“Frost and sun” – this famous phrase of Alexander Pushkin could be used to describe the day when the Kirillo-Belozersky Museum-Reserve hosted the Festival of Historical Reenactment “Character of the North”. On January 5, the town of Kirillov became a meeting place for residents of various Russian regions: it concerned both spectators and participants. Over 2500 guests took part in the third winter festival. A lot of people ascended the second and third tiers of the walls and surrounded the “the site of the battle” to watch the main action. It is notable that the number of children and teenagers coming to such festivals increases every year. It is already a good family tradition to attend such events.
Soon all spectators could see an interesting scene of the past: arrangements and seeing-off of a bride to another principality. The princess went to her own wedding that also had a very important political meaning. But trouble-makers and enemies of the Russian state abducted her and stole her dowry. But it was not to be! All efforts were hurled into the girl’s rescue. Courageous Russian warriors went on the offensive and gained a victory. This story was presented by the members of the clubs of historical reenactment during the exhibition performance.
Besides, spectators could see full contact fights and final fights of the tournaments in the sections “Shield and Sword” and “Two-Handed Axe”. Two or even four re-enactors dressed in the armour went to an improvised stage and participated in the fights that were commented in detail. Fistfights were also very spectacular. Several men and youth attending the festival were pleased to join them. As for wall-to-wall fist fighting, some of them turned into games and then women and children participated in them as well. The program was concluded with a fire show.
The festival was certainly not only a site of battles. The guests had a wonderful opportunity to get warm at the fire, to drink hot tea and to eat something delicious in the All-Russian tent. A playing ground was opened for kids who jumped, ran, and went through improvised tunnels with pleasure. They could also ride a pony or in a horse drawn wide sleigh. The adults preferred other amusements - archery and gorodki.
The club-studio of miniature “Doll’s House” led by People’s Artist of Russia Marina Vasilieva received guests during the whole festival. They joined in the master-class in pottery and created Christmas souvenirs. Besides, lectures about ceramics of Kirillov were given there free of charge. The creative workshop was opened in the Parvis of the Refectory on the same day. Four master-classes elaborated by the museum employees were delivered there simultaneously: “Making of a Chain Mail”, “Berehynia Doll”, “She-Goat – Symbol of the Year”, and “Christmas Angel”. About 90 people participated in them. This creative workshop was opened for the first time, but it is planned to hold such events in future. It will be one more good tradition of the museum. By the way, the playing program “Magic Box” took place in the Cook-House at the same time.
In a word, those who wanted to spend the holiday actively and not to freeze watching the events, were given freedom of action. And the frosty sun helped to take very beautiful pictures. As a result, the guests had a lot of photos with the warriors and the Russian sighthounds (the dogs didn’t participate in the performance, but attracted attention of both children and grown-ups).
When the outdoor festivities came to an end, spectators could go to the conference hall to see two concerts. Creative groups from Vyborg performed in the museum on that day. The folk ensembles “Canticle” and “Galliard” (head and conductor L.L. Kuzina) executed church music of the 13th - 21st centuries and secular compositions of the 16th century. These two groups perform together thanks to the cultural ties between their members. One more colourful ensemble “DrabgrIborn BAND” (headed by A.G. Khlebov) presented the music originating from Eastern Europe, Spain and Israel.
