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Annunciation - what you can and cannot do on this day. What can and cannot be done on the Annunciation: signs What should not be done on the Annunciation

The Annunciation is a permanent holiday, so every year Orthodox Christians celebrate it on April 7, and Catholics on March 25. From the Annunciation to the Nativity of Christ, 9 months - that’s how long a woman carries a child under her heart.

How a house is decorated for the Annunciation / istockphoto.com

On this day, the Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary and told her the good news that she would become the mother of the Son of God, having precariously conceived him from the Holy Spirit. The son, whom she will name Jesus, is destined to atone for human sins and grant people salvation.

The Annunciation is a holiday of great joy, even the sun “plays” with joy on this day. The personification of this holiday is the dove, as a symbol of purity and innocence, as well as white lilies, with which believers decorate their homes for the holiday.

What can't you do on holiday?

What not to do on Annunciation / istockphoto.com

On this big holiday, any physical labor or heavy work is prohibited. Homework, as well as various handicrafts (knitting, embroidery, sewing, etc.). It’s even better to prepare food on the eve of this big holiday.

On this day, the Lord blesses everything that grows on the earth, so you cannot prune bushes and trees and generally work in the garden or garden.

It is forbidden to lend anything (money, things, food) on this day, otherwise it may lead to failure and problems in the family. Our ancestors believed that on this day nothing should be taken out of the house.

On Annunciation, “a bird doesn’t build a nest, a girl doesn’t braid her hair,” so it’s better not to braid your hair, don’t do complicated hairstyles, and be sure to reschedule your visit to the hairdresser for another day.

According to signs, you can’t wear new clothes, since it will definitely tear, get dirty or quickly become unusable.

What should you do for the Annunciation?

Annunciation salt / istockphoto.com

The Annunciation is considered a women's holiday, so on this day you must go to church service and pray to the Most Holy Theotokos for a happy fate, a successful marriage, for children and their health, for protection and intercession in life.

On this day, owners release poultry from cages and animals in their barns so that they can “hear spring.” The Annunciation is considered the third Candlemas, and after it, winter and cold are definitely receding.

According to legend, if you call your husband “dear” 40 times on the Annunciation Day, then the family will have harmony, prosperity and family happiness all year long.

Despite the fact that the Annunciation falls on Lent, on this day there is a relaxation; believers can eat food, fish, oil and wine.

For the Annunciation, you need to prepare salt; our ancestors believed that such salt could heal from any disease and misfortune. And also in the church they light up prosvira, which is broken into small pieces and added to the food of sick people for a speedy recovery.

And also - to celebrate the Feast of the Annunciation with dignity Holy Mother of God. There are quite a few interesting signs associated with it.

Signs at the Annunciation explain what can and cannot be done on this day. Of course, they are mainly associated with folk beliefs, ideas and customs.

After all, the main meaning of the holiday is that, according to legend, it was on this day that the Archangel Gabriel announced to Mary that Christ would soon be born to her. However, folk beliefs have lived harmoniously with church tradition for more than one century.

That is why today many people, and especially ladies (after all, Mary, obviously, primarily patronizes the fair half) believe that the Annunciation is a special day with its own unique atmosphere. And as experience shows, this opinion is not without its truth.

We’ll tell you right now about what you can and can’t do on this holiday, as well as what interesting signs there are for the Annunciation.

There are several interesting signs, rituals, folk rites and customs that show what should and can be done on the Annunciation.

For women, for love and marriage

Many signs about what you can do at the Annunciation, and what it is better to refrain from, apply specifically to women. After all, the Mother of God is the mother of Jesus Christ, and it is believed that she asks the Lord for a woman’s share, being next to him. If you pray to the Most Holy Theotokos on the day of the Annunciation, from pure heart and with great faith in your soul, then she will definitely hear and help. Prayer on the Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary:

Accept, O all-powerful, Most Pure Lady theotokos, these honorable gifts, the only ones applied to You, from us, Your unworthy servants:

chosen from all generations, the supreme one who appeared among all creatures of heaven and earth, because for Your sake the Lord Almighty was with us,

and through You we have known the Son of God and become worthy of His holy Body and His most pure Blood;

In the same way, blessed are you in the birth of generations, God-blessed, most luminous of the Cherubim and most honest of the Seraphim. And now, all-sung Most Holy Theotokos, do not cease praying for us, Thy unworthy servants,

May we get rid of every evil council and every situation and may we remain unharmed from every poisonous excuse of the devil;

but even to the end, through Your prayers, keep us uncondemned, as if through Your intercession and help we are saved, we send glory, praise, thanksgiving and worship for everything in the Trinity to the One God and the Creator of all, now and ever, and to the ages of ages.

