Annunciation: signs and beliefs. Folk signs for the Annunciation

Annunciation Holy Mother of God included in the list of 12 main Orthodox holidays. Every year it is celebrated on the same day - April 7th. There are many things connected with this celebration various signs and customs that have been formed over the years.

What is the Annunciation?

The name of this celebration was formed from two words - “good news.” To understand what the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary means, it is worth knowing the history of this holiday. On this day, Archangel Gabriel descended from heaven to the Virgin Mary and gave her the good news that she would soon become the mother of Jesus Christ, the savior of mankind. Long time Greek Christians called this holiday “the day of greeting” and “annunciation.”

On the Annunciation, signs and customs have been observed since ancient times and there is a list of what can and should be done on this day:

A believer must attend a church service in the morning. If the housewife has baked prosphoras - special unleavened bread, then you can take them with you to consecrate them. It is worth noting that in many temples they are distributed to people one at a time.
According to traditions, it is customary to release birds on the holiday, and it is better if they are white doves. They will fly into the sky and tell God about good deeds person.
Previously, special Annunciation salt was prepared on this day. On the holiday, each family member should take a pinch of ordinary salt and throw it into a bag. After this, the housewife must heat it over the fire and pour it into a bag. It must be stored in a secret place and taken out when necessary, for example, if a person is sick, it is placed at the head of the bed. If the salt has not been used, then it must be burned on April 7 next year.
It is recommended to devote the holiday to family, mercy and various good deeds.
People associate the Annunciation with the beginning of agricultural work, so some traditions were associated with fertility. Previously, on this day, they burned wood in the stove, and then mixed the ash with salt and scattered it in the corners of the garden. This is how people protected the plot from the evil eye and cast a spell on the harvest.
The crumbs that remained from the eaten prosphora were mixed with seeds for planting. You can add a little Annunciation salt to the grains.
On the Annunciation there are signs and customs that are associated with the family. In the morning, each family member must eat blessed prosphora and drink holy water. Thanks to this, a person can protect himself from diseases and various negativity, as well as material wealth.

What cannot be done on the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary?

This church holiday has great value For believers, there are several important canons that must be adhered to. There are signs that you should not do on the Annunciation:

It is forbidden to work on the land; it is believed that if a person touches the seeds or grains, they will never germinate. After this holiday, all field work will be productive and produce a good harvest.
You cannot give anything away from home, so as not to lose happiness and well-being. It is better not to invite guests to this holiday.
It is forbidden to wear new things for the holiday, since they will deteriorate in a short period of time and it will not be possible to replace them with others. Girls who do not take this taboo into account will not be able to get married this year.
When figuring out what you can’t do on the Annunciation, it’s worth saying that there is a taboo on any handicraft. This is due to the fact that the thread symbolizes life, so by sewing or knitting, a person can confuse his fate.
Another taboo concerns starting any business, since it will not bring any results and will only cause disappointment.

In ancient times, people especially believed in evil spirits, so many superstitions have a connection with them.

You cannot go near the water on the Annunciation, because mermaids can enchant you and drag you under water.
It is not recommended to be far from home on holiday, since the house snake comes into the house and counts the household members. It is believed that if someone is missing, the person will soon die.
It is forbidden to go into the forest, as a goblin can lead you deep into the forest to your death.

Folk signs for the Annunciation

A huge number of superstitions associated with various aspects of life have survived to this day. Many people are interested in what signs there are for the Annunciation, so on this day you can learn about many future events, predict the weather and attract good luck. Everyone has the right to decide for themselves to believe in them or consider them fiction, but it is worth noting that superstitions have been formed over many years, proving their truthfulness, so at least you can listen to them.

Signs for good luck for the Annunciation

To ensure good luck throughout the year, it is forbidden to cut hair or braid hair on this church holiday. Eat old legend, that the cuckoo on the Annunciation decided to break the existing ban and began to weave a nest for itself. For this, God punished her and deprived her of her own home, so she puts eggs in the nests of other birds. There are other signs for the Annunciation to attract good luck.

On this day, young people gathered for festivities, and people were sure to jump over the fire. It is believed that by crossing the flame a person is cleansed of all negativity, restores health and attracts good luck.
Adults, in order to get rid of sins and improve their lives, collected the last snow, melted it and washed themselves.

