home Treatment and prevention What can you do in the Easter season? You can't work at the expense of the holiday

What can you do in the Easter season? You can't work at the expense of the holiday

Easter is a Christian holiday celebrated in 2016 on May 1. Easter is probably the most “rich” day in traditions, customs and rituals, and Holy Week before Easter is special. There are so many customs and rules about what needs to be done on Easter and what not, what believers do before Easter and what they should do after it, that only a very competent historian and church minister can describe exactly what they do on Easter and after it. or a person who has devoted his entire life to studying the rituals and traditions of the Slavic people.

What to do before Easter and Easter morning

A few days before Easter. IN Maundy Thursday, one year old baby cutting the first hair. Girls can also cut their hair to make it grow better. Traditionally, it is on Maundy Thursday that the house is prepared for Easter - they clean everything around, wash, polish the dishes, go to the bathhouse. Coming from the bathhouse, children and adults can start painting Easter eggs, which they will later take to the church for blessing. The last three days before Easter are dedicated to preparing for the Great Day, but on Good Friday it is best to avoid any business and holiday preparations. This day should be spent in mourning, remembering the torment of Jesus crucified on the cross. Holy Saturday prepares believers for the brightest day. Believers put together pre-prepared Easter cakes, Easter cakes and colored eggs and go to churches to bless this food.

What Christians Do on Easter

Sunday Easter breakfast begins with eating food consecrated in the church. On Easter morning, you need to congratulate your household with the good news, telling them the words: “Christ is risen!”, to which they will answer you: “Truly he is risen!” After these words, it is customary to beat eggs and have breakfast, tasting delicious Easter cake and cottage cheese. On Easter, joy and a happy mood reign in the house, so you can’t do cleaning, work, and even more so, arrange a wake on Easter. If the ninth or fortieth day after the death of a person close to you falls on Easter, the funeral service is postponed to another day. In this case, it is better for the relatives of the deceased to visit the cemetery and loved one. Traditionally, Easter is a day of joy, and on this holiday you are not supposed to go to the cemetery. However, the church treats people who come to the graves of loved ones on Easter Day with great understanding.

However, there is a special holiday for visits to the cemetery - Radonitsa.

Traditions and customs for Easter

Despite the fact that Easter is a Christian holiday, many of the customs of this day and, especially, the signs of Easter are clearly pagan in nature.

For example, to attract wealth and good luck, Easter morning should be celebrated very early, with the first sun rays, or even dark;
The shells from colored eggs are not thrown away after Easter, but given to animals and birds. In general, feeding birds and animals at Easter ensures your year is free from material problems;
It is believed that dye shells added to washing water give the skin freshness and beauty;
According to legend, shells left over from Easter eggs buried in the garden provide a bountiful harvest;
Good deeds done on Easter come back to us threefold;
On Easter you only need to wear new clothes, and all your troubles and problems will be left behind;
By washing your face on Easter morning with water in which silver was placed in advance, you will be protected from the evil eye and “bad” energy;
A baby born on Easter will grow up to be a great man;
An object that breaks on Easter day is a harbinger of trouble;
Snow, frost or thunderstorm on Easter day promises an excellent harvest;
Easter “in the clouds” brings a gloomy summer, and the rain that began on this day brings spring with rains.

Of course, the church considers most of these signs to be superstitions related to paganism, but many Easter traditions are closely related specifically to the paganism of the Slavs (colored eggs are a symbol of the sun and life, Easter cake is a symbol of male fertility, Easter cottage cheese, signifying prosperity and fertility).

What do Orthodox Christians do after Easter?

Radonitsa is Parents' Day, which occurs on the ninth day after Easter. This day is included in St. Thomas' week - the first week after Easter, completely dedicated to the commemoration of the dead. It is on these days, and not on Easter week, that you need to visit the graves of the deceased, clean them, plant plants and flowers in the cemetery. Each day of the week after Easter (Fomina) has its own meaning. The main one of these days is Radonitsa - parent's day. Monday – “Seeing off”. Deceased souls come to houses where they need to prepare a treat in advance. The souls of murdered people and suicides may come to the house on Thursday. In order not to offend the “guest”, the windows of the houses are opened these days and treats are left on the table. It has long been customary to banish death on the Sabbath. One of the Saturday rituals of St. Thomas Week is this. That people armed with pitchforks and knives run around the cemetery, driving away evil spirits. Sunday - Krasnaya Gorka - a day of festivities and holidays: death and evil spirits were driven away, the souls of the dead were refreshed and calmed down, and life goes on!

