April 06, 2024, 04:30
© TSN
Every year, Christians of the Eastern rite celebrate the Annunciation, which is one of the most important holidays. Previously, it was celebrated on April 7. But after the OCU switched to the New Julian calendar, the date of the celebration of the Annunciation changed. Now it is celebrated earlier – on March 25.
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Celebration traditions
On this day it was customary to release birds, especially pigeons. It was believed that they could convey news of people’s good deeds to their guardian angels.
It is believed that any work on this day is a sin. Therefore, it was not customary to sew or knit anything on the holiday. People believed that human life is a thread that can only be controlled by angels and God. It was believed that on holiday the possibility of tangling the threads was very high.
It is believed that you cannot wear new clothes on the holiday.
People tried not to visit people during the Annunciation and spend the day with their families. If a girl or woman knocks on the door, she may turn out to be a witch.
It was also customary to prepare Annunciation salt. Each family member threw a pinch of salt into a special bag, after which the hostess calcined it and stored it for special occasions. It is believed that salt can cure even a hopelessly ill person. If salt is not needed within a year, it must be burned at the stake.
Holiday prohibitions
Since ancient times, there have been certain prohibitions on this day.
On this day it is forbidden to engage in physical labor. You cannot do housework: sewing, knitting, washing, embroidering.
You cannot slander, swear, or wish harm to others. It is forbidden to even think about bad things.
The holiday falls during Lent, so it is necessary to observe the restrictions of this time: you cannot eat meat and dairy products, drink alcohol and overeat. But in honor of the holiday, some restrictions of fasting are relaxed: you can eat fish and seafood.
On holiday it is forbidden to lend money to anyone.
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