Traditional Ilyinsky festivities took place in the museum complex “Tsypino” (in the outskirts of Ferapontovo) last Saturday. The event organized by the employees of the Museum of Dionisy’s Frescoes attracted guests from different cities of Russia and the near abroad: Belozersk, Kirillov, Vologda, Cherepovets, Bryansk, Korolyov, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Murmansk, Narva (Estonia).
In spite of the dull weather, people came to the festival and were pleased to participate in it. “It is a wonderful holiday! It is sunny and warm in the hearts and souls of people even on a cloudy day!” – this is an opinion of the residents of the Kirillov district.
The Ilyinsky Festival was opened at noon. Guests got to the atmosphere of the early 20th century, saw the scenes from the life of people of the Tsypino village, and how young creative people had a rest in the outskirts of Ferapontovo. Familiar ancient melodies of the gramophone could be heard during the whole event. Elena Vyazigina (Kirillov) and the folklore group “Bereginya” (Cherepovets) sang songs and romances and Gennady Golubev amazed spectators with a virtuoso button accordion performance.
Children and adults played ancient folk games, joined in the bow and arrow and arbalest target shooting, took part in contests and received sweet prizes for it. The show of soap bubbles pleased the smallest participants of the festival.
Craftsmen of Kirillov, Belozersk and Archangelsk delivered master-classes, teaching everybody who wanted to make earthenware, birch bark and forged articles as well as folk dolls.
The exhibition of works of the smith Nikolay Mitin, master of folk artistic crafts of the Vologda region, honorary freeman of Kirillov, opened in the Church of St. Prophet Elijah aroused much interest.
Boatman Sergey Tokarev presented his new works and demonstrated their speed characteristics. People that gathered on the shore of picturesque Ilyinsky Lake also watched launching of a new boat.
Two contests were held within the framework of the festival - for the best home-made jam and for the best photo of a bunch of wildflowers and cultivated flowers. The winners determined by the participants of the festivities by vote, were awarded valuable presents.
As souvenirs of the festival, the guests will have clay and forged articles which they have made themselves, prizes that they have won in the village lottery, pictures taken in the photo salon and a lot of positive emotions and impressions.
“Though it is a dull day, but it is so sunny, merry and interesting. Thank you for an entertainment program. Thanks a lot for preserving such traditions in Ferapontovo which originate from ancient times. Thank you, thank you very much! St. Petersburg. 03.08.2013”
“It is an interesting and cheerful holiday! Children are delighted! A lot is interesting and cognitive. You can learn to be patient and learn a trade if you have a will and efforts. We wish you health, ingenuity and perfection in your trade! Guests from Moscow”.
The employees of the Museum of Dionisy’s Frescoes express gratitude to the director and teachers of the Vologda Regional Training School of Culture headed by V.L. Nuzhina for their help in the organization and holding of the event and invite everybody to come to Tsypino in a year to take part in the next Ilyinsky Festival.
