Long before the advent of Christianity, Slavic peoples celebrated Green Week. She marked the end of spring and the beginning of summer. Some pagan rites and fortune-telling, which are held on the feast of the Trinity, have survived to this day. Customs ancient times are based on the renewal of life - this is the time when the first leaves appear on trees, flowers bloom. And on the occasion of the Trinity Church, houses were decorated with greenery - a symbol of the growth and renewal of the Christian faith.
Trinity or Pentecost?
The Trinity Day is one of the most beautiful holidays in Orthodoxy. It always occurs at a time when the first leaves on the trees begin to blossom. Therefore, on this holiday, people decorate houses and churches with green branches of birch, maple, and mountain ash.
Trinity does not have a fixed celebration date. He is appointed on the fiftieth day after Easter. The Bible says that it was on this day that the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles. The disciples gained the ability to preach the word of Christ. Therefore, this holiday is otherwise called Pentecost or the Descent of the Holy Spirit.
Only in the XIV century began to celebrate the feast of the Trinity in Russia. Customs and traditions on that day have been observed since that time. The founder of the holiday was Rev. Sergius of Radonezh.
Old Testament holiday
Pentecost is a Jewish holiday that is celebrated 50 days after Jewish Passover. According to legend, on this day the people of Israel acquired the Sinai Law. Traditionally, in honor of the celebration, entertainment is organized for the people, mass celebrations, sacrifices.
The Prophet Moses on Mount Sinai granted the Law of God to his people. This happened on the fiftieth day after the exodus of the Jews from Egypt. Since then, Pentecost (or Shavuot) began to be celebrated every year. In Israel, on the same day, the festival of the first harvest and fruits is celebrated.
When did the Trinity appear in Christianity? The customs and traditions of celebration originate from the Old Testament Pentecost.
Orthodox holiday
The apostles retired to celebrate the Jewish Pentecost. The Savior, before his martyrdom, promised them a miracle - the coming of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, every day they gathered in one of the Zion's upper rooms.
On the 50th day after the Resurrection, they heard a noise that filled a small space of the house. Tongues of flame appeared, and the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles. He showed them three hypostases - God the Father (Divine Mind), God the Son (Divine Word), God the Spirit (Holy Spirit). This trinity is the foundation of Christianity, on which the Christian faith is firmly based.
People who were not far from the room heard a strange noise - the apostles spoke different languages. The disciples of Jesus received amazing abilities - to heal, prophesy and preach in different dialects, which allowed them to carry the word of God to all parts of the world. The apostles visited the Middle East, India, Asia Minor. We visited the Crimea and Kiev. All the disciples, except John, were martyred - they were executed by opponents of Christianity.
The One God is the Holy Trinity. Customs Church holidays began in the morning. The whole family went to the church for worship. After which people returned home. They arranged a gala dinner, went on a visit, congratulated friends on a bright holiday, and presented gifts.
Slavic holiday
In our country, the Trinity holiday was celebrated only 300 years after the baptism of Russia. Before this, the Slavs were pagans. But today, there are ceremonies, signs that originated in those days.
Before Trinity, this day was considered the border between spring and summer. Its name is Semik (Green Week), or Triglav. According to pagan religion, three deities ruled all of humanity - Perun, Svarog, Svyatovit. The latter is the keeper of light and human energy. Perun is the defender of truth and warriors. Svarog is the creator of the universe.
In Semik, people arranged fun festivities, led round dances. The houses were decorated with the first greens, from which they later prepared medicinal tinctures and decoctions.
So from a pagan celebration a church holiday arose - the Trinity. Customs, signs those ancient times are still relevant among the people. For example, the greens that decorated the church at Pentecost were taken home and dried. She was sewn into canvas bags. Such a sachet served as a charm of the house.
Tradition of celebration
How is the festival of the Trinity? The customs of most holidays begin with cleaning the house. Only after the room sparkles with purity, women decorated the rooms with green branches, flowers. They are a symbol of fertility, wealth.
Mistresses prepared a festive table - cooked cakes and gingerbread cookies, cooked jelly. There is no fasting on this day, so the Orthodox are allowed any food. In the temples on the Trinity, the Divine Liturgy is celebrated, and immediately after it - the evening liturgy. During her kneeling prayers are read. The priests ask for the granting of grace to all those present, for the sending of wisdom and reason to believers.
After the service, people sit at the festive table, invite guests, give gifts and congratulate each other. According to tradition, it was customary to get married this day. It was believed that if the matchmaking occurs on the Trinity, and the wedding on the Intercession - a happy family awaits a young family.
As noted in other parts of the Trinity world? Traditions, Customs, Rites different countries are united by a festive service. And in England even religious processions are held on this day. In Italy, rose petals are scattered from under the ceiling of the temple. In France, during the service they blow into the chimneys, which symbolizes the descent of the Holy Spirit.
Folk Customs on the Trinity
According to popular tradition, mermaids wake up at Pentecost. In this regard, the villagers have several customs.
- In the villages, a stuffed mermaid was made, round dances were conducted around him during festivities. Then it was torn into small pieces and scattered around the field.
- Before going to bed, women ran through the village with a broomstick to protect themselves from the mermaids.
- They dressed one girl as a mermaid, led her out into the field and threw her into a life. After that, everyone ran to their homes.
