On August 19, the Apple Savior is celebrated as a traditional holiday for Orthodox Christians. People are sure that it's after this day that autumn begins, as it gets colder and rains often. More brightly and beautifully celebrate this holiday are people who live in the village, where the ancient traditions have been preserved. In Russia an apple was considered a symbol of material well-being, as well as a feminine principle. They used fruits for numerous rituals and rituals.
There is an opinion that you can not eat apples before the Apple Savior, but this opinion is a bit wrong. Initially, the ban concerned grape, and apples were simply a substitute. In general, the meaning of such a taboo is that all the fruits of a new crop should first be sanctified and then eat. People believed that if the parents, who had children died, did not eat apples before the Savior, then in the next world the kids were treated to various delicacies.
Traditions and customs of the Apple Savior
According to the church calendar, this holiday is considered to be the Transfiguration of the Lord. On this day, Jesus first appeared before the people. He was surrounded by an unearthly color, which made his clothes snow-white. On this day, all services are also held in white robes. Believers on the Transfiguration repent and strive for spiritual purification. In the people this day is associated with gratitude for the harvest. Celebrate the Apple Savior in the morning, as soon as the sun has risen. People went to church that day to devote apples, and afterwards they treated friends, acquaintances, beggars and even deceased relatives. Only after that they could enjoy the taste of fragrant fruits.
On this day it was allowed to work exclusively in the garden, harvesting apples, plums and other fruits or in the kitchen, preparing various treats and preparations for the winter. Doing other things, it was forbidden, there is even a saying: "Who sews on the Savior - until the end of days of tears pour." On the holiday, the girls were chanting around apple trees and guessing on the skin. It was considered a good sign - to comb the hair with a comb, which is made of apple tree. This helped the beauties get a nice blush, and also such a hairbrush helped to get rid of the headache. Still, asking at the apple tree beauty, the girls tore off the leaves and weaved them into the hair. In the evening, on the Apple Spas, people went out into the street, played games, sang songs, watched the sunset and accompanied the summer together with the sun.
With this holiday associated a large number of signs, here are some of them:
- Many believe that apples on this day are endowed with magical abilities. If you use fruits, make a wish , then in the near future it will certainly come true. At the same time, it was necessary to say: "What is meant is that it will come true, that will come true - it will not fail".
- If on that day you saw a fly sit on your hand twice, then in the future one should expect success. It is not recommended to overtake these insects.
- It was believed that
if an Orthodox Apple Savior is sitting under an apple tree, you can feel peace of mind and improve your health. - By the weather on this holiday it was possible to judge what awaits you in January. Even if the Apple Savior was raining, you should expect a rainy autumn.
What is prepared for the Apple Savior?
On this day it is customary to cook all kinds of dishes, which include apples. People believed that the more treats there are, the richer the harvest will be in a year. With apples you can cook a lot of different pastries, for example, pies, patties, a more modern strudel, etc. You can make vareniki and pancakes with an apple, as well as a huge number of apple desserts. On this day people cooked jam, prepared drinks and began to harvest fruits for the winter.