Annunciation - signs of love

People who are in a couple should spend time together in harmony on this holiday in order to maintain such a relationship for the whole year. Signs on the day of the Annunciation indicate that women should call their lover “beloved” forty times, which will preserve feelings, love and well-being in the couple. You can’t do anything with your hair on this holiday, so as not to step on your fate.

Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary - signs for marriage

Many church holidays are considered a great opportunity for single girls to attract a soul mate. According to signs, if the celebration is held cheerfully and in good mood, then your wish will certainly come true. In the morning, single girls always went to church and prayed near the icon of the Mother of God so that it would help them get married faster. There are other signs for the Annunciation for unmarried girls, for example, on this day it is forbidden to wear ring finger ring and braid your hair so as not to confuse your fate and not miss your soulmate.

Signs for the Annunciation to get pregnant

Since the Mother of God is the mother of the savior of humanity, women who want to get pregnant and turn to her. There are special signs at the Annunciation for girls related to procreation. On this day, you need to buy a white dove and ask her to convey a request for a child to the Lord. On the holiday, the bird should be released. You can use this method to ask your significant other to meet.

Signs of the Annunciation for money

Church holidays have enormous energy that can be used for your benefit. There are signs and superstitions for the Annunciation that are related to finances.

On this day it is forbidden to lend money, since it will not be possible to say goodbye to it within a year.
People who do business sprinkle their jobs on April 7 and ask for prosperity.
When describing the signs and rituals of the Annunciation, it is worth remembering one of them: in the morning of the holiday you need to go to church and buy prosphora there, the number of which should match the number of household members. A coin is placed in one of them and after that everyone must take a loaf of bread. The person who receives the coin will not need money for a year.

To be born on the Annunciation - signs

There are two popular interpretations of this superstition.

It is believed that on this holiday people are born who will be happy and will have good luck throughout their lives. At the same time, there is one “but”, they will constantly feel lonely, even with a large and friendly family. Signs about the Annunciation indicate that a person born on this holiday will be able to achieve a lot in life, even constantly feeling.
On the Annunciation there are signs and customs negative interpretation, so there is a version that babies born on this holiday will often get sick or have deformities.
There's one more thing folk superstition, according to which people and animals born on April 7 will be small in stature.

Sign - to die on the Annunciation

Believers since ancient times believed that on this day the sky opens for everyone, and people can use this chance to reach out to To higher powers. There is a sign - death on the Annunciation is a guarantee that a person will certainly go to Paradise. Among the people they say that they die in life good people, which the Lord takes to himself.

Weather for the Annunciation - folk signs

Many people still use the knowledge of their ancestors, which has been tested for centuries. Weather-related signs are also known for the Annunciation:

If swallows were not visible until the seventh of April, then cold weather will remain throughout the spring.
Good and clear weather foreshadows a rich harvest and a red summer.
If there was fog on the morning of the Annunciation, it means that the water in the rivers will rise.
In ancient times, it was believed that the weather on April 7 would repeat itself on Easter.
Many stars in the sky on this holiday foretell a good hemp harvest.

Rain on Annunciation - signs

In ancient times, sudden changes in weather were perceived as a sign from above, which became the basis for superstitions:

On the Annunciation, signs and customs describe that if it rains on the holiday, it means that there will be little moisture in the summer, but at the same time it will be possible to get a rich harvest of rye.
It was believed that if it's raining, then the rooster will get drunk, and the grass will grow on Yuri and the ox will feed.
The men believed that if it started to rain, it meant they could go fishing, since the catch would be rich.
If there is a thunderstorm on Annunciation, signs indicate that the summer will be warm and nuts will grow well this year.

Snow on Annunciation - signs

The weather changes frequently before Easter, but snow is a rare occurrence and some superstitions are associated with it:

If there is snow on the roofs of houses, it means bad weather will persist for a long time and the snow will remain until St. George’s Day, which falls on May 6th.
For those who are interested in what signs and customs are associated with snow, there is such a superstition - if it lies in the fields on this day, then there will be no harvest in the summer.
In ancient times, people believed that the last melted snow had healing power and if you wash your face with it, you can get rid of diseases and various troubles.

Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Orthodox holiday, which has one day of pre-celebration and one day of post-celebration, on which the Council of the Holy Archangel Gabriel celebrates.

The events of the Annunciation are described in the Gospel by the Apostle Luke - on this day they remember how Archangel Gabriel announced to the Virgin Mary the good news of the conception and birth of the God-Child Jesus Christ.

Divine history is familiar to almost everyone, but on the eve of the Annunciation, the Most Holy Theotokos invites you to remember it again, as well as to become familiar with the history, traditions and signs of the holiday.

Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Virgin Mary, who was given to the Creator from birth, is undoubtedly the most chaste in the entire Universe - she lived and was raised until she was 14 years old in the Jerusalem Temple.

When the time came for Mary to leave the temple, they found the elderly pious carpenter Joseph as her husband, who was supposed to protect Her purity and innocence.

Therefore, the Virgin Mary, when the Archangel Gabriel announced to her that She had acquired the greatest grace from God - to be the Matter of the Son of God, embarrassed, asked the Angel how this conception would happen.

As an example, the Archangel cited Mary’s barren relative, Saint Elizabeth, who at an advanced age conceived a child six months ago, and thereby made it clear that there are no limits to the Lord’s capabilities.

Having heard the all-merciful will in the speeches of the Archangel, Mary said: “Behold, the Servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to Your word.” Holy Conception happened, as is believed today, at the moment of the utterance of this phrase by the Virgin Mary.

Icon "Our Lady of Vladimir" (1652. Front side of the double-sided icon. Simon Ushakov)

Joseph, having learned that Mary was carrying a child, wanted to secretly let her go, but the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said: “Joseph, Son of David! Do not be afraid to accept Mary, your wife; for whoever is born in her is of the Holy Spirit, she will give birth to a Son.” and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins..."

Joseph did as the Angel told him - he accepted his wife. Everything happened as predicted - they had a son, and they named him Jesus.

History of the holiday

It is believed that the holiday was established by the apostles, since images of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, dating back to the 2nd-3rd centuries, are found in the paintings of the catacombs, where the first Christians gathered for prayer.

However, they began to celebrate the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos in a special way, much later. This was facilitated by the discovery by Saint Helen of the Savior at the beginning of the 4th century of the Holy places of the earthly life of the Savior and the construction of churches in these places, including the basilica in Nazareth, on the site of the appearance of the Archangel Gabriel to the Virgin.

Ancient Christians called the holiday differently - the Annunciation of Christ, the Conception of Christ, the Annunciation of the Angel to Mary, the Beginning of Redemption, and only in the 7th century was it given the name Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, both in the West and in the East.

The Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, according to some information, was established by St. Cyril of Jerusalem, and by the end of the 7th century in Byzantium it was one of the most important. Around the same time, it spread to the Western Church.

The date of the Annunciation in both the East and the West is considered to be March 25 (April 7 in the old style). The Annunciation was dedicated to the day nine months preceding Christmas, since the holiday of the Nativity of Christ was historically established much earlier.

This number also agrees with the ideas of ancient church historians that the Annunciation and Easter occurred on the same day of the year, as historical events.

Traditions

Since ancient times, the feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary has been especially revered in Rus'. On this day, by ancient tradition, people released birds from nets and cages. This custom was revived in 1995 and is now performed in many churches.

On the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, peasants, according to tradition, according to the number of household members, baked prosphora in the family - unleavened church bread, which was then illuminated in the church.

Image of the Mother of God. Fragment of the icon "Annunciation (Ustyug)"

They ate the illuminated bread at home on an empty stomach, and the crumbs, according to tradition, were added to seeds and pet food. The people believed that thanks to this the harvest would be rich, and the livestock would be healthy and fertile.

The people perceived the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary as a spring holiday - the beginning of a new agricultural year. According to tradition, people blessed grain before sowing, placing the Annunciation icon next to the grain.

On this day, in the old days, they “called out spring” - they lit a fire and jumped over the fire, danced in circles, sang “spring songs.” People considered the Annunciation fire to be the best protection against disease, damage and the evil eye.

People beat mallets, rang bells, and copper utensils to protect livestock from wolves. There was a popular belief that wolves would stay at the distance the sound would travel.

Signs

The Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary among the people was surrounded by many signs. The main sign is that all work on the ground and around the house is prohibited. In the old days, people said that even a bird does not build a nest on this day, because it is a sin.

According to legend, the cuckoo did not obey the rules of this day and made a nest; as punishment, it can no longer make nests, and is forced to place its eggs in the nests of other birds.

In many houses, according to tradition, on the eve and on the day of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, they tried not to light a fire, but in order to attract good luck in the oven, according to signs, one should burn a few pinches of salt.

On the Feast of the Annunciation, people believed that angels rejoiced in heaven, and even in hell they stopped torturing sinners. The earth awakens from its winter sleep and opens up to welcome spring. And along with the inhabitants of the earth, all evil spirits awaken.

