In 2017, the Day of the Holy Trinity is celebrated - June 4... The Day of the Holy Trinity, Trinity, Pentecost, the Descent of the Holy Spirit is one of the main Christian holidays, included in Orthodoxy among the twelve feasts. The Orthodox Church celebrates the Day of the Holy Trinity on the 50th day after Easter, Sunday.

On the Day of the Holy Trinity, one of the most solemn and beautiful services of the year is performed in Orthodox churches. After the liturgy, the Great Vespers is served, at which stichera are sung, glorifying the descent of the Holy Spirit, and the priest reads three special lengthy prayers:
- about the Church;
- about the salvation of all worshipers;
- about the repose of the souls of all the departed (including those "held in hell").
While reading these prayers, everyone (including the clergy) kneels - this ends the post-Easter period, during which no kneeling or prostration is performed in churches.

According to Russian tradition, the floor of the church and houses of believers on the Day of the Holy Trinity is covered with freshly cut grass, icons are decorated with birch branches, and the color of vestments is green, depicting the life-giving and renewing power of the Holy Spirit. Trinity is a very beautiful and popular holiday.

Trinity rituals

Trinity Day is one of the most important holidays among the Eastern Slavs, especially loved by girls... In the folk tradition, Trinity Day is included in the Semitsko-Trinity festive complex, which included Semik (the seventh Thursday after Easter two days before Trinity), Trinity Saturday, Trinity Day. In general, the holidays were called "Green Christmastide"... The main components of the Semik-Trinity festivities were rituals associated with the cult of vegetation, girls' festivities, maiden initiations, commemoration of the drowned or all the dead.

Among the Slavic peoples, the holiday of the Holy Trinity is also closely associated with the farewell to spring and the meeting of summer:

• On Trinity (Semytskaya) week girls 7-12 years old they broke birch branches and decorated the house with them from the outside and from the inside.
• Thursday (next day) children morning fed scrambled eggs, which was then a traditional dish: it symbolized the bright summer sun. Then children went to the forest to curl a birch: it was decorated with ribbons, beads, flowers; branches were tied in pairs, braided into a braid. Children took round dances around the decorated birch, sang songs, arranged a festive meal.
• On Saturday, on the eve of the Holy Trinity, the Slavs have one of the main memorial days. This day is often called "Hearty Saturday" or parental day.
• On the day of the Holy Trinity, everyone went to the church with flowers and birch branches. Houses and temples on this day were decorated with a green carpet of leaves and flowers. After the festive service in the church, the youth went to develop the birch... It was believed that if this is not done, then the birch may be offended. After the birch was developed, they repeated the meal, again danced and sang songs. Then the tree was cut down and carried around the village with songs. Often, the birch could also be sent down the river, believing that the tree would give its strength to the first shoots in the field.

Trinity Traditions

As is customary in Russia, Orthodox holidays are closely intertwined with folk traditions:

So, leaving the church, people tried to grab the grass from under the feet to mix with the hay, boil with water and drink as healing. Some of them made wreaths from the leaves of the trees that stood in the church and used them as amulets.

Lovely trinity tradition decorating houses and temples with branches, grass, flowers has lived for more than a century. The decoration ceremony for the Trinity is not accidental. Greenery is symbolized in the folk tradition for Trinity - life. By traditionally decorating houses on the Trinity with branches, herbs and flowers, people express joy and gratitude to God that He revived them through baptism into a new life.

Historically, to decorate temples and houses, according to folk traditions, birch branches are used... We can say that the holiday of the Trinity without a birch is the same as celebrating Christmas without a tree. At the same time, in some localities, the tradition of decorating houses and churches on Trinity may differ somewhat and oak, maple, mountain ash can be used for decoration ...

Among the people, the Trinity was revered for a great holiday, they carefully prepared for it: they washed and cleaned the house and yard, put the dough for preparing dishes for the festive table, prepared greens. On this day, pies and loaves were baked, wreaths of birch (in the south of maple) and flowers were curled, guests were invited, young people staged walks in the forests and meadows.

