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Holiday August 28 signs. Signs and rituals for the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

09.09.2021

Dormition Holy Mother of God widely celebrated by both Catholics and Orthodox. This is one of the 12 most important holidays after Easter, celebrated by the Orthodox. This significant date ends the two-week Assumption Fast, which lasts from August 14 to 27.

In this thread:

This holiday is dedicated to the transition of the Ever-Virgin to another world, this is not a sad commemoration, but a joyful holiday that marks the meeting of the Virgin with her son in heaven. All signs of the Assumption on August 28 are associated with love for mother - the earth, with the desire to help others, the church.

history of the holiday

The first mention of this holiday dates back to the 5th century. Prior to this, the Assumption of the Virgin Mary was not celebrated in any way. Moreover, the Gospel says nothing about her death. The now known story of her last hours of life on earth, people learned from the apocrypha.

They say that Mary learned about her upcoming meeting with her son from the archangel when she lived in Jerusalem. He warned that in 3 days she would have to ascend to heaven. She mentally prepared for death and prayed to God so that he would give her the opportunity to see the disciples of Christ. Her prayers were heard, and the apostles were carried on clouds to Jerusalem. After parting with them, she died and was buried. The apostles carried her to the cave, closed the entrance with a stone. And when they came to the burial place at the request of Thomas, who did not have time to say goodbye to her, there was no one in the cave.

According to another version, the Mother of God did not die, but was taken by Jesus Christ and the angels to heaven during her lifetime.

Folk omens

The special energy of this bright day led to the appearance of the following signs:

It is allowed to guess using wax and sand. The energy of nature is high level so you can know the future.
On August 28, it is forbidden to work, you can only pick apples and other crops, and pick cucumbers for women.
In memory of the Blessed Virgin Mary, you need to treat the poor, give alms. Part of the harvest is taken to the church.
Since mother earth was associated with the image of the Mother of God, on the Orthodox feast of her Assumption, nothing was stuck into the ground, they did not walk on it bare feet so as not to defile her, not to inflict wounds. However, there is a logical explanation for the signs. If you walk on August 28, when there is no heat anymore, with bare feet on the cold ground, you can easily catch a cold and become seriously ill.

Among other things, this holiday is the starting point for the Indian summer, which lasts until September 11th. The first 3 days were called the young Indian summer, according to their weather, the air temperature in the middle of autumn was predicted.

According to the weather established on the feast of the Assumption, they judged the coming autumn and winter. The most common signs are:

Quiet, warm weather foreshadowed a calm winter without severe frosts and violent snowstorms. Moreover, the good weather promised a bountiful harvest for next summer.
The rainbow on the Assumption was an omen of a warm autumn.
A warm sunny day warned of a cool Indian summer.
A large amount of cobwebs - to big snows and frosts in winter.
The dew that appears on the grass is a symbol of the tears with which the earth mourns the departed Virgin Mary.

Traditions of the people

The Assumption also played a role in the formation of folk traditions. Before this holiday comes, it was necessary to have time to woo. After August 27 this year, matchmakers were no longer accepted. This holiday was a measure for many agricultural works:

3 days before the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos, winter crops were sown. Superstitious peasants believed that on this day the earth gratefully accepts all the seeds and gives them the opportunity to sprout together on time. If they did not have time, they finished the work 3 days after the holiday.
From that day on, they began to dig potatoes.
They performed a ritual of consecration of ears and seeds.
Girls who were already 15 years old wore a woolen skirt, representing the entry into adulthood.

Organized a general party

An interesting custom is the women's request to the land to return to them the strength spent on growing crops during the summer. To do this, they wrapped their sickles with the straw left after the harvest, and they themselves rolled on the ground in the field. These actions were explained by the unity of the perception of the earth and the Mother of God.