Therefore, on the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, rituals were performed that protected from disease and evil. It was a good sign to wash your face with melt water, fumigate your winter clothes with smoke, and so on.

Fire was considered the best protection against snakes, so it was customary to burn the garbage accumulated over the winter. According to signs, not a single crumb can be dropped on the Annunciation, otherwise there will be no salvation from insects.

On the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, it was customary to tell fortunes - they baked small money in a church prosphora and whoever gets it will smile with happiness all year long.

Blessed water of the Annunciation was placed under the icons, because they believed that it would raise the sick to their feet, and they also watered livestock with it.

In the old days it was believed that a whole year blessed water does not deteriorate unless a sorcerer or a person with dark thoughts touches it.

On the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary bad omen is pouring grain from sack to sack and lending, therefore it was strictly forbidden to do this.

On this day, the housewife used a broom to drive the chickens off their roost so that they would fly to Easter.

Icon of the Annunciation, late 16th century

There are many signs associated with the harvest and the weather. So, according to legend, hens will not lay eggs well if the night before the sky is dark without stars. A sign of a wheat harvest is a sunny day on Annunciation.

According to signs, rain on a holiday means mushroom autumn and good fishing. A thunderstorm on a holiday indicates a warm summer and a good harvest of nuts. If there is a thunderstorm on the holiday, you can expect a warm summer and an excellent nut harvest.

According to signs, frost on the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary indicated a good harvest of spring crops and cucumbers.

What do they pray for?

They pray in front of the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos of the Annunciation for relief and healing of their ailments, for liberation from imprisonment, and in general to receive “good” news about something.

Prayer

Accept, O All-merciful, Most Pure Lady Theotokos, these honorable gifts, the only one bestowed upon You from us, Thy unworthy servants, chosen from all generations, the highest appearing of all creatures of heaven and earth. Because for Your sake the Lord of hosts was with us, and through You we knew the Son of God, and became worthy of His Holy Body and His Most Pure Blood. Blessed are you, too, in the birth of births, God-blessed One, the brightest of the Cherubim and the most honest of the Seraphim. And now, All-Singing Most Holy Theotokos, do not cease praying for us, Thy unworthy servants, that we may be delivered from every evil advice and from every situation, and that we may be preserved unharmed from every poisonous pretext of the devil. But even to the end, through Your prayers, keep us uncondemned, as if by Your intercession and help we are saved, glory, praise, thanksgiving and worship for everything in the Trinity To the One God and we send all to the Creator, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

The material was prepared based on open sources

Annunciation is a great Christian holiday.

According to scripture, on this day Archangel Gabriel announced to the Virgin Mary that she would give birth to the Savior of the World.

Many traditions and customs existed at the Annunciation:

Everyone greets the Annunciation with joy, and nature rejoices.

They say that the Sun plays 3 times a year on Christmas, Annunciation and Easter.

According to legend, even angels in heaven celebrate the Annunciation, and sinners in hell cease to be tormented.

On this day it was customary not to start work; any work was prohibited. Even the maiden at the Annunciation did not braid her hair. The cuckoo was left without a nest because... I tried to marry him for the Annunciation.

People believed that as you spend the Annunciation, the whole year will pass.

According to tradition, the Annunciation is considered the day of the discovery of the earth, the awakening of nature from winter sleep.

Therefore, it was customary to perform cleansing rituals: jumping over a fire, burning straw beds, washing with melt water to remove all ailments, fumigating winter clothes.

To protect livestock from predators, they made noise at the Annunciation, rang bells, and rattled basins. It was believed that the distance the sound spreads, the forest animals would stay there.

Snakes and rodents were repelled by burning garbage from the garden.

There was a custom to place an icon of the Annunciation in a tub of water and pray to it for the harvest. And pieces of the Annunciation prosphora were buried in the corners of the field and taken with them to the north.

The water illuminated at the Annunciation could lift the sick to their feet and was considered healing.

In some places, birds were released into the wild on Annunciation Day.

Signs for the Annunciation:

Annunciation ash is saved for cabbage and other garden plants; when they spoil, they are sprinkled with this ash.

Annunciation - release of birds to freedom.

The Annunciation is God's greatest holiday.

Annunciation without swallows - cold spring.

On Annunciation there is frost - there are oats under the bush.

A bucket in Annunciation means fires.

Spring will either not last a week until the Annunciation, or it will last a week.

