In 2018, the very important Orthodox holiday of Trinity was celebrated on May 27. Yesterday, corresponding services were held in all Orthodox churches, but in the meantime it would be appropriate to once again recall the history of this holiday.
The most important Orthodox holiday, Trinity Sunday, is celebrated on the fiftieth day after Easter Sunday. This entails its shift from day to year. The second name of the holiday is the following definition - Pentecost. The holiday is old, so we can safely talk about its rich history.
Trinity 2018: history of the holiday
Plunging into ancient history, you can pay attention to such an important aspect as the fact that on this day the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles. Jesus Christ promised his disciples that after his death he would send them the Holy Spirit, with the help of which they would learn to bring the good news to the world. It was on the fiftieth day after the resurrection of the Savior that the flames of the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles. After this, the apostles were able to speak different languages, and went to preach throughout the world and spread the word of God.
They carefully prepare for the Feast of the Holy Trinity. Many traditions have survived to this day. In particular, housewives try to clean the house, decorating the rooms with fresh herbs and flowers.
On this day the whole family gathers at the table. Regarding festive table, then it should be simple. So, meat, salads, potatoes, and regular soup would be appropriate. On Trinity, it is customary to go to visit people, as well as organize mass celebrations on the street. At one time, young people danced in circles and entertained themselves with ditties and songs.
A notable feature of Trinity is the fact that this day is associated with matchmaking. The fact is that previously a guy had the right to approach any girl he liked and offer her to become his wife. If the girl agreed, then matchmakers were sent immediately.
On Trinity Sunday the girls asked the Almighty to send them a good husband. But the mothers of the girls dried a piece of the festive pie, which they then brought to the wedding to the newlyweds. This was considered a moment that would bring good luck and happiness married couple for many years.
Trinity: signs, traditions and customs
On the Day of the Holy Trinity, it is customary to decorate your houses with grass, flowers, and green branches of trees: maple, willow, linden. Aspen and sometimes willow were considered a forbidden tree among our ancestors. Branches were attached to windows, on gates, and the floor was usually covered with herbs: lovage, mint, calamus, or as it is popularly called - Tatar potion.
It was believed that these days plants have a special protective power, so they protected families from all troubles and helped the sick recover.
Trinity: what not to do
It is believed that a wedding should not be scheduled for Trinity - supposedly nothing good awaits such a family. Sewing, baking and working in the garden, like other large Christian holidays, you can’t go to Trinity.
Trinity coincides with the end of hard work and preparation for the harvest. Those people who do not rest on this day, according to legend, are in for misfortune: those who plow, their livestock will die, and those who sow, hail will destroy their crops. Those who spin wool will have their sheep go astray.
Spirits Day is the day after Trinity, when it is forbidden to work on the earth, but you can look for treasure in it. Allegedly, the earth on this day will definitely give to a good person something valuable.
People believed that mythical creatures - Mavkas and mermaids - come to Trinity, so it is undesirable to go alone into the forest or field, reports the Rosregister portal. Also, you cannot take livestock into the forest. And you can’t swim on Trinity Sunday, otherwise, according to ancient beliefs, mermaids will be pulled to the bottom.
What you need to do on Trinity
- collect herbs: it is believed that it is on Trinity that all the healing power is collected in them;
- decorate the house with branches of maple, birch, oak and rowan. But under no circumstances should you take willow. Of flowers, you should give preference to daisies and cornflowers, and of herbs - calamus (cleanses the house of negativity), lovage, mint, fern and wormwood (protect from evil and give strength, health and energy to overcome life's obstacles). You cannot throw these branches in the trash, otherwise everything good will leave the house. After a week they should simply be burned at the stake;
- go to church service. Our ancestors, when they came to church, always took with them the grass that was used for decoration, it became known w. Such grass was considered to protect the family from many troubles;
- remember those who died by other means: suicides and those who went missing. To do this, they go to the cemetery and give out alms;
- Place only festive dishes on the table. If the housewife baked bread or a pie, she hid a piece of it and tried to save it until the time when her daughter got married. Our ancestors believed: in this way, daughters can be guaranteed a successful marriage, and the husband will not drink;
- fortune telling. Unmarried girls floated the wreaths they had woven with their own hands. If the wreaths converged, then it was worth waiting for the matchmakers. In addition, dreams on a holiday night were considered prophetic.