The Orthodox holiday was organically combined with Obzhinki, which came from pagan times. The women decorated the harvest sheaf (the last one specially left in the field) and carried it to the settlement in the form of a woman. To do this, elements of a women's folk costume were put on a sheaf to give it a resemblance to a woman - a mother. All the action was accompanied by ritual songs.

It was widely believed that a completely harvested and plowed field for the feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary gives an additional crop next year.

Girls on this Orthodox holiday went to the forest behind the viburnum. In order to guess who would be the first to marry, going into the forest, they rushed to the bushes. The one that comes running first will get married earlier. The collected viburnum was brought to cook delicious dishes. Clusters of berries were hung around the rooms to protect against dark forces.

After that, everyone together had fun at the feast, for which the whole village was formed. Shchi and pies were traditional treats at such feasts. In some places sheep were slaughtered. In some places, rooster dishes and vodka were an obligatory element of the feast. Everyone was invited to the table, even the poorest who could not participate in the clubbing.

Bans on Assumption

The signs used by the people for August 28 not only taught what needs to be done on this day, but also imposed prohibitions on certain acts.

A complete ban on sewing, cleaning, washing.
At the festive table, moderation must be observed, gluttony is a sin.
It is impossible for girls to have their hair cut, signs say that this causes tears of the Most Holy Theotokos.
It is forbidden to offend loved ones, to speak badly about others.
It is not allowed to burn fires, heat stoves. These actions are believed to lead to illness and trouble.

There are also prohibitions regarding walking on the ground with bare feet and sticking sharp objects into the ground. They were mentioned above. In general, there are not so many forbidden signs, but their observance was an obligatory guarantee of the health and prosperity of all families.

The custom of celebrating the feast of the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos dates back to apostolic times. After the Resurrection of the Savior, during the meal, his disciples always left at the table one unoccupied place and a piece of bread. And when, on the third day after the Dormition (death) of the Mother of God, they began to offer up prayers in the name of the Lord, suddenly "The Most Holy Theotokos appeared in the air." After this miraculous event, the holy apostles began to eat one part of the bread before the meal in the name of the Lord, and the other after the meal in the name of the Mother of God.

The apostolic custom in the minds of the people and everyday life was transformed into another custom widespread in Rus' and timed to coincide with the Dormition - the consecration of bread. After all, on August 28, the harvest ended, and in the churches, like an Easter cake, the first freshly baked loaf of flour from the new harvest was consecrated.

In different regions of Russia, the end of the harvest day was called differently: “ladies”, “spozhinki”, “dozhinki”. “Mistresses” he was called by the name of the Virgin Mary, because Mary means mistress, mistress. They called him “spozhinki”, remembering the mowed field - “reap”, and the last harvested sheaf was considered “dozhinka”. He was also called a birthday man, dressed up in a sundress and a kokoshnik, they carried him to the village with songs, put him under icons and started a fun “pooling game”, celebrating the Dormition and seeing off the summer. After all, with the Assumption, the sun falls asleep, autumn begins.

And since there were those among the feasters who had not yet sifted out winter crops, they would have time, they say: “This winter is three days before the Dormition and three after,” they did not forget, knocking over a cup or two, and look at the sky, noting: “ If a rainbow appears on the Assumption - by a long and warm autumn, "and" if the crane flies away before the Assumption, then it will be frosty on Pokrov (September 14), and if not, then the frost will be later.

From the Dormition, village beauties began to look for suitors for themselves. Because “if you don’t have time to look after the Assumption, you’ll spend the winter in the girls.” But it was customary to send matchmakers 2 weeks after the holiday.

However, elderly housewives had no time to think about the matchmaking of their daughters in the Assumption. It was necessary to prepare for the third Savior - Khlebny.

And for this, in the evening they still put a dough in order to bake a loaf of “new” flour early in the morning, but not anyhow, but to everyone’s wonder. Of course, each housewife had her own special secret, but she could not do without traditional methods of baking bread. As, however, without the Russian stove. After all, you can’t bake real bread in the oven. But the bread rolls are excellent.

The Assumption Fast was coming to an end - the Meat-eater began, and with it the time of weddings came. Also, the young men tried to have time to woo the girls they liked before August 28, since this was the last opportunity this year to ask for their hands and hearts.

It was noticed that by August 28 autumn gradually comes into its own, because swallows flew to warmer climes. It was customary to do homemade preparations on this day and, in particular, pickle cucumbers. They tried to sow winter crops either three days after the Assumption, or three days after the holiday. Also on August 28, they began to harvest potatoes from the fields.

In the Orthodox and Catholic churches, the feast of the Assumption is equally dedicated to the Mother of God - her death. The New Testament says that Christ, already crucified on Golgotha, instructed the apostle John to take care of his mother. And after the resurrection, and then the ascension of Christ into heaven, Mary for a long time, indeed, lived in the house of John in Jerusalem, often went to Calvary to pray. One day an angel came to her and told her that she would die in 3 days. On the day of Mary's death, the apostles came. They put her in a tomb and walled up the cave with a stone. Only the apostle Thomas, who asked the rest of the apostles to open the tomb, did not have time to say goodbye to Mary. And when they did, they saw that Mary was no longer inside - only funeral clothes lay in the coffin. On the same day, the Mother of God herself appeared to the apostles along with the angels, and the disciples realized that she had ascended to heaven.

The feast of the Assumption of the Virgin on August 28 began to be celebrated in the period of early Christianity. In the VI century, it was already celebrated everywhere. Officially, the first date is 582. Orthodox Church classifies the Assumption among the twelfth feasts - the 12 most important holidays after Easter. The Assumption is preceded by a rather strict Assumption fast lasting 2 weeks.

The Slavs associated the Mother of God with Mother Earth, and therefore, many corresponding ceremonies were performed on this day. It was forbidden to walk barefoot on the ground that day or to stick sharp objects into the soil. Therefore, they usually did not work on the Assumption. The holiday was also called Dozhin, because by this time they managed to squeeze all the bread. Mostly women participated in the harvest, and therefore, the time after the Dormition in the old days was called Indian Summer - this time lasted until Ivan the Lenten (September 11). On August 28, the custom was widespread, according to which, women rolled on the ground, tied straw around the sickles and asked the stubble to return to them all the strength that had previously been spent on harvesting. Then they took the last sheaf and dressed it in a sundress and a kokoshnik, with songs heading with a sheaf to the village.

It was customary to consecrate ears and seeds on the Dormition, August 28. After that, people pooled together organized feasts, treated the poor and the needy, baked pies, fried sheep, cooked cabbage soup. It was also the time to prepare homemade preserves - pickled cucumbers, sauerkraut. Subsequently, they prepared pickles, cabbage soup, ate it all with potatoes and bread.

Folk omens for August 28

If you plow the land before the Dormition, then you can have time to reap another mop.
A rainbow appeared in the sky - a sign that autumn will be warm
Good weather - Indian summer will be cool
A lot of cobwebs - a sign on August 28 that the winter will be frosty and little snow

The Orthodox holiday is associated with joyful feelings and the belief that the Most Holy Mother of God did not die, but simply fell asleep for a while. On the Assumption of the Most Pure Virgin, the signs concerned the future in personal and family life. They predicted next year's harvest, the weather for autumn and winter. The Virgin Mary is still recognized as an intercessor, so the people love and respect this holiday. They believe that everything you ask for with a pure thought will come true. This is a day of quiet bright joy, harmony and peace.

When is it celebrated and what traditions are honored

On this day, they finished the harvest and began seeing off the summer

In 2018, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated on August 28. This date is fixed. The celebrations last ten days and begin a day before the holiday, which ends one of the most strict fasts. The most important celebrations and rituals take place on the day of the Assumption. Indian summer began - the last warm days, which are always sincerely rejoiced.

