The Liturgy for Pentecost is unusually picturesque: the floors in the church are lined with field herbs, birch branches, and flowers are in vases. The scent of freshly cut greenery, the green vestments of the clergy ...
Day of the Holy Trinity
The Day of the Holy Trinity is one of the twelve twelve feasts in the church calendar.
Other names for the holiday: Trinity, Pentecost, Descent of the Holy Spirit.
On this day, we remember an event that happened fifty days after the Resurrection of Christ - the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles, and they went to preach the Risen Christ to all nations in all lands.
No wonder this day is called birthday of the Church.
Trinity Day always falls on Sunday.
The best way to spend this holiday is in the temple, among brothers and sisters in Christ.
The Liturgy for Pentecost is unusually picturesque: the floors in the church are lined with field herbs, birch branches, and flowers are in vases. The fragrance of freshly cut greenery, green vestments of priests, kneeling prayers - everything tells believers about the great plan of God, about the victory of Christ over death, about the Kingdom of God.
Trinity Do's and Don'ts
Trinity - what is this holiday and what cannot be done?
Trinity is a great Christian holiday, which is one of the twelve - the most important of the year. It takes place on the fiftieth day after Easter, therefore it is also called Pentecost.
On this day, Orthodox Christians remember the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles, after which the Lord's disciples became able to speak in different languages and dispersed throughout the world to preach the teachings of Christ.
The Feast of the Holy Trinity always falls on Sunday. Believers always try to be present at the service on this day, to receive Holy Communion.
The service on Trinity itself is especially solemn - inside the temples are decorated with greenery, branches of plants and flowers. After the Liturgy, the evening is served with the recitation of kneeling prayers, during which, turning to the Lord, we ask Him for help and intercession.
There are a lot of folk customs associated with the holiday: - you can't do this, you can't do this ... But most of them have purely pagan, folk roots. And often such customs contradict the very essence of the Christian faith.
Therefore, while studying the Russian traditions of the holiday of the Trinity, one must clearly distinguish between what is consonant with Orthodoxy and what is not.
In the Church there are no everyday rules of what is forbidden and what can be done on the days of certain holidays. The main thing that can and should be is to be in church and pray.
What cannot be done on Trinity?
On Trinity, one should not follow common omens and superstitions, many of which give advice on what supposedly "must not" be done on Trinity (swim, walk in the forest and in the field, work, etc.).
And you need to live this day in a Christian way - go to church, pray, take communion, try to be kind and considerate to your loved ones, spend your free time with them.
For a Christian, there are no prohibitions on certain types of activities on a regular or holiday day, if they do not harm his soul. Bathing, walking, or work will not hinder a believer if he remembers God.
On Trinity, every believer tries to be in the church, where on this day after the Liturgy, special kneeling prayers are read for the forgiveness of sins, the mercy of God and the bestowal of the grace of the Holy Spirit.
Can you work for Trinity?
You can work for the Trinity, if the circumstances are so.
The feast of Trinity (Pentecost) always falls on Sunday, and for most believers this is a day off, which is dedicated to going to the temple and praying.
But in the modern world there are many works that must be performed daily, without breaks and weekends, and believers are also involved in them.
If a Christian working that day fails to change and go to church on Trinity, this should not be a reason for despondency.
You can also make time for prayer at the workplace, but you will have to go to church on another day.
The Monday following Trinity, the Day of Spirits, is considered a continuation of the holiday of Pentecost. And the giving of the Trinity takes place almost a week later, on the next Saturday.
Can you work on the second day of Trinity?
The feast of the Holy Trinity is divided into two days.
- The first day is dedicated to the glorification of the Trinity and the remembrance of the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles, therefore it is called Trinity Day.
- The second day sings the All-Holy Life-giving Spirit and in honor of this is named Spiritual day.
Orthodox believers, realizing the holiness of the holiday, are sure to try these days to be present in the church at the service, to postpone all vain affairs and devote time to prayer.
Since the first day of Trinity always falls on Sunday, a Christian usually has no problem attending services on that day.
The second day of the Trinity - the Day of Spirits - falls at the beginning of the working week. It is clear that on Monday it is difficult for a modern person to postpone his affairs and work. But if possible, it is better to start performing it after attending the morning worship service in order to pay tribute to the holiday.
Is it possible to work in the garden for Trinity?
The feast of the Holy Trinity always falls on a Sunday, so believers always try to attend the festive service in the church, partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ, refrain from doing any work and devote time to prayer.
By working on the day of Trinity, we seem to show our disrespect to God. No wonder people have always tried to postpone all external, vain affairs on the days of great holidays - this is not pleasing to the Lord.
The work, as a rule, turned out in vain and did not bring positive results.
Of course, there are especially important matters that cannot be rescheduled. It is better to start their implementation only after attending the service and prayer.
But if possible, on the days of major holidays, such as Trinity, it is better to postpone all business, including work in the garden.
Is it possible to commemorate the suicides on Trinity?
The feast of the Holy Trinity is preceded by Trinity Parental Saturday - the day of universal remembrance of the dead.
On Trinity Saturday, a funeral service is served in churches, during which the Church commemorates all early Orthodox Christians.
As for the commemoration of suicides at the funeral service, the Church does not bless us to do this - not on Trinity, or on any other day.
Taking the life of another person is a great sin, but the killer can always sincerely repent of his sin and the Lord will forgive him.
A person who has committed suicide does not have the opportunity to repent of his deed. The soul of the suicide is left to God's will.
However, this does not mean that you cannot pray for such people at all. On the contrary, their souls especially need the prayers of loved ones, which can be performed at home.
Why can't you kneel down to Trinity?
Hieromonk Constantine (Simon) answers:
We do not kneel between Easter and Pentecost because this is a time of joy.
We very often kneel in prayer during Great Lent, as this is a time of repentance.
But the period after Easter is a joyful time, we should not be sad.
Of course, we must always ask the Lord for the forgiveness of our sins. But Easter is a special time, this is the time of the triumph of Jesus Christ over death.
These days we live in a special, special way, we live by Easter grace. And this grace does not allow us to kneel.
And on the day of the Holy Trinity, at Great Vespers, we kneel down for the first time after Easter.
On it, kneeling prayers are read, during which we can again ask God for the forgiveness of our sins, we can repent.