Spring has overcome winter.

Badgers and raccoons emerge from holes, hedgehogs emerge from rotten stumps, and forest ants emerge from heaps.

If Annunciation is cold, expect forty frosts in the morning.

If there is wind, frost and fog on the day of the Annunciation, it means a fruitful year.

If there is wind, frost and fog - for a fruitful year.

If a chicken or goose lays an egg on Annunciation, the egg hatches into a freak or cripple.

If on Annunciation the sky is cloudless and the sun is bright, the summer will be stormy.

If it’s a red day on Annunciation Day, then the year will be menacing and fiery.

If the night is warm, then spring will be friendly.

If there is snow on the roofs, then it should lie in the field as far as Yegor.

The winter path collapses a week before the Annunciation or a week after.

As is the Annunciation, so is Holy Pascha.

As you spend the Annunciation, so will the whole year.

If there is snow on the roofs at Annunciation, it will be the same in the fields at Yegorya.

If the night of the Annunciation is warm, then spring will be friendly.

The cuckoo is without a nest because it made it on the Annunciation Day.

Wet Annunciation - mushroom summer.

At the Annunciation, spring overcame winter.

On Annunciation there is a thunderstorm - to warm summer and the nut harvest.

On Annunciation, the bird does not build a nest, the girl does not braid her hair.

On Annunciation rain - rye will be born.

On Annunciation and Easter, sinners are not tormented in hell.

On Annunciation there is frost - the harvest is on milk mushrooms.

On the Annunciation they do not look at harsh yarn (work is prohibited).

On Annunciation, they burn winter beds (straw) and move to sleep in a cage.

On Annunciation it is a sunny day - the wheat will be harvested: if there are few stars in the sky, then there will be few eggs.

There is a good catch of fish at Annunciation.

They fumigate winter clothes with smoke.

The first mushrooms grow on a hillock - towards the summer rains; they settle in a hollow - towards dry land.

On the occasion of the Annunciation, the lights in the huts are not turned off all night - it would be better for the flax to grow, otherwise lightning will burn everything out.

They don’t sit under the smoke (that is, they don’t cook hot food and go out to sleep in the hallway, in the cage).

The Veil is not summer, the Annunciation is not winter.

There is no fire from the Annunciation (the day has arrived, it is light in the morning and evening).

Third meeting of spring.

A gypsy takes off (sells) his fur coat at the Annunciation.

On Annunciation, between matins and mass (at about 12 o'clock) you need to drive the chickens off the pole with a broom. They will lay good eggs.

The Annunciation prosphora is sometimes kept for a whole year, in case someone in the family gets sick, so that they can be treated with it later.

They burn salt in the oven and store the ash to sprinkle the garden, from harm and hail. Ash taken from the ash pit at the Annunciation has the power to treat damage.

They don't lend money. The one who gave away from home at the Annunciation gave peace and health.

On Annunciation Day, it is better not to pay special attention to your hairstyle; hair will come out. It is said: a bird does not build a nest, a maiden does not braid her hair.

Whoever calls her husband “dear” forty times from morning to midnight on Annunciation Day will have her husband’s beloved all year long.

The day on which the Feast of the Annunciation falls is considered unlucky for plowing and sowing, but the day following it is extremely favorable for agricultural work.

In the old days they said: “As you spend the Annunciation, so the whole year will pass”.

Working for the Annunciation is a great sin.

You cannot wear new clothes for the Annunciation.

Remember that the holy water taken for the Annunciation must be preserved. It helps in the treatment of many diseases.

A talisman that saves in grief and preserves in need:

Read at the time of the Annunciation.

In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Without a wrist, but with a cross under a crystal bridge
Sleeps, sits, but hears and sees everything
An old saint with a gray beard, barefoot.
He sees and anticipates
In all sad cases it helps me:
From hunger and cold, from sword and fire,
From an irreconcilable sorcerer,
From old age and premature old age,
From all people of the volost, honest and dishonest,
From a vain trial, a terrible punishment.
The gray-haired saint sits under the crystal bridge,
He sleeps, but hears and sees everything.
Whoever touches me will drop his staff.
Whoever inadvertently wakes him up will ruin himself.
Keys, padlocks,
My words are secret and witchcraft.
Close yourself more than once or twice, my words,
Nine locks, nine keys.
Key, lock, tongue. Amen. Amen. Amen.

