On Sunday, May 27, Orthodox believers celebrate one of the main holidays in Christianity - Trinity Day. This holiday is also called Pentecost, as it falls on the 50th day of Easter, and the Feast of the Descent of the Holy Spirit. Trinity is one of the twelve holidays, that is, the twelve most important in Orthodoxy after Easter Sunday.
Jesus Christ kept his promise
Trinity is an abbreviated name for the Day of the Holy Trinity, the clergy note. The Bible says that Jesus Christ promised his disciples to return after His Ascension and kept his promise on the feast of Trinity.
According to legend, on the 50th day after the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and 10 days after His Ascension, the disciples of Christ and the mother of Jesus, the Virgin Mary, gathered in Jerusalem. While they were praying, suddenly a divine flame descended on them from above. The lights swirled above their heads, and at that moment they felt the ability to communicate in many languages of other peoples. According to the Gospel, on this day the fiery tongues of the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles, and they spoke in different languages of the world. Since then, the apostles began to preach the Christian faith throughout the world, so Trinity is also considered the birthday of the Christian church.
The theological term “trinity” itself reflects the Christian teaching about the three persons of one God: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. On the Feast of the Holy Trinity, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are glorified, and the dead are also remembered.
On Sunday, one of the most solemn and beautiful services of the year is performed in Orthodox churches, and after the Divine Liturgy, Vespers is celebrated in memory of the descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples of Jesus.
On this day, believers go to church with branches of birch, maple, oak, and wildflowers. Then they are taken home, dried and stored behind icons. Branches are also left near windows and doors to prevent evil forces from entering.
On Trinity Day, bathhouse brooms are dried. It is popularly believed that they will have healing powers.
A house filled with the aroma of medicinal herbs
Trinity is part of a series of days called in the Ukrainian tradition Green Christmastide or Green Sunday. These days, Christian traditions are closely intertwined with all kinds of folk cults and magic.
Before Trinity, it is advisable to thoroughly clean your home. You can also cleanse your home of spiritual dirt by walking around the room with a candle and crossing the corners three times.
The main tradition is to fill the house with aromatic medicinal herbs. Herbs are placed on the floor and window sills. Bouquets of fragrant herbs are prepared in advance. Mint and thyme create a special joyful mood with their aroma.
On the eve of Trinity, Ukrainians collect a symbolic plant for Green Sunday - calamus, the stems of which are known for their healing properties and aroma. Birch branches that are placed on the floor of the house are considered a good omen for those who want to find a bride or groom. By the way, 3 days after the holiday it is recommended to remove all herbs from the house; they are thrown away or burned.
It's better to wait until marriage
People have beliefs about what can and cannot be done on Trinity. It is believed that a wedding should not be scheduled on Trinity Sunday - supposedly nothing good will come from such a family.
As on other major Christian holidays, on Trinity you cannot sew, knit, bake or work in the garden. According to popular beliefs, misfortune awaits those people who do not rest on this day. Those who plow their livestock will die. For those who sow, hail will destroy the crops. Those who spin wool will have their sheep go astray.
The next day after Trinity is called Spiritual Day. On this day it is forbidden to work on the land, but you can look for treasure in it. Allegedly, the earth on this day will definitely give a good person something valuable.
People believed that mythical creatures - Mavkas and mermaids - come to Trinity, so it is undesirable to go alone into the forest or field. You cannot take livestock into the forest. You cannot swim on Trinity Sunday, otherwise, according to ancient beliefs, mermaids will drag the bather to the bottom.
On the holiday of Trinity, you cannot think about bad things, you cannot envy or be angry with someone, because this will not end well.
In ancient times, agriculture was considered almost the only way to ensure the well-being of a family. For most of the year, the population of Rus' was busy raising crops and then harvesting them. In the fall there came a period when there was significantly less work. For this reason, this time of year has become particularly popular for matchmaking and wedding celebrations. Thanks to this factor, autumn received a special characteristic, and it began to be called “wedding time.”
