ART OF SPOKEN WORD ***

 Even in the recent past, approximately the 40-s of the XX century, tales, songs, lamentations in the life of the Russian North were organic and, therefore, a subconscious part of the people's cultures.
 Authentic folklore lived quite independently of the scientific incarnation. It was not interested in a pale reflection of that flickering in the book of folklore texts and gathering. A spoken word, despite all attempts to "restrain" it by "affection and punishment," to make it manageable, dependent on regular education, the spoken word never fits into the framework of book culture. It was not afraid of the books but did not trust them. The spoken word placed in the book almost immediately languished and faded. (Maybe only Boris V. Shergin - this truly original talent - has managed so well, so naturally married the spoken word with the book.)


 Powerful music and oral culture, created by the Russians, included many genres many kinds of expressions. Among this set, separate styles do not aspire to isolation. Each of them was just one of the stones in the monolith of popular culture, part of the whole vast ocean, and the elements of verbal creativity, inevitably, in turn, with other kinds of the invention.
 What did the word mean to people's lives at all? This question is even scarier to ask, not just respond to it. The fact is that our ancestors equated the word to the experience itself. The word gave rise to and explained life; it was the farmer's keeper of memory and the key to the infinite future. But, at the same time (and perhaps for that very reason), it comforted, helped, motivated to adventure, stood up, cured, inspired. And all this happened naturally as the flow of river water or as a succession of days and seasons.
 You will find not surprising the appearance of worship of the word that exists in the villages still in our time?
 To some extent, the ability to well, that is, with imagination, wit and tact, speak was even a measure of social position in society, the cause of respect and deference. But, for petty and evil people, such skills are the reason for envy.
 The word, whether said, sung, whether expressed in the signs of deaf-mute with his hands and just if not shown but only felt - every word has always endeavoured to his figurative perfection.
   Of course, the goal is one thing; its achievement is another. But, of course, not everyone knew how to speak so vividly, like the late Maria Tsvetkova and Raisa Pudova from the collective farm "Rodina" Kharovsk region Vologda region. But almost all sought such imagery, like everyone wanted to have the right clothes and a great, beautiful house, just as everyone was not opposed to having the glory, for example, the best carpenter.

   Competition is an old quality that came out of paganism of the public (community) life was present not only in labour. It lived in the home, observance of religious traditions and ethics; it is pretty vividly manifested in the sphere of language, literary and musical creativity.
 A beautiful, figurative speech cannot be incoherent speech. The ability to speak well does not equal saying much, but dense short-spoken people who were not in favour were laughed at. Intentional silence was considered a sign of cunning and malice, with all this implies. So, saying "word is silver, silence is gold" is not always appropriate at any moment and in every place.

**SHROVETUDE***

The family rites are naturally blended with communal rituals. For example, the funeral was attended not only by relatives but by the whole village. The wedding was also a public event. The rite of seeing off the recruit to the army did not fit into the framework of one family; the aid work inherently could not be confined to the family, the Yuletide was attended by all.

Shrovetide, like the Yuletide, was one of the links in an unbroken chain, composed of public and family rituals. In the annual cycle, Shrovetide took a definite and specific place. It also was in some way the continuation of the family ceremonies, such as the wedding. At the Shrovetide week, husband and wife always visited the wife's relatives. A trip to his mother-in-law for a pancakes party was accompanied by several social conventions. In this week, finally were established kinship between the newlyweds and their relatives.

But played (experienced) the Shrovetide not only newlyweds and their parents but all -young and old. It was celebrated with especially abundant food, pancakes.

Not for nothing, the Shrovetide week was called the "Wide" Shrovetide from Thursday till the end.

Going out for horse-riding was the main thing at the Shrovetide. The outing showed off horses and harnesses; also, there was a sport-playing sense.

The carriage and the harness in the Russia North were regarded as art functions. A painted arc with bells, sleigh, copper and even silver plaques on the breeching, collar, saddle, tasselled harness decorated the outing that had been waited for a year after the last Shrovetide.

All the young people were skating on the snow and ice.

Sledding was a favourite childhood activity and not only during Shrovetide. From the thick wide boards were made special children sleighs. You couldn't fall or turn over from such sleds. Small kids dragged them on a rope. A sleigh with the gazebo called "the box." If on the bottom of the sleigh pour water and freeze it, such sled particularly fast rushed down the slope.

Fun for the unmarried and married young people were wooden boards, on which rode standing in pairs, holding each other. A long, well-hon board was put on top of the slope, wallowed in snow and poured water on. The whole Shrovetide week, people skated on the boards, screaming and falling, screaming and hooting, speeding down with songs. The couple who stayed on their feet rolled away across the river or away from the village.

At the end of the week solemnly was burned the Shrovetide (straw, set in the middle of the village scarecrow).

Spring was just around the corner.

Sequentially shifting labour weekdays and holidays formed a harmonious whole year's cycle.

Years lived evolved for people of different ages, quite unlike each other, but deriving as naturally and consistently as episodes of a classic drama.