In Transcarpathia before dawn on Annunciation unmarried girls combed their braids and walked around their house three times. Then they swept the parents' hut, and collected the garbage and took it to the river to bury it in a hole next to the river. Then it was necessary to collect water from the river and water the beds where the plantings were planned. It was believed that such a ritual would ensure a good marriage and a happy family life for the girl.
In the evening, in the villages, young people gathered around the fires, where they performed modest round dances and jumped over the fire. But all this must be done modestly and without much noise, especially when it’s on.
Here's what you need to do on Annunciation married women to become happy and strengthen relationships. It is believed that a lady needs to call her husband dear at least 40 times on this day. Popular belief claims that in this case the family will spend the whole year in joy, and the husband will not even have the thought of cheating.

Whoever calls her husband “dear” forty times at the Annunciation from morning to night will have her husband’s beloved all year long.

The key to a girl getting married this year was the presence of all family members in the house at the Annunciation. A special prohibition was to invite strangers and girls into the house on this day.
If a young girl finds a primrose on this day, she will definitely get married this summer.

For luck and wealth

There is a sign that on this day it is better to release a bird (for example, a dove) so that it flies straight to the Lord. This is a very good sign, a sign of new beginnings. This tradition, however, exists to this day - white doves are released for weddings, and this is not only spectacular, but also very cute, touching in its own way.
It was considered a good sign to see the first swallow on this day, which means good luck will be with you all year.
The one who sees the first stork will also be lucky. In Belarus, the day of the Annunciation is also considered the holiday of the arrival of the stork, and it is customary to bake special pies in the shape of a stork’s paw - “galepas”.
If you give alms on the Annunciation early in the morning before you wash, then there will be prosperity in the house all year.
A good sign is to turn to Archangel Gabriel in prayer. If a person has a special desire, then in order to fulfill it next year, he needs to go to the crossroads at sunrise on April 7, and bowing 3 times to the east, read a prayer to this angel three times and state the request in his own words.
In order for trade to be successful and there to always be many buyers, merchants and other trade workers need to do this on holiday. On the morning of April 7, before the first buyer arrives, sprinkle the premises and goods with enchanted water. You can use the following text as a whisper prayer:

Just as people go to church on a holy holiday, so buyers would come to me.

Then it was necessary to visit the church, making sure to wait for the festive ringing. And when the bells start ringing, pick up your wallet and ask for more money. Then it was necessary to give generous alms to the beggars standing near the temple.
Surprisingly, thieves also have their own signs on this day! There was an opinion that the swindler who steals some thing in Blagovest, even if it is of very little value, will be lucky on his way all year. This sign is contradictory, because theft in Christianity is a great sin, but the people believed that this way one could attract great luck to oneself.
You can also go to church early in the morning and give alms or generally provide some kind of service to someone in need. Interestingly, popular belief says: before going to church on such a day you should not wash your face or have breakfast. That is, it is better to go there as soon as you wake up - quickly and without hesitation.
On the way back, you can collect any grass that grows near the church, and then take a short walk and mentally escape from everything that worries you last days. This herb can be stored next to the icon throughout the year (it is better to put it behind it, out of sight). You can also save it in a small bag that you always carry with you. It is believed that this will ensure a prosperous and successful year for the believer.

