Проект на тему «Праздник любви в России: День Святого Валентина или День любви, семьи и верности?»

МКОУ «СОШ с. Старица им. Героя Советского Союза Конева П.Ф.»

Проект

«Праздник любви в России: День Святого Валентина или День любви, семьи и верности?»

Секция «Иностранные языки»

Автор проекта: учащиеся 7 класса

Пономарева Ульяна, Шлыков Лев

Руководитель проекта:

учитель английского языка

Марчукова М.В.

2022 год

Contents

Introduction…………………………………………………………………………...3

Section 1. Saint Valentine’s Day……………………………………………………..5

1. History………………………………………………………………………….5
2. Traditions………………………………………………………………………5
3. Valentine’s Day in Russia……………………………………………………...6

Section 2. The Day of Family, Love and Fidelity…………………………………….7

History of the day of Peter and Fevronia…………………………………………7

Traditions…………………………………………………………………………8

Section 3. Research Results…………………………………………………………..9

Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………...11

List of used resources………………………………………………………………..12

Application…………………………………………………………………………..13

Introduction

Holidays are a part of everyone's life. One of the most common holidays in the modern world is Valentine's Day. It is celebrated in many countries around the world. Russia is no exception. In Russia, Valentine's Day has been celebrated since the early 90s of the 20th century. It is celebrated on February 14, like all over the world. Traditionally on this day people give each other flowers, candies, toys, balloons, and cards (often in the shape of a heart).

But in Russia there is another Russian holiday dedicated to loving hearts. This is the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity. It has been celebrated on July 8 since 2008 in Russia. On this day, for more than seven hundred years, honors have been paid to Peter and Fevronia of Murom, the patrons of the hearth.

But in our country, especially among the younger generation, Valentine's Day is more popular than the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity. If a person is asked to remember when the holiday of love is celebrated, he will answer without hesitation: "February ; And then the July Day of Family, Love and Fidelity will come to mind. Why is the celebration of St. Valentine's Day so widespread in Russia, while the original Russian holiday is given less attention? Moreover, many people do not know about its existence.

This topic seems interesting to us, as it allows us to study the similarities and differences in the cultural values ​​and customs of the two countries using a specific example.

The relevance of this work lies in the fact that it raises the problem of the depreciation of the native culture and the spread of the influence of the cultures of other countries. Therefore, we need to revive the traditions of the Russian people in order to promote patriotism and interest in Russian national culture among young people.

The purpose of this project is to study the holidays dedicated to love in Russian and English cultures.

The purpose of the work determined the following tasks:

1. Learn the history of these holidays, their customs and traditions.

2. Conduct a comparative analysis of Valentine's Day and the Day of Saints Peter and Fevronia.

Hypothesis: perhaps the Day of Peter and Fevronia is celebrated in our country, but is less advertised, and, therefore, less common among our population.

The object of research: the holidays "the Day of Peter and Fevronya and Valentine's Day"

Subject of research: the history of the holidays "Peter and Fevronya Day and Valentine's Day".

Research methods:

1. Survey of students of our school.
2. Analysis of the received data.
3. Study of literature, various Internet sources.
4. Generalization of the found material and comparison.

Section 1. Saint Valentine’s Day

1. History

There are several legends that explain the origin of the holiday. Yet nobody is sure which of them is true. The first legend tells us that three hundred years after the death of Christ, Roman Emperors still forced everyone to believe in the Roman gods. On the 14th of February there was a custom to celebrate the Day of Faun, a Roman god of forests and fields, the patron of farmers and cattle-breeders. That god had an image of a man with a goat’s horns, ears, legs, and tail. On that day young men gathered to cast lots and thus they chose young girls to be their wives for the rest of the year. This custom was similar to the bird’s picking their mates on the same day as in early times there was a strong belief that they did it on that very day. That might explain why love-birds seem to be such popular on Valentine cards.

The other legend tells us about an Italian bishop who lived at about the same time.

The story of Valentine’s Day begins in the third century with an oppressive Roman emperor Claudius II and a humble Christian priest Valentine.

Claudius declared it unlawful for young men to marry. He seen the king wanted them to be solders in faraway lands. He thought that if the young men were married would worry about their families back home and so wouldn’t make very good warriors. Valentine disobeyed the king and secretly married many young couples.

When Claudius found out about it he sent Valentine to prison.

According to legend, during his imprisonment, Saint Valentine healed the daughter of his jailer, Julia. Before his execution. The bishop passed her a note signed «From your Valentine» as a farewell.

Subsequently, as a Christian martyr, Valentine was canonized by the Catholic Church. And in 496, Pope Gelasius declared February 14th St. Valentine's Day. Since 1969, as a result of the reform of worship, Saint Valentine was removed from the liturgical calendar of the Catholic Church (along with other Roman saints, information about whose life is contradictory and unreliable). However, even before 1969, the church did not approve and did not support the traditions of celebrating this day.

Some historians believe that the Christian Church decided to replace the pagan holiday Lupercalia, a fertility festival, which was celebrated in Ancient Rome on February 15, with the feast of St. Valentine. One tradition of celebrating Lupercalia was a kind of "love lottery". All the young women wrote their names on pieces of parchment and threw them into a large vessel. Each of the city bachelors had to choose a piece of parchment with a name and thus became a couple for this woman for the current year. Such unions often ended in marriage.