The girls put on their best outfits, often sewn specially for these holidays. Everywhere heads were adorned with wreaths of herbs and flowers. Elegant girls usually walked at a general meeting of the people - the so-called "Bride bridegroom"... It has long been considered a good omen to marry Trinity... The wedding was played in the fall, on the feast of the Intercession of the Virgin. Many people still think it helps. family life: married to the Trinity, they say, will live in love, joy and wealth.

On this day, roesuli were baked for girls - round cakes with eggs in the form of a wreath. These goats together with scrambled eggs, pies, kvass made up a ceremonial meal, which the girls arranged in the grove after curling a birch tree, that is, decorating it with ribbons, flowers, weaving wreaths from its thin branches.

Through these wreaths the girls were idolizing - they came up in pairs, kissed each other, sometimes exchanged underneath crosses and said: Let's think, godfather, let's think, we won't scold you, always be friends. For the rite of nepotism curled the tops of two birch trees, intertwined them together. Then the girls broke up in pairs and walked under these birch trees, hugging and kissing. After thinking, they stood in one big round dance and sang threefold songs. Then we went to the river. When they approached the river, everyone threw their wreaths into the water and used them to charm on the future fate... After that, they cut down the birch tree and carried it with songs to the village, put it in the center of the street, danced round the birch tree and sang special Trinity songs.

What cannot be done on Trinity - popular beliefs

A whole cycle of beliefs and prohibitions was associated with Trinity Days among the people, which were strictly forbidden to be violated under the threat of misfortune:

• birch brooms could not be made on Trinity;
• during the week it was forbidden to fence up or repair harrows so that “ugly-looking pets would not be born”;
• it was strictly forbidden to work on the first three days of Trinity - however, you can cook a treat, as well as invite guests to a festive meal;
• it was impossible to go to the forest for a week, to swim - it is undesirable to swim on Trinity Day, because, as our ancestors believed, that the day of Trinity belongs to mermaids - you will swim, the ancient Slavs believed, you will go to the bottom. Starting from "Green Christmastide" and until Petrov's Day (July 12), mermaids emerge from the pools, hide in the forests, in the trees, enticing travelers with their laughter.

Signs on Trinity

There are other beliefs and traditions on the Trinity. Let's now find out what signs are on the day of Trinity.

• If it rains on Trinity, then wait for the mushroom harvest.
• Flowers and herbs collected on such a day are considered healing and can cure any ailment.
• It is believed that from Monday - the day of the Holy Spirit there will be no frost, warm days are coming.
• On the day of the Holy Spirit, it is customary to distribute all the small change to the poor, thereby protecting yourself from hardships and diseases.
• There was also such a belief fair man could find treasure, as if hearing his call from the depths of the earth.
• There was a belief that plants on the Trinity are endowed with special magical powers, which was reflected in the custom of collecting medicinal herbs on the night of Trinity.

The celebration of the Trinity

Trinity passes noisily and cheerfully. In the morning, everyone rushes to the church for the festive service. And after it they arrange folk fun with round dances, games, songs. Loafs were definitely prepared. Guests were invited to a festive dinner, they made gifts to each other. In some areas fairs were held. With the revival of faith in Russia, the traditions of celebration are also reviving orthodox holidays... And already in our time in the cities of the country they arrange folk festivals on Trinity.

The celebration of the Day of the Holy Trinity is one of the most revered ten twelve celebrations of Christians of the Orthodox rite. The date is floating and falls on the seventh week on the fiftieth day after Easter.

The number 50 is not accidental: that is how much passed after the Resurrection of Jesus, and the Holy Spirit appeared before the apostles. The name of Pentecost stuck among the people, according to the number after the Easter days. In 2019, the holiday falls on Sunday 9 June.

Religious basis of the holiday

According to the Bible, all the apostles and the Mother of God were in a cell in Jerusalem. Suddenly, tongues of flame descended on them, which did not burn, but only shone. Fire in this case is symbolic, it means the ability to warm, illuminate and cleanse the souls of people from sins.

The apostles felt an extraordinary inner strength and gained the ability to speak in different languages. This was the beginning of their preaching and spreading the teachings of Christ. For believing Christians, the holiday is associated with the beginning of the emergence of the church.