Autumn is the time for weddings
In Rus', weddings were held not only in the fall, but the reasons for the popularity of this time of year as a time of celebration are due to the ordinary everyday features of the life of the Russian people. The life of people of that time was closely connected with church traditions, which everyone had to accept, as well as some everyday nuances. The ability to organize festivities in the spring, for example, was an impossible task for ordinary villagers. All material resources and own forces were directed towards preparing for the main task - the start of agricultural work.
Prosperous and wealthy representatives of the Russian people held weddings at any time of the year, but autumn always remained a priority. Traditionally, the wedding season opened simultaneously with the celebration of Krasnaya Gorka on the first Sunday after Easter and ended in the last days of November. Modern newlyweds want to celebrate their wedding in the fall for other reasons that are not related to seasonal work or other factors that played a major role in the old days.
Modern advantages of autumn as a wedding season:
- It is difficult to gather guests in the summer due to the holiday period;
- nature in autumn is particularly beautiful and rich in colors;
- Most vegetables and fruits ripen in autumn.
It's time for weddings in Rus' according to the church calendar
Traditionally, the time for weddings in Rus' began with the day of Simeon the Stylite, which was celebrated on September 14, and ended at the end of November, simultaneously with the beginning of Lent. Among the existing temple holidays, there were special days when getting married was not only recommended, but was even considered a good omen. The most favorable periods for marriage, as well as weddings, are the Autumn Meat-Eater, the Winter Meat-Eater and the beginning of summer.
Autumn meat eater
The favorable period for weddings, which begins on August 28 and ends on November 28, is called “Autumn Meat Eater.” Its starting point is the Dormition, and its ending is the Nativity Fast. The most important holiday for girls during the Autumn meat-eating period is Intercession (October 14). According to custom, on the eve of this day one had to ask the Most Holy Theotokos to meet with one’s betrothed. Weddings played on this day are the happiest.
“Second Autumns” is a holiday that was traditionally celebrated on September 21. On the one hand, this long-awaited day marks the completion of work and harvest, on the other hand, it is the best time to celebrate weddings. The more common name for this holiday is the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. She is the main helper of women and mothers, so marriages concluded on this day are the strongest.
Winter meat eater
Winter meat-eater is the time of weddings, which begins a few days after Christmas and ends with Maslenitsa. In Rus', these few weeks were called “wedding”. There are no church holidays at this time, so parents of unmarried and unmarried children actively matched their children, and also held noisy weddings. The time for celebrations began immediately after the end of Christmastide. Until January 19, the Church does not hold wedding ceremonies.
In February, you should be careful when choosing a wedding date. Maslenitsa week begins on the 16th, and Lent begins on February 23. It is better to get married before this period. Valentine's Day (February 14) is a particularly popular holiday. On this day, millions of couples tie the knot. According to church traditions, it is recommended to get married before February 16th. Marriages concluded during this period are happy and promise the newlyweds a quiet life in peace and mutual understanding.
It is not recommended to celebrate weddings in December. This is due to the Nativity fast. According to legend, families created during this period are doomed to failure. In the old days, the wedding ceremony was a mandatory tradition. Fasting prohibits wedding festivities, weddings, and also imposes significant restrictions on the festive table. December is the busiest month in terms of church prohibitions.
Spring-summer time
The next wedding season opens on the first Sunday after Easter. Traditionally, this period is called the spring-summer time of weddings and celebrations. Weddings continued to take place until Trinity Sunday. This tradition is also popular among modern newlyweds. According to statistics, the holiday has been characterized as a wedding boom for many years.
In the old days, it was believed that marriages concluded on Krasnaya Gorka received support from above. According to legends, young families created on this day will definitely be happy and strong. Krasnaya Gorka lasts one week. The period got its name from the tradition of celebrating spring with mass events that unite all residents of the village. For celebrations in Rus', the highest points of villages and hamlets were chosen. The main attention during the festivities was paid to unmarried girls and boys. During the celebrations, potential grooms proposed to their brides.
The girls wore their most beautiful dresses and jewelry, trying in every way to attract the attention of their chosen ones. It was believed that a young man who douses a girl with water during the celebration of Krasnaya Gorka must definitely come to her in the near future to woo her. All unmarried beauties expected such an act from their gentlemen.
