history of the holiday
The Orthodox Church honors 2 shrines on August 14:
- Origin of the Honest Trees of the Life-Giving Cross;
- icon of the Vladimir Mother of God.
These holidays are considered small.
The word “origin” in the name means “appearance”, and “procession”. Epidemics often occurred in Constantinople in the Middle Ages. To stop pestilence, priests held a religious procession through the city. They carried a shrine - a piece of the Lord's cross, which was kept in the main church of the city. After the religious procession, pestilence and disease subsided.
A holiday was later established in memory of this event.
This is the essence of honoring the icon of Our Lady of Vladimir. Going to battle with enemies, the Vladimir prince Andrei Bogolyubsky took with him a miraculous icon. Before the battle, he fasted and prayed, asking the Mother of God for support and protection. And the Virgin Mary helped. Andrei Bogolyubsky returned to Vladimir with victory.
What date is Honey Spas in 2022, 2023, 2024
The First Savior is an intransitive holiday. This means that the date of the celebration does not change. The Honey Savior is celebrated on the same day - August 14th.
History of origin
The date of the Honey Savior coincides with the first day of the Dormition Lent, therefore for the Orthodox it is considered a significant event. The history of its origin begins in ancient times. In Constantinople (in modern times in Istanbul), the clergy preserved a piece of the cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified. Believers treated this shrine with special reverence: people prayed for protection, and more than once it helped to overcome troubles. Once a terrible plague came to the city, and the priests blessed all the reservoirs with a piece of the cross so that the water could reach the people and help them heal. After such a ritual, the infection receded and never returned.
Then consecration gradually became a tradition. People believed that if you bathe in blessed water, all illnesses would go away on their own, and sinful acts would be forgiven. Diseases spread especially during the hot season, and in the last month of summer real epidemics began. To avoid catching the infection, believers blessed water and houses. This continued until August 14th. It was believed that after this date the epidemics subsided.
On a note!
In Russia, Spas is called Honey, because August 14th is the peak harvest of the sweet delicacy.
Traditions and rituals of the holiday
At the end of August, peasants harvested crops, stocked up on food for the winter, and held fairs to sell off surpluses and purchase everything they needed. All these details of peasant life were immortalized in traditions.
Honey collection
The most important tradition of the Honey Savior is the blessing of honey. For this celebration, the peasants pumped out all the honey from the hives, except for that which they left for the bees for the winter.
The beekeepers selected the heaviest, fullest honeycombs and carried them to the church for blessing. After the church service the honey was shared. Some of the delicacies were left for the priests, they took a little for themselves, and the rest was distributed to the poor, the sick and children.
Blessed honey was considered healing, it was eaten little by little as a medicine.
Poppy collection
Another traditional delicacy on First Spas is poppy seed. In the southern regions of Russia this holiday is called Makovei.
This word is derived from the words “poppy” and “winnow,” that is, sift in the wind, clearing away debris. By the holiday, all work on harvesting was completed. A little poppy was always taken to church to be blessed.
For the holiday, they prepared baked goods with poppy seed filling, ground poppy seeds with honey, and steamed them with fruits and raisins.
These dishes were treated to everyone. It was believed that the more generous the owner, the larger the harvest he would have next year.
Blessing of water
In Rus', the First Savior was called Vodosvyat, or the Savior on Water. By this day, peasants cleaned local reservoirs and wells and completed the construction of new ones. This folk custom seems like a superstition, but in fact, our ancestors knew what they were doing. Summer was ending and cold weather was approaching, which meant it was necessary to prepare so as not to be left without water in winter.
New wells were necessarily blessed. After the ceremonial consecration, the peasants bathed in the water, and then bathed their cattle there. Our ancestors believed that with such a ritual they would wash away all troubles, illnesses and evil eyes.
After August 14, peasants did not swim in natural reservoirs, only in the bathhouse. And this is not a meaningless tradition either. Closer to autumn, the water begins to “bloom”, becomes cold, and the air temperature drops at night. I oversupplied a little, then froze in the wind - and developed a cold.
Peasant traditions
They didn’t work in the field that day, nor in the house. The day began with a visit to the temple. Then the peasants communicated, went to visit, and held ceremonial dinners.
The First Savior marks the beginning of the Assumption Fast, this leaves an imprint on the holiday. Makovei was celebrated quietly, without games or noisy festivities. Weddings were not held on Honey Spas, only meatless dishes were prepared, and no alcohol was drunk.
The festive feast began with honey. The bowl with the delicacy was passed around, and everyone sitting at the table took one spoon from it. Before tasting honey, our ancestors made wishes.
It was believed that they would definitely come true.
Makoveychiki
On this day, peasant girls collected special bouquets - poppies. They are made from wildflowers and dry poppy pods.
