One of the saddest days of Good Week is Good Friday. This time is devoted to the mournful and sad memories of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It is in this period of time that the most strict post is observed.
What day is Good Friday? What can not be done, but what can be done? What signs should be observed on this day and what is its history, we will consider in our article.
A bit of history
According to the Bible, it was on this day that Jesus Christ appeared before the highest religious court - the Sanhedrin for his righteous deeds. Verdict - execution. However, without the support of Pontius Pilate, the court could not carry out its plans. Turning to him, officials hoped that the Jewish prosecutor would support them. However, he did not consider it necessary to execute Jesus on the eve of Easter. The crowd said its word, which furiously insisted on the release of the criminal Barabbas, and not the righteous Jesus. In this regard, Pontius had no choice but to agree with the officials of the Sanhedrin and agree to the execution. As a sign of his innocence, he pointedly washed his hands.
On the same day, Jesus was struck several dozen blows with a whip, and then forced to carry a heavy wooden cross to Calvary, where he was crucified.
One of Christ's disciples asked Pontius to give him the body of the slain. He removed him from the cross and placed him in the tomb. So the day was born called Good Friday.
What cannot be done on this mournful day
All beliefs, customs and signs are connected precisely with the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Everything on this day should be associated with sorrow and suffering, with torment and torment.
So what cannot be done on Good Friday before Easter? In no case should you do household chores. There is a specially designated day for this - Clean Thursday, on which people are supposed to do different jobs. Especially Good Friday cannot be washed.
Rumor has it that it is during this period when washing appears red spots that resemble blood. Also, you can not cut, dig, plant and pierce the ground.
People who planned for this day a celebration, wedding, entertainment, it is better to postpone the fun for a more favorable time, because it is a huge sin. What else can Good Friday tell us? What can not be done on this day? No need to talk loudly, as well as laugh. After all, this period is associated with sorrow and sadness.
From Thursday evening you can’t eat food, you should also refrain from drinking. It is believed that if you do not drink water on this day, then throughout the year, any liquid will benefit health.
If you are interested in the question of what you can’t do on Good Friday and Saturday, you should know that it is forbidden to transport bees, otherwise the probability that they will all die is quite high.
What can you do on Good Friday
Many believe that this period is a time of prohibition. No. On this day, there are some customs that will help with many problems. So, we figured out what cannot be done on Good Friday, but what can be done on this day?
During this period, it is allowed to plant parsley in the garden. This herb is believed to be a predictor plant. It brings passion, love, mutual understanding, as well as a good harvest.
If you dry the leaves of parsley and put them in bags, then this will be an excellent protection against negative and magical effects throughout the year.
On this day, it is also recommended to consecrate a ring in the church. There is a belief that such an action will protect you from ailments and evil eyes throughout the year.
If you bake the pastry on Good Friday and keep it until next Easter, you can cure whooping cough.
On this day, it is also customary to treat relatives, close ones, acquaintances and even the poor with baked muffin, cottage cheese, milk, eggs, do more good deeds and give alms.
Customs
What else does Good Friday suggest? What can not be done, but what can be done?
It is believed that on this day, the mother should excommunicate the baby. The baby will be strong, healthy, happy, and also protected from external influences throughout life.
The following tradition is pagan. If you burn lights on the hill on this day, you can protect the crop from fires throughout the year. And the youth, who with horses and brooms riding on horses ride around the village, scares away evil spirits.
There is a custom thanks to which you can free your home from negativity, failure and poverty. To do this, after the service, you should purchase 12 candles and take them home. There, light them and let them burn out to the end.
Try to defend the entire service in the church with a candle in your hands, and at the end, extinguish it and bring the rest home. Light it and go around the entire room, paying close attention to each item. The thing over which the candle will begin to crackle, spellbound. It is urgently necessary to get rid of it.
If you are concerned about the question of what you can’t do on Good Friday and Saturday - remember: do not drink alcohol and do not indulge in physical pleasures, because this is a big sin. It is believed that people who drank a lot on that day risk becoming alcoholics for the rest of their lives.
It is not recommended on this day to dye your hair, get a haircut, do manicure, pedicure, etc. A person who chose to take his appearance on such a day runs the risk of becoming unfortunate, poor and unhappy.
It is believed that a child conceived on Good Friday will be born sick. The peasants believed: if health nevertheless does not pass him by, then he is predetermined to become a murderer.
Many people are interested in: “What should not be done on Good Friday before Easter?” It is not allowed to spit that day, otherwise a person risks becoming an outcast. It is also believed that all saints will turn away from him.
The peasants thought: if you wake up in the morning and, without talking to anyone, look out the window, you can find out your fate. For example, if a girl saw a bird - this is to meet you, for a guy - good news. If you first see the dog - this is unfortunately and sad. If a cat appeared - to wealth and good luck. If a sick person walks by - to illness or loss.
Signs
What else can Good Friday tell us? What can not be done? The signs described below will help answer this question.
If on Good Friday cloudy weather, then the bread will grow with weeds.
Is the starry sky this day? Expect a good harvest.
Laughing on Good Friday - you will cry all year
Ash taken from the oven on Good Friday will save you from alcoholism.
If this day you wipe all the corners with a rag and hide it away from prying eyes, then you can get rid of problems associated with the lower back. To do this, wrap it around a sore spot.
A cut off piece of Easter cake, which is prepared for the Easter holiday, hidden behind the icons, will protect from evil and the evil eye.
Easter cake does not become stale throughout the year.
Conclusion
Of course, this day seems to many creepy and scary. Do not panic! If you do everything right on Good Friday, you can not only take poverty and unhappiness away from you, but also call on good luck and prosperity. Happy easter!