The peacock (who doesn’t know him?) chose the green hills of India and Ceylon as his residence. Families with few children or just groups of crowned firebirds fly out of the forest to the cultivated fields of farmers. They scare them out of here and quickly run away into the bushes. They will fly only when the chase is about to overtake them.

Only Muslims, Christians and pagans scare them. Anyone who professes Hinduism is prohibited from offending peacocks. Near the settlements, where their religious customs are protected, peacocks feed fearlessly in the rice fields. During hot hours they doze and bathe in dust along forest roads.

They sleep in trees chosen for more than one night, sometimes right in the villages.

The peacock is dedicated to the god Krishna. Not only for beauty, for considerable services as well.

The meowing cry of the peacock “mee-ay” in India is “translated” as “minh-ao”, which means “it’s raining”, or more precisely: “rain, come!” Indeed, before thunderstorms and monsoons, peacocks are especially talkative and “meow” a lot. During the rainy seasons they have current games. Well, it turns out that peacocks are opening the “heavenly abysses” with their cries. For people whose lives depend on harvests from thirsty fields, this means a lot.

The uniqueness of Russian fairy tales lies in the fact that they combine pagan and Christian ideas about the world around them. Paganism is a fictional idea of ​​the people about the universe. It is associated with the deification of various forces of nature: fire, water, earth, animals, plants, heavenly bodies. All this is widely reflected in fairy tales. Time and place are sometimes uncertain in a fairy tale, just as in myths. A fairy tale is full of motives containing belief in the existence of an “other world” and the possibility of returning from there. Old Russian culture is addressed to the inner world of man. It is characterized by “an emphasis not so much on knowing the world, but on understanding it, extracting human meaning, and comprehending the laws of human moral life.” The heroes of fairy tales do not remake the world, but with the help of the elements, animals, birds, and heavenly bodies, they find personal happiness.

Firebirds in mythology

Since ancient times, among a variety of peoples, birds have been intermediaries between heaven and earth. Researcher of Slavic mythology P. Troshchin suggests that initially “sky” and the huge bird “eagle” were designated by the Slavs as one word. In ancient times, there was a belief that every ten years an eagle rushes into a flame, then into a sea wave, and regains its youth. The Khanty considered a tree sacred, on which eagles nested for several years in a row.” Among the ancient Slavs, the falcon was the first bird and the first god of the world. According to legend, it was the FALCON bird that brought fire to earth - a spark from the sun, and from the lighting of a tree, heavenly fire appeared on earth. “The rooster was revered by the pagans as a bird dedicated to Perun and the hearth, and at the same time an emblem of happiness and fertility,” writes Afanasyev.” The image of the Firebird goes back to the image of the Sacred Bird - the Fiery Messenger of the Gods. On Russian folk cups of the 18th - 20th centuries. The Firebird can often be seen depicted in the form of the Fire Bird, the Irian Messenger, somewhat reminiscent of a peacock. The firebird personified fire, the sun, and creativity.

Light image of the Firebird

This research work is based on the texts of Russian folk tales, revised by A. N. Afanasyev, and the fairy tale “The Little Humpbacked Horse” by P. P. Ershov.

How is the Firebird described in fairy tales? The verbal description by eyewitnesses of the Firebird is as follows: “bright, rare, flies through the air, glows, shimmers with different lights,” etc. - Well, why not a peacock? Peacocks were known at the princely courts. Such birds were imported from the East. But why was this bird, little known to the common people, so popular among the people? What caused her deification? And why is it called “Heat” - that is, “burning coal”? Fire bird?

It’s not just the peacock that fits all the descriptions of “The Firebird.” All these characteristics are a description of... ball lightning. Such and such a “bird”, flying through the air, glowing and shimmering with lights, was well known among the people. They knew and were afraid.