To your health

On such a day, you can prepare a special amulet for home and health - Annunciation salt (more details on how to do this are described below). It should be noted that this is a purely folk sign, and church rules she has nothing to do with it.
It is believed that in a house where consecrated salt is kept in an open place (on a table, etc.) it will be good and calm all year.
And in Rus' there was interesting sign: the belongings of a sick person were burned at the stake on the day of the Annunciation. It was believed that thanks to this he would recover very quickly and get back on his feet. You just need to be careful and handle fire carefully - there was a sign that whoever lights the stove on the Annunciation will soon have a fire.
For people who have pets, it is advisable to feed them well in Blagovest. Crumbs of blessed prosphora should be added to the food. In this way, the owner protects not only himself, but also his pets from diseases for the whole year.
Prosvira and holy water, if taken from church on the day of the Annunciation, will serve as a strong amulet and a means for treating household members. They are carefully stored in the house all year round.
“Whoever gets drunk on Blagovest will have bitter drunkards in his family,” as the old saying goes. As they say, comments are unnecessary here. It’s better to take care of your health and abstain from alcohol, especially since Lent is underway.

How to prepare Annunciation salt

No one will argue with the fact that health is the most important thing, and without it, life is not a joy. For example, you can perform such a ritual to protect your home and health on the Annunciation with salt. We offer several options for making Annunciation salt:

Let's stock up on regular salt - take as much as 4 kg. As soon as it begins to get light, the salt is placed in a canvas bag and baked in a warm (but not hot) oven for 10-15 minutes. Then it can be used as food for a whole year, and also put in a small bag and carried with you as a talisman against ill health and the evil eye.
There is also a ritual with salt: each family member living in the house must take a handful of salt. Then the salt needs to be heated over fire (in a frying pan) with the appropriate spell-wish and poured into a common bag. It was believed to be a powerful remedy against diseases and protection from the evil eye. It was added to food not only for people, but also used to feed animals and birds.
The mistress of the house (the eldest of the women) transferred such salt to the red corner and stored it there for a year for certain occasions. For example, if someone got sick, a bag of Annunciation salt was placed at the head of that person’s bed so that he would recover faster.
If during the year the Annunciation salt was not useful and remained until the new holiday, then it had to be burned the next day, April 8, a year later. According to the sign, along with it the flame will consume misfortunes, troubles and illnesses that could be in store for the family next year.

What not to do on Annunciation

The people have always had their own unwritten code of conduct, and for each holiday there was, as it were, its own chapter. For example, before Easter everyone fasts, and on Easter they bake Easter cakes. Of course, on church holidays everyone tried to behave especially decently and not get upset over trifles.

But what cannot be done on the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary?

First of all, it is believed that on such a day you should not undertake any major housework - sweeping and washing the floors, doing laundry, doing general cleaning. Of course, you can do normal things - cook food and clean up a little order. But it’s better to postpone important plans for other days. This can be explained quite easily: if we actively work around the house on a holiday, we will hardly feel the special mood of this day.
Sewing, weaving, knitting, and indeed handicrafts in general are prohibited on Annunciation Day. Our ancestors believed that a thread is an image human life and they said this: “They don’t look at the Annunciation as a harsh yarn.” And if, through carelessness, you tangle or even break the thread on a holiday, then this is a bad sign. So why take unnecessary risks? It’s better to just put all needlework aside - there are other days for that.
There is no point in starting new businesses, undertaking new projects or major purchases - otherwise there will be no success in these matters. Previously, it was believed that one should not undertake any business on the day of the week corresponding to the past Annunciation. For example, if this celebration fell on Wednesday, then it was considered an unlucky day next year. And if we speak allegorically, then on the Annunciation it is better, if possible, to abandon important matters, negotiations, work with documents, etc.
Don't disturb the earth! It was considered wrong to start sowing, plowing, cultivating fields and tinkering in the garden. Nowadays it can be interpreted this way. On the one hand, it is undesirable to work in the country, because it is quite hard physical work, which will take a lot of energy and, as it were, “steal” the bright wave of the holiday from us. A holiday is a holiday: everything has its time.
You can’t build fences or sweep the street - according to the superstition, this predicted a cold spring and a dry summer.
There is a ban on all work on this day for pregnant women.
It is interesting that girls in Rus' were careful not to even braid their hair or touch their hair on the day of the Annunciation. People have long said:

On Annunciation, the girl does not braid her hair, and the bird does not build a nest.

By the way, the legend about the cuckoo is connected with this belief: it is mentioned that this bird does not have a home due to the fact that it deliberately violated the Lord’s prohibition - “The cuckoo is without a nest because it made it on the Annunciation.”