What herbs should be blessed in the church on Trinity?
With the advent of Christianity on Trinity Sunday, people came to church for a prayer service with a bouquet of wildflowers and herbs. They believed that holy water enhanced their healing and protective properties. Therefore, the blessed herbs were not thrown away, but were preserved. Mostly on Trinity, wormwood, lovage, calamus, tansy, thyme, mint and lemon balm were collected.
Wormwood (Chernobyl)
It was recommended to fumigate a home with the smoke of dry wormwood before a housewarming party, and then attach a bunch of grass above the front door at the threshold in order to “prevent the passage” of dark forces into the house. “Bitter grass” was credited with the ability to protect against mermaids, who were very active during Trinity Week.
They believed that a traveler who hid a wormwood leaf in his shoe could walk many miles without getting tired, and if you look at the flame of a bonfire lit in honor summer solstice, through a bunch of wormwood, this will ensure good vision throughout the year.
IN folk medicine The root of wormwood was used as a sedative, and the leaves were used as an analgesic and regulating the activity of the gastrointestinal tract and the menstrual cycle.
Calamus marsh
Stems of calamus were scattered across the floor in all rooms. It was believed that it attracted good spirits to the house, cleansed the home and strengthened the health of the inhabitants. They believed that calamus brings good luck, wealth, peace of mind and reliably protects from adversity only those who have no evil in their souls, otherwise the plant does not show its magical power.
Calamus tinctures were made for rinsing the mouth, and it was recommended to keep a piece of the dried root in the mouth near the inflamed gum as a disinfectant. They also washed their heads with a decoction of marigold flowers, calamus root and burdock to prevent hair loss.
Lovage
Lovage (“love root”, “lucky grass”) protected from any witchcraft, evil eye, damage or evil spirits. Lovage root was added to bathing water. It was believed that water with it could cleanse not only the body, but also the soul, and could also attract love. Girls washed their hair with lovage decoction, and mothers put lovage in their daughters’ beds: so that the girl “choose her own happiness, not someone else’s, and so that it stays with her forever.”
In folk medicine, decoctions, infusions and teas from lovage were used as a diuretic, cardiac, expectorant, cleanser and analgesic. And its fresh leaves, slightly crushed, were applied to the forehead to relieve headaches of any origin.
Tansy
Tansy was also considered a talisman herb. They believed that if you carry its leaves with you, then every “love spell will be turned away.” Nowadays, tansy leaves and flowers are often used as a remedy against moths.
In folk medicine, tansy is used for fever, as an anthelmintic, for gastrointestinal diseases, gout, rheumatism, liver and gall bladder diseases. And medical preparations from tansy enhance the secretion of bile, tone the muscles of the digestive organs, increase blood pressure blood, normalize heart rhythms, and also have wound-healing and anti-inflammatory effects.
Thyme (creeping thyme)
The Slavs respectfully called thyme “women's herb” (“Virgin Herb”) and believed that a bunch of thyme in the house could help a woman attract her betrothed, give birth and raise a child, and maintain peace in the family. The grass could be sewn into a pillow (it was believed that it could get rid of nightmares) or carried with you as a talisman, in the form of an amulet, or sewn into clothes. To get you away from home unpleasant person, they poured powder from dried grass into his shoes. In villages, cattle were fumigated with the smoke of dry thyme grass, protecting them from damage or the evil eye.
