brown, Himalayan, White-breasted or Polar Bears are more known to people. The growth of the animal is huge from 1.2 meters to three. Large specimens reach up to one ton. Few animals dare to attack him. Rival for this type can only be a man.
According to ancient legend, the bear was the youngest son of Lord Torum. Therefore, he is so strong and agile. God sent his son to Earth and asked him not to ravage the villages and not to kill deer. But because of the famine and attacks of the midges, the father’s mandate was broken. Therefore, the car hit the bear. The beast became mortal, and hunters had the right to kill him for not obedience. The soul remained immortal and had to return to Torum. The bear is also called the forest man. People honor him and even celebrate the Bear holiday.
During this ancient and interesting rite, traditional rituals are held, theatrical performances are arranged, accompanied by music, singing, dancing, and dressing up in various costumes. There is even a special ritual dance with seven arrows. All days they praise the bear and shift the blame for killing the beast on a gun, and for eating meat – on a raven. Only then boil and eat the bear entirely.
The holiday itself begins with a dramatization of the hunt with many rules. For this purpose, bear is specially grown to the age of three. Then celebrate the meeting. A treat is being served. Most often, coins, sweets. Dress up and animal. Silver coins are placed on the eyes and nose. Bear bearskin muzzle worn. The bear receives a headscarf and beaded jewelry on its head.
Songs with apologies are sung that I had to kill a bear. Even sacrifice in the form of a deer. The number of songs is always odd. In the songs praise the bear, as the representative of the kind of a whole nation. There are special songs that are performed on this occasion, in costumes and animal masks. People imitate their habits and dances. Crows act as thieves who want to steal the meat and soul of a bear. People are trying to protect and not to let the immortal soul be kidnapped.
After the chants, sports competitions and dramatic performances begin. Hunters compete in the mark with steles on the target, prepare bear meat for dinner in accordance with the rules and rituals, after which the meal begins. After dinner, people collect all the bones to bury in a special place, believing that the bear will be able to be reborn again.
The skin, part of the muzzle, lips, skull – are considered sacred and are stored separately. At this holiday you can not only see the performance, but also buy a lot of souvenirs that depict a bear. For women of interest are bead jewelery, knitted rugs, fur products. Men will be conquered by knives, which have an image of a totem animal on handles, handmade leather goods. National costumes are also beautiful. And what kind of masks can you find and hang to decorate the interior of your apartment! For children are toys in the form of a bear.
In Russia, bears are also revered since ancient times. There is even an East Slavic wakeful bear holiday. This holiday was connected with Maslenitsa. But after the adoption of Christianity, the celebration of the awakening of the bear was moved to an earlier time and ceased to worship this beast. On March 24, people dressed in clubbing costumes, made of bear hides, went around. There was a merry celebration with the burning of effigies, the riding of burning wheels and the dancing of real bears with buffoons. The owner of the forest was similar to the Russian God Veles or, as he was called otherwise, Volos. Velez was considered the patron of livestock, was shaggy and hairy. Even the Magi wore a bear skin.