One of the Firebird's bad habits is to leave circles of fallen grains on the field. Judging by Russian fairy tales, peasants have been guarding the villain for a long time. However, nothing could be obtained from the frightened watchmen, except for vague descriptions of either the FIREbird or the BALL bird. “Fiery red and gold feathers, wings like tongues of flame, and eyes sparkling like diamonds...” Despite the blinding light, it has long been noted that the Firebird produces neither smoke nor heat.

The Firebird is named after the color of its plumage. The word heat in circulation is an old form of an adjective used as a definition. It is derived from hot “fiery, ore-yellow” or “red-yellow, orange,” that is, it originally had a color meaning. In the fairy tale, the Firebird’s coloring is golden, its cage, beak, and feathers are golden. The symbolism here is obvious: the Firebird is the solar bird, the sky is the house of the Sun, gold is the metal of the sun.

In fairy tales, the Firebird acts as a kidnapper. She feeds on golden rejuvenating apples, which give eternal youth, beauty and immortality, and in their meaning are completely equal to living water. Perhaps that is why they believed that her singing healed people.

Both in Ershov’s fairy tale and in the folk tale “The Firebird and Vasilisa the Princess,” the hero picks up the Firebird’s feather, thus breaking the ban.

What is the prohibition that the hero violated? Where does the miracle bird live and why can’t everyone get there?

In a Russian folk tale, a bird lives in a garden behind a stone wall, which is the border between “its” and “alien” worlds. In the fairy tale by P. P. Ershov, the Firebird lives in the thirtieth kingdom in the garden of the Tsar Maiden. This kingdom is a fabulously rich land that was dreamed of in ancient times. The Tsar Maiden lives in a fabulous golden palace, this motif is also taken from folklore, more precisely the period of pagan beliefs about the palace of the god - Yarila. Ershov captured and embodied in his “magic tale” the very essence of folk culture, which is associated with early pagan and later Christian ideas.

The firebird is created by the popular imagination from ideas about heavenly fire-flame, and its radiance is as blinding to the eyes as the sun or lightning. The unusual fiery color indicates that it belongs to another, non-human world, so it was impossible to pick up the Firebird’s feather. “That” world is precisely “that light,” the world of the dead. The main participant in the events of the fairy tale is a hero because he manages to return from where no one returns.

But not every person is given the Firebird. Why is help provided to the third son in the fairy tale? What do we know about him? In fairy tales, these are the youngest sons in the family. The eldest sons got married, received their allotment, left the family, and the younger ones remained with the old people. They retained that part of the inheritance that belonged not even to the father, but to the entire clan, in a word, that which was connected with the ancestors.

The youngest son’s attachment to the stove is also interesting, which is found in many fairy tales. According to ancient ideas, the Stove, the hearth of the home, is the basis and symbol of the Home and generic well-being. So, only those who are initially connected with their parents and ancestors are allowed to get into the “other” world and return from there; it is he who is given a magical assistant. But the main character achieves success thanks to his personal qualities. In search of the Firebird, the hero of the fairy tale overcomes his fear, doubts, makes mistakes, but still moves forward and achieves his goal. As a reward, the hero of the fairy tale receives not only a magic horse and the Firebird herself, but also a beautiful princess and a kingdom in addition. Even his appearance changes: he becomes handsome, handsome. The heroes of fairy tales are helped to acquire physical health by the elements, spiritual health - the feather of the firebird - the fire of joy, creativity, strength. Thus, the study showed that in Russian folk and original fairy tales, the image of the Firebird personifies good power and is a symbol of good luck, victory, embodies a person’s dream of happiness, and is given into the hands of only a good person.

The image of the Firebird in the life and culture of the Russian people

The Slav often imagined himself as a free bird and dreamed of flying across the blue sea. The dream of freedom and happiness completely merged with the image of a bird. This bird is, without a doubt, connected with the sun: this is evidenced by its plumage and the light that comes from it. For ancient people, the sun was one of the main patron gods. According to popular beliefs, life depends on the radiance of the sun, the creative, fertile power of which lies in its bright spring and summer rays. Among the Slavs, a bird with outstretched wings symbolized the sun.