They believed that a sprig of thyme would give the man who carried it with him courage, courage, perseverance, bravery and bring success in all endeavors. In Ancient Rome, soldiers bathed in water infused with thyme to gain strength, courage and energy (“thymus " - means “strong”, “courageous”).
The aroma of thyme and tea made from it soothe and banish insomnia. Thyme in folk medicine was used as an expectorant, diaphoretic, sedative and analgesic. Thyme lotions disinfected wounds and relieved pain. Aromatic thyme baths were considered healing for diseases caused by impaired metabolism. It was added to medicinal infusions that were used to cure alcoholism, kidney disease, stomach pain, intestinal pain and joint pain.
Peppermint and lemon balm (lemon balm)
Sweet mint was credited with the properties of scaring away evil spirits, cleansing the house and protecting it from enemies. Even in ancient times, it was noticed that the aroma of the plant can restore mental balance and dispel the blues. This may be because the aroma of mint and teas from its leaves stimulate mental activity. Therefore, in ancient Rome, ancient philosophers were recommended to wear mint wreaths to their classes, and before receiving guests, tables were rubbed with the leaves of the plant, believing that its aroma promoted lively table conversation and lifted the mood.
Our ancestors used the aroma of fresh crushed mint leaves as a remedy against drowsiness, and dried mint leaves were sewn into a pillow to normalize sleep.
Teas made from mint and lemon balm have a calming effect on nervous and heart diseases, regulate the function of the gastrointestinal tract, can restore tone to the body when there is a loss of strength, relieve toothache and refresh the oral cavity. Compresses made from warm lemon balm leaves can treat skin inflammation, and if you chew mint leaves with honey, they will eliminate the smell of alcohol.
Orthodox holidays have a special mystical influence on all people.
No wonder these unusual days It is customary to tell fortunes, perform all sorts of light rituals for happiness, and make wishes. Orthodox calendar contains a huge amount of the most different holidays, they are unique in their history and meaning, and all have different energy and symbolism.
The Holy Trinity is considered a special holiday - many Orthodox people look forward to this sunny day. And there are different customs associated with this day.
Trinity, also known as Pentecost, has always been a cheerful and bright holiday. Our ancestors rejoiced at this bright day, as it marked the end of hard work and preparation for harvesting a generous harvest - this meant that the peasants could rest for several days without hard work.
And signs for Trinity were always carefully kept and passed on to children. These customs were considered sacredly important and could not be ignored.
What can and should be done on Trinity Sunday, and what cannot be done? And what other customs are there that will help make fate happier and ward off failures from the path of life?
Traditions and customs
If something can or cannot be done on this holiday, there are reasons related to Christian traditions. Also, some Trinity signs and rituals have pagan roots.
Of course, the church has always been actively against paganism, but when our ancestors accepted Christianity, they largely retained the old pagan actions and beliefs that were familiar to them. They wove themselves into a religion that was then new to them, changed the external form, but the essence remained.
What should you do on Trinity Sunday, what actions should you not perform, what signs and rituals will help you become happier, richer, attract bright love and increase your health? Our great-grandmothers and great-grandfathers knew this very well, and it will not hurt us to gain this knowledge.
In addition, birch has always been considered a protector from any evil, so it was birch branches that were inserted into window frames or simply hung near windows and doors - so that evil forces would not penetrate. Today, such rituals help to increase wealth, live comfortably with the blessing of higher powers, and protect the house from evil.
You can simply collect fragrant herbs in a field or garden, pick birch branches and decorate your home with them. It is especially good if birch branches are consecrated in a temple - then they will be powerful amulets for the home for the whole year.
2. Yourself best omen On the Trinity holiday, rain has always been considered - it often falls on Pentecost, and is always considered the cleansing of nature, the blessing of people. If it rains on this day, you should rejoice, the year will be very happy and bright for all people.
3. Many people know that you cannot work on this Christian holiday - any work is condemned, except for cooking. You need to take a break from physical labor; you cannot do cleaning or gardening.
