In Dahl's dictionary
and. Betula tree, white species, V. alba, Kamch. fresh, or rather fresh, from the old. Breza; A species or species of birch very close to the white one is the woolly birch; there is also a holly birch; she is from the gray family. The white birch is also called cheerful, and the woolly birch is also called swamp, black, and deaf. Karelian birch, birch svil, blona, naplav, burl, birch. B. black, B. Daurica. B. stone stone. V. Ermanni. B. bush, birch dwarf, slate, slant, B. fruticosa et papa. B. downy, B. pubescens. B. weeping, modification, simple breed. Birch, as an answer to the matchmaker, consent; pine, spruce, oak, failure. The birch tree is not a threat: where it stands, it makes noise. Birch gives wisdom, about rods. God created a fool, he created both the birch and the chiliga, the same thing. If the birch tree becomes hairy in advance, then expect a dry summer, and if the alder tree, expect a wet summer. The birch tree will belittle. young birch, also species, b. low-growing, B. humilis; | birch birch, slate, slank, V. dad. | Plant. Convolvulus, dodder, dodder, honeydew, loach, bindweed, bindweed; midwife, dodder, ruler; | plant Pyrola rotundifolla, hoofwing, rouge, underfoot; P. minor, hare. | In St. Petersburg, birch became the general name for any deciduous tree, just as fir-tree became the name for a coniferous tree. On Semik, girls curl a birch tree, a custom and fortune telling: they go into the forest, curl a birch tree with a wreath, worship, baptize a cuckoo, become sisters, exchanging crosses, and dance in a circle around a birch tree decorated with ribbons, bringing it to the village. Sent to count birches, exiled to Siberia, along the high road. Berezina one birch, one tree, standing or felled. Birch firewood. Feed someone birch porridge and do some quilting. For me, at least white birch grows! I don't care. Birch lip, sponge, birch bark. Boletus igniarius, genus of Mushroom">fungus, growth on old birch stumps, tinder. Edible birch mushroom, Boletus scaber et luteus; | woodcock bird, see snipe. Bereznik, birch forest m. Berezuga w. bonfire pure birch forest, grove; | birch trash, brushwood, dry wood; | hard mushroom cellar Berezovka, birch w. vodka infused with birch buds, or distilled through them. Berezovitsa, birch tree Berezovnik metro station Psk. birch tree Sib. birch sap strained in the spring, which, when fermented, forms a sweetish drink. A drunken birch tree is intoxicated with hops. Birch trees are worth a penny, but the forest is worth a ruble. Berezovka, a songbird with feathers similar to a magpie and a long-tailed bird. Berezovnya arch. a tract overgrown with forest growth; this is a sign of comfortable soil and the conversion of moss to transitional soil. Brezozol (berezozol) old. month March or April.
Birch holidays
Many holidays are associated with birch, for example, the church holiday - Trinity. For a long time, the tradition for the Trinity was to decorate a birch tree with multi-colored ribbons and dance around it. It was believed that on this holiday birch branches could ward off all evil spirits, so people in huts used fresh birch brooms to sweep the floor and even wash the windows.
There was also a tradition of planting a birch tree on the occasion of the birth of a child; they believed that as the tree grew – pure and strong – the child would grow too. Cutting a planted birch tree is a great sin; in the village they could burn down a hut for this.
In Vasmer Max's dictionary
blr. Byaroza, Ukrainian birch, Bulgarian Breza, Serbohorv. Breza, Slovenian brė́za, Czech. bříza, Polish brzoza, v.-luzh. brěza, n.-luzh. brjaza. Ancient I.-E. base g. R. in -o: lit. béržas, Old Prussian. berse, ltsh. bęr̃zs, other Indian bhūrjas “kind of birch”, osset. bærz(æ) “birch”, Old Norse. bjǫrk f. “birch”, d.-v.-s. birihha "birch". Further related to Alb. bardh "white", Goth. baírhts “light, brilliant”, lit. beršta “turns white.” Another stage of alternation: lit. bìržis “birch grove”, litsh. bir̃zs – the same; see Meillet, RES, 3, 197; Trautman, BSW 32; M. – E. 1, 292, 299; ZhMNP, 1910, July, p. 199. Related to the words birch bark, lat. farnus, frāxinus “ash”, which represent the original. adjective derivatives; see Frenkel, “Glotta” 4, 45.
Legend
In the culture of many peoples living in Russia, many beliefs associated with the white tree have been preserved. So, the Chuvash still believe that a dream in which you cut a birch tree means that a woman will die in the family. By the way, in Ukrainian villages, birch branches with green leaves are still placed in the coffin of a young woman as a symbol of purity and innocence. According to biblical mythology, Judas tried to hang himself on a birch tree after betrayal, but it became frightened, turned white and did not accept him, unlike the aspen tree, whose leaves tremble because they saw the death of Judas.
