Currently, among Orthodox people there are a lot of signs for one reason or another. And although the church insists that you cannot believe in superstitions (this is contrary to religion), but that you should live listening to your soul and heart, this does not stop our people at all. You can hear a lot of signs about cleaning on church holidays. Believing them or not is a personal matter for everyone, but even a person who is far from faith and church, and no, no, will refuse to clean for Easter or Epiphany.
Let's try to figure out why cleaning on a church holiday is not the best thing to do, and also consider what church ministers think about this.
Is it possible to knit on Sunday, the opinions of priests
Sunday is an important day for people.
The priests say that it was created not for everyday affairs, but for godly deeds: going to church, performing merciful deeds, etc.
In case of emergency situations, for example, a child’s blouse begins to unravel, you can tie it up. It is important to remember that the main work should be planned for other days.
We advise representatives of the fair sex to read the article about whether a woman can wear trousers to church.
Signs against tidying
In ancient times, several basic rules were observed in Rus':
- You cannot clean at night or after sunset, otherwise you can wash away the joy and family well-being.
- While one of the loved ones was on the road, the floors were not washed or scrubbed. They believed that this meant expulsion of the traveler from home and trouble during separation.
- Cleaning was done only with the windows closed to avoid quarrels in the family.
- It was forbidden to cook food and clean the hut at the same time, which is the sin of modern housewives. Primete says if you do this, there will be no food in the family.
The priests do not hold the same opinion; to follow such signs and superstitions means to deviate from the Holy Scriptures. There are no such prohibitions in the Bible; the only thing it says is the prohibition of cleaning on Sundays. On this day, all the concerns of a Christian should be related to caring for the soul.
Is it possible to embroider on church holidays?
Embroidery is a hobby of many girls, women and some men who do what they love every day. You can often hear that it is sinful to embroider on church holidays.
If you have free time, you can sit down and embroider. Free time refers to the time that remains after going to church, praying, confessing and taking communion.
There is information about queens embroidering in their free time and saying prayers at the same time. Therefore, embroidery can only be done under the conditions described above.
Strict Orthodox holidays
Despite the fact that the modern church has become more lenient and people are allowed to treat prohibitions less strictly, many superstitions and signs associated with Orthodox celebrations are still preserved among the people and are strictly observed.
There are a number of certain prohibitions on each church holiday. It is believed that compliance with all strictures will protect against failure, and God will forgive sins and be favorable and hear all prayers.
Celebrations with a moving date
The main Orthodox holiday is Easter, which is celebrated every year at different times. It is from this holiday that Palm Sunday, the Ascension of the Lord and the Day of the Holy Trinity are counted.
- A week before the Easter celebration, Palm Sunday is celebrated, a holiday associated with the arrival of Jesus in the holy city.
- 40 days after Easter, the Ascension of the Lord is celebrated - when Jesus appeared to his father.
- 50 days after the main celebration, Trinity is celebrated - when the holy spirit descended on the apostles.
Before Easter, a strict fast is observed, which lasts 40 days. The strictest are the 2 days before Easter (Good Friday and Saturday), during which time it is forbidden to work, cook, clean or wash unless absolutely necessary.
On the day of the main holiday, it is important to remember - this is a date for joy and faith in the best. It is forbidden to be sad, mourn and cry; people should not swear or use foul language.
Basic prohibitions:
- You cannot be stingy and greedy, you need to help the poor and needy.
- It is forbidden to swear, be sad, or get angry.
- Overeating and excessive alcohol consumption are prohibited.
- You cannot go to a cemetery and mourn the dead.
- Intimacy is prohibited.
Easter eggs and Easter cakes should not be thrown away. The surplus is given to the poor or taken to the cemetery.
When are the holidays in 2021?
The Orthodox calendar contains all the main holidays that believers will celebrate in 2021. Transitional dates are highlighted in bold.
Great holidays:
- April 28 - Easter;
- January 7 - Nativity of Christ;
- January 19 - Epiphany (Holy Epiphany);
- February 15 - Presentation of the Lord; April 7 - Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary;
- April 21 - Palm Sunday (Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem);
- June 6 - Ascension of the Lord;
- 1June 6 - Holy Trinity Day (Pentecost);
- August 28 - Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary;
- September 21 - Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary;
- December 4 ‒ Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary into the Temple
Non-Twelfths;
- July 12 - Holy Apostles Peter and Paul;
- October 14 - Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Each holiday has its own characteristics, but they are all connected by the fact that on these days it is customary to relax physically and spiritually, and not to work or take care of everyday life.
Is it possible to heat a bathhouse on Parents' Saturday?
Parents' Saturday is a time to remember those who have passed on to another world. The church commemorates all the dead, and parishioners, as a rule, commemorate their relatives and comrades.
It is called so because the memory of the deceased who went to their parents and ancestors is honored. It is believed that prayers help cleanse souls. In addition to prayers and visiting the temple, people come to the cemetery to clean the graves.
On Parents' Saturday, peasants were required to heat the bathhouse and bathe with the whole family. After this, they left a broom and water for departed loved ones. Based on this, you can heat the bathhouse.
Nicholas the Wonderworker, winter and summer, is especially revered by the Orthodox
The Feast of St. Nicholas is revered by Christians. It is celebrated in winter and summer, but what is the difference between the holidays and who is Nikolai.
In Christianity, Nicholas is considered the patron saint of sailors, children and merchants. He is revered in the same way as Jesus Christ. In 2021, the feast of St. Nicholas falls on 22.05 and 19.12.
According to legend, Nicholas was born into a family of very wealthy Christian believers. From childhood he was accustomed to religion, visited temples and read holy scriptures. Nikolai's uncle was a bishop, who later helped Nikolai become a priest. The parishioners loved the new pastor very much for his compassion and support in grief and generosity. After the death of his parents, Nikolai distributed all his fortune to poor people. In himself, he was meek and modest, hiding good deeds.
Is it possible to do laundry on church holidays?
Officially, there are no prohibitions regarding washing on religious holidays. This does not mean at all that you can get up in the morning and spend the whole day washing clothes.
In the morning you need to devote time to God by going to church. Next, it is advisable to spend time with your family, relatives and people close to you.
Then lunch will approach and if laundry is very necessary that day, then you can do it. If it is possible to reschedule it for another day, it is better to do so.
The main thing is to spend time with God.
What do the clergy advise?
The church and clergy are loyal to any work on Sunday and holy holidays. Modern society has produced many professions whose work cannot be stopped for God's sake. And a person will not always find the strength to give up the income with which he feeds his children in order to pray in church every Sunday as a true Christian.
The Church advises celebrating holidays with prayer. And, as on any other day, do not scold and try to do good, godly deeds. And the clergy do not see anything sinful in the need to defend their work shift, clean their own house, or water their livestock after prayer.
Now there is a substitution of concepts when a ban on work is perceived as permission to be lazy. From the point of view of Christian teaching, one of the seven deadly sins is laziness. Therefore, when a person does not attend church on Sunday or holy holidays, but spends the day in idleness, for example, in front of the TV or drinking, citing the fact that there is nothing he can do anyway, this is perceived by the church as a greater sin.
Of course, it is better for a believer to spend a holiday with his family, not forgetting to visit the temple in the morning, but wiping the dust, removing a broken flower pot, taking a swim or washing soiled children’s pants is not forbidden by the church, and moreover, by God.
Is it possible to bathe a child on Sunday?
Even in ancient times, it was believed that a child should not be bathed on this day of the week. In our time, echoes of this superstition still remain.
Often grandmothers and mothers-in-law scold mothers for this. They assume that this will harm the child (the baby will be restless, sick, happiness will be washed away from him, etc.).
In fact, no church confirms this. First of all, you need to devote time to the Lord, carry out merciful deeds, do not forget about your loved ones, and then mind your own business.
Fourth Commandment
In this commandment, God calls people to work 6 days a week, but the 7th day should be devoted to serving the faith and performing holy deeds. The following are considered deeds pleasing to God:
- take care of the salvation of the soul;
- enlighten the mind and heart with religious knowledge;
- engage in godly conversations;
- help the poor;
- comfort the mourners.
The Sabbath rest was given by God to man to restore spiritual strength and perform good deeds. By eliminating daily hassles, a person is spiritually renewed and comprehends the purpose of life. Work is important in the integrity of aspirations, but the salvation of the soul is considered more important.
Is it possible to treat teeth on a church holiday?
Church holidays must be honored. However, if you have an illness that needs urgent treatment, it would be unreasonable to suffer in pain. Therefore, dental treatment is allowed.
Neglecting health will not be approved by any church.
If the pain is minor or the procedure can be performed on another day, then it is better to reschedule plans for the next day. You should also try to make time for the Lord.
Thus, prohibitions on various types of work and activities on Sundays or church holidays are the lot of superstitions. Superstitions inspire fear; there is no real threat. Despite this, many continue to adhere to myths.
However, this is everyone's business. Priests recommend spending this time visiting church or temple, praying, and spending time with family and loved ones.
Why was it previously prohibited to wash and clean during Easter week?
In ancient times, washing and cleaning were indeed prohibited during Easter week. This can be explained by the fact that previously washing and cleaning were a really difficult task; the fairer sex who did this suffered and became seriously tired after such a process. It is known that physical work was prohibited, especially if it concerned girls and women. Cleaning was equated to physical labor, just like washing, and therefore it was impossible to do it. However, over time, when cleaning and laundry have become more accessible, the fairer sex may no longer worry about ancient prohibitions.
Sometimes it happens that during Easter week there is the most dust and debris in your home that needs to be urgently removed. If you ignore this garbage, you can turn your home into a real place for attracting dark forces. That's why you need to clean up, no matter that it's Easter week. The most important thing is to pray before cleaning so as not to provoke the wrath of the Lord.
Comments
How many days can you not work after Easter?
According to Orthodox canons, believers must rest for 40 days. The countdown begins with Easter. This period includes the Ascension and the day of surrender.
Why exactly 40 days? This is due to the events described in the Bible. This is how long Jesus was on earth before he was taken up.
Our ancestors believed that the Savior of mankind walked among people during this period. He was dressed in the rags of a beggar. This is where the tradition of giving alms to the disadvantaged and helping the poor came from. It was believed that the family of the one who donates money during these 40 days will not suffer from a lack of finances for the entire next year.
Of course, even in those days people could not afford to rest for almost a month and a half. However, each believer set aside 7 days for rest. They fell on Bright Week.
At this time, people abandoned such worries:
- Job;
- preparing complex dishes;
- cleaning;
- sewing, knitting, embroidery, other types of needlework;
- planting plants.
This list does not include serving sick relatives or housekeeping. Although this is hard work, it is necessary, and it is simply impossible to put it off even for two days.