Traditions

St. Valentine’s Day comes on February 14. It is widely celebrated among people of all ages. Valentine’s Day is a time when people in love express their feelings to those whom they love or adore. Some people give greeting cards, flowers, chocolates, perfumes or jewelry to their admirers or partners while others take their loved ones for a romantic dinner at a restaurant or even propose to get married.

Valentine’s Day cards are the most popular gifts. They can be ready-made or hand-made. Also Valentine’s cards can be pink or red-coloured and some of them can be heart-shaped. Some valentines are very fancy; they are decorated with ribbons, paper lace and images of cupids. A card can be different; it can be sentimental with love poetry, friendly or satirical. Here are some examples of valentine’s cards:

1. The rose is red the violets are blue

The honey is sweet and so are you.

2. To you with love from me.
3. Here is the key to my heart

Use it before I change the lock.

4. I’ll be your sweetheart

If you will be mine

All my life I will be your Valentine.

5. Here is a special valentine

With lots of love for you.

And since you are very special

Here are kisses, too.

On each February 14, Saint Valentine’s Day, messages of affection and devotion are exchanged around the world. An estimated one billion cards sent each year, making it the second largest card-sending holiday of the year behind Christmas.

Today, St. Valentine is the Patron Saint of love, young people, happy marriages and the holiday was named after him. St. Valentine’s Day is a good day for parties. The restaurants and clubs are decorated with red and pink paper hearts. Chocolate, candies and cookies are often cut in the shape of hearts.

3. Valentine’s Day in Russia

Valentine's Day in Russia has been a popular holiday for several decades. However, in our country it has been celebrated only since the 90s of the twentieth century. The holiday is especially popular with young people. Despite this, there are those who are against the tradition of celebrating Valentine's Day in Russia. Most religious denominations have a negative attitude towards the tradition of celebrating Valentine's Day. The Russian Orthodox Church also has a negative attitude towards this holiday.

Russians, especially young people, do not think about it, but simply celebrate the day that is dedicated to love. On February 14, people give each other cards, sweets in the shape of hearts and, of course, red roses. On this day in Russia, shops are simply overflowing with various souvenirs with romantic symbols.

Section 2. The Day of Family, Love and Fidelity

History of the day of Peter and Fevronia

On July 8, Russia celebrates the Day of Family, Love, and Fidelity, a holiday promoting traditional family values. It’s a relatively new holiday in Russia - it was officially introduced in 2008.

It is also known as The Day of Saint Peter and Saint Fevronia, who are the Orthodox patrons of marriage. Many people come to visit Murom on this day, the city where Saint Peter and Saint Fevronia reigned. A daisy is a symbol of the holiday, since it’s believed to be the flower of purity and fidelity.

The Tale of Peter and Fevronia of Murom (which literary treatment relates to the period of the mid-16th century), Prince Peter was the second son of Prince Yuri Vladimirovich of Murom. He ascended the throne in 1203. A few years before Peter’s principality he became seriously ill that no one could cure him. One day the prince had a dream that he could be healed by a peasant girl, named Fevronia.

Fevronia was beautiful, pious and good, plus she was a wise woman, she knew the properties of herbs and could cure ailments. Fevronia promised the prince that she could indeed cure him, but she said that he must also marry her. The girl cured the prince, but he went back on his promise and did not marry her. The disease came back, this time even worse, and, humbled by this situation he returned to Fevronia, and Fevronia cured him once again. This time the Prince married the girl.

When Peter inherited ascended the throne, the nobles rebelled, declaring that he or left the wife, insulting the origin of noble ladies, or himself left Murom. Then the Prince, not thinking of going, took a Fevronia, and left the Principality, lived with a girl for the common people.

In Murom, meanwhile, began the strife went killings between those who went to fight for the vacant throne. And recovered boyars, rushed to look for Prince Peter to call him back. When he returned the Prince and Princess Fevronia managed their deeds and kind heart to earn the love of the townspeople.

When they became old they decided to take monastic vows and asked the God to die in one day. They died really in one day on July 8, 1228 according to the belief. Their bodies were placed in different abodes. But in the morning people discovered, that they were together.

In 1547, Peter and Fevronia were canonized. They became patrons of marriage and family. The Orthodox Church honors their memory annually on July 8.

Since that time the history of the spouses of Peter and Fevronia is the embodiment of the unquenchable love and fidelity and every year on 8 July the Eastern Orthodox Church celebrates the memory of Saints Peter and Fevronia.

Traditions

Day of Family, Love and Fidelity is celebrated every year on July 8th. The holiday was established in 2008 at the initiative of the deputies of the State Duma of the Russian Federation. However, the date is not a holiday.

On a holiday, it is customary to turn to a holy married couple in order to pray for love, family marriage, the opportunity to live in harmony and prosperity. On the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity, many people ask their parents for blessings for marriage. Turning to the saints, young people ask to find great, true love, and older people ask for family happiness. Thus, the holiday has a touch of religion.