The moment of repentance is clearly reflected in the texts of these prayers.
It is also worth noting that the Great Evening refers to Monday, to the second day of the Holy Trinity - Spiritual Day, since according to the rules of the Nicene Council, Orthodox Christians should not kneel on Sundays.
Is it possible to swim on Trinity?
You can swim on Trinity.
It is often said that you cannot swim on Trinity for three days.
This is explained by a certain belief that it was during this period that mermaids “walk”, which can “lure the bather to the bottom”.
At the same time, some "well-wishers" extend the ban on swimming on Trinity not only to the seas, rivers and lakes, but also to swimming pools and home showers.
It is clear that not only from the point of view of the Church, but also from the point of view of any sane person, there is and cannot be any reason not to allow swimming on the Trinity.
Another thing is that you should not replace going to church and prayer with a beach vacation, but you can go to nature to the reservoir after the service.
Moreover, Trinity always falls at the end of May or June, it is always celebrated on Sunday, and the weather on this day is hot.
Is it possible to go to the cemetery on Trinity?
Do not visit the cemetery on Trinity. On this important day for Christians, you need to visit the church, pray and, if possible, take communion.
On Trinity, believers remember how, after His Ascension to Heaven, the Lord sent all believers in Him the Holy Spirit - the Comforter.
This holiday is considered the birthday of the Church, since it was after this event that the disciples of Christ began to preach the Gospel around the world.
This event is so significant and so joyful that it is not customary to commemorate the departed on the day of Trinity.
But the Church does not turn away and does not forget about them: for commemoration and visiting the cemetery, the day before Trinity is intended - Trinity parental Saturday.
Moreover, in the kneeling prayers that sound at Vespers, which is served on Trinity immediately after the Liturgy, there is a separate prayer for the departed.
Of course, there are different situations in life, and sometimes it is impossible to refuse to go to the cemetery even on a completely inappropriate day.
But even when forced to visit the cemetery on Trinity, it would be good to try not to forget about the meaning and significance of this day in church history.
What can you do on the Saturday before Trinity?
The Saturday before Trinity is also called Trinity parental Saturday; on this day, a special commemoration of all the departed is performed in churches. Believers come to the morning service, after which a requiem is performed.
In addition, on the Saturday before Trinity, as on the eve of other great holidays, newlyweds are not crowned.
The Church does not introduce any other special restrictions on this day.
Can I work on Wednesdays until Trinity?
You can work on the Wednesday before Trinity. This day in the church calendar is listed as a day of non-strict fasting - believers abstain from meat, but there are no other special restrictions.
Can you marry before Trinity?
The church does not get crowned directly on the eve of the great holidays, as well as on fast days of the week: Wednesday and Friday.
As for the rest of the days of the week before Trinity, then these days, as a rule, you can get married.
Of course, in any particular church there may be special circumstances related to the schedule of its work and services. Therefore, it is worth agreeing in advance about the time and place of the wedding.
The Week After Trinity: What Can't Be Done?
The first day of the week after Trinity is called Spiritual Day.
It is also a great church holiday, on which pious Christians try to come to the temple again.
But there are no additional restrictions on the week after Trinity in the church tradition (with the exception of fasting on Wednesday and Friday).
Since ancient times, pagan beliefs have been preserved that in the week after the Christian holiday of Trinity it is worth, allegedly, staying away from the water, or even not leaving villages and villages at all: the most superstitious peasants feared an attack by mermaids, believing that a week after Trinity - a special time for evil spirits.
However, such mythology never had anything to do with Christianity, and over time, the belief in mermaids remained only a part of rural folklore.
Is it possible to make wishes for the Trinity and what?
With this question, secular people often turn to their church-going acquaintances, and sometimes just to random sites on the Internet.
But if sites can answer in different ways, then believers, like the whole Church, will tell you one thing: signs associated with making wishes have nothing to do with the Orthodox faith and are pure superstition.
Christians believe that it is always possible to turn to God with a request, but it will not work to "deceive" him by making a wish at some special moment in time. This also applies to making wishes for the Trinity.
How many days is it forbidden to work on Trinity?
Another popular question of people who are just immersed in church tradition. The answer will disappoint someone, but will please someone: there are no restrictions on work on the eve of Trinity.
So workaholics can calmly enjoy work, but lazy people will not have a new reason to relax, alas, they will not present themselves.
Can you baptize on the Trinity?
You can baptize on Trinity, but you need to take into account that there are many believers in churches on big holidays, services are longer, the priests are very busy, and therefore you will most likely be offered to postpone the baptism to another day.
On the day of Trinity, Christians remember the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles.
This miraculous phenomenon, which happened almost two thousand years ago, attracted a lot of people, many believed and were baptized, and therefore the Trinity is also called the birthday of the Church.
Of course, it is symbolic to be baptized or to baptize a child on this particular holiday.
But in fact, there are no more or less suitable days for baptism, and the grace of the Holy Spirit, which a person receives through the Sacrament of Chrismation, joining the Church, is the same both on Trinity and on any other day of the year.
Is it possible to marry / get married / marry Trinity?
It is impossible to get married on the Trinity, since the Sacrament of marriage is not performed by the Church on the twelve days (i.e., the twelve main holidays after Easter).
On Trinity, Christians remember one of the most important events in church history - the descent of the Holy Spirit of the Comforter, whose coming to earth was promised by Christ, ascending to heaven.
On this day, immediately after the Liturgy, Vespers is served, at which the believers kneel down to the Trinity in all its fullness: God the Father, the Holy Spirit and the Son of God.
The meaning of this holiday is so great that it is hardly possible, without missing anything, to take into your heart on this day the experience of a great personal event - the Sacraments of marriage.
As for the registration of marriage, then in this sense, getting married to Trinity, most likely, will not work. Trinity is always celebrated on Sunday, and the registry offices usually do not work on Sunday.
Is it possible to play a wedding before Trinity?
You can play a wedding before Trinity in the period from Antipascha (the next Sunday after Easter, also called Fomin) until the Friday on the eve of Trinity, when weddings are held for the last time before Peter's Lent in churches.
You can conclude a church marriage on the days designated for this (Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday, not falling on the eve or the twelve and church patronal holidays themselves).
Before going to church, you need to register your marriage with government agencies.
