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« 2025. # 1 (181)

The Ethnology Notebooks. 2025. № 1 (181), 84—94

UDK [398.332.4:27-564/565](477=161.2)”182/200″

DOI https://doi.org/10.15407/

FROM THE INTERCESSION OF THE THEOTOKOS TO THE ENTRY OF THE MOST HOLY THEOTOKOS INTO THE TEMPLE: SPECIFICS OF UKRAINIAN FOLK RELIGIOSITY IN THE CONTEXT OF THE PRE-CHRISTMAS PERIOD

DIAKIV Volodymyr

  • ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9513-4364
  • Scopus ID: 57221646131
  • Web of Science Researcher ID: ABI-7728-2020
  • PhD of Philological Sciences, 
  • Senior Researcher Fellow of the Ethnology Institute 
  • of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 
  • 15, Svobody Avenue, 79000, Lviv, Ukraine; 
  • Lviv Polytechnic National University, department of the Ukrainian language Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences, 
  • 12, Bandera street, 79013, Lviv, Ukraine,
  • Contacts: е-mail: d.v.m.1029@gmail.com

Abstract. Introduction. The relevance of the study lies in the need to analyze Ukrainians’ folk-religious beliefs and perceptions related to the period of holidays from the Intercession of the Theotokos to The Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple, in their connection with the prerequisites of the pre-Christmas and New Year period in the folk calendar.

Problem Statement. The object of the study is the Ukrainians’ folk calendar rituals in their connection with the holidays of the period from the Intercession of the Theotokos (inclusive) to The Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple. The subject of the study is specific manifestations of folk Christian religiosity in these rites.

Purpose. The purpose of the study is to outline the folk-religious ideas and beliefs characteristic of the traditional early winter period, to highlight the traditional basis and modification changes, to identify the specifics of the functioning of ideological, content and structural components.

Materials and Methods. The source base of this work consists predominantly of archival materials and field materials, as well as scientific literature on the subject. While analyzing relevant materials, the article uses for the most part comparative-typological and historical-cultural methods, but also structural-typological, geographical and other methods of ethnology to a certain extent.

Conclusion. The beginning of the prerequisites for the pre-Christmas and New Year period in the Ukrainian folk calendar can be already observed in autumn, in particular during these holidays from the Intercession of the Theotokos (inclusive) to The Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple. Here can be traced a special functioning of a kind of folk religiosity in the traditional calendar rites of Ukrainians. This can be confirmed by the folk-religious perceptions and beliefs characteristic of the traditional early winter period, in particular those related to the observance of pious behaviour, strict respect for saints and the appropriate celebration of holidays, etc. In these traditional at its core Ukrainian beliefs and perceptions, one can clearly see the peculiar development of certain folk-religious components. Later on, it was Christianity that left its mark on these beliefs and perceptions.

Keywords: The Intercession of the Theotokos, St. Dimitri’s Day, The feast of Saints Cosmas and Damian, St. Michael’s Day, folk religiosity, calendar rituality, tradition, beliefs, functioning. 

Received 20.01.2025

REFERENCES

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