Summer is a difficult time for newlyweds. At this time, it is difficult to choose a suitable wedding date. May is the main unfavorable month for weddings. In June and July, Trinity Week, Petrov and Apostolic Lent practically replace each other. If you manage to choose a wedding date outside of church holidays and falling on the desired day of the week, then special attention should be paid to ancient signs. According to legend, June promises a sweet life, and July is compared to a sweet and sour berry.
On what days do weddings not take place?
According to the church calendar, some dates are undesirable for weddings. Previously, it was forbidden to carry out weddings on important church holidays, periods of fasting, as well as some specific days of the week. The first two nuances have survived to this day, and significant changes have occurred with the days of the week suitable for marriage. In Rus', for example, it was forbidden to have weddings on Wednesdays or Fridays. The modern traditional days for painting are Friday and Saturday.
Periods when you cannot have weddings or get married:
- Maslenitsa week (“to marry on Maslenitsa means to become intermarried with misfortune”);
- the month of May (“getting married in May means toiling all your life, not seeing happiness”);
- period of fasts (Uspensky, Great, Rozhdestvensky, Petrov);
- Christmastide period;
- Tuesday, Thursday any time of the year;
- September 11 and 27 (days of the beheading of John the Baptist and the Exaltation of the Holy Cross).
Everyone knows that Trinity is a celebration of nature and joy, but the Saturday before this church holiday is considered a parental holiday, when it is customary to remember deceased relatives, go to the cemetery, but also, of course, try not to laugh and have fun. However, Saturday is also a wedding day. So the question arises: if a wedding is scheduled for Trinity Saturday, is this permissible or not? The church has nothing against this event, but you need to remember the rules of the wedding on this day.
Rules for weddings on Mother's Saturday
– In the evening, on the eve of the wedding, the bride and her bridesmaids need to cry. You can cut an onion or remember unpleasant moments from your life. Wipe away tears with Trinity herbs, which are placed under the marriage bed, so that later you will never shed tears in your marriage.
– If possible, then go to the grave of relatives at dawn, lay flowers and herbs. Thus, the bride will first be sad and then have fun. The groom can also start his special morning with a trip to the cemetery.
– The bride and groom were obliged to give a piece of their pie to a beggar so that he could pray and remember the deceased.
– The bride must wear black shoes, so she will honor the memory of deceased relatives. If this is not possible, then at least take a black handbag or purse, powder compact, etc. The groom should refuse a white wedding suit.
– Witnesses must wear green clothes, but or at least have some part of their wardrobe of this shade.
“If one of the young parents did not live to see this wonderful day, then they went to his grave and asked for a blessing, bowing three times, putting a piece of wedding cake and a shot glass of mash. Then they left, and the food had to be eaten and drunk by one of the relatives; in no case could it be left at the grave, since it was believed that damage could be caused to the family through these objects.
– On the newlyweds’ table it was necessary to lay two tablecloths – the top one was white, the bottom one was dark. It was believed that one was for the young, and the second was for deceased relatives who would definitely “attend” the celebration of the young. For the same purposes, you need to put extra cutlery in order to treat your ancestors.
– There was such a custom to invite the “Trinity” parents to the wedding. These are brothers or sisters of the young parents. A green and black ribbon was hung crosswise on them, the first being a symbol of the Trinity, and the second a mourning one. They collected gifts and money for the newlyweds, organized competitions, and also prepared the bedroom for the bride and groom, sprinkling the floor with wormwood and calamus herbs.
– There was also such a tradition - to roll the egg, which was laid that day by a black hen, over the heads of the young people. This elderly relative did this, and she said the following words three times: “I roll an egg from a black hen, I take away spoilage and spoilage from the young ones”. Then it was broken and poured into running water (in modern conditions this could be a toilet), it was believed that the water would take away all adversity. The shells were crushed and thrown into the wind, which also spread all the troubles.
– After the wedding, the bridesmaids took off her wedding headdress and put on a wreath of herbs collected at dawn, placed her in the middle of the circle and sang songs. Then the young woman spun around herself, closing her eyes to throw the wreath from her head. Whoever it falls into will be the first to marry. The girl kept the wreath in a secluded place until her marriage.
