When does the honey season begin? Honey saved

Honey Spas in 2017: what date, history, meaning and traditions of the holiday. Honey Spas is one of the long-awaited and beloved holidays among the people. The date of the holiday is immutable - it is celebrated on the same day from year to year.

Honey Spas in 2017: what date. In 2017, as usual, we will celebrate the Honey Savior August 14.

Honey Spas in 2017: history, meaning and traditions of the holiday. According to tradition, services are held in churches on this day. The main part of the service consists of bringing the Cross to the center of the Church. Throughout the day, believers have the opportunity to worship the shrine.

Sometimes you can hear another name for the holiday - Savior on Water. The origin story of this name is that initially the essence of the holiday was the blessing of water. On this day, a ceremonial removal took place in Constantinople. Life-giving Cross. And in the Hagia Sophia they later blessed water with it. People believed that this water had miraculous properties. The tradition of blessing water on Honey Savior has survived to this day.

Spas was popularly called Honey Spas because by August 14th the honeycombs are filled with honey. From this day on, beekeepers begin to harvest honey.

In the last month of summer, three holidays that are especially revered and beloved by the people take place at once. The traditions of the August Spas originated in ancient times and are observed annually.

The three summer Saviors were initially dedicated to the harvest, and after the adoption of Christianity they were timed to coincide with church celebrations. Therefore, each Spas - Honey, Apple and Nut - corresponds to one of Orthodox holidays, designed to glorify the Savior, which explains the origin of the name. The series of Spasov combined Christian and folk customs, which over several centuries have become intertwined and become inseparable from each other. Ancient traditions are revered to this day.

Honey Spas in 2017

The Honey Savior is celebrated on the same day every year - August 14th. The Church on this date celebrates the Origin of the honorable trees of the Life-Giving Cross. The word "origin" in in this case has an unusual meaning - it means “exodus”, “carrying out”. The fact is that the holiday originated in Constantinople several centuries ago and was dedicated to the removal from the royal treasury of a particle of the cross on which the Savior was crucified. At that time, epidemics of serious illnesses were raging, and believers, trusting in Divine help, venerated the Cross. And today, the culmination of the church service is the removal of the Cross to the center of the church, so that every believer can touch the shrine. This day is also the beginning of the Dormition Fast.

In the folk calendar, this holiday is dedicated to the collection of honey. It is believed that it is at this time that the cells are maximally filled. The collected delicacy is certainly blessed in the church, and housewives on the holiday try to prepare as many dishes containing honey as possible. They don’t forget about the poppy: in some areas the Honey Savior is called Makovey, because the poppy ripens on this day, and also on August 14, the day of remembrance of the holy martyrs of the Maccabees is celebrated, whose name in the popular consciousness is identified with the name of the plant.

Apple Spas in 2017

The second August Savior falls on August 19th. Believers on this day celebrate the Transfiguration of the Lord - a great Christian holiday dedicated to the memory of the appearance of the divine essence of the Savior. According to the Gospel story, during prayer together with his disciples, Christ was illuminated by an unearthly light, and the voice of the Lord came from Heaven, announcing that this was His Son.

At Yablochny Spas we began to say goodbye to summer and prepare for autumn. Until this moment, people usually did not eat apples: this was considered a bad omen, and the fruits did not have the same taste properties that they acquired by August 19. On this day, it was customary to bless apples and everything that the earth gave in the church.

According to tradition, on this day they prepared Lenten dishes from apples and began making preparations for the winter. Young girls performed a small ceremony on the holiday - they asked the apple tree for beauty, blush and long youth.

Nut Spas in 2017

Nut Spas is celebrated on August 29, the day after the Feast of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary. The third Spas marks the final transition from summer to autumn: at this time the August holidays ended field work and sowed winter crops. On August 29, bread was baked for the first time from the new grain harvest, which is why the holiday is also called “Bread Savior.” By this time, the hazelnuts had finally ripened, which were collected and blessed during a church service that day. Based on the weather, they guessed what autumn would be like, so many signs and traditions of the Nut Savior were born.

Orthodox Church August 14 celebrates the Origin (destruction) of the Honest Trees of the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord, which is popularly called the Honey Savior.

How the Honey Savior is celebrated

According to the rite now accepted in the Russian Church, on August 14, a small consecration of water is performed before or after the liturgy. Together with the consecration of water, the consecration of honey is performed - the so-called first Honey Savior. From this day forward, the eating of its new harvest is blessed.

The Honey Savior was widely celebrated in medieval Rus'. This took place with particular solemnity in Moscow, where the procession to the water and the rite of blessing of water took place, which were distinguished by special solemnity, in which the tsar himself participated.

