The Annunciation in 2018, as always, falls on April 7, but this year it immediately precedes Easter. This is one of the most important holidays for Christians - both Orthodox and Catholics. In this material, we will tell you about how the Annunciation is celebrated in Russia, what symbols and customs are associated with it, what to do on a holiday, what to put on the table.
Annunciation in 2018: the history of the holiday
According to legend, the Archangel Gabriel on this day told the Virgin Mary that she would become the mother of the Savior, the Son of God. Mary was a pious virgin, brought up in strong faith in God and accepted this message with humility. At the age of 16, Mary married a relative - a pious and decent man, the family knew about what was predestined for the Virgin Mary, so even in marriage she remained innocent.
In all churches and temples, the Annunciation is celebrated with a solemn divine service - an all-night vigil, which begins with Great Compline, and the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom. the clothes of the clergy on this day are sky blue - it is this shade that is the symbol of the Virgin. After the liturgy, according to the canon, the rite of communion takes place - the parishioners are given bread and wine.
When, what date do we celebrate the Annunciation in 2018?
In the 4th century, there was a revision of the calendar of evangelical holidays, during which it was decided to link the Annunciation with the moment of the Immaculate Conception. Since then, the Annunciation has been celebrated 9 months before Christmas.
What can and cannot be done on the Annunciation in 2018?
Like most Christian holidays, this day has its own rules and customs that should be sacredly honored and observed. An indispensable attribute of the holiday is prayer, so believers must come to temples and churches or pray at home. The prayers read by the priests on this day tell about the sacrament of the birth of Jesus Christ, describing his divine origin. A certain number of rules and traditions are also observed:
- Before the festive dinner, believers read the traditions about the Blessed Virgin Mary, remember her, talk about her piety and faithful service to God.
- For those who have been dreaming of a child for a long time, it's time to pray to the Virgin Mary and ask her blessings for future motherhood.
- On the Annunciation, you should definitely pray for children born and in the womb, as well as for people whose activities are related to birth - obstetricians, doctors, pediatricians.
- Before going to the temple, people bake prosvira, which is then consecrated in the church. Orthodox keep this small piece of unleavened bread all year round next to the icon. of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is believed that if you give such bread to a sick person, then he will definitely get better.
- On this day, you need to stop quarrels and enmity. The holiday is celebrated in the family circle, it is not customary to visit on this day.
- For those who hold evil against another person, the church recommends repentance and forgiveness.
- On the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos, it is considered a great sin to perform any work, even not hard work.
- If the holiday falls during Great Lent (and in 2018 this is exactly the case) - believers are given some relief in strict restrictions. In particular, on a holiday you can taste fish and drink a glass of red wine.
- “The bird does not nest, the maiden does not weave braids,” - the saying is about the Annunciation. Even leaving on the road to work was considered a sin. Instead, the day should have been dedicated good deeds- for example, there was a custom to treat the needy on a holiday.
Annunciation 2018: signs
The signs of the holiday are varied:
- On this day, you can not wear new clothes - they will quickly tear.
- You can't lend or borrow either.
- The approaching summer is judged by the weather - the sun promises an early onset of heat, rain - a cool summer and mushroom autumn, and not melted snow means that spring is delayed and will come only in a few weeks.
- Believers bake prosphora at home - unleavened small breads - and then illuminate them in the temple during the liturgy. Prosphora are made for each member of the family, and they must be eaten on an empty stomach. In the old days, crumbs from consecrated bread were also added to livestock feed and mixed with grain - it was believed that for a better harvest.
Why doves are released for the Annunciation 2018
The main tradition for the Annunciation is the release of birds as a sign of the memory of the freedom of each of God's creations. In Rus', from time immemorial, pigeons were considered a bird that personifies goodness and brings good news. It has long been a tradition to release white doves in the Annunciation. Poor people specially caught a large number of birds in order to sell them later in the market, saying to the buyers that the bird would pray for them to the Lord. The snow-white wings of the dove symbolize the purity of the Blessed Virgin, and the bird itself symbolizes the grace-filled action of the Holy Spirit.
On this day, it is customary for the people to perform ceremonies for a rich harvest - sprinkle with holy water the grain prepared for spring sowing, dance in circles, thank nature for spring and generosity.
What can you eat Annunciation 2018?
The Annunciation falls during Great Lent. As usual, in 2018 it will be celebrated on April 7 between Maslenitsa and Great Easter which will be celebrated on April 8th. At this time, believers pass the main test of the year, which does not allow them to eat fast food. But in honor of the great feast of the Annunciation, the church allows the fast to be relaxed.
