Holy Week before Easter is 6 days from Monday to Saturday before the Resurrection of Christ. At this time, the sufferings of the Savior for the sake of atonement for human sins are remembered. Every day is called Great (Passionate), as the events that took place millennia ago are of great importance for all mankind. Believers pray earnestly, refrain from bad thoughts, and do good deeds.

Betrayal, condemnation, elevation to Golgotha, crucifixion, resurrection of Christ took place during Passion (Red, Great, Red, Holy) week.

Every day has its own meaning and history. We will talk about the Great Holy Week. We will open what to do in Holy Week, what not to do and signs, we will talk about what you can eat every day.

Holy week before Easter: history

Believers listen to the parable of the withered fig tree that does not bear fruit, as a symbol of people dying because of their unwillingness to repent. Jesus saw no fruit on the tree and dried it up. Similarly, sinful souls are unable to bear fruit in the Kingdom of God.

Orthodox remember the instructive stories read by Christ in the Jerusalem temple about the resurrection of the dead, the Last Judgment. The meaning of the sermons is in the need of believers to be ready every minute for a meeting with God, to be fearless to do good, not to give in to despondency.

On this day, it is appropriate to remember the virgin who anointed Jesus' feet with myrrh, wiped them with her hair, thereby preparing the Savior for the inevitable suffering on the cross. They compare the one who, being a great sinner, repented and came to Jesus, and the traitor Judas, who chose thirty pieces of silver - the death of his soul.

On Thursday, the Last Supper took place - the last supper of the Savior with his followers, after which Jesus prayed with the twelve Disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane.

From there, the guards took him after the betrayal of Judas Iscariot.

The saddest day, when the Savior was condemned, crucified, handed over the cross that he carried to Golgotha.

Jesus was crucified on the same cross. On the same cross, he accepted incredible suffering for the entire human race.

Jesus lay in the tomb, and his soul descended into hell.

Priests serve the liturgy in dark robes, then change into light-colored robes. It feels like a big holiday is coming. From the procession at 12 o'clock at night, the Bright Matins begins, when all believers joyfully greet each other: "Christ is Risen!"

What to do in Passion Week. What not to do and signs

Holy Week is the time of the strictest fast, which involves serious restrictions not only in food, but also in the ways of spending leisure time. So you can’t watch TV, celebrate any social events, waste time on entertainment, laziness. It is necessary to devote oneself to charity, mercy.

On Monday, the Orthodox began to clean their homes, repair furniture, throw away unnecessary trash, broken dishes. During the days of Holy Week, noisy human conversations fell silent. In the villages there were special people who followed the deanery and silence.

Signs

• Our ancestors believed that before Easter, evil forces were outraged, rejoicing at the torment of the Savior.
• It was believed that on the eve of the Feast of Feasts, the souls of the dead visit the earth to celebrate the miraculous resurrection of the Son of God.

On Tuesday, juiced milk is prepared from hemp and flax seeds crushed in a mortar, which are diluted with water. It had to be done at dawn secretly from the male half of the family. Pets were given this remedy to protect them from diseases.

On Wednesday they did special rite to save households from present and future ailments. With this method, the body seemed to be reborn. They took well (river) water. They were baptized three times, then a new towel was placed on top of a cup of water. At night, they were baptized again three times, doused with prepared water so that three sips remained. Then, without drying themselves, they dressed, and poured the magical water remaining in the cup into the grass.

On Thursday (he was called Clean), they carried out widespread cleaning in the dwellings, washed themselves. Sweeping was no longer recommended until Easter.

Signs

• At midnight the youth went to swim in the river. Those who bathed in the dwelling carried water to the house until dawn. Then a gold (silver) coin was placed in the river water to gain beauty, wealth, and health.
• The baby, who was one year old, had her hair cut for the first time. Girls equalized the ends of their hair for well-being and health. Bathed in baths from small to large.
• We counted three times all the banknotes, coins in the house in order to increase the amount.

On the fourth day of Passion Week, Thursday salt was made. To do this, it was poured into a cast-iron pan, heated, then crushed, sifted, consecrated in the church with Easter. Kept for a whole year as a healing agent.

On Thursday, they began to color eggs, bake Easter cakes, bake hams.

On Friday, the hardest day of the week, when Christ was crucified, alms are served to the needy, food is distributed to the poor. Because of the torment that the Savior endured on this day, the fifth day of the week was called Passion. Washing is not allowed on Friday.