And the newlyweds can play the wedding, that is, celebrate the birth of a new family, on any convenient day, but for a feast and fun, you should choose a day when there is no fasting.
To play a wedding right in front of Trinity is not entirely appropriate and not very convenient. Saturday before is the day of commemoration of the dead and preparation for the holiday itself, in which most believers try to take communion, which means they try to devote the days before Trinity to fasting and prayer.
Can I sign for Trinity?
It is unlikely that it will be possible to sign for Trinity, since this most important church holiday is always celebrated on Sunday, and in the registry offices Sunday is usually a day off.
The church has determined the days when weddings are not performed, but the choice of the day of the week for registering a marriage is not regulated in any way.
But if the question arises because it seems to future spouses that it is precisely the marriage concluded, for example, on the feast of Trinity that will be strong and happy, then here the opinion of the Church is unequivocal.
Neither the date of the wedding, nor the attempt to observe any wedding signs will make your family life happy. There will be peace and love in the family if the spouses themselves daily try to preserve and increase them, asking the Lord for help in this.
Trinity: traditions and rituals of the holiday
The Slavs called Trinity, or Pentecost, Trinity Day. And also - Trinity-Mother of God, Wreaths, Venoshnik, Day of the Birch.
Birches in the temple
On Trinity, temples were traditionally decorated with birch branches and grass. This custom has several explanations.
First, birches can remind of the oak grove of Mamvre, where there was an oak tree, under which the Lord, the Holy Trinity, appeared to Abraham in the form of three angels. She is depicted in the icons of the Trinity.
Secondly, on the day when the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles, the Jews celebrated the feast of Pentecost, which was associated with the history of the granting of the Law of God to them. On the fiftieth day after the exodus from the Egyptian land, the Jews approached Mount Sinai, where the Lord gave Moses the ten commandments.
It was springtime, and the whole of Mount Sinai was covered with flowering trees.
Probably from here in the ancient Church there was a custom on the day of Pentecost to decorate their temples and houses with greenery, in order, as it were, to find ourselves on Mount Sinai with Moses again.
Trinity parental Saturday and Trinity day
Often, the "Trinity" was called the entire time period from Semik to the Spiritual Day, that is, the Day of the Holy Spirit, which the Church celebrates on Monday after Trinity.
Trinity festivities marked the transition from spring to summer. By Trinity, as a rule, all spring agricultural work was completed.
For the holiday, the hostesses traditionally washed and cleaned the house and yard, fathers of families and sons mowed the grass in the fields.
They baked pies and loaves, curled wreaths of birch and flowers, went to visit.
Boys and girls walked in the forests and meadows, and the girls specially sewed outfits for the holiday.
The heads were decorated with wreaths of flowers or headdresses embroidered with gold threads.
In the Belgorod region, a special dress was required for each day of the Trinity cycle: on Trinity parental Saturday, red shirts were worn, on Sunday, white shirts from grandmother's chests, on Monday, Spirits Day, sewn from factory fabric. published.
Elizaveta Kiktenko
If you have any questions, ask them
P.S. And remember, just by changing your consciousness - together we are changing the world! © econet
Traditions and customs on the Trinity have been inherited for many centuries. Believing boys and girls carefully store this knowledge, using signs, fortune-telling and special rituals that help solve some issues or tell fate. This heritage is called the wisdom of the people, their culture, which cannot be lost. If a person is looking for solutions to some problems, wants to look into the future, or just celebrate the Trinity according to all the rules, as our ancestors did, it is worth starting with the history of this celebration.
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- If it rains on Trinity, a warm long summer is expected, a good harvest and a lot of mushrooms.
- If it is hot on this day, the year will be bad, and the summer will be dry.
- The coolness on Trinity Day marked the warmth on the next holiday - the Day of Spirits, because according to legend, warmth still comes from the earth.
- An unmarried girl who goes out to collect herbs and hears the cuckoo singing can ask when she will get married. How many times the bird bites, so much to wait for matchmaking from the betrothed.
- The marriage proposal made on Pentecost, and then the wedding on the Intercession, guarantee a long and happy family life for the spouses.
- If a guy kisses a girl on this holiday under a birch tree, then she will become his wife.
- On this holy date, regardless of the weather conditions, it is necessary to come to the cemetery and surround the graves, preferably with a birch broom. Our ancestors believed that this is an effective way to get rid of evil spirits in the house.
- Gathering herbs is considered an important holiday custom. On this day, they have magical powers, they need to be dried and used if someone gets sick.
- The Saturday before the festival is a memorial day. You need to go to church and light a candle for the repose of deceased relatives, visit the cemetery, visit the dead.
- The house for the holiday is traditionally decorated with birch twigs - a symbol of the holy celebration. It is believed that because of this, the year will be fruitful and comfortable, and the tree itself symbolizes the rapid and harmonious growth of everything: children will be healthy and happy, married life will be long and stable, wealth will be present in everything. Before decorating your home, you need to walk through the rooms and pat all things and surfaces with a sprinkled birch twig.
- Girls wash themselves with morning dew to preserve their youth, beauty and health. The dew was collected with a towel and squeezed into a container.
- To ask the earth for fertility for a year, you need to consecrate birch branches and bury them in a field. In the modern world, this tradition is observed in a slightly different way: a branch of a consecrated tree is placed at the bottom of a flower pot when it is transplanted.
- 1. One of the most popular Trinity divinations is wreath weaving. This is done only by unmarried girls in order to attract strong love into their lives. The girls collected wild flowers all day, making wreaths from them, and then let them down the river. If the wreath drowns, this is a bad sign; float or washed ashore - it means that love will soon appear in fate. Still an unmarried girl, but already having a chosen one, must secretly give her wreath to a guy in order to consecrate their union. Such a wreath is a powerful talisman that he must keep in his home.
- 2. Another interesting ritual that invokes love is the curling of a birch tree. The young ladies went into the forest and decorated the birch trees with beads, ribbons and wreaths. They loved to dance around the trees, calling out happiness.
- 3. A very popular fortune-telling, always performed at night: a girl puts birch branches under her pillow before going to bed. The guy who dreams this night is the betrothed.
- 4. Another simple way to divine the Trinity: along a birch branch. It can also be done by adult married women: you need to go to a birch tree and pluck a branch without looking, and then carefully examine it. If the branch is even and smooth, the year will be happy; turns out to be a curve full of irregularities - difficulties are expected.
