What cannot be done at home on the annunciation. Annunciation: what can and cannot be done on this day. Video: Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary - the Law of God

Every year on April 7, Orthodox believers celebrate the holiday - the Annunciation. According to the biblical tradition, on this day the Archangel Gabriel came to Mary from Nazareth to announce that the Holy Spirit miraculously descended on her, and the Virgin in her womb bore the Son of God. The event is one of the 12 most important Christian holidays.

The people say "in the Annunciation the girl does not weave a braid, a bird does not build a nest." The legend of the cuckoo is associated with this belief. The legend mentions that this bird does not have a home due to the fact that it deliberately violated the Lord's prohibition. Since then, she has been forced to throw her eggs into other people's nests and be persecuted by everyone.

There are a number of prohibitions on the Annunciation Day. You can't:

Borrow something or, conversely, give money and things to strangers. Otherwise, you may lose your well-being, health, peace and quiet in your family. This requirement should be observed strictly, even if the person asking you for something is familiar and you are not comfortable refusing him. It is important to ensure that nothing is taken away from your home. Therefore, it is undesirable to invite guests on April 7. The holiday is usually celebrated with a family.

Sew, weave, knit. Many peoples of the world associate a thread with life, so anyone who picks it up for work can confuse their fate, bring problems and troubles. You can't not only cut your hair, wash your hair, but even comb your hair because of the danger of ruining your fate. Hair can also fall out as a punishment.

Dress up in new clothes. New things will quickly break or irreparably deteriorate, and within a year there will be no opportunity to acquire others. Girls who violate the ban will not marry until the next Annunciation.

Don't start something new. Otherwise, there will be no success in business. The modern sign that says that serious things (construction, business, etc.) cannot be started on Monday had a different interpretation in the old days. Previously, it was believed that one should not take up any business on the day of the week corresponding to the past Annunciation. For example, if this celebration fell on Wednesday, then it was considered an unlucky day next year.

And what can you do?

People believe that on this day every prayer will be answered.

In the old days it was believed that if on this day a woman calls her husband 40 times "sweet", then he will be affectionate and helpful all year round.

It was believed that what this holiday will be for you, so will be the whole year. Therefore, you should not take offense at the Annunciation, swear with the people around you. On the contrary, you need to spend a day in a good, bright mood.

It is advisable for people who have pets to feed them well. Crumbs of consecrated prosphora should be added to food. Thus, the owner protects not only himself, but also his pets from diseases for the future period.

And finally. Believe it or not, follow all the rules or separate or completely ignore them - everyone's business. The main thing is to have a happy day.

And also - to celebrate the feast of the Annunciation with dignity Holy Mother of God... Quite a few interesting signs are associated with it.

Signs in the Annunciation explain what can and cannot be done on this day. Of course, they are mainly associated with popular beliefs, ideas and customs.

After all, the main meaning of the holiday is that according to legend, it was on this day that the archangel Gabriel announced to Mary that Christ would soon be born to her. However, folk beliefs have been living harmoniously with church tradition for more than one century.

That is why even today many people, and especially ladies (after all, Mary, obviously, patronizes the fair half first of all) believe that the Annunciation is a special day with its own unique atmosphere. And as experience shows, this opinion is not devoid of its truth.

We will tell you right now what you can and cannot do on this holiday, as well as what interesting signs there are for the Annunciation.

There are several interesting signs, rituals, folk rituals and customs that show what should and can be done on the Annunciation.

For women, for love and marriage

• Many signs of what can be done at the Annunciation, and what it is better to abstain from, relate specifically to women. After all, the Mother of God is the mother of Jesus Christ, and it is believed that she asks the Lord for a woman's share, being next to him. If you pray to the Most Holy Theotokos on the day of the Annunciation, from a pure heart and with great faith in your soul, then she will surely hear and help. Prayer on the Feast of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos:

Accept, all-powerful, Most Pure Lady, the Lady, the Mother of God, these honest gifts, to you alone applied, from us unworthy of your servants:

from all generations chosen, of all creatures of heaven and earth, the highest appeared, for thee for the sake of you the Lord of Powers was with us,

and by thee the Son of God by the knowledge and being made worthy of His holy body and most pure in His blood;

By the same blessed art thou in the birth of generations, God blessed, the most luminous cherubim and the most honest of the Seraphim. And now, all-chanting Most Holy Theotokos, do not cease praying for us, unworthy of Thy servants,

hedgehog to get rid of us from every advice of the evil one and every situation and to keep us intact from every poisonous admonition of the devil;

but even to the end, by your prayers, not condemned, observe us, as if by your intercession and help we save glory, praise, thanksgiving and worship for everything in the Trinity to the One God and all to the Creator, now and forever, and forever and ever.

• In Transcarpathia until dawn at the Annunciation unmarried girls combed their braids and walked around their house three times. Then they swept up the parents' house, and the garbage was collected and taken to the river to bury it in a hole next to the river. Then it was necessary to collect water in the river and water the beds where the planting was planned. It was believed that such a ritual would provide the girl with a good marriage and a happy family life.
• In the evening in the villages, young people gathered around bonfires, where they performed modest round dances, jumped over the fire. But all this must be done modestly and without much noise, especially when it is.
• But what needs to be done in the Annunciation married womento become happy and strengthen relationships. It is believed that a lady needs to call her husband cute at least 40 times that day. Popular belief claims that in this case the family will spend the whole year in joy, and the husband will not even have a thought about betrayal.

Whoever on the Annunciation from morning till night will call her husband "dear" forty times, the husband will be beloved all year.

• The guarantee for the girl to get married this year was the presence of all family members in the house of the Annunciation. A special prohibition was to invite strangers to the house of women and girls on this day.
• If a young girl finds a primrose on this day, then this summer she will definitely get married.

For luck and wealth

• There is a sign that on this day it is better to release a bird (for example, a dove) so that it flies directly to the Lord. This is a very good sign, a sign of new beginnings. Such a tradition, however, exists to this day - white doves are released for a wedding, and this is not only spectacular, but also very cute, touching in its own way.
• It was considered a good sign to see the first swallow on this day, which means that good luck will be with you all year.
• The one who sees the first stork will also be lucky. In Belarus, the day of the Annunciation is considered the holiday of the arrival of the stork, and it is customary to bake special pies in the form of a stork's paw - "galepa".
• If you give alms on the Annunciation early in the morning before you wash, then the whole year in the house there will be prosperity.
• A good omen is to turn with prayer to the Archangel Gabriel. If a person has a special desire, then in order to fulfill it next year, you need to go to the crossroads with the sunrise on April 7, and bowing 3 times to the east, read the prayer to this angel three times and state the request in your own words.
• For trade to be successful and there will always be a lot of buyers, merchants and other trade workers need to do so on a holiday. On April 7, in the morning, before the arrival of the first buyer, sprinkle the premises and goods with charmed water. As a whisper prayer, you can use the following text:

As people go to church on a holy holiday, so buyers would come to me.

• Then it was necessary to visit the church, be sure to wait for the festive ringing. And when the bells start ringing, pick up your wallet and ask for more money. Then it was supposed to give generous alms to the beggars standing near the temple.
• Surprisingly, but thieves have their own marks on this day! It was believed that the swindler who steals some thing in Blagovest, even if it is of little value, will be lucky on his way all year. This sign is contradictory, because theft in Christianity is a great sin, but the people believed that in this way you can attract great luck to yourself.
• And you can also go to church from the early morning and give alms, or generally provide some kind of service to someone in need. It is interesting that popular belief says: before visiting church on such a day, you should not wash or eat breakfast. That is, it is better to go there immediately as soon as you wake up - quickly and without hesitation.
• On the way back, you can collect any grass that grows near the church, and then take a walk and mentally distract from everything that worries the last days. This herb can be stored next to the icon throughout the year (it is better to put it behind it, away from eyes). You can also save it in a small bag that you always carry with you. This is believed to provide the believer with a happy and successful year.