– Cats were considered guides to the other world, so the bride took the cat, stroked it, begging for family happiness. They say that thanks to the cat, the ancestors could hear the words of the newlywed and help in their implementation.
Arnautova Tatyana specially for http://www.site
Pentecost is another name for the feast of the Holy Trinity, which Orthodox Christians are preparing to celebrate on June 19 in 2016. Trinity, one of the twelve holidays, received its second name because it is celebrated on the fiftieth day after Easter.
How did they meet and celebrate this holiday in Rus', what rites and rituals were performed, what did the signs of this day say?
History of the Trinity Day
The once pagan holiday of Semik (Triglav) turned into the Orthodox holiday of the Holy Trinity after the baptism of Rus'. It is known that it began to be officially celebrated only in 381, when at the Second Ecumenical Council the church adopted the dogma of the Trinity Day.
The Bible says that on this day the Holy Spirit descended from heaven, also simultaneously by the Father and the Son, to the twelve apostles and proved the unity of God. And God blessed the apostles to build the church. This is why this day is considered the founding day of the church. Another famous legend says that on the fiftieth day after leaving Egypt (Old Testament Passover), Moses on Mount Sinai told Israel God's law, which everyone must fulfill. Since then, Jews have celebrated Shavuot - Pentecost, and this holiday is one of the three holiest Jewish holidays.
Trinity Traditions
The mixture of pagan and Christian cultures was also reflected in the traditions of celebrating the Trinity.
They began to prepare for Trinity in advance, cleaning the house and yard so that nothing would distract from the holiday later (on Trinity you cannot sew, spin, whitewash, bake pies or work in the garden). After cleaning, the Orthodox decorated their homes with birch branches - after all, this particular tree was considered sacred and blessed, capable of bringing happiness and joy into the house. Temples were also decorated with various flowers, branches and herbs - everything that Mother Earth generously bestowed.
Before Trinity, which always falls on Sunday, dead, drowned and missing people were commemorated in churches on Saturdays.
In the morning, liturgy was held in churches, Scripture was read, and prayers were held. Then they went out into the church courtyard, danced in circles and sang songs around a high pillar, decorated with flowers and branches, dug in for the occasion of the holiday. The holiday ended with an evening service, which also included liturgy and prayer. After which they gathered for mass celebrations with songs, round dances, dances and other entertainment. Often during these days and throughout the next week, fun fairs were held. It was believed that it was on this day that all the forest evil spirits were released into the wild, and in order to scare them away, it was necessary to hold the holiday as loudly as possible.
Officially, the Trinity began to be celebrated in 381, when at the Second Ecumenical Council the church adopted the dogma on the holiday of the Trinity
For the holiday, the clergy dressed in festive attire. Believers followed their example and wore either new clothes or clean and washed ones. Preference was given to white outfits. The girls wove wreaths and decorated them with ribbons. Another obligatory attribute of going to church was a bouquet made from wormwood, periwinkle and lovage.
On the morning of Trinity Sunday they always had scrambled eggs for breakfast, as they were considered a symbol of the Sun, which would bring joy and warmth to the house. Treats for Trinity were prepared mainly from herbs and vegetables, and pies were baked with a variety of fillings.
Signs, rites and rituals of the Holy Trinity
On this great holiday, one could not think about bad things, envy or be angry with someone - our ancestors believed that this was a bad sign that did not lead to anything good.
It was impossible to have weddings on Trinity Sunday, because there would be no harmony in the family, but the acquaintance of young people and even matchmaking were welcomed, since it was believed that the family would be strong and happy.
The rain, which almost always happens on Trinity, was considered by some to be shed tears for the dead, others said that the rain falling on Trinity promises a rich harvest and good weather. The hot day of Trinity, on the contrary, foreshadowed drought and a meager harvest of grain, mushrooms and berries.
By the fresh birch branches that decorated the home, they judged the upcoming haymaking: if the branches remain fresh after three days and do not wither, expect wet haymaking.
People believed that by sweeping the graves of their relatives in the cemetery on this day, they scared away evil spirits and attracted wealth and prosperity for the entire village.
The dew collected at Trinity had special power Dew was collected on Trinity Sunday because, according to ancient legends, it had special powers. They drank dew to heal and gain strength.