What other folk practices is the Trinity famous for? Traditions, customs, ceremonies consisted in driving away evil spirits from the gates of the house. According to legend, a waterman woke up on this day, and the villagers burned bonfires along the coast to repel evil spirits.
Much attention was paid to decorating the house. Only branches of maple, birch, mountain ash, oak could protect people, give them strength and health.
Another custom was to irrigate the branches and flowers that were in the temple with their tears. Girls and women tried to cry harder, so that drops of tears fell on the green. This method helped the ancestors get rid of summer drought and autumn crop failure.
First day
All holiday events were divided into 3 days. The first was called Green Sunday. On this day, the icons were decorated with birch branches, a special prayer was pronounced on the Trinity.
Festivities were held in forests and fields. People played round dances, played, sang songs. Girls weaved wreaths and lowered them along the river. Such a fortune-telling helped to find out what fate awaits in the coming year.
People commemorated the deceased relatives. Crosses and monuments were swept over the cemetery with a birch broom - to ward off evil spirits. They left at the graves a treat for the deceased. According to folk tales, that night had prophetic dreams.
Second day
Klechalny Monday - the second day of the celebration of Pentecost. People rushed to the church in the morning. After the service, the priests walked through the fields with blessings. This was done in order to protect the crop from drought, rainfall and hail.
The third day
Gods Day is most celebrated by girls. They arrange festivities, games, fortune telling. According to folk tradition, the fun is “Drive Poplar”. The most beautiful girl was dressed up, decorated with greens and wreaths - she played the role of Poplar. Then the youth drove Topol home, and each owner gave her a delicious treat or gift.
Holiday symbol
In Russia, it was customary to honor the birch on the feast of the Trinity. The customs of Pentecost are closely related to this tree. Around the birch were girlish dances. She was decorated at home, the first leaves were dried to protect against the evil eye.
There is still a rite of curling birch. During the process, the girls made good health to their mother and other relatives. Or, while curling, birch trees thought about the young man they loved - thus tying his thoughts and thoughts to himself.
During the festivities, a small birch was decorated with ribbons, flowers flew into it. After round chants, they cut it down and began a triumphal procession through the village. An elegant birch was fenced around the entire village, attracting good luck to its inhabitants.
In the evening, the ribbons were removed from the tree and a traditional sacrifice was arranged. The branches were "buried" in the field, and the birch itself was drowned in a pond. So people asked for a plentiful harvest and protection from the spirits.
Early dew was collected at Trinity - it was considered a powerful medicine against ailments and ailments. Such rituals existed among our ancestors. Some of them can be found today. And what can not be done in the Trinity?
What is forbidden to do at Pentecost
On this holiday, it was strictly forbidden to work in the garden or around the house. Therefore, zealous housewives carried out a general cleaning to Trinity. And on the holiday itself they only decorated the house and prepared a plentiful treat.
What other prohibitions exist? What can not be done in the Trinity? All home repairs are best left the next day. You can’t sew. Do not wash, cut or dye your head.
On this day, you can’t think about the bad or talk about someone in a negative way. It is forbidden to swim - otherwise, in the near future, the novice will face death (according to one version, mermaids will tickle him). And the one who remained alive after bathing on the Trinity, was declared a sorcerer.
Do not be offended, swear on this day - the Trinity is a bright holiday. Signs and customs (which is impossible and what can be done) - it all comes down to prayer and kind words. The Trinity is a celebration of the renewal of life, so only positive should surround yourself on this day.
Parent saturday
The day before Trinity, parental Saturday began . People went to the cemetery, commemorated the deceased relatives.
Since ancient times, a memorial dinner was being prepared on parental Saturday - a cutlery was put for the deceased. The deceased was invited to a treat.
On this day, a bath was heated. And after the whole family had washed, they left water and a broom for the deceased.
On Trinity parental Saturday, suicides are remembered, asking for repose of their souls. A memorial prayer for the Trinity is read. But the Holy Church claims that this is a fallacy - suicides cannot find rest after death. Therefore, only in home prayer can you ask for them.
Pentecost Signs
By beliefs and signs the Trinity is rich. Customs and traditions of the holiday carry a lot of omens proven over centuries.
- Rain at Pentecost - to the abundance of mushrooms and close warmth.
- If the birch is fresh on the third day after the holiday, go to the wet hay.
- They marry the Trinity, marry the Veil - to love and harmony in the family.
- To attract wealth to the house, you need to cover several graves in the cemetery.
- The heat of the Trinity - to a dry summer.
The whole week of celebration was called the Rusal Week. Thursday was considered especially important - on that day, mermaids tried to lure people into the water. Therefore, in the evenings, people tried not to leave the house. It was forbidden to swim all week. And you should definitely carry wormwood with you - this grass scared away evil spirits.
Nowadays, in nature, with songs and fun, the festival of the Trinity is celebrated. Customs, signs of ancient times become irrelevant and gradually disappear. But still people decorate their homes with greenery so that peace, peace, happiness, health and prosperity reigned in it. And the girls carry wreaths to the ponds and, holding their breath, let them out into the water: where the wreath will float, wait for the bridegroom from there, and if it is beaten to the shore - to know, it is not fate to marry this year ...