Knowing in advance what they do on Easter, before and after the holiday, you can always meet this Great Day prepared and spend holidays in a great mood.

The long-awaited and beloved holiday of Easter is approaching, which in 2018 falls on April 8th.

Light Christ's Resurrection- this is the greatest day for any Christian, one step above even Christmas. This is a time of joy and love, and also a tribute to Jesus himself, who gave his life for us.

There are many opinions about how to properly celebrate Easter. Some people throw big feasts and do not deny themselves anything on this day, while others go to church first.

Folk superstitions, preserved from pagan times, are closely intertwined with true traditions Orthodox Church, so it can be very difficult to determine what is right and what is wrong. So how to celebrate this holiday correctly, what can you do on Easter and what can’t?

On the Bright Resurrection of Christ, the most important thing to remember is that this is a time to rejoice, remembering the Resurrection of Christ. All other restrictions and prohibitions follow from this.

The celebration lasts the whole week (Bright Week), so the prohibitions apply for the entire period of the celebration.

PROHIBITIONS FOR EASTER

You can’t quarrel with someone or be offended by someone. If you still have old grievances, try to let them go and forgive.

On this day you cannot be greedy and stingy. Since ancient times, on Easter it has been customary to share food with the poor and needy. And this applies not only to money or food - give your smile to everyone around you, give forgiveness to everyone who asks you for it. In short, try to give everything you can.

You can’t swear, be sad or give in to despondency. During all seven days you need to be as kind as possible so as not to overshadow others. Holy holiday.

You can't get drunk and indulge in excesses. Everything should be in moderation - food, alcohol. The priests say that it is better to drink only wine during this period of alcohol, leaving vodka for other periods.

You can't work at the expense of the holiday. However, if you work time according to the schedule, then there is nothing to worry about. But if there is no great need, it is better to devote this time to communicating with friends and family. The church does not prohibit working on this day, but clergy recommend postponing household chores until another day.

No cleaning allowed. But there are also nuances: you should not clean in the full sense of the word, devoting half a day to washing the floors and wiping off dust. Of course, this does not apply to small everyday issues. Although, if this does not prevent you from being in a festive mood, everything is fine. In any case, this is rather not a prohibition, but rather moral advice.

You can't go to the cemetery. The church prohibits holding funeral services and mourning the dead this week. Since grief contradicts the spirit of the holiday - joy on the occasion of the Resurrection of Christ from the dead.

You can't have an intimate life either. Sexual activity is prohibited for the entire week. Refuse intimate life two spouses owe. This happens by mutual consent.

It is also worth mentioning that it is forbidden to sanctify in church. You can only sacred those foods that were excluded from the diet in Lent. But alcohol is a complete taboo. Once upon a time it was customary to bless only rich bread (Kulich), eggs, meat, cheese and milk, but now they put everything in the basket.

What should not be put in the Easter basket: alcohol, because there is no place for drunk people in church; money and other material assets; blood sausage, it is not generally recognized by Orthodox ministers as fit for consumption. Salt and pepper should not be blessed, since these products were not prohibited during Lent.

Putting these products in the Easter basket is more of a folk tradition than a church tradition. You should also not bring fruits and vegetables to church.

Don't throw away leftover Easter food. As a rule, after festive feast There are leftovers of food - Easter cakes, Easter eggs, eggs. Don't throw away everything you haven't eaten!

Don't even throw eggshells in the trash! It is customary to give all leftover food to birds or animals.

We sincerely wish you that this bright holiday brings happiness and joy to your home!

Anastasia Davidenko.

The most frequently asked questions about the dos and don'ts of Easter: How to fast before Easter? When can you break your fast on Easter? How to spend Easter correctly? Are there things you shouldn't do? What can you eat on Easter and can you drink alcohol on Easter? Is it possible to work on Easter? Is it possible to study homework for Easter? Cleaning, knitting, sewing? How should we greet each other Easter? What to give for Easter?

