How many different holidays brightens our everyday lives!Among them are Orthodox - given us the Holy Church, there are political - sent down to us from the offices of the government, but there is that much to be honest, pagan, or rather, their modern interpretation.But it happens that in some holiday suddenly found traits of modernity and archaism, Christianity and idolatry.Typically, these are called folk festivals.On one such holiday, and this article will tell.This is a celebration of the warm Alexis.He is celebrated on 30 March.
Whose name is this holiday
the turn of the IV and V centuries, in Rome, a pious but childless family after much prayer son.The parents called him Alex.With six years of a child diligently learns and comprehends not only the letter but also the church dispensation.It fills in all his thoughts.When befitting the age of the parents are trying to marry Alexis, he married the bride leaves her immediately, and taking their property, sent to Syria.
Life in Edessa and repatriation
the city of Edessa monk offers prayers in front of the famous miraculous image of Jesus Christ, the Savior sent ill Abgar.From that day he began a life holy fool.Having sold everything that was with him, he distributes money to the poor, he lives on alms received by the porch of the temple of God.So Alexis spends seventeen years, becoming stronger in humility.All his time is filled with prayers and pleasing to God.Praise his holy life becomes the property of others.
Not wanting to be in the limelight, leaving Alexis Edessa and unrecognized by anyone, he returned to Rome, to the house of his father.Years spent in voluntary poverty, so changed his appearance, that neither the father nor the households have no idea about who is in front of them.Here, living on a mere sponger position, he is exposed to all sorts of humiliations and insults, but accepts them as the Lord sent down to strengthen his humility and gentleness.
lived so still seventeen, Reverend completes his earthly journey.Before his death, he sets out on paper the story of his life.On this day, during the liturgy in the church the Lord reveals to all those present, including the bishop and the emperor, the whole sanctity of life Alexis.Pay homage to the dead, and his relics are prepared precious ark.So finds a new Christian church of Saint - Alexis, the Man of God.
What does Alex Warm holiday
In the popular mind the saint became the personification of God's reward for humility, resigned for transferring the hardships and tribulations.The climax of the suffering will be the future of bliss - that truth which bears the image of him.That is why the celebration of the warm and Alexey love the people that spring, when it comes, it's also a kind of reward for the carry-forward of winter hardships.
modern people, especially urban residents, surrounded by the achievements of civilization, it is hard to imagine anything that carried with it the winter of our ancestors in the vast expanses of Russia.Often in winter I had to literally survive in unit tunes on the roof snow izbёnke, under the howling of wolves and the lowing of the hungry cattle - hay is not always enough to the first grass.So happy end suffering.
The calendar is not marked Orthodox holiday - Warm Alex.Among the religious holidays do not.This is easy to see.By the way, abroad neither Catholics nor Protestants religious festival Warm Alex also did not appear.We commemorate this day the man of God in the liturgy Alexis.Note that even the name is pronounced a little differently, but the people never forgot about it.
Customs in this holiday
work on that day were not supposed to - could hurt the spring.In Russia, especially in the northern part, the spring has always been a touchy lady.Just what is wrong, and zalёtsya tears rain for weeks, and yet the peasants felt need and go to plow the field and was the first to kick skotinku grass - so it's best not to anger.The peasants tried to get dressed for a holiday, and could be heard throughout the day of their warm congratulations on the occasion of Alexis.
only exception is for those who have kept bees.This day was made after a long winter make the apiary hives.This was followed by a certain magical rituals.To a swarm of bees in the summer did not leave their hive and flew away, there was a sure remedy.We had to dig out a small piece of turf, three times to enclose it around the apiary and say, "How does this turf (for the national - sod) will remain in this place, and my bees remain in the hive."They say that helps.
Goose feasts on holiday
More holiday in warm Alexei was not supposed to ride on a sled.The sign was correct: the rental - and there will be a rapid snowmelt.Yes, in fact, go-it was not with his hands - a winter road in the sun turned into a solid river.We are sitting at home, celebrating.Arranged goose feasts.Congratulations on the occasion of the warm and the hosts took Alexei, and geese.The latter, however, given the role of the roast.
Those who could not sit at home on this spring day, were the first to collect birch sap.It can be drunk in its pure form, and prepare honey-birch stewed fruit.It was something similar was brought down.The modern housewife can cook it without difficulty.To do this, take 150 grams of honey and the same amount of sugar.Knead them into a liter of birch sap and boil 20 minutes.After that, add the bay leaf, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and ginger.Boil for five minutes, remove from heat and drain.The resulting drink is not only tasty, but also gives strength.Here are just a spice is often added only those that could be found in their village shops.Without such a treat not do any Alexey warm holiday.
Sayings and signs associated with the holiday
course, folk festival could not be reflected in folklore.There are many different sayings associated with it.Suffice it to recall, "Alex - with each snowdrift pitcher spill", "Alexei water from the mountains, and fish-camp" - and so on.In addition, the experience helped in natural phenomena guess predictions for the future.Hence born folk omens on holiday Warm Alex.For example, it said that if the day heat, and the spring will be early and warm, is ample streams determined how widely razolyutsya soon the river and much more.
Matrimonial signs and customs of the day
And another interesting fact.Warm Alex - a holiday, which marks not only predicted the weather, but also changes in their personal lives.For example, it was believed that if a girl is on holiday will give a beggar a shirt, it's a sure sign of an early marriage.
So the cherished day, many girls secretly prepared gifts for the poor.It was possible to identify the signs of a festive appearance, even her betrothed.To this end, it was enough to come on the eve of the garden and closed his eyes, break the willow branch.If it will be a long and smooth - future husband will just feast for the eyes, tall and slender.Well and if the branch would be short and curve - the one to blame, no one to blame.
successfully broken branch is not discarded and carried the holy church.After that, she could bewitch the desired groom.We had a right to touch his branch of the church or, more reliable, pieces of branches to throw him in the water or to put under the pillow.
Pre-Christian culture and Orthodoxy
Of course, in all this is a clear mixture of paganism and Christianity, but in general - touching and poetic.This spring day carried people happy, and that is why we say that the Warm Alex - holiday.Signs, customs and beliefs - is its organic part, and without them it would have lost its charm.
When we speak of returning to our spiritual basis, then, of course, first of all have in mind the Orthodox culture, the millennial baggage which we have over the past decade is largely lost.Orthodoxy - is the foundation of our morality and moral purity.But it would be a serious mistake to erase and forget the deep layers of culture, which were created by our old ancestors.They also are our roots.
