August is not only considered the main month of the summer, in which almost all vegetables and fruits ripen, but is also the most important from the church point of view. This month the Orthodox observe the Assumption Fast, which is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin. There are several posts, but this one is special. It is one of many days, especially revered and ends with the celebration of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Unfortunately, in our time, church traditions have lost their great significance; not everyone attends the temple and fasts. Today, not everyone remembers, for example, how many Walnut Spas. In this article we will deal with all the features of the three holidays.
Assumption post: father of three
The Assumption Post is observed from August 14 to 27 according to the new style. At this time, many strict prohibitions are imposed, which believers must observe. So, it is forbidden to eat everything except bread, vegetables and fruits on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. On Tuesday and Thursday, the church allows you to eat hot dishes, but without adding vegetable oil, and only on Saturday and Sunday are allowed to eat food flavored with vegetable oil. In addition to food restrictions, lay people should refrain from carnal pleasures, scandals, deceit, and lies. In fasting, spiritual restrictions are more important than "household" ones. Do you want to know other features of the Assumption Lent, how many are Nut Savior or Honey?
Sweet Lent - Sweet Holidays
Despite the strictness of the Assumption Lent, it has one remarkable feature: it was at this time that they harvested and paid tribute to three, if not the main, then important gifts of nature - honey, apples, nuts. Ancestors attached special importance to each of the foodstuffs. It was believed that Mother Nature herself gives people her grace and strength. Our church great-grandmothers celebrated 3 holidays - 3 Savior. It was Honey, Apple and Nut Spas. They were celebrated widely, on a grand scale, despite the fact that August is a difficult and troublesome month for the peasant. The name of the holiday - “Savior” - is no coincidence: it became an abbreviation for the word “savior”. Many important words come from here: “thank you,” “save.” Despite the fact that currently folk traditions have lost ground, it is interesting to know how and when to celebrate the three Savior: Honey, Apple, and Nut.
Honey Spas
The first Savior - Honey - is traditionally celebrated on August 14. It is believed that after this day the bees carry honey, which has lost its healing properties, and should not be eaten. Before Honey Savior, they tried to collect the whole crop and consecrate it in the church that day. It is customary to give each other jars with a new crop, and even a beggar near the church left a tasty healthy treat. In addition to honey, on August 14, water was especially honored. On this day, according to the old style, the most important event occurred - the Baptism of Russia.
Apple Spas
Apple Savior Day - August 19. Only now, by tradition, can you try apples and any dishes of them for the first time. At sunrise, our ancestors rushed to the gardens to pick up tidbits, went to the market to get a fresh crop. In addition to apples, on August 19 they took a sample of grapes and pears. On the same day, in the churches, the priest lit up the fruits, and then a real celebration began. The tables of great-grandmothers were bursting with pies, pies, baked apples with honey. The guests who arrived were generously treated with
apple compotes and liquors .
Nut Spas
Nut Spas is the third in a row, celebrated on August 29 and is the most important among the rest of the summer holidays. In another way, this day is called the Bread Savior. It is this name that is more accurate and truthful. On August 29, the harvesting harvest ends, and for the first time the housewives bake this year’s flour from the flour. The consecration of the festive loaf is carried out in the church, and only after that a sample is taken. Together with grains, bread, nuts were brought to the temple, which were just ripened. The name of the Savior "Nut" is also justified by natural scientists: studies have proved that it was at this time that the final ripening of nuts took place, and now they can be eaten without fear for health.
There was no time to celebrate this holiday especially, since the end of August is a hot time for a villager. But our ancestors necessarily baked special bread and treated them to those who asked for alms. It was believed that even those who lack grain should generously give bread to a new crop for all those in need - then wealth and good fortune will come to the house.
Apple Savior and Nut Savior are the main holidays of the summer, since it was from the end of August that the time began to gather and harvest almost all the gifts of nature.
Folk omens for Nut Spas
On Walnut Spas, the third “tasty” holiday of summer, they finished the harvest and made a special “nameday sheaf” - the last sheaf of the outgoing year. On this day, the last swallows fly away to winter. It was important for the villagers to know the number of Walnut Spas in order to finish all the work in the fields. The peasants were in a hurry to pick up the bread before August 29, and those who did not have time, neighbors and relatives helped with pleasure - it was believed that God would give health and prosperity for this.
If on the day that the Nut Savior is celebrated, cranes fly south, then the winter is expected to be cold and snowy, if the birds remain, then the winter time will be warm. Walnut twigs, plucked and lighted on August 29, can heal the sick, drive evil spirits out of the house.
An interesting saying has developed among the people: "Petrovka - a hunger strike, Spasovka - a gourmet." The word "Spasovka" originates from the word "Spas", which is called the three main Orthodox summer holidays. With the advent of the Nut Savior, life became a real tidbit: peasants treated themselves to ripe hazelnuts, juicy sweet apples, and delicious aromatic honey.
Miraculous canvas
An interesting story that the Bible tells. Legend has it that Jesus Christ wiped his face with a cloth of clean cloth during the miracle of healing of Bishop Avgar, which later revealed a divine face. The fabric with the face of Jesus is still stored and gathers crowds of pilgrims. The canvas is able to work miracles, cure the sick, soothe the souls of seekers. In memory of this magical event, long since August 29, cloth canvases were brought to the church for lighting, from which they later sewed clothes for household members all year.
The proverb has survived: “The first Savior — they stand on the water, the second Savior — they eat apples, the third Savior — they sell canvases on the green mountains.” The event, which happened thousands of years ago with an ordinary canvas, is revered in the church: on August 29 the Orthodox celebrate the holiday of transferring the miraculous image of Jesus Christ from Edessa to Constantinople. This significant action took place already in the year 944, but even today the church people remember and glorify the event.
Spas many faces
Surprisingly, it is Walnut Spas that has many names that are justified from the Orthodox, cultural, everyday, agricultural point of view. Walnut, Bread, on Canvas, Cloth, Canvas - these are the names of the festival, which is traditionally celebrated on a large scale on August 29. It is important to know what date the Nut (Bread) Spas will be, because this day must be celebrated as our ancestors did.
Holiday recipe
There is a recipe that is ideal for completing the Assumption Lent, when all church bans are already ending. Baked apples with honey and nuts are suitable for the curtain of
Honey, Apple and Walnut Spas. This dish is a kind of ritual treat, which marks the end of the main work in the field and portends a well-fed winter.
To prepare a delicious treat you need to take a few large apples, 250 g of honey, 100 g of any nuts. Wash the apples well, cut the core, put in a deep frying pan and bake until half ready. Melt honey in a water bath, add chopped nuts, mix thoroughly. Stuff the apples with the mixture, send to the oven for a couple more minutes. If desired, sprinkle with powdered sugar on top.
Three days of August are not just allocated among others and endowed with special magic. For centuries, people have noted that something special and mysterious is happening in nature these days. Nowadays, we celebrate other holidays, which are often invented completely by accident and do not carry any deep meaning. So why do we now need to know how many Walnut Spas? Why do we need to follow the traditions of our ancestors? Is it so important to remember how in Russia it was customary to celebrate the Apple Savior and the Nut Savior?
We must know, remember, celebrate and honor Orthodox posts, holidays not only for the sake of respect for our great-grandmothers. In ancient times, strictly adhered to the laws of the Bible, which are valid at all times. To improve life, health, maintain mental and psychological balance, it is important to believe in God, to value and respect the knowledge accumulated over millennia.