The number of special ecclesiastical days is impressive, that's why only priests can remember about all. For example, to tell you that for the holiday of the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord, few people are capable of communicating with people's signs and customs without preliminary preparation. But meanwhile this day is really significant for Christians, and its history is rich.
What and when are they celebrating?
Before talking about the beliefs and signs to the day of the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord, it is worthwhile to understand what kind of holiday it is and what it is important for the Christian world. The event refers to the twelve, that is, one of the most important. They celebrate it in Orthodoxy on September 27, on Sunday between September 11-17, the Armenian Apostolic Church , and in Catholicism and some churches using the New Julian calendar, the celebration takes place on September 14.
The holiday itself is timed to the day of the finding of the cross, on which Jesus was crucified. According to church records, this happened in 326 in Jerusalem, near the cave of the Holy Sepulcher. There were found three crosses, to find the desired one was obtained with the help of a sick woman who was healed after touching him. There is a version that the cross resurrected the deceased, who was carried by.
The Empress Elena brought nails and part of this cross to Constantinople, where a large temple was erected. It was built about 10 years, consecration occurred on September 13, and celebrated the Elevation of the Cross of the Lord decided the next day, which corresponds to the new style on September 27. Also, the return of the cross from Persia, where he was 14 years old, was timed to this date. The cross was brought to the temple in Jerusalem by Emperor Heraclius. Therefore, right now before the service (in some churches during a small evening), the cross is transferred to the throne, where all believers can see it.
Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord - signs and customs
Since the holiday is approximately correlated with the beginning of the astronomical autumn, in the people this moment was considered a turning point. The harvesting was over, which was marked by the removal of the last sheaf from the field, and on this day the housewives tried to cook as many cabbage dishes as possible. The animals prepared for winter, hiding in holes, and the forest evil prepared to fall asleep, so going to the forest at the Exaltation was considered a bad omen, it was possible not to return.
On that day the last meeting took place in the evil spirit, during which they said goodbye before hibernation. The person who interfered with this will necessarily leave the forest with damage or a curse, or even not at all out of the forest, wandering around the circular paths that the goblin tosses. And that the evil spirits could not do much harm on their last day, they were driven away: in the pagan tradition, by noise, songs and dances, in the Christian - the procession around the village. The good spirits who helped in household chores, on this day not only did not interfere, they also arranged a holiday: they left treats on embroidered towels. Some brave girls asked the brownies to help them find a sucker, but this is only after all the necessary signs of respect.
Many signs were associated with the observance of the post of the Exaltation, for example, if you adhere to it, you can get rid of the seven sins or deserve your luck in business for next year. As well as in any other big church holiday, it is impossible to do important things, otherwise everything will turn out badly.
But most of all it will correspond with the natural conditions, since the Christian tradition was layered on the already existing customs. So, on this day you need to keep the doors closed, because the snakes begin to look for a convenient place for wintering and can quite creep home. The ancestors believed that the snake bitten by the Exaltation would be left without a home. Later on, the scientists gave an explanation: after a bite, the snake needs time to recover, and in the autumn this chance can not be introduced, because of the cold and inhibition before the anabiosis, the reptile will not have time to reach the hole and freeze. Birds too are in a hurry to find a warmer place, so on September 27 the last migratory picchuses are sent to the wintering place.
And this day is considered the end of Indian summer, so it's worth hurrying to spend the last warm days in the fresh air.