✟ Apple Savior (Transfiguration of the Lord): what kind of holiday, traditions and signs

The Apple Savior, as it is often called among the people, is not entirely directly related to the Orthodox Church calendar, since it began to be celebrated even before the adoption of Christianity. It acquired Orthodox status a little later and at the same time it was identified as the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ on Mount Tabor.

The holiday has its own traditions - both folk and church.

What is applesauce? Children's party?

The Transfiguration of the Lord is timed to coincide with the church holiday. It is celebrated by all Orthodox Christians, and often whole families visit the temple with small children, so the Savior of Apple is perceived as a children's holiday. In fact, it simply takes place in an atmosphere of goodwill towards each other, love, gratitude to the Almighty. Given the large number of children, this is perceived differently.

Apple holiday is a popular name. According to the church calendar, it is defined as the Transfiguration of the Lord.

He was nicknamed Yablonev because the Dormition Fast falls at the same time, which means the food should be simple, lean.

Apples, which ripen by August, are often used as the main source of nutrients and vitamins.

The holiday was named Spas, taking into account the events on Mount Tabor. Thus, Jesus Christ revealed himself in a different guise to show his disciples that his possibilities are limitless, and therefore the Son of God will indeed soon be crucified, after which he will be resurrected. When Jesus’ face shone, his clothes became white like a bright light, and the prophets appeared: Moses, Elijah. They talked about the crucifixion, the resurrection. After which those present heard a voice that said that Jesus was the son of God and ordered them to listen to him. This event is called the Savior on the Mountain.

At the same time, the holy trinity appeared: God the Father (appeared as a voice), the Holy Spirit (cloud), the Son of God Jesus Christ. At first, the event became a confirmation of his divine origin for his closest disciples. Moreover, it was said that they should not pass on what they had taken to anyone until the prophecy was fulfilled. Later, the Transfiguration of Jesus became a confirmation of the divine principle for all people.

Fasting day on apples

Nowadays, few people strictly observe all holiday traditions, but perhaps the best way to celebrate the Second Savior would be to sit on apples for a day. This unloading will cleanse the body of waste and toxins and help get rid of a couple of extra pounds.

A lot is known about the beneficial properties of these fruits, so we will not delve too deeply into the topic, but will only list some of them:

Pectin and fructose in fruits help break down fat. Despite their low calorie content, apples make you feel full for a long time. They are great for snacking.
Coarse fiber swells in the intestines under the influence of water, gently and naturally removing everything unnecessary from the body.
Apples contain vitamins that make us more attractive and younger.
When consumed regularly, apples can normalize blood pressure, reduce the manifestations of atherosclerosis and relieve problems with stool.

The ideal combination for a fasting day is to consume one and a half kilograms of apples and a liter of kefir. This express diet will help you fit into your favorite dress in the shortest possible time and improve your well-being.

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Apple Spas: Slavic traditions

This day is celebrated after the Honey Savior (August 14). After it will come Nut (August 29). To understand why the holiday received such a name, you need to turn to ancient times, when the Slavs celebrated the day of the apple harvest. It was believed that this was a sinful fruit (it became such when Eve plucked an apple from the tree of Knowledge). For this reason, the fruits were first sacred and then placed on the table. Until that day they had not even been tried. Traditions of ancient times in Rus':

on the Apple holiday, it was necessary to bite off the pulp of the fruit, make a wish, the Slav who performed such a ritual believed that the words spoken to himself would come true;
in the morning of the Apple Festival, they prepared the fruits in different ways: fried, baked, boiled, baked pies, made jam and other dishes - apples should be on the table in all forms;
they harvested during the day;
in the evening a national holiday was celebrated - everyone sat down at the table;
it was believed that on August 19 the planet was “turning towards autumn”, this meant the imminent approach of cold weather and a gradual decrease in daylight hours;
in the evening at sunset they sang songs and said goodbye to the sun.

Food should be modest, since the Second Saving falls during Lent.

It was recommended that all Orthodox Christians give food to the poor on this day. One should visit the temple where the Divine Service was held in honor of the Transfiguration of the Lord. Now baskets with food products are also being blessed, in which, first of all, there should be apples; it is allowed to put other fruits and food there.

Signs for Apple Spas

Based on the weather on this Orthodox holiday, one can judge what the next season or even the whole year will be like. Signs:

a clear day for the apple festival - autumn without heavy precipitation; if it rains, autumn will also be wet;
after August 19, the length of daylight hours shortens, the nights become longer: the Lord is transformed, and at the same time the weather changes;
when there is a strong wind on Yablochny Spas in August 2021, the winter will be harsh;
the appearance of starlings in the trees indicates that cold January is coming;
If yellow leaves appear, the air temperature will soon drop, which will mean the rapid approach of autumn.

Proverbs and sayings on Apple Spas

Celebrated holidays must have their own customs and traditions. Proverbs related to the Apple Festival:

The Savior has come - it’s time for everything: the fruits are ripening;
If apples are not born, there will be no Savior.

Sayings:

Anyone who eats an apple a day never sees a doctor;
The tree is crooked, but the apples are sweet.

Signs and rituals of August 19

In Yablochny Spas we monitored the weather. If the day was dry, then there will be no rain in the fall and the harvest will be poor. If it rained, then spring and autumn promised to be rainy, and the harvest was rich. The sunny weather in Yablochny Spas promised a harsh, cold winter. There are other signs:

When waking up, hearing laughter means a rich harvest.
Waking up and hearing birds singing means the year will be successful.
Seeing an apple tree in a dream means marriage.
Treating a beggar at Apple Spas means a rich harvest.
If an unmarried woman is the first to meet a woman with her head uncovered, it means a quick marriage.

Rite of Youth

The rejuvenation ceremony was carried out after sunset at Yablochny Spas. They picked 12 fresh apples and said the following words: “Even on a clear day, even on a bad day, may nature bewitch me with youth.” For the next 12 days, eat one apple.

A rare spell for youth is carried out after sunset. The woman must make juice from unblessed apples and remain alone in front of the mirror, turning off the light. He places a church candle between himself and the mirror. He brings a glass of juice to his lips and says: “The power of the Apple Savior, give me the strength to transform myself, to be imbued with health and youth, life and will.” Then he washes himself three times with apple juice and after each time he says: “I will wash off my old age, I will gain youth.” They drink the remaining juice and go to bed.

On request

Another conspiracy will help you fulfill your cherished desire. A ripe apple is picked from the tree in the evening. They sit in a room alone, bite off a piece of an apple, chew and say: “Let everything come true for the servant of God (name), because everything is for her good, not to the detriment of others. As I bite into this apple, I bring my dreams into reality. Amen". This is repeated seven times. It is important to time it so that by the seventh bite the entire apple is eaten.

Home cleansing

The ritual to cleanse the house was carried out in the early morning of August 19. The largest apple was picked from the tree and cut into two equal parts. The middle was cut out. They lit a church candle, put it on a saucer and walked around every corner in the house with it. All the wax from the saucer is poured into half the apple, covered with the other half and rolled up. The fruit was taken outside and buried in the ground as deep as possible.

Ritual for wealth

More often they performed a ritual for wealth. On August 19, three linden branches were plucked and placed in a vase with water. She was placed next to the bed. Every morning, the first thing they did was get out of bed, take out the branches and walk around the whole house with them. Then they put it back in the vase, and this continued for nine days.

For the betrothed

The girls wondered about attracting a betrothed. They picked an apple in the garden, divided it into two parts and put a nettle leaf between them. They put the halves of an apple together, brought them to their lips and whispered three times: “May it be for the good of everyone around when you come to me. Fly to me like stinging nettles, and you will stay with me.” They hid the fruit and waited for it to dry. Then you need to bury the charmed dried fruit near the chosen one’s house.

Ancient love plot in Yablochny Spas

This conspiracy dates back to pagan times. They do it only for unsanctified fruits. They strictly follow the instructions and memorize the words in advance. An apple for a conspiracy should not be purchased, but exchanged for a small item. Then follow the instructions:

In the evening, the apple is placed on the windowsill so that the rays of the setting sun fall on it.
They take the fruit in their hands and turn to the west. Present the face of the chosen one.
Then the fruit is cut into two parts and a photograph (a drawing or, as in the old days, a name written on parchment) is placed between the halves.
They connect the halves and say: “You will be mine forever, while the apple trees bloom, while the fruits fall, until the winters come. To be mine for you both for the next Savior and for distant ones. You will come yourself, you will take it yourself, you will become mine.”
The spell is repeated three times, rewinding the halves with red thread. The fruit is hidden so that no one will find it.
Every morning they are laid out on the windowsill before dawn so that the first rays of the sun touch it. This continues for nine days.
If the apple dries up, it means the plot worked. If it rots, then the union is hopeless.

They perform the entire ritual on August 19 and keep it secret. The dried fruit is buried in the ground and watered with clean water for three days after that.

Pictures (postcards) with the holiday “Apple Savior”

In Russia it is customary to congratulate each other on this holiday. Nowadays, postcards are often used: with images of the Son of God, apples, and a temple. They may contain inscriptions: short prayers, words of congratulations on the Transfiguration of the Lord. Such pictures are sent to each other by phone or given in person.

Send this prayer to your loved ones

What does the apple symbolize?

The apple has long been considered a symbol of knowledge and wisdom. After all, according to legend, it was this fruit that Eve ate, succumbing to the temptation of the evil one. Moreover, she treated them to Adam, who did not dare to disobey the lady of his heart. As a result, the person was expelled from paradise.

But there were some pleasant surprises. According to legend, apples allowed people to feel a thirst for knowledge - that very useful feeling, which resulted in inexorable technical progress. That is why a bitten apple appears on the logo of the world famous company Apple.

And 2500 years earlier, in Ancient Greece, the image of an apple acquired a clearly negative connotation. It’s not that the Greeks didn’t like fruit, it’s just that there’s an interesting story to be found in their mythology.

Three girls were spinning under the window late in the evening; but these were not Pushkin’s girls, but sophisticated ladies. Moreover, they are real goddesses: Athena, Aphrodite and Hera - the same wife of Zeus who intrigued his illegitimate son Hercules.

The ladies were invited to a wedding, where they forgot to invite a certain Eris, the goddess of discord. She was terribly angry and offended to the core. And as often happens, she came up with an insidious plan for revenge.

Eris took out a beautiful golden apple from somewhere and wrote on it with her graceful hand: “To the most beautiful.” Then she quietly tossed the fruit onto the festive table (perhaps goddesses can do other things) and immediately disappeared.

Unfortunately, three goddesses were sitting at this table! It is no longer known what they paid attention to - such a strange apple or the inscription, but as a result, a serious scandal broke out. After all, each, for obvious reasons, considered herself the most beautiful.

Other gods gathered at the noise and decided to hold a fair trial, and choose the beautiful young man Paris as the judge (apparently, naively believing that the lovely temptresses would not be able to seduce him). How the ladies tried to tip the scales in their favor! Hera promised to give him enormous power, Athena - courage. But Aphrodite won, who promised the young man the most beautiful girl, Elena.

True, after this the wedding still ended in strife and even wars. Therefore, almost everyone forgot about the goddesses, but the expression “apple of discord” remained, and this negative image “stuck” to the apple for a long time.

For a long time it was considered a symbol of temptation and human sinfulness. Eve ate the forbidden fruit, gave it to Adam - and it seemed that the apple even stopped in his throat. This is how they explained why men have an Adam's apple on their necks, but women do not.

However, eating apples was not at all prohibited. And even prepare alcoholic drinks from it - cider, which is widespread in almost all European countries.

Nowadays, apples have become a symbol of a healthy lifestyle, proper nutrition and all kinds of prosperity. There is even an English proverb “An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” which means: “Whoever eats an apple a day does not go to the doctor.” There is a grain of joke in this, but there is also a grain of truth.

Despite the fact that an apple contains practically no iron (although a common myth still lives on), it has a full range of vitamins, minerals, and fiber, which promotes quick saturation and cleanses our intestines. Therefore, everyone can include them in their daily diet. And even more so on Apple Savior Day!

Question-answer section

To receive complete information about the features of the celebration of the Transfiguration of the Lord, you should contact the temple. If this is not possible, all questions should be asked to the clergy online.

What can and cannot be eaten at Apple Spas?

Varvara, 33 years old, Samara: “I always follow the traditions of Orthodoxy on the apple holiday, but I’m not sure about food - perhaps I allow extra foods in my diet somewhere. Tell me how to start a meal correctly?”

Expert opinion

Father Innocent

“When it’s summer and it’s warm, I recommend limiting yourself, if possible, to fruits, like apples, and also herbs and vegetables. If you adhere to Lent, then you should not eat meat and dishes containing it, fatty foods, and eggs. You can eat fish. They also prepare everything lean (pies, salads, first and second courses, but without broth and meat).”

What can't you do before the Apple Savior?

Alla, 43 years old, Rostov-on-Don: “I know what exactly is prohibited for the holiday itself, but before it, you also need to adhere to some prohibitions. What can’t you do about it?”

Expert opinion

Father Innocent

“In order for you to celebrate the holiday without sin, you need to prepare for it. Apples should not be consumed before August 19th. Earlier in Christianity, when the festivities began, no one ate these fruits until they were illuminated. Now this rule can also be observed, although it does not apply to dogma.”

What not to do on August 19, 2021?

Anna, 38 years old, St. Petersburg: “I know that it is allowed to harvest apples, too. I'm not sure about the rest. Tell me, what actions are prohibited on this day?”

Expert opinion

Father Innocent

“Heavy physical labor is not recommended, as well as activities such as sewing and knitting. Better spend this time with the Lord. Also, you should not destroy every creature of God, including insects. It is better to refrain from entertainment until the end of Lent. There's no need to swear yet. However, like any other day. It’s better to resolve everything peacefully.”

When is the next Spas and what?

Olga, 32 years old, Chelyabinsk: “This holiday was always celebrated with my parents. I recently learned that there are others with a similar name. What is the next Spas and when will it be?

Expert opinion

Father Innocent

“After Apple comes Nut, but not immediately. It is celebrated on August 29.”

Why Spas Yablochny?

Irina, 39 years old, Kazan: “We celebrate this holiday at home, but no one knows why it is named that way. Please tell his story."

Expert opinion

Father Innocent

“This is originally a popular name. Officially the holiday is called the Transfiguration of the Lord. Savior means salvation that came when Christ appeared on Mount Tabor in a new guise before his disciples. They call it the apple holiday because the fruit harvest begins at this time.”

Is it possible to eat apples before the Apple Savior?

Veronica, 29 years old, Stavropol: “It’s interesting why apples are sacred on August 19, and various dishes are prepared from them. It feels like no one eats them before the holiday.”

Expert opinion

Father Innocent

“Yes, there is a grain of truth here. This is also an ancient Slavic tradition - you should not eat them before August 19 (before the blessing of the fruits). After all, it was the apple that Eve picked from the tree of Knowledge.”

What not to do on Second Spas

In the church tradition, of the prohibitions on August 19, there is only a dietary restriction associated with the Dormition Fast. But, according to popular beliefs, on this holiday you cannot do the following:

Work activities are strictly prohibited, excluding helping children and the sick. You cannot wash, sew, clean the house, or work in the field or garden. It was believed that work activity could attract negative energy into the home.
Killing insects, even pests, is considered a bad omen. This applies to midges, mosquitoes, beetles, etc. There is even a belief that two flies landing on your hand will bring good luck if you do not drive them away.
Any noisy celebrations, quarrels and excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages are also not welcome. This rule especially applies to parishioners.

Most of the prohibitions in Yablochny Spas come from Slavic beliefs, so in most villages they try to adhere to them. Such traditions are especially preserved in remote regions.