Annunciation: signs for a happy and rich life. Annunciation

On April 7 every year, all Orthodox Christians look forward to one of the twelve holidays - the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Judging by the name of the church celebration, one can guess that we are talking about the good news. It was on this day that an angel appeared to the Virgin Mary and announced that she would give birth to Jesus Christ.

The significance of this holiday in the Christian religion is enormous. This is evidenced by the fact that, despite Lent On this day, Orthodox Christians allow themselves more than usual. Also, the reverence for this holiday is indicated by the fact that on this day it is necessary to free yourself from work and spend it quietly and calmly, rejoicing in Christ.

Although many Christian holidays fall on different days The Annunciation is not one of these. Every year this holiday is celebrated on April 7th. Depending on what day of the week this holiday falls on, a lot will be connected with this day this year.

According to the priests, on this day it is extremely important to devote all your time to spiritual enlightenment, reading the Bible and singing psalms. At the same time, no thoughts, work or vain affairs should distract.

✨ Annunciation in folk tradition

In the Slavic folk calendar, the Annunciation is perceived as the date of the beginning of spring. The Eastern Slavs have a wide spreading received ideas about the annual cycle of the earth, in particular that, starting from late autumn and until the Annunciation, the earth is “closed”, it is “sleeping”, etc. p., in connection with which until the Annunciation it cannot be touched: dig, dig, drive stakes into the ground, plow and sow. The “sleep” of the earth in the period from the Exaltation to the Annunciation is sometimes understood as a state of “pregnancy” of the earth, when something is hidden in it that at a certain moment, during its “awakening,” comes out. What sleeps in the ground during the winter and comes out only at the Annunciation includes reptiles, insects, plant roots, etc., as well as rain moisture, so violating the ban on touching the ground before it is “opened” is fraught with summer drought.

The end of the period of “sleep” of the earth on the Annunciation is described in folklore beliefs: its “awakening, opening, unlocking, revival” and the like, associated in time with its blessing by God. Following this, on the Annunciation, snakes, frogs, insects appear on earth, bees awaken in the hives and animals in the forest awaken. The “discovery” of land entails permission to cultivate it: plowing and sowing begin.

Among the Slavic peoples, the Annunciation was associated with the arrival of birds from a distant country called “Iriy” or “Vyriy”. In Belarus, on this day, children met storks. Mothers baked them cakes in the shape of a stork’s paw, children took the cakes out into the yard, tossed them up and called to the stork (“busla”): “Busel, busel, give me a zhita kopa!” In Russia, on the Annunciation, birds were released into the wild, “so that they would sing to the glory of God” and bring happiness to the one who freed them.

Sometimes bonfires were lit at the same time as singing - in this way they “burned the winter” or “warmed the spring”. Annunciation bonfires were considered protection against disease, the evil eye and evil spirits. Russians burned straw beds, old bast shoes, jumped over fire and fumigated clothes. The Serbs, in order to protect livestock from epidemics, drove cattle between two bonfires on the Annunciation; on the eve of the Annunciation, they extinguished the old fire in the hearths and produced a new, “living” fire by friction.

Magic rituals, fortune telling, predictions of health, happiness, good luck, wealth, harvest, weather, etc. are timed to coincide with the Annunciation. p. They cared about being healthy, well-fed, well-dressed on this day, and having money with them, because this would be the case all year. Among the Eastern Slavs, a penny was baked into one Annunciation prosphora, and whoever received such a prosphora was considered happy and lucky, he was entrusted with starting sowing or other work. Pieces of prosphora were placed in seeds, buried in the corners of the field to protect against hail and drought, placed in the first sheaf, in the bottom so that mice would not eat the grain; prosphora was taken with them when sowing, tied to a seeder, and used to treat fever.

Our wise ancestors believed that the earth sleeps under the snow, the souls of their ancestors fly to Iriy, all evil spirits sleep under the snow, and one cannot destroy the earth until everyone wakes up, one cannot break this law, because until the day the earth awakens, one cannot disturb it. On April 1, the brownie wakes up, followed by the goblin. It was customary to celebrate this day with offerings to your assistant - milk, pies, sweets, porridge.

And after the spirits the earth wakes up. They say the day of the Annunciation has always been special, a day when a lot can be forgiven, a day when everything had to start anew, because nature woke up young and renewed, turning again eternal wheel life from the very beginning.

✨ Traditions and customs for the Annunciation

Traditions of the Annunciation In Rus', this holiday was considered a holiday of freedom and tranquility. It was not celebrated with a feast; on the contrary, people indulged in prayers and meditation. Sometimes figurines of birds in the form of larks were baked for the holiday.

