Nativity of the Blessed Virgin: signs, customs, rituals

On September 21, the Orthodox Church celebrates the birth of the Most Holy Theotokos. But this is a significant day not only for visiting the temple. Since September 21, it has been associated with folk customs and rituals, which were performed annually on this date. Some of them have long been forgotten, but, nevertheless, certain observations can be very useful.

history of the holiday

Joachim and Anna, the future parents of the Blessed Virgin, lived in Nazareth. Being righteous Christians, they prayed to God for their children for a long time. After a time when Joachim was in the desert, and his wife was alone in the house, an Angel appeared to them at the same time. He told the couple that Anna will be able to conceive a child, the Virgin Mary, through which salvation will come to people, and they will be recognized all over the world. Immediately after that they met at the Golden Gate in Jerusalem. Embracing, the spouses already knew that their daughter would be born to them.

Just 9 months after conception, on September 21, the Virgin Mary appeared. Only three years she lived in the parents' house, after which, according to the vow given to God, she was sent to the temple. On this day, Orthodox Christians around the world celebrate the birth of the Most Holy Theotokos.

What to pray to the Most Holy Theotokos?

Since ancient times the birth of the Most Holy Theotokos is considered a holiday of all women and mothers. On this day it was necessary to put on their best clothes and go to the temple for service. Here the Virgin Mary is thanked for the birth of the Son of God.

In the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos, the signs will come true, and the prayers will be heard. Requests, worries, troubles - that's what people are turning to the Virgin Mary. Women have always prayed for the well-being of their home, for the health of their children. They addressed the Theotokos not only for themselves and their families, but also for other people.

A festive candle was always lit in the church, celebrating the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin on September 21. Signs with this were related the following. Toward the end of the candle, a piece of paper was tied up asking for it. When she completely burned, it meant that the Mother of God heard all the prayers. On this day, women must necessarily give alms, food and money, so as not to become barren.

Folk customs and customs

On this September date, on the 21st, according to the folk calendar, the Harvest Festival or Second Autumn is celebrated. They had just at the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin. The signs and rituals that were held on this date by our ancestors still survive in some regions to this day.

Until September 21 almost the entire harvest from the fields had time to collect. Beekeepers hid the beehive to prevent the bees from freezing. The onion week began. Removed from the fields, not only onions, but also the remaining vegetables. There was a saying among the people: "Prechista will come, she will become purely-clean." Since that day, evening gatherings began in the houses.

On the Orthodox Christmas of the Most Holy Theotokos, the signs were mostly related to women. They got up on September 21st before sunrise. If women had time to wash before dawn, it meant that they would manage to keep the beauty to the very gray. Young girls did this for the soon matchmaking of the groom.

After that, in the early morning, women went to the ponds with oatmeal bread and jelly. There they sang songs and thanked the Blessed Virgin Mary to the Virgin for the harvested crop, meeting simultaneously the autumn. Bread was broken in pieces and handed out to cattle.

After the rituals on the shore of the reservoirs, everyone went to visit the newlyweds.

The holiday is September 21. Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary: family signs

On this day, parents, village elders and other relatives visited young people. Since on this date there was a holiday of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, signs on the bride-show were taken into account. The hostess greeted the guests with cake. If he was delicious - she was praised. If the pie was not successful, the young mistress began to teach the mind-reason. On the festive table there were other dishes that the guests appreciated. The owner showed his visiting buildings and livestock to visiting relatives. He was praised or taught for this, just like his wife.

Also on September 21 (Christmas of the Most Holy Theotokos), the signs concerned the future life of the couple. In the evening they went to their parents. From the maleficent, his wife tied a string with embroidered letters "R", "B" on her sleeves. If she was lost or untied, it meant that there were envious people next to her.

Since the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin began a new life. The old candle in the house was supposed to be extinguished, and a new one to light.

Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos: signs of people's weather forecasters. What will the winter be like?

It is known that people always watched the weather changes outside the window and already in summer knew what to expect for them in the winter. In the autumn holiday of September 21, the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos, signs indicated the following:

• If the day turned out to be clear, then this weather will continue until the end of October;
• If in the morning fog - you should expect rainy weather;
• If the fog flies unexpectedly quickly - the weather will be changeable;
• If it started to rain in the morning, it will pour for another 40 days, and the winter will turn out to be cold;
• If the bright sun in the morning quickly dries the dew on the grass - do not wait for a lot of snow in the winter.

On that date it was not allowed to work, but it was necessary to devote the day to spiritual reflections and prayers.

How to protect children from harm and illness?

Family and children - this is the main thing that women addressed in prayers to the Virgin Mary. For their well-being, people's traditions were celebrated at the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin. The signs confirmed that in order to cleanse the children of spoilage, they were removed from their old ragged clothes and shoes and burned that day. All adversity and failure had to go along with the fire. After that, when the children crossed the threshold, they were poured with water from head to foot.

Our ancestors glorified the Mother of God and prayed to her, they believed in signs and honored the customs of their people. This helped them save their family, children and the house from the ills and collect a good harvest. Do not forget about the customs and rites of ancestors today.