One of the most important and revered holidays for all Christians, regardless of their religion, is the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. And it is not surprising, because it was on this day that the Lord, through Archangel Gabriel, conveyed the good news to the whole world - the coming birth of the Son of God. How is such a bright holiday celebrated in the Christian world, are there any special beliefs and traditions that should be observed on this day and what signs of the Annunciation are considered to be harbingers of prosperity for the whole next year?

If Easter is celebrated every year on different times, then the Annunciation is usually celebrated on the same day, namely the seventh of April. This date was chosen for a reason, since exactly nine months later - on the seventh of January - another grandiose event will take place for the entire Christian world - the birth of Jesus Christ, who came to save people from sins and suffering.

In 2018, this bright holiday falls on Friday of the penultimate week of Lent, April 7. And, although on Friday all believers must observe strict fasting and consume only raw vegetables and fruits, in honor of this great day, Christians are allowed to eat fish.

Signs for the Annunciation (video)

Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary: a little history

Annunciation with Latin language translated as proclamation. On this day, the Lord entrusted Archangel Gabriel with an important mission - to bring the good news to Mary that she would give the world the savior of humanity, Jesus Christ. Mary was not chosen by God by chance, because she early childhood was raised in the Jerusalem Temple, devoting all her time to prayer and serving the Lord. When a pious girl reached the age of fourteen, according to Jewish custom, she was required to get married. But Mary decided to devote her life to God and took a vow of celibacy. To protect their daughter from gossip and evil tongues, her parents gave her as a wife to the righteous Joseph, who vowed to protect her virginity.

On the night of the seventh of April, an angel appeared to Mary in a dream to announce to her the will of the Lord that she had been chosen to become the mother of the Son of God through virgin birth the holy spirit, which is called to save humanity and give people hope for deliverance from sins. According to the Bible, since then, believers around the world have celebrated this date as the day of good news about the coming birth of the Savior.

Traditions and beliefs of the Feast of the Annunciation

This bright holiday is associated with many traditions and beliefs that go back hundreds of years, but, nevertheless, have not lost their relevance and significance to this day.

Several centuries ago in Rus' there was a custom: kings and nobles arranged a luxurious and rich meal for the Annunciation and invited all the poor and disadvantaged to it. This tradition is still followed today. In shelters and charitable foundations They treat poor people and beggars to lunch.
In the morning, believers went to church, carrying white lilies in their hands, symbolizing the purity and purity of the Virgin Mary.
One of the most beautiful traditions on the Annunciation is associated with birds. On this day, birds were released from their cages into the wild, since it was believed that by giving freedom to birds, one could hope for remission of sins.
There is a belief among Christians that the Lord did not send people who died on April 7th to hell, and sinners on this day were even spared punishment.

Signs for the Annunciation in 2018

There are also many signs associated with this day. People believed that by using some signs they could figure out what the weather would be like throughout the next year and whether they would be able to reap a bountiful harvest.

If there was still a slight frost outside that day, then in a few days you can expect warmer weather. And vice versa, if the day was warm, then frosts were ahead.
If the sun warmed the earth on the Annunciation, then you can count on a generous wheat harvest.
Rain on this day promised good luck for mushroom pickers and fishermen.
The storm of the seventh of April foreshadowed bountiful harvest nuts
If the Annunciation night was dark and starless, then chickens and ducks will lay eggs poorly.
The swallows on the seventh of April did not leave their nests and did not glorify the day with their singing? Spring will be late and cold.

Rituals for the Annunciation that attract health, luck and prosperity

Despite the fact that the church has a negative attitude towards most folk rites and rituals, considering them superstitions and relics of paganism, people continue to use them to attract love, health and good luck.

Residents of villages and villages gathered in the evening for large area, lit fires and, holding hands, danced around them. It was believed that in this way they were cleansed of sins.
Women dreaming of a baby were supposed to touch the hem of the pregnant woman's dress on this day. It was believed that this would promote conception.
Housewives on April 7 tried to burn salt in the oven. There was an opinion that such salt could cure ailments and ailments. It was also used to protect the house and family members from the evil eye and damage.
Annunciation salt was used to treat diseases and pets. For this purpose, small breads were baked with added salt and fed to livestock.
On this day, it was customary to bake products from unleavened dough in the form of larks and treat them to neighbors and friends.

What not to do on this holiday

As with any holiday, there are several prohibitions on the Annunciation. What should you not do on this day to avoid misfortunes and failures throughout the year?

