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Show CCATH WECK. A "Inanl.r 'Crrrmonlat tthlth Tale. I lara In llural Iluola. "Dcntli week," tho "Hmnrtna No tlolyn" of tho aiavoiilo jK-opl" marki thu cml of winter In mrnl lliUfl-L It in ki it 1urinL' tho last ocn ilj a of Hurcli, nml it n nurtitnl imrunnil (Implo of early pnifliniMn In tlio old Hlmonlc mj tholngy, Ofl in tho inind of tho mns of untmght nnn-slaui nnn-slaui nowmlaja, tho Win of death rnnl winter it cloKuly nMiclntcil, nr.d tho cercinonlos tirojier to tho "ditith week," from tlio wicriflco to tho "Vodjnnol," or water spirit, with which It begins, to tlio dm ing out nnd drowning of dintli, itli V. liich it tcrmluntoH, nro lmseil ujion tho sura rstltlon that huh fnniierly uni erl in northern nuropo Thnt writeni on ntiioln nnd tho Ituwinns Into Biven no nccount of tho "dealh wiik" celebration is diir, no doubt, to tho fact that it Inkes placo nt a tiinoottho )ear wheu travelers nro raaly tempted to UU Kuwiu, nnd in ruullmil to rural dUtrictii out of tho lienten triek, which nro unlil.ctyto nttract f orci3ner. When tho ieo begins to break on tho water, wintir It considered o er in Itusnia, nnd tho breaking of tho ico it duo tho Ituoshn ptnsanU hold to tho "Vodyatiol," or wnter aplrlt, who hns his nbodo in tho riteni nnd ftivitiH. Ho li:w alept ocr tho win ter, thoy pay, nnd ijwnke liunjfry nndnturry with tho llret rays of tho ntunilncr sun Ho lmrstn tho con-pcaleil con-pcaleil co criiiR of tho w nler, Henri tho ico lloeii (lriftinp;, ilrites tholish from their haunts nnd cnuaes tho streann In ovttllow. In tho last wc k of March thcro-fotv, thcro-fotv, Iwforo tho ico Ugins to break, tho iiens.intn in rural Kuiii nturt tho "death week" cikbrntlou by preiariiift ft Mcrillco for tho "Vody. nnol," no that ho shall not bo kept waiting whin bo nwnkis from lili winter sleep Thoy meet together In tho villniro where tho celebration U tntal.oplnconnd sulitcrilai n sum of money for tho purchno of n oung linrsv Tlio nnltnal must not bo n gift, but liougbtforinonoyj it must not lio barg lined for, nnd noono person per-son muit cuntributo jnoro than an other to tho ainuunt reiiuiral Tlio bono U tnkiu tu n stnblo spo-ciilly spo-ciilly rusorMxl for tho gift to tho "Vodymioi' nnd fed forthreo days on bread nnd oilcake. On tho fourth day, ut midnight, tho borso w taken from tlio btnll mid conducted to tho iiiarest river or btrcam, tho illngeni following in a Imly Tho inanois riecorntej with nilriblioni, tho bead smeared wilh honey, tholegi) nro tied together and a couplo of mllUtoues Beeun'd to tho neck Tin n n bolo is nndo in tho icoaml tho homo throw n into tho wnter n living sacrillco to tbo "Vodjnnol" Kisher folic In tho Arebangtl ills trict iiour n riuantity of fat into tlio water instead of tbrowinir in a bonn', nnd Die mtllerHof tho Ukiainocokt tbo horse's be.ul into tho riter nnd not tho living animal After np-jM-nsIng tho wnter spirit; tho houi-o fplnt, tho "Pomovol," talU for n incriflco. Ho nw nkes on tho night of March 25, mil willwnlt only threu riaya for his offering Soon return Ing from tho river hirio tbo vilhgtni prepare n miitablo gift for him Thoy take n fat black pig, kill it nnd cut It into an many pieces ns there nro rvsiilcnta in tile placo. Each real dint ivceltes ono plire, which ho btrulghtway litirleH under tho door-btip door-btip nt tho enlmueo to his house. In some jmrts, it It salri, tbo conn try folk bury n few eggs 1 nenth tlio threshold of tho dwelling U propiti-nto propiti-nto tho "Domovol."' " |
