During the ages calendar culture kept a lot of traces of archaic beliefs and rites — the cult of the fire with its purifying, apotropaeic and fertile functions, the worship of water, mountains, animals and plants, various agricultural and nomadic rituals as well as very ancient astral and especially lunar cults. A significant place in calendar culture belongs of different amateur theatrical and masked plays. The world and national religions coexist with folk beliefs and customs.
This book is therefore a new step in researching rich and original cultures of above peoples; it is also believed to be of great importance as the year cycle festivals promote tolerance and consensus.
The Introduction and Conclusion were written by R. Djarylgasinova; The Persians bt B.-R. Logashova; The Kurds by O. Zhigalina; The Turks by A. Tenisheva; The Arabs by I. Amiryantz and R. Shidfar; The Jews by E. Nosenko.