Show all
history of the holiday
Trinity is traditionally celebrated on the fiftieth day after Easter. That is why the holiday is also called "Pentecost", and its date changes every year. After the crucifixion of Christ, the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles, and it is the Trinity that is the memorable day of this event. From this date, the true Christian faith begins, therefore its importance for a believer cannot be overestimated. In 2018, Pentecost is celebrated on May 27.
The festival was established by the apostles, who celebrated it annually, commanding all Christians to do the same. According to historians, this holiday was officially established only at the end of the 4th century, at the same time when the doctrine of the Trinity was recorded. Since then, Orthodox believers have celebrated every year the confirmation that God is one and threefold at the same time.
The evening service on Pentecost is similar to other holy holidays, but all churches are now decorated with greenery and tree branches. Churches are especially often decorated with birches. Another symbol of the Trinity is fire, because it was in this form that Christ descended on the apostles.
Signs
Signs and traditions on Trinity are full of superstition: and not in vain, because they were formed on the observations and wisdom of the people over the years. There are many different signs that speak of the weather and harvest throughout the year.
On this sacred holiday and in modern times, you can learn something about the future based on a variety of little things.
Weather
The weather is very important on Trinity Day: it is she who will tell you throughout the year, warning what to expect for people and what calculations to make for the winter.
She could mean both happiness in the year, and problems that were worth paying attention to in time:
Love
Young unmarried girls are very interested in knowing their fate, especially in love.
That is why there are so many such signs, traditions and fortune-telling that help to at least slightly open the veil of secrecy and make the right choice:
Traditions and rituals
At all times, the people held large festivities on Trinity, during which the young led round dances, sang, danced, arranged feasts and simply had fun.
There are some traditions that help you find happiness on this holiday, but there are things that you can't do at all. They relate to everything: health, love, home furnishings. The symbols of the holiday are birch and green. The branches of this tree are used to decorate the house, using them as a talisman, and green robes are worn on the Trinity and priests conducting services in temples.
Traditions:
Holiday dinner
The Pentecostal feast is a very important tradition. You cannot invite people who are unpleasant or unkind to you. The tablecloth on the table should be green - this is a special, symbolic color on this holiday.
It is advisable that among the dishes there are a lot of pastries, which the hostess must bake herself. Eggs are also an essential part of the Trinity dinner. The menu for the celebration should be generous: meat, fruits, vegetables. It is believed that then the year will be rich and happy, and nature will give its wealth doubly.
Trinity conspiracies
Conspiracies for Pentecost have greater magical power than on any other day or holiday. They were made up for centuries by the wisest people of the people, so there is no reason to doubt their effectiveness.
Spells are simple or, conversely, difficult to pronounce and complex, but more effective.
Conspiracy for good luck and success in business
Such a rite brought his performer good luck in a variety of matters and was always carried out at dawn, in the morning of Trinity, on the street. At the same time, the following words were pronounced:
“I will get up, praying, go out, cross myself, climb a high mountain, look around on all four sides. As on the eastern side, in a green meadow, a black horse grazes, wild and violent. No one saddled him, no one rode him, that horse did not know the stirrups-reins. I will tame that horse, and he will obediently walk under me, carry him wherever I want. My will is strong, my word is true. Amen".
Another slander for good luck rather serves as a talisman for the reader for the whole year. He is very powerful. It is necessary to go to the forest or park the day before the holiday and find a broken branch there. Then bring it home, and on Trinity day at dawn, light a church candle, break the branch into three parts and whisper to each:
“I invoke the Holy Trinity to help me in my affairs, to direct the power of Heaven to overcome obstacles and achieve goals. As this branch was one and became triple, so my strength will be increased threefold. May luck smile on me, and my life will turn out differently. May it be as I said. Amen".
Then you need to tie the branches with a green ribbon three times and leave them at home until Easter. After 3 days have passed after it, throw them into the river.
For cooking
There are many rituals and corruptions that can bring illness to a family. Our ancestors used such a conspiracy to save themselves from this.
It is necessary to knead the dough and mold the cakes. You need such an amount of mass that only your relatives could be fed with them. A cross should be traced on each and the following prayer should be read:
“I reject the sign of the cross, bread given by God, from the deeds and diseases of sorcerers of all stripes from all volosts. How this cake will digest in me, in g .. but turn, so whatever the sorcerer started against my family, for him would have turned g. N ".
After the baking is ready, feed all the household with it.
Fortune telling
Everyone wants to know the future, especially single girls and single guys.
Fortune telling on the Trinity is very common, because this day is a sacred folk holiday, when all signs are considered magical, having their own power.
Examples of divination:
The guys that day were guessing on the links of the chain. For this ceremony, you need to take a chain, make a wish and count how many links it contains.
Trinity: signs, traditions and customs, what not to do
In 2019, the very important Orthodox holiday of Trinity was celebrated on May 27. The corresponding services were held in all Orthodox churches yesterday, but in the meantime it will be appropriate to once again recall the history of this holiday.
The most important Orthodox holiday, Trinity, is celebrated on the fiftieth day after Easter Sunday. This entails its displacement from day to year. The second name of the holiday is the following definition - Pentecost. The holiday is long-standing, so we can safely speak of a rich history.
Church holidays are a special category of events. If ordinary people are simpler, for them this is another reason to get together, see friends and sit, having laid the table, then church events like the Trinity, its signs, traditions and customs, show a deep, spiritual meaning of what is happening. It is interesting that the holiday has pagan roots, which in a bizarre way intertwined with the canons of Christianity.
Trinity 2019: the history of the holiday
Plunging into a long history, you can pay attention to such an important aspect as the fact that on this day the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles. Jesus Christ promised his disciples that after death he would send them the Holy Spirit, with the help of which they would learn to carry the good news to the world. It was on the fiftieth day after the resurrection of the Savior that the flames of the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles. After that, the apostles were able to speak in different languages, and went to preach around the world and carry the word of God.
They are carefully preparing for the feast of the Holy Trinity. Many traditions have survived to this day. In particular, housewives try to clean up the house by decorating the rooms with fresh herbs and flowers.
On this day, the whole family gathers at the table. As for the festive table, it should be simple. So, meat, salads, potatoes, ordinary soup will be appropriate. It is customary to visit Trinity, as well as organize mass festivities on the street. At one time, young people danced in round dances, entertained themselves with the help of ditties and songs.