On the festive table there may be dishes from:
- croup;
- legumes;
- vegetables;
- fruits;
- fish;
- mushrooms;
- vegetable preservation;
- sweets.
It is not recommended to arrange lavish feasts and invite strangers who are not members of the family to the table. Do not cook too much and give great attention variety of foods. You can cook only modest dishes without any frills and table decorations. As in other important Orthodox holidays, on the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, it is allowed to drink a small amount of dry or church wine, for example, Cahors.
One of the most important and touching Christian holidays - Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary- in 2016, as in most cases, it falls on the time of Great Lent, more precisely on its fourth week.
When is the Annunciation celebrated in 2016
In Orthodoxy, the Annunciation is one of the twelve non-passing holidays (that is, it belongs to the 12 most important Christian holidays and is always celebrated on the same day). The Jerusalem, Russian, Georgian and Serbian Orthodox Churches, as well as the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (on the territory of Ukraine), the Old Believers and some other Christian denominations celebrate the Annunciation on March 25 according to the Julian calendar, which in the XX-XXI centuries corresponds to April 7 according to the Gregorian calendar.
Catholics and Protestants who celebrate holidays according to the Gregorian calendar celebrate the Annunciation March 25.
Thus, in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, the Annunciation is always celebrated April 7.
Annunciation: the history of the holiday
The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated in honor of the famous gospel event- proclamations by the archangel Gabriel good news Virgin Mary about the birth of the Son of God Jesus.
In the Gospel of Luke it is said that in the sixth month after the conception of the righteous Elizabeth saint John the Baptist archangel Gabriel was sent by the Lord to Nazareth, to the virgin Mary, to announce to her that she would have a child who would become the Savior and that he would be named Jesus. In Christianity, the Annunciation is associated with the first stage of atonement for original sin committed by Eve, who ate the forbidden fruit contrary to God's prohibition and seduced Adam. In the Christian tradition, it is believed that the Virgin Mary, having shown obedience to God's will, partially atoned for the sin of disobedience committed by Eve.
In Christianity, the symbol of the Annunciation is considered White Lily- a flower symbolizing the purity and purity of the Virgin Mary. These flowers were often depicted in icons and paintings dedicated to the Annunciation.
The Fourth Week of Great Lent and the Annunciation - 2016: what you can eat
But in regard to food, the Church allows holiday indulgences on the Annunciation. Here is a nutrition calendar for fourth week of Great Lent - 2016 in its most strict, monastic version (such strictness is not necessary for the laity).
Fourth week:
- Monday, April 4 - dry eating (bread, vegetables, fruits).
- Tuesday, April 5 - dry food (bread, vegetables, fruits).
- Wednesday, April 6 - dry eating (bread, vegetables, fruits).
- Thursday, April 7, Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary- fish and some wine are allowed.
- Friday, April 8 - dry food (bread, vegetables, fruits).
- Saturday, April 9 - hot lean food with vegetable oil.
- Sunday, April 10 - hot lean food with vegetable oil.
As you can see, relaxations are allowed only on the holiday itself; on all other days, all Lenten restrictions remain in full.
Annunciation - 2016: folk traditions, signs and beliefs
The Christian feast of the Annunciation has very ancient roots, reflected in folk calendar: according to the old style, this holiday almost coincided with the day of the vernal equinox, which was considered a milestone between winter and spring. From the Annunciation in Rus', they began to prepare for sowing, so most of the signs on this day are associated with nature, weather and views of the future harvest.
Weather notes:
- If it is snowy and frosty on the Annunciation, then the spring will be late and unfriendly, and the cold can last until May.
- If the night is warm on the eve of the Annunciation, spring will be early and friendly.
- If in the morning on the Annunciation it is clear and sunny, then the year will be successful and fruitful.
- If it is rainy on the Annunciation, the summer will be dry.
- If the swallows have not yet returned to the Annunciation (which is, in general, normal for the middle latitudes), the spring will be cold.
Annunciation: Do's and Don'ts
The Annunciation in Rus' was considered the last day of rest before the start of preparations for the spring sowing, so it was customary to rest on this holiday, but work, especially around the house, was banned. Also, girls on this day were not forbidden to walk around in shambles. There was even a special Annunciation saying: “A bird does not nest on the Annunciation, a girl does not weave braids.” So this year on Thursday, April 7, you can safely refuse to work around the house.
Also, no fire was lit in the huts on the Annunciation: for some reason it was believed that such a violation of the ban would certainly end in a fire.
