Many believers often wonder if it is possible to work on church holidays? The answer in this case cannot be unambiguous, as it depends on various factors.
The Commandments of the Old One
If you follow what is written in the Old Testament, then its fourth commandment says that the Sabbath day should be held holy and dedicated to the Lord. The remaining six days of the week must be devoted to work.
According to this commandment, received by Moses from God on Mount Sinai, once a week there should be a day to rest from everyday worries, when you need to devote your thoughts and deeds to the Lord, attend church and temple, study the Word of God.
What does the New Testament say?
New Testament texts call Sunday such a day, which became for believers a day when you should not work, but rather visit church and pray. But given the pace of modern life, few people manage to step back from performing a variety of tasks, so people continue to deal with current issues even on a day off.
Why can't work on church holidays?
Still thereperiods when believers try to put off all things are church holidays. The people believe that working on these days is a sin, as they are dedicated to saints and events from the Bible that should be revered.
A person who violates the tradition and prescriptions of the New Testament will be punished. Therefore, Christians try to refrain from work on the main (twelfth) church holidays.
On which church holidays can't work?
Especially great sin is the work on the big holidays of the church, among which:
- January 7: Christmas - the birth of the Son of God into the world;
- January 19: Theophany (better known as the Epiphany);
- February 15: Meeting of the Lord - the meeting of Jesus Christ in the Jerusalem Temple with Simeon the God-Receiver;
- April 7: Annunciation - on this day the Archangel Gabriel informed the Blessed Virgin Mary about the imminent Birth of the future Savior of the World, the Son of God Jesus Christ;
-
Last Sunday before Easter: Palm Sunday or Palm Sunday - Jesus Christ enters Jerusalem on a donkey, where he is greeted by the locals;
- Passing date (depends on the lunisolar calendar) - Easter: the most significant holiday of Christians, the day of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ;
- Thursday 40th day after Easter: Ascension of the Lord - the ascension of Jesus into heaven in the flesh;
- Fiftieth day after Easter: Holy Trinity (Pentecost) - the descent of the Holy Spiriton the apostles and the Virgin Mary;
- August 19: Transfiguration of the Lord - the manifestation of the Divine Majesty of Jesus in front of his three closest disciples during prayer;
- August 28: Assumption of the Virgin - the day of the burial of the Virgin Mary and the day of remembrance of this event;
- September 21: Nativity of the Virgin Mary - the appearance in the family of Anna and Joachim of the future Mother of God;
- September 27: Ex altation of the Cross of the Lord - a feast in memory of the finding of the Cross of the Lord;
-
December 4: Entrance to the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos - the day on which Anna and Joachim brought Mary to the Jerusalem Temple to consecrate her to God.
What not to do on holidays?
To avoid unpleasant situations, still try to avoid working on big holidays, even if you are not a very religious person and attend church infrequently.
What are the signs and beliefs?
- During Christmas you should not go hunting, fishing, hiking - in general, actively spend the day, as there is a high probability of an accident. This is a family holiday, and you need to spend it with your family and friends.
- On Christmas, you also can’t do things related to productive labor: sewing, knitting, weaving, spinning. The thread is considered a symbol of fate and life, and tying it or doing any other action is a bad omen.
-
Christmas is a holiday of family, peace and joy, so you can’t do household chores,which can be postponed: cleaning, washing. It is impossible to clean up until January 14 - on this day all garbage is collected and burned on the street so that evil spirits do not disturb the house during the year.
- Another sign associated with Christmas: if you invited guests and the first to step on the threshold was a representative of the weaker sex, then the women in the family will be sick all year.
- Don't leave home on the Feast of the Candlemas, as the trip may not end as you expected, or you may not return home soon.
- On the Annunciation and Palm Sunday, you can not do housework until the evening. It is also not recommended to work on the ground, from which, according to legend, snakes crawl out on this day. There is even a saying: “A bird does not nest, a girl does not braid a braid.”
- It is also recommended to refrain from work on Easter and in general the entire previous Easter week. But if there are urgent matters, then the church perceives this circumstance loyally.
- Church holiday Ascension. Is it possible to work? Ascension is considered one of the biggest holidays in the church. On this day, as well as on any other holidays, work is strictly prohibited. There is even a saying: “They don’t work in the field on Ascension, but after Ascension they plow.”
- Can I work on Trinity? This is the day when the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles and promised them to return after his ascension to heaven. And so it happened. The event has become a holiday for Christians around the world and is celebrated with special honor. Therefore, various works (on the ground, around the house) are not recommended. And on the question of whether it is possible to work on the Trinity, the priest will tell you that it is not advisable to do this.
Better to make sure you're doing the right thing, especially if you're a deeply religious person. Therefore, do not be afraid to once again ask the minister of the church whether it is possible to work on church holidays. The priest will tell you which works are allowed on a particular holiday, and which ones are strictly prohibited. Numerous signs and beliefs explain why it is impossible to work on church holidays: those who violate this ban will be punished in the form of poverty, he alth problems and all sorts of failures.
What do church leaders say?
Church ministers say that if on holidays or Sundays a person does not pray, does not attend church or temple, does not read the Bible, but simply does nothing, then this is very bad. Free from work days are given just to devote them to serving the Lord, knowing oneself, attending services and peace.
Is it a sin to work on church holidays? From the priest you will hear that if you have to go to work or take a shift according to your schedule, or there is no way to postpone household chores, then this will not be a sin. After all, one can devote thoughts to God not only at home or in church, but anywhere at any time. Everything depends on the situation. The same applies to the question of whether it is possible to work in the garden on church holidays or not. If there is an urgent need, it is better to fulfill the plan andask God for forgiveness in prayer.
What signs are associated with church holidays?
The people over the years have accumulated a lot of knowledge that they passed on from generation to generation. This is also due to various signs, especially those related to holidays. Therefore, in addition to the actual question of whether it is possible to work on church holidays, religious people should also be aware of the observations associated with them.
So, it is believed that if it snows at Christmas, then the year will be successful and profitable. If the weather is sunny, then the spring will be cold. It was a pleasant tradition to bake a coin in a pie. Whoever gets it will have success and happiness in the new year.
On the feast of the Candlemas, people believed in the magical power of water and in the fulfillment of desires. It was also a harbinger of spring: the weather that day was an indicator of what the coming spring would be like.
The Annunciation is also rich in various beliefs and signs. On this day, you can not borrow money and take something out of the house, so as not to give away well-being and luck. A very interesting observation related to hair: it was not recommended to comb, dye or cut your hair, as you can confuse your fate.
Easter signs
There were especially many signs at Easter. Among them are:
- if a baby is born on Easter Sunday, be lucky and famous;
- if a child is born on Easter week, he will have good he alth;
- if cracked EasterEaster cakes, then there will be no happiness in the family for a whole year;
- if you hear a cuckoo on Easter, it means that replenishment in the family is expected. If an unmarried girl hears a bird, she will soon play a wedding;
- a tradition that has survived to this day - the whole family should start the Easter meal with a piece of Easter cake and an egg consecrated in the church during the festive service.
To work or not to work?
The traditions of the people, passed down from generation to generation, change or are forgotten over time.
Whether it is possible to work on church holidays - it's up to you. Religious people even now sacredly honor such days and try to adhere to all the prescriptions of the church.