So, first things first. Let's start with the first question.

How to fast before Easter?

IN Good Friday- the strictest post. According to the Charter, you are not supposed to eat anything at all on this day. If you can bear it for health reasons, try it. On all other days Holy Week Fasting is also strict, we eat only plant foods, and without oil.

When can you break your fast on Easter?

Breaking the fast (the first fast meal after the end of Lent) on Easter is usually celebrated after the Liturgy and Communion. If you attended the Liturgy at night, then after the night service you can begin the festive meal. If you came to the Liturgy in the morning, then you can break your fast in the same way - after communion. The main thing is that everything needs to be approached with a sense of proportion. Don't overeat.

How to spend Easter correctly? Are there things you shouldn't do?

On this day you cannot be sad, walk gloomily and quarrel with your neighbors. But just remember that Easter is not 24 hours, but at least a whole week - Bright Week. Liturgically, the Resurrection of Christ is celebrated for seven days. Let this week be an example of how we should always behave in society, among people. How should you spend Easter? Rejoice, treat others, invite them to visit you, visit the suffering. In a word, everything that brings joy to your neighbor, and therefore to you.

What can you eat on Easter and can you drink alcohol on Easter?

On Easter you can eat and drink everything, the main thing is to do it in moderation. If you know how to stop in time, you can help yourself to all the dishes, drink wine or some strong drinks - without getting too drunk, of course. But if you find it difficult to limit yourself, it is better not to touch alcohol. Rejoice in spiritual joy.

Is it possible to work on Easter?

Most often, the question of whether to work or not does not depend on us. If Easter Sunday is your day off, that's of course very good. You can visit the temple, meet your loved ones, and congratulate everyone.

But it often happens that we find ourselves as forced people and, according to our work schedule, are forced to work on Easter. There's nothing wrong with putting in the effort. Maybe you can be sad about this, but no more than five minutes! Obedience is obedience. Do your work on this day conscientiously. If you fulfill your duties in simplicity and truth, the Lord will definitely touch your heart.

Is it possible to do homework on Easter? Cleaning, knitting, sewing?

When we read somewhere that there is a ban on homework on a holiday, we should understand that it is not just a ban, but a blessing for us to spend this time paying attention to the Lord, the holiday and our neighbors. So that we don’t get hung up on the vanity of the world. The ban on work on Easter is not canonical, it is rather a pious tradition.

Household chores are an integral part of our lives. You can do them on holiday, but only if you approach it wisely. To avoid spending Easter studying spring cleaning until the night. Sometimes it is better, for example, to leave unwashed dishes in the sink than to be annoyed by household members who did not wash their dishes.

How should we greet each other Easter?

Easter greeting is angelic. When the Myrrh-Bearing Women came to the Holy Sepulcher to anoint the body of the crucified Christ with incense, they saw an Angel there. He told them: “Why are you looking for the living among the dead?”, that is, he told them that the Savior had risen.

We greet our brothers and sisters in faith on Easter with the words “Christ is Risen!” and answer the greeting: “Truly he is risen!” Thus, we tell the whole world that for us the Resurrection of Christ is the basis of life.

What to give for Easter?

On Easter you can give your neighbors any pleasant and necessary gifts. And it will be good if any gift comes with an Easter egg, decorated or red. The egg as a symbol is evidence of new life - the Resurrection of Christ.

The red color of the Easter egg is a memory of the legend according to which Mary Magdalene gave an egg to Emperor Tiberius for Easter. The Emperor told her that he did not believe that a person could be resurrected, that it was as incredible as if this egg suddenly turned from white to red. And, according to legend, a miracle happened - in front of everyone, the egg turned red, like the blood of Christ. Now the painted egg is a symbol of Easter, the Resurrection of the Savior.

Fomin Igor, priest

Today Christians celebrate their main holiday- Easter, Resurrection of Christ. Solemn Easter services were held in churches around the world on the night from Saturday to Sunday.

The word “Easter” comes from the Hebrew language and means “passing”, “deliverance”, that is, the holiday of the Resurrection of Christ means the passage from death to life and from earth to heaven. The day of Easter celebration is established as the first Ecumenical Council in 325.