In addition, this is the period of “mermaids” - a pagan custom says that on these days mermaids emerge from the waters, and swimming in the water is dangerous. So, some beliefs claim that you can’t swim or take a bath on Trinity Sunday.
4. What you need to do the day before Trinity is remember your loved ones who have passed away. This is the so-called parent’s day, and many people still keep the tradition of remembering relatives.
6. A very beautiful Trinity rite - weaving wreaths. Only unmarried girls can do this - and not only is it possible, but it is also recommended in order to attract bright and strong love into your destiny.
The girls themselves collected herbs and wildflowers, and then wove wreaths. The wreath floated down the river - it was believed that long-awaited love would come into destiny.
The girl who has a chosen one must secretly, away from prying eyes, give her wreath to her beloved. It is believed that this ritual of giving will sanctify the union, and the couple will be happy, and their love will never fade.
In addition, such a wreath, woven by the hands of a beloved, becomes a powerful amulet for a guy. He must keep it in his house.
The table is usually covered with a green tablecloth, and among the dishes there must certainly be baked goods. The housewife bakes herself - and the greater the variety of baked goods, the richer and happier the year will be.
You can’t live without eggs on this day – they are considered an obligatory attribute of the holiday table. In general, the Trinity table should be rich and contain everything - vegetables, fruits, eggs, meat and fish dishes, loaves and a lot of baked goods. The more generously the hosts treat their guests, the more favorable nature will be to them all year round.
8. An ancient custom on Trinity Sunday is to break brooms for the bath. Many people, especially village residents, still do this and prepare new brooms for their bathhouse, which will have healing powers!
Do not break young birch trees or break the upper branches. Only lateral ones, so as not to destroy the tree. Branches break in the morning, but only in dry weather.
Tell your fortune...
After all, nature these days is especially receptive and open, mystical forces are very close to us. The main thing is not to do any evil; all fortune telling must have good and sincere intentions.
1. A beautiful and romantic ritual for girls is curling a birch tree. The girls went into the forest and curled the birch tree - decorated its branches with ribbons, beads, and wove wreaths from the branches. Thus, the young ladies called for love.
2. Girls also placed birch branches under their pillow so that their betrothed would come in a dream. It is believed that the guy whose image appears in the dream will be the husband.
This fortune telling has survived to this day. Many curious girls fall asleep on birch branches with trepidation and excitement, wanting to see their love and destiny in a dream.
3. Another fortune telling with birch branches - for fate. This kind of fortune telling can also be done for adult women. Approaching a birch tree without looking at it, you need to pick a twig - and then examine it.
- If the twig is even and smooth, fate this year will be happy, without difficulties.
- A crooked or lumpy branch is a sign that the year will be difficult.
4. The famous fortune telling by chamomile is actually a Trinity rite. But everything is not easy - first the daisies were woven into the wreath, and then, in the evening, before going to bed, the girl takes out a random daisy from the wreath she had been wearing all day and tells fortunes.
Plucking petal after petal, you can ask not only “loves or not,” but also “will it come true or not,” “will I get married or not,” and other questions that torment a girl’s heart. This fortune telling is only for unmarried young ladies.
Trinity is a bright and mystical day that can bring happiness for the whole year if you behave correctly on this holiday. Let your thoughts be pure, do not wish harm to anyone and thank nature and the universe for everything you have - and every year and day will be happy for you! Author: Vasilina Serova
Trinity is very beautiful holiday, and as you know, one of the main Christian holidays. This day is considered a public holiday and millions of people celebrate it with joy. But not everyone thinks about the history and origin of this great holiday - the Holy Trinity. The editors of our site will introduce you to the history, traditions of this holiday and signs on Trinity Day.
- The history of the Trinity holiday
- Traditions, signs, what to do on Trinity
- How to decorate a house for Trinity?