Signs

• You need to sweep all the corners in the house with a rag, which can then be used to treat sciatica. After the bath, they wipe their feet with such a cloth to get rid of ailments.
• They take ashes to help with alcoholism, spoilage.
• Whoever you see first on Friday will be the next three months: a man indicates wealth, family health all three months after Easter. The cat symbolizes good luck, financial well-being, birds - good news.

On Saturday, Easter cakes, eggs, salt, Easter are consecrated. Orthodox are present at the evening service to celebrate Easter in the temple .A day of rest, when you need to realize the horror of what you did a millennium ago.

What you can and cannot eat during Holy Week

On Holy Week, it is necessary to adhere to the rejection of fast food and dry eating. That is, food cannot be processed thermally: boil, fry, bake. If the strength is not enough for such strict abstinence, then you can reduce the usual amount of food, eat once a day after seven in the evening.

Signs for Easter - how not to overlook the signs of higher powers

Each folk sign for Easter has its own little backstory, which confirms the sacred theme of the main church celebration. While waiting for the holiday to come, pass the time by studying the omens noticed by the ancestors - they will reveal the incredible side of Easter traditions.

On the eve of Easter - signs, traditions, customs of Passion Week

The Bright Resurrection of Christ is preceded by a strict seven-week (40 days) fast, during which human souls are cleansed of filth and become closer to the Lord. The last week before Easter (week) is the most strict, Passionate. How to spend these six days that are left before the holiday - see the basic prescriptions.

Monday

In the morning, it is customary to go out into the yard and evaluate the weather conditions: the bright sun in the clear sky foreshadowed a warm and fruitful year. And for young people who are planning to get married this year, the sign reads a happy and prosperous family life.

Start putting things in order - the time is right for minor repairs of worn-out household utensils, to give the appearance of a home of novelty.

If you want prosperity and preservation of youth, pour water into a dish made of silver (gold) and wash yourself - this is what the ancestors did.

Tuesday

A suitable day for the preparation of festive attire. Decide what outfit you will wear to church. Wash, iron the furniture, hem - when necessary. You can continue cleaning the house.

Wednesday

When you have not yet achieved perfect cleanliness in your home, try to take out all the rubbish and garbage from the room - get rid of the past. Then go shopping for eggs and related attributes (paints, stickers, candles, cake molds).

Thursday

The main sign of a Clean Day: when the house is dusty and not tidy, you will live in mud all year.

Healers advise to cook on these days. Put the powder in a heavy canvas bag in a preheated oven, hold for 10 minutes, then cool and consecrate the salt in the church.

You can use the magic mineral until next Easter: it is suitable for removing damage that was made with the help of a lining (treat a suspicious object), cleaning the home from negativity, medical procedures (gargling a sore throat or warming up a sore body area).

Everywhere hardworking hostesses bake Easter (necessarily from cottage cheese), paint and paint eggs. In order for the baking to be successful, the sign of a prosperous life came true - before kneading the dough, the cook reads a holy prayer, and the blank placed in the mold is sent to bake with the words: “Lord, bless!”.

Those who wish to find a betrothed girl are advised to keep an unwashed towel with which they dried themselves after morning bathing (washing). When you go to the solemn service, grab a towel, put Easter cake and eggs there. Give everything to the beggars on the porch - get ready for the wedding soon.

Haircuts are successful on Pure Thursday - hair will become thicker and healthier.

Friday

On strict Good Friday, you will not get off with one refusal of food. On this day, humanity mourns the death of Christ, so all entertainment events, listening to music and walking are prohibited. They spend the whole day at home, in prayer, they constantly light candles in all rooms.

There is no ban on baking Easter cakes on Friday - most importantly, read Our Father and ask the Lord for blessings. When you prefer to keep up the old traditions - bake muffins in a wood-fired oven. The omens left after the ashes are recommended to be preserved and used as a magical remedy, which removes damage, love spells, the evil eye and heals from alcoholism.

Make sure that Easter cakes do not burn and the crust does not crack on them - according to superstition, the family will not know happiness for a whole year when the baking fails.

Healers advise people suffering from pain in the joints or lower back to take a piece of fabric (to be tied later) and cover the corners with it. Use this rag as a warming belt or wipe sore feet with it after a bath or bath.

Saturday

Throughout the day and until the end of the Easter service, grief for the Savior continues. You can’t go to bed, and when you’re not going to go to church for the vigil.

When the main religious moment of the end of the Great Tribulation is over - the Holy Fire will be carried out in Jerusalem from the tomb of the Lord, the turn of universal rejoicing and celebration of the resurrection of Jesus comes. Near the icon is always placed "eve" - ​​a jug of honey. A lit candle is placed in it - this is how the dead are commemorated.