On August 28, the people call the Memory of the Blessed, the First Most Pure, Obzhinka, Spozhinka, Mrs., Mrs. Day.

This is a celebration of the completion of the harvest and the veneration of the Virgin. The last sheaf was dressed up in a sundress, carried into the house to be placed next to the icons. Then the solemn celebration began. Tables were laid, neighbors were invited. Harvest songs were heard throughout Rus', young people danced round dances, and old people prepared mead. Mistresses baked pies, boiled a rooster. So they saw off the summer and met the golden autumn.

What to do in Assumption

They believed in the power of the Mother of God and believed that the intercessor necessarily gives signs foreshadowing the future. Signs related to different areas of life. So, if weddings are traditionally played on Pokrov, then grooms with matchmakers came to the Assumption.“The First Pure One came - the unclean brought the matchmakers!” said those who did not plan to get married this fall. If the girl did not find a lover by the holiday, she should sit unmarried at least until spring. For the guys, it was also the last chance of the year to ask for a hand. To marry the Most Pure - to secure a joyful family life.

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin in the past traditionally accounted for matchmaking

Despite the greatness of the holiday, which is one of the 12 largest in Orthodoxy, it is possible and necessary to work on this day. Successfully complete the work you have started. Especially successful will be the preservation of cucumbers and the preparation of jam. Such blanks are a symbol of a well-fed winter, a kind of amulets against hunger. It is also good to go to the forest and pick mushrooms for pickling.

The sowing of winter wheat should have been completed: “Whoever has time to plow the land before the Dormition will have time to reap another mop.” But to start digging potatoes on this day is a great solution.

The dead are commemorated on the Dormition.

Children can be baptized if the priest is not busy with the solemn liturgy.

Weather tips for fall and winter

To see a rainbow on the Assumption - to a good autumn

To see a rainbow on the Assumption - we are waiting for a dry and warm autumn.
Cobwebs on the branches - next winter, expect severe frosts without snowfalls.
Warm day August 28 - it will be cool in Indian summer.
Fog - a good harvest of mushrooms and great weather for two weeks.

Swallows go to winter on this day.

What is forbidden on the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

There is a strict ban on quarrels, discord in the family, swear words, criticism.
Help cannot be denied.
They don’t get married on the Assumption, but on August 29 you can already go down the aisle or play a wedding.
Women are strictly forbidden to have their hair cut on the First Pure One and throw their hair away with the garbage.
They tried not to do any work related to fire, so as not to bring illness and trouble.
Cutting anything is also not recommended. It was believed that with a knife or scissors you inflict wounds on the Mother of God. They just broke the bread.
They did not cook red dishes, did not eat red vegetables and fruits.
It was a bad sign to rub the corn on the day of the Assumption - expect trouble and illness. They didn’t wear any uncomfortable shoes, but it was strictly forbidden to walk barefoot, otherwise you would get seriously ill. The dew was perceived as the tears of Mary.

Rituals, ceremonies and signs

It is auspicious to ask the Blessed One for the joy of motherhood. Effective on the First Pure Prayer for healing, the health of the sick. It is good for mothers to pray for the protection of children from adversity and the evil eye. In addition to patronage, the Orthodox ask the Lady to strengthen the faith, deliverance from the fear of death. The girls pray that the Mother of God will send them a good and reliable husband. If the spouse is walking, effective method- on the Dormition, ask the Virgin Mary for help in order to ward off his mistresses. Peace in the family was strengthened by the fact that on this holiday they hung an icon on the gate.

Rituals for next year

In order to have a good harvest, on the Dormition you need to collect ears of corn and take them to the temple for consecration

To bless the harvest and ask for future prosperity, you need to take ears of wheat for consecration to the festive liturgy and put a thanksgiving candle in the temple. And on the field it is necessary to leave a handful of spikelets tied with a ribbon, so that the next harvest will also please.

healing bread

The women baked bread from the new harvest and gave it to the children, who were supposed to stand near the gates of the house. If a pregnant woman passed before noon, it was necessary to treat her too. If this was not met, the bread was consecrated during the festive service. Such a loaf was considered healing. The rite also helped to improve the culinary skills of the hostess.

