The article analyzes the rites of the cycle of field work of the Russian population of Lipetsk, Tambov and Penza regions. Their first stage - the preparation of the field for sowing-was almost not accompanied by ritual, since its success was determined solely by human efforts. The development of the rites of the second and third stages - sowing and growing/ripening of crops-was determined exclusively by "external", mainly weather conditions, which required seeking help in overcoming their adverse effects to the higher forces. The magic actions of the last stage - the harvest-were a gratitude to the higher forces for the harvest. In General, these ritual acts were a symbiosis of Christian and pagan ideas.