Source bgnes
Today is Bright Monday. Like Holy Week, this next week has its own name. It is called Bright because of the divine light of Christ’s Resurrection, and its individual days also carry this definition.
Easter itself, as the biggest Christian holiday, is celebrated over three days: Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. On these days, the services are solemn and even have the same chants. Thus the majesty of the Resurrection is emphasized threefold.
As befits a great festival, Christians are advised to celebrate, i.e. these days should be “empty” of everyday work and cares, in order to feel the essence of the holiday.
Holy Week ends with the second Passover on Sunday. It is also called New Sunday, because it begins the cycle of Sundays that mention Christ’s Resurrection. It is also called Thomas Sunday, because on this day the Gospel reading is read about the appearance of Christ to his disciples, among whom was the apostle Thomas.
Holy Week or Thomas Sunday is closely related to the name of Thomas – one of the twelve apostles of Jesus, who did not believe in Christ’s Resurrection. When the rumor about the body of the Lord missing from the tomb spread, the only apostle Thomas did not believe in this sign and asked to see for himself by touching the wounds from the nails of Jesus nailed to the cross.
Eight days after the Resurrection, Christ appeared to Thomas, and so he convinced himself of the truth, fell on his knees and begged God to forgive him. Since then, the nickname Thomas the Unfaithful has remained, and the Sunday of Holy Week is called Thomas Sunday.
On the days of Holy Week, the saints are blessed: on Holy Monday – the holy apostles, on Holy Tuesday and Wednesday – the Holy Mother of God, St. Archdeacon Stephen and St. Andrew, on Holy Thursday – St. Ap. John and Jacob, on Good Friday – St. Ap. Peter, and on Holy Saturday – St. John the Baptist.
The second day of Easter is called Bright Monday or “Bloody” Monday. It is associated with the custom of “shattering eggs” to ward off hail and for fertility.
In some villages of Kazanlushko and Gabrovsko, on the second day of Easter, young people gather in a meadow, stand opposite each other and roll red eggs among themselves. The custom is for protection against hail and for fertility.
During the three festive days, there are common village people whose main function is protective magic.
#day #Easter #Holy #Week #begins #traditions
