September 21 — Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary: what is strictly forbidden to do, dangerous signs

The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is one of the most important holidays of the Orthodox Church, which is celebrated annually on September 21. This event is dedicated to the birth of the Virgin Mary and represents the beginning of the salvation path of humanity. In 2025, the celebration falls on a Sunday. Izvestia talks about the significance of the holiday for Christians and what traditions should be observed on this day.

The Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos: a church holiday on September 21

According to church teaching, the birth of the Virgin Mary was the first news of the coming coming of the Savior. This event is considered the beginning of the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and an important stage in the salvation of mankind. The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary also helps Christians to remember the importance of motherhood, purity and repentance, which are important themes in Orthodox teaching.

The history of the holiday is based on Sacred Tradition and apocryphal texts, which say that Mary was born into a family of pious but childless parents, Joachim and Anna. They couldn't have children for a long time, which was considered a sign of God's punishment. After their prayers, an angel appeared to Anna with the good news of the birth of her daughter, who would be given a special role.

Nine months later, Anna gave birth to a daughter, Maria. Following this vow to dedicate the girl to God, at the age of three she was sent to be raised in a Jerusalem temple. Later, in honor of the birth of the Virgin Mary, the celebration of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary was established. The first mention of it is found in the 5th century. The holiday was finally fixed in the church calendar in the 6th–7th centuries in Byzantium.

The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is considered the "beginning of the feasts", as it is this day that opens the church year and a series of annual holidays. At the same time, it has one day of pre-celebration and four days of post-celebration.

In addition to the Virgin Mary, Jesus Christ and John the Baptist were honored with a separate birthday celebration. All three Christmases belong to the most important Christian holidays and are especially revered by believers.

How to celebrate the Feast of the Nativity of the Mother of God: what to do

On the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, parishioners visit the church to pray and thank the Lord for blessing the birth of the Virgin Mary, through whom the Savior of the World appeared. On this day, the Divine Liturgy is celebrated, at which the Blessed Virgin Mary and her role in the history of the salvation of mankind are glorified.

Believers ask the Virgin Mary for the birth of children, family reunification and the improvement of relations between spouses. They ask for healing of bodily diseases, spiritual enlightenment, for the admonition of loved ones who have lost the right path, and help in difficult life situations.

It is also customary to participate in evening prayers and fast, if this is provided for in the church calendar. It is important on this day to show attention and respect to women, especially mothers, by surrounding them with love and care.

You can go to the cemetery on the Nativity of the Virgin

On the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, visits to the cemetery are allowed. However, this is not the best time to commemorate the dead, as the holiday is associated with the joy of birth. There are special memorial days in the church calendar when you can remember deceased relatives. The nearest of them is Dmitrievskaya Parents' Saturday. The main attention on the Nativity of the Virgin Mary should be given to the temple and prayers, sharing the joy of the holiday with other believers.

Can I wash my hair, make up, and get a haircut

Cutting hair, shampooing or applying cosmetics is not prohibited on this day. Prohibitions are more related to personal beliefs and folk traditions. The main thing is to observe piety, modesty and attention to the spiritual side of the holiday, and also to remember that the days of large church celebrations are dedicated to prayer and spiritual purification, not external concerns. For the same reason, you should postpone cleaning and other household chores or put things in order the day before.

What not to do on the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

On the feast of the Nativity of the Virgin, it is recommended to refrain from heavy physical labor, concluding transactions, including those related to purchase or sale, and other similar actions, if they can be postponed to another day. It is also important to refrain from conflicts, alcohol consumption, excessive eating, noisy celebrations and entertainment events.

What else can not be done on September 21:

• ignoring a church service is perceived as disrespectful to the Mother of God. If it is not possible to visit the church, then prayers can be read at home in front of any icon of the Mother of God (icons depicting the birth of the Virgin Mary or with the Christ child in her arms are especially revered);
• to question the miracle of the birth of the Virgin Mary, as this is the basic dogma of Christianity, which cannot be refuted using scientific methods, and it serves as the foundation of faith.;
• Swearing, gossiping, and speaking ill of other people is a great sin on a church holiday.;
• to refuse alms to those in need — in the Christian religious tradition, helping one's neighbor is one of the basic commandments.;
• to engage in fortune—telling and occult practices - the church has a negative attitude towards communication with otherworldly forces, considering them an echo of pagan beliefs.

Dangerous folk signs on September 21

In the national calendar, the Nativity of the Virgin meant the end of field work and the meeting of autumn. Many superstitions and superstitions were associated with this period. First of all, they were about the weather. For example, it was believed that if September 21 turned out to be a clear, warm day, then the whole autumn would be the same. And if the leaves started to fall from the trees, they were preparing for a harsh winter.

There were also a number of "dangerous" signs that foreshadowed troubles and misfortunes. According to beliefs, trouble awaited those who picked up sharp and piercing objects. In the old days, it was believed that a knife or scissors left on the table could attract evil spirits or negative energy into the house. Therefore, even bread at the table was usually broken with their hands.

Other signs of the day:

• If you walk barefoot on the Nativity of the Virgin, you can collect various ailments that can later lead to chronic diseases.;
• It was considered a bad omen to brush the crumbs off the table — bread symbolized work and prosperity among the people, and neglect of it promised hunger and poverty.;
• the same signs include dusting — the ancestors were afraid that this could "sweep" happiness out of the house.;
• Even in the old days, it was believed that if you burn old shoes on a holiday, you can protect yourself from damage and the evil eye.

Earlier, Izvestia reported on the traditions of the feast of the Burning Bush icon.