On the eve of Trinity, the girls went to the forest, where they dug up birch branches and wove them into their wreaths, and on the holiday itself they unraveled them and looked at what happened to the branches. If they remained fresh, it promised many years of life. Then they floated the broom across the water and watched them again. A wreath is floating, which means there will be happiness and fun in the house. Drowned - expect sorrows.
For the entire week after Trinity, it was forbidden to swim in rivers and lakes. Otherwise, you can meet a mermaid who will call you to her and tickle you to death.
And in order to scare away the merman, who was also misbehaving these days, the entire village lit fires along the shore, held round dances and sang songs loudly.
Old-timers said that on the night of Trinity you have prophetic dreams.
Women who had teenage children took a piece of Trinity pie to a secluded place. And when one of the children got married, the mother gave the newlyweds this cracker, which, according to signs, protected the house from troubles, brought peace, happiness, wealth and joy to it.
On Trinity Sunday, in order to save themselves from drought and crop failure, they watered the flowers and branches with which they stood in the temple with tears (the girls specifically cried). Such flowers were then kept for a whole year.
On the eve of Trinity, they collected herbs and went with them to the temple. Then the herbs were dried and ailments were treated throughout the year.
@pravoslavnaya_istina
The celebration of a major church celebration is always associated with many canonical and popular prohibitions. To figure out what you can and cannot do on Trinity, you should get acquainted with the history of the miraculous event.
What holiday is it?
Trinity is one of the main (twelfth) Christian holidays and marks the day of the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples of Christ, who set out after the miraculous phenomenon to preach the Gospel to the whole world. The seventh week after Easter, which is also called Green or Semitskaya, ended with the celebration of Trinity and Spiritual Day.
In the Kyiv Chronicles (from the second half of the 12th century) this week is mentioned under the name “Rusal Week”. Other names are Semik, Mavsky Great Day, Rusalia, etc. Therefore, the celebration of the Trinity is closely intertwined with folk rituals coming from paganism.
When will there be a trinity in 2019?
In Rus' they began to celebrate the day of the descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples of Christ only 3 centuries after Baptism. The holiday does not have a set day and is a temporary holiday, that is, falling every year on a different date depending on the day on which the Resurrection of Christ was celebrated. 50 days are counted from Easter to determine the date of Pentecost (Trinity). Celebrated in May-June. In 2019 it falls on June 16th.
What can't you do on Trinity?
Like any church holiday, Trinity has many popular prohibitions associated with ancient rituals, beliefs and signs. The main prohibitions are the canonical ones, which were followed in the first place. On this day it was forbidden:
- quarrel, get angry, utter swear words, gossip, slander, envy;
- cultivate the land, engage in heavy physical labor (except for caring for pets), tidy up the house, do handicrafts;
- to get married and celebrate a wedding;
- until the end of Trinity Week, throw away the greenery and birch branches with which the house was decorated (at the end of the week they should have been burned);
- remember suicides;
- go to the forest alone;
- swim in rivers, ponds, lakes (it was believed that mermaids who rose to the surface could catch them in their nets and pull them into the pool.
Why can't you kneel before three?
Unlike Catholics, long kneeling prayers are not accepted in the tradition of the Orthodox Church. You are not supposed to kneel during services on Sundays and during the period from Christ's day to Trinity, when believers live in Paschal grace and should not indulge in sadness. But it will not be considered a sin if, feeling a spiritual need, a person kneels in church or makes a prostration before Trinity Day.
On Spiritual Day (Monday), at Great Evening Prayer, for the first time after Lent, kneeling prayers are read, when Orthodox Christians, on their knees, ask for forgiveness of sins.
What can you do on Trinity?
The rituals of Green Sunday, coming from ancient times, were aimed at glorifying fertility and renewal of life, welcoming the appearance of young greenery and the beginning of the summer period of field work. A week before Trinity, housewives began to clean the house and yard. Dwellings were decorated with flowers, fresh herbs, and tree branches. This tradition symbolized cleansing from everything bad and outdated. The green vestments of the clergy also reminded us of this.
