Paganism in the context of the formation of Russian folk traditions

The author examines the existing traditions and customs in the light of the transformations that took place with folk life when Russian people adopted Christianity. The history of most domestic holidays and customs goes back to the distant past, which indicates that the values brought by the new religion were perceived by the people through the prism of longestablished customs and mores. Specific examples show the nature of combining pagan rituals with Christian holidays, the way of adapting rituals and holidays that came from ancient pagan eras to the Christian faith and picture of the world. At the same time, pagan rituals changed their names, outwardly becoming part of the Christian faith, but never lost their value and meaning, combining several meanings in one holiday. A folk holiday has always been a day of joining the sacred values of the community (society), its centuries old history, a day of transformation of a person, a house, a village, a country. And that is why folk holidays, rituals and customs, combining various elements, for centuries have been a form of unity of the Russian people as the creator and guardian of the culture of their country.