According to legend, one of the strictest prohibitions on this day was knitting, sewing and weaving. This tradition is connected with the fact that our ancestors believed that threads are the destinies of people that can be confused and bring partings, quarrels and strife into the house.

On Annunciation special meaning given to birds. The ritual of releasing birds, often pigeons, was associated with them. For this purpose, there were special catchers, who then sold the birds for the ritual. There was a belief that pigeons would bring news of good deeds man to the angels, who will subsequently reward him for this.

On the night of April 6-7, it used to be customary to “warm up the spring,” so at this time a holiday was held with bonfires, where garbage, old shoes, straw and rags were burned. IN last time they called for spring, danced in circles and sang songs.

As already mentioned, you cannot work on this day, but you could consecrate seeds and seedlings for the harvest. After all, according to legend, God himself opens the sky to bless the earth for a good harvest.

One of the most interesting traditions On this day the preparation of Annunciation salt takes place. This was done in order to take advantage of it in case of any illness. All family members took a pinch of salt and placed it in a bag, which the hostess subsequently calcined over the fire.

If this salt was not needed throughout the year, then on the Annunciation it was burned, believing that with it all troubles and misfortunes would disappear. They did the same with blessed water and prosphora, which the hostess kept all year.

Separately, it is worth noting that many Orthodox Christians after the service tried to purchase as much prosphora as possible, but if they did not succeed, they baked it themselves. Then a festive dinner was held, where the housewives crushed this blessed bread and gave it to all family members; the women saved some of it to add crumbs to livestock feed.

Also, many believed that if you make a lot of noise on this day, rattle basins, ring bells, this will scare away predatory animals and save livestock.

✨ Signs for the Annunciation

The Day of the Annunciation, perceived as one of the most important seasonal boundaries after which spring begins, was considered a very “dangerous” day in many places. On this day, a strict ban on any work and even everyday activities was observed everywhere. As the Russian proverb says: “On Annunciation, a bird does not build a nest, and a maiden does not braid her hair.”

Why you can’t do a lot of things is due to many signs. For example, if you plant seedlings on this day, they will not sprout. In addition, this applies not only to the Feast of the Annunciation Holy Mother of God, but also to the day of the week on which this holiday fell. But the next day after the holiday is, on the contrary, very successful. On the eve of the holiday, many people plant peas. It is the day before that is considered favorable sowing.

Look at the weather. If there is snow on the roofs of houses on Annunciation Day, then it will remain there until May 6 - Yegoria. If this day is frosty, then several more matinees will be cold. If it’s warm, then a lot of frost awaits ahead.
If you don’t see swallows on the holiday, then spring will be cold.
If on the eve of the Annunciation holiday you see a dark sky and no stars to be seen, then the chickens will not lay eggs well. If it's sunny outside, then expect a good wheat harvest. Rainy - good year for fishing, and in the fall it will be successful mushroom season. Thunderstorm portends warm summer and a good harvest of nuts. And frost means a harvest of cucumbers.
If you want your whole year to be successful, to have good health, happy family, then be sure to go to church and eat the blessed prosphora. Many people bake it for everyone in the family or buy it, and then crumble it and eat it. The crumbs are also mixed with the seeds of the best harvest and given to livestock and birds to eat. This is often done even for bees, only mixed with honey.
Since the Annunciation falls on Friday, it is better not to start a new business on this day all year, since it will not be successful.
Many peasants carefully monitored the weather that day. If there was rain on the Annunciation, then they prepared for a good harvest of rye, but if there was a thunderstorm, then they believed that nuts would be born this year.
The fishermen hoped that on this day there would be rainy weather, because they believed that there would be a good catch all year then.
On this day, many families tried not to quarrel and live in peace and tranquility, as they believed that a year will pass the way you spend the Annunciation.
Thieves had their own belief. If you manage to steal something on this day, then the next year will be successful and prosperous.
If swallows did not appear on Annunciation, then everyone was preparing for a cold winter.
If you bought it the day before and on the day of the holiday new clothes, then under no circumstances should it be tried on that day, otherwise, according to the sign, the thing would quickly deteriorate and tear.
On the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos, they under no circumstances borrow or give anything away from home. Otherwise, you will be giving away your health, well-being and peace.
In Annunciation, you should not go to the hairdresser, and it is also not recommended to do anything with your hair.
On this day it is good to guess, to ask - the sky is open.
On this day, salt is burned in a frying pan with prayer - it is added to food for various diseases. You can light a fire and jump over it (to cleanse your energy).
Wash jewelry, talismans, and runes in the spring.