Orthodox local churches determine the date of Easter celebration according to the so-called Alexandrian Easter. It must fall on the first Sunday after the first full moon, starting March 30th.

The Gospel says that on the third day after the burial of Christ, early on Sunday morning, several myrrh-bearing women (Mary, Salome, Joanna) went to the tomb to bring incense intended for the body of Jesus. As they approached, they saw that the large stone blocking the entrance to the coffin had been rolled away, the coffin was empty, and an Angel was sitting on the stone. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. Fearing the Angel, the women were in awe. The angel said: “Do not be afraid, for I know what you are looking for: Jesus crucified. He's not here. He has risen as he said."

With fear and joy, the women hastened to tell the apostles about what they had seen. “And behold, Jesus met them and said: Rejoice! And they approached, grabbed his feet and bowed to him. Then Jesus says to them: Do not be afraid; Go and tell my brothers that they go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” And his disciples saw him risen.

Easter is celebrated for seven days, that is, the whole week, and therefore this week is called Bright Easter Week. Each day of the week is also called light; Bright Monday, Bright Tuesday, etc. The entire period before the Ascension - 40 days after Easter - is considered the Easter period, and Orthodox Christians greet each other with the greeting “Christ is Risen!” and the answer “He is truly risen!”

The custom of giving each other colored eggs for Easter dates back to the 1st century AD. Church tradition says that in those days it was customary to bring him a gift when visiting the emperor. And when the poor disciple of Christ, Saint Mary Magdalene, came to Rome to Emperor Tiberius preaching the faith, she gave Tiberius a simple chicken egg. Tiberius did not believe Mary’s story about the Resurrection of Christ and exclaimed: “How can someone rise from the dead? This is as impossible as if this egg suddenly turned red.” Immediately, before the eyes of the emperor, a miracle happened - the egg turned red, testifying to the truth of the Christian faith.

When can you break your fast on Easter?

If for some reason you cannot celebrate Easter in church, you can begin to break your fast around the time when the festive Liturgy ends in churches. What is good about the Church in this regard? We fast together and break our fast together. That is, we do everything together. This is what is sorely missing modern world, - generality.

How to spend Easter correctly? Are there things you shouldn't do?

Let this week be an example of how we should always behave in society, among people.

How should you spend Easter? Rejoice, treat others, invite them to visit you, visit the suffering. In a word, everything that brings joy to your neighbor, and therefore to you.
What can you eat on Easter and can you drink alcohol on Easter?

On Easter you can eat and drink everything, the main thing is to do it in moderation. If you know how to stop in time, you can help yourself to all the dishes, drink wine or some strong drinks - without getting too drunk, of course. But if it is difficult for you to limit yourself, it is better not to touch alcohol. Rejoice in spiritual joy.
Is it possible to work on Easter?

Is it possible to do homework on Easter? Cleaning, knitting, sewing.

Household chores are an integral part of our lives. You can do them on holiday, but only if you approach it wisely. So as not to spend Easter doing spring cleaning until the early hours of the night. Sometimes it is better, for example, to leave unwashed dishes in the sink than to be annoyed by household members who did not wash their dishes.
What does it mean if a person dies on Easter? This is a sign of special favor
God's or punishment?

If on Easter or Bright Week a believer dies, for us this is truly a sign of God’s mercy towards this person. Popular tradition even says that those who die on Easter enter the Kingdom of Heaven without ordeals, that is, bypassing Last Judgment. But this is “folk theology”; dogmatically, every person will be judged and will give an answer for their sins before the face of God.

If a non-believer dies these days, then, I think, this means absolutely nothing. After all, even during his life, the Resurrection of Christ was not for him a sign of deliverance from death...
Is it possible to go to the cemetery on Easter?

There has never been such a tradition in the Church. She was born among people in times Soviet Union, when a person was deprived of spiritual communication and removed from the Church. Where else was there to meet the afterlife, about which the Church speaks and with the belief in whose existence the authorities fought so hard? Only at the cemetery. No one could forbid going to relatives’ graves.

Since then, it has become a custom to go to the cemetery on Easter. But now that churches are open and we can go to Easter services, it is better to go to the cemetery to visit loved ones on other days. For example, on Radonitsa - on the day when, according to tradition, the Church commemorates the dead. Arrive there early, put the graves in order, sit quietly next to them and pray.
How should we greet each other on Easter?

