CHAPTER VII. 



AMONG THE MOUJIKS. 



FROM Moscow to Count Tolstoi's our road was 

 through the northern forest zone, where the mou- 

 jiks are poor and superstitious. In many of the win- 

 dows of the peasants' cottages were dead branches 

 and faded wreaths of ferns and twigs. These were 

 reminiscent of the Whitsuntide celebrations, which the 

 Russian peasantry keep up with many curious cere- 

 monies, remnants of their old heathen rites. 



Games that were formerly celebrated in honor of 

 the Goddess of Spring, have now been transferred with 

 changed names and certain modifications to the Whit- 

 suntide festivities. On the Thursday before Whit- 

 Sunday the peasants flock to the forests and devote 

 themselves to singing and making merry. They cut 

 down a young birch tree and dress it in gown and gar- 

 land in rude imitation of a female, whom they further- 

 more garnish with bright ribbons and scraps of rag. 

 This is the Goddess of Spring, in whose honor they 

 now feast and make merry under the trees. In the 

 evening they carry the goddess home with them, singing 

 and dancing before her on the way, and install her as 

 an honored guest in one of their houses till Whit- 

 Sunday. Visits of ceremony are paid to her by the 

 inhabitants of the village on Friday and Saturday, and 



116 