It is not without reason that people have a saying associated with this holiday: “A bird will not build a nest, a girl will not braid her hair.” It was strictly forbidden to do any work on the Annunciation. There is even a belief that the cuckoo disobeyed the Lord and decided to build a nest that day. As punishment, God deprived the naughty bird of its own nest, and it was forced to throw its eggs into others.
You can’t do anything with your hair on this holiday. Moreover, the ban is imposed not only on cutting or dyeing, but even on combing.
Gardeners and vegetable gardeners know that on the seventh of April it is forbidden to engage in sowing work, otherwise you cannot count on a generous harvest.
You cannot light candles or torches on the Annunciation. This is due to the fact that on this day angels descend from heaven to the sinful earth and bless people, giving them happiness and God's grace. And, if the light is on in the house, the angel will go unnoticed and pass by the house.
Girls were careful not to take up sewing or knitting on this day. They also did not put on a new dress or shirt, believing that the clothes would wear out very quickly.

Annunciation: stories and traditions of the holiday (video)

This event was first depicted in the Gospel of Luke. It describes the visit of the Archangel Gabriel to Mary, who brought the good news that she had been chosen as the Mother of the Son of God. He approached her and said: “Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord is with you.” The virgin was frightened, but the messenger calmed her down, explaining that she had been chosen from among many women to complete the great work of the Creator to save the human race.

The evangelist devotes special attention devotion to faith that characterizes the girl. Mary humbly and gratefully accepted the honor announced to her with deep trust in God's intentions. Despite special meaning This event for Christianity in general, the feast of the Annunciation was not officially approved for a long time. The Eastern Rite Church introduced it into the liturgy in the 5th century, while Catholics recognized it only in the 7th century. Initially, the main focus was on the image of Christ, who at the moment of the good news began his stay on earth. This day was worshiped because it marked the date of the Lord's incarnation in human form.

Later, in the era Early Middle Ages, the significant date began to be identified with the Mother of God, as the one through whom God’s plan was fulfilled. This is evidenced by the ancient churches of the Annunciation, dating from the 9th–10th centuries, built in honor of the Virgin Mary. One of the most common prayers of Orthodox believers is associated with this holiday. The troparion “Rejoice to the Virgin Mary,” along with the “Our Father,” is on the list of required readings morning prayers. He is present in everyone solemn liturgies. Among Western Catholics, this prayer is known as the Ave Maria.

Also read: Annunciation 2016 fortune telling, signs, customs

Church and folk traditions of celebrating the Annunciation

Christianity and paganism on the territory of Rus' are closely intertwined. A bizarre mixture of church dogmas and ancient customs is also characteristic of the celebration of the Annunciation. Lay people believe that on this day every prayer will be answered, and by taking simple actions, you can ensure good luck and prosperity for the whole year.

Church canons

The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary traditionally coincides with the time of Great Lent and its special milestones. If it does not fall on Bright Week, as well as the Feast of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem ( Palm Sunday), then the order church service next:

Great Compline. Similarly with Easter and Christmas services, the service begins the day before and continues throughout the night. The time at which the service is held was not chosen by chance and has its own history. It goes back to the era of the birth of religion. At the dawn of Christianity, when neophytes were especially cruelly persecuted, night and early morning were the safest moments for services. This symbolism has continued to the present day.
Matins. One of the longest services of the annual cycle. It differs from the daily canon by a set of prayers, which believers believe have special power. Therefore, many try to get to the Annunciation service. During Matins the food is consecrated. This event is characterized by a special ritual - the breaking of bread, during which the priest blesses the bread and wine and distributes it to the parishioners.
Vespers. The final stage of the celebration is evening service. It is performed in the order adopted for that day of the week.

Since the Annunciation coincides with Lent, the church allows relief in honor of the holiday. On such a great day, a fasting parishioner is allowed to eat fish and wine. If this date falls on Wednesday or Friday, then strict fasting at these moments is canceled.

Folk customs

In Rus', the Annunciation often coincided with the beginning of work on the earth, so it was perceived as the beginning of spring, the moment of the final departure of the cold weather. Such symbolism contributed to the emergence of rituals and beliefs associated with fertility. It was believed that nothing could be planted or sown before this date, since the earth was still sleeping.

