On September 27, the Orthodox Church celebrates the great twelfth holiday - the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord. It is dedicated to two important events related to the Cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified. This is the acquisition of the Cross, which took place in the 4th century thanks to the efforts of St. Helena (the mother of Constantine the Great) and then, three centuries later, the deliverance of the shrine from the “Persian captivity” by Emperor Heraclius.
Exaltation of the Holy Cross: traditions and customs of the day
The people said: " Warmth will move to Vozdvizhenie, and cold will move in. On Vozdvizhenie, autumn is moving faster towards winter". And indeed, by this time, real autumn had come: the sun was shining, but no longer warming with its warmth, a cold, gusty wind was blowing, birds flew off to warm lands, and people took out warm clothes from chests. On this day, the third meeting of autumn takes place and the Indian summer is coming to an end.
According to folk tradition, on September 27, a battle takes place between " honor" and " wickedness”, one on the other two forces rise (“erect”): “holy” and “unholy”, truth and falsehood. With the help of the Holy Cross of the Lord, which has risen from the bowels of the earth, truth wins. Since the Cross is a symbol of suffering, the day of the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord was considered fast among the people.
This day was also called "Stavrov Day" (translated from Greek as "cross"). For a long time, on this church holiday, processions were made around the villages in order to protect them from troubles for a year. They served a prayer service, walked around the fields with icons, asking the Lord for a future harvest. They also prayed for the sick. They believed that if you pray with faith, then the Life-Giving Cross will raise you from your deathbed.
It was customary to raise crosses on churches under construction, to build chapels and small churches in honor of the holiday. In the bins, bins and in the manger to the cow, the peasants put crosses carved from wood or simply rowan branches folded crosswise. In the old days, in order to protect their homes, cattle and harvested crops from troubles, crosses were burned on the door lintel and on the barn gates.
There was a belief that no important and significant deeds could be started on the Exaltation holiday, because everything started on this day would either be useless and unsuccessful, or end in complete failure.
Our ancestors noticed that on this holiday reptiles go to some unknown warm lands, and swallows fly away with them. For this reason, people carefully locked the gates, gates and doors for the whole day, so that reptiles crawling into the hole would not crawl into the yard by mistake, and they tried not to go into the forest on Vozdvizhenie.
This day was dangerous for hiking in the forest, not only because of snakes, but also because of werewolves, goblin and other evil spirits. According to legend, goblin gathered in one place the animals subject to them for inspection before the coming winter. They could harm the person they met.
In addition to goblin, this day was also important for the barn - the spirit that lives in the barn and takes the form of the owner of the house. On September 27, "barn name days" were celebrated. It was not allowed to drown the barn on this day. Threshers also did not work. If sheaves were already placed in the barn, then the owner pretended to unload it, taking out the top two sheaves. The hostesses spread an embroidered towel on the barn window, and left the treat for the barn owner at night.
The third meeting of autumn - "Kapustnik"
From this date, a series of fun autumn parties began - "skits", "skits", which lasted two weeks. They were celebrated not only by residents of villages and villages, but also by townspeople. The girls, dressed in colorful elegant clothes, went from house to house to chop cabbage. Single men looked out for brides.
In the evening, when the cabbage was chopped, real fun began, which quite often led to weddings played on Pokrov. To win the heart of the guy they liked, the girls read a special plot.
Neighbors and acquaintances were invited to such parties. The woman, entering the house, congratulated the hosts on the harvest of cabbage. They brewed beer and baked pies for the guests. The evening ended with songs and dances.
September 27: signs and beliefs
- If the geese fly high - to a large flood, if low - to a small one.
- The north wind is blowing - the summer will be warm.
- If a snake bites a person on Exaltation, then it will not crawl away to warm lands. She will have to freeze in the winter cold.
- Frosts in the morning - by early winter.
- If the weather is clear and warm, then the cold will not come soon.
- It's getting colder - spring will be early.
- North wind - to the hot summer.
- Seeing a flock of migratory birds, you need to ask them to say hello to the deceased relatives.
- Girls are not allowed to go into the forest, because the goblin can steal.
