Folk signs for April 11: what can and cannot be done

In Russia, omens have been given special importance since ancient times. They were used to judge the weather, when to sow and harvest, and what to expect in the future. Therefore, every day of the national calendar was full of rituals and superstitions. Izvestia tells about the popular signs of April 11 and what church holidays are celebrated on this day.

Folk signs for April 11

According to the national calendar, Birching is celebrated on April 11 — the day of veneration of the birch tree, which in Russia was associated with the renewal of nature and the onset of real spring. Towards the middle of April, active sap movement began, and it was at this moment that it was considered appropriate to go to the grove for juice, buds and young birch branches, which were then used in everyday life and in home treatment.

It was believed that birch sap was especially fresh and healthy at this time, and the branches could bring health and well-being to the house. The peasants believed that if you miss the moment, you can be left without healing juice and flexible twigs for brooms. In some areas, children were lightly touched with birch twigs, believing that this could ward off diseases, and girls wove wreaths from young branches and made wishes.

A lot of things on this day were related to weather observations. If the birch was covered with foliage before the alder, they waited for a dry summer, and if the alder branches were the first to bloom, they prepared for a wet summer. The abundant sap movement near the birch was also perceived as a sign, indicating rains in the midst of field work.

Other signs of the day:

• light, fast clouds in the sky — for clear and stable weather;
• The woodpecker is tapping on the birch tree louder than usual — it's going to start snowing soon;
• Lots of swans on the water — spring will be warm;
• Heavy rain on this day will lead to a good harvest of oats.;
• Magpies build their nests low — there will be a lot of thunderstorms in summer.

What not to do on April 11th

They tried to spend the day without noise and unnecessary abuse, because it was perceived as a time of natural awakening, when any careless action could upset the fragile spring balance. In Birching, it was also forbidden to unnecessarily harm trees, break branches or spoil the bark, otherwise, according to beliefs, health and prosperity would leave the house.

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What else can not be done on April 11:

• working with birch bark after lunch is a waste of time;
• to deny a traveler water or birch sap leads to a drought in the garden.;
• leaving the house in a mess leads to an anxious spring and unnecessary fuss;
• whistling indoors — you can "whistle" prosperity and scare the brownie;
• to look in someone else's mirror is to take on someone else's troubles and illnesses.

What is the church holiday on April 11th?

On April 11, the Orthodox Church celebrates Holy Saturday, the last day of Holy Week of Great Lent on the eve of Easter. On this date, they remember the burial and stay in the tomb of the body of Jesus Christ, as well as the descent of Christ into hell, from where He brought Adam, Eve and the righteous of the Old Testament, which symbolizes victory over death and the beginning of the salvation of mankind.

The divine service on Holy Saturday has a special structure. In churches, hours, Vespers and the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great are celebrated, and during the service fifteen paremias are read — Old Testament readings that bring believers to the theme of the Resurrection. On this day, cakes, eggs and Easter are also consecrated, and in the evening preparations begin for the night Easter service.

On the same date, the Holy Martyr Mark, Bishop of Arefusa, is remembered. According to church tradition, he lived in Syria in the IV century and actively fought against paganism, destroying the temple and building a Christian temple in its place. When Julian the Apostate came to power, the saint was tortured, demanding payment for the destroyed sanctuary, but he refused.

His firmness and devotion to Christ so impressed the persecutors that some of them later converted to Christianity. After the end of the persecution, St. Mark was released and around 364 peacefully departed to the Lord, becoming famous as a confessor.

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Prayers on April 11th

On Holy Saturday, they pray for inner peace, forgiveness of sins, hope for salvation, as well as for the peace of the deceased — in connection with the memory of Christ's presence in the tomb. Prayers are addressed to Saint Mark of Arefusa for courage in the faith, for intercession from persecutors and slanderers. They pray to Him for strengthening the spirit in sorrows and for patience with unfair accusations.

Kontakion of Great Saturday

"Having enclosed the abyss, he is seen dead, and wrapped in humility and a shroud, he is laid in the grave, like a mortal, Immortal; but the wives came to anoint Him with peace, weeping bitterly and crying: This Sabbath is most blessed, in which Christ, having fallen asleep, will rise on the third day."

Kontakion to Mark Arefusiysky

"Having lived piously in the holy One, and having passed through the torments of the way, you have extinguished the sacrifices of idols, and have been a champion of your flock, O God-wise one. In the same way, we reverently and secretly cry out to you: deliver us from our troubles forever through your prayers, our Father Marko."

Earlier, Izvestia told what they pray to St. Hilarion the New.

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