- Signs for Trinity
So, Trinity in 2020 falls on June 7th. It is believed that on this day all Orthodox and Greek Catholics around the world will celebrate the Day of the Holy Trinity. This holiday also has another name, “Pentecost,” which indicates that Trinity is celebrated exactly 50 days after Easter.
On this holiday Orthodox Church recalls the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles. The Trinity symbolizes the image of God - God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
This one is big church holiday brings liberation from everything bad and sinful in the human soul. According to the Gospel, it was on the fiftieth day after Easter that the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles in the form of sacred fire, which endowed them with the grace of the Holy Spirit, and they spoke in different languages of the world and gave strength to establish the Holy Church on earth in order to convey the Words of God to every person . Therefore, Trinity is also considered the birthday of the Christian Church.
Icon of the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles
The history of the Trinity holiday
Orthodox Christians love the Trinity very much, although not everyone knows the reliable history of the holiday.
There are different legends about the origin of this holiday. By one legend, on Trinity, God created the earth and sowed it with greenery. Another legend says that on this day Jesus, together with the apostles Peter and Paul, sat down to rest under a green tree, hence the three-day holiday. More one version of the emergence of the Trinity– Christ rejoiced at how the poor people greeted him in Jerusalem with green branches.
However, there is also the most main legend, which is considered the main one: the trinum of the holiday is associated with God the Father (Sunday), God the Son (Monday) and God the Holy Spirit (Tuesday).
It was through the Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles that the perfect activity of the third person of the Most Holy Trinity was revealed, and the teaching of Jesus Christ about the Triune God reached perfect clarity and completeness. God the Father creates the world, God the Son redeems people from enslavement to the devil, God the Holy Spirit sanctifies the world through the founding of the Church and the worldwide preaching of the faith.
Trinity is the second oldest Christian holiday on which the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles. According to legend, on the site of the Zion Upper Room, in which the apostles stayed on the day of Pentecost, the first Christian temple was built, which survived even during the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 by Roman legionnaires. One fragment from the works of the holy martyr Irenaeus of Lyons contains a mention of the New Testament feast of Pentecost (late 2nd century). In ancient times it was also called the holiday of the descent of the Holy Spirit. On this day the Church was born. From that time on, the Holy Spirit was graciously present in the life of the Church and performed all its sacraments.
On Trinity Day, deceased relatives are commemorated for three days. In particular, this is the only day in the whole year when Orthodox traditions It is possible to light a candle in churches and perform prayers for suicides and the unbaptized.
Icon of the Holy Trinity
Church literature says that in the evening before Trinity, the Holy Spirit descends to Earth. It sanctifies and blesses everything around, it fills a person’s soul with goodness, love, faith, and patience.
Even during His life on earth, the Lord told His disciples many times that He would never leave people and would create His large family, which He would call His Church: “I will create My Church, and the gates of hell will never prevail against It.” We are all members of this Church...
Traditions, signs, what to do on Trinity
For a long time Slavic peoples Trinity was associated with the tradition of welcoming summer and called this day Earth Day. On Trinity Day, it is customary to decorate houses and churches with green birch branches, fragrant calamus potion and flowers. The custom of decorating the temple with branches, flowers and grass dates back to ancient times. The Old Testament Pentecost was the feast of the gathering of first fruits. People brought the first fruits of the harvest and flowers to the Temple courtyard. In New Testament times, the trees and plants in the temple symbolize the renewal of people by the power of the descending Holy Spirit.
For example, each region has its own characteristics of celebrating the Green Christmastide, but plants play a key role everywhere. Thus, Ukrainians lavishly decorate their homes with calamus (this plant is also called myrrh root, Tatar potion or flat cake).
How to decorate your home on this bright holiday?
According to tradition, before celebrating Trinity, it is necessary to carry out a general cleaning of the house. What is important is that you need to get rid of junk and especially those items with which negative memories are associated.