- On Exaltation, one cannot pass by the places where a murder was once committed - the unclean one can beguile.
- Seeing incomprehensible traces on the ground, you can not cross them. These traces may belong to forest evil spirits. Whoever crosses them will soon become seriously ill.
- A person who gets lost that day in the forest should take off his clothes, shake it and read a prayer. It is believed that this will help him find the way faster and save him from meeting the goblin.
The person who was born 27 September, given the ability to artistic creativity. He should wear an amethyst .
Many people prefer to spend their weekends in nature, going to the forest. It is by connecting with wildlife that a person can truly relax, get rid of and feel calm. There are rules regarding what not to do in the forest, otherwise serious and even deadly consequences can occur. Unfortunately, but many modern people neglect the existing prohibitions, polluting forests, provoking fires, etc.
What can not be done in the forest?
If you are going to the forest, then it is worth considering a few important points. First, be sure to warn your loved ones, and best of all, take them with you, as such walks alone are dangerous. Secondly, if you are going to the forest by car, then take into account the stock so that it does not run out at the most inopportune moment. Thirdly, just in case, take a dry box of matches, a knife, a watch and a compass with you.
Rules of conduct in the forest:
- Be quiet, and this advice is primarily for national parks. It is important to understand why it is impossible to make noise in the forest. The thing is that loud sounds can frighten away birds and animals, and they fall into a state of confusion. Many animals run away, forget about their cubs and they eventually die. In addition, noise disturbs public order and prevents other people from enjoying their vacation.
- You can not go to restricted areas, such as nature reserves and national parks. Such areas are protected because rare plants or animals can grow on them. If you violate this prohibition, you will have to pay a fine. The fact that the zone is prohibited is usually indicated on special signs.
- It is forbidden to litter in the forest, and if you are wondering why you can’t do this, then everything is very simple: paper, bottles and other things simply pollute the area, and they also pose a threat to animals and birds. Glass bottles can also cause a fire due to the reflected sun. Another important point worth dwelling on is what kind of garbage cannot be buried in the forest. In principle, it is forbidden to bury almost everything, with the exception of vegetable peels and other similar foodstuffs.
- It is forbidden to eat unknown berries, fruits and mushrooms, as they pose a potential threat to human health and even human life. Do not break branches or uproot plants, as this may cause irreparable damage.
- Do not throw cigarette butts on the ground, even if you think they are extinct. They are poisonous and also increase the risk of fire.
- It is forbidden to burn fires in the forest, except for specially designated places. Otherwise, a fire may start, which spreads over vast areas. There should be a distance of at least 1.5 m from the fire to shrubs and trees. The place chosen for the fire should be covered with topsoil. When leaving a fire, be sure to fill it with water and wait until it is completely extinguished.
- You can not approach animals, wanting to pet them. It is also forbidden to throw something at them and scare them, because this, firstly, is inhumane, and secondly, it can make them angry. Remember that snakes, frogs and lizards can be poisonous. It is forbidden to destroy the nests of birds, as well as anthills.
- If you came to rest on, you can not park it in places not designated for this. Many are trying to pave new paths, but consider whether the comfort is worth destroying the beauty around.
Try to spend your vacation culturally so that after leaving the forest there are no traces of your stay. Consider the suggested tips and be sure to tell them to your children.
For Orthodox people, the end of September is the time of the onset of the great holiday of the Shift (Exaltation of the Life-Giving, Holy Cross of the Lord). This one was installed in memory of the fact that St. Helena found the very Cross on which Jesus Christ was once crucified.
Holiday Movement. Description and legends
In 326, according to legend, excavations were carried out at the site where Golgotha used to be. It was then that they found the cave of the Holy Sepulcher, and there were three crosses very close to it. It was possible to determine which cross belonged to Jesus thanks to a sick woman. The unfortunate woman touched one of them, and her illness immediately disappeared. It was a real miracle.
There is another legend that says that the deceased was carried past the crosses to carry out the burial ceremony, and his hand accidentally touched the cross. As soon as this happened, the deceased came to life, and so they were able to determine which cross belonged to the son of the Lord.