Previously, girls tried to take care of the beauty of their hair in advance. So now it will be wise to restore beauty before the Feast of the Annunciation. And along with earthly affairs, you need to devote time to spiritual issues: go to church, and just be alone with your thoughts. After all, the best ideas and solutions to different situations most often come to us precisely in these intimate moments.
Do not rush to put on new ones: there is a belief that then new things will quickly tear or become irreparably damaged, and within a year there will be no opportunity to purchase others. Girls who violate this prohibition will not get married until the next Annunciation.
You cannot lend anything (money, food, etc.). The sign says: the one who gave away something from home on the Annunciation Day gave away his well-being, health, peace and quiet in the family. This requirement should be strictly observed, even if the person asking you for something is well known and you are uncomfortable refusing him.
It is important to ensure that nothing is taken from your home. Therefore, it is not advisable to invite guests on the holiday of April 7, but it is better to celebrate it with your family.
You cannot bring anything from the forest to the Annunciation - otherwise pests will infest the house.
The hunters knew that in Blagovest they could not even touch weapons or go hunting - otherwise there would be no luck in hunting all year.
And of course, on the Annunciation it was and is considered bad manners to swear, sort things out, or get irritated. However, this is a common norm of behavior that should be observed at all times. church holidays, and on weekdays it won’t hurt either.

Based on this, we can say that it is better not to conflict with people at all, not to try to find out their position on a topic where serious contradictions can obviously arise between you. Let's put aside earthly affairs for everyday life, and today is a holiday - let's remember this.

NOTE

Often the Feast of the Annunciation falls during Lent, preceding Easter. Then the usual restrictions on food remain, but at the same time, certain relaxations are allowed when choosing dishes.

Thus, believers can eat baked fish cooked with various vegetables. However, if this celebration falls on any day of Holy Week, the strictest fasting is observed - you can only eat plant foods with vegetable oil.

On Annunciation Day you can eat baked fish with vegetables

What can be done on the Annunciation and what cannot be done on this day: commentary from the church

Of course, every nation has its own rich cultural traditions that have existed since time immemorial. And besides, there are church canons, which in some ways may coincide with folk canons, but in some ways they may differ.

As a rule, in Christian tradition there is no specific list of things that can and cannot be done for the holiday, including the Annunciation. Of course, every person intuitively understands that on such days it is better to pay attention to some innermost thoughts, visit church, and simply enjoy the unusual atmosphere.

That is why Orthodox priests say that there are no strict prohibitions on the Annunciation; everyone can act according to their own heart and in accordance with real necessity. It's a working day - we'll work. We needed to urgently go on business - of course, we’ll go if the situation is urgent.

Well, in the usual case, we’ll just enjoy the holiday and plunge into its atmosphere.

Annunciation: weather signs

And of course, the weather can give certain signs. It affects our mood and, in a sense, determines the rhythm of the day. Therefore, our ancestors watched the sky very carefully throughout the year. And especially during holidays.

Here are the weather signs they compiled for the Annunciation:

If frost strikes, this is a reason for joy - the harvest will be good and the year will be successful. On the other hand, the frosty weather will last only another 40 days, but then real summer will come. And the frost also foreshadowed a good harvest of milk mushrooms - in July-August it would be a good time to stock up on these mushrooms. And this is also a good reason to escape into nature, taking a break from the city rhythm.
But if the weather is warm and sunny, on the contrary, the omen is not very good. She foreshadowed fires, so people tried to be especially careful.
They also paid attention to the sky. If it was completely clear, without a single hint of clouds, it means that summer will be with plenty of rain and thunderstorms.
If it rains, then, on the contrary, the summer will be quite hot and dry. However, the mushroom harvest will still be considerable.
But the stormy weather foreshadowed a moderately warm summer and an abundance of nuts.

As you can see, quite a lot of signs for the Annunciation have been preserved in our history. Certainly, folk signs and the observations concerned not only the weather, but also human life.

Which signs to believe and which ones not to believe, each person decides for himself. The main thing is that the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos brings joy to your home.

In general, it was believed that what the atmosphere of the Annunciation would be like, it would be the same at . Popular wisdom says it this way:

As you spend the Annunciation, you will live for a whole year. If on this day you are healthy, well-fed, clothed and with money, then all this will not be transferred within a year.