At Eastern Slavs the image of the Earth was personified by the goddess Makosh. Starting from the First Pure and up to the Third, it was believed that the female power is especially powerful. Therefore, during this period, the weaker sex with the help of rituals can take care of women's happiness.

A simple love ritual with viburnum

For the groom to appear, you need to perform a ritual with viburnum berries

Kalina on the roof of the house reported that a marriageable girl lives here. If the girl has not met her lover, it is necessary to go to the Dormition to pick the clusters of this red berry, spread it on the window and near the icon of the Mother of God. Then a relationship with a young man will soon appear.

For the future groom

On the Dormition, the rites associated with marriage are extraordinarily effective. The girl should bathe in a decoction of herbs. Put a mirror, and on the sides church candles, and combing, saying: “There is a tower, on it is a beautiful girl. This is what I want, I will become a beauty. In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!"

Having spoken the plot, she must put out the candles and hide everything under the pillow for three days. Then in a dream she can see the groom. After three days, the girl needs to light the candles and let them burn out.

A sign for happiness in the family

On the Dormition, you definitely need to do homework - salted mushrooms and cucumbers

According to tradition, pickles were made on August 28. A few cans can speak for family happiness:

“The fungus is salty, grief from the family is out, the cucumber is crispy - no one will be sick in our house. I sprinkle everything with salt, I attract good luck. When 40 days have passed, such jars are opened and eaten while reading "Our Father", being baptized three times.

On the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, you can ask for what is missing. The main thing is that the thoughts are pure and bright. Rituals had extraordinary power, especially if they were related to family and harmony.

The feast of the Assumption of the Virgin on August 28 began to be celebrated in the period of early Christianity. In the VI century, it was already celebrated everywhere. Officially, the first date is 582. The Orthodox Church classifies the Dormition as one of the twelfth holidays - the 12 most important holidays after Easter. The Assumption is preceded by a rather strict Assumption fast lasting 2 weeks.

If you plow the land before the Dormition, then you can have time to reap another mop.
A rainbow appeared in the sky - a sign that autumn will be warm
Good weather - Indian summer will be cool
A lot of cobwebs - a sign that the winter will be frosty and little snow

August 28 marks one of the greatest Orthodox holidays- Assumption of the Blessed Virgin. Christians on this day remember the earthly life of the Mother of God and the bright transition to heaven. Before the celebration of this bright day, believers observe a two-week (from August 14 to 27). During fasting, they refuse fast food and spend all their free time in prayer.

The word "assumption" in Russian is translated as "death". And although for many people it seems absurd to celebrate such an event, because for the majority it is associated with longing and heartache, but deeply believing Christians know that this is just a transition from earthly life to heavenly life. People need to be afraid not of death, but of the deeds that filled their earthly existence.

Assumption has been celebrated since ancient times. In the 4th century, the Byzantine emperor Flavius Mauritius, on the day of his victory over the Persians, timed the celebration of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, making this event one of the most significant church holidays.

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin: the history of the holiday

After the death and Resurrection of Jesus, the Mother of God was in Jerusalem. During the Great Persecution of Christians, She moved to Ephesus, where she often visited the righteous Lazarus and Mount Athos, which she blessed to preach the gospel word.

Shortly before her death, the Mother of God again arrived in Jerusalem. Here She constantly prayed and visited places connected with important life events of the Savior. One day, the Archangel Gabriel appeared before her, who informed her that in three days she would leave the earth and ascend to heaven to her Son.

Before her death, the Mother of God bequeathed all Her modest property to Her servants - widows. After her death, she ordered to bury Herself in Gethsemane next to her parents.