In the Encyclopedia Dictionary
city (since 1940) in Belarus, Brest region, near the railway. Art. Birch-Kartuskaya. 26.0 thousand inhabitants (1991). Motor repair plant; metalworking, food industry; production of building materials. Historical and Revolutionary Museum.—genus of trees and shrubs of the birch family. Typically, 120-140 (according to other sources, 65) species are identified in the temperate and cold zones of the Northern Hemisphere and in the mountains of the subtropics. Forest-forming and decorative species. The most economically important are silver birch, or warty birch, and downy birch. Wood is used in furniture production and crafts; buds and leaves as a diuretic, choleretic agent. 5 species are protected. See also Karelian birch.
Treatment and life
Birch is a participant not only in holidays and rituals, but also helps people in everyday life. Without birch bark there would be no writing paper, household utensils, some musical instruments, or firewood. Birch has medicinal properties, phytoncides released from the leaves have a pronounced antioxidant rejuvenating effect, and bark decoctions have a disinfectant effect. Birch sap is very useful for people, birch tar is boiled from the bark, and tinctures of leaves and buds are used to strengthen joints, wash hair, and they believe that not only health, but also beauty will return.
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Birch - description and characteristics
Birch is a white-trunked tree, reaching a height of up to 30 m. It lives for approximately 100-150 years. It has an even long trunk, smooth, with characteristic black lines or spots on the surface of the bark. The tree has branched roots that go deep into the ground. The leaves are triangular oblong in shape, different sizes, very fragrant, colored in different shades of green, jagged along the edges. Young leaves may be sticky.
Dwarf
From time immemorial in Rus' it has been a cult plant, a symbol of Slavism. The tree was associated with the appearance of a young beautiful girl - pure and immaculate. In Slavic culture it is a spiritual tree - it drives away evil spirits and is a family talisman.
Widely used in folk medicine. For example, you can make a bath broom from branches, steaming with which will relieve muscle tension and soothe the skin. Birch sap has a beneficial effect on blood circulation, and tar will help with skin diseases.
The beauty and significance of this tree is glorified in literature, and the benefits of birch as a plant cannot be overestimated. It is hardy and tolerant of any weather and soil, which is why its natural habitat in nature is so wide.
Black
Birch - a tree revered by the Slavs
One of these symbols is the birch tree. This is truly a favorite tree of the original Russian people. Why is the birch tree an unofficial symbol of Russia? For a long time, poems, songs and various proverbs were written about her. Birch very often appears in Russian fairy tales, so this unofficial symbolism of the Russian land is understandable even to small children of preschool age. That is why, from infancy, unofficial symbols of Russia have become close and dear to children.
And what a significant place this tree occupies in artistic culture, namely fine art! Artists, one after another, vied with each other to paint pictures depicting this thin and delicate tree. In general, as one might already guess, there is no tree dearer to the Russian soul than birch. Just look at the famous song “Why do the birches in Russia make so much noise”! In folklore, writers often compared the tree with a slender, beautiful girl and her romantic nature.
The Old Slavonic name migrated to the euphonious Ukrainian language
Around this spring time, when everything came to life, the birch tree blossomed. It is noteworthy that the ancient Russian name for one of the spring months - berezozol - is also inextricably linked with the flowering of this symbolic plant. After the 15th century, the month was renamed March, and the old name migrated to the neighboring Ukrainian language (which also has Slavic roots), and the month began to be called “Berezen”. The unofficial symbols of Russia - birches - are especially beautiful at this time of year. They have absorbed all the greenery and freshness of the spring months. The hot summer has not yet arrived, and before they have time to become covered with dust, they still stand near the road - green and romantic unofficial national symbols of Russia.
Tree as the patron saint of all girls
One of the ancient legends says that the Slavs have long believed in the existence of various mythical creatures, such as mermen, mermaids and spirits. To protect themselves from their influence, they worshiped the goddess Beregin, who, they believed, was the progenitor of all life on Rus' (or Earth). And they worshiped her precisely in the form of a birch, which was already considered a sacred tree. During the next such celebration, the tree was dressed in traditional women's attire and noisy round dances were performed around it until the night.
Girls were especially sensitive to the tree as a symbol of female beauty and good fortune. They talked to her, sang songs, washed themselves with birch sap so that they would have eternal beauty and health. In general, the tree symbolized happiness and prosperity. Probably, for these numerous reasons, Russians have always associated birch with the Motherland. Couples in love in Russian villages often made their dates under a birch tree.
However, its healing properties are truly impressive. And we are not talking about praying to the birch tree and washing with birch sap, everything is much more practical and down-to-earth.