A notable feature of the Trinity is the fact that this day is associated with matchmaking. The fact is that before a guy had the right to approach any girl he liked and invite her to become a wife. If the girl answered with consent, then matchmakers were immediately sent.
The girls on Trinity asked the Almighty to send them a good spouse. But the girls' mothers dried a piece of the holiday cake, which was then brought to the wedding for the young. This was considered the moment that would bring good luck and happiness to a married couple for years to come.
Trinity: signs, traditions and customs
On the day of the Holy Trinity, it is customary to decorate their homes with grass, flowers, green branches of trees: maple, willow, linden. Aspen, sometimes willow, was considered a forbidden tree among our ancestors. The branches were attached to the windows, to the gates, and it was customary to cover the floor with herbs: lust, mint, calamus, or, as the people call it, Tatar potion.
It was believed that these days plants have a special protective power, therefore they protected families from all troubles, helped the sick to recover.
Trinity: what not to do
It is believed that there is no need to appoint a wedding on Trinity - supposedly such a family does not expect anything good. Sewing, baking and working in the garden, like on other major Christian holidays, is not allowed on Trinity.
Trinity coincides with the end of hard work and preparation for the harvest. Those people who do not rest on this day, according to legends, are waiting for misfortune: those who plow, the cattle will fall, those who sow, the hail will beat the crops. Those who spin wool will lose their way.
Spirits Day is the day after Trinity, when it is forbidden to work on the earth, but you can look for treasure in it. Allegedly, the earth on this day will surely give a good person something valuable.
The people believed that mythical creatures - Mavkas and mermaids - come to Trinity, therefore it is undesirable to go alone to the forest or to the field, the Rosregister portal informs. Also, you cannot drive livestock into the forest. And you can't swim on Trinity, otherwise, according to ancient beliefs, the mermaids will be pulled to the bottom.
What must be done on Trinity
- collect herbs: it is believed that it is on the Trinity that all the healing power is collected in them;
- decorate the house with branches of maple, birch, oak and rowan. But in no case should you take a willow. From flowers, it is worth giving preference to daisies and cornflowers, from herbs - calamus (cleans the house of negativity), love, mint, fern and wormwood (protect from evil and give strength, health and energy to overcome life obstacles). These branches cannot be thrown into the trash, otherwise all good will leave the house. After a week they just need to be burned at the stake;
- go to church services. Our ancestors, when they came to church, were sure to take with them the herb that was used in decoration, it became known w. Such a herb was considered to be a family talisman against many troubles;
- to remember the dead not by their own death: suicides and those who are missing. To do this, they go to the cemetery and distribute alms;
- put only festive dishes on the table. If the hostess baked bread or a pie, then she hid a piece of it and tried to keep it until the time when her daughter was getting married. Our ancestors believed: in this way, daughters can be guaranteed a successful marriage, and the husband will not drink;
- fortune-telling. Unmarried girls put into the water the wreaths they had woven with their own hands. If the wreaths came together, then it was worth waiting for the matchmakers. In addition, dreams on a festive night were considered prophetic.
Prohibitions, signs of the Trinity
Weddings are not desirable for the Trinity, this is a well-known bad omen. You can only choose a bride, conduct a matchmaking or accept matchmakers, start preparations. I wonder how the omen works. Playing a wedding is bad, but planning a wedding is good.
Job. People missed the day of Trinity, arranged a day off. They did not sow, they did not dig the ground. Any field or garden work is prohibited. Women are not allowed to cook or sew. By the way, it was forbidden to swim at the Trinity (namely in reservoirs, rivers), because this is mermaid time. The children were especially watched.
In the morning, healers collected the fallen dew, it was considered curative. The girls were advised to wash with her more often, so beauty and youth will be preserved.
Trinity days should be spent calmly, avoiding quarrels, scandals, aggression
They used to guess a lot before, choosing a special time. Full moons, new moons or eclipses. Trinity was also considered a good moment. They used different methods, not necessarily maps. For example, in the evenings, girls gathered at the nearest river or reservoir, then one by one made wreaths. If the wreath immediately sank - to failure, if on the contrary, it swam - a good sign.
At the same time, we watched the wreath move, thinking about the betrothed. Here she is sailing normally, calmly, which means the hostess will spend a calm, blessed year. If he hastened to drown, perhaps the mistress will face losses.
The wreath has unraveled - alas, this is a sign of parting.
The wreath hastened to swim away - the groom will either come from afar or go far away.
The wreath remained, stuck near the banks - alas, the matchmakers are not in a hurry yet.
Yes, most often it was the betrothed who wondered. Used mirrors, water, flowers. Unmarried people were looking for clues about the face, character, origin of the future groom. Married people often wondered about the welfare of children.
What herbs to bless in the church on Trinity?
With the advent of Christianity on Trinity, people came to church for a prayer service with a bunch of wildflowers and herbs. They believed that holy water enhances their healing and protective properties. Therefore, the consecrated herbs were not thrown away, but preserved. Basically, on Trinity they collected wormwood, lovage, calamus, tansy, thyme, mint and lemon balm.
Common wormwood (Chernobyl)
It was advised to fumigate the dwelling with the smoke of dry wormwood before the housewarming, and then they attached a bunch of grass over the front door at the threshold in order to "prevent the passage" of the dark forces into the house. "Bitter grass" was credited with the ability to protect against mermaids, which were very active during Trinity week.
It was believed that a traveler who hides a wormwood leaf in his shoe can walk many miles without being tired, and if you look at the flame of a fire lit in honor of the summer solstice through a bunch of wormwood, this will provide good vision for the whole year.
In folk medicine, the wormwood root was used as a sedative, and the leaves as pain relievers and regulating the activity of the gastrointestinal tract and the menstrual cycle.
Calamus marsh
Calamus stalks were scattered across the floor in all rooms. It was believed that it attracts good spirits to the house, cleans housing and strengthens the health of the inhabitants. They believed that calamus brings good luck, wealth, peace of mind and reliably protects from misfortunes only those who have no evil in their souls, otherwise the plant does not show its magical power.
Calamus tinctures were made to rinse the mouth, and a piece of dried root was advised to be kept in the mouth near the inflamed gums, as a disinfectant. Also, we washed our heads with a decoction of marigold flowers, calamus root and burdock so that the hair would not fall out.