By the way, sometimes the Annunciation and Easter coincide, and then Christians celebrate two holidays at once. This event is called Kyriopascha. But this happens very rarely - last time happened in 1991, and in the 21st century it will happen only once - back in 2075.

On April 7, Orthodox Christians celebrate the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary - one of the 12 main holidays in Orthodoxy. On this day, the Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary and announced to her about the coming birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, reports “Today”.

On this day, the Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary and announced to her about the upcoming birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Until the age of 14, the Blessed Virgin was raised in the temple, and then, according to the law, she had to leave the temple as having reached adulthood and either return to her parents or get married. The priests wanted to marry her off, but Mary decided to devote herself to God. Then the priests betrothed her to a distant relative, the eighty-year-old elder Joseph, so that he would take care of her. Living in the Galilean city of Nazareth, in the house of Joseph, the Blessed Virgin Mary led the same modest and solitary life as at the temple. Four months after the betrothal, an angel appeared to Mary and said: “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you! Blessed are You among women." Archangel Gabriel announced to her that she had been chosen to become the mother of God.

What not to do on this day:

On the Annunciation, it was strictly forbidden to do any work: “a bird does not build a nest, a maiden does not braid her hair.”
On Annunciation, you cannot give anything away from home, especially borrow money. It is believed that this is how you can give away your health and well-being.
On Annunciation, you cannot cut your hair, dye your hair, or even comb your hair. You also cannot sew or knit.
There is no need to sow seeds or plant seedlings on Annunciation; there may be no harvest.
On Annunciation, you cannot burn candles, torches or lamps to illuminate the house, so as not to miss the light of the Angel.
You can’t wear new clothes on Annunciation Day - they will tear and become so dirty that you won’t be able to wash them.

What then to do on the Feast of the Annunciation: folk traditions

This is a significant church holiday, and therefore it is important for every believer to tune in to a good mood, put aside all matters, not engage in any serious work, but visit the temple and pray.
Since ancient times, on the feast of the Annunciation, peasants asked the Mother of God for intercession, prosperity for the family and a rich harvest. There was even a custom to place the image of the holiday in a bowl with spring grain for sowing and ask the Mother of God and Gabriel the Archangel to favor the harvest. The very next day after the Annunciation, it was customary to begin sowing spring crops.
On the Annunciation, just as on the Forty Martyrs, housewives baked larks from dough, and then distributed buns to children, treated pets, sang stoneflies, called migratory birds and invited spring.
On the holiday, early in the morning they washed themselves with melt or spring water in order to be healthy and beautiful, and also to get rid of all sorts of diseases.
In order to be smart all year round, the Slavs had a custom on this day to take clothes prepared during the winter, as well as the dowry of unmarried girls, out of the house into the yard. If you want new things to appear throughout the year, put on new and smart clothes for the Annunciation.
An interesting ritual has been preserved: counting money on the Annunciation so that it remains in the wallet all year. Our ancestors carried money with them and performed this ritual on a holiday, as soon as they heard the cuckoo.
In order to be healthy, vigorous and active all year round, people ran around the house on Annunciation, and unmarried girls held the first round dances after winter.
The Feast of the Annunciation 2019 falls during the period of Lent. On this day, the church charter allows for a relaxation of fasting, and fish and wine can be eaten.
Be sure to pay attention to the weather on this day. It is believed that what the weather is like on Annunciation, it will be like this on Easter. And the sun on this day promised a good harvest for the year.
Our ancestors believed that on the night of the Annunciation the heavens open, and the Lord himself blesses the earth, trees and plants, living creatures and people. At this time, you can ask for blessings for yourself. The main thing is to do this with pure thoughts - and your request will be heard, and your wishes will come true.

We present to your attention a selection of answers to the most common questions about the Annunciation.

Is it possible to eat fish on Annunciation?
The Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos falls during the strictest fast in the church year - Lent. But in honor of this holiday, there is a relaxation in the gastronomic fast - you can eat fish.

(Except for those cases when the Annunciation falls during Holy Week (as was the case in 2015). In this case, the charter allows food with vegetable oil).

What can you eat on Annunciation?
In honor of the Feast of the Annunciation, the gastronomic rules of Lent are relaxed - you can eat fish. Meat, eggs, and milk are still excluded from the meal.