Symbol of eternal spring and life
From time immemorial, such unofficial symbols of Russia as birches were considered the patroness and ancestors of all living things. This largely affected the daily life of the people. The certificate was often written on birch bark; the house was illuminated by nothing more than a birch sliver. The sap of this tree was not only very tasty, but also medicinal. Both children and adults loved to drink it. The amount of vitamins it contained significantly strengthened immunity and health. Well, what about without a Russian bath? It is impossible to imagine Russia without it. And they went there with birch brooms, which were considered the best for all health purposes.
Why did the birch become an unofficial symbol of Russia?
If we talk about ancient traditions, it can be noted that the celebration of various holidays in Mother Rus' was not complete without the participation of this elegant tree. For example, now Russians celebrate the New Year in winter, and for this purpose the evergreen spruce is most suitable for them, but earlier the calendar year of the Slavs began not with winter, but with spring, so the tree was appropriate - birch. It was during this period that the day became significantly longer, and after winter people began agricultural work with renewed vigor and thanked the unofficial symbols of Russia in the form of trees.
Birch in the life of a Russian person
The work is devoted to the consideration of the symbolism of wood (using the example of birch) in Russian culture, the study of the ritual significance of birch, and its use in everyday life.
Key words: ethnodendrology, decorative folk art, spiritual culture.
The choice of the topic about the symbolism of wood in the ideas of the Russian people is not accidental. Nowadays, when many artificial materials enter human life, natural materials have become relevant. For me personally, my interest in the topic was attracted by a lesson in a school birch bark weaving club.
The novelty of the research in this work lies in the appeal to the symbolism of wood in various aspects of its application - in the sacred, ritual (i.e. religious-mystical), in social and everyday (utilitarian), in medical. The work touches on a new direction in ethnography - ethnodendrology (the science of the use of trees among peoples).
The basis for this study was the work of such scientists as Zorin N.V. [3], Kardina I.A., Timonina O.Yu. [6], Yarysh V.I. [9]
It is known from ancient chronicles that in those days when the Slavs believed in forest, water and heavenly spirits, they had a main goddess named Bereginya, the mother of all spirits and all riches on earth, and they worshiped her in the form of a sacred white birch tree.
The birch was perceived as a living, powerful creature, capable of fulfilling desires. A tree that warms, feeds, shelters, heals, etc. is firmly woven into the material culture of many peoples. At the same time, ideas associated with wood are an important part of spiritual culture. An apt and succinct folk word. Here’s the proverb: “If it weren’t for bast and birch bark, the peasant would have crumbled” [2, p. 17], - the vital importance for people of the ancient art of making practical and beautiful things from birch bark, popularly called birch bark, is subtly noted. Birch bark is surprisingly well adapted to craft creativity.
Since the end of the Ice Age, birch was one of the first to spread widely across our land. This tree is the dominant species in the entire so-called subarctic zone, that is, in the northern part of Europe, Asia and America. The peoples of different countries inhabiting these territories widely used birch bark in their households [1, p. 36]. It can be said that birch played a vital role in the daily survival of many peoples.
Birch is the most popular tree in Russia. Writers and poets give the beauty of our forests all sorts of epithets, and they are always positive.
Birch has long served people. Its use was widespread and varied. White birch is considered a symbol of spring and warmth, goodness and purity, youth and chastity and, finally, a universally recognized symbol of Russia. We can say that the image of the Russian birch accompanies a Russian person from the moment of birth to his death, helping him develop throughout his life and improve his skills, healing and protecting a person from all sorts of misfortunes, visible and invisible.
