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Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos: what is strictly forbidden to do and how it can turn out
Every year on April 7, believers celebrate the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, one of the most important holidays in the church calendar. On this day, Orthodox Christians remember how the archangel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary and told her the good news of the impending birth of Jesus Christ. In 2026, the celebration falls on a Tuesday. About the history of the holiday, its spiritual significance, traditions and signs — in the material of Izvestia.
The Story of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated annually exactly nine months before the Birth of Christ. According to the Gospel of Luke, the archangel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary in the city of Nazareth and informed her that she was about to conceive by the Holy Spirit and give birth to the Son of God, Jesus Christ. The angel said to the girl, "He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father; and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end."
A five-meter statue of Jesus Christ on the territory of the Church of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia in Akademgorodok, Krasnoyarsk.
Young Maria was surprised and asked how this was possible if she "didn't know her husband." Then the angel promised her that the power of the Almighty would "overshadow her." After that, the girl gave Gabriel her consent: "Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to Me according to your word." It is assumed that the immaculate conception took place at the moment of uttering these words.
The Annunciation is one of the oldest Christian holidays, it began to be celebrated as early as the 3rd century. Previously, believers called the celebration in different ways - "The Conception of Christ", "The Annunciation of Christ", "The Beginning of the atonement", etc. The modern version was fixed only in the 7th century, and the word "annunciation" itself came from the Greek evangelismos, which means "good news".
The Spiritual significance of the Annunciation of the Virgin
The holiday is considered the first act of redemption in Christian history, in which the Virgin Mary fulfilled the message of Gabriel and completely surrendered herself to the will of God, which was able to balance Eve's disobedience. It is believed that the archangel came with the good news on the same day, March 25, on which the Creation of the world took place. Thus, humanity was given a second chance at salvation.
In the Orthodox tradition, it is believed that the Annunciation combines two of the most important Christian virtues: humility (Mary's consent to God's plan) and obedience (Gabriel's fulfillment of God's will). In terms of significance, the celebration is equated with Easter, the main holiday for Christians.
Church and folk traditions of the Annunciation
The first divine service in honor of the holiday begins on April 6 with Great Compline and special prayers, which are read after the evening meal, followed by the all-night vigil.
A liturgy is celebrated in honor of the celebration. All parishioners in churches are also told the story and significance of the Annunciation. In addition, the clergy wear blue robes, which is associated with the Mother of God.
Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia (first from right) celebrates the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior on the 5th week of Great Lent, the feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
On this day, it is also customary in churches to release white doves after worship. This tradition originated before the Baptism of Rus and was associated with the Slavic celebration of the arrival of spring. After the establishment of Christianity, doves began to symbolize the good news and freedom that people gained through Christ.
According to folk traditions, on the holiday, believers consecrated the grains intended for sowing. First, they were placed in a special tub, next to which an icon was placed, and then the Orthodox said a prayer for a successful harvest. This custom symbolized the coming of spring and the beginning of field work.
According to another tradition, in Russia, for the Annunciation, housewives baked lenten church bread — prosphora. They were brought to the temple for consecration, and then eaten. It was also customary for the people to add the remaining crumbs to the livestock feed or pour them out to the birds. People believed that this would help to harvest a rich harvest and make livestock more fertile. Beekeepers put prosphoras in the hives so that the bees would bring as much honey as possible.
What can I do on Annunciation Day?
The holiday falls on Lent, which is considered the strictest in the church year. Orthodox Christians are allowed to eat fish for the celebration, if the Annunciation does not fall on Holy Week. However, meat, dairy products and eggs should still be excluded from the diet. On this day, believers are also encouraged to attend the festive liturgy, but in the absence of such an opportunity, it is advisable to set aside time for prayer at home.
What else can you do on Annunciation Day?
- pay attention to prayer, preaching, and reflections on the essence of the Annunciation and its significance for each person.;
- visit your family and friends;
- do charity work;
- devote time to good deeds and treat those in need.;
- to bring "good news" to people and discuss positive news.
What not to do on Annunciation
Memorial services are not held on the holiday and the sacraments of the wedding are not performed. On Annunciation Day, it is not forbidden to enter into a civil marriage at the registry office, but according to Orthodox tradition, it will be possible to become spouses only on the first Sunday after Easter or later.
According to popular beliefs, it is supposedly forbidden to work on the Annunciation, to do cleaning, cooking, washing and other household chores. This "ban" also includes various types of needlework, as well as gardening, any actions with indoor plants and trees. However, the clergy refute such restrictions. The Orthodox Church believes that during the Annunciation, every believer has the right to decide for himself what to devote his free hours to. The main thing is that worldly affairs do not overshadow the spiritual meaning of the celebration and do not take up time for prayer.
According to another superstition, you can not wash or go to the sauna on a holiday. The priests note that hygiene during the Annunciation is not only allowed, but also necessary, and such "prohibitions" are remnants of pagan beliefs.
What else can not be done on the Annunciation
- eat meat, eggs, and dairy products.;
- to enter into conflicts;
- wishing anyone harm;
- indulge in despondency.
Omens of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos
In Russia, the Annunciation was associated with the arrival of spring. People believed that on this day, migratory birds return from paradise, which bring warmth with them, so many folk traditions are associated with the celebration.
It was believed that the weather on Easter would be the same as on April 7, and the snowfall on Annunciation foreshadowed a lean year. Fog and moderately warm weather indicated that the land would be generous, and rain foreshadowed a large number of mushrooms, rye and wheat.
On this day, they also paid attention to birds. If swallows and pigeons could be seen in the sky, it was believed that a warm spring would come, and high-flying cranes indicated the approach of bad weather.
Other signs of the Annunciation
- to see a dead bird leads to trouble;
- thunderstorm on a holiday — nuts will grow well in summer;
- Sparrows and swallows — towards stability and peace;
- clear, dry weather in Annunciation leads to fires;
- frost on a holiday — there will be a good harvest of grapes.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