Prosphora, Annunciation salt and larks
Even on the Annunciation in Rus' they baked special lenten buns - prosphora and prepared a special "medical" Annunciation salt. It was a whole family ritual: each family member took a pinch of salt and put it in a bag. Then the hostess poured this salt into a frying pan or brazier, calcined it on the fire and poured it into a bag again. The family was treated with this salt for the whole year from all diseases: both adding it to food and applying it to sore spots. Without denying the possibilities of traditional medicine, we still recommend combining such “treatment” with the prescriptions of official medicine.
As for the prosphora, they were also used for medicinal purposes.
Annunciation: the custom of releasing birds
The custom of releasing birds on the Annunciation is also very ancient, it is connected with the day of the spring equinox, with the return of birds and with the cult of the sun. Later, this custom received Christian content - the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove, etc. On the Annunciation, birds are also released in churches, including the patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church.
“In a foreign land, I sacredly observe the native custom of antiquity: I release a bird into the wild with bright holiday spring,” Pushkin wrote about this ceremony. In Rus', by this day, children and simply poor people specially caught birds and brought them to the market, where they bought them, in order to immediately release them. “Give a ransom for the birds - the birds will pray to God!” said the birders.
However, in modern world such ceremonies are rather savagery and a relic: it is no secret to anyone that the birds caught before the Annunciation die en masse from poor maintenance and stress. Therefore, priests do not bless the laity to perform this custom, especially since in temples in the rite of releasing birds only specially trained tame pigeons are used, which know the way home.
The Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos is one of the most important and significant world religious holidays and is revered by Christians of all states. According to biblical texts, on this day the heavenly servant, the archangel Gabriel, brought to the immaculate Virgin Mary the good and happy news that it was she who would become the Mother of the Son of God and the Savior of mankind Jesus Christ.
What date do Orthodox and Catholics celebrate the Annunciation 2016
A significant date is considered a non-transferable twelfth holiday and is celebrated annually on the same day. Therefore, to the question of what date the Annunciation 2016 will come for the Orthodox, there is only one clear answer - April 7th. For Catholics, the celebration always falls on March 25th. The fourteen-day difference is due to the fact that the Roman Church calculates significant religious events according to the Julian, and the Russian Orthodox - according to the Gregorian calendar.
The main idea of the celebration is to unite human freedom And God's power which resulted in the coming into the world of the Great Messiah. Immaculate Mary was chosen by the Almighty as the mother of the living incarnation of the Lord in our world. But the miraculous conception could not have taken place if the girl had not been ready to submit to the will of God. This event unambiguously shows that God only offers people a path, and whether to follow it or not, everyone decides for himself. You can open your heart to the Almighty and receive a guaranteed hope for the salvation of your soul, or you can renounce all that is holy and forever lose the chance to join the Kingdom of God.
Signs for the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Many interesting ancient traditions and rituals are associated with the holiday. On this auspicious day, birds are released from their cages, spring bells sing, call for warmth and good weather, and even jump over a large fire to free themselves from the sins that have accumulated over the winter.
On the Annunciation, it is not recommended to put on new clothes, start new business, sow fields with wheat, light the stove, sit under the smoke and work around the house. Frosty weather on the Annunciation morning promises a good harvest of spring crops and cucumbers, and a strong thunderstorm promises a hot summer and a large number of nuts.
Is it possible to wash your hair on the Annunciation?
Very bad omen it is considered to do something with hair on this bright and solemn holiday. So for everyone who has planned to go to the hairdresser or wash their hair for the Annunciation 2016, it is better to postpone these classes for a more suitable time. In the villages, old people still say that on a holy day, “a bird does not nest, and a girl does not weave braids.”
The Annunciation is one of the most famous, revered and important Christian holidays. From year to year it is celebrated by believers, having a long history.
What is the day of the Annunciation
The Gospel describes an event directly related to the Theotokos, the Most Pure Virgin Mary, and the birth of Jesus, the God-man. Until the age of fourteen, She was brought up in the temple, and after that she either had to get married or return to her parents. This age was considered adulthood. She was handed over to a distant relative, Elder Joseph, because She made a promise to God to remain a Virgin until the end of her life.
The Scripture says that the Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary. He announced that She was destined to become the Mother of the God-man. It is these events that are expressed in the name of the holiday, they are remembered on the day of the Annunciation. It speaks of the great, joyful news: God will take on the form of a man and will live among people. This event is very important for Christians.
The first and most important meaning for people is that humanity is saved. After the fall of Adam and Eve, people became mortal and were deprived eternal life in Paradise until the birth of Jesus Christ. The appearance of the God - man meant the possibility of atonement for human sins through prayers and repentance . By sacrificing himself, Jesus restored this opportunity to people.