Housewives decorate the rooms with flowers, young grass and green branches, which symbolizes the coming of spring, prosperity and the continuation of life. Most often, branches of birch, oak, rowan, maple, calamus grass, mint, lemon balm, etc. are used for decoration.
On Trinity Day In the morning they attend a festive church service. On this day, you need to dedicate very simple bouquets of marsh grass, wildflowers, etc. in the church. After the church service you need to bring them home and decorate the house with them. This can be dried and preserved for a whole year as a talisman against the evil eye of a random guest.
By the way, on Trinity Sunday there are two festive services in churches: in the morning and in the evening.
Not decorating the house was a great sin. The ancestors believed that on Trinity Sunday the souls of deceased relatives fly to the living and hide in the branches. All attention was paid to the doors, walls of houses and shutters - they were thickly covered with linden branches.
For a holiday lunch they invite close people and relatives, treat them to loaves of bread, egg dishes, pancakes, pies, jelly and give each other funny gifts.
You can also get out into nature and organize a picnic - after all, Trinity 2018, like other years, is celebrated on a day off. The tradition of folk festivals has been preserved to this day. In many cities, cultural events, concerts, and fairs are held on this day.
There are also signs for Pentecost.
If they get wooed on Trinity and get married on the Intercession, it means that these spouses will have a long, happy life, in love and harmony.
If it rains on Trinity Day, there will be a lot of rain throughout the summer.
On Trinity, rain - a lot of mushrooms, for warm weather.
From Trinity to Dormition there are no round dances.
Float my wreath to that shore, whoever catches my wreath will wake up the groom.
Customs and beliefs for the holiday of Trinity
According to tradition, Trinity is celebrated for three days, and preparations for the holiday begin in advance. The houses and courtyards are thoroughly cleaned, and the rooms are decorated with fresh tree branches (linden, willow, birch, maple), and the floor is lined with fragrant herbs and flowers.
Such a ritual on Trinity means awakening and the beginning of a new life cycle. On this day, people went out into the streets dressed in costumes, singing and dancing, performing round dances, girls telling fortunes about their betrotheds and performing certain rituals.
Collected field herbs were brought to the church and blessed. This was done so that the summer would be generous with rain and give people a rich harvest.
The Saturday before Trinity is a memorial day. On this day, deceased relatives are remembered in churches.
Trinity Day (Green Sunday) is considered the day of the appearance of various mythical evil spirits (mermaids, merman, goblin). It is to protect against it that the room is decorated with green branches and wildflowers.
They also say that you should not swim on Trinity, because mermaids or mermen came out of reservoirs and, having acquired a human form, took men and women with them.
After the holiday, the greens were not thrown away, but were used to treat various diseases, as they had enormous healing powers.
On the second day of Trinity (Clear Monday), priests went out into the fields to bless the future harvest.
On the third day (God-Spirit day) unmarried girl decorated with ribbons, flowers, wreaths of wildflowers and herbs and taken around the courtyards. Meeting her on the street was considered great luck.
Signs and conspiracies for Trinity
On Trinity Sunday, people carefully listened to folk signs, because the future harvest and the coming summer depend on the weather on the holiday. Here are the most common ones:
- According to signs, rain on Trinity means a rich harvest and a warm summer;
- A light drizzling rain, after which the bright sun peeked out - also to a rich harvest of berries, grain crops and mushrooms;
- On Trinity Sunday the sun will be dry and very hot;
- The heat on Trinity Sunday was considered a bad omen. It meant a bad harvest year;
- Seeing a rainbow on a holiday means great happiness in the house;
- If you swim in the rain on Trinity Sunday, you can get rich;
- For a long time, at dawn, people went out of their houses into fields and vegetable gardens and crumbled bread onto the ground, thereby calling on nature to give them a good harvest;
- To ensure good haymaking and rainfall, birch branches are stuck into the ground;
- Before Trinity, it was necessary to finish planting the garden, since then the heat set in and the plants were poorly accepted due to lack of moisture.