For all Slavic, Germanic, Baltic and many other peoples, birch was the main ritual tree. Numerous ritual actions, festive festivities, and round dances were performed near birch trees, with felled birch trees, birch branches and brooms. The holidays of the spring-summer cycle among Russians and Belarusians, which began on the seventh Thursday after Easter week, were especially rich in cult activities with birches, by which time the birches had time to dress in their summer attire. When everything in nature is young and breathes love, when fresh spring juices play in every forest and every blade of grass - it is then, in the seventh week after Easter, that the people celebrate their most sacred holidays. On Thursday - Semik, and on Sunday - Trinity. This whole week was popularly called “Green Christmastide.” Trinity or, as it was also called Pentecost (it was celebrated on the fiftieth day of Easter), this most important holiday of the Orthodox church calendar, quite often fell on the one celebrated at the same time, but in ancient pre-Christian times, Rusalia [4, p.101] . According to beliefs widespread mainly in the south of Russia, it was then that mermaids appeared every year - the souls of dead girls and children who drowned or died during mermaid week. “They came down from the trees,” “from under the ground, from the graves” [2, p. 41]. The crowns of oaks and birches are a favorite place for mermaids to stay at night; they swayed on their spreading branches, combing their long hair. Birch bark is also used in Russian spells. So, for example, in the Novgorod region, when plotting to return a lost sheep or cow, they used a piece of birch bark. Another ritual performed over a birch tree is “breaking”, when the birch tree was “broken” - bent to the ground and grass intertwined with its branches or the top was broken off. In this ritual, the relationship between the images of a birch tree and an ear of corn is most clearly visible; in addition, we should remember that there was a superstition that the souls of the dead, by staying on earth during the Rusal week, helped the fruiting of everything growing. In many areas of the Russian regions, it was customary during a bachelorette party to decorate a small birch tree or Christmas tree, which was called “maiden beauty.” Sometimes it was prepared immediately after the conspiracy and then attached to the corner of the house, on the porch or gate. It was decorated with ribbons, and even a braid made of tow. The second tree, which the girls also decorated, was brought out to the table. This happened on the wedding day. And when the bride was taken to church, the wedding tree was placed behind the sleigh and along the way it was thrown somewhere in a field [4, p.73]. Birch was used to make household items: benches, stools, chairs, shelves. Agricultural implements and parts for them were made from birch. Birch was used to make horse harness (clamp pliers, parts for saddles, bows and shafts). From time immemorial, huts and other premises in Rus' and in adjacent territories were illuminated by torches. Burls (trunk growths) are called influxes formed from the growth of dormant buds at the base of the trunks, around drying branches or breathing slits - lentils, which do not give rise to shoots on the surface of the burls. Birch burl as an ornamental material was very valuable. Caskets, caskets, all kinds of boxes, writing instruments, covers for notebooks and many other items are made from burl.
Birch bark is a multi-purpose material. It is widely used as a waterproof insulating material in the construction of log dwellings and outbuildings. Some peoples of Primorye used birch bark to make small birch bark boats designed for one or two people. Birch was also used to make musical instruments.
Birch tar is included in a number of medicinal preparations, including Vishnevsky ointment and Wilkinson ointment. Tar is used as a disinfectant additive in soap making. Tar soap was popular among the common people.
Birch sap is formed by converting starch deposited in the roots into sugar and dissolving it with water. The sweet juice enters the kidneys and ensures the development of shoots, leaves, catkins. It has a general strengthening property, improves metabolism, and has a good effect on the functioning of the kidneys, liver and other human organs.
The bathhouse of the Finno-Ugric and Turkic peoples of the Volga and Urals regions as a historical and ethnographic object is an integral part of their life support system [5, p. 65].
An important place is given to the bathhouse. It is a means of treating and preventing diseases. If you had a cold, you would steam with a birch broom; if you had rheumatism or polyarthritis, you would use fir and birch brooms. The healing effect of heat and massage with a birch broom was reinforced by the use of compresses, baths, inhalations, and rubbing from decoctions of medicinal herbs [5, p. 28].
In the bathhouse they not only washed themselves, but also tried to cope with various kinds of ailments using the means most famous among the people. Such procedures achieved a resolving, softening effect. Warmth was considered the leading healing principle; when using plants and products of animal origin, they relied on their healing properties.
Thus, when processing wood, it was possible to trace the symbolism, that is, the meaning, not only in the form, but also in the decoration of objects made by folk craftsmen. The topic of the study helped to better understand the meaning of the use of wood in the ritual culture of the Russian people, compare it with its use among other peoples, and also see the echoes of ancient ideas in modern life (for example, the meaning of a birch broom in a bathhouse). Also, the study of birch bark objects helped to understand the utilitarian nature of their use, to appreciate their strength, lightness and beauty.
Literature:
- Verzilin N. M. Plants in human life. L.: 1952
- Zabylin M. Russian people. Its customs, rituals, legends, superstitions and poetry. – M.: 1980.
- Zorin N.V. Essays on ethnodendrology. Kazan: 2006.
- Demin V.N. Secrets of the Russian people. M.: 1997.
- Nikonova L. I., Kardina I. A. Bathhouse in the life support system of the peoples of the Volga and Urals regions. Saransk: 2003.
- Timonina O. Yu. The symbol of the birch in Russian folklore // Chelo No. 2, 2002
- Toydybekova L. Mari mythology: Ethnographic reference book. Yoshkar-Ola: 2007.
- Shuklin V. Myths of the Russian people. Ekaterinburg: 1995.
- Yarysh V.I. Tale of birch bark lines // Person No. 2, 2002
Widely used for household and medical purposes
Throughout history, healers and doctors have long used birch bark, its leaves and buds for medicinal purposes. This involved the preparation of various healing ointments and tinctures. This is probably why birch was so valued by the Slavs. The beautiful medicinal tree has become an unofficial symbol of the vast and free country called Russia.