Lovage
Lovage ("love root", "happy herb") protected from any witchcraft, evil eye, damage or evil spirits. The lovage root was added to the bathing water. It was believed that water with it can cleanse not only the body, but also the soul, and can also attract love. Girls washed their hair with a decoction of lovage, and mothers put lovage in their daughters' bed: so that the girl "chose her happiness, not someone else's, and so that it would remain with her forever."
In folk medicine, decoctions, infusions and teas of lovage were used as a diuretic, heart, expectorant, cleansing and pain reliever. And its fresh leaves, slightly wrinkled, were applied to the forehead to relieve headaches of any origin.
Tansy
Tansy was also considered a herbal amulet. They believed that if you carry her leaves with you, then every "love spell will have a lapel." Nowadays, tansy leaves and flowers are often used as a remedy for moths.
In folk medicine, tansy is used for fever, as an antihelminthic agent, for gastrointestinal diseases, gout, rheumatism, liver and gallbladder diseases. And medicinal preparations from tansy increase the secretion of bile, tone up the muscles of the digestive system, increase blood pressure, normalize heart rhythms, and also have a wound healing and anti-inflammatory effect.
Thyme (creeping thyme)
The Slavs respectfully called thyme "female grass" ("Mother of God") and believed that a bunch of thyme in the house could help a woman attract her husband, give birth and raise a child, and keep peace in the family. The grass could be sewn into a pillow (it was believed that it was able to relieve nightmares) or carried with you as a talisman, in the form of an incense, or sewn into clothes. To ward off an unpleasant person from the house, they poured powder of dried grass into his shoes. In villages, the smoke of dry grass of thyme was used to fumigate cattle, protecting it from damage or the evil eye.
They believed that a sprig of thyme would endow a man who carries it with him with courage, courage, perseverance, courage and will bring success in all endeavors. In ancient Rome, soldiers bathed in water infused with thyme to gain strength, courage and energy ("thymus "- means" strong "," courageous ").
The aroma of thyme and tea made from it soothe and banish insomnia. Thyme is used in folk medicine as an expectorant, diaphoretic, sedative and pain reliever. Thyme lotions disinfected wounds and soothed pain. Aromatic thyme baths were considered curative for diseases caused by impaired metabolism. It was added to medicinal infusions that cured alcoholism, kidney disease, stomach pain, intestinal pain, and joint pain.
Peppermint and Lemon Balm (lemon mint)
Fragrant mint was credited with the properties of scaring away evil spirits, cleaning the house and protecting it from enemies. Even in ancient times, they noticed that the aroma of a plant is able to restore mental balance and dispel the blues. Perhaps this is because the aroma of mint and the teas from its leaves activate mental activity. Therefore, in ancient Rome, it was recommended to walk in wreaths of mint to the classes of ancient philosophers, and the tables were rubbed with plant leaves before receiving guests, believing that its aroma contributes to a lively table conversation and cheers up.
Our ancestors used the scent of fresh crushed mint leaves as a remedy for drowsiness, and dried mint leaves were sewn into a pillow to normalize sleep.
Mint and lemon balm teas have a calming effect on nervous and heart diseases, regulate the function of the gastrointestinal tract, can restore tone to the body in case of loss of strength, soothe a toothache and refresh the oral cavity. Compresses made from warm lemon balm leaves can treat skin inflammations, and if you chew mint leaves with honey, they will eliminate the smell of alcohol.
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Russian culture, its traditions and customs are a separate phenomenon of the world heritage. Orthodox holidays are closely intertwined with the roots of Russian customs, which are passed down from generation to generation. And the signs of the Trinity are always carefully kept and passed on by inheritance.
The Descent of the Holy Spirit
Pentecost, Trinity, Descent of the Holy Spirit or the Day of the Holy Trinity is one of the main Christian holidays, which is celebrated with a particularly solemn service. Trinity falls on the 50th day after Easter on Sunday. This day is especially honored among the people. The Orthodox are looking forward to it, preparing for the holiday and waiting for a miracle.
The Trinity has long been revered by ancestors. It was believed that on this holiday the end of hard work comes and the time for harvesting a generous harvest comes. It is not surprising that from those ancient times, folk signs of the Trinity have come down to the present generation. All the rituals themselves were considered especially important - in no case could they be neglected or ignored.
So what was the sacrament of the celebration? Why were the Christmastide days amazing for a common Russian? It's time to get acquainted with several unique customs, traditions and signs associated with the great Orthodox holiday.
Briefly about the holiday
Holy Trinity Day or Green Christmastide is celebrated in every Orthodox family. One of the most important Christian holidays is celebrated on the 50th day after Easter, therefore it is sometimes also called Pentecost. The Day of the Holy Trinity usually falls on the last days of May or early June. The first days of summer are associated with the end of hard working days and the beginning of a rich harvest.
Trinity has as many as three big holidays - Parental Saturday (the day when deceased ancestors are remembered), Trinity Sunday (directly the most important day of the holiday) and Spirits Day (the name speaks for itself - the Day of the Holy Spirit).
Church interpretation of the holiday
Where did the signs and customs of the Trinity come from? This is due, first of all, to folk observations and interpretation of the holiday. To understand the whole essence of each sign and phenomenon, you should pay attention to the religious significance of this day.
After the resurrection of Jesus Christ, those who believed directly in the Lord God himself believed in his power. And by the power of the Spirit only when, on the 50th day after the resurrection of Jesus, the 12 apostles and the Virgin Mary gathered in one room, heard loud sounds coming from heaven. After that, each disciple was engulfed in a flame that penetrated inside and filled the entire being - so the Holy Spirit himself entered each of them, who gave the apostles great knowledge and the opportunity to preach the word of God in different languages.
The so-called triumph of the Holy Trinity took place - God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit gathered together - which were witnessed by ordinary Christians.
How is the Trinity celebrated among the people?
There are quite familiar signs and customs for the Trinity, which are revered in every family. To do this, you do not need to go somewhere at midnight, look for medicinal herbs and look at the stars. Household rituals are also part of the spiritual celebration of the great Christian holiday.
So, for example, on Parents' Saturday it is worth visiting the graves of deceased relatives, going to church for services and lighting candles "for the peace of the soul." On this day, one should not be sad - it is customary to remember deceased ancestors with a good word, only joyful moments.
