Folklore origins of Russian romantic prose (a genre of Christmas story)

Purpose: The following article reviews the relationship between calendar prose and folklore and determines the considerations that are suitable for recognition of the ceremonial and calendar texts (plot, calendar denotation, an emotional element, target audience, narrator). The genres of bylichka (superstitious memorat, or folklore superstitious true story) and byvalschina (superstitious fabulat, or folklore true story with fiction elements) are determined with the following differentiation. The specifics of narrative calendar texts’ existence are found. The article researches the process of establishment and further modifications of the Christmas story’s genre. Results: Appearance of the literature Christmas story’s genre is linked to the Russian romanticism which addresses one’s historical roots and traditions and is interested in the Slavic mythology, especially in demonology. Russian romanticists often used such material; there are features of both spoken and literature genres of the Christmas story. The article described considerations which help to differentiate spoken and literature genres of the Christmas story. Conclusion: As exemplified in stories of A. A. Bestuzhev-Marlinskiy (The Fearsome Divination), M. P. Pogodin (Mr Right), A. A. Shahovskoy (The Adventitious Wedding) which were written during the first third of the XIX century, is found out the relation among the Russian romanticism and folklore and are contained numerous quotations from selected writings illustrating current point of view. For instance, there are features borrowed from spoken calendar prose in the actual writings: ‘strange’ space, a strict demand of vividness the describing events, limited relatively plots’ range, calendar denotation. Furthermore, we can’t fail to see that there are characteristics in these stories that are belong to the literature genre of the Christmas story. There is elongation of plot, existence of extensive discourses, psychologism, detailed description of folk ceremonies, things required for divination, the places where were organized the Christmas merrymaking. Fantastic character of the describing events further intensifies the atmosphere of occult and mystery, but objective ‘wordly’ explanation of all supernatural incidents is given in conclusion.