In Russian folklore, most of the songs, fairy tales, legends, and riddles are about birds. Light images of celestial creatures often appear on dishes, spinning wheels, and embroidery. The silhouette of the folk costume is similar to a bird: wide sleeves-wings, a headdress-crest, breast and waist decorations-feathers. Sacred birds decorate the platbands of houses, and decorations - amulets in the form of birds - are the most powerful. Later, people began to paint dishes with bright images of the bird so that the luck and happiness bestowed by the Firebird would not leave them. So the Firebird became the guardian of the world and the embodiment of dreams.

Slavic mythology is the key to understanding the soul of the Russian people, their history and culture. Fire birds, according to the views of our ancestors, include: the eagle, since it was associated with heavenly power, and it was a symbol of victory and speed; For ancient Russian people, the falcon was the embodiment of beauty and prowess; its flight speed was compared to the speed of lightning; The rooster was considered a symbol of the sun, fire, and fertility. The firebird personified fire, the sun, and creativity. This is evidenced by her plumage and the light that comes from her. Perhaps this is a poetic image of the dawn. The firebird is the wind, a cloud, lightning plus heat in a peasant stove, a red rooster outside the outskirts.

Firebird - serves good. It emits an unusual, magical color that helps people in their earthly affairs. Many trials and dangers lay in wait on the path of those who dared to go on a search, for any path to a creature that contains the fire of the original creation is thorny and unpredictable. And you could try to walk this long path - in your heart, overcoming and changing yourself. Only a desperate daredevil with a pure soul and heart, guided through life by a dream, could see her, having overcome many trials. The light of divine radiance that surrounded the Firebird also fell on man, endowing him with what he wanted most in his heart: talents, skills, happiness.

Since ancient times, man, protecting himself from evil forces, covered his clothes and home with images - amulets. For the Slavic peoples, the firebird was not only a symbol of fire, but also a symbol of happiness and good luck. A fairy tale always opens up the widest scope for reflection and comparison. The results of a survey among students showed that for modern people the image of fire has become secondary, not so significant, the meaning of divinity and amulet is disappearing. A person perceives this bird as a bird that brings good luck and wealth.

The firebird in the modern world is a symbol of happiness.

The firebird is a mythical creature from oral folk legends, epics and Russian folk tales. This mythical bird got its name thanks to its plumage, which, according to legend, is fiery gold, with reddish tints, shines like the sun and warms just like the sun. When touched, its plumage burns.

In size, stature, length of tail feathers and wingspan, this fiery bird is very similar to a peacock.

The Firebird is a creature of divine origin, she is one of the incarnations of the Thunder God Perun, the lord of lightning, thunderstorms and storms.

The Firebird is the Russian “sister” of the mythical Phoenix bird, better known to us from European culture. And, like the Phoenix bird, the Firebird of immortal nature

Homeland of the Firebird

Since the Firebird is of divine origin, the Gardens of Eden of Iria, the abode of the Gods in many Slavic traditions, are considered its cradle. Iriy is the heavenly abode of Gods and mythical creatures, where peace, serenity, bliss and abundance reign. Iriy is also considered the home of the sun; rivers of living water flow there and trees grow with fruits that grant immortality.

Element

The Firebird, like all creatures in the universe, is a child. But her main elements are , which determines her luminous and scorching nature, and the element , which allows her to fly, overcome vast distances between worlds and gives her a magical healing voice.

Character Firebird

The character of a fiery bird born in paradise is gentle, trusting and not devoid of curiosity. As a creature devoid of need, there is little that can distract the Firebird from its beloved, idle pastime.

And the Firebird loves to fly over the Gardens of Eden, eat magical rejuvenating apples that bestow immortality and beauty, and then, sitting on a tree, sing his beautiful songs.

However, curiosity forces her to leave her homes and travel through numerous worlds, including human ones.

Habitats of the Firebird

The fiery bird spends most of its time in paradise, however, out of curiosity it often travels, especially to those regions where there are many apple orchards, especially orchards with rejuvenating apples.

