What you can do on the Annunciation: ancient signs. What not to do on the Annunciation Is it possible to do anything on the Annunciation

April 7 is a great Christian holiday - the Annunciation, when the Archangel Gabriel brought the bright news to the Mother of God that she, being immaculate, will bear and give birth to the Savior of mankind. And everyone knows the popular wisdom that no one works for the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, even for this reason “the girl did not braid her braid, and the bird did not build a nest.” And only the cuckoo was disobedient, for which she paid the price - she doesn’t have her own nest, so she is forced to throw her pet cuckoos to other birds, never seeing the children.
But not only was the ban on braiding and twisting bird's nests, but also on other things, so it is very important to know, on the Annunciation, what you can and cannot do in order to adhere to these rules.

- On this day it is not customary to give anything to anyone, since then you will never be able to replenish what was distributed.
“You can’t borrow money today—you’ll spend the whole year in debt.”
“They don’t cut bread for the Annunciation - they break it off so that there is health.”
- You can’t cut your hair or change your hairstyle - you’ll cut off your well-being.
“You can’t sew or knit until the evening, because you’ll quarrel.”
- A pregnant woman should not eat red food - the child will develop an allergy.
- Wear something new and you'll tear it.
- Today you can’t start a new business.
- You shouldn’t go to the cemetery - it’s a sign of illness.
- Chasing animals - they can bite until they bleed.
“You can’t go away to work today—you won’t earn any money anyway.”
— The guy did not propose his hand and heart that day, as he would soon part with his beloved.
“Today we tried to laugh and rejoice a little, since this is a silent celebration.
- It is forbidden to shout; if you need to call out to someone, you need to approach the person.
“From today on, it’s a sin to sit by a splinter in the evening—it will only attract evil spirits.”
— Depending on what day of the week the Annunciation fell on, there were separate prohibitions:
Monday – quarrel with your loved one, quarrel forever.
Tuesday - give the first complementary foods, the child will be thin and sickly.
Wednesday – declaring your love will be unrequited.
Thursday – talk about pregnancy, as problems may arise with it.
Friday - give alms to the opposite sex, as there will be misunderstandings with your other half.
Saturday - wash your hair - you will wash away your mind.
Sunday - petting a cat before lunch means illness.

- Today you should definitely visit church, where you can light a candle for the health of a sick family member - he will recover very soon.
- You can ask the Mother of God in the morning for help in conceiving a child. Get up early and read the “Our Father” prayer three times, and then, looking at the icon, and in your own words ask for help.
- It is advisable to wear white underwear to be pure in both thoughts and actions.
- Children must be given unleavened bread, baked the day before, on which to read prayers for health, and let them eat it on an empty stomach.
- Release the birds into the air - so that happiness follows. Birds can be purchased at the market; you don’t have to have your own.
“We need to light a fire so that the spring birds can dance around it and sing.”
- Bake figurines of larks and waders, as well as other birds, with which children climbed onto a roof or tree, where they called the birds to return home quickly. And they ate the figurines.
— Since April 7, all the peasants have been trying to move to the cold part of the house, because today is the beginning of summer.
It turns out that if you adhere to these rules and do not forget the prohibitions, then you can hope for a good harvest, which means a satisfying and rich life, family happiness and the health of all family members. Otherwise, everything can end in trouble both for the one who shows disobedience and for his family.

The older generation probably still remembers how on Annunciation Day their grandmothers were forbidden to do any housework and, moreover, they were not even allowed to braid their hair or comb their hair. Girls and women, young ladies had their braids braided as tightly as possible so that they would not fall apart and could be laid on their heads throughout the entire holiday even the day before this greatest Orthodox event!

People used to say, “A bird doesn’t build a nest, a girl doesn’t braid her hair.” To break a sign was a terrible sin, from which it would later be difficult to free oneself. If you carefully monitor the life of the birds on this day, they really did not build nests or work! Does all this really work, and the one who violates God’s law will really get sick and live most of his life unhappily and hard?!

Is it a sin to wash on the Annunciation?

There are many other signs associated with the Annunciation, and one of them concerns body care. Is it possible to wash your hair and body on such a great holiday, or is this a terrible sin for which you will have to pay? According to Orthodox traditions, people always tried to visit the bathhouse on the eve of great holidays. The Annunciation was no exception in this regard. You need to heat the bathhouse or visit the sauna, take a bath on the eve of the Annunciation!

No, the church, of course, does not prohibit washing on this great day; there are no reservations about this. But you don’t need to take extra care of yourself, and washing, as a rule, requires a lot of time, which you will devote to yourself “beloved”, and not to God, as it should be on this day! Taking this into account, the clergy only recommend, and do not prohibit, not to wash on the Annunciation!

Every Christian should celebrate this holiday not only with a pure soul, but also with a pure body. Therefore, they prepare in advance, and on the Annunciation, as soon as they wake up, they wash themselves, brush their teeth, have a snack if possible, and strive to attend church in order to spend most of their time in the company of God. It is recommended to ask him for forgiveness, atone for your sins, ask for your loved ones, and improve your internal discomfort by giving your submission and respect to God!

Is it possible for sick people and children to wash?

When it comes to people who are bedridden, of course, it may not be possible to do without water procedures for the Annunciation. You need to do everything quickly and not focus your attention on this matter. Naturally, there is no sin in this, because this is a vital necessity.

In the case of nursing women and infants, it is somewhat simpler. If the water procedure is necessary, you can finally replace it with wiping with a towel dipped in warm water. This way the parts of the body will be cleansed, and there will be no thoughts of any sin!

Those who have work obligations will also have to perform water procedures on the Annunciation. It is a sin to meet the holiday unprepared, so they quickly wash themselves and go to church services, like all believers, praying and spending the day with God! It turns out that if a person simply needs to wash himself on this great holiday, let him do it, there is nothing bad here, but when there is no obvious need, then there is no need to wash!

The Annunciation is one of the most important and significant holidays in the religious world. Every year, it is celebrated on April 7, this date is not fluid, so sometimes the holiday coincides with the period of Lent. Like many other religious holidays, the Annunciation has its own history, traditions and some canons on how to spend this day.

There are many holidays on which some restrictions are imposed, for example, you cannot quarrel on Easter. What can’t you do on April 7 for the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary?

Church customs

The Annunciation often coincides with the period of Great Lent, sometimes coincides with the period of Bright Week and Palm Sunday. If there are no such coincidences, but the holiday still falls on During Lent, the church service that must be attended on the day of the Annunciation is as follows:

• Great Compline is an all-night vigil service on the eve of the holiday itself, as before Christmas or Easter.
• The matins service on the occasion of the holiday is one of the longest of the year. It differs from the service, which is not held on holidays, in the set of prayers. The food is also blessed, and at the end of the service the clergyman distributes and blesses bread and wine.
• The evening service takes place in the order that is customary for the day of the week; it is also the final stage of the celebration of the Annunciation.

Returning to the fact that the Annunciation usually coincides with Great Lent, some relaxations in the Lenten diet are allowed. On this holiday, the church allows you to deviate from the strict rules of Lent and eat fish and drink a little wine.

In addition to the fact that you should definitely go to church, it is customary to do other things at the Annunciation. But, besides this, there is also something that cannot be done on April 7 on the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In honor of the holiday, you can do it.

Basic prohibitions for the holiday

The list of the most basic and strict prohibitions for this holiday includes the fact that you cannot do any work, as well as start new things. You can’t work, since the Annunciation is a big holiday. But you should not start new things because they will not bring success and the benefits that are expected in any endeavor. According to one saying, even a bird does not build a nest on this day.

What you cannot do on the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary on April 7 also includes the following actions:

• You should not lend things and money to friends, relatives or just acquaintances; this can lead to loss of personal well-being, health and energy. It is also forbidden to ask other people to borrow anything;
• You cannot engage in knitting, sewing or weaving, since many people associate threads with life and destiny. By performing such actions, a person performs work (and this is the main prohibition on the Annunciation) and can, through his actions, confuse his destiny and go astray from the true path.
• You should not wear new clothes, as they will wear out quickly, and it will not be possible to purchase new clothes;

This is the main list of what not to do on the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary on April 7. It is also recommended to celebrate the holiday in a narrow circle of family, to refuse to visit or receive guests in your home. Please note when .

Other signs and customs for the Annunciation

The name of this day comes from an event that once happened. Namely, it was on this day that the Archangel Gabriel informed the Mother of God that she, being an immaculate virgin, would give birth to a son who would become the Savior of all mankind. Like many other religious holidays, the Annunciation has its own signs and customs. If the list of things you can’t do on April 7 for the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary includes a ban on work, does this mean that you can just lie on the couch all day and do nothing at all?

There are many customs and signs that are dedicated to the holiday, some of them still call for some action, or impose some other prohibitions:

• The ancestors believed that it was impossible not only to work, but also to wash and comb your hair;
• You cannot light a fire in the house;
• Those wives who manage to call their husband “dear” 34 times before midnight will receive great love and care from their husband within a year;
• If the weather is warm outside on the night of the holiday, then spring will be warm and pleasant;
• If it rains on April 7, it means there will be a lot of mushrooms in the forest in the fall;
• To find happiness and health, you should burn salt on the Annunciation and subsequently add it to your food;

The Annunciation is a religious holiday that should be celebrated wisely. Attend a church service, pray, confess. Next, do your business, if they do not contradict what cannot be done at the Annunciation, and end the day with a modest Lenten dinner with your family. On this day, you should pay special attention to your family and loved ones, without particularly indulging in entertainment. And, most importantly, do not forget that if the Annunciation coincides with Great Lent, then you should observe the fast and become familiar with what you can eat and what you cannot eat on this day.

The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is one of the most revered holidays in Orthodoxy. It is one of the 12 most important after Easter and is timeless, meaning its date does not change from year to year. We will celebrate it on April 7, 2020.

As the Holy Scripture says, on this day the Archangel Gabriel appeared to Mary of Nazareth to announce that the Virgin was to become the mother of the Son of God. “The Holy Spirit will come upon You, and the power of the Most High will overshadow You,” he said, to which Mary replied: “Behold, the Servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.”

In the old days, there were many customs dedicated to this holiday. Some of them are still observed by believers. We will tell you what you can do on the Annunciation and what you cannot do in order to attract good luck and prosperity.

What can you do on April 7, 2020, the day of the Annunciation?

On this day, believers visit temples. At the Annunciation, the Most Pure Virgin Mary is glorified, thanks are said to the Lord God and veneration is paid to his messenger Archangel Gabriel, who brought the good news to Mary.

In churches, the rite of breaking bread is performed, when illuminated bread and wine are distributed to believers. It is believed that the blessed prosphora, which is kept at home, protects family members from various troubles and misfortunes.

In the old days, after the liturgy, white doves were released into the sky. In our country, this custom was revived in some churches in 1995.

What is customary to do at the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary? According to beliefs, on this day the sky opens for requests and prayers. Some people believe that you can “beg glory from God. And if you have fame, you will definitely become rich and happy.” In the evening, if a big star is visible in the sky, you need to shout: “God, give me glory!”

What else needs to be done on the Feast of the Annunciation on April 7, 2020? The Mother of God is the intercessor of all living and comforter of the suffering. We offer prayers to Her, hoping for Her help and support in difficult times.

On this day, all the Mother of God prayers will be appropriate, including petitions, repentance, thanksgiving, etc. Each prayer must be repeated three times, making the sign of the cross and trusting in the help of the heavenly intercessor. If you say them from a pure soul and with good intentions, then your requests will definitely be heard.

You can read the prayer that is read daily:

“Virgin Mother of God, Rejoice, O Blessed Mary, the Lord is with Thee; Blessed are You among women and blessed is the fruit of Your womb, for You have given birth to the Savior of our souls.”

What should you not do on Annunciation on April 7, 2020?

Weddings and memorial services are not held in Orthodox churches, so their dates are postponed to another time. It is possible to baptize children, but it is better to carry out this ceremony on a different day.

Is it possible to celebrate a birthday on the Annunciation? The church does not prohibit this, but it is still better to move the holiday to another date or arrange a small celebration with a Lenten table, inviting only the closest people to it.

As church ministers say, the meaning of such prohibitions is not that certain actions cannot be performed, but that an Orthodox holiday is, first of all, a time that is dedicated to God.

Believers need to take a break from worldly, everyday affairs and devote themselves to spiritual concerns. Try to show more warmth and care towards friends and loved ones, help poor and sick people.

On this day you cannot swear, quarrel, or judge anyone. Try not to overshadow the holiday with sadness and bad mood.

Is it possible to work for the Annunciation? As on other significant church holidays, you should not work around the house, do repairs, clean, sew, or knit. If you have a trip planned, it is better to postpone it to another time.

Work on land plots is also prohibited. It is generally accepted that on April 7th God blesses all plants, so trees should not be pruned. Our ancestors perceived this holiday as the beginning of spring. It was believed that nothing could be planted or sown before this date, since the earth was still sleeping.

It is also believed that during the year one should not start new business on the day of the week on which the Annunciation fell. For example, if a holiday falls on a Tuesday, then business does not start on any Tuesday throughout the year, otherwise you should not expect success in business.

What else is prohibited on April 7, the day of the Annunciation?

It is not customary to wear new clothes, otherwise they will tear or become damaged. According to legend, girls who violate this prohibition will not get married until the next Annunciation. Therefore, in the old days, girls of marriageable age, if they wanted to show off new clothes for a holiday, discreetly put them on earlier (under their clothes).

Hygienic procedures, if necessary, are not prohibited. So washing your hair, taking a shower or bath on the day of the Annunciation is not forbidden.

Is it possible to get a haircut on Annunciation Day? It is believed that it is better not to visit the hairdresser and, if possible, not to comb your hair, otherwise your hair will fall out. As they say, on the Annunciation “the bird does not build a nest, the maiden does not braid her hair.”

The legend about the cuckoo is connected with this belief. According to him, this bird does not have a home due to the fact that it constantly violated the Lord's prohibition. Since then, she has been forced to throw her eggs in other people's nests and be persecuted by everyone.

You should not borrow money or any things to avoid incurring losses. It is believed that those who give something from home on the Annunciation spend their family well-being and peace on strangers.

What can and cannot be eaten on Annunciation Day?

It is celebrated during Lent. However, on a holiday, if it does not fall on Holy Week, as in 2020, you can include fish, wine and oil in the menu. It is also customary to bake flour products from lean dough in the form of larks.

If the Annunciation falls during Holy Week, the requirements regarding compliance with the rules of fasting remain in force. That is, those who are fasting should not eat fish or consume vegetable oil; The ban also applies to wine.

People who have pets need to feed them properly on this day.

In former times, housewives, getting up before dark, heated salt in a large frying pan for at least 10-20 minutes, while reading prayers. Household members, even seriously ill people, were treated with this salt, adding it to food.