To health

• On such a day, you can prepare a special amulet for home and health - Annunciation salt (for more details on how to do this, see below). It should be noted that this is a purely national omen, and it has nothing to do with church rules.
• It is believed that the house in which the consecrated salt is located in an open place (on the table, etc.) will be good and calm all year round.
• And there was also an interesting sign in Russia: the things of a sick person were burned at the stake on the day of the Annunciation. It was believed that thanks to this, he would recover very quickly and get back on his feet. You just need to be careful and carefully handle the fire - there was a sign that the one who kindled the stove at the Annunciation would have a fire in the near future.
• For people who have pets, it is advisable to feed them well in Blagovest. Crumbs of consecrated prosphora should be added to food. Thus, the owner protects not only himself, but also his pets from diseases for the whole year.
• Prosvira and holy water, if you take it in the church on the day of the Annunciation, will serve as a strong amulet and a means for healing household members. They are carefully kept in the house all year round.
• “Whoever gets drunk in Blagovest will have bitter drunks in his family” - this is the old omen. As they say, comments are superfluous here. It is better to take care of your health and refrain from alcohol - especially since it is Great Lent.

How to make Annunciation salt

No one will argue with the fact that health is the most important thing, and without it, life is not a joy. For example, you can perform such a ritual to protect your home and health at the Annunciation with salt. We offer several options on how to make Annunciation salt:

• We stock up on ordinary salt - take as much as 4 kg. As soon as daybreak begins, put the salt in a canvas bag and bake in a warm (but not hot) oven for 10-15 minutes. Then you can use it for food for a whole year, and even put it in a small bag and carry it with you as a talisman against ill health and the evil eye.
• There is also such a ritual with salt: each family member living in the house must take a handful of salt. Then the salt must be calcined over a fire (in a frying pan) with an appropriate wish-conspiracy and poured into a common bag. It was believed to be a powerful remedy against disease and protection from the evil eye. It was added to food not only for people, but also used to feed animals and birds.
• The mistress of the house (the eldest of the women) put such salt in the red corner and kept there for a year for certain occasions. For example, if someone fell ill, then a bag of Annunciation salt was placed at the head of this person's bed so that he would recover faster.
• If during the year the Annunciation salt was not useful and remained until the new holiday, then it had to be burned the next day, April 8, a year later. According to her, along with her, the flame will eat misfortunes, troubles and diseases that could be prepared for the family next year.

What not to do in the Annunciation

The people have always had their own unwritten code of conduct, and for each holiday there was, as it were, its own chapter. For example, everyone fasts before Easter, and on Easter they bake cakes. Of course, on days church holidays everyone tried to behave especially decently and not get upset over trifles.

And what cannot be done in the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos?

• First of all, it is believed that you should not start any big housework on such a day - sweeping and washing floors, doing laundry, doing general cleaning. Of course, you can go about the usual things - cook food and put things in order. But it is better to postpone important plans for other days. This is explained quite easily: if we actively work around the house on a holiday, we will hardly feel the special mood of this day.
• Sewing, weaving, knitting, and generally no needlework in the Annunciation. Our ancestors believed that the thread is a way of human life and said: "They don't look at the harsh yarn at the Annunciation." And if, through negligence, you confuse or even more so break the thread on a holiday, then this is a bad sign. So why take unnecessary risks? Better to just put all the handicrafts aside - there are other days for that.
• It is not worth starting new businesses, starting new projects and large purchases - otherwise there will be no success in these matters. Previously, it was believed that one should not take up any business on the day of the week corresponding to the past Annunciation. For example, if this celebration fell on Wednesday, then it was considered an unlucky day next year. And speaking allegorically, in the Annunciation it is better, if possible, to refuse important matters, negotiations, work with documents, etc.
• Don't disturb the ground! It was considered wrong to start sowing, plow, cultivate the fields and tinker in the garden. In our time, it can be interpreted in this way. On the one hand, it is undesirable to work in the country, because it is quite difficult physical work, which will take a lot of energy and, as it were, "steal" from us the bright wave of the holiday. A holiday is a holiday: everything has its time.
• You can’t fence in fences and sweep the street - by tradition, this predicted a cold spring and a dry summer.
• There is a ban on all work on this day for pregnant women.
• It is interesting that girls in Russia were even wary of braiding and touching their hair on the day of the Annunciation. The people have long said:

On the Annunciation, the girl does not weave a braid, and a bird does not build a nest.

• By the way, the legend about the cuckoo is connected with this belief: it is mentioned that this bird does not have a home due to the fact that it deliberately violated the Lord's prohibition - "A cuckoo without a nest for cursing it at the Annunciation."

• Previously, girls tried to take care of the beauty of their hair in advance. So now it will be wise to bring beauty to life before the feast of the Annunciation. And along with earthly affairs, you need to devote time to spiritual issues: go to church, and just be alone with your thoughts. After all, the best ideas and solutions to different situations come to us most often in these secret moments.
• Do not rush to put on new things: there is a belief that then new things will quickly tear or irreparably deteriorate, and within a year there will be no opportunity to acquire others. Girls who violate this prohibition will not marry until the next Annunciation.
• You cannot borrow anything (money, food, etc.). The sign says: the one who gave something from home to the Annunciation gave his well-being, health, peace and peace in the family. This requirement should be observed strictly, even if the person asking you for something is familiar and you are not comfortable refusing him.
• It is important to ensure that nothing is taken away from your home. Therefore, it is undesirable to invite guests on April 7, but it is better to celebrate it with your family.
• Nothing can be brought from the forest to the Annunciation - otherwise pests will start in the house.
• The hunters knew that in Blagovest one shouldn't even touch the weapon and go hunting - otherwise there would be no luck on the hunt all year round.
• And of course, in the Annunciation it was considered and is considered a bad form to swear, sort things out, get irritated. However, this is a common norm of behavior that should be observed on all church holidays, and on weekdays it will not hurt either.

Based on this, we can say that it is better not to conflict with people at all, not to try to find out their position on the topic where serious contradictions may arise between you. Let's put aside earthly affairs for weekdays, and today is a holiday - we will remember this.

NOTE

Often the Feast of the Annunciation falls on Great Lent, preceding Easter. Then the usual restrictions on food remain, but at the same time, certain indulgences in the choice of dishes are allowed.

So, believers can eat baked fish cooked with various vegetables. However, if this celebration falls on any day of Holy Week, the strictest fast is observed - you can only eat vegetable food with vegetable oil.

On the Annunciation you can eat baked fish with vegetables

What can be done on the Annunciation and what can not be done on this day: commentary of the church

Of course, every nation has its own rich cultural traditionsthat have existed since time immemorial. And besides, there are church canons, which in some ways may coincide with the national ones, and in some ways they may differ.

As a rule, in the Christian tradition there is no specific list of things that can and cannot be done on a holiday, including the Annunciation. Of course, every person intuitively understands that on such days it is better to pay attention to some innermost thoughts, visit church, and just enjoy the unusual atmosphere.

That is why Orthodox priests say that some strict bans on the Annunciation, no, everyone can act according to his heart and in accordance with real necessity. The working day has fallen - we will work. It was necessary to urgently go on business - of course, we will go if the situation is urgent.

Well, in the usual case, just enjoy the holiday and plunge into its atmosphere.

Annunciation: signs of the weather

And of course, the weather can give certain signs. It affects our mood, in a sense, determines the rhythm of the day. Therefore, our ancestors very closely watched the sky throughout the year. And especially during holidays.

Here are some weather signs for the Annunciation they made:

1. If frost breaks out, this is a reason for joy - the harvest will be good, and the year will be successful. On the other hand, frosty weather will last only 40 more days, but then real summer will come. And the frost also foreshadowed a good harvest of milk mushrooms - in July-August it would be high time to stock up on these mushrooms. And it is also a good reason to escape to nature, distracted from the urban rhythm.
2. But if the weather is warm and sunny - on the contrary, the omen is not very good. She foreshadowed fires, so people tried to be especially careful.
3. They also paid attention to the sky. If it was completely clear, without a single hint of clouds, it means that the summer will be with an abundance of rain and thunderstorms.
4. If it started raining, then, on the contrary, the summer will be quite hot and dry. However, the mushroom harvest will still be considerable.
5. But the stormy weather foreshadowed a moderately warm summer and an abundance of nuts.

As you can see, in our history, quite a few signs have survived on the Annunciation. Sure, folk signs and observations concerned not only the weather, but also human life.

Which signs to believe and which not, each person decides for himself. The main thing is that the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos brings joy to your home.

In general, it was believed: what the atmosphere of the Annunciation would be, it would be the same on. Popular wisdom says about it this way:

As you spend the Annunciation, you will live a whole year. If on this day you are healthy, well fed, dressed and with money, then all this will not be translated within a year.

By the way, sometimes the Annunciation and Easter coincide, and then Christians celebrate two holidays at once. This event is called Kiriopasha. But it happens very rarely - the last time was in 1991, and in the 21st century it will come only once - in the distant 2075.

The Annunciation is a never-ending holiday, so every year Orthodox Christians celebrate it on April 7, and Catholics - on March 25. From the Annunciation to the Nativity of Christ, 9 months - this is how long a woman bears a child under her heart.

How to decorate a house on the Annunciation / istockphoto.com

On this day, the Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary and told her the good news that she would become the mother of the Son of God, insecurely conceiving him from the Holy Spirit. The son, whom she will call Jesus, is destined to atone for human sins and to give people salvation.

The Annunciation is a holiday of great joy, even the sun on this day "plays" with joy. The embodiment of this holiday is the dove, as a symbol of purity and purity, as well as white lilies, with which believers adorn their homes for the holiday.

What cannot be done on a holiday?

What not to do on the Annunciation / istockphoto.com

On this great holiday, any physical labor and hard homework, as well as various handicrafts (knitting, embroidery, sewing, etc.). Even food is better prepared on the eve of this great holiday.

On this day, the Lord blesses everything that grows on the earth, so you cannot cut bushes and trees and generally work in a vegetable garden or garden ..

It is forbidden to borrow anything on this day (money, things, food), otherwise it can lead to failure and problems in the family. Our ancestors believed that nothing should be taken out of the house on this day.

At the Annunciation "the bird does not build a nest, the girl does not weave a braid", therefore it is better not to weave braids, not to do complicated hairstyles, and the visit to the hairdresser must be rescheduled for another day.

According to signs, it is impossible to put on new clothes on this day, as it will surely tear, get dirty or quickly deteriorate.

What needs to be done for the Annunciation?

Annunciation salt / istockphoto.com

The Annunciation is considered a women's holiday, so on this day you must definitely go to the service in the church and pray to the Most Holy Theotokos about a happy fate, a successful marriage, about children and their health, about patronage and intercession in life.

On this day, the owners release poultry from their cages and animals in their stable, so that they "hear the spring." The Annunciation is considered the third Presentation, and after it winter and cold weather definitely recede.

According to legend, if you call your husband "sweet" 40 times during the Annunciation, then the whole year the family will have harmony, prosperity and family happiness.

Despite the fact that the Annunciation falls on Great Lent, an indulgence is in effect on this day, believers can eat food, fish, oil and wine.

For the Annunciation, you need to prepare salt, our ancestors believed that such salt can heal from any disease and misfortune. And also in the church, they light up broths, which are broken into small pieces and added to food for sick people, for a speedy recovery.

The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated every year on April 7 (March 25 to church calendar) - exactly nine months before the birth of Christ.

“On this day, the Virgin Mary heard the joyful news of the heavenly messenger that She was chosen to become the Mother of the Savior of the world. “Rejoice, Blessed One,” the Angel greeted Her, and these words were, in essence, the first good news for mankind after it broke its connection with God as a result of the Fall, ”said the site priest Georgy Kalyadin from Nevinnomyssk.

The ancient Christians called the holiday differently: "The Conception of Christ", "The Annunciation of Christ", "The Beginning of Redemption", "The Annunciation of the Angel to Mary." Only in the 7th century was the modern name fixed - the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos.

What should be done in the Annunciation?

Among Orthodox Christians, it is customary to dedicate this day to God, and everyday affairs should be postponed. The Russian proverb about the Annunciation says: "The bird does not nest, the maiden does not weave braids."

“This, of course, is not about doing nothing that day and lying on the couch in front of the TV,” explains the priest. - You can comb your hair and plait a braid, you just should not give too much effort to everyday affairs. It is better to take care of the purity of the soul and devote time to spiritual life. "

The Annunciation has been one of the favorite holidays of the Russian people since ancient times. It is closely connected with the change of seasons: it was believed that it was on this day that winter finally receded, therefore, after the holiday, the peasants began work, and beekeepers often carried hives to the Annunciation to the courtyard.

Before the 1917 revolution, it was customary to bring songbirds with you to temples and churches and set them free. Now tradition is followed, as a rule, by priests: they release white doves from their cages, and parishioners admire the birds flying across the sky. This ceremony is also carried out in the Stavropol Territory.

“There are several explanations for this tradition,” said Father George. "Doves symbolize either the Holy Spirit or a human soul that languished in a cage of sin, but through the Good News received hope for freedom."

How to fast on the Annunciation?

The holiday often falls on the time of Great Lent. Since this is a special date, believers are allowed some indulgences, such as eating fish. It is worth preparing food in advance so as not to waste time on this on a holiday ..

If you still do not know how to behave correctly on the Annunciation this year, then in this article you will be able to find answers to all common questions. On the days of church holidays, it is not easy for the laity to understand what and how to do.

In the church orthodox calendar there are 12 most important holidays throughout the year. The Annunciation, which always falls on April 7, refers to such holidays. Consider what you can and cannot do on this day. Please note that this year parent Saturday April 6 is canceled due to the fact that it falls on the eve of this big holiday.

Interesting materials on the topic:

Important! Usually this is a big holiday during which the post is weakened and it is even allowed to eat fish and have fun. Try to do this with your family, not making much noise or having fun, but spending time with grace and grace.

1. Among the people, men drove all the cattle into the courtyard at the Annunciation, it was believed that this contributes to the early arrival of spring.
2. In villages, these days, hives were usually taken out into the street, and the children were released from the bird cages. It was believed that in the Annunciation all living things take a start for life.
3. You can eat fish and drink red wine in normal years.
4. In the morning after the service in the temple, be sure to go to the icon of the Virgin Mary. This is especially true for women, because the Mother of God is considered the intercessor of women before the Lord in their daily affairs. In quiet, sincere prayer, you can ask for the appearance of a child or betrothed, for health, for a happy family life.
5. If a woman has not been able to become pregnant for a long time, on this day she should turn to the Mother of God for help with special prayer and an open heart.

What you can't do:

1. Have fun and make noise.
2. Jump over the fire.
3. Attend recreational activities.
4. Housework. Of course, preparation for Easter is not prohibited, but this should be done slowly, measuredly and for your own pleasure.
5. Do not touch your hair or even brush it. There was a popular belief that if you comb your hair in the Annunciation, you can confuse the lines of your life.
6. Under no circumstances should you fish, hunt or harm nature. The fact is that the onset of this holiday among our ancestors of the Slavs was associated with the onset of spring and the awakening of life. So, it is impossible to interfere with life in any of its manifestations on April 7.

About good news

It is from this phrase "good news" that the beautiful name of the holiday comes from. You can read about the events that happened on April 7 in the new style in the Gospel of Luke. In particular, it says that the unmarried Mary, who devoted her life to serving the Lord, appeared in a dream the Archangel Gabriel. He brought the good news from God that Mary was destined to become the mother of the Son of God on earth and that after 9 months she would give birth from the Holy Spirit, for the virgin conception had already taken place.

Popular signs of the Annunciation:

• What the weather will be on this day, so will the Easter day. This year it so happened that the difference between the holidays is only one day.
• Also, ancestors believed that good weather on this day promises a rich harvest. Accordingly, the opposite rule also applies.
• Thunder on April 7 - to a huge harvest of nuts. If it rains heavily, this year the forest will delight you with a large number of mushrooms.
• If you don't see swallows, the winter weather will last for another seven weeks.
• Nothing and to whom it is forbidden to give from home on this day, including to lend money.