Good Friday, the day Jesus Christ was crucified on Calvary centuries ago, falls on April 30 in 2021. People used to say: “Whoever laughs on Good Friday will cry later all year.” The fact is that this day was supposed to be devoted to sorrow, prayers and quiet sadness, fun on the eve of Easter was considered inappropriate. What else can and cannot be done on this day?
April 30 in the national calendar is called “Zosima the Bee“. On this day, the Orthodox Church remembers the Monk Zosima of Solovetsky, who was born in the Novgorod diocese and later moved to Pomorie. There, legend says, the saint met with two monks. Together in the 15th century, they built a cell on the Solovetsky Island, and then founded the famous monastery.
Both Zosima and Savvaty are considered patrons of bees and protectors of beekeepers. By the day of Zosima in Russia, it was supposed to take out the hives to the apiaries. In parallel with this, beekeepers performed a special ceremony to protect their “winged friends”- they put a table in the middle of the apiary, covered it with a snow-white tablecloth, laid out bread, salt and water consecrated on the feast of the Epiphany in the middle, prayed to Zosima and Savvaty, and then walked around the apiary with a church candle, sprinkling it with holy water. In this case, it was required to repeat: “The swarm is swarming – Zosima is having fun“.
In addition, on April 30, it was necessary to taste honey. It was believed that this food will bring health. This, however, is not all the meanings that people put into this holiday.
In 2021, April 30 is a particularly revered day for believers – Good Friday. According to legend, it was on this day on Calvary that Jesus Christ suffered in order to atone for the sins of people. On this mournful day, it is customary to remember not only the suffering of the Savior on the Cross, but also His removal from the cross, and then burial.
In order not to incur the wrath of higher powers on this day, it was forbidden:
– wash and wash clothes, start cleaning (all the chores associated with the cleanliness of the house were supposed to be completed the day before, on Maundy Thursday). Old-timers claimed that if you wash your laundry on Good Friday, it will show traces of blood;
– work in the garden (it was said that any plant planted on Good Friday would die, and after that nothing would grow in this place for many years);
– have fun, laugh, sing and dance (Good Friday is one of the most mournful days for believers, fun is inappropriate, it can anger God);
– break the fast by eating meat, eggs and dairy products, as well as drinking alcohol;
– spouses to enter into intimacy (this on Good Friday was considered a sin, the fruit of which could be a sick child born into the world).
At the same time, on Great (Good) Friday, it is allowed, and sometimes required:
– pray, read the Gospel and attend church services;
– to help those in need, to give alms (this was called “Christian virtue” and promised to help and the intercession of higher powers);
– to prepare the Easter table (on Good Friday in Russia, they began to bake cakes and paint eggs. It was said that dishes cooked on that day did not spoil for a long time. In the morning, Easter cakes, cottage cheese Easter and eggs were supposed to be taken to the temple to consecrate).
By the way, in Russia there were signs associated with the preparation of Easter treats. It was believed that if the cakes and bread turned out to be ruddy and beautiful, the family would be happy, and harmony and prosperity would reign in the house. But if they burn, expect trouble soon.
Happy birthday on April 30, you can congratulate:
Adrian, Alexander, Zosima, Ephraim, Ivan, Mikhail, Semyon, Fedor.