Salt prepared on the day of the Annunciation, according to legend, had special healing powers.
The custom of the ritual use of salt is very ancient, dating back to pre-Slavic times, when any salt was recognized as having the ability to repel harmful forces and protect people.

On the same day you can prepare Annunciation salt (used in the same cases as Thursday salt). To do this, pour salt (at least 4 kg) into a bag made of cotton fabric and before sunrise, at dawn, bake it in the oven for ten minutes.

It was considered a universal medicine. In case of the evil eye and various ailments, peasants took it internally, rubbed it with its solution, and gave sick cattle bread salted with it or diluted it in a drinking bowl.

This salt can then be used throughout the year: salt food with it, clean the apartment with it, remove the evil eye and damage, etc. Buns are baked with Annunciation salt, which help cure a child from the evil eye. The child should be given such buns on an empty stomach at dawn for three, seven or fourteen days - depending on the strength of the evil eye.

It is believed that on this day Heaven opens, grace descends on people and they get the opportunity to be cleansed of sins.

The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary has long been considered a difficult day. Quarrels, scandals, and all kinds of misunderstandings are not uncommon on this day, so you need to try at all costs to control yourself and not give in to emotions. Otherwise, troubles will stick with you for a long time.

Celebrates the Annunciation magical rituals, to attract good luck, happiness, health, wealth and a good harvest. If on this day you are healthy, well-fed, well dressed and have money with you, then throughout the year you will be just as prosperous and lucky.

1. Buy prosphora for the Annunciation, stick a penny into one of the prosphoras. Then go around all the household members and let them choose a prosphora for themselves. The one who gets the prosphora with a coin will be happy all year, all his endeavors will be successful, everything he doesn’t plan will definitely work out, and he will be lucky and successful all year.
2. The Annunciation prosphora must be dried and ground. Mix the resulting crumbs with seeds before sowing. This mixture guarantees a good harvest.

“Wherever I plant, sit there,
Don't be swept away by the wind,
Don't wash it away with rain,
And don’t spoil it with enemies.
Mother of cheese is the earth, mother of the Holy Church.
Amen. Amen. Amen".

3. Do not give anything to anyone on this day.

“I’m going to bed, I have a cross seal on me, guardian angels on my sides, protect my soul from evening to midnight, from midnight to morning. Amen".

5. If you give alms on this day before washing, then there will be prosperity in the house for a whole year.
6. Burn salt in the oven and store the ash to sprinkle the garden against pests. Ash has the power to cure damage.
7. It is advisable not to comb your hair on this day, your hair will fall out.
8. If you call your husband “dear” 40 times on this day, your husband will have a loved one all year.
9. Grass is collected in the church and stored behind the icon for happiness, health and well-being
10. To make a profit on the Annunciation, sprinkle your store with enchanted water before the first customer enters.

“The Good News announced a miracle.
The gospel leads people to the temple,
And my conspiracy will bring people to my shop.
In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen."

11. Buy sugar for God’s dough (for Easter).
12. For good luck, buy honey for the Annunciation and spread it on right palm and close it with the left. Immediately separate your palms and, seeing how difficult it is to do, say:

“Like honey melts,
Hand sticks to hand
So that luck will stick to me, (Name).
Key, lock, tongue.
Amen. Amen. Amen."

The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is 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.

In Rus', the Annunciation has always been the most revered and great holiday, symbolizing freedom and peace. The Annunciation is a religious holiday of reasonable and good deeds, beautiful customs and traditions. Orthodox believers adhere to Lent, and on Annunciation 2016 they receive a slight relaxation, allowing them to add dishes to the meager Lenten food that help fill the body with strength and energy.

History of the holiday

Annunciation means “good” or “good” news. History tells us that it was on this day that a messenger appeared to the Virgin Mary god's archangel Gabriel, who told the girl about the upcoming birth of the Son of God. Mary was surprised and asked the angel how a son could be born to her if she did not know her husband. To which the angel replied that the Holy Spirit will find you and overshadow you, and therefore what is born will be called the Son of God.

This is how the story of the gospel begins, with the good news brought by an angel. Next will be Christmas, the flight into Egypt, temptations, healings, the Last Supper, the Crucifixion and the Resurrection.

The date of the Annunciation is always constant and is celebrated exactly 9 months from Christmas - this is April 7.

Traditions and customs of the Annunciation

During the Annunciation, you cannot do any important physical activities. Any work is prohibited, even cooking. Traditionally, spring was announced on this holiday.

The Annunciation is considered women's holiday, which symbolizes spring, the birth of nature and new life. In the old days they believed that on this day the sky opens and all the most cherished desires addressed to God are fulfilled.