And the ruler Constantine started the search for the Holy Cross. Before that, Jesus Christ appeared to him in a dream and said that if he depicts a cross on his flags, then victory will be his. After Constantine won the battle, he swore that he would spread Christianity around the world as much as possible. In search of the place where Golgotha was, he sent Helen, who took a long time to reach the goal. After the cross was found, the ruler ordered to erect a temple with a piece of this cross. It has survived to this day and is considered one of the greatest shrines of Christianity.
Story
Shift - it is considered the last day of Indian summer. As soon as the peasants finish celebrating, the cold sets in and autumn comes into its own, it is an integral part of nature. In the old days, it was believed that in honor of this holiday it was worth erecting a chapel or a church, so Orthodox people often engaged in such buildings on September 27th.
In addition, even in ancient times in Russia, roadside crosses were erected on this holiday. This custom is still maintained, it is believed that the cross erected on the Shift shows people's gratitude to God for protecting them from evil and all misfortunes. In addition, in the future, he will protect the village from evil forces and inspired troubles.
Prayers
The shift is a church holiday, and at this time the Orthodox make crusades, since legend says that such campaigns will help protect the people from misfortunes and troubles throughout the next year. Those believers who had their own fields and lands went around them, holding icons in their hands, saying prayers for the future harvest, so that it would be good.
They also pray for the health of sick people on this day. It is believed that in honor of the holiday, the Lord will hear them and give forgiveness to the sick, depriving him of all ailments. This is connected with legends and beliefs about the healing power of the resurrection of the Life-Giving Cross. According to popular signs, on this day, prayer can even lift from the deathbed.
The battle of good and evil
Tradition also says that during the Shift there is a battle between two forces, good and evil. And when the confrontation is only gaining momentum, the dark forces begin to win. According to legend, the earth begins to shake, and the Holy Cross of the Lord appears from it, and good begins to overcome evil. It is believed that at this time the whole earth is flooded with heavenly light, cleansing it from evil spirits. The rays of light emanating from this cross burn the evil completely, saving the common people from the evil one. And everything that is righteous and pure wins victory. And every year this battle takes place as a sign of proof that all good will always defeat the dark forces. Many are interested in what date the Shift holiday is celebrated in order to know exactly when this eternal struggle takes place.
Partially this moment is mystified in some villages. So, there is a belief that on this night it is necessary to close basements and cellars. During the battle, the light drives all the evil spirits underground, and when the struggle is still ongoing, the dark forces can take advantage of human structures and sit out the battle in order to crawl out through them later. Until now, in some villages, all places that can hide evil spirits from the bright light of the Cross are closed.
Kapustnitsy
Since ancient times, the holiday of the Shift has been popularly called cabbage girls. Virtually all the sayings of the time associated the cabbage with the Shift. This vegetable has always been held in high esteem among the common people, as evidenced by many proverbs and sayings of that time. Also, skits were called holidays that were arranged by young people in honor of the Shift. In ancient times in Russia, girls put on their brightest outfits and went around the neighbors, so to speak, chop cabbage. At the same time, they sang cheerful songs and had fun, and in the houses where they went, they were treated to beer, sweet honey and other dishes. In order to recreate old traditions, it is important for many to know what date the Shift holiday should be celebrated.
At the same time, all the young guys looked at the girls and looked for their future bride among them. Toward evening, when the ritual with cabbage was already completed, it all developed into festivities and festivities. Often, after such events, weddings were played, and on Pokrov, in mid-October.
The shift is a holiday (what date it comes, they are still interested) is very important. Cabbage parties were held from the end of September until Pokrov. It is believed that Vozdvizhensky skits are exactly a girl's holiday. When the guys came together in the evening in search of brides, among the guests there was always someone who had already liked the girl. There is even a special conspiracy that marriageable girls read seven times on the Shift, so that the guy they like also appreciates the beauty of the chosen one.
Fast
Although the Shift is the twelfth holiday, on this day you still need to observe a strict fast. As the old saying goes, no matter what day of the week the festival falls, there should be fast food all day. According to church charters, those who do not fast on this day will receive what they deserve - seven sins will be raised on them. The thing is that people fast in memory of the torment that Christ endured during the crucifixion.