To increase and preserve the harvest on this day, the ancestors performed the following rituals:

Wood was burned in the oven and the resulting ash was mixed with salt consecrated in the church. The resulting mixture was scattered in the corners of the field or garden. It was designed to protect the owner’s plot from an evil eye, protect the plantings from hail and damage caused by people.
Consecration of grain. The senior man in the house baptized the spring crops prepared for planting with the Annunciation icon taken in his hands and spoke to the harvest.
Crumbs from the bread consecrated during the morning liturgy were mixed with seeds for planting. Also, for the same purpose, the ancestors added a little Annunciation salt to the grains.

For peace between family members, well-being at home and health, the following techniques were used:

Everyone had to eat the blessed prosphora on an empty stomach and wash it down with water taken from the church. This remedy was supposed to protect a person from diseases and troubles, and give good luck and prosperity.
Preparation of Annunciation salt. Each family member living in the house had to take a handful of salt, which was subsequently heated with the appropriate spell-wish in a frying pan and poured into a common bag. This mixture was considered a powerful remedy against diseases and protective amulet from an evil eye. It was sprinkled not only on people, but also used on animals and birds.
Women whose husband had a violent temper or bad character, they had to call their spouse “dear” 40 times. Then, according to legend, he will be affectionate and helpful all year round.

The ancestors also had rituals for the fulfillment of desires, which should have been carried out on the days of the Annunciation. These actions include:

Symbolic release of birds into the wild. In 1995, the church resumed this ritual on a state scale. But if now this is a beautiful ceremony, then in the old days this ritual had practical significance. Then it was believed that in this way one could get rid of troubles and failures and gain prosperity. To do this, it was necessary to purchase a bird the day before or in the morning and tell it about your problems and requests that were addressed to God. Then they were released during the service. It was believed that the bird would fly straight to the Lord, since on such a great holiday the heavens open.

Conspiracy-prayer to the Archangel Gabriel. If a person had a special desire, then to fulfill it next year he had to go to the crossroads at sunrise, and bowing 3 times to the east, read a prayer to this angel three times and state the request in his own words. Merchants and other trading people at the Annunciation did not miss the opportunity to strengthen their fortunes. In order for the trade to be successful and there were always many buyers in the shop, on the day of the celebration it was necessary: In the morning, before the first buyer arrives, sprinkle the premises and goods with enchanted water. Texts were used as whispered prayers, which said that “just as the people go to the temple on a holy holiday, so the customers came to me.” Visit the church, be sure to wait for the festive ringing. When the bells began to ring, it was required to pick up the wallet and say certain words about multiplying the money in it. Give generous alms to the beggars standing near the entrance to the temple. Thieves also have their own signs on this day. Previously, there was an opinion that the swindler who steals some thing on this day, even if it is of very little value, a mere trifle, will be lucky in his path for the next 12 months. This belief is typical specifically for the day of the Good News. If other dates are accompanied by their own rituals for increasing fertility, well-being, improving health and fulfilling desires, then thieves took the opportunity to receive an “amulet” only on April 7th.

What can and cannot be done on Annunciation?

The Annunciation, like many other church feasts, has its own rules and restrictions. Some of them are particularly strict, such as a ban on doing something.

People say “on Annunciation, a girl does not braid her hair, and 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.

You also cannot perform the following acts on the Annunciation Day:

Lend 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 strictly observed, even if the person asking you for something is well known and you are uncomfortable refusing him. It is important to ensure that nothing is taken from your home. Therefore, it is not advisable to invite guests on April 7th. The holiday is usually celebrated with family.
Sew, weave, knit. Many peoples of the world associate thread with life, so anyone who picks it up for work can confuse their fate, bring problems and troubles.
Take care of your hair. You can’t not only cut your hair, wash your hair, but even comb your hair because of the danger of ruining your destiny. Hair may also fall out as a punishment.
Wear new clothes. New things will quickly tear or deteriorate irreparably, and within a year there will be no opportunity to purchase others. Girls who violate the ban will not get married until the next Annunciation.
They don't start something new. Otherwise, there will be no success in business. The modern sign that says that serious things cannot be started on Monday (construction, business, etc.) had a different interpretation in the old days. Previously, it was believed that one should not undertake 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.

This day should be spent the way you would like. According to legend, it is believed that whatever this holiday is like for you, it will be like that for the rest of the year. Therefore, you should not be offended at the Annunciation or quarrel with the people around you. On the contrary, you need to spend the day in a good, bright mood. Don't be alone. Even if you don’t have your own family, take the opportunity to visit your family and meet friends. For people who have pets, it is advisable to feed them well. Crumbs of blessed prosphora should be added to the food. Thus, the owner protects not only himself, but also his pets from diseases in the future.