Good deeds and selfless help to everyone who needs it were welcomed on this day. It was considered a good deed to obey someone you offended and to end a quarrel peacefully. After the church service, one should spend the remaining time with the family, prepare a festive meal and share it with relatives, friends and neighbors.
Our ancestors were sure that all the herbs on Trinity Day had great healing power, so medicinal herbs were collected in Venoshnik so that the reserves would last for the whole year. The dew collected on this day was also considered healing - it was used to treat all diseases and was used to soak vegetable seeds before sowing.
Is it possible on Trinity?
The rituals and superstitions of the Rusalia were gradually transferred to the Day of the Holy Trinity. Until now, many people believe that on Trinity Day you can make wishes, and if you say the spelled words and perform various magical actions, your plans will come true. These superstitions have nothing to do with Orthodox doctrine. A believer can turn to God at any time and ask him for everything he needs.
Work
At the beginning of the holiday week (3 days) there was a ban on work. The strictest ban was on Sunday. On this day, only caring for pets, cooking, and cleaning up messes were allowed if something was accidentally scattered, spilled, or guests brought dirt into the house on shoes. Such cleaning was not considered a sin.
On the second day the ban was less strict. Since the life of a peasant was completely dependent on the land, and in May-June agricultural work was in full swing, after lunch it was allowed (in case of emergency) to work in the field and in the garden. Having crossed themselves, bowed to the icon, with the words: “Lord, accept me for my labors, not for my sins,” they got down to business. This also applies to city residents if the dacha is visited only on weekends, and the plants require immediate care.
Baptize
Trinity is considered the birthday of the Church, so many strive to baptize a child during the holiday, perceiving this as a kind of sign. According to church canons, baptism is allowed on this day, but it should be noted that holiday services are longer - you will have to wait longer, and there will be a large crowd of people. It does not matter at what time the Sacrament of Confirmation and joining the Church will occur, but the grace emanating from the Holy Spirit is the same at any time.
Go to the cemetery
You should not visit a cemetery on the day of a joyful event, when the Lord sent the Holy Spirit to all believers for consolation, and Christ’s disciples went to preach the Gospel in all corners of the world. It is not customary to darken joy at such a solemn moment. The eve of Trinity Day is intended to commemorate all the previously deceased - Trinity Parents' Saturday.
Signs for unmarried and unmarried people
The Church categorically rejects fortune telling, omens and other pagan superstitions, but it so happened that over the course of several centuries the ancient rituals of Mavskaya Week were gradually transferred to Green Christmastide and merged with the celebration of the Trinity. The most popular and widespread prediction for unmarried girls was the curling of young branches on trees and fortune telling on wreaths.
It was believed that you could find out your future by looking at the branches of a birch tree. On the eve of Venoshnik, it was necessary to find a young tree in the forest (away from human eyes). Bend its branches to the ground and twist them into a braid. The next day we should return to the place of fortune-telling and see what happened to the story.
If the branches did not unravel and remained fresh and elastic, then this sign promised the girl a quick and happy marriage. The straightened shoots indicated that it would not be possible to get married this year. It was a bad sign if the branches drooped and withered - nothing good was in store for the girl.
Wreaths woven from greenery and flowers were also used to tell fortunes about the future and the betrothed. They dipped the wreaths into the water and watched what would happen to them. If the wreath immediately washed ashore, then over the next year it will not be possible to get married. A wreath calmly floating into the distance promised a quick and happy marriage.
If the current twisted the wreath and threw it from side to side, then the girl would have an unhappy marriage with an unloved person. The most desirable outcome was when the young man managed to snatch the wreath of his beloved girl from the water and return it to the mistress with a marriage proposal. Getting wooed on Trinity was a good sign.
Is it possible to have a wedding before Trinity?
On the eve of the twelve feasts, as well as on all Wednesdays and Fridays preceding Lent (on fasting days), weddings are not held in the temple. The rest of the time, starting from Fomin Sunday (Antipascha) and until Friday, the upcoming Trinity Parental Saturday, it was not forbidden to have a wedding. Further, the wedding will be possible only after the end of Peter's Lent (after July 12). According to popular belief, getting married on Trinity Day is a bad omen. The marriage will be doomed to failure.