Since ancient times, the Annunciation has been greeted with joy and a smile. People said that as you celebrate the Annunciation, you will live the whole year. Many believers prepared delicious food in advance, and on the holiday they wore their most best clothes and had fun.

On this day, you definitely need to put money in your pocket or just jingle it at the first cuckoo cuckoo. Anyone who does this will be well-fed, healthy and lucky all year. Salt burned in the oven also brought good luck.

On Annunciation 2016, it is forbidden to quarrel, make scandals and swear. Try not to give in negative emotions, otherwise they will pester you for a whole year. According to the priests, on the Annunciation the heavens open and grace and cleansing of sins descend on everyone.

Since the Annunciation symbolizes the awakening of nature, believers accepted cleansing rituals: they washed themselves with melt water, fumigated houses and barns with burning grass, burned straw mattresses and jumped over a fire.

They say that even in hell, sinners were left alone and given a break. On this holiday they never started new businesses, did not go to work, and did not sweep the floor in the hut. On the Feast of the Annunciation 2016, both people, animals, and birds should rest. There is a legend that the cuckoo dared to disobey the ban and began to build a nest on the Annunciation, which paid for her own happiness in raising chicks. Since then, she has been forced to throw her eggs into other people's nests.

Signs for the Annunciation

For the Annunciation, you cannot lend money to someone or take anything out of the house, as you risk taking out your happiness and well-being.

Be sure to go to church and bring Annunciation prosphora, salt and water. Consecrated objects will help with illnesses and protect from the evil eye.

To family happiness was complete and never broke, wives must call their husband “beloved” 40 times from morning to midnight.

Pieces of Annunciation prosphora should be buried in personal plots or dachas. This ritual will give you a good harvest and protect you from thieves.

You cannot wear new clothes on Annunciation Day, as they will quickly tear or wear off. A girl must not comb her hair, braid or cut her braids, otherwise she will remain unmarried.

If you don’t see swallows on this day, then spring will not be warm. And if it’s a sunny, warm day, long frosts are expected ahead.

If the weather is bright and calm, the summer will be sultry, if there is a thunderstorm, the summer will be warm, and if it is cloudy on this day, then you will have to fight for the harvest. Rain on the Annunciation in 2016 promises an abundance of mushrooms and bread.

Annunciation 2016 - folk signs, fortune telling, customs On April 7, 2016, all Orthodox Christians look forward to one of the twelve holidays - the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Judging by the name of the church celebration, one can guess that we're talking about about the good news. It was on this day that an angel appeared to the Virgin Mary and announced that she would give birth to Jesus Christ. The significance of this holiday in the Christian religion is enormous. This is evidenced by the fact that, despite Lent, on this day the Orthodox allow themselves more than usual. Also, the reverence for this holiday is indicated by the fact that on this day it is necessary to free yourself from work and spend it quietly and calmly, rejoicing in Christ. According to the priests, on this day it is extremely important to devote all your time to spiritual enlightenment, reading the Bible and singing psalms. At the same time, no thoughts, work or vain affairs should distract. Traditions and customs for the Annunciation According to legend, one of the strictest prohibitions on this day was on knitting, sewing and weaving. This tradition is connected with the fact that our ancestors believed that threads are the destinies of people that can be confused and bring partings, quarrels and strife into the house. At the Annunciation, birds were given special significance. The ritual of releasing birds, often pigeons, was associated with them. For this purpose, there were special catchers, who then sold the birds for the ritual. There was a belief that pigeons would convey the news of a person’s good deeds to the angels, who would subsequently reward him for it. On the night of April 6-7, it used to be customary to “warm up the spring,” so at that time a holiday was held with bonfires, where garbage, old shoes, straw and rags were burned. For the last time they invited spring, danced in circles and sang songs. As already mentioned, you cannot work on this day, but you could consecrate seeds and seedlings for the harvest. After all, according to legend, God himself opens the sky to bless the earth for a good harvest. One of the most interesting traditions on this day is the preparation of Annunciation salt. This was done in order to take advantage of it in case of any illness. All family members took a pinch of salt and placed it in a bag, which the hostess subsequently calcined over the fire. If this salt was not needed throughout the year, then on the Annunciation it was burned, believing that with it all troubles and misfortunes would disappear. They did the same with blessed water and prosphora, which the hostess kept for the whole year. Separately, it is worth noting that many Orthodox Christians after the service tried to purchase as much prosphora as possible, but if they did not succeed, they baked it themselves. Then a festive dinner was held, where the housewives crushed this blessed bread and gave it to all family members; the women saved some of it to add crumbs to livestock feed. Also, many believed that if you make a lot of noise on this day, rattle basins, ring bells, this will scare away predatory animals and save livestock. And in order to preserve the harvest from diseases and other misfortunes, women collected Annunciation ash; when any plant in the garden became sick, the housewives sprinkled it on the crop. Signs for the Annunciation Many peasants carefully monitored the weather on this day. If there was rain on the Annunciation, then they prepared for a good harvest of rye, but if there was a thunderstorm, then they believed that nuts would be born this year. The fishermen hoped that the weather would be rainy that day, as they believed that there would be a good catch all year. On this day, many families tried not to quarrel and live in peace and tranquility, because they believed that the year would pass the same way as the Annunciation. The peasants expected wind, frost and fog, because according to popular belief, this promises a good harvest for the whole year. Thieves had their own belief. If you manage to steal something on this day, then the next year will be successful and prosperous. If swallows did not appear on Annunciation, then everyone was preparing for a cold winter. If you bought new clothes the day before and on the day of the holiday, then under no circumstances should you try them on that day, otherwise, according to the superstition, the item would quickly deteriorate and tear.

