Folk signs for April 1: 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 1 and what church holidays are celebrated on this day.
Folk signs for April 1
In the folk calendar of the Eastern Slavs, April 1 was called Daria the Dirty, as well as Daria — dirty ice holes. These names accurately reflected the state of nature in the central strip of Russia: by the beginning of April, the snow was actively melting, blurring the fields, and village streets and courtyards turned into impassable slush. The people talked about it.: "Daria breeds mud — brings spring" or "Daria will come — she will break off the banks near the ice holes."
The peasants watched how the meltwater behaved, assessed the roads, estimated the timing of field work and future haymaking. At the same time, they tried once again not to leave the yard, so as not to get dirty. According to popular beliefs, the dirt itself seemed to "stick" to the person on this day. Meanwhile, an untidy appearance on a holiday was frowned upon. It was believed that he betrayed a person with evil thoughts.
In a number of regions, it was customary to bleach homespun cloth. The fabric was laid out in the snow under the bright sun. The ancestors believed that spring snow soaked in meltwater has a special cleansing power, and the sun's rays enhance this effect. The cloth was left for several hours or even for the whole day, turning over periodically so that the bleaching took place evenly.
There were also many weather signs associated with Daria Gryaznaya. They were especially attentive to how the snow was melting. Thus, the noisy current of the spring waters promised a rich harvest of herbs and a well-fed life for livestock. Rain was also considered a good sign, which meant that there was no need to fear a severe drought.
Other signs of the day:
- clouds float high and fast — for good weather;
- meltwater is cloudy, leading to a lean year;
- warm and clear weather leads to a dry and windy summer;
- the willow has bloomed — it's time to prepare the bees for departure.
What not to do on April 1st
As on other days of the national calendar, Daria the Dirty was subject to certain prohibitions, the violation of which, according to beliefs, could bring trouble. For example, they were afraid to wear old or worn-out clothes on this day, so as not to attract poverty and misfortune. Sadness and despondency were forbidden. In the old days, they believed that they could turn into a series of failures for the rest of the year.
What else can't be done on April 1st:
- to be lazy and idle — luck will turn away from home.
- Holding a grudge against loved ones leads to lingering illnesses;
- plan important transactions — they will turn into losses;
- turning around at a call on the street leads to failures in your personal life.
What is the church holiday on April 1st?
On April 1 (March 19, Old Style), the Orthodox Church honors the memory of the Holy Martyrs Chrysanthos and Darius of Rome. These saints lived in the 3rd century during the persecution of Christians under Emperor Numerian. The story of their lives is unique: Chrysanthos, the son of a noble Alexandrian senator, received a brilliant education. While studying philosophy, he found books of the New Testament that completely changed his life. The young man believed in Christ, was baptized and began to preach, despite the anger of his pagan father.
To turn his son away from his new faith, his father decided to marry him to a priestess of Daria. However, when she met the young man, she was deeply imbued with his preaching and converted to Christianity herself. The young people married, but by mutual consent decided to lead a virginal, chaste life, devoting themselves to God. Chrysanthos instructed the young men, and Darius the pious women, urging them to give up worldly pleasures for the sake of Christ.
For their preaching, the saints were captured and tortured. Chrysanthos was thrown into a stinking pit, where all the sewage of the city flowed, and his wife was given to fornication, where, according to church tradition, she was guarded by a lion sent by God. After much torture, the martyrs were sentenced to be buried alive. They were buried in the ground, where they were crowned with martyrdom.
On the same day, he remembers another outstanding saint, the righteous Sophia, Princess of Slutsk. She lived at the turn of the XVI–XVII centuries, when, after the Union of Brest in 1596, the Orthodox in the Western Russian lands were subjected to severe oppression and forced conversion to Catholicism.
Despite her young age and difficult circumstances, the princess became a true defender of the Orthodox faith. Married to the powerful Catholic prince Janusz Radziwill, she set a condition for him that the faith of her ancestors remain inviolable, and Orthodox churches preserve their rights.
Princess Slutskaya turned her city into a real stronghold of Orthodoxy, donated funds for the construction of churches, embroidered church vestments herself and tirelessly took care of the clergy. She died at the age of 26 at the birth of her daughter. Her incorruptible relics rest in the Holy Spirit Cathedral of Minsk.
Prayers on April 1st
The Holy Martyrs Chrysanthus and Daria, who are models of loyalty not only to each other, but also to their religious beliefs, pray for the gift of fortitude, the preservation of chastity and peace in the family. Saint Sophia of Slutsk is addressed with prayers for protection from persecution for her faith, for strengthening in Orthodoxy, as well as for help in raising children and preserving family well-being.
Prayer to Chrysanthus and Darius of Rome
"O holy and most blessed passion-bearers, Martyrs of Christ Chrysanthe and Darius! Coming to you at the throne of God <...> unworthy, we take refuge. <...> Because for the sake of the faith of Christ you have endured many torments and have been put to death, the Church of Christ is adorned and crowned with crowns of immortal glory, it is established in indescribable joy with angelic faces in heavenly villages, It is illuminated by divine light. Show us also a powerful intercession: preserve the faith of Christ in purity, show courage in suffering and temptations, contentment in everyday needs, constancy in prayers, and love for God and your neighbors. Guide us, holy martyrs, by your prayers on the path of salvation, strengthen our feet to walk firmly and unshakeably in the path of the commandments of the Lord, admonishing those who err, granting healing to the sick, deliverance to the needy, protection to those who live in marriage, and everything that is useful to us all for salvation. May we be guided by your prayers and strengthened by your intercession, let us glorify our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. To Him belongs all glory, honor, and worship, with His beginningless Father and His All-holy, Good, and Life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen to that."
Prayer of Sofia Slutskaya
"O our holy and righteous mother, blessed Princess Sophia, <...> helper and intercessor for all Orthodox Christians <...> strengthen us firmly and steadfastly to death for the Orthodox faith, warm our hearts with love for the Lord and His Most Pure Mother.<...> O holy mother, hail Slutsk, praise and joy, Beseech the Lord, may He deliver your city and our whole country from famine, cowardice, flood, fire, sword, invasion of foreigners and internecine warfare, from deadly plagues, may He send down zeal, wisdom and faithfulness to our ruler, may they govern and judge according to His will, may they preserve the institutions of the Holy Church. Grant to all who flow with faith to the shrine of your holy relics a peaceful life, silence, enlightenment of minds and hearts, keep them from the machinations of the enemy, from the temptations of the world lying in evil, and from all sorrow and need, turn us to repentance and correction, grant knowledge of the truth to those who have lost their way, and healing to those who are sick. Through your grace-filled prayers, preserve us from all enemies, visible and invisible, and deliver us from all evil, so that we may glorify the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit all the days of our lives, and your intercession forever and ever. Amen to that."
Earlier, Izvestia told what they pray to St. Anin of Chalcedon.
All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