On the day of the Assumption, almost all the apostles gathered in Jerusalem to say goodbye to the Mother of God. During Her departure, Christ himself, surrounded by numerous angels, appeared before Her. The Mother of God turned to him with a prayer and asked him to bless all those who honor Her memory. She gave her soul into the hands of the Lord in joy and grace.

For three days and three nights, the apostles stayed at the tomb of the Mother of God, singing psalms. On the third day, consolation came to them from the Great Image of the Mother of God and Her words, calling everyone to rejoice, because now She will always be with everyone. After a comforting saying, the body of the Mother of God left the earth and was taken up to heaven.

August 28: traditions and customs of the day

From August 28, the beginning of autumn actually begins and the young Indian summer begins (by). Therefore, on this day, they predicted the weather for the old Indian summer, which began on 14 and ended

For farmers, this holiday was a landmark. It was the end of the summer field harvest season. On this occasion, a big "Assumption" feast was organized in the villages. Each resident brought drinks and treats from the house, which were previously blessed in the temple. Also, ears and seeds were brought to the church for blessing and consecration. different breads. A handful of uncut ears were left in the field, tied with a ribbon and sentenced: “ God bless you for a good harvest next year.". The last compressed sheaf was kept in many places until the New Year. He was called the "birthday man", dressed up in a sundress and carried to the feast.

Celebrations started in the evening. In the morning everyone worked in the field. On the Dormition, they helped those in need in harvesting. The whole world provided assistance to hardworking families who did not have time to harvest on their own. But peasants did not like lazy people. They believed that they themselves are to blame for their troubles.

There is a belief that from this day the sun begins to fall asleep: it does not shine as brightly as in the middle of summer, and it warms less. It's getting colder every day. Migratory birds prepare to fly south.

It was time for weddings and youth gatherings. The girls were looking for suitors. It was believed that if you did not look after the Assumption, then you would spend the winter in girls. Women took up needlework.

On the Assumption, it was customary to pickle cucumbers. The people said: "On the Dormition, pickle cucumbers, chop cabbage".

Our ancestors have long loved pickled, salted and soaked vegetables and fruits, as well as a variety of marinades. For centuries, they carefully collected recipes and knew the secrets of successful pickling of cucumbers.

First, you need to carefully consider the choice of cucumber varieties. All varieties are divided into salad, universal and canning. Canned varieties have a thin skin and a high sugar content. Such cucumbers are the most delicious, because the brine easily penetrates inside. Preference should be given to fresh raw materials. The fresher the vegetables, the tastier the product.

Secondly, water is an important component for preparing blanks for the winter. Best suited spring or well. But tap water is not always good. Soft cucumbers will lose their elasticity, while hard cucumbers will add an unnatural taste of metal to the pickles.

Thirdly, the spices that will be used during salting are also important. In Rus', they used garlic, dill, horseradish (enhances the taste), parsley (makes the taste spicy), mint (makes the taste fresher). Dill was used with soft green seeds. It is the most fragrant. Preference was given to fresh spices.

The ideal container for salting is an oak barrel. Barrel cucumbers are more fragrant. Store the barrel of cucumbers in a cool and dry place. If a moldy film appeared on the surface of the brine, it was removed and the brine was sprinkled with mustard powder.

August 28: signs of the day

If the young Indian summer is warm, then wait for the old bad weather.
If a rainbow appears on the Assumption, then autumn will be warm and lingering.
If there is a lot of cobwebs, the winter will be frosty and clear.
After sunset, fog appears near the earth, which dissipates by dawn. – to the rain.
Wildflowers smell stronger than usual - to bad weather.
Sleep from August 27 to 28 is prophetic. It may come true on the twenty-fourth day. The dream seen on the afternoon of August 28 will come true, but not soon. It does not carry any danger.

People born on August 28 are practical and resourceful. Their willpower and diligence can be envied. They should wear sphalerite and diamond.