Not only in the cities, but also in the villages of Russia on the Honey Savior, the church organized a solemn removal of the cross, a religious procession was held to reservoirs (rivers, lakes, ponds) and water sources (wells), where prayer services and the blessing of water took place. On this day they paid tribute to water, which is why people called the first Savior “Savior on Water,” Water or Wet.

Traditions of Honey Spas

The peasants believed that from this day on the bees would stop producing honey, so it was necessary to “break up the honeycombs,” otherwise the bees from neighboring hives would take all the honey. To “break out” the first honeycombs in the apiary, the beekeeper dressed in clean clothes, made the sign of the cross, chose the richest hive in terms of honey reserves, after which he “trimmed” the honeycombs and, putting some of it in a new, unused wooden container, took it to the church.

© Sputnik / Dmitry Koshcheev

International festival of fire straw sculpture dedicated to the "Honey Savior"

After the liturgy, the priest blessed the honey of the new harvest, and only now was it allowed to be eaten. Part of the blessed honey remained in the church, then the clergy, beggars and children treated themselves. Returning from church, the beekeepers broke their fast with fresh honey, pies with millet porridge and honey, brewed “copper” kvass and treated everyone who came to visit, and ancient Rus' baked huge gingerbread bread from the first honey on the first rye flour new harvest.

It is customary to start the morning of the Honey Spa with a spoon of holy water on an empty stomach. Honey and poppy seeds are the main attributes of the holiday; they are always brought to church for lighting. And then, housewives begin to bake various delicacies: honey gingerbread, poppy seed pies, make honey-poppy milk (usually pancakes are dipped in it), prepare a honey drink (sbiten), the tables are crowded with culinary masterpieces. Although the dough should be lean, in the hands of a skilled housewife, generously seasoned with aromatic herbs, cocoa, cinnamon and raisins, it acquires an incredible taste.

© Sputnik / Oleg Lastochkin

Folklore ensemble "Ladanka" performs at the celebration of the "Honey Savior"

Signs for Honey Spas

Honey collected for the holiday is the most useful and healing. And if you don’t collect honey on time and don’t cut out the honeycombs, then the neighbor’s bees will steal all the goods. After the honey is blessed, everyone is generously treated to it, and part of the honey is given to the church. According to custom, when eating the first spoon of honey, you need to make a wish and it will come true. It is believed that the more treats the owner gives, the more hardworking the bees will be next year.

August 14 (August 1, old style) The Orthodox Church celebrates the Origin (wear-out) of the Honest Trees of the Life-giving Cross of the Lord, which is popularly called the Honey Savior.

On the same day, the festival of the All-Merciful Savior and the Most Holy Theotokos is celebrated, which was established on the occasion of the signs from the icons of the Savior, Holy Mother of God and the Holy Cross during the battles of the holy noble prince Andrei Bogolyubsky with the Volga Bulgars.

The word "origin" is an inaccurate translation of the Greek word, literally meaning "pre-origin", "carrying before" the wood or part of the original Cross of the Lord on which Jesus Christ was crucified.

In Constantinople, under the Greek emperors, on this day the sacred relic - the Life-Giving Cross, on which Jesus Christ was crucified, was carried out from the palace to the Church of Hagia Sophia and the blessing of water was performed. This custom passed from Greece to Russia. On this day, after the liturgy, a small blessing of water is performed on rivers, ponds and lakes, for which they go there in a procession of the cross.

In the Greek Book of Hours of 1897, the origin of this holiday is explained as follows: “Due to illnesses, which occurred very often in August, from ancient times the custom was established in Constantinople to wear the Venerable Tree of the Cross on roads and streets to consecrate places and to ward off illnesses.”

In the Russian Church, this celebration was combined with the remembrance of the Baptism of Rus' on August 14 (August 1, old style) 988. The news of the day of the Baptism of Rus' was preserved in chronographs of the 16th century: “The Great Prince Vladimir of Kiev and all Rus' was baptized on August 1.”

The legend says that the celebration was also established Patriarch of Constantinople Luka and Metropolitan of Kyiv Constantine in memory of the signs from three shrines - the Cross of Christ, the icon of the Vladimir Mother of God and the image of the Savior. The sign occurred during the victory of the Byzantine emperor Manuel over the Saracens, as well as the Russian prince Andrei Bogolyubsky over the Volga Bulgars in the campaign of 1164. The opponents were defeated and fled, and from the holy icons located among the troops, rays emanated, overshadowing the regiments. The Greek king and the Russian prince exchanged messages about the victories won and about the wonderful radiance emanating from the holy icons.

The icons of the Origin of the Cross, which depicted the Byzantine religious procession, date back to the 15th century. In the 16th-18th centuries, churches dedicated to this holiday were built.