In the evening, on the eve of Trinity Sunday, parishioners go to church with large bouquets of birch branches, freshly cut grass and wild flowers. It is believed that the consecrated bouquets have healing properties, so the plants are carefully stored throughout the year. In case of illness, you can brew teas and healing infusions from dried flowers and branches.
During the Sunday service, parishioners pray to God and ask him to grant the Holy Spirit to their departed ancestors.
Monday - the Day of the Holy Spirit - symbolizes the victory of the Holy Spirit over evil forces. On this day, it is customary to pray for deceased relatives, to remember them only with good words. On the Day of the Holy Spirit, it is customary to ask God for the repose of souls. After the service, parishioners, leaving the church, distributed small change and treats to the poor, protecting themselves from illness and misfortune.
There are special folk signs on the Trinity. The weather on this day can tell what the harvest will be and what to expect from the coming winter. For example, it was believed that the earth before the celebration of the Day of the Holy Spirit could reveal its secrets. Therefore, many diligently searched for treasures hidden deep in the bowels of the earth.
Signs on Trinity for unmarried girls
Pentecost for young girls is one of the most important holidays that can tell their future destiny. On this day, beautiful wreaths were woven, dipped into the water and watched as they behave. If a necklace of flowers floated on the water - a favorable sign, if it spun on the spot - to single life in the near future. An unfavorable omen if the wreath drowned - this symbolized the death of close relatives or even a narrowed one.
Young girls traditionally celebrated this holiday in the forest near birches. Trinity Week is a "mermaid" game. At this time, one should not enter the water - it was believed that the mermaid could pull into her pool. It was only possible to protect oneself from them with the help of wormwood.
Among other popular signs on Trinity, the traditional symbolism of this holiday should be noted. Birch is a symbol of rebirth and youth. This tree became especially revered at Christmas time. Birch branches were used to decorate housing and fences, the entrance to the house and the courtyard, as well as the corners in the sheds where pets lived. The branches were carried out into the field to beg a rich harvest from their ancestors.
Among the traditions and receptions for unmarried girls on Trinity, it is worth noting the custom of weaving wreaths from birch branches. It was believed that in this way a girl weaves her thoughts with the thoughts of a young man.
But the grandmothers went to the graves of their ancestors in order to sweep the "eyes" of their parents and other relatives - they swept the graves of the deceased with birch branches.
Traditions and customs
The Day of the Holy Trinity is a special holiday on which people are used to performing a lot of rituals. At the same time, they are interpreted and perceived as customs, and not as superstitions. This is exactly the case when all the signs and beliefs have an exceptionally well-founded meaning. Therefore, it can be argued that folk signs on the Trinity are distinguished by deep meaning.
There are things that must be done on this holiday. And there are things that are extremely undesirable in the first summer days. It is worth noting that the very celebration of the Trinity itself has pagan roots. Of course, the church is against such beliefs, but it is difficult to convince the people of what was passed on to them along with their mother's milk.
Signs for single girls and guys
Children are taught from an early age to honor Christian holidays and folk traditions. The younger generation is closely following what is being done on Trinity. Signs help to predict the future on the eve of a great holiday. Over time, young girls and boys themselves begin to take part in the rituals.
Wreaths have already been mentioned. It only remains to repeat the symbolism:
- If the wreath floats on the water, there will be happiness.
- If you washed ashore - new love.
- If it stands still, the next year will pass unchanged.
- If drowned, there will be trouble.
Signs and superstitions about the Trinity are passed down from generation to generation. So, grandmothers often cover a new tablecloth for a holiday - it was believed that the fabric absorbs great power, which helps to attract enviable suitors. All sorts of pastries were baked for the Holy Day - they did not throw away the leftovers, but kept them for the happiness of the future family.
On Holy Trinity Day, weddings cannot be played - it is believed that the life of newlyweds will not be enviable. But matchmaking on this day will be auspicious - the life of the new family will be long and happy. After the matchmaking to Trinity, it was customary to marry the Pokrov.
Trinity Signs: What Can't Be Done?
There are some things that are highly discouraged to do on this day. Failure to comply with the prohibitions can anger the spirits of deceased relatives who wander among living people on this day. On the Day of the Holy Trinity, in no case should you work, do needlework and homework. Loafs, bread and buns were baked on the eve of the holiday. On Trinity, it was impossible to dig in the garden and plant beds. It was also strictly forbidden to swim on this day - just remember the story about mermaids. By the way, about them. It is believed that the mermaid is the soul of a baby girl who died before her baptism. A young drowned girl who did not have time to get married could also become an inhabitant of the waters.
What are the signs of the Trinity? What cannot be done on this holiday? According to tradition, on Sunday you should go to the graves of your ancestors. If this prohibition is violated, deceased relatives may become angry and take someone alive.
Celebratory Dinner Traditions
As mentioned just above, bread and all kinds of pastries were made on the eve of the holiday. Popular signs on Trinity indicate that on this day only the closest people should gather at the table. You should not invite enemies and unwanted persons - this holiday should remain pure and joyful.
Traditionally, the table was covered with a festive green tablecloth, which was then carefully kept to attract enviable suitors. Among all the variety of dishes on the table, there must be bread and any other homemade pastries. The tastier and more varied it is, the brighter and happier life will be in the coming year.
Young families should pay attention to this tradition. Baking loaves and bread on Saturday, on the eve of the great Orthodox holiday, can become a good family tradition in which everyone can take part. Popular signs on Trinity say that the festive table should not be complete without chicken eggs. In principle, the festive table on this day should be abundant - various vegetables and fruits, sweet pastries, loaves and bread, fish and meat dishes, as well as sweets and drinks - everything should indicate well-being and prosperity.
Holy holiday in modern times
The inhabitants of villages and small settlements are well aware of the signs and traditions on Trinity. Unfortunately, with the growth of urbanization, the townspeople simply began to forget the bright holiday and everything connected with it. And in vain - even the very performance of the rituals itself carries a great emotional force, which will allow you to receive a charge of positive energy.