In the joyful bustle of Sunday, try to remember everything that happens around you. Perhaps one of the signs will open the veil of the future before you. Read folk signs for Easter. Weather, food, animals, fateful events - what wise ancestors noticed will come in handy for you too.

Easter weather tips

The very first thing that people necessarily paid attention to was the weather conditions on the holiday. The choice of clothes for going to church and the subsequent seasons of the year depend on what the Great Day will be like.

• Meet the sunrise - you will not know trouble all year.
• You will see a multi-colored sunset - great luck awaits.
• Clear weather - for a hot summer, cloudy - for a cold, dry.
• Rain on Easter - the end of spring will be rainy, and the rye harvest will be plentiful.
• A thunderstorm on Easter or Bright Week - in late, dry autumn.
• The snow before Easter had all gone from the fields - to a bountiful harvest.
• A lot of stars on Easter night - wait for more frosts.

Solemn worship - beliefs for the fulfillment of desires

Visiting holy places is an integral part of the Easter holiday. Going on the road and in the temple, you can speed up the approach of the cherished goal - signs will help.

• Oversleep the morning service - do not rely on luck until the end of the year.
• Keep the candles bought in the church - they “clean” the house with them, put the sick at the bedside to get better, take them off.
• When you pray in church, sincerely ask God for what you want - He will fulfill all bright, good desires.
• When a girl wants to get married, she should say in church:

"Resurrection of Christ! Send me an unmarried bridegroom!”

• Pay attention to how kissing happens with people you meet: a friend kissed you first on the left cheek - he does not treat you positively, harbors hostility.
• Lovers cannot kiss on the road - a sign promises separation. Do it under the canopy of trees - you will become happy in marriage.

Easter signs and beliefs about money

To become a favorite of Fortune and get rid of problems with money, try to do the following on the day of the celebration:

• give a coin to the one asking the church;
• come from the temple to the neighbor;
• after breaking your fast, go outside and look around - what attracts attention first, start doing that - the business will turn out to be profitable and successful;
• women who want to rejuvenate and get rich should wash themselves from a container where coins and krashanki lie;
• in the morning, climb the bell tower and strike the bell - the ancestors believed that when you ask the Almighty from your heart for health, prosperity, new love or peace in the family, you will get what you want.

There are also controversial signs for money for Easter, which help players, treasure hunters and scammers:

• treasure hunters took Easter eggs with them for fishing - they say that the magical effect of the symbol of the holiday is such that all the devils that guard the treasure scatter when a person approaches with an egg in his hands, and it is easy to notice the values;
• gambling applicants for fabulous winnings, when they gathered for matins, put a nickel under the heel in their shoes;
• the thief tried to steal from the church on a holiday - such an act will make him lucky and elusive.

Fearless blasphemers took a deck of cards to church and did the following: when the priest came out of the altar in a bright robe and said for the first time: “Christ is Risen!”, The player threw in response: “The cards are here!”. To the repetition of the main Easter cry, the gambler answered: “Swish here!”. The third response phrase of the atheist was the words: “Aces are here!”.

After a long fast, the faithful began to eat the dishes prepared for the holiday with special enthusiasm, but they did not forget about the signs that they could have a beneficial effect on the future.

• You need to start breaking the fast with the whole family, and everyone must eat a piece of Easter cake and a sacred egg, so that there is harmony in the house all year round.
• Easter was cut first - and given to the cow so that she would give milk.
• When a couple does not have children, the woman puts an extra plate on the table, puts a piece of Easter and says: "Kulich - for the kids." When you eat, crumble the muffin to the birds.
• The sacred knife was hidden after dinner. When hail was observed in the summer, which was accompanied by thunder, they threw a poker and a shovel in the courtyard with a cross, a knife was thrust between them. So the tool gained strength, and it is easy for them to kill the boar.
• When they finished the meal, the peasant did not drink for two hours - so that he would not want water at the harvest.
• The shells from the sacred eggs were collected and tied to sticks, which were installed in the garden - so that worms would not breed in the ground.

The baby born on Easter will definitely be lucky - luck will accompany the lucky one: he will become famous or change the history of mankind when the moment of birth falls at noon.

How Easter week is celebrated - meaning in signs

Easter does not end with the eating of holy Easter cakes - the holiday lasts a whole week, among the people it is known as Light, Easter, Great Day, Great, Joyful, Glorious, Delicious.

Along with the customs of visiting, drinking wine and delicacies, having fun and glorifying Christ, Christians commemorated the dead, wooed, watched pets, noticed the signs that are mentioned in numerous signs.

