Magic Rituals Before New Year's and Christmas: Between Sympathetic Magic and Collective Psychotherapy Introduction: Ritual as a Bridge Between Worlds and Times The winter solstice period, framed by the holidays of Christmas and New Year, was perceived in many cultures as a sacred, "subtle" time when the boundary between worlds thins and the future becomes malleable. Magic rituals associated with this time are not an arbitrary collection of superstitions but form a complex system based on the principles of sympathetic magic (J. Frazer), animistic worldview, and the deep need for renewal. From a scientific point of view, these practices can be considered as collective psychotechniques aimed at reducing anxiety about the future and structuring life space. Classification of Rituals by Goals and Mechanisms 1. Rituals of purification and expulsion of the old.Before the onset of a new cycle, it was necessary to ritually destroy everything that had become outdated and negative. Sacrificial burning of the Yule Log: In Scandinavian and Celtic traditions, a huge log (associated with the dying year and the old sun) was solemnly burned in the hearth for 12 nights of Yule. Its ashes were scattered on fields as a symbol of fertility and protection. This is a classic ritual of destruction through fire, transforming old matter into new energy. Throwing away old things: In Italy, there is a tradition of cappodanno ("headday"), when old dishes and unnecessary things are thrown out of the windows on New Year's Eve. This act symbolizes the liberation of space for the new. Anthropologists see here the manifestation of "similarity magic": physical cleansing of the home leads to symbolic cleansing of life. Caroling as a ritual of purification: Slavic carolers, going around houses with songs of blessings, performed the function of ritual "cleaners". Their visit and the receipt of gifts (carols) ensured the hosts' well-being in the coming year, warding off potential evil. This is a col ... Read more