Holidays and ceremonies
Despite the fact that the majority of the Izvatas identify themselves as Orthodox (in some places the Old Believers are also widespread), the features of Paganism are still preserved. These features can be traced in many Izhma holidays.
Of particular importance are calendar holidays and ceremonies. Thus, each village has its own Temple feast (Khram lun) – a day that is especially significant in the history of this settlement. For example, the Temple feast of the village of Vertep is celebrated on August 14th. A long time ago, on this day, a large prayer service was served because of the death of cattle, and the rest of the cattle recovered. The Temple feast in the village of Galpi (Bolshoye Galovo) is the day of the Holy Trinity, the Temple feast in the village of Diyur is on August 2nd, on St. Ilya’s day, The Temple feast in the village of Shchelyayur is on July 28th, on the day of Kirik and Ulita, the Temple feast in the village of Ust-Izhma is August 9th, on the day of the great martyr and healer Panteleimon, the Temple feast of the village of Galfed (Maloye Galovo) is on July 6th, on Midsummer’s Day, etc.
One of the typical Izhma features is associated with Easter. Traditionally, large Easter swings were installed on Easter night. These swings can still be found both in the Izhma settlements in the Komi Republic and beyond the Urals.
St. Ilya’s Day (August 2) is considered one of the most important holidays. On this day, reindeer sled races were organized, and a festive dinner was prepared. After the end of the holiday, reindeer herders began to move little by little to the area of winter pastures near their villages. St. Ilya’s day (Ilya lun) was also considered the border between summer and autumn. It was believed that one could swim on this day only until lunchtime, then the water died.
The settled Izvatas celebrate Midsummer’s Day (Ivan Kupala), which is associated with the beginning of haymaking. On this day (or better at night), one needs to collect medicinal herbs. It is believed that on Midsummer’s Day herbs are gaining full strength.
The most spectacular Izhma holiday is Lud. It is celebrated on the last Sunday in June or the first Sunday in July, on the eve of the start of the hay harvest. “Vidze pyran lun vodzyn” – “before the day when they enter the meadows.” The main place of the holiday is Di, an “island” between the Izhma and Kurya rivers. Despite the fact that festivities, fairs, performances of folklore groups go on all day, the culmination of the holiday comes in the evening with the beginning of horse races and lasts until sunrise. The transitional place and time of action indicate the sacredness of the holiday.
The most picturesque part of the festival is the Vorota procession, in which residents of all villages of Izhemsky district, as well as the Izvatas who have come from other regions, take part. The Izvatas, dressed in an elegant national costume, pass through Izhma and continue their procession on the island, on the other bank of the Izhma river. Dances continue there, as well as the Micha Izhemka folk costume competition, where young women present not only folk costume, but also certain knowledge of traditional culture. The festivities are continued with an impromptu presentation of acquaintances of potential brides and grooms from different villages in a round dance of brides and initiation into accordionists.
Another Lud‘s tradition is associated with the descendants of the Izhma settlers. During the festival, they take a seedling from their small homeland, the Izhma land, and then plant it at home on the Kola Peninsula or beyond the Urals. This seedling is the connection between all the Izvatas.