The second meaning is that only by voluntarily letting God into your life can you receive salvation. The Archangel Gabriel was sent down to the Mother of God not only to express the will of God and say that the Virgin Mary would give birth to a son, while remaining a Virgin. He was sent to ask her consent. Only after the words “Behold, the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word" an immaculate conception took place.
The third meaning is, of course, a miracle that reveals the power of God and His great love to people. By the good will of the Virgin Mary, not a man was born, but a Divine Son, who was destined to make a great Sacrifice in the name of people.
When will the Annunciation be in 2016?
This holiday is celebrated annually on one day, exactly nine months before the birth of Christ, that is, on April 7th. Since it most often falls during Lent, it has only one day of pre-feast and one after-feast. It is not transferable. The church hosts a liturgy, which is desirable for all Christians to attend. But you can also independently read the corresponding section of the Bible and prayers dedicated to the feast of the Annunciation.
On the bright day of the Annunciation, do not do hard work, as it should be on any important Christian holiday. All the brightest and kindest, and don't forget to press the buttons and
The Annunciation is one of the most important holidays for Christians. In the Orthodox Church, the Annunciation is one of the non-passing twelfth holidays.
This means that for Orthodox people to the question of what date the Annunciation is celebrated in 2016, there is only one answer - April 7th. This date, celebrated according to the Gregorian calendar, corresponds to March 25 according to the Julian calendar, which was in use in Russia until 1918. It is exactly nine months away from the date of the Nativity of Christ.
Catholics around the world continue to celebrate this holiday on March 25 according to the Gregorian calendar. And only adherents of some small Christian movements will celebrate the Annunciation in 2016 on other days.
The plot of the Annunciation
The Annunciation is the good news brought by the archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary about the imminent coming into the world of the Son of God, Jesus Christ. This event is mentioned in the Gospel of Luke.
Mary, promised by her parents to God, lived in the Temple in Jerusalem until the age of 14. However, according to Jewish law, girls, upon reaching the age of majority, were required to marry and move to their husband's house. When the priests announced to Mary that it was her turn to leave the temple, she announced that she had vowed to preserve her virginity and devote her life to the Almighty. For the priests, this became a difficult task: they could not transgress the ancient law, but they could not force the virgin to break this vow. Secluded in the temple, they prayed to God to guide them on the true path and send them the right solution to this problem. The angel who appeared instructed them to call the unmarried righteous to the temple, and that they come with their wands. The High Priest Zechariah gathered their wands and retired to pray. The chosen men who returned to the temple the next day saw that the rod of the 80-year-old Elder Joseph had blossomed.
Joseph was a distant relative of Mary. He was a widow long ago and lived a righteous life. Joseph pledged to keep Mary's virginity. They became engaged, and the girl settled in his house, where she continued to lead a secluded life, dedicated to God. All her days were spent in labors, prayers and reading. scripture. She was familiar with the prophecy of Isaiah, which said that the Savior of the human race would be born of a virgin, and was ready to become the last slave of the one who was destined to become the mother of the living incarnation of God.
And then the archangel Gabriel, who came down from heaven, addressed her with a greeting: “Rejoice, Blessed One! The Lord is with you! Blessed are You." These words formed the basis of the prayer to the Mother of God, which in the Catholic rite corresponds to the prayer "Ave Maria". He announced that she was chosen to become the Mother of the Son of God. Perplexed, Mary asked the angel: "How will it be when I don't know my husband?" The angel answered her that the Holy Spirit would descend on her, and the power of the Most High would overshadow her.
Mary humbly accepted the will of God: “Behold, the servant of the Lord. May it be to me according to your word." It was at that moment that the Holy Spirit descended on her and conception occurred.
Meaning of the Feast of the Annunciation
The meaning of the holiday is concentrated in its very name: the good news was brought to people in the person of the Virgin Mary about the imminent birth of the Messiah, personifying the hope for the salvation of fallen mankind. However, Mary was destined to be more than just a witness to a great apparition. She was chosen by the Almighty as the future mother of the living incarnation of God - Jesus Christ.
The quintessence of this event is the words of Mary about the consent to submit to the will of God. Without her consent, conception could not have happened, because God gave people free will. Each of us is free to choose whether he will follow the path indicated by the Almighty or, on the contrary, renounce it, having lost any hope of salvation. And this is the deep meaning of the holiday - the unity of God's power and human freedom, which saved the world.
How to celebrate
The Annunciation is a great celebration of joy and hope for all mankind. Therefore, you cannot work on this day. You can cook only the simplest and most labor-intensive food. On this day, believers are allowed to drink red wine. And, of course, it is necessary to go to the church, listen to the Liturgy, pray, free the soul from everything that is oppressive and heavy, and gladly accept God's blessing.
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