April 7 is the greatest holiday of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary: strict prohibitions and mystical omens

Every year on April 7, Orthodox believers celebrate one of the 12 main religious holidays of the year — the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. On this day, the church remembers the event that marked the beginning of the earthly journey of Jesus Christ. In 2025, the celebration falls on a Monday. Read about the related prohibitions and folk signs in the Izvestia article.

The Church holiday on April 7 is the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos

According to legend, from the age of three, the Virgin Mary lived in the Jerusalem temple. According to ancient Jewish law, upon reaching the age of 14, temple students were considered adults and had to marry or return to their parents.

The priests offered Mary to choose a worthy husband, but the girl refused, as she decided to preserve her chastity and devote herself to the service of the Lord. Then she was betrothed to righteous Joseph, an 80—year-old widower who was supposed to be the keeper of her vow. Together they settled in Nazareth, continuing to lead a modest and secluded life.

The Gospel of Luke says that a few months after the betrothal, the Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary. In his paintings, he is often depicted with a white lily in his hands, a symbol of purity and virtue. The heavenly messenger joyfully greeted the girl and informed her that she would become the Mother of the Son of God.

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Perplexed, Maria asked the archangel how such a thing could happen, because she "did not know her husband." Then Gabriel explained that the child would be born of the Holy Spirit and would be the incarnation of God on earth. After listening to this, the Blessed Virgin uttered the cherished words: "Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to Me according to your word." In this way, she not only showed humility before the will of the Lord, but also opened the way to salvation for people, because without the participation of free human will (Mary's voluntary consent), the birth of Christ would have been impossible.

The Annunciation is considered one of the most significant events in the history of Christianity, but it was not celebrated until the third century. At the same time, the timing of the celebration could also vary from region to region: in some churches, the celebration took place two to three weeks before Christmas, while in others it took place nine months before it. A single date for the celebration, April 7 (March 25 in the old style), was fixed only in the sixth century.

What not to do on the Orthodox feast of the Annunciation

The main thing a believer should do at the Annunciation is to visit the temple and pray. Festive divine services begin the day before, on April 6, with an all-night vigil. On the morning of April 7, the Divine Liturgy is served. There is a tradition on this day to release birds into the sky, often white pigeons. These birds symbolize God, the Holy Spirit, and the free will given to humanity by the Savior.

Most often, the Annunciation falls on Lent, so the main prohibitions of the holiday are associated with this particular period of time. According to church regulations, those who are ill are not allowed to eat meat, fish, eggs and dairy products. In honor of the celebration, a relaxation is usually made — believers can eat fish. If April 7 falls on Holy Week (the week before Easter), the restrictions remain in force.

Also, during Lent, the church does not hold weddings, so it will not be possible to enter into an Orthodox marriage on the Annunciation. Those who wish to testify their love before God will have to wait until Krasnaya Gorka, the first Sunday after Easter (April 27, 2025). At the same time, this rule does not apply to marriage registration at the registry office.

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It is widely believed that you cannot work on the Annunciation, do cleaning, cooking, washing and other household chores. The ban allegedly covers various types of needlework, gardening, and any manipulation of indoor plants and trees. However, the clergy point out that there are no such restrictions on the holiday. Every believer has the right to decide for himself what to devote his free hours to. The main thing is that worldly worries do not overshadow the spiritual meaning of the celebration and do not take up time for prayer.

Another common misconception is that you can't wash or go to the bathroom at the Annunciation. The priests are unanimous on this issue — it is possible and necessary to observe hygiene on a holiday, and such "prohibitions" are remnants of pagan beliefs.

As on other great holidays, funeral services are not performed in churches on the Annunciation. But it is not forbidden to pray for the dead on your own and put candles for the repose.

Also, on April 7, you should not enter into conflicts, wish harm to anyone and indulge in despondency. A church celebration is a time of joy and intense spiritual work, and negative emotions have no place on such days.

Omens of April 7, the church holiday of the Annunciation in 2025

In Russia, the Annunciation was associated with the arrival of spring. People believed that on this day, migratory birds returned from paradise, bringing warmth with them. Therefore, a lot of folk traditions are associated with the holiday.

So, it was believed that the weather for Easter would be the same as on April 7. The snowfall on Annunciation promised a lean year. Fog and moderately warm weather, on the contrary, indicated that the land would be generous. A thunderstorm on the holiday promised an abundance of nuts in summer, and rain — a large number of mushrooms, rye and wheat. Fishermen rejoiced at the prolonged precipitation, because they indicated that there would be a lot of fish in the rivers.

We also paid attention to the main "stars" of the holiday — birds. If swallows frolicked in the sky at the Annunciation, our ancestors understood that the cold weather was over. And the cranes flying high indicated the approach of rainy days.

Earlier, Izvestia told how the Annunciation is celebrated in the Catholic Church.