(However, there are exceptions: if the Annunciation falls on Holy Week (as was the case in 2015), fish is not allowed.)

Is it true that you can’t do anything on the Annunciation?
This folk tradition, the main goal of which, rather, is to find a reason to justify one’s inaction and failure to fulfill certain obligations.

In fact, there is no prohibition and there cannot be. The Church says that on the day of the Annunciation, like other major church holidays, every Christian believer should try to put aside their affairs for the sake of being present in church and praying. Further, a person is endowed with freedom and the right to choose. As an independent mature person, each of us has the right to reason for ourselves and choose how best to act, based on our own capabilities and resources.

We should also think about our personal attitude towards the holiday.

When one of our loved ones has a special event coming up, don’t we try to put off everything we do as much as possible and spend the day with them?

Do we feel the same way about the Annunciation? Do we perceive the Annunciation as a holiday? For many, unfortunately, this is just another event in the life of the Church and nothing more. We don’t associate this holiday with ourselves in any way...

But still, you always have to look at the situation. After all, no one knows what circumstances you are in. What obligations do you have to your family or to your employer?
In any case, the main thing is not to get bogged down in vanity, worries, anger, irritation, etc. If possible, put aside anything that might prevent you from celebrating this Holiday with joy and gratitude.

Is it possible to marry on the Annunciation?
This year, the Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary falls on the 4th week (week) of Lent, and as we know, this is a special period of repentance and abstinence. Therefore, the church does not bless marriages on this day.

In rare cases, it happens that the Annunciation falls on Bright Week (the week after Easter), but even during this period weddings do not take place in churches.

We can say that Bright Week and Holy Week are a single period in the center of which is Easter.

On Holy Week the last days of Christ’s earthly life are remembered, and on Svetlaya the Church glorifies and sings of His Resurrection!

Therefore, all the attention of the Church is focused on this Great event.

In any case, if you just want to sign at the registry office, then state registration has nothing to do with the Church, here you have the right to make your own decision.

But if it is important for you to follow church traditions, then you can get married starting from the first resurrection after Easter - this is Antipascha (Anti means opposite), popularly called Red Hill. Then you can safely get married and celebrate the event in a proper way, without conflicting with Orthodox traditions.

Is it possible to have a funeral service for the Annunciation?
On the Annunciation, as well as on other important and revered holidays by the Church, funeral services and prayers are not performed.

A holiday is a time of joy, so one should not be sad or sad on such a day. Especially if it falls during the period of fasting, when a person already does some work on himself.

In the life of the Church there is a place and time for everything. There are days special commemoration the deceased, when special prayers are performed for the deceased. And in common days During the service, certain prayers are read for the repose of the soul.

But you can also pray for your loved ones who have died on your own any day.

Is it possible to wash on the Annunciation?

The answer is clear - you can.

Similar questions: “Is it possible to wash on the Annunciation?” usually give rise to different folk wisdom, which are more related to paganism than to Orthodoxy.

What is meant here is that on a holiday, as on any other day significant for the Church, one must, if possible, leave all worries, all vanity and pay attention to the main event, in this case, the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The Annunciation (that is, good news) is the day when the Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary and announced to her the birth of the son of God Jesus Christ into the world. This is a more than worthy reason to put aside our less significant affairs for the sake of visiting the temple and praying.

But if you walk around unwashed, this, of course, will cause you a lot of inconvenience, irritation and all those unpleasant emotions that simply will not allow you to concentrate, much less share the joy of this holiday with your loved ones.

Is it possible to work for the Annunciation?

In Rus' there was a tradition not to work on the day of the Annunciation. The peasants did not go to the field, but devoted their entire time to the Orthodox celebration. But even then, in past centuries, and now, there is no prohibition to work as such. Another thing is that it is better to spend the hours of this day on works of prayer and mercy. Go with the whole family to the temple, pray to the Lord and Mother of God, share the joy of the holiday with other parishioners of the temple.

The Church also blesses on the Annunciation (as, indeed, on other Orthodox celebrations) to help those who need it most. Visit your elderly relatives, go to an orphanage with volunteers, transfer a donation for an operation for a sick child.

Is it possible to embroider for the Annunciation?