Annunciation 2016 - folk signs, fortune telling, customs On April 7, 2016, all Orthodox Christians are looking forward to one of the twelve holidays - the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Judging by the name of the church celebration, one can guess that we are talking about the good news. It was on this day that an angel appeared to the Virgin Mary and announced that she would give birth to Jesus Christ. The significance of this holiday in the Christian religion is enormous. This is evidenced by the fact that, despite Lent, on this day the Orthodox allow themselves more than usual. Also, the reverence for this holiday is indicated by the fact that on this day it is necessary to free yourself from work and spend it quietly and calmly, rejoicing in Christ. According to the priests, on this day it is extremely important to devote all your time to spiritual enlightenment, reading the Bible and singing psalms. At the same time, no thoughts, work or vain affairs should distract. Traditions and customs for the Annunciation According to legend, one of the strictest prohibitions on this day was on knitting, sewing and weaving. This tradition is connected with the fact that our ancestors believed that threads are the destinies of people that can be confused and bring partings, quarrels and strife into the house. At the Annunciation, birds were given special significance. The ritual of releasing birds, often pigeons, was associated with them. For this purpose, there were special catchers, who then sold the birds for the ritual. There was a belief that pigeons would convey the news of a person’s good deeds to the angels, who would subsequently reward him for it. On the night of April 6-7, it used to be customary to “warm up the spring,” so at that time a holiday was held with bonfires, where garbage, old shoes, straw and rags were burned. For the last time they invited spring, danced in circles and sang songs. As already mentioned, you cannot work on this day, but you could consecrate seeds and seedlings for the harvest. After all, according to legend, God himself opens the sky to bless the earth for a good harvest. One of the most interesting traditions on this day is the preparation of Annunciation salt. This was done in order to take advantage of it in case of any illness. All family members took a pinch of salt and placed it in a bag, which the hostess subsequently calcined over the fire. If this salt was not needed throughout the year, then on the Annunciation it was burned, believing that with it all troubles and misfortunes would disappear. They did the same with blessed water and prosphora, which the hostess kept for the whole year. Separately, it is worth noting that many Orthodox Christians after the service tried to purchase as much prosphora as possible, but if they did not succeed, they baked it themselves. Then a festive dinner was held, where the housewives crushed this blessed bread and gave it to all family members; the women saved some of it to add crumbs to livestock feed. Also, many believed that if you make a lot of noise on this day, rattle basins, ring bells, this will scare away predatory animals and save livestock. And in order to preserve the harvest from diseases and other misfortunes, women collected Annunciation ash; when any plant in the garden became sick, the housewives sprinkled it on the crop. Signs for the Annunciation Many peasants carefully monitored the weather on this day. If there was rain on the Annunciation, then they prepared for a good harvest of rye, but if there was a thunderstorm, then they believed that nuts would be born this year. The fishermen hoped that the weather would be rainy that day, as they believed that there would be a good catch all year. On this day, many families tried not to quarrel and live in peace and tranquility, because they believed that the year would pass the same way as the Annunciation. The peasants expected wind, frost and fog, because according to popular belief, this promises a good harvest for the whole year. Thieves had their own belief. If you manage to steal something on this day, then the next year will be successful and prosperous. If swallows did not appear on Annunciation, then everyone was preparing for a cold winter. If you bought new clothes the day before and on the day of the holiday, then under no circumstances should you try them on that day, otherwise, according to the superstition, the item would quickly deteriorate and tear.