August 28 has long been established as a holiday and an important day for Christians. Believers are looking forward to it: according to biblical beliefs, it was on this day that the most pure soul of the Holy Mother of God left the body, and "the Son of God himself met her." Since that day, the Orthodox world has acquired a great prayer book and the main intercessor in Heaven, and special beliefs and signs on the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos have been established among the people.
Orthodox traditions for the holiday
For Christians, the great day of the Dormition is preceded by a two-week fast. For a long time, believers have not considered this period of abstinence to be strict and difficult, since in August the bins were bursting with the harvest of vegetables, fruits, nuts and other gifts of nature allowed in fasting.
The holiday is called the First Pure and is considered a real holiday and a significant event, which is filled with beliefs and signs. On the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, the harvest ended, you canwas to celebrate and have fun, and therefore the atmosphere of the day was set majestic and special.
It was necessary to properly prepare for this day:
- clean the house;
- reconcile with everyone with whom there were disagreements;
- prepare generous and varied treats;
- ensure a calm and welcoming atmosphere in the house throughout the day.
Prohibitions for an important day
Customs for the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin are connected with the atmosphere of the holiday, but also reflect the peculiarities of the seasonal period of the year.
People associated many prohibitions with this day, which had to be observed.
- It was forbidden to use piercing and cutting objects on this day, so they did not take a fork and knife at the table. They tried to cook food in advance the day before, so as not to violate an important ban.
- Signs for the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary forbid walking barefoot on the grass on this day. The interpretation of such a ban has a double meaning: believers believe that the dew that fell on this day is the tears of the Blessed Virgin that she is leaving the earth and cannot help people. On the other hand, the ground was cooling by this day, so walking barefoot can contribute to hypothermia and illness.
- It was necessary to strictly monitor so as not to rub your foot with uncomfortable shoes on the day of the First Pure One. According to folk beliefs, in this way one could bring problems and troubles.
Holiday customs
Signs for the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary are associated with special rituals and ceremonies. The energy of the day has long been considered special and unique, and it was this factor that contributed to the strengthening of the customs associated with this August day among the people. Such ritual customs lead their roots from those settlements in which the Assumption belonged to patronal holidays:
- In the second half of the day, after prayers to the Mother of God, the people gathered in the center of the settlement. With the icon raised high, people went to the field and loudly read prayers to the Mother of God, singing the miracle worker and intercessor.
- During the morning service in the temple, bread was consecrated, which should have been taken out into the field that day. There, the consecrated loaves were broken, eaten by the whole world, washed down with holy water. It was believed that in this way it was possible to ensure the next year's harvest, but it was worthwhile to strictly ensure that bread crumbs did not fall on the ground.
Home holiday rituals
To bring good luck, prosperity and healing from diseases to the house and family, special rituals should be performed at home. Good omens for the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - on August 28, hang an icon with the face of the Mother of God in the courtyard of the house, leave it there for the whole day and be sure to monitor its location:
- The face of the Virgin, who looks at the house on this day from the gate, attracts happiness, good luck andprosperity.
- The Icon of the Mother of God in the very center of the courtyard will help get rid of all diseases that plague family members.
The face of the Virgin should have been brought into the house after the morning prayer service was defended with this icon. Candles and a lampada were lit in the house, it was necessary to make sure that the candle did not go out during the whole holiday.
Signs for healing
Signs and rituals performed to get rid of illnesses and ailments have long been considered an important moment of the Assumption Day.
The conduct of such rituals was considered especially relevant for those families in which one of the family members was seriously ill. An important condition of the rites was that the sick person had to defend a prayer service in the temple and go through the procession behind the icon with the face of the Mother of God. Therefore, they even tried to carry the seriously ill for the icon, after which they removed the pectoral crosses and dipped them in holy water. Drops that flowed from the cross sprinkled a sick person, smeared parts of the body where the pain was felt especially strongly.
The people sincerely believed that in this way it was possible to be healed of many ailments, especially from diseases of the joints and spine - this is exactly what the signs for the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary claimed. On August 28, with the help of such a ritual, pain in stretched muscles, joints deformed by arthrosis was relieved, and post-traumatic pain in the limbs was healed.
Signs for personal happiness
Girls were especially looking forward to the holiday, as some signson the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos promised them personal happiness.
After the period of the Assumption Lent, the meat-eater set in, young people tried to find a mate before the Intercession, otherwise they risked being left alone until spring.
In order for the subsequent period to be prosperous and young people to be able to find each other, folk signs for the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary advised in those houses where young unmarried girls lived, to set generous tables, to treat all visitors and guests. Quarrels, swearing should not be heard in the house, the atmosphere of the day should be festive and bright.
Good mood should accompany everyone living in the house, in the evening young people were supposed to gather for youth gatherings.
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is not the most important holiday for the Orthodox, but it is of great importance for those who live with God in their souls.
