Английская Википедия:Brumalia
Шаблон:Short description The Brumalia (Шаблон:Lang-la Шаблон:IPA-la) were a winter solstice festival celebrated in the eastern part of the Roman Empire.[1][2] In Rome there had been the minor holiday of Bruma on November 24, which turned into large scale end of the year festivities in Constantinople and Christianity. The festival included night-time feasting, drinking, and merriment. During this time, prophetic indications were taken as predictions for the remainder of the winter. Despite the 6th century emperor Justinian's official repression of paganism,Шаблон:SfnШаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn the holiday was celebrated at least until the 11th century, as recorded by Christopher of Mytilene.[3] No references exist after the 1204 sacking of the capital by the Fourth Crusade.
Etymology
The name of Brumalia comes from Шаблон:Lang, Шаблон:IPA-la, "winter solstice", "winter cold", a shortening of Шаблон:Lang, Шаблон:IPA-la, presumed obsolete superlative form of Шаблон:Smallcaps, later Шаблон:Lang ("smallest", "shallowest", "briefest").
Overview
The Roman "Bruma" is known only from a few passing remarks, none of which predates Imperial times. Mentions of the Brumalia are found after the IV c. Against the Church disapproval John Malalas and John the Lydian used rhetoric that claimed their introduction by Romulus himself.[4]
Roman life during classical antiquity centred on the military, agriculture, and hunting. The short, cold days of winter would halt most forms of work. Brumalia was a festival celebrated during this dark, interludal period. It was chthonic in character and associated with crops, of which seeds are sown in the ground before sprouting.Шаблон:Sfn
Farmers would sacrifice pigs to Saturn and Ceres. Vine-growers would sacrifice goats in honor of Bacchus—for the goat is an enemy of the vine; and they would skin them, fill the skin-bags with air and jump on them. Civic officials would bring offerings of firstfruits (including wine, olive oil, grain, and honey) to the priests of Ceres.Шаблон:Sfn
Although Brumalia was still celebrated as late as the 6th century, it was uncommon and celebrants were ostracised by the Christian church. However, some practices did persist as November and December time customs.Шаблон:Sfn
In later times, Romans would greet each other with words of blessing at night, "Шаблон:Lang", "Live for years".Шаблон:Sfn
Contemporary celebration
It has been revived as a festival annually held by Connecticut College.[5]
References
Notes
Bibliography
- Шаблон:Cite book
- Graf F., Roman Festivals in the Greek East From the Early Empire to the Middle Byzantine Era, Cambridge UP 2015, ch.7 The Brumalia (p.201-18)
- Шаблон:Cite encyclopedia
Webography
- Wright H., The Classical Weekly, Vol. 15, No. 7 (Nov. 28, 1921), p.52-4, epitome of De Bruma et Brumalibus Festis by J. R. Crawford
- Шаблон:Cite web
- Шаблон:Cite web
Шаблон:Roman religion (festival) Шаблон:Winter solstice
Шаблон:AncientRome-stub
Шаблон:Reli-festival-stub
- ↑ "The Brumalia are attested only in Byzantium", Graf F., Roman Festivals in the Greek East From the Early Empire to the Middle Byzantine Era, Cambridge UP 2015, p.201
- ↑ Les Brumalia sont une fête byzantine connue essentiellement a Constantinople, Perpillou-Thomas, Francoise, Les Brumalia d'Apion II, Tyche–Beiträge zur Alten Geschichte, Papyrologie und Epigraphik 8 (1993), p.107.
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite book
- ↑ Graf, p.189; see also Malalas, Chron., 7.7
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite news