Day of the Holy Spirit is an Orthodox holiday. It is not tied to the same number, but the specific date depends on what date Easter is celebrated. The Bright Resurrection of Christ in 2024 will be celebrated on May 5, which means Spirits Day - June 24, on Monday, on the 51st day after the Feast of the Holidays. In accordance with the church calendar, the Third hypostasis of the one God is especially revered the day after the Trinity (Pentecost) - in 2024 it falls on June 23.
Meaning of the holiday
The celebration continues the series of significant Orthodox dates dedicated to the Trinity, and honors one of Her divine faces - the Holy Spirit.He descended upon the apostles at the moment of Pentecost and sent down upon them the grace of speaking in different languages. Thanks to this, the Christian religion has become widespread throughout the world. Information about this event and the preaching of the Truth by the disciples of Christ is contained in the Book of Acts.
What can I do
The tradition is such that Orthodox believers try to visit the church early in the morning for divine liturgy or just to put candles to the festive icon and ask the Lord for peace in the soul, family well-being, and also that everyone close and dear people were he althy.
Both Spirit Day itself and the feast of the Holy Trinity in 2024 are a wonderful time for confessing sins and cleansing your own soul. Coming to the Sacrament of Communion is also a great happiness and great spiritual benefit. Of course, this should be done after preliminary preparation.
On Spirit Day, you need to carefully look around (and not only in 2024, but in subsequent years) - suddenly there is someone nearby who urgently needs help. However, charity should be feasible and not necessarily expressed in financial support. Sometimes heartfelt participation and a kind word are required: just listening carefully to a person is already worth a lot.
What not to do
Strict prohibitions applied to various areas of life. Our ancestors were sure that many things are categorically not allowed on the Trinity holiday - both in order to show due respect to God, and in order not to harm ourselves. Can't:
- swearing and swearing, getting into conflicts, and even more so not provoking them first;
- do heavy physical labor, including housework;
- revenge the floor - so as not to accidentally throw away joy along with rubbish;
- to arrange wedding celebrations;
- allow yourself to hunt or fish;
- visit deceased relatives at burial sites;
- drink alcohol;
- to move to a new house.
It was considered a great sin to refuse help to those in need. If you are not hospitable, money will not flow for a long time - at least a year.
According to our ancestors, it was impossible to move too fast, or even run. If you neglect such a ban, there is a high probability of running away from your own Destiny, which will not be useful, on the contrary, it will bring harm. Sadness, evil thoughts and plans of revenge were also banned.
Knowing in advance what date Spirits Day falls on the first month of 2024, it is much easier to prepare for this great celebration in accordance with the Orthodox faith.
Folk beliefs
There was a belief among the people that you can't swim on the holiday, because mermaids appear on the shore. True, there was also a benefit from them - the grass began to grow thicker and taller. They also did not approach the river, so as not to accidentally see their reflection - this could turn into a loss of love forever.
If a thunderstorm began, accompanied by lightning and thunder, such natural phenomena were considered a good sign. People believed that they help cleanse the earth and drive away evil spirits.
The collected plants were given a special, healing meaning. Healers in particular tried to stock up on medicinal herbs, so that they could then heal the sick.
Believers opened the windows wide open so that the Holy Spirit could freely enter the house, bestowing happiness and material well-being, and generally tried to spend more time in the fresh air.
According to one of the beliefs, one could hear Mother Earth already carrying the future harvest in her womb.The peasants never worked at this time in the field, garden or garden, trying not to disturb the breadwinner. It was forbidden to dig, plow, harrow, loosen, water it. Nobody planted anything, didn't sow, didn't drive in stakes, and didn't even pull out weeds.
In there was an old custom of feeding the earth. For this, women gathered and went out into the fields for a common meal. They laid out the brought food on beautiful tablecloths, some of which was left as a treat.
Even our ancestors sprinkled wells with holy water so that mermaids and mermen leaving rivers and lakes would not hide there.
Signs
People noticed: if the cuckoo "sings" most actively, the summer is expected to be hot.
If the air temperature is much higher than in previous similar periods, and grasshoppers do not stop flying in the fields, a drought is not excluded. An abundance of mosquitoes predicted rainy weather.
The morning rain "reported" a rich harvest of mushrooms, and a heavy downpour "suggested" that good weather could be enjoyed not only in summer, but also in autumn.
Abundant evening dew - to the heat, and fog that does not disappear for a long time after sunrise - to the deterioration of the weather.
Good news was expected if the birds started nesting in the immediate vicinity of the house.
When the Lord visits the earth again in June 2024, it is important to open more widely not only windows and doors, but also your own soul. May the divine light pouring from Heaven, bringing good luck, goodness and prosperity penetrate into it.