Every day when combing their hair, older people say:

“How many hairs are on the comb, so many grandchildren have been sent to me, Lord!”

Peasants on Easter week chase chickens from their perch at dawn - so that they rush better.

When an unmarried girl does not take salt in her hands all week, they will not sweat.

The beauty's lips will itch - for loving kisses. If she dreams of kissing someone, an unpleasant incident will happen to her.

Monday and Thursday are visiting days. To commemorate deceased relatives, jugs with candles, red Easter eggs (three), and sweets are brought to the graves.

Be sure to crumble the krashanki on the cemetery ground for the birds to eat. These days they do not sew or wash, so as not to harm the dead.

If you want to learn a craft, go to the temple on Monday. When the priest says “Christ is risen!”, instead of the response “Truly!” speak your own desire.

And on Tuesday it is possible to meet with the brownie. According to legend, one must climb into the attic with a burning candle.

Weak old people dreamed of dying on Easter week - it was believed that the soul freed from the body at such a time would be in paradise.

Marriage on holidays was allowed, but church weddings were forbidden. (comes after the Great Week) - signs promised the engaged couples a happy family life.

Finally, keep in mind: you can’t get drunk, swear and just scream loudly on holidays - otherwise you will incur God’s wrath on yourself. Remember the main reason for the Holy Triumph and be worthy of Christ's sacrifice!

Easter is the oldest holiday in the Christian world. The week between Palm Sunday and Easter is considered the period of the most important rites and ceremonies. This is called Holy Week, and certain days are called great.

The Holy Week before Easter is a special period for all believers. These days you need to be especially virtuous, not to commit bad deeds. The last week before Easter obliges believers to observe a very strict fast.

Week before Easter: rituals

Starting Monday, it is important to put your house in full order. Cleanliness must be in every corner. All rites and rituals this week have a deep meaning and bring us closer to the mystery of the Resurrection. Unfortunately, gradually we forget about the old customs and rituals. Today we are becoming more and more forgiving of ourselves. Result? Our level of spirituality is decreasing, and the most important experience for Christians - Easter is gradually reduced to a simple holiday that does not carry anything behind it.

Holy Wednesday was the prologue to the Easter Triduum. Holy Wednesday for farmers is an important day before sowing. The owners sprinkle holy water on the fields to ensure a good harvest.

Palm Sunday begins with the sacred rites of Easter. These days you can bring luck, finances to yourself, remove damage, the evil eye. During Holy Week, children often speak for seizures. To do this, you just need to take sacred water, say a prayer and sprinkle it on the baby.

Easter Triduum - three days before Easter

The last three days of Holy Week - Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Good Saturday are called the Holy Triduum.

Holy Thursday

Maundy Thursday is the day that should be dedicated to cleanliness. It is believed that if on Maundy Thursday your house is covered with dust and dirt, you will live the whole next year.

Rites of Maundy Thursday:

1. The main ritual of this day is bathing at sunrise. It can be more than just taking a shower or a bath. You can simply wash your face or pour water from the tap. It is believed that all water on this day is sacred. In order for a girl to attract the attention of guys, a special conspiracy must be said before washing.
2. Small children who are six months old are cut for the first time on this very day. Also, a piece of wool is sheared from cattle for well-being.
3. In order to bring prosperity and peace to your family, everyone who lives in your family should take a pinch of salt and pour it into one bag. This salt is called "Thursday salt". It is removed and stored in a place protected from the eyes. If there is no harvest or discord in the family, this amulet will help.
4. From Maundy Thursday to Friday, believers do not sleep, but pray all night.

Washing yourself in the morning, you can ask the Lord to cleanse the soul from negative and evil thoughts, and the body from diseases.

Holy Friday

Good Friday is the last Friday of Lent, which lasted 48 days. Fasting is dedicated to the severe torment before the death of Jesus Christ, who was crucified on that very day. It is considered the most mournful of the year and there are special prohibitions for it, which it is advisable to adhere to. On Pyatok (Good Friday) until three o'clock in the afternoon, people observe a strict fast. At the end of the time, you can only eat bread and drink water.

The rites of Good Friday are as follows:

1. In no case should you do laundry on this day.
2. Early in the morning, wipe the corners of each room with a clean rag and keep it away from prying eyes. According to the beliefs of our ancestors, in this way it is possible to remove pain in the back and joints.
3. Also, the ancestors believed that it was possible to cure an alcoholic with stove ash, which must be taken on that day.
4. On Good Friday, people who suffer from depression are reprimanded.
5. If you want to have a protective amulet for your whole life, consecrate the rings in the church and wear them.
6. It is believed that if you bake bread in Pyatok, it will never get moldy and will cure many diseases.