According to the rite now accepted in the Russian Church, on August 14, a small consecration of water is performed before or after the liturgy. Together with the consecration of water, the consecration of honey is performed - the so-called first Honey Savior. From this day forward, the eating of its new harvest is blessed.

The Feast of the Origin of the Honest Trees of the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord was widely celebrated in medieval Rus'. This took place with particular solemnity in Moscow, where the procession to the water and the rite of blessing of water took place, which were distinguished by special solemnity, in which the tsar himself participated. On the evening before August 13 (July 31, old style), the sovereign went to the Simonov Monastery, where he listened to Vespers, and on the holiday itself stood Matins. Opposite the Simonov Monastery on the Moscow River, the “Jordan” was built (from the Jordan River, in the waters of which Jesus Christ was baptized) - a canopy (tent, canopy) was built over the water on four pillars, which was painted and crowned with a golden cross.

The holy evangelists were depicted at the corners of the Jordan, and the apostles and other saints were depicted inside it. The Jordanian canopy was decorated with flowers, leaves, and birds. Near the Jordan, two places were set up - for the sovereign, in the form of a round five-domed temple, and for the patriarch, which were painted, decorated with carvings and fenced with a gilded lattice, the platform around them was covered with scarlet cloth. At the appointed time, to the sound of bells, the sovereign went out onto the water, surrounded by boyars and servicemen, for the solemn consecration of the water.

The action of the Origin began with the immersion of the Life-Giving Cross in water. After reading the prayers, the sovereign and the boyars descended into the Jordan, placing holy crosses with relics on their usual dress. Having changed into a dry dress under the “canopy,” the tsar venerated the cross and accepted the patriarch’s blessing. The clergy sprinkled blessed (“Jordanian”) water on the troops and banners, and holy water was poured out to those who wished. After the rite of blessing of water, folk festivities were held.

Not only in cities, but also in villages and hamlets of Russia, the church organized a solemn removal of the cross, a religious procession was held to bodies of water (rivers, lakes, ponds) and water sources (wells), where prayer services and the blessing of water took place. On this day they paid tribute to water, which is why people called the first Savior “Savior on Water,” Water or Wet.

The peasants believed that from this day on the bees would stop producing honey, so it was necessary to “break up the honeycombs,” otherwise the bees from neighboring hives would take all the honey. To “break out” the first honeycombs in the apiary, the beekeeper dressed in clean clothes, made the sign of the cross, chose the richest hive in terms of honey reserves, after which he “trimmed” the honeycombs and, putting some of them in a new, unused wooden container, took them to the church. After the liturgy, the priest blessed the honey of the new harvest, and only now was it allowed to be eaten. Part of the blessed honey remained in the church, then the clergy, beggars and children treated themselves. Returning from church, the beekeepers broke their fast with fresh honey, pies with millet porridge and honey, brewed “copper” kvass and treated everyone who came to visit, and in ancient Rus' they baked huge gingerbread bread with the first honey from the first rye flour of the new harvest.

Spas is an ancient holiday of the agricultural calendar, timed to coincide with the ripening of grain crops, vegetables, fruits and other gifts of the earth.

In the church calendar, all three Saviors are associated with Jesus Christ and his deeds. The word “Savior” is a shortened form of the word Savior. The date of each holiday remains the same from year to year.

Sputnik Georgia asked on what date the Honey, Apple and Nut Spas are held, and what these holidays are associated with.

Honey or Wet Spas

In the old days, people believed that after this day the bees began to bring the “wrong” honey, so they rushed to collect it on time. According to tradition, on the holiday they baked honey cakes and gingerbread, drank kvass, treated each other with honey and distributed it to the poor.

At the exhibition "Honey Savior" at the All-Russian Exhibition Center Orthodox calendar on this day the Destruction (Origin) of the Venerable Trees of the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord is celebrated - a small blessing of water is held in churches. It was the tradition of blessing water, pre-dug wells and surrounding reservoirs that gave the second name to this holiday - Wet Savior or Savior on Water.

People believed that on this day even dew was healing, and any contact with water gave health, physical and mental strength, washed away sins, accumulated fatigue and negative energy.

Wet Spas is the last opportunity to swim in a river or lake, since after this day the water blooms and becomes cold.

Only in Honey Spas you can get a boost of energy from a spoonful of honey if you wash it down with three sips of well or spring water. Such a ritual can only be allowed on this day, since usually honey in combination with ice water causes an increase in temperature and provokes a febrile state.

Another name for the first Savior - Makovey - was given by the custom of consecrating medicinal herbs and poppy on this day. It is also customary to bless flowers, otherwise property and health will not prosper.

From this day begins one of the shortest but strictest Christian fasts - the Assumption Fast. He prepares believers for the Feast of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which Orthodox Christians celebrate on August 28. This is the only multi-day fast dedicated to the Mother of God.

Lent ends the church year, symbolizing the New Year, so meat and fish dishes are not consumed, and baked goods are made from Lenten dough.

Apple Spas

The Second Savior, which is popularly called Apple, is celebrated on August 19 - on this day Orthodox Christians celebrate the Transfiguration of the Lord. According to the folk calendar, Apple Spas coincides with the farewell to summer - there is a belief that it is from this day that it begins to get colder, which indicates the approach of autumn.

Consecration of apples Lenten dishes are prepared from consecrated fruits and berries - pies and rolls with fruit filling, preserves, jams, compotes, dried fruits and berries, and so on.

In the old days, girls asked apple trees for beauty and youth by weaving their leaves into wreaths. In the evening, people went out into the fields and greeted the coming autumn with songs and round dances.

By folk beliefs Fruits were forbidden to be eaten before the consecration. With the first fruit eaten, one is supposed to make a wish, which will certainly come true.

At Apple Spas, people believe that common fruits acquire magical powers, and a dish of apples must be present on the table in every home. On this holiday they usually pray for children.

People believed that on this day you could tell by the weather what autumn and the beginning of winter would be like - a sunny day foreshadowed a clear and frosty January, and rains promised a snowy winter.

People believed that future well-being depended on the rituals and ceremonies performed on Apple Spas, so on this day they consecrated the land for a new harvest.

Nut or Bread

The third Spas is not as popular as the previous two, but is the most important of all. It is celebrated at the end of summer - August 29, the day after the celebration of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

With the arrival of the third Savior, autumn fully comes into its own. By this day, the nuts ripen, they begin to be actively collected and eaten, but the first nut harvest is also usually blessed in the church.

Despite the fact that many people call this Spas Nut, its main name is Khlebny. According to tradition, on this day the grain harvest ends and the first loaf of flour from the new harvest is baked. The bread is taken to the temple for consecration, and then eaten by the whole family.

Icon "Savior Not Made by Hands" The ritual of keeping the remains of the first loaf, wrapped in a canvas rag behind the icon, has been preserved in some villages to this day. In this way, people “lure” prosperity into the house and protect the family from hunger.

The Bread or Nut Savior was not particularly celebrated - at that time the suffering was in full swing, and people had no time for entertainment. In the morning they attended church, blessed nuts, bread, grains and went to prepare the fields for winter sowing.

According to tradition, on this day they baked bread for the poor, treated relatives and passers-by with nuts, and served pies with nuts and other gifts of the passing summer for dinner.

There is no reason to limit yourself in celebrating the Nut Savior - fasting will end by this time, and the choice of menu depends only on desires and preferences. Main - festive table must be rich and varied for next year to be successful.

On this day, traditionally, symbolic gifts were given to relatives, friends and colleagues - nuts, buns baked with your own hands, or canvas towels - fabric products are also directly related to this holiday.

The third Savior has another name - the Savior on Canvas, or the Canvas Savior, which is rooted in the Christian tradition. According to legend, an artist, a messenger from the Prince of Edessa, came to Jesus and asked permission to capture Him so that his image would help heal the sick ruler of Edessa.

However, the painter was unable to paint the image of the Savior. Then Christ washed himself, wiped his face with linen, and his features clearly appeared on it. This piece of fabric was taken to the prince, and he was quickly cured, and the miraculous matter became a relic.

At first, the canvas with the face of Christ was kept in Edessa, then it was transported to Constantinople. The transfer of the Icon of Christ the Savior Not Made by Hands took place on August 29, and since then this event has been celebrated on this day by Orthodox Christians around the world.

In memory of the canvas with the appeared image of Jesus Christ, it was customary to trade fabrics on this day.

Mount of the Savior of the Miraculous Image of the Savior-Andronikov Monastery There are also many signs with the third Savior - on this day wells are blessed so that the water in them does not dry out. If two fused nuts were found, they were placed in a wallet with the left hand - such a nut would give the person financial luck for the whole year.

The girls used the nuts to tell fortunes and find out their fate. The first nut picked had to be eaten and, based on its taste, one had to determine what awaited the next year. If the nut turned out to be ripe and sweet - to Great love, a bitter nut - a loved one will cheat, if the nut is not ripe - they were waiting for important news, and a rotten one - there will be trouble.

According to folk signs a stormy August foreshadows a long and warm autumn. If the cranes fly away by August 29, winter will be early.

Three Spas is a great occasion to enjoy the gifts of nature, which helps to acquire health, luck and well-being.

The material was prepared based on open sources