Every year on this day, state authorities present a valuable medal "For Love and Loyalty". This award is given to families who have lived together for 25 years. The medal depicts the symbol of the holiday and the faces of Saints Peter and Fevronia

On this holiday greeting cards, chocolate and various souvenirs are not given. The best gift is a bouquet of field or garden daisies. Chamomile is considered a symbol of this holiday, because this wild flower was considered a symbol of love in Russia.

Churches hold services on this day. Many parishioners pray to Peter and Fevronia, praying for the happiness of families, fidelity, mutual understanding, strong love and the health of loved ones.

Day of family, love and fidelity received wide support from the press and public organizations. It is celebrated throughout Russia, but the city of Murom becomes the main center of celebrations every year. The relics of Saints Peter and Fevronia are kept in the Holy Trinity Convent. Many pilgrims come to this monastery and pray to the holy spouses. There is a monument to Peter and Fevronia In Yekaterinburg next to the Church-on-the-Blood. There is also a monument in the Moscow region, in Klin. In some other cities you can also find such monuments.

Section 3. Research Results

After analyzing and studying literary and electronic sources, we came to the conclusion that despite the similarity of the themes of these holidays, they are not similar in many ways. We put these differences in the table.

Table 1

Comparative analysis of Valentine's Day and the Day of Love, Family and Fidelity

We also conducted a survey of students in our school (application 1), which showed that 70% of students are in favor of celebrating Valentine's Day, 25% are indifferent, and only 5% are against this holiday. Only 20% of students know the history of Valentine's Day. The most popular gift is a valentine card, 95% of students chose this answer option. Only 35% know what holiday is celebrated in our country on July 8, and only 15% give gifts and celebrate this holiday in their family.

From this we can conclude that Valentine's Day is celebrated by a larger number of people than our native holiday, the Day of Saints Peter and Fevronia. This fact can be explained by the fact that the Russian holiday is younger and therefore fewer people know about it. It is also celebrated in the summer. All schoolchildren are on their summer holidays and the school does not hold any events on this day. Valentine's Day is always celebrated in our school. Our school usually sets up a letterbox for valentines cards that children send to each other, thus respecting the traditions of the western holiday.

On the website we found the following information. The survey was conducted on January 31 - February 9, 2022 among 3,000 respondents aged 18 and over, representing the economically active population of Russia, in 548 settlements of the Russian Federation, in all federal districts.

Valentine's Day is planned to be celebrated by 12% of Russians, Valentine's Day began to be celebrated in Russia in the first half of the 90s, but over the course of 15 years its popularity has been steadily declining: if in 2007 this holiday was celebrated by every second Russian (50%), then in 2009 - 40% of fellow citizens, and last year - only 13% of respondents, noted in In turn, 78% of Russians are not going to celebrate Valentine's Day, every tenth (10%) has not yet decided, the study shows.

Conclusion

In the course of the work done, we learned the history, legends and traditions of St. Valentine's Day and the Day of Saints Peter and Fevronia. Also, after conducting a comparative analysis, we have identified a number of differences between these holidays, which have similar themes, but originally belong to the cultures of different peoples. They also revealed that the Slavic holiday is still losing to the European one. Perhaps due to the fact that the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity appeared recently, so it has not yet had time to gain special distribution and recognition among the population.

Valentine's Day appears in films, books, songs. For example, search for "February 14 movies" and you'll get loads of results: Cupid's Game, Picnic at Hanging Rock, even the horror movie Valentine's Day. There are also soundtracks dedicated to this holiday: “If everybody sent a Valentine”, “Saint Valentine”, “Valentine Day”.

Search the Internet for movies about July 8th. All you will find are selections of films that recommend watching the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity. Not a single film specifically about the holiday. The same goes for songs. Our holiday lacks advertising. Therefore, our hypothesis is correct.

However, the original Russian holiday is becoming more and more widespread. Monuments to Peter and Fevronia of Murom are erected in different cities of Russia, mass celebrations, concert programs, various fairs, charity events, family holidays and competitions are organized.

After analyzing the statistics on the Internet, we also want to note that there are fewer and fewer people who would like to celebrate Valentine's Day every year. And we hope that over time our holiday will replace such a popular Western holiday in our country.

List of used resources

Application 1

Анкета

1. Как Вы относитесь к празднованию дня святого Валентина":

• за

• против

• мне все равно

2. Знаете ли Вы об истории возникновения дня святого Валентина?

• Знаю

• Не знаю

3. Дарите ли в этот день подарки?

• Да

• Нет

4. Если да, то, какие:

• Открытки-валентинки

• Цветы

• Духи

• Свечи, статуэтки

• Другое

5. Знаете ли вы, какой праздник отмечают в нашей стране 8 июля?

• Да

• Нет

6. Знаете ли вы символ праздника Дня семьи, любви и верности?

• Да

• Нет

7. Празднуется ли в вашей семье День любви, семьи и верности?

• Да

• Нет

8. Дарятся ли какие либо подарки в вашей семье?

• Да

• Нет

9. Согласны ли Вы отмечать день семьи, любви и верности вместо дня святого Валентина?

• Да

• Нет