But all the celebrations are dedicated to making people remember the finding of the Cross. Since the Shift (holiday) is still celebrated, what cannot be done during this period, many Orthodox people are interested. During the fast, it is forbidden to eat meat, fish, as well as any dairy products and eggs. Whoever observes this fast can count on the forgiveness of all
According to the clergy, he called on the Orthodox to carry their Cross with humility. That is, to accept all grievances for Jesus, while not being surprised at the betrayal of the closest and dearest people, to calmly treat the troubles received from friends. At the same time, it is important to maintain humility, not wish them any harm in return, or death, and sincerely pray. It is necessary that the frankness of prayer be equivalent to how Christ prayed on the cross. That is, the Apostle urges everyone not to forget that everyone deserves forgiveness, for he does not know what he is doing. This is the whole essence of the described holiday.
On the Shift (holiday), what cannot be done is to turn away from traditions, it is very important to find your own cross for each person. After all, we all, taking into account the rhythm of our lives, fill up personal crosses with garbage, and often they lie at the very bottom with us. We pollute our pure souls with everything that the evil one so mercifully presents us with, and therefore it is important for ourselves to understand what kind of cross we bear. Each of us fulfills his own special mission on earth, and we should not forget what it is. We need to open our souls to the world and do everything to fulfill our destiny. We must remember that the Lord helps us to carry our cross, and if we do his will, he always makes obstacles in our way easier.
Vigil
The churches have preserved an old tradition on the day of the Exaltation, which is called the Vigil and the Liturgy. The difference from other festivities is that you need to serve all night. The culmination of this event is the moment when the priest, dressed in a purple robe, takes out the Cross. Everyone who prays in the temple must kiss the holy object, and then receive the anointing with holy oil. After that, the Cross is placed on the lectern, where it remains until the day the Shift is given - October 4th.
Beliefs
According to popular beliefs, one should not go to the forest on this day, since it is on the Shift that snakes and other forest inhabitants prepare for winter. It is believed that the Shift is a holiday, on the night of which Leshy counts all the inhabitants of the thicket, and it is better for an ordinary person not to see this. Thus, it turns out that night walks can be extremely dangerous. They also do not recommend righteous believers to start significant deeds, since all of them will not be completed and will go to dust. As you can see, the Shift (holiday) is of considerable importance. Is it possible to work on this day? The answer is - you can, because harvesting cabbage is also work.
To protect themselves from evil forces, in the old days, a cross was drawn on every door in the house. In addition, in order to save cattle from adversity, wooden crosses were placed in the manger. Those who did not prepare a special cross put two branches of mountain ash, crossed and fastened together.
Cleaning the house of negativity
In addition to celebrating and fasting, a very important moment on the Shift (a holiday that everyone used to celebrate) is the cleansing of the house from negativity and dark forces. To do this, from the old days in the church they buy three candles and put them together, setting them on fire. After that, they take holy water and sprinkle all the corners in the house with cross-shaped movements. At this moment, you need to read “Our Father” three times from a pure heart, hoping that the Lord will help cleanse the house of adversity and evil.
Signs
Regarding this holiday, there are a huge number of signs. Basically, they are connected with the vital affairs of the people. There are signs related to the harvesting of cabbage for the winter, indicating that a good owner will definitely have a cabbage pie that day. The thing is that in the old days, indeed, everyone harvested this vegetable for the winter precisely on the Shift, which is why there are so many traditions for this holiday.
There are also signs that relate to hiking in the forest and snakes. They are mainly designed to warn people against rash decisions. The shift is a holiday containing many warnings. After all, snakes that are looking for a place to sleep are quite aggressive, they can harm a random traveler.
Signs also call for closing all doors in houses so that snakes and other insects do not climb into the dwelling for the winter.
And the last part of the signs refers to the impending cold. The erection is directly related to the end of the Indian summer, and after it frosts begin at night. Therefore, signs warn people that it is worth dressing warmer in the mornings and evenings so as not to catch a cold.