On Easter, you can give your neighbors any pleasant and necessary gifts. And it will be good if any gift comes with an Easter egg, decorated or red. The egg as a symbol is evidence of new life - the Resurrection of Christ.

What to do with shells from blessed eggs and stale Easter cake?

Pious tradition tells us not to throw away with the trash what is consecrated in the temple. All this can be burned, for example, on personal plot, and bury the ashes where people and animals will not trample on them. Or put it in the river. Or, having agreed in advance with the minister in the temple, bring the shells there: in every temple there is a so-called “untrampled place”.

krotoffa What you should absolutely not do on Easter day. In case it suits someone...

Original taken from karina_great What you should absolutely not do on Easter Day

Our ancestors firmly believed that the events that take place on Easter are full of special divine meaning.

Among the people there were many signs and beliefs for Easter, the veracity of which was not even questioned.

1. You cannot do housework on Easter - cleaning, sewing, knitting. Give your full attention to God and your family.

2. On Easter Day and during Easter week you should not be sad or cry.

3. It is forbidden to have sex - throughout the week you need to forget about worldly affairs and think about spiritual things.

4. You cannot go to the cemetery on Easter; this is what Memorial Week is for.

EASTER SIGNS

The celebration of Easter in our country is associated with many folk traditions and will accept.

✔ To ensure harmony in your home and success in business, get a talisman or talisman.

✔ A husband and wife must hit colored eggs against each other at breakfast on Easter Sunday; the one whose egg does not break will be the “head” of the family all year.

✔ Which neighbor will be the first to return with Easter service, he will be the luckiest.

✔ If you want to be beautiful, on Easter morning, after breaking the fast, pour water into a basin, dip the blessed dye into it, roll it around the bowl, and then wash your face with this water and roll the dye over your face - this will bring beauty and get rid of skin diseases.

✔ And if you want wealth for yourself, dip gold and silver jewelry and coins into the water with the egg.

✔ They roll an egg over children's faces - it is believed that this will protect them from the evil eye.

✔ If unmarried girl really wants to get married, during the festive matins she needs to quietly whisper: “The Resurrection of Christ! Send me a single groom!”

✔ It has long been customary to leave the house with an egg on Easter and, meeting friends, fight with paints. Whose remains intact after the blow will be healthy and happy all year.

✔ You can’t do any homework on Easter, otherwise happiness will go away with troubles. The exception is teaching children and caring for animals.

✔ And the main belief: on Easter God hears all our prayers and helps us fulfill our desires! Let us wish ourselves and our loved ones peace, health and love!

✔ There was a belief that water collected from a spring on Easter night or during Matins has special power, comparable to the power of holy water. I just had to bring it home without saying a word on the way. To achieve happiness and prosperity, they sprinkled houses and barns with this “silent” water.

✔ Husband and wife should not celebrate Christ on Easter, so as not to be separated, so says folk sign for Easter.

✔ There are also signs for Easter for girls related to Easter. Lips itch Easter week- a kiss is inevitable; I hurt my elbow - my dear remembered; a fly fell into the cabbage soup - there will be a date; eyebrows itch - to meet your loved one.

✔ There is a sign for Easter to get pregnant. Go to church early in the morning and dedicate eggs and Easter cakes. And then ask God to fulfill your desire.

✔ If you are constantly experiencing difficulties with money, be sure to give a coin to a beggar on Easter - you will not know the need for the whole year.

✔ And in order for there to be peace, harmony in the family and no one quarreling among themselves, the Easter meal must begin with the whole family and everyone must first of all eat a piece of Easter cake and eggs that were consecrated in the church.

✔ First Easter Egg It is customary to divide into several parts according to the number of family members. Such joint eating of one egg, according to legend, strengthens the family, maintains friendly relations and love for each other.

✔ In many places it was believed that if on Easter night or during matins you go to a spring, draw water there and silently bring it home, without uttering a single word along the way, then the water would acquire special power, almost equal to the power of holy water. Such “silent” water was sprinkled on houses and barns for happiness and well-being, washed with it for health, etc.

HAPPY HOLIDAY TO YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES!