August is rich in folk holidays, originally dedicated to harvesting. And all of them are church holidays. For example, Apple Savior, whose traditions and history are very close to ordinary people, is the second, popular name for the beautiful day of the Transfiguration of the Lord.
Holy holiday
The three Gospels tell of the Transfiguration of our sweetest Lord, Jesus Christ. This happened on Mount Tabor, in the presence of His disciples. This was the last year of the Lord's stay on earth. Jesus Christ knew of impending suffering and little by little began to reveal to his disciples what He was to pass.
The words of the Master, of course, saddened the apostles, and he took pity on their grief, showing Peter, John and James the unfading glory that He would put on according to the Word of the Father. Having ascended to the top of the mountain, they began a long prayer, during which the weary apostles fell asleep. It was then that the Lord was transformed: His face changed and shone, his clothes became white and shining. The awakened apostles could not believe their eyes: Christ spoke quietly with the prophets Elijah and Moses about the suffering that was coming to Him. Peter dared to wedge himself into the conversation, offering to put here three tabernacles - to Christ and His prophets. That is, he was still looking at Master with earthly eyes. Christ replied that none of them needed a tabernacle while Heavenly Father covered them with a light cloud. And while He said this, a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice rang out: "This is My Beloved Son ..."
The apostles fell to the earth in fear, and the glory of the Lord with the prophets hid from them. Jesus came to reassure the disciples, and then, raising their eyes, they did not see anyone else, only the Lord Jesus. At the request of His apostles, they were silent about the Transfiguration, until He accepted the suffering and rose again on the third day.
The second, or Apple Spas
The Transfiguration of the Lord is celebrated on August 19 in a new style, just during the ripening of apples. Signs and traditions at Apple Savior have filled over the past centuries only with good. In Russia on that day even the last beggar ate the apple, because the fruits were brought in whole carts to distribute to the poor. Such is the Apple Savior, the traditions and customs of which are aimed at creation, good neighborly relations, faith, the desire for light and quiet joy.
Until this day, neither vegetables nor fruits were allowed, only cucumbers and berries were allowed. The Orthodox calendar shows the Assumption Lent at this time, so on August 19, people joyfully brought apples and fruits to the temples for consecration.
Apples, honey and nuts
Three times people celebrate the gifts of nature in August. The first Savior is Honey, it is celebrated on August 14. On this day, the beekeepers first take out honeycombs from honey from the hives. After the Liturgy, all the poor, poor and children were treated with blessed honey in the church. But honey is not the main thing on this day.
A very significant event is celebrated in the temples: people worship the Holy Cross of the Lord, a procession takes place. And finally, the days are returning when unity was in all good impulses, both society and religion were united.
Apple Savior, the signs and traditions of which will be discussed in more detail in this article, is celebrated simultaneously with the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, August 19. Liturgy is served in all churches, where people come with fruits, in festive attire and high spirits. The people are very fond of this holiday - Apple Savior. Traditions and customs are remembered and observed.
Canvas and bread
The Third Savior - Nut or Bread, is also very popular among the people as a harvest festival. It is celebrated on August 29 (new style). Nuts are already ripening, and the first harvest must be sanctified in the temple. But the main thing on this day is the first grain bread of a new crop. It is solemnly carried to the church, after the consecration they reverently eat it, the last piece is wrapped with a clean canvas and stored behind the icons. Walnut, as well as Apple Savior, protects traditions and customs: there is a sign that with new bread, all prosperity is inevitably attracted to the house.
Orthodoxy knows this day as the Transfer of the Image of the Miraculous. This story is about how Christ helped a painter who couldn’t succeed in painting his portrait. Jesus washed and wiped his face with a canvas on which the face of the Lord was miraculously displayed. That is why religious rituals and folk ceremonies intertwined on one holiday. Savior on canvas is another name for this day. Start selling new homespun linen fabrics. Grace: honey, apples, nuts, fresh bread - what else could religion have done to the people?
Apple saved: signs and traditions
The people eagerly feasted on the gifts of forests, gardens, fields, apiaries, justifiably believing that everything that the land gives at this time has accumulated such an amount of positive energy that it should be enough for a whole year. Thus, luck, health, and well-being are acquired.
Before Christianity, apples also grew on the earth, and people who had not yet recognized our God also had a feast of picking apples on a certain day, before which they were considered immature. The pagans also brought fruit to the altars and believed that after the consecration they would bring health, strength, beauty and happiness. Thus, Apple Savior acquired the signs, customs, traditions that came from ancient pagan times.
The beginning of autumn, the Osenins, as the people used to say - the time when harvesting ends, harvesting for the winter begins. Signs were noticed necessarily and rarely made a mistake: a clear day on Apple Spas is a harsh winter, it will rain on a wet autumn, dry is also bad, dry autumn will be difficult to winter for fruit trees.
Harvest festival
"How the Savior comes - so the whole hour." For the abundance and generosity of nature, people thanked the Lord. They tried to harvest the grain before the Transfiguration of the Lord in order to have time to take care of the winter crops: it gets colder at night, even frosts are possible. "The Savior came to us - the summer runs away from us. The Savior came to us - she’s a fur coat in reserve."
The folk calendar suggests that even nature has been undergoing a transformation from this day on. People said goodbye to the summer, festivities lasted until sunset - they saw off the sun, sang ritual songs.
The sanctified apple was considered miraculous and able to fulfill wishes. These fruits were everywhere on August 19: in pancakes, pies, boiled and baked. The dough, of course, was lean, but hearty, fragrant, and the apple filling - oh, how delicious! For a year, of course, they missed the apples. I was glad, the people were glad at Apple Spas!
Traditions and customs of our days
Contemporaries also honor this beautiful holiday. Festivities take place in almost every locality, and even in big cities, cultural and entertainment programs are truly grandiose. Liturgies serve in all churches, consecrate apples and other fruits.
Even for the borders of our country and even in non-Orthodox countries this day is surely celebrated by our former compatriots. With round dances, folk fun: buffoons, stilts and, of course, treating with seasonal fruits. Orthodox Greeks, for example, bless grapes, which is mentioned in Scripture. In our country, apples were replaced by grapes - “vine fruits”, since earlier it was unlikely to grow in Russia.
And in the depths of Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, on this day they traditionally celebrate before sunset, saying goodbye to a short summer, trying to be kind to others and generous to the poor. This is the main custom of the feast of the Transfiguration.