Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary: what not to do, signs. Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary: what can and cannot be done on this day Nativity of the Holy Mother of God, what cannot be done
We talked about it not long ago. And now - the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary! That is, in fact, the birthday of the Virgin Mary. A very important religious holiday, which is celebrated every year on the twenty-first of September. Among the people, it’s the day of farewell to summer; autumn has come into its own!
Home and food
There is no need to allow for heavy physical exertion. You can tidy up a little, but there is no need to do general cleaning. You should not eat meat, you should not drink alcohol. There is no need to sweep crumbs off the table: a holiday pie is being prepared, and if there are crumbs left, they must be given to the pets (by the way, this is true if there are animals in the house and on any other day, do not deprive the animals of happiness).
What to do?
You need to think purely and openly, you can’t think about bad things, you can’t wish harm on people. It is strictly forbidden to swear. But you need to pray, go to services, and, of course, thank the Almighty for what He has given you. Since field work has already been completed by this day, we need to personally thank the Mother of God for the harvest (even if we didn’t collect it ourselves - go to any market and appreciate it).
A little more about food
You need to bake bread on which the initials R.B. are written. Such bread should be stored under the icons, and if someone in the house gets sick or is sad, you need to eat a small piece of it. You can eat fish, although this is a time of strict fasting. Mushroom soup with pies is a mandatory attribute of the holiday. Those in need also need to be fed with baked goods in order to attract more wealth into the home. The newlyweds should receive as many guests as possible, listen to their instructions and treat them.
Women and girls
A woman should wash her face before dawn - then she will be beautiful until old age. If an unmarried girl washes her face before dawn (but always with river water straight from the river!), then next year will be the year of her wedding. A woman has the right to ask something from the Blessed Virgin: write her requests on paper flowers, wrap church candles with flowers, put them (in the church, of course) and wait to see which piece of paper burns first, that is, which request will definitely be fulfilled! Well, girls named Alena, Anna and Anastasia should not braid their hair or even collect their hair.
Signs
If you get your hands dirty on September 21st wearing something black, a good offer awaits you at work! Only, after getting your hands dirty, you need to stand with both feet on the broom and stand there for a couple of minutes. It’s also worth watching the weather - if the day is warm and sunny, this is worth waiting for throughout the fall.
JoeInfoMedia journalist Diana Lynn reminds us that the twenty-second is waiting for us, the next turn of the Wheel of the Year... So, it’s up to you to decide which holiday to celebrate, but believe me: if you celebrate both, no one will be angry with you. Mabon is not a religious holiday, and its rules allow one to believe in a higher power, be it the Virgin Mary or someone else.
Every year, Orthodox Christians around the world celebrate the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The history of the holiday has deep roots - it was first mentioned in the 4th century. As the holy scripture says, an angel brought the childless spouses Anna and Joachim the good news of the birth of their daughter, who in the future would become the Mother of the future Savior. And so it happened - nine months after receiving the good news, a girl was born who was named Maria. Today we will learn about the signs of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, as well as what can and cannot be done on this day?
September 21 Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary: what not to do
On this day, our ancestors tried not to engage in heavy physical labor, and general cleaning of the house was also prohibited.
On the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the whole family gathers at home for a festive dinner. True, you need to behave carefully at the table: you cannot sweep crumbs onto the floor. If there were any crumbs left, they were given to the pets.
A very important rule that many try to adhere to is the ban on eating meat, non-lenten food and alcohol on the Nativity of the Holy Mother of God. On September 21, the church strongly recommends fasting. And this applies not only to food, but also to behavior: do not quarrel with loved ones, do not conflict, try to resolve any controversial issues peacefully and make compromises.
Thoughts on this day should be pure. You can’t not only quarrel, but also raise your voice, you can’t wish harm to another person or think badly about someone.
September 21 Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary: what can and should be done
But what you need to do on holiday is pray and go to church. On this day, it is important to pray a lot, attend divine services, bow before the power of higher powers and thank the Almighty for everything that is in the house.
In churches on September 21, on the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, solemn services are held. And housewives bake bread at home with the initials “R” and “B”. Then, according to tradition, the bread is stored under the icons. In times of sorrow, loss of spirit or illness, a small piece should be broken off from baked goods and eaten.
Since the Virgin Mary personifies fertility, prosperity and family harmony, people tried to complete the main work in the field for this holiday. The Mother of God was often thanked for the harvest and the autumn riches already collected.
On September 21, on the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, it is allowed to eat fish, despite the fact that the celebration always falls on one of the strictest fasts.
Guests are also treated to mushroom soup and pies. Baking is intended not only for those at home, but for everyone in need. This unique ritual will attract even more wealth to the house.
On September 21, it is customary to visit the newlyweds, who not only treat the guests, but also humbly listen to all their advice and instructions.
According to folk superstitions, if on the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary a woman washes her face before sunrise, she will be able to preserve her beauty until old age, and if a girl washes her face before sunrise, then she will be betrothed that year. True, tap water is not enough for this: you should wash with river water.
Signs of folk weather forecasters on September 21. What will winter be like?
It is known that people always monitored weather changes outside the window and already in the summer they knew what type of winter to expect. On the autumn holiday of September 21, the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, signs indicated the following:
if the day turns out to be clear, then this weather will continue until the end of October;
if there is fog in the morning, rainy weather should be expected;
if the fog clears unexpectedly quickly, the weather will be changeable;
if it started to rain in the morning, it will rain for another 40 days, and the winter will be cold;
If the bright sun in the morning quickly dries the dew on the grass, you shouldn’t expect a lot of snow in winter.
Thanks a lot! May the Most Holy Theotokos help everyone who turns to her! Amen!
Most Holy Theotokos, pray to God for us! I hope that she will hear all our prayers and requests.
On September 21, Orthodox Christians celebrate the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Second Most Pure Mother of God). The holiday is traditionally considered women's day, when a woman should be revered as a continuator of the family.
It is believed that on this day you need to ask for the most secret things - and the Mother of God will definitely help. For those married couples who do not have children, it is especially important to pray for the birth of a child on this holiday.
I want to tell you about a miracle that happened to me on this day, 11 years ago. It was very difficult, I didn’t really believe then, I didn’t go to church.
My husband drank and went out, I found out that I was pregnant. There was no money. I was leaving the hospital, and there was despair in my soul... I accidentally went into the temple, prayed and burst into tears. Some woman came up and said: “Don’t cry, the Lord will help you”... My soul somehow felt better. And two months later I met a good man, I realized that I was falling in love... I told him that I was married and that I was pregnant from another man. He admitted that he loved him, asked me to marry him and said that he wanted to raise this child... Now we are together, I have an amazing husband who dotes on my daughter Mashenka...
history of the holiday
The holiday was established by the Church in the 4th century and is the first twelfth holiday of the church year, for according to the old style the church year begins on September 1. Tradition told us about the circumstances surrounding this event.
In the small Galilean city of Nazareth lived an elderly couple - Joachim and Anna. Both spouses were righteous and pious. The holy spouses Joachim and Anna were childless for a long time and cried that they had no children. One day, on a great holiday, Joachim brought gifts to the Lord God to the Jerusalem Temple. But the priest did not want to accept Joachim’s gifts, because he was childless, and children were considered a blessing from God.
Meanwhile, his wife, who was at home, also heard that the high priest in the temple refused to accept their gifts because they were childless. She also learned that her husband, grieving and crying, had gone into the desert, and she began to cry. Anna went into her garden, sat down under a laurel tree, sighed and, looking at the sky with eyes full of tears, noticed above, on a tree, a nest in which little chicks were squeaking. “Even birds have children, but we don’t have such consolation in old age,” thought Anna.
Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared to her. He said, “You will conceive and bear a Daughter, blessed above all. Through Her, all earthly peoples will receive God's blessing. Through Her, Salvation will be given to all people. Her name will be Mary."
At the same time, an angel appeared in the desert to Joachim. He said: “Joachim! God has heard your prayer, and He is pleased to bestow His grace on you. Your wife Anna will conceive and bear you a Daughter who will be a joy to the whole world. Here is a sign for you that I am telling you the truth: go to the temple in Jerusalem, and there, at the Golden Gate, you will find your wife Anna, to whom I told the same thing.”
Surprised Joachim, thanking God with all his heart, joyfully and hastily went to Jerusalem, to the temple. There, as the angel told him, he saw Anna praying to God at the Golden Gate, and told her about the angel. She also told her husband everything she had seen and heard about the birth of her Daughter. After praying to the Lord and worshiping Him in the temple, the couple returned home.
Nine months later, Anna gave birth to a Daughter, the purest and most blessed. Above everything that has ever been created, the beginning of our salvation, our intercessor before God. Heaven and earth rejoiced at Her birth. On the occasion of Her birth, Joachim brought great gifts and sacrifices to God, and received the blessing of the high priest, priests and all the people for having been worthy of God’s blessing. Then he held a great feast in his house, and everyone rejoiced and praised God.
The Holy Church rightly calls Joachim and Anna Fathers of God, because Jesus Christ was born from their Most Holy Daughter, the Virgin Mary.
Traditions: what to do on this day
Mother of God, Mother of God, mother of the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus Christ. She is considered a “prayer woman,” an intercessor for women before God.
This holiday was called the Harvest Festival. The more people harvested, the longer the holiday lasted. It could last from three days to two weeks. These days, it was customary to visit each other and treat each other to dishes that were prepared from what was collected. And the more hospitable the table, the better the harvest will be next year. In this way they tried to appease nature so that next year would be no worse than this one.
To visit young people - to teach intelligence. When all the cleaning work was completed, weddings began to take place among the people. So, if a wedding was recently celebrated in the village, then on that day all the old people living in the village went to the newlyweds. Of course, their parents and grandparents always came to visit the young people. The young housewife had to do her best on this day, set a rich table, greet her relatives and guards. People who had lived a long life treated themselves and taught the young people how to live, what and how to do correctly. By the way, it was at such gatherings that knowledge was passed on to young people in the form of folk superstitions. And if the young people did not shy away, but listened and were at their best, then their lives after that turned out just fine, both in family terms and in material terms.
In ancient times, women tried to go to the river early in the morning and meet this day by the water. It was believed that if a woman washed her face with water before sunrise on this day, she would be beautiful until old age. And if a girl washed her face before sunrise, she would be matched this year.
Renew the fire for a prosperous life. There was such a sign that from this day human life begins a new circle that will last one year. Such circles began every autumn on this day. This is a kind of New Year. Usually, in village houses, the so-called duty torch always burned, which was never extinguished, but a new one was lit from it. There were no matches then. But on this day it was customary to extinguish this torch and relight it. It was believed that if you do this on this day, then all illnesses and troubles will remain in the past. And in the new year you will take with you only the best, otherwise what you want to get rid of will remain in your old life.
The believer prays - the Mother of God smiles. On such a day, it was customary for the people to pray to the Most Holy Theotokos for everything that troubled the soul. It was believed that not a single prayer said on this day would go unheeded. Although, it should be noted that no matter what day you turn to the Mother of God, she will always help if a person needs her help. But this sign does not mean turning to the Blessed Virgin with requests. This means that the Mother of God will rejoice if believers simply offer prayers of thanks to her.
What not to do:
One of the important points is that on the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary You should not eat meat and non-lenten foods, as well as alcohol. On this day, you need to fast, give up physical activity, homework, quarrels with loved ones, and condemnation. Relatives, relatives, and friends gather together for the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
We have already talked about what they do on this day. But I would like to add that Orthodox people should not only pray and fast, but also maintain spiritual purity, do good deeds, help with words and warmth of soul.
From open sources
Orthodox Christians today, September 21, celebrate the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos, or the Second (Lesser) Most Pure Mother of God. This is the first of the twelve main church holidays, with it the new church year begins.
It was on this day, at the turn of the Old and New Testaments, that the Most Blessed Virgin Mary was born, whom the Lord called to serve the mystery of the incarnation of God the Word - to become the Mother of the Savior of the world.
Her birth is considered a miracle, as is the appearance of the son of God - Jesus Christ.
history of the holiday
According to church tradition, Mary was born from pious parents, Joachim and Anna. They lived to an old age, but were childless, which became the source of their grief and caused public censure.
From open sources
One day the high priest did not accept a sacrifice from Joachim, and he, inconsolable, withdrew into the desert, where he began to pray fervently. Anna stayed at home and also prayed.
At this time, an angel appeared to both of them and announced to each: “The Lord has heeded your prayer, you will conceive and give birth, and your offspring will be talked about all over the world.”
Having learned the good news, the couple met at the Golden Gate of Jerusalem. And soon a daughter was born into the family. The happy couple made a vow to dedicate their child to God and gave their daughter Mary to the Jerusalem Temple, where she served until she came of age.
How it is celebrated
Beginning in the sixth century, the birth of the Virgin Mary began to be celebrated as a great event.
On this day, Orthodox Christians in festive clothes come to churches where solemn services are held. In their prayers, they turn to the Mother of God, who has become the unifying principle between God and the human race, and ask her for protection and blessings.
From open sources
The services are always followed by a meal. In particular, dinners are organized where all relatives gather around a round table.
However, there are other customs and good omens.
What can and should be done
The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is also traditionally considered a women's holiday - a day when a woman should be revered as a continuer of the family. He obviously inherits the ancient holiday of Mothers in Birth, when our ancestors expressed gratitude to the guardians of the fields and harvest, the grandfathers.
On this day, women usually decorated icons of the Mother of God with viburnum and late flowers, and placed candles near the icon of the Mother of God in the church. The childless turned to the Most Holy Theotokos with special prayer. It was believed that on this day their wish to have children would come true.
Previously, for this holiday they baked a loaf of bread with the letters “P” and “B” (Nativity of the Virgin Mary) embossed on it. These breads were treated to everyone who came into the house.
In addition, housewives always prepared mushroom or fish soup, and also baked pies with fish and mushrooms.
For the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos, viburnum is also prepared: the people believed that “as soon as you drink viburnum on the Most Pure Day, you will be cleansed from all illnesses.” For the holiday, it was necessary to harvest the crops from the gardens and sow the fields with rye.
From open sources
Particular attention was paid to charity: it was believed that if a woman gives gifts to the poor on this day, the Mother of God will grant her prosperity in the house.
It was a good omen to wash in river water at dawn: this promised girls a quick marriage, and married women that they would remain young and beautiful for a long time. For good health, children were doused with water on the doorstep of the house.
From this day on, it was possible to send matchmakers to the girls. Also on this day it is good to celebrate a wedding and visit families for a feast.
What not to do
There are no special church prohibitions on this day, but according to tradition, it is customary to adhere to some restrictions.
So, on this day you should not engage in heavy physical labor: leave housework, gardening and gardening for later.
Also on this day, thoughts must be pure. You cannot raise your voice, wish harm upon others, or think badly of anyone.
Signs and proverbs
If the weather is sunny on the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, then the autumn will be warm and clear, without heavy rain. If the sky is gloomy on this day, then the autumn cold will come with rain.
If a girl washes herself towards the east of the sun, then she will definitely be wooed this year.
To avoid “evil eyes,” slander and illness, old clothes and shoes should be burned on the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
“The First Most Pure One came - she put a necklace on nature, the Second Most Pure One came - she took the unclean mosquito, the Third Most Pure One came - the oak grove became leafless.”
“When the Most Pure One came, the tree was clean, but when the Intercession came, the tree was bare.”
“The Most Pure One came and the unclean one brought matchmakers.”
"First Most Pure he sows the rye, and the second one waters it with rain.”
Let us remind you that another big holiday is expected this month - the Exaltation of the Honest and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord. Orthodox Christians will celebrate it on September 28. This holiday was established in memory of the finding of the Lord's Cross, which occurred, according to church tradition, in 326 in Jerusalem near Mount Golgotha - the site of the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
Many believers often wonder whether it is possible to work on church holidays? The answer in this case cannot be unambiguous, as it depends on various factors.
Commandments of the Old
If we are guided by what is written in the Old Testament, then its fourth commandment states that the Sabbath day must be spent holy and dedicated to the Lord. The remaining six days of the week must be devoted to work.
According to this commandment, received by Moses from God, once a week there should be a day of rest from everyday worries, when you need to devote your thoughts and deeds to the Lord, attend church and temple, and study the Word of God.
What does the New Testament say?
New Testament texts call this day Sunday, which has become for believers a day when it is not worth working, but rather going to church and praying. But given the pace of modern life, few people manage to step away from a variety of tasks, so even on their days off people continue to deal with current issues.
Why can't you work on church holidays?
Nevertheless, there are periods when believers try to put everything aside - these are church holidays. People believe that it is sinful to work on these days, since they are dedicated to saints and events from the Bible that should be read.
A person who violates the tradition and instructions of the New Testament will face punishment. Therefore, Christians try to refrain from work on the main (twelfth) church holidays.
What church holidays are you not allowed to work on?
It is considered a particularly great sin to work on major church holidays, including:
February 15: Presentation of the Lord - meeting of Jesus Christ in the Jerusalem Temple with Simeon the God-Receiver;
Annunciation - on this day the Archangel Gabriel informed the Blessed Virgin Mary about the imminent Birth of the future Savior of the World, the Son of God Jesus Christ;
Last Sunday before Easter: Palm Sunday or Palm Sunday - Jesus Christ enters Jerusalem on a donkey, where he is welcomed by the locals;
Moving date (depending on the lunisolar calendar) - Easter: the most significant holiday of Christians, the day of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ;
Thursday after Easter: Ascension of the Lord - the ascension of Jesus into heaven in the flesh;
Fiftieth day after Easter: (Pentecost) - the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles and the Virgin Mary;
August 6: Transfiguration of the Lord - the appearance of the Divine Majesty of Jesus before his three closest disciples during prayer;
August 15: Dormition of the Virgin Mary - the day of the burial of the Virgin Mary and the day of remembrance of this event;
December 4: Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary into the temple - the day on which Anna and Joachim brought Mary to dedicate her to God.
What can't you do on holidays?
To avoid unpleasant situations, still try to avoid working on major holidays, even if you are not a very religious person and do not attend church often.
What signs and beliefs exist?
On Christmas, you should not go hunting, fishing, hiking - in general, spend the day actively, as there is a high probability of an accident. This is a family holiday, and it should be spent with family and friends.
At Christmas, you also cannot do things related to productive labor: sewing, knitting, weaving, spinning. The thread is considered a symbol of fate and life, and tying it or doing anything else is a bad omen.
Christmas is a holiday of family, peace and joy, so you can’t do household chores that can be put off: cleaning, laundry. You cannot clean up until January 14 - on this day, all garbage is collected and burned on the street, so that evil spirits do not disturb the house throughout the year.
Another sign associated with Christmas: if you invited guests and the fairer sex was the first to step on the threshold, it means that the women in the family will be sick all year.
On the Feast of the Presentation, you should not leave home, as the trip may not end as you expected, or you will not return home soon.
On Annunciation and Palm Sunday, you cannot do housework until the evening. It is also not recommended to work on the ground from which, according to legend, snakes crawl out on this day. There is even a saying: “A bird doesn’t build a nest, a girl doesn’t braid her hair.”
On Easter and in general the entire preceding Easter week it is also recommended to refrain from work. But if there are urgent matters, then the church perceives this circumstance loyally.
Church holiday of Ascension. Is it possible to work? Ascension is considered one of the biggest holidays in the church. On this day, as well as on any other holidays, working is strictly prohibited. There is even a saying: “They don’t work in the fields on Ascension, but after Ascension they plow.”
Is it possible to work on Trinity Sunday? This is the day when the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles and promised them to return after his ascension to heaven. And so it happened. The event has become a holiday for Christians all over the world and is celebrated with special honor. Therefore, various works (on the ground, around the house) are not recommended. And when asked whether it is possible to work on Trinity Sunday, the priest will tell you that it is not advisable to do this.
It is better to make sure that you are doing everything correctly, especially if you consider yourself to be deeply religious people. Therefore, do not be afraid to once again ask the church minister whether you can work on church holidays. The priest will tell you which works are permissible on a particular holiday, and which are strictly prohibited. Numerous signs and beliefs explain why you cannot work on church holidays: those who violate this prohibition will face punishment in the form of poverty, health problems and all sorts of failures.
What do church ministers say?
Church ministers say that if on holidays or Sundays a person does not pray, does not attend church or temple, does not read the Bible, but is simply idle, then this is very bad. Days off from work are given precisely in order to devote them to serving the Lord, knowing oneself, attending services and peace.
Is it a sin to work on church holidays? You will hear from the priest that if according to your schedule you have to go to work or start a shift, or there is no way to postpone household chores, then this will not be a sin. After all, you can devote your thoughts to God not only at home or in church, but anywhere at any time. It all depends on the situation. The same applies to the question of whether you can work in the garden on church holidays or not. If there is an urgent need, it is better to carry out your plan and ask God for forgiveness in prayer.
What signs are associated with church holidays?
Over the years, the people have accumulated a lot of knowledge, which they passed on from generation to generation. This is also associated with various signs, especially those related to holidays. Therefore, in addition to the pressing question of whether it is possible to work on church holidays, religious people should also be aware of observations related to them.
Thus, it is believed that if it snows on Christmas, the year will be successful and profitable. If the weather is sunny, then spring will be cold. A pleasant tradition was baking a coin in a pie. Whoever gets it will experience success and happiness in the new year.
On the Feast of the Presentation, people believed in the magical power of water and the fulfillment of desires. It was also a harbinger of spring: the weather on this day was an indicator of what the coming spring would be like.
The Annunciation is also rich in various beliefs and signs. On this day you cannot borrow money or take anything out of the house, so as not to give away your prosperity and luck. A very interesting observation related to hair: it was not recommended to comb your hair, put on makeup or get a haircut, as you could confuse your fate.
Easter signs
There were especially many signs for Easter. Among them are:
if a child is born on Easter Sunday, be lucky and famous;
if a child is born on Easter week, he will have good health;
if the Easter cakes are cracked, then there will be no happiness in the family for a whole year;
If you hear a cuckoo on Easter, it means that a new addition to the family is expected. If an unmarried girl hears the bird, she will soon have a wedding;
A tradition that has survived to this day is that the whole family should begin the Easter meal with a piece of Easter cake and an egg, blessed in the church during the festive service.
To work or not to work?
The traditions of the people, passed down from generation to generation, change or are forgotten over time.
Whether you can work on church holidays is up to you to decide. Religious people even now sacredly honor such days and try to adhere to all the instructions of the church.