Since ancient times, there has been a belief that on the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy and Life-Giving Cross, which is celebrated on September 27, it is better not to go into the forest. On this day, snakes gather from all sides, release poison and go underground for the winter, so you should not disturb them and interfere with them.
A long time ago I read in some magazine a strange story connected with this particular day. It was a very warm autumn, the end of September, and they were still mowing the grass. People were returning from haymaking, on the way they met a snake. One of the men cut off the slanting head of this snake and hung it on his scythe, continuing his way home. At this time, the snake's head slipped from the blade of the scythe and bit the offender in the neck. Before reaching a few steps to his house, the man fell and died instantly.
And this story was told to us by Dmitry Mikhailovich Sokolov, whom my husband Valery Afanasyevich mentioned in his story about Sharik. Dmitry Mikhailovich was once an avid hunter. And once again he got ready to hunt, just on September 27th. Grandmother did not let him in, she said that it was dangerous to go into the forest that day. But he did not believe in such signs and predictions. I took the gun and went.
Already at the entrance to the forest, he met several snakes, and further, wherever he went, there were snakes everywhere. The hunt did not work out, and he decided to return home, especially since anxiety had already settled in his soul.
And suddenly, in one of the clearings, Dmitry Mikhailovich saw a wild sight: there were countless snakes, probably a hundred or more. From what he saw, he simply turned to stone, but quickly oriented himself and shot at this snake. And then the light show began! The snakes hissed piercingly and crawled towards him. Dmitry Mikhailovich quickly began to move away from this place, but the snakes twisted into wheels and began to pursue him with incredible speed. These snake wheels were almost overtaking him, and then he began to take off his clothes: first a jacket, then a sweater, a shirt. The snakes immediately pounced on the clothes, giving Dmitry the opportunity to run away further. He even threw his boots at them. Finally reached the forest road. And here, for some reason, the vipers stopped chasing him.
Since then, Dima has abandoned hunting, and does not even go fishing on the Exaltation Day - he does not want to violate the laws of nature.
Another incident happened to my husband last year. He calls himself a forest man, because when the berry-mushroom season comes, he disappears in the forest for days on end. He leaves on a bicycle, leaves it in a secluded place and goes to his cherished places deep into the forest. Returns late in the evening with baskets full of mushrooms and berries. This time he also quickly collected a basket of porcini mushrooms, and there were only half a bucket of lingonberries. He put a basket of mushrooms on an old rotten stump with a large hollow and began to collect lingonberries. There were many berries. He quickly collected a bucket of lingonberries and returned for a basket of mushrooms.
When he was already approaching the stump, he almost fell from surprise. A huge thick snake was wrapped around the stump and calmly basked in the sun. Then Valery Afanasyevich took a twig and stroked the snake with it. He is a creative person, and such people see beauty even in such situations. The snake hissed at the touch of a twig, untwisted and slid off the stump. The man and the snake looked at each other for a while. Then the snake soared in front of Valery Afanasyevich, again sank to the ground and soared again. This went on for five minutes. The snake seemed to go into a rage, everything danced and danced. It was scary, creepy, and beautiful. The husband knew that in such cases they say: "Go your way, and I will go mine." After these words, the snake slowly crawled into the hollow, and Valery Afanasyevich took a basket of mushrooms, a bucket of lingonberries and went home.
Shocked by what he saw, he did not go to the forest for several days. Then the alarm dulled, and he again disappeared into the forest until the very frost. These are the secrets and mysteries that our nature and its inhabitants keep.
Customs for Exaltation
In ancient chronicles, this day is known as "Stavrovy", on which it was customary to go in procession around villages and cities, thus protecting them from troubles, enemies and diseases. In the villages, fields are also bypassed in order to get a rich harvest next year. In Vozdvizhenye, the last sheaf was taken from the fields and this served as the end of the harvest, the last, third holiday of the meeting of autumn and the beginning of preparations for winter.
On the same day, it was forbidden to go to the forest: all living things were preparing for winter, animals went into holes, snakes crawled to one place for wintering. Even evil spirits, and she was preparing to hibernate until spring. Today it is widely believed that such a ban was based on the fact that the snakes are very angry on this day and if you interfere with them, you will be bitten. But in ancient times, people simply respected all living things and tried not to disturb the unity of animals and nature. At the same time, the Slavs believed that the snake that bit you would no longer be able to return back to the hole and it was doomed to death because it had violated the laws of its tribe.