In Rus', girls did not embroider for the Annunciation, because there was a tradition of putting off all household chores for the sake of prayer and a joyful celebration of the holiday. In our time, this custom has only partially been preserved, but most often believers try to devote the entire day of April 7 to God. Go to church, gather the whole family at the festive table.

Is it possible to get a haircut for the Annunciation?

Doubts about whether it is possible to get a haircut on the Annunciation arose due to an old saying: “A bird does not build a nest, a maiden does not braid her hair.” This saying, of course, is not a strict ban on cutting and combing your hair; it rather says that on this important day for every Christian it is worth putting aside everything vain and everyday and focusing on the meaning of the holiday. Read the Gospel, attend a church service, do something good for your neighbor, get together as a family and share joy with each other.

Is it possible to clean the house for the Annunciation?

In Rus', it was customary to do all the housework before the Feast of the Annunciation, so that on April 7 (new style) you would wake up in a clean hut and not be distracted by the bustle. Believers, both then and now, try to devote this day to prayer and joyful communication with brothers and sisters in Christ.

Is it possible to receive communion at the Annunciation?

Of course, you can receive communion at the Annunciation.

Is it possible to knit for the Annunciation?

On the feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, needlewomen in Rus' put off their sewing and knitting until the evening. It was believed that on this day one should not do anything around the house.

In our time, the Church also recommends that Christians put aside worldly, vain affairs in order to devote this day to the Lord and the Mother of God. Pray at home and in church, do some good deed for your neighbor, gather family and friends for a solemn meal.

What should you not do on Annunciation?

The Church does not give any specific instructions or prohibitions.

We need to stop paying attention to signs and beliefs that have nothing to do with the life and world of the Church.

Following far-fetched rules limits your own freedom.

And in such a state, what kind of joy and gratitude can we talk about?

Orthodoxy is the religion of adults, mature people. Nobody forces or forces us. We make our own choices. And only in this way can we consciously come to something, become deeply acquainted with traditions and meanings.

When I understand the meaning of why I am doing something, then my attitude towards what is happening will be completely different.

Is it possible to baptize on the Annunciation?

You can baptize on the Annunciation, just like on any other day. church year. The Sacrament of Baptism is performed on fasting days, ordinary days, and holidays. But on the twelve and great holidays, the priests of many churches are very busy, so they may offer to postpone the baptism to another day. The date and time of christening must be agreed upon in advance in a specific church or with a specific priest.

Is it possible to dig the earth before the Annunciation?

You can dig the ground before the Annunciation, if weather conditions and soil conditions permit. There is no need to connect your everyday worries with the church calendar. The Annunciation is an immutable holiday, and, apparently, that’s why it’s convenient for many to navigate by its date. But we should not forget that the Day of the Annunciation is not the basis for constructing a schedule of agricultural work, but a reminder of the great event that marked the beginning of our Salvation.

Is it possible to plant before the Annunciation?

You can plant before the Annunciation. There is no need to link the start of gardening work to the church calendar. In these matters, you need to focus on climatic conditions, planting calendars, experience, etc. The Church gives people more important guidelines than the date of sowing the beds. The Church leads people to follow Christ. And even during the planting season, you should not forget about this.

Is it possible to put up a fence before the Annunciation?

You can put up a fence before the Annunciation. This and similar prohibitions (borrowing or lending, cutting or even combing your hair, putting on new clothes and starting new things on the Annunciation) are just superstitions. Moreover, among such absurd beliefs, there is even this: on the Annunciation, you must steal something - and this will supposedly bring happiness. Sin cannot bring happiness. Belief in omens and superstitions is a sin that saints have been calling to be wary of since ancient times. Relying on such “rules”, a person completely forgets about God, His providence, His help and his own prayer.

Is it possible to cook on Annunciation?

Of course, you can cook on Annunciation Day. Otherwise, you risk being left on your own and leaving your loved ones hungry.

The idea that you cannot cook on the Annunciation apparently originates in folk wisdom: “on the Annunciation, a bird does not build a nest, a maiden does not braid her hair.” That is, it is assumed that nothing can be done on such a big holiday. In fact, our ancestors’ tradition of not working on holidays had a practical justification: holidays and Sundays should be dedicated to God, and not to the daily bustle.

On the Annunciation, you can cook and do all the usual things, but at the same time you need to find time to go to church, pray and feel the meaning of this great and joyful event, which marked the beginning of the entire gospel history.