The bouquet includes:
- Viburnum brushes are a symbol of femininity and beauty;
- rue and calendula - amulets against diseases;
- spikelets of oats or wheat - a symbol of wealth and a good harvest;
- sunflowers - sun, warmth, vitality;
- mint - peace, harmony, peace in the soul;
- oregano - longevity and family happiness;
- sweet clover - brings harmony to relationships;
- affectionate - to peace and love in the family;
- tirlich - bestows feminine attractiveness;
- poppy heads are a symbol of the holiday;
- thyme – fertility and fertility, good health;
- wormwood – protection from the evil eye and bad energy;
- marigolds are a symbol of true love;
- cornflowers - symbolize kindness, purity and tenderness.
The flowers for the bouquets were picked with their own hands, then collected into beautiful compositions and tied with ribbons. Makoveychiki were blessed in the church, dried and stored at home, near the icons.
Spas Honey - rituals
Honey Savior is a holiday that has great magical power, so on August 14, our ancestors performed rituals, ceremonies, recited protective spells, and carefully followed signs.
At a church service, it was customary to bless the first honey collected. They took care of it for the next year and used it only for medicinal purposes. According to tradition, you need to eat a spoonful of consecrated honey yourself, and also be sure to treat everyone you meet. the one who performs such a ritual will remain healthy all year and protect loved ones from the evil eye and damage.
The priests performed the “small rite of consecration of water.” One had to bathe oneself and bathe domestic animals in consecrated reservoirs in order to protect them from possible diseases. It was also customary to clean wells of debris and dig new ones. Blessed water and honey were kept nearby.
Harvested poppy seeds, like honey and water, have not only healing properties, but also magical ones. This poppy was often used during rituals.
What you can and cannot eat at Honey Spas
On Makovei you cannot eat animal products.
Prohibited:
- any meat;
- Fish and seafood;
- milk and all dairy products, including cheeses and butter;
- alcohol.
Complex dishes using these ingredients should also not be eaten. No eggs in the dough, butter in the porridge or milk in the béchamel sauce.
On Vodosvyat, our ancestors ate mushrooms, new potatoes and other vegetables from the new harvest, fruits and berries, and used only vegetable oil.
Honey sbiten
This is a sweet and healthy non-alcoholic drink; it quenches thirst well and is refreshing in the heat.
To make sbiten, take:
- 1 liter of water;
- a cinnamon stick and other spices to taste: anise, star anise, vanilla, mint, lemon balm;
- 3 tbsp. l. honey;
- lemon or lime.
Boil water and add spices. As soon as the pan boils, turn off the heat and leave the drink to infuse.
When the water becomes warm, strain it and dissolve the honey in the drink. Add lemon juice to taste and put the sbiten in the refrigerator.
But remember: honey is a strong allergen. For children, this product can be replaced with fruit syrup made from apple or pear juice.
Baked apples
Even beginner cooks can handle this recipe.
Prepare:
- 10 firm, sour apples. It is better to use Antonovka or Semerenko.
- 5 tablespoons of honey.
- 50 grams of poppy seeds;
- 50 grams of raisins, candied fruits;
- spices to taste: vanilla, cinnamon, star anise, mint, lemon zest.
First, steam the poppy seeds: pour boiling water over it and leave for an hour and a half. Then put the grains on a sieve, let them drain thoroughly and grind in a blender. The result will be something like a dark thick paste.
Add honey to taste, raisins, spices and candied fruits to the ground poppy seeds.
Remove the core from the apples using a knife. Fill the fruit with the filling and bake at 200 ° C until the apple pulp becomes soft.
Permitted and prohibited products
The Savior marks the beginning of the Dormition Fast, which continues until August 27 - the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This week, consumption of meat and fish in any form, any dairy products and eggs - all products of animal origin - is not allowed.
It is allowed to eat plant foods: all fruits, vegetables, herbs, cereals and grains.
Very common dishes for this day:
- honey meringue and gingerbread;
- honey kvass;
- salads from fruits and even flowers.
You can even drink plain tea to your heart's content, but always with honey.
What not to do in Honey Spas
Fasting is not only food restrictions, but also a special state of mind. Believers should think about God, pray, read religious literature and listen to stories about the deeds of saints.
Noisy events, dancing, singing, loud conversations are prohibited. Orthodox people believe that in silence the soul draws closer to God. And under no circumstances quarrel with anyone.
If you want to celebrate a holiday in Orthodox traditions, be sure to include a visit to a church service in your program. And do a good deed on Makovei.
Our ancestors, while attending church, gave alms to the poor. Now there are many more opportunities to help your neighbor:
- transfer money to a charitable foundation;
- give a parcel with toys and clothes to the orphanage;
- collect a food package for your local church parish - they will prepare lunch for the poor;
- help an elderly neighbor or a sick person.
It doesn't matter what good deed you do. The main thing is that it is done from the heart.
You cannot work for First Spas. But we are talking about hard, long and tiring work: gardening; cleaning. You can cook food or set the table, you can engage in your favorite hobby, even if it is technically “work” - for example, knitting or painting.
Before you start your festive dinner, be sure to read the prayer - at least briefly, if you do not remember the entire text.
Why are Spas called that?
The word “Savior” is intuitively associated with the Savior, Jesus Christ. And this is how it really is. The holidays of Honey, Apple and Nut Savior in meaning and name come from this word.