The big danger in the forest that day was not animals, but evil spirits: goblin, water, werewolves were angry that they had to go to sleep and they could no longer harm people. In Vozdvizhenye, the evil spirits had their last meeting, during which they said goodbye to each other and went to sleep. Those people who violated their peace, they could do harm, twist in the forest, send a curse and damage.
This day was also important for domestic evil spirits. Unlike the forest, these spirits were useful for the family and the hearth, they were their protectors and guardians. Therefore, the name day of Ovinnik, the keeper of the barn, the place where wheat was stored and milled, was celebrated in Vozdvizhenye. The room was not heated, no work was carried out in it, embroidered towels were spread on the floor and refreshments for the spirit were left on them. This holiday was also considered the day of cabbage, and each housewife had to cook as many dishes as possible from this tasty and healthy product, bake pies with cabbage, cook dumplings. Some of the treats were carried to the church, where they were distributed to the poor.
Conspiracies and love spells for Exaltation
From the day of the Exaltation, a period of girls' gatherings began - Kapustensky evenings, which lasted two weeks. According to the traditions, all the girls going to these parties dressed in their best outfits, brought festive dishes with them, set tables in the upper room and feasted with the guys who, at that time, chose their brides.
In order to definitely get a groom for themselves at such gatherings, the girls performed special rituals and conspiracies. Before going to the party, the girl washed her face with clean, freshly collected spring water and said:
“As the water is pure and transparent, so the love (name) will be strong and constant for me. So be it, my word is strong.
Preparations for gatherings began long before they began. Girls embroidered belts for themselves and their suitors. If such a belt was presented to the couple and he accepted it, this was considered the conclusion of the engagement. From the Exaltation to the Intercession itself, girls were allowed to perform divination and love spells in order to get married faster.
For example, such a rite was widespread. The girl cooked small pies with cabbage, poured milk into a glass and left it all overnight on the table with the words:
“My friend brownie, become my matchmaker and marry (name) to me (name). Amen".
Another love plot of the girl was pronounced on the eve of the holiday. At sunset before the holiday, they went out into the street, looked at the setting sun and uttered the following words:
“Dawn-lightning, red maiden, you walk high above me, you fly far away. Look where the servant of God (name) walks, what he does, where he rests, in what house he lives, in what tower. Come the dawn-lightning to him close, close, reach me with love, Dry, bake, bring to my house, bless us on the lawful crown. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Now and forever and forever and ever. Amen".
A fairly strong love spell was done on the Feast of the Exaltation on the smoke. On September 27, after sunset, but before midnight, it is necessary to make a fire and when it flares up, shout out the words of a love plot:
“There is a dry forest in a dry forest. In that forest, all the foliage is dry, dryness drives that foliage, longing for the servant of God (name), dryness catches up with me, God's servant (name). Dry him water without me, do not get food into his mouth without me, go around the dream of a servant of God (name), find longing-dryness on him for me, God's servant (name). In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen".
They did not start any important business on Vozdvizhenye, because they believed that by doing this they insulted the resting nature, which gave them blessings and a rich harvest. According to other beliefs, everything that you started to do on this day was simply useless and without results.
Signs for Exaltation
- Whoever goes to the forest to the Exaltation may not return.
- On this day, snakes hide in holes.
- Leshy walks in the Shift - whoever goes into the forest will not find his way back.
- On the Vozdvizheniye, the bear is in the lair, the snake is in the hole, and the birds are to the south.
- At the good hostess in Vozdvizhdeniye and cabbage pie.
- Whoever fasts on Exaltation, seven sins will be forgiven.
- In Exaltation from the field, the last mop moves.
- From the Exaltation, autumn shifts to winter.
- If a cold north wind blows on this day, then the next summer will be hot.
- In the Exaltation of the bird, summer is carried away over the seas.
- Whoever does not fast on the Exaltation - seven sins will be raised on him.