There is a belief that the Firebird can stay for a long time with a person in whose heart she feels selfless love for herself; she will delight her patron with her magical singing, which will attract prosperity and well-being to the person’s house.

However, she immediately leaves a person if she feels that his heart has cooled towards her songs or that self-interest has settled in his soul.

Due to the fact that greed easily penetrates a person, it rarely stays with anyone for a long time, and besides the Gardens of Eden of Iria, it is easiest to meet it outdoors in the summer, in apple orchards.

Abilities and features of the Firebird

Like any creature of divine origin, the Firebird has magical and magical abilities. So, her plumage shines as brightly as the sun, and even one feather warms and illuminates everything around as brightly as thousands of simultaneously lit candles would illuminate.

After the feather of the firebird loses its luminosity, it cools and turns into a feather of pure gold. But even the possession of the cooled golden feather of the Firebird brings its owner good luck and prosperity, however, provided that greed has not completely taken possession of his heart.

In this case, the feather can bring trouble.

The singing of the Firebird has healing properties and can cure any disease if listened to regularly. In addition, when the firebird sings, pearls fall from its beak, which in modern language would sound like pearls.

A drop of bile from the Firebird restores sight to the blind.

And as already written earlier, the presence of the Firebird in the house can turn the home into a heavenly place, provided, of course, that people do not lose their heads from such happiness and do not allow greed and selfishness to take over their hearts.

How to catch the Firebird

Despite all the warnings that only the pure of heart can hope to meet and befriend the Firebird, due to its magical properties it has always been a desirable prey for many seeking wealth and fame.

Once the Firebird managed to capture Koshchei the Immortal and keep her in a cage for some time, but we know that this story ultimately did not end well for him.

The easiest way to track down the Firebird is in apple orchards, especially where golden rejuvenating apples grow - its favorite food.

But it’s impossible to catch a firebird with your bare hands, its plumage burns too much; at best, if you’re lucky, you’ll only have a feather in your hands. You need to catch the bird with a net or with mittens.

However, this is unlikely to bring you happiness; it is better that the bird itself wants to stay with you. Therefore, if you want to catch the Firebird for some reason, it is better to have sincere intentions and admiration for this amazing creature in your heart. Then not only wealth will come to your home, but also health, happiness and good luck.

Firebird Feather

A Firebird feather, accidentally dropped or even forcibly taken away, retains its magical properties for some time: to warm and illuminate. One feather illuminates and warms no worse than a thousand burning candles. Which was priceless in the old days.

After the feather has spent all its heat, it cools down and turns into pure gold. One such feather can make its owner rich. In addition, according to some folk tales, the golden feather of the Firebirds can indicate on magical nights, for example, the night before Ivan Kupala, to a hidden treasure.

However, you should always remember that if your only motive is self-interest, then magical forces can easily confuse you, and you will find yourself at the very least a fool, and even in serious trouble.

The role of the Firebird in literature

The Firebird is a fairly common character in oral epics and Russian folk tales.

The firebird is a symbol of prosperity, wealth, status and power. The kings sent their sons to capture her, thereby trying to appreciate their valor, courage and ingenuity. The Firebird served as a reward to the hero for the completed mission.

A chance meeting with the Firebird always promised new adventures with many challenges and a well-deserved reward at the end.

Becoming the patron of the Firebird, or at least the owner of its feather, means both literally catching your bird of luck and finding your path in life, revealing your talents, abilities and finding happiness.

And if the Firebird is not the main character of Russian fairy tales, then at least a key mythical character, without whose existence and the desire to possess him, many stories in Russian folklore literature would not have begun at all.

The firebird, by its very existence, inspired many heroes to adventures and exploits, no less than the Phoenix bird in European legends or divine fire in ancient Greek myths.

Symbolism and Heraldry with the image of the Firebird

Since the Firebird is an extremely favorable symbol, personifying not only wealth, abundance, status, but also divine origin and heavenly life, its image is very often found in Russian symbolism and coats of arms.

In books on heraldry you can find a large number of coats of arms and flags of Russian principalities, cities and estates, and in our time cities, districts and regions with the image of the Firebird.

The Firebird figurine or its image can be found on many souvenirs and folk art products. Like the nesting doll, the Fire Bird is a famous souvenir made in Russia.

Below, as examples, are several coats of arms and flags depicting this mythical bird.

Coat of arms of the city of Palekh

Coat of arms of the city of Plast

Flag of the city of Vidnoye

Flag of Yuzhsky district of Ivanovo region

101 biographies of Russian celebrities who never existed Belov Nikolai Vladimirovich

Firebird

Firebird

The Firebird is one of the most famous characters in Russian fairy tales. The Firebird's feathers have the ability to shine and their brilliance amazes human vision.

Fairy-tale good fellows go after the Firebird, and great happiness comes to those who master at least one of its feathers.

The Firebird lives in the distant kingdom, the thirtieth state, in a beautiful garden surrounding the tower of the Tsar Maiden (or at Koshchei the Immortal in the stone caves among other treasures that he guards). Golden apples grow in the garden, restoring youth to old people. During the day, the Firebird sits in a golden cage and sings heavenly songs to the Tsar Maiden. When the Firebird sings, pearls fall from its beak. “At night the Firebird flies through the garden, all burning like heat; will fly somewhere - everything around will light up at once. One of her feathers will be worth more than an entire kingdom, but the Firebird herself has no price at all.”

Catching the Firebird is fraught with great difficulties and is one of the main tasks that the king (father) sets to his sons in the fairy tale. According to the plot of the fairy tale, only the kind youngest son manages to get the Firebird.

In mythology, the Firebird is often compared with medieval stories about the Phoenix bird, which is able to be reborn from the ashes, very popular in both Russian and Western European literature. Rejuvenating apples, in turn, can be compared with pomegranate fruits, a favorite delicacy of the Phoenix.

The Slavic myth about the Firebird describes it as a fiery bird the size of a peacock. The Firebird's feathers glow blue, and her armpits emit a crimson glow. You can easily get burned by a bird's plumage. The fallen feather retains the properties of the Firebird's plumage for a long time, that is, it glows and radiates heat. Eventually, when the heat wears off, the feather turns golden.

In the forests, the Firebird guards a fern flower.

Among the many national symbols of Russia, the Firebird has a special place. This bird personifies fairy tales in general and happiness as such; it is a symbol of eternal folk aspirations for happiness. Simply put, the Firebird is that miracle of miracles, that cherished dream, reward, happiness that every person strives to achieve in his life. In addition, the Firebird is a wonderful gift-symbol that literally personifies the message - “the fulfillment of all desires, even those that sometimes seem unrealistic.”

In “high art” you can get acquainted with the Firebird in the ballet of the same name by I. Stravinsky (this is one of his early works). Stravinsky admitted: “The Firebird did not attract me because of the plot. Like all ballets on fairy tale themes, it required descriptive music of the kind that I do not like to compose... least of all could I reconcile myself with the assumption that my music was an imitation of Rimsky-Korsakov, especially since at that time I was particularly rebelling against Rimsky " The ballet premiered in Paris at the Grand Opera on June 25, 1910. The premiere of the performance, which was a great success, brought together the highest artistic society (writers M. Proust, J. Giraudoux, etc.) and the aspiring composer himself was introduced to the “high society.”

Like the nesting doll, the Firebird is produced in the form of gift souvenirs and toys, although less well known. Firebirds are made from metal, wood, straw, birch bark, and synthetic materials. A toy-symbol is given to someone who lacks a little magic to make all their desires come true.

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The Firebird The Firebird is one of the most famous characters in Russian fairy tales. The feathers of the Firebird have the ability to shine and their brilliance amazes human vision. Fairy-tale good fellows go after the Firebird, and whoever takes possession of at least one of her feathers comes