According to folk superstition, the dew that fell on Trinity gave health, youth, beauty
What not to do on Trinity
On one of the biggest holidays, the earth celebrates its birthday, so there are many restrictions on work on this day. You cannot plow, dig, dig, plant plants and trees, or mow grass. In general, all work related to the ground cannot be done.
You can't cut down or chop trees
Work related to trees is prohibited on this day, since young plants are used to decorate houses on this holiday. You cannot cut down trees, saw, chop wood, or break branches.
Taboo on any hard work
On this day, it is forbidden to do any hard work in the garden, since on this day the earth is reborn and, like any birthday, one should celebrate, not work. Taboo on working in the fields and gardens.
It has long been believed that if you do not adhere to this sign, any unfavorable situation can happen: weather conditions will destroy the crop, livestock will die out, or be destroyed by predators.
These rules do not apply to work in production, because it does not depend on our desire, but is necessary and inevitable.
However, you can collect all kinds of herbs and dry them. You can prepare brooms for the bath; they will be endowed with special healing powers.
Herbs collected on Trinity Day have magical healing powers. Tinctures and decoctions are prepared from them to heal from ailments.
You cannot sew, bake, or do housework
As in others Orthodox holidays, on Trinity you cannot do cleaning, sewing or any other housework. You can only decorate the room, cook food, and perform only vital work.
Various misfortunes will await everyone who works on this day. In general, it’s better not to take risks, but to celebrate!
Taboo on any work on earth
You cannot work on the land on Trinity Sunday, but you can look for treasures in it. Try it, perhaps the treasure hidden somewhere is already waiting for you.
No fence repairs
You cannot build or repair a fence (fence) on this day. Such work can bring trouble and illness to the family.
Be positive
While observing all the listed signs for Trinity, do not forget about the spiritual side.
It is forbidden to be angry with the Trinity, to think about bad things, to be jealous or angry!
Be friendly and joyful on this day, then nature will reward you with a good harvest and prosperity.
The year is celebrated on Sunday, May 27. The Day of the Holy Trinity symbolizes the trinity of God - the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit - and is one of the 12 main Orthodox holidays.
The people also call Trinity Pentecost, which indicates the date of celebration - the 50th day after Easter.
History of the holiday Trinity
It is believed that the disciples of Jesus Christ decided to establish a holiday in honor of the Holy Trinity. According to biblical legends, on this day the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles, who prayed for the 50th day in a row in the Zion Upper Room.
After the descent of the Holy Spirit, the apostles began to heal and prophesy, and also spoke in different languages to carry the Word of God throughout the world.
Trinity holiday traditions
Trinity - religious holiday Therefore, on this day one cannot do without a service in the church, which includes the Divine Liturgy and Great Vespers.
It is customary to decorate churches on Trinity Day with greenery: freshly cut grass is usually placed on the floor, icons are decorated with spring flowers and young tree branches. On this day, many believers bring several birch branches with them to church to consecrate them and then place them in their homes (usually consecrated branches were placed near icons). It is believed that in this way you can protect your home and yourself at the same time from all evil.
What to do on Trinity
- Before Trinity, they do a general cleaning - on the holiday itself you cannot tidy up, sew or do laundry.
- On Parents' Saturday - the day before Trinity - it is customary to visit cemeteries, tidy up graves and remember the dead. Also on Saturday they go to church, hand over notes with the names of loved ones of the deceased and pray for the repose of their souls. If you are not able to visit the temple and cemetery these days, you can pray for the repose of the souls of your loved ones at home.
- Another custom of Trinity Saturday is to be sure to give alms to everyone in need, to everyone who asks for it. At the same time, the giver asks them to also pray for the departed.
- On Trinity itself, it is customary to arrange a feast and invite all relatives, friends and loved ones. Pentecost is not a fast day, so housewives have the opportunity to demonstrate their culinary skills.
- Previously, on the Day of the Holy Trinity, folk festivities were held - in the late afternoon, round dances, singing songs and dancing began in all villages.
- In addition, it was customary to get married on Trinity Day. It was believed that if you woo on Pentecost and have a wedding on the Intercession, then you will have a happy life together secured.
On Sunday, May 27, Orthodox believers celebrate one of the main holidays in Christianity - Trinity Day. This holiday is also called Pentecost, as it falls on the 50th day of Easter, and the Feast of the Descent of the Holy Spirit. Trinity is one of the twelve holidays, that is, the twelve most important in Orthodoxy after Easter Sunday.
Jesus Christ kept his promise
Trinity is an abbreviated name for the Day of the Holy Trinity, the clergy note. The Bible says that Jesus Christ promised his disciples to return after His Ascension and kept his promise on the feast of Trinity.
According to legend, on the 50th day after the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and 10 days after His Ascension, the disciples of Christ and the mother of Jesus, the Virgin Mary, gathered in Jerusalem. While they were praying, suddenly a divine flame descended on them from above. The lights swirled above their heads, and at that moment they felt the ability to communicate in many languages of other peoples. According to the Gospel, on this day the fiery tongues of the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles, and they spoke in different languages of the world. Since then, the apostles began to preach the Christian faith throughout the world, so Trinity is also considered the birthday of the Christian church.
The theological term “trinity” itself reflects the Christian teaching about the three persons of one God: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. On the Feast of the Holy Trinity, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are glorified, and the dead are also remembered.
On Sunday, one of the most solemn and beautiful services of the year is performed in Orthodox churches, and after the Divine Liturgy, Vespers is celebrated in memory of the descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples of Jesus.
On this day, believers go to church with branches of birch, maple, oak, and wildflowers. Then they are taken home, dried and stored behind icons. Branches are also left near windows and doors to prevent evil forces from entering.
On Trinity Day, bathhouse brooms are dried. It is popularly believed that they will have healing powers.
A house filled with the aroma of medicinal herbs
Trinity is part of a series of days called in the Ukrainian tradition Green Christmastide or Green Sunday. These days, Christian traditions are closely intertwined with all kinds of folk cults and magic.
Before Trinity, it is advisable to thoroughly clean your home. You can also cleanse your home of spiritual dirt by walking around the room with a candle and crossing the corners three times.
The main tradition is to fill the house with aromatic medicinal herbs. Herbs are placed on the floor and window sills. Bouquets of fragrant herbs are prepared in advance. Mint and thyme create a special joyful mood with their aroma.
On the eve of Trinity, Ukrainians collect a symbolic plant for Green Sunday - calamus, the stems of which are known for their healing properties and aroma. Birch branches that are placed on the floor of the house are considered a good omen for those who want to find a bride or groom. By the way, 3 days after the holiday it is recommended to remove all herbs from the house; they are thrown away or burned.
It's better to wait until marriage
People have beliefs about what can and cannot be done on Trinity. It is believed that a wedding should not be scheduled on Trinity Sunday - supposedly nothing good will come from such a family.
As on other major Christian holidays, on Trinity you cannot sew, knit, bake or work in the garden. According to popular beliefs, misfortune awaits those people who do not rest on this day. Those who plow their livestock will die. For those who sow, hail will destroy the crops. Those who spin wool will have their sheep go astray.
The next day after Trinity is called Spiritual Day. On this day it is forbidden to work on the land, but you can look for treasure in it. Allegedly, the earth on this day will definitely give a good person something valuable.
People believed that mythical creatures - Mavkas and mermaids - come to Trinity, so it is undesirable to go alone into the forest or field. You cannot take livestock into the forest. You cannot swim on Trinity Sunday, otherwise, according to ancient beliefs, mermaids will drag the bather to the bottom.
On the holiday of Trinity, you cannot think about bad things, you cannot envy or be angry with someone, because this will not end well.