The villagers on Trinity prepare brooms for the bath. You can not break young trees and pluck the upper branches - you can only side shoots, so as not to destroy the tree. It is believed that on this day all plants enhance their healing properties. That is why knowledgeable people collect medicinal herbs, leaves and shoots the day before. Among the many signs and superstitions on Trinity, one should be noted, which will be of interest to young girls - if you collect thyme on the eve of the holiday, weave a small broom from it and sew it into a pillow, life will be long and happy, and the long-awaited chosen one is about to appear on the horizon ...
Divination on the Trinity
The Church in every possible way denies such events, but you really want to know your fate and have at least one peep of glimpse into the near future. That is why, among all the variety of signs, there are certain rituals that help open the veil of secrecy.
What do they do on Trinity? Signs tell you how to recognize your chosen one and make life with him long and happy. First of all, it should be understood that all fortune-telling should be performed only with pure and bright thoughts. On this day, nature reveals its secrets, shares mystical knowledge and helps people. Grandmothers and mothers put birch branches under the pillow for young girls. It was believed that the image of a man in a dream is the future chosen one.
What else is the Trinity remarkable for? Signs of wealth - this is what interested many villagers and villagers. There was such a custom - a woman (maybe even married) came up to a birch tree and, without looking, plucked a branch. If it was smooth and even, the year will be successful and fruitful. Otherwise, expect troubles and troubles.
All year weather
During the entire celebration of Trinity, the elderly closely watched the weather - it is believed that Green Christmastide was a kind of barometer for the whole year. Signs for Trinity and the weather:
- It was impossible to harvest birch brooms if it rains.
- For a better harvest of cabbage, you should put its leaves in birch twigs brought from the temple after the service.
- A good harvest of mushrooms is promised by the rain on Trinity Sunday.
Trinity is a great and bright Orthodox holiday, which has great mystical power. If you behave correctly on this day, observe all traditions and rituals, and also carefully follow the signs, you can feel how happiness literally knocks on the house. Bright thoughts and good thoughts, gratitude for every day lived and generosity - this is the guarantee of a real holiday that will remain in every family.
Orthodox Christians are preparing to celebrate one of the most important holidays - Holy Trinity Day (Trinity, Pentecost), and after him - Whit Monday.
When is Trinity celebrated in 2018
In 2018 Day of the Holy Trinity celebrated Sunday, May 27... Trinity is celebrated on the 50th day after Easter, hence the second name - Pentecost. In Orthodoxy, Trinity is one of the twelve (twelve most important besides Easter) holidays.
The Trinity is preceded by Trinity parental Saturday- the day when it is customary for the Orthodox to go to the cemetery to commemorate the deceased loved ones, and in churches all dead Christians are commemorated. In 2018 Trinity Saturday falls on May 26.
History of the holiday Trinity
This Christian holiday, as the name suggests, glorifies the Holy Trinity - God the Father, God the Son and God of the Holy Spirit. The name Pentecost goes back to the gospel parable of the descent of the holy spirit on the apostles on the fiftieth day from the Resurrection of Christ. The holiday has biblical roots - on the 50th day after the Jewish Passover (Passover), God through Moses (Moshe) bestowed the ten commandments to the Jews on Mount Sinai. Thus, the Christian Trinity embodies the connection between the Old and New Testaments.
Trinity: folk traditions and signs
In the Slavic tradition, Trinity is a holiday associated with the final farewell to spring and the beginning of summer, which means - with greenery, herbs, trees, primarily with the main Russian tree - birch. It is with young birches and birch branches on Trinity that it is customary to decorate dwellings, temples and graves of loved ones.
The days before and after the end of Trinity in Russia were called "green" or "rusalia" week.
On Trinity it was accepted go to cemeteries and leave food and even clothing for the dead. It was believed that this rite drives away death.
It was considered a good omen for Trinity decorate the home with birch branches- they were placed in vases, placed behind icons, even scattered across the floor. It was believed that birch "lures" good luck and good harvest.
Also on Trinity was accepted woo... The people said:
It was believed that the Trinity matchmaking is the guarantee of a long and happy life for the future family.
Also on Trinity it was customary to arrange folk festivities with a treat, it was considered a great way to appease the land for the sake of a future harvest.
Rain was considered a good sign on Trinity: it promised a lot of mushrooms and berries, the absence of drought and frost, which means a rich harvest.
Divination on the Trinity
On Trinity it was pleasant to guess, mainly girls were engaged in this - they made plans for future fate and marriage.
Guessing, the girls on the eve of Trinity "curled" in the forest or in a birch grove - weaving braids from birch branches. The “curling” preserved until the Trinity was considered a sign of imminent marriage.
Also, the girls wondered with wreaths - they wove them from field grasses and flowers and put them on the water. It is best if the wreath itself fell into the water from a bowed girl's head. Where he sailed - from there the matchmakers will come. There was a wreath at the shore - to sit in girls for a year, well, but if he drowned, expect trouble.
Trinity 2018: what not to do
On Trinity, the land was considered a birthday girl, so any work in the field, garden and home was prohibited, with the exception of cooking and caring for livestock.
Women were also prohibited from all women's needlework, especially with the use of sharp metal devices: it was impossible to sew, knit, spin, cut fabric, etc.
Men were also forbidden to work with iron implements: they could not dig the ground, harrow, mow, chop wood, etc.
It was also forbidden to disturb the ground by planting plants in it or, conversely, digging them up.
In addition, the prohibitions concerned water - at this time the "Rusalya" week was going on, and the villagers were afraid of the pranks of the water scum that walked on the ground at that time.
So, it was forbidden to wash, rinse linen in ponds, swim and even wash. There were especially strict prohibitions regarding bathing - it was believed that a mermaid awakened by mermaids could drag the disobedient to the bottom.
Perfume day 2018
The Monday immediately after Trinity is called Whit Monday. In 2018, the Day of Spirits falls on May 28... On the Day of Spirits, the earth is also considered a birthday girl; you cannot work on it, like on Trinity. Also, bans on bathing, washing and washing remain.
On Spirits Day, it was customary to "feed" the earth - to arrange something like modern picnics, spreading tablecloths on the ground. At the same time, women, in order to "feed" the land, put part of the food directly on the ground. It was believed that this gives the land fertility.
In addition, on Spirits day, people "listened to the earth." To do this, it was necessary in the hour before dawn to put an ear to the ground somewhere in an open field. It was believed that those who know how to listen, the earth can tell its secrets and even reveal where it hides treasures.