In the church on Trinity, Divine Liturgy is held, and Vespers is celebrated. Prayers are read for the descent of the Holy Spirit to all who are present in the church, as well as to deceased relatives and friends.

It is believed that after the holiday of Trinity, nature fully revives and begins new life... In churches, freshly cut green grass is placed on the floor, and birch branches are hung on the walls. For divine services, priests wear green robes. According to church rules, work for the Trinity is prohibited.

Traditions and customs on the Day of the Holy Trinity

The Feast of the Trinity in Ancient Russia took root only after baptism. The peasants tidied up the house, and then decorated the walls with green branches of maple, birch or mountain ash. This symbolized the arrival of real spring, the continuation and prosperity of life.

The girls braided wreaths, which they lowered into the river in the evening, bending low so as not to touch them with their hands. The wreath had to fall into the water itself. After that, they carefully watched him, in which direction he swam - from there and wait for the groom. If the wreath does not budge, then there will be no wedding this year, and if it drowned, then the mistress will expect trouble.

Traditionally, the days of the holiday are called "Green Week". Any greenery, tree twigs, flowers are brought to the church for consecration. Then they decorate the house to cleanse it of evil spirits. This tradition has survived to this day. Also, the consecrated greens were dried and used as a medicine for diseases, evil eyes and bad intentions.

After attending a church service, they arranged a celebration, baked a loaf, and invited guests. The remains of the loaf from the table were dried and added to the cake dough for the wedding. People believed that this would bring prosperity and joy in family life.

How Trinity is celebrated in Russia

In the modern world, outdoor festivities, fairs - sales of agricultural products, and concerts with performances of local folk artists are held. In many large cities of Russia on this day are held interesting contests, dances and round dances, trade stalls with pies and sweets are exhibited.

The great holy holiday - Trinity Day is a public holiday, and therefore it can be fun to spend in a company in the country, or at a picnic in the forest. You can cook kebab, barbecue, or pamper your friends with homemade sausages.

Brooms are built for the trinity

One of the main traditions of the Trinity for the Russian people is the preparation of birch brooms for the bath. It has survived to this day, since on this day all herbs and plants are considered especially useful, healing the soul and body. Earlier it was believed that the birch twigs harvested for Pentecost protected the house from thunderstorms and epidemics, and the power contained in them could pass to a person.

According to old Russian traditions, young trees with wide leaves were chosen for harvesting birch brooms. To determine whether a tree is suitable or not, the leaves were tasted "on the tongue." If it was delicate and velvety, with a smooth surface, it was taken on a broom, if it was rough and uneven, it was left.

Branches on a broom were necessarily broken, they were never cut, it was believed that the tree did not tolerate so much pain. They twisted the branches for drying into bunches with willow vines or grass, saying: "Brooms are built for the trinity ..."

Folk beliefs and signs for gardeners

The Great Day of the Holy Trinity was honored not only by believers. This day is still considered special among the people, they attach magical significance to it.

• Saturday on the eve of Trinity is called parental, when the deceased parents were remembered and they came to their graves. By folk beliefsif this is not done on this very day, then the deceased can take away any still living relative;
• There were many matchmaking on Trinity. According to popular beliefs, the married life of those wedded to the Trinity will be successful and prosperous;
• The day of the Trinity Ambassador is popularly called the Day of the Spirits. According to popular beliefs, a treasure can be easily found on this day.

The holiday falls at the end of the sowing season and the first harvest. By this time, radishes, radishes, early varieties of carrots in greenhouses ripened, so summer residents developed certain beliefs and signs:

• After consecration, the green branches were hidden behind the cover of the icon and mourned, thereby begging God for good weather;
• A good omen is rain for a holiday: it means that there will be sunny warm weather and a big harvest;
• People believed that the dead wake up on a holiday, and mermaids can be dragged into the water, so it was forbidden to swim. Cereals were thrown into the water to appease the spirits. There was a belief: "What was lost in the water at Pentecost, was disfigured in the field fifty times."

Outcome

IN church calendar The holiday of the Trinity is a symbol of the trinity of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and in the folk it is the beginning of a new life. The holiday is held in a warm family circle, and is a good occasion to gather family and friends at one table.

Long before the advent of Christianity, the Slavic peoples celebrated Green Week. It marked the end of spring and the beginning of summer. Some pagan rituals and fortune-telling, which are held on the feast of the Trinity, have survived to this day. The customs of ancient times are based on the renewal of life - this is the time when the first leaves appear on the trees, flowers bloom. And for the feast of the Trinity of the church, houses were decorated with greenery - a symbol of the growth and renewal of the Christian faith.

Trinity or Pentecost?

The feast of the Trinity is one of the most beautiful holidays in Orthodoxy. It always falls at a time when the first leaves on the trees begin to bloom. Therefore, people decorate houses and churches on this holiday with green branches of birch, maple, rowan.

Trinity does not have a fixed celebration date. It is scheduled for the fiftieth day after Easter. The Bible says that it was on this day that the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles. The disciples gained the ability to preach the word of Christ. Therefore, this holiday is otherwise called Pentecost or the Descent of the Holy Spirit.

Only in the XIV century did they begin to celebrate the holiday of the Trinity in Russia. The customs of the tradition on this day have been observed since that time. The founder of the holiday was the Monk Sergius of Radonezh.

Old Testament holiday

Pentecost is a Jewish holiday that is celebrated on the 50th day after. According to legend, on this day the people of Israel received the Law of Sinai. Traditionally, in honor of the celebration, entertainment for the people, mass celebrations, and sacrifices are organized.

He gave the Law of God to his people. This happened on the fiftieth day after the exodus of the Jews from Egypt. Since then, Pentecost (or Shavuot) has been celebrated every year. In Israel, on the same day, the festival of the first harvest and fruits is celebrated.

When did the Trinity appear in Christianity? The customs and traditions of the celebration date back to the Old Testament Pentecost.

Orthodox holiday

The apostles retired to celebrate the Jewish Pentecost. The Savior, before his martyrdom, promised them a miracle - the coming of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, every day they gathered in one of the Zion chambers.

On the 50th day after the Resurrection, they heard a noise that filled a small space of the house. Flames appeared and the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles. He revealed to them three hypostases - God the Father (Divine Mind), God the Son (Divine Word), God the Spirit (Holy Spirit). This trinity is the foundation of Christianity on which the Christian faith stands firmly.

The people who were not far from the upper room heard a strange noise - the apostles spoke in different languages. Jesus' disciples received amazing abilities - to heal, prophesy and preach in different dialects, which allowed them to carry the word of God to all ends of the world. The apostles visited the Middle East, India, Asia Minor. We visited Crimea and Kiev. All the disciples, except for John, were martyred - they were executed by opponents of Christianity.

One God is The custom of the church feast began in the morning. The whole family went to church for divine services. Then people returned home. They arranged a gala dinner, went to visit, congratulated friends on a bright holiday, gave gifts.

Slavic holiday

In our country, the holiday of the Trinity began to be celebrated only 300 years after the baptism of Rus. Before that, the Slavs were pagans. But even today there are ceremonies, signs that originated in those days.

Until Trinity, this day was considered the border between spring and summer. Its name is Semik (Green Week), or Triglav. According to pagan religion, three deities ruled over all mankind - Perun, Svarog, Svyatovit. The latter is the keeper of light and human energy. Perun is a defender of truth and warriors. Svarog is the creator of the universe.

In Semik, people arranged merry festivities, danced in circles. Houses were decorated with the first greens, from which medicinal tinctures and decoctions were then prepared.

So from a pagan celebration arose religious holiday - Trinity. Customs, signs of ancient times, are still relevant among the people. For example, the greenery that adorned the church at Pentecost was taken home and dried. It was sewn into canvas bags. This sachet served as a talisman at home.

Celebration traditions

How is the feast of the Trinity? Most holiday customs begin with cleaning the house. Only after the room sparkles with cleanliness, the women decorated the rooms with green branches and flowers. They are a symbol of fertility, wealth.

The hostesses cooked festive table - cooked pies and gingerbread, cooked jelly. There is no fast on this day, so any food is allowed for the Orthodox. In churches on Trinity, the Divine Liturgy is celebrated, and immediately after it - the evening. During it, kneeling prayers are read. The priests ask for the granting of grace to all those present, for the bestowal of wisdom and reason on the believers.

After the service, people sit down at the festive table, invite guests, give gifts and congratulate each other. Traditionally, it was customary to get married on this day. It was believed that if the matchmaking takes place on Trinity, and the wedding on Pokrov, a happy life awaits the young family.

How is Trinity celebrated in other parts of the world? Traditions, customs, rituals of different countries are united by the festive service. And in England there are even religious processions on this day. In Italy, rose petals are scattered from the ceiling of the temple. In France, trumpets are blown during divine services, which symbolizes the descent of the Holy Spirit.

Folk customs on Trinity

According to popular legends, mermaids wake up on Pentecost. In this regard, the villagers have several customs.

• In the villages, they made a stuffed mermaid, danced around it during festivities. Then it was torn into small pieces and scattered across the field.
• Before going to bed, women ran through the village with a broomstick to protect themselves from mermaids.
• One girl was disguised as a mermaid, taken out into the field and thrown into a crop. Then everyone fled to their homes.

What other folk practices is the Trinity famous for? Traditions, customs, rituals consisted in driving away evil spirits from the gate of the house. According to legend, on this day, a water one woke up, and the villagers burned fires along the coast to ward off evil spirits.

Much attention was paid to decorating the house. Only branches of maple, birch, mountain ash, oak could protect people, give them strength and health.

Another custom was to water the branches and flowers that were in the temple with your tears. Girls and women tried to cry harder, so that drops of tears fell on the greenery. This method helped the ancestors to get rid of the summer drought and autumn crop failure.

First day

All festive events were divided into 3 days. The first was called Green Sunday. On this day, the icons were decorated with birch branches, a special prayer was said for Trinity.

Festivities were held in forests and fields. People danced in circles, played, sang songs. The girls wove wreaths and lowered them down the river. Such fortune-telling helped to find out what fate awaited in the coming year.

People commemorated deceased relatives. At the cemetery, crosses and monuments were swept over with a birch broom to ward off evil spirits. They left treats to the deceased on the graves. On this night, according to folk legends, prophetic dreams were dreamed.

Second day

Klechalny Monday is the second day of the celebration of Pentecost. People hurried to church in the morning. After the service, the priests walked through the fields with blessings. This was done in order to protect the crop from drought, rainfall and hail.

Third day

Bogodukhov's day is most celebrated by girls. They arrange festivities, games, fortune-telling. According to folk tradition, the fun is "To drive the Poplar". The most beautiful girl dressed up, decorated with greenery and wreaths - she played the role of Poplar. Then the youth took Poplar to their homes, and each owner presented her with a tasty treat or gift.

Holiday symbol

There is still a birch curling ritual. During the process, the girls made plans of good health to their mother and other relatives. Or, while curling a birch, they thought about a beloved young man - thus tying his thoughts and thoughts to themselves.

During the festivities, a small birch was decorated with ribbons, flowers flew into it. After round dance chants, they cut it down and began a triumphal procession through the village. An elegant birch tree was carried around the entire village, attracting good luck to its inhabitants.

In the evening, the ribbons were removed from the tree and the traditional sacrifice was arranged. The branches were "buried" in the field, and the birch itself was drowned in a reservoir. So people asked for a bountiful harvest and protection from the spirits.

On Trinity, early dew was collected - it was considered a powerful medicine against ailments and ailments. Such rituals existed among our ancestors. Some of them can be found today. And what cannot be done on Trinity?

What is forbidden to do at Pentecost

On this holiday, it was strictly forbidden to work in the garden or around the house. Therefore, zealous housewives spent general cleaning to Trinity. And on the holiday itself, they only decorated the house and prepared an abundant meal.

What other prohibitions are there? What not to do on Trinity? All home repairs are best left for another day. You cannot sew. Do not wash, cut or dye your hair.

On this day, you cannot think about bad things or talk about someone in a negative way. It is forbidden to swim - otherwise, in the near future, the disobedient will die (according to one version, he will be tickled by mermaids). And the one who remained alive after swimming on Trinity was declared a sorcerer.