Is it possible to sign on the Annunciation?

You can sign on the Annunciation, but, following church rules, it is better to choose another day for painting.

The Annunciation always falls either during Lent or (very rarely) during Bright Week. These are special periods of the year when the sacrament of weddings is not performed in the Church. The time of Great Lent is a time of repentance and prayer, Bright Week- the time of Easter joy, the celebration of the Resurrection of Christ. Moreover, although weddings on the twelve (i.e., the main holidays after Easter) are not prohibited, they are usually still not performed, since believers try to live this day together with the Church, rejoicing in the common joy.

If for one reason or another the newlyweds need to formalize their relationship in the registry office on Annunciation, then they can do this. But the Church does not bless celebrating a wedding, having a feast and starting your married life on this day.

Is it possible to clean up graves before the Annunciation?

You can clean up the graves before the Annunciation.

The Church does not have any strict instructions on which days it is necessary to restore order at the graves of deceased loved ones. But believers do not go to the cemetery (except for funerals) in big holidays, as well as on Holy Week and from Easter to Radonitsa, because during this period all the Christian’s attention is focused on evangelical events – death on the cross and the Resurrection of Christ.

During Lent, which usually coincides with the Annunciation, there are three Saturdays ( parents' Saturdays), dedicated to the remembrance of the dead. On such days you need to go and pray for them in the temple. But it is not forbidden to go to the cemetery after the funeral service. You can clean the graves on any other day of fasting, but after Palm Sunday People go to the cemetery only on Radonitsa - the day of special all-church remembrance of the dead, which falls on the second Tuesday after Easter.

The holiday itself, according to history, heralds new era in the history of mankind, because according to legend, on this day the Archangel Gabriel came to Mary from Nazareth to announce to her the immaculate conception and birth of the Son of God. Read our material about what you can and cannot do on this day.

The Feast of the Annunciation is celebrated exactly nine months before the Nativity of Christ and three weeks before Easter. At the same time, this holiday is celebrated every year at the same time - April 7 and does not depend on church calendar. In addition, the Annunciation is considered one of the 12 most important Christian holidays. Happy this day in church traditions And folk beliefs There are many rules and beliefs associated.

What can and should be done during the Annunciation

On this day, the church recommends that Orthodox believers put aside all their business to attend church and pray. On this day you can work, but you cannot overwork and forget about prayer. It is believed that on the Annunciation it is necessary to cleanse your soul of negativity, so you should not neglect the holiday.
In addition, on this day, relaxation is allowed in the Lent menu and you can afford fish products if you follow the canons of Lent.

On the Annunciation, you are allowed to tell fortunes about the future, since it is believed that today divine powers they themselves will show you the right path.
You can do laundry and do other household chores.
It is possible to perform baptism during the Annunciation, but usually on this day the clergy are busy conducting festive service and communion. Therefore, it is worth moving the sacrament to another suitable day.
Everything related to needlework, be it knitting, embroidery or other work, can be done if you devote proper time to prayers and family.
If on Annunciation from morning to midnight you call your husband “dear” forty times, your husband will love and cherish you all year long.
Also on this day you can “steal” something - for happiness. That is, take some small things with you - a pen, pencil or other small things. It is believed that they can bring good luck.
In addition, on this day you need to burn salt for happiness and health, and then scatter it to the wind - it is believed that in this way you can get rid of diseases.
Funeral or memorial services and prayers are also held on this day.

However, a number of prohibitions and prohibitions also apply to the Annunciation.

What not to do on Annunciation:

On this day, any housework, sewing and cooking are prohibited. It is customary to finish all work and cleaning the day before.
On this day, it is advisable to stay at home and refuse to travel in order to be with your family and it is not recommended to borrow or borrow anything.
In some regions there is also a belief that new things should not be worn on the Annunciation, as they may become damaged. It is also not customary to shave.
On the day of the week on which April 7 falls, you cannot start new things throughout the year. They won't be successful.
There is a belief that you cannot cut, dye or comb your hair on the Annunciation - you can confuse your fate.
On April 7, you cannot work in the garden or trim trees. Many believe that it is on this day that the Lord blesses all plants so that they quickly sprout and turn green.