Try to avoid work on this day, especially related to sowing vegetables, planting trees.

Holy Saturday

Holy Saturday is the last day before Easter. It is believed that the eggs that were laid on this day protect a person from misfortune. Since ancient times, chicken eggs were considered a symbol of new life, they were painted in the brightest and most beautiful color - red.

Dried Easter cake served as a talisman for all believers. It protects every house from diseases and all troubles throughout the whole year.

Our ancestors noticed that many amazing things happen before Easter. With the help of folk signs, you will find out which signs from above should not be ignored in order to avoid serious difficulties.

If there is a seriously ill person in the house, on Maundy Thursday you need to bring a candle from the church and burn it at the head of the patient's bed. The remaining wax must be buried in the yard of a neighboring house.

So that prosperity and well-being reigned in the house all year long, on Thursday it is customary to move furniture and count money.

In Russia, girls who wanted to get married cut their hair on Maundy Thursday, and then kept it under their pillows until Easter.

Good Friday- day of mourning. To avoid trouble, in the morning you need to say the prayer "Our Father".

In order for babies to grow up healthy and strong, it is best to wean them on Good Friday.

If on Good Friday the first person you saw is a man, it means that great luck awaits you soon.

According to the sign, one who bathes on Good Friday will wash away all health from himself.

V Great Saturday free time should be spent in prayer. Whoever has fun on this day will cry all year.

On Saturday, it is forbidden to borrow and lend money, so as not to lose health, good luck and prosperity.

On the Easter the house must be clean so that the whole year is successful.

If on Easter morning a husband and wife embrace, they will live their whole lives in love and harmony.

By this time, Great Lent has already come to an end, which means that on Easter you can finally please yourself and your loved ones with your favorite dishes. It is allowed to serve red wine as drinks, but it is forbidden to abuse the drink.

In Russia, it was customary to make a wish to the sound of Easter bells. The sign says that it can come true exactly 33 days after Easter.

Whoever throws food from the refectory table on Easter, misfortunes will haunt him all year. It is advisable to bury the remaining dishes in the courtyard of your house or feed the homeless with them.

Before meeting the Bright Resurrection of Christ, it is customary to observe Great Lent. During this period, there are many prohibitions and restrictions that every believer must take into account. However, most of the important church traditions are connected precisely with Great Easter. In order not to anger the Higher powers, spend this day correctly, without violating customs. We wish you happiness and love, and don't forget to press the buttons and

Holy Week is the week before Easter. This is a period of strict fasting and intense prayers. These days, people have come up with many signs and beliefs. Most of them are associated with Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Good Saturday. If you listen to these signs, you can attract wealth into your life, improve your health and protect yourself from trouble.

• Kulich, baked on Holy Week, can heal from any illness, protect from bad weather and fire.
• Before kneading the dough, you need to pray, cleanse your soul and space, otherwise Easter cakes will not work.
• Easter turned out to be neat, not burnt - to well-being and health; failed - to a serious illness.

Signs and beliefs on Pure Thursday

• Bathing on this day gives a person health and extraordinary strength.
• From Thursday to Easter, you can’t give salt, bread, money from home, otherwise you can give peace and health.
• To see a man or a dog through the window first on Maundy Thursday morning - fortunately and well-being; an old woman is a sign of failure.
• If you put a silver coin, spoon or jewelry into the water on Maundy Thursday, and wash yourself with this water on Easter, then this will attract beauty and wealth.

Signs and beliefs on Good Friday

• If it is starry on Good Friday, then the wheat will be grainy.
• The ring, consecrated on this day, becomes a strong amulet.
• A man who has fun on Good Friday will cry all year.
• Clothes washed by the hostess and hung out to dry on this day will never become clean: stains will appear on them.
• If you sow wheat or plant anything on the Friday before Easter, there will be no harvest.
• If you endure thirst on this day, then no drink will harm you for a whole year.
• Chopping wood on Good Friday is a bad omen.
• On the Friday before Easter, one cannot pierce the earth with iron; whoever does this will be in trouble.
• A child conceived on Good Friday may be born sick or crippled.

Signs and beliefs on Holy Saturday

• Clear and sunny weather is a sign of a hot summer.
• It is impossible to fish and hunt on the Saturday before Easter - unfortunately.
• A person who spends Holy Saturday in fun and laughter will cry all year.
• Whoever survives the night without sleep before Easter will be healthy all year long. For girls, wakefulness will bring a successful marriage, and for boys - good luck in hunting.