Do not be offended, swear on this day - Trinity is a bright holiday. Signs and customs (what you can't and what you can do) - it all comes down to prayer and kind words... Trinity is a holiday of renewal of life, therefore, you should surround yourself only with positive things on this day.

Parent's Saturday

The day before Trinity began. People went to the cemetery, commemorated deceased relatives.

For a long time, a memorial dinner was prepared on parental Saturday - cutlery was set for the deceased. The deceased was invited to a meal.

The bathhouse was heated that day. And after the whole family had washed, they left water and a broom for the deceased.

On Trinity parental Saturday, suicides are commemorated, they ask for the repose of their souls. It is read on Trinity. But the Holy Church claims that this is a delusion - suicides cannot find rest after death. Therefore, only in home prayer can you ask for them.

Signs at Pentecost

The Trinity is rich in beliefs and omens. The customs and traditions of the holiday carry many centuries-old omens.

1. Rain on Pentecost - to an abundance of mushrooms and close warmth.
2. If the birch is fresh on the third day after the holiday - to wet haymaking.
3. They woo Trinity, marry the Pokrov - to love and harmony in the family.
4. To attract wealth to the house, you need to cover several
5. Heat on Trinity - by the dry summer.

The whole week of the celebration was called Rusal Week. Thursday was considered especially important - on this day, mermaids tried to lure people into the water. Therefore, in the evenings, people tried not to leave the house. It was forbidden to swim all week. And it was imperative to carry wormwood with you - this herb scared away evil spirits.

Today, Trinity is celebrated in nature, with songs and fun. Customs, signs of ancient times become irrelevant and gradually disappear. But until now, people decorate their homes with greenery so that peace, tranquility, happiness, health and prosperity reign in it. And the girls carry wreaths to the reservoirs and, holding their breath, let them float into the water: where the wreath floats, from there to wait for the betrothed, and if it hits the shore, it’s not destiny to get married this year ...

Church celebration of the day of the Holy Trinity takes place on Sunday, on the fiftieth day after Easter. This Orthodox holiday has its own rituals, customs and traditions. This year, Trinity is celebrated on June 8.

The celebration of the Day of the Holy Trinity, or Pentecost, has its roots in Old Testament times. On the fiftieth day after the Old Testament Passover (the day of the exodus of the Jewish people from Egypt) at Mount Sinai, the prophet Moses gave his people God's law and founded the Old Testament priesthood. So this day became the day of the founding of the Old Testament Church.

In a similar way, the Day of the Holy Trinity is associated with the New Testament Easter, because on the fiftieth day after his resurrection from the dead and on the tenth day after ascending to his Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ sent the Apostles the Comforter - the Holy Spirit.

In Russia, Trinity began to be celebrated 300 years after the baptism of Prince Vladimir.

In Ukraine, the holiday of the Trinity is closely associated with the farewell to spring and the meeting of summer - Green Holidays. The week before Trinity is called "green", "klechal" or "rusal", and three days before Trinity and three days after it, in fact, are called Green Week. During the Green Holidays, oats bloom, people decorate their houses with greenery and flowers, girls weave wreaths. And also, according to legends, at this time the dead wake up and mermaids emerge from the water.

At this holiday orthodox Church recalls the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles and notes the Holy Trinity - one of the main principles of Christianity. The concept of the Trinity symbolizes the image of God - God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

This great church holiday is liberation from everything bad and sinful in the human soul. It was on this day that the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles in the form of a sacred fire, which endowed them with grace and gave strength to equip the Holy Church on earth in order to convey the Words of God to every person.

The Feast of Pentecost is the birthday of the Church. God's chosen disciples were empowered to preach the gospel throughout the world and carry the message of Jesus as Savior and Lord. Nowadays, the successors of the apostles are clergymen, who are considered mediators between God and people.

Sun, warmth and prosperity

For the holiday of Trinity, the hostesses clean the house and clean it up, decorate the rooms with flowers, young grass and green branches, which symbolizes warmth, sun, coming summer, prosperity and the continuation of life. Most often, branches of birch, oak, rowan, maple, calamus grass, mint, lemon balm are used for decoration.

On the day of Trinity in the morning they attend a festive church service. The parishioners hold in their hands flowers, fragrant herbs and green branches, symbolizing renewal through the descending Holy Spirit.

Close friends and relatives are invited to a festive dinner, they are treated to a loaf, egg dishes, pancakes, pies, jelly and give each other gifts made with their own hands (reeled dolls, ornaments made of flowers and herbs).

You can also go out into nature, organize a picnic - after all, Trinity 2014, as in other years, is celebrated on a day off.

The tradition of folk festivals has survived to our time. Many cities host cultural events, concerts, fairs.

Trinity festivities

In the old days, after the morning service, mass festivities, chants, round dances, active games and competitions in the air. In the evening, the girls danced in round dances, and the guys looked after their brides. Therefore, the girls on this day put on their best outfits, weaved bright ribbons into their braids, and did not forget about jewelry.

Also, girls from flowers and herbs weaved wreaths and let them in the water. Some wreaths were secretly given to the chosen ones as a token of love.

The matchmaking was a good omen. It was believed that if they were dedicated to the Trinity, and they were married to the Pokrov, it meant that the life of these spouses would be long, happy, in love and harmony. Traditionally, matchmakers had to bring a loaf to the house of the future daughter-in-law. And rusks from the Trinity loaf were kept until the wedding and added to the wedding cake for the newlyweds as a sign of happiness and love. Girls decorated the house with herbs for the arrival of their beloved.

Trinity herbs were dried and subsequently used as a medicine and remedy for various ills. According to signs, such greenery protects the house from thunderstorms.

Celebration traditions

One of the most ancient signs is the custom of bringing to church for consecration, and then hiding in the house behind a frame or later behind an icon bundles of "tearful" herbs - grass that was specially mourned, as tears symbolized rain. Thus, people begged from nature, and later from God have a nice summer without drought, with rains and a rich harvest from the soil saturated with moisture.

Birch twigs, inserted behind the window frames, behind the frames, shutters, green grass scattered in the upper room, also symbolized a good fruitful summer, because this was the case in every village house.

Any peasant labor on Trinity was condemned in the village: neither in the field nor in the house was it possible to do business, except for cooking. It was also impossible to swim, because this time is the time of mermaids, when mermaids can lure to their bottom.

The day before Trinity, on parental Saturday, everyone went to the cemetery - to remember relatives, if someone did not get on that day, it was believed that he invited the dead to him, and they, in turn, would take someone out of the house ( that is, the relative will die).

Therefore, in front of Trinity, they left the memorial supper, and hung the clothes of the dead on the fence - both to remember, and to push back death, to drive away.

It was on Trinity that old women went to the cemetery to sweep the graves with birch brooms - it was believed that evil spirits retreat at the same time, and the dead rejoice and promote peace, harmony and wealth in the entire village.

From agricultural signs, we can note the well-known "rain": rain on Trinity - for the harvest, for mushrooms, for warm weather, without frost.

And the next day after Trinity is the Day of Spirits. The land was considered a birthday girl, they did not work on it either, and in the morning they went in search of treasures, because on their name day the land will surely reveal something valuable to a good person.

Fortune-telling night

The Church rejected all sorts of fortune-telling, but it so happened among the people that between Christmas and Epiphany, great christian holidays, there was a long period of Christmastide - the time of fortune-telling, and on Trinity, during the mermaids, the girls wondered about fate, about the betrothed, they waited with trepidation for matchmakers.

The most common fortune-telling is “curling” a birch tree and weaving wreaths. On the eve of Trinity, the girls went into the forest, tilted the tops of young birch trees and weaved a wreath from twigs - "curled", if upon arrival at Trinity to her birch, the girl saw that it had developed or waned, there was no good waiting. If it remains the same, there will be a wedding, and a beloved betrothed, and wealth in the house.

Weaving wreaths is also a custom on Trinity. The girls were weaving in the company, the men were not allowed to come to them, if the guy saw someone's wreath, it was a bad omen, the "evil eye" of the girl. Wreaths were woven right into Trinity and went with them to the river. There they launched into the water: where they swam - from there the groom will be, stayed at the shore - the girl will not marry, but if she drowned, she will die this year. Moreover, the wreaths were not removed from the head with their hands, but bent so that they themselves fell into the water.

And in order for the betrothed to dream, they put birch twigs under the pillow.

Prepared by Anna ALEXANDROVA

Trinity remains one of the most beloved Orthodox holidays after Easter. The celebration of the Trinity begins fifty days after Easter. This holiday, called Pentecost, was celebrated among the Jews even before our era, but with the advent of Christianity, the holiday acquired a slightly different meaning. Preparing for Trinity among the Jews, it is somewhat different, since Pentecost symbolized the receipt by Moses of the commandment of God on Mount Sinai, which happened just fifty days after Easter.

Among Christians, Pentecost is celebrated in memory of the appearance of the Holy Spirit to the apostles after the ascension of Christ, which also happened on the fiftieth day after Easter. In honor of the triune god, the holiday was renamed Trinity, and the day of the Holy Trinity and the descent of the Holy Spirit to the apostles are considered the beginning of Christianity as a religion.

The week before Trinity

Based on the meaning of the holiday and Orthodox traditions, preparation for the Trinity begins a week before the holiday and is called the week of seven. The symbol of the holiday is a young birch tree, which, having absorbed all the power of the earth, will help to get a new rich harvest, and will bestow good health on people and animals.

Wednesday in Semytskaya (Trinity) week is called lean. On this day in Russia, girls between the ages of seven and twelve went to the forest to break birch branches, which they then used to decorate the house from the inside and outside. Of course, in our time, you should not break birch branches and decorate the house with them, but you can prepare for Thursday, and, according to tradition, string various scraps and candy wrappers on long threads, as well as prepare for the Trinity new smart clothes.

On Thursday, children are served scrambled eggs for breakfast, which resembles the bright summer sun. Previously, children were also given colored eggs with them, after which the children went into the forest to dress up a birch tree with prepared threads with shreds and candy wrappers. In modern realities, it is quite possible, together with the children, to decorate a birch tree on a personal plot or go with them to the forest for the same purpose. The birch should be decorated as follows: the branches of the tree are collected in a nest, after which they are tied together, braided in the shape of a braid and twisted into a wreath of wildflowers. Now you can decorate the prepared branches with prepared threads with shreds, as well as ribbons, beads, scarves and other similar material. After decorating a birch tree, in accordance with tradition, one should sit under a tree, eat cooked food and colored eggs, and be sure to leave the half-eaten food for the birds. In Russia, it was also customary to lead round dances around a birch tree, perhaps even now children will like it very much.

Then they continued to prepare for the Trinity on Saturday, in addition, Saturday was still considered the main memorial day among the Slavs. That is why Saturday before Trinity is called parental.

Celebration of the Holy Trinity

Finally, all trinity preparations completed and starts on Sunday itself great holiday... In the morning, it is customary to go to church, taking with you branches, bunches of grass or flowers. It is on Sunday that you should decorate your home with flowers and leaves. After the end of the service, it is customary to develop the birch tree back, which in Russia was part of the responsibilities of youth. But it is imperative to develop a birch tree, since it has been curled, otherwise, according to legend, the tree will begin to feel resentment and then you can not wait for a good harvest and good health. In order to develop a birch tree, you should repeat the entire rite, that is, dance in circles, sing songs and eat again under the tree. True, after the ceremony, the birch was cut down, which is not recommended now. The felled tree was carried around the village, accompanying the procession with songs. Sometimes a birch tree was dressed up in a girl's dress, and a girl climbed under the dress and carried the birch tree through the village, holding it by the trunk. Then the impression was created that the tree itself was walking through the village, leading the festive procession.

End of the holiday

At the end of the festive processions, the birch was stripped and drowned in the river, then it was believed that the tree would give all its strength to new shoots.

To this day, Trinity is considered one of the most mysterious holidays, where pagan and Orthodox traditions are intertwined in the most bizarre way. In any case, the holiday has come to us from time immemorial and it is in our power to extend its traditions already in the twenty-first century.