In general, Spas is a whole series of the last days of August (14,19 and 29), when summer is already beginning to lose ground, giving way to golden autumn. These days the sun sets significantly earlier than usual, and nature shines with special yellow colors.
But for our ancestors, the busiest time was approaching, so they devoted most of their time not to contemplation, but to a very serious matter - harvesting. They had a long winter ahead of them, so August and September were especially important months, when one day really feeds the whole year.
When harvesting, the Slavs created large reserves (aka supplies). It is no coincidence that these words coincide with the common root “saved.” People seemed to be escaping the long, cold winter by harvesting crops, preparing pickles, jams and many other delicacies, the recipes of which have survived almost in their original form to this day.
Signs and beliefs on Honey Spas
Ancestors believed that on this day nature gives us clues about the future.
- If it’s hot on Honey Spas, next year will be warm.
- Has it rained? The year will be wet and cold.
- Are swallows and swifts gathering in flocks to fly south? It's going to get colder soon.
- If the roses are still blooming, the warm weather will last for a long time. They have fallen off - autumn is coming.
- A noisy holiday means a bad harvest. And there will be no honey next year.
To get rid of sins and earn good luck, treat a poor person with honey near the church. Before this, you need to listen to the entire service and consecrate the honey.
Postcards to Honey Savior
You can congratulate your relatives not only with honey treats and herbal wreaths, but also with beautiful pictures depicting church events, honey, and bees.
To congratulate you on the Honey Savior, use our ideas:
About the benefits of honey
Honey is so beneficial that our ancestors used it as medicine.
Honey improves immunity.
The sweet delicacy contains B vitamins, ascorbic acid, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, iron, sodium and zinc. This is a real natural immunostimulant.
- Honey tones.
Large amounts of fructose and glucose will fill you with energy.
- Improves memory.
The amino acids contained in honey stimulate the functioning of brain cells. And phosphorus and magnesium are real “fuel” for nerve cells.
- Fights cosmetic defects.
A honey mask will make your skin elastic and nourished with vitamins. Regular procedures whiten the skin and remove youthful acne.
- Honey helps you lose weight.
100 grams of honey contains 304 calories, but it is still a dietary product. It is natural, healthy and very sweet. One teaspoon of honey will replace 2-3 tablespoons of sugar. In addition, honey breaks down fats well and activates metabolism.
But honey retains its beneficial properties only at temperatures up to 50 ° C.
If the product is candied, re-melt it in the microwave and in a water bath. This will destroy all the nutrients, leaving only calories. And don't add honey to hot tea.
Where did the holiday come from?
The origin of the holiday (another name is the Savior on Water) occurred in ancient Constantinople. Hundreds of years ago, a terrible disease came to the city, and no one knew how to fight it. One priest took part of the cross from the Church of Hagia Sophia. Jesus was crucified on this cross. Part of the cross illuminated all the water in the city - reservoirs, rivers, wells. The disease instantly disappeared and did not appear again. All people began to idolize the sacred water and said that if you swim in the reservoir, then all illnesses will go away and sins will be forgiven.
What other Spas are there?
In addition to Honey, there are two more Spas: Apple and Nut. They take place at intervals of a week.
Apple
The second one saved was Yablochny. It is also celebrated in August, on the 19th.
On this day, apples and other fruits from the new harvest are sacred. Local fruit dishes are served on the table. If you want to do it right, buy apples, pears and late plums at the market, and leave bananas and mangoes for another day.
Walnut
The third and last Savior is Orekhovy, this holiday is celebrated on August 29.
On the Third Spas, nuts and bread made from new grain are blessed. A lot of baked goods are prepared for lunch, but the most important dish on the table is a festive loaf of bread, decorated with traditional symbols: flowers, spikelets and dough birds.
By this day, the Assumption Fast ends, so the celebration is noisy and fun. They cook meat and fish dishes, drink alcohol, have fun and go on picnics.
But remember: even if alcohol is allowed, you should drink in moderation. Savior is a religious holiday, and a believer should not indulge sinful desires.
Unusual traditions
There are customs and traditions that have not survived to this day. It is rare to see a person who knows and observes them.
These include:
- The beekeepers never missed August 14th. They believed that if the honeycombs in the hives were not opened, then the bees from another owner would take his honey.
- The beekeepers put on a white shirt, took with them new dishes made of wood, and selected only a full hive. It was he who was consecrated in the church.
- A treat at Honey Spas had to be earned. For this purpose, young people organized round dances, songs and dances. Nowadays, folk festivals are organized instead.
- One of the most important things in Makoveya is to feed the needy and the poor.
Ancient traditions and customs are forgotten, but the basic signs and rules are observed. Many are looking forward to one of the brightest church holidays in order to taste the healthiest honey and enjoy folk festivities.
In Rus', honey from the new harvest was brought to church and blessed. Then they were given to those in need or left in the temple. But over time, the tradition became simpler and jars of the healing delicacy began to be taken home. But you cannot eat blessed honey on August 14th. Therefore, they ate the honey of the new harvest, which was not taken to the temple.
