Before Happy Easter you have to meet Holy Week (we will tell you what you can eat on the days before Easter in the article). But what can you eat every day during this period?
Now we have to deal with this. For believers, this week is very important. During this period and until Easter itself, Christians pray and read the Bible. They remember Christ, who came to our Earth to cure us of various diseases, and left this world for our sins.
The fact is that throughout the week before Easter, not everything is allowed to eat. These 7 days are considered the most severe. Starting from the first day and ending with the seventh, every day is considered Great. On an important week, believers keep the strictest Fast.
Holy Week- this is a kind of memory of the last time of the transfer of our savior and his terrible torment. During this week, people are rethinking their lives. Someone decides to repent, someone is just thinking, and someone is praying earnestly. For everyone, this holy holiday means something different. This week the soul is cleansed of sinful thoughts. That is, abstinence occurs not only in food, but also morally. On Holy Week, one cannot be angry and swear - this is a great sin, just like eating meat with wine.
What Not to Do on Holy Week
Great Monday. Finished everything repair work housework, cleaning construction garbage, took out old, unnecessary things.
Great Tuesday. Finished repairing clothes, sewing, cutting, darning, ironing and the like. With melt water collected this year, they washed livestock to protect him from disease.
Great Wednesday. At night, from Tuesday to Wednesday, they took water from a river or well into a large jug or mug, and made the sign of the cross three times. At two o'clock in the morning they watered themselves with this water, leaving a little at the bottom, signing themselves with a cross three times. Clean clothes were put on a wet body, and the rest of the water was poured under a tree or bush. This meant the birth of a washed body and, according to signs, protected from diseases for the whole year.
Maundy Thursday - or Clean Thursday. Clean Thursday in 2017 falls on April 13th. Maundy Thursday or Maundy Thursday is the fourth day of Holy Week, the strictest week of Great Lent.
Bathing is of symbolic importance on Maundy Thursday, on this day you need to wake up before sunrise and have time to swim.
It is believed that in this way, as in Epiphany bathing, a person washes away all sins from himself, and all ailments and illnesses will bypass him.
On Clean Thursday, you need to go to church for confession and communion. On this day, according to customs, it is customary to do a general cleaning at home before Easter. It is after going to church on a clean Thursday that you need to clean the house.
You need to clean up very carefully, not superficially - you should wash all the objects in the house, including the ceilings. There is a sign that if it is good to clean the house on a clean Thursday, then the whole next year the house will be clean. Again, the cleanliness of the house will reflect inner purity the soul of a believing Christian.
In addition, it is necessary to wash all textiles and prepare traditional Easter food: Easter cakes and colored eggs.
Passion Week Notes
It is on this day that you can get rid of many sins and improve your life. Following Easter signs and rituals, you can change your fate for the better for the next year.
Here's what I know...
“If you want to be healthy all year round, by all means, swim before sunrise.” - Try it yourself and you will see that, indeed, this morning the water acquires wonderful healing properties. This water can wash away everything, the sins that have accumulated over the year.
Do not indulge in laziness, but rather get up early on Maundy Thursday and wash off white in the shower, in the bathroom or in the bath before dawn. If you cannot believe in the power of the magic Thursday water, then there will be no harm, purity is for the benefit of everyone - both bodily and spiritual.
There is a true sign - if you do a general cleaning on Clean Thursday, you will get a lot of joy for it.
In addition to the fact that the house will become clean, there is also such a religious moment here that religious people do not clean up for six days after Maundy Thursday.
In addition, there is a popular belief that by starting a general cleaning in the house, you receive a gift from the Lord with the opportunity to find your favorite and necessary items that seemed to be lost forever.
It has long been believed that if during Maundy Thursday all the money in the house is counted three times, then they will not be transferred to the family during the year. Counting money should be done early in the morning, at noon and at sunset. This should be done in secret not only from strangers, but also from all your household members. Only then from the fulfillment of this old rite will be good.
And here is money conspiracy on Maundy Thursday. If you wash the doors and windows with water in which a trifle is placed, then throughout the year your cash income will grow by leaps and bounds!
Conspiracy words to say when throwing a bucket or basin of water with a handful of coins:
“Money, drive - don’t transfer, grow, multiply, don’t get to the enemy!”
and any other prayer that you know well. After all the doors and windows in your house have been washed, remove the change from the water and put it in a far, but previously washed, corner of your house or apartment for a week. Pour water under any tree.
Place any silver item in a container of water overnight. And in the morning, on Good Friday, wash yourself with this water, and during the year no evil spirit will be afraid of you.
If in your house there is a baby under the age of one year, then such a procedure is especially indicated for him, since he cannot yet protect himself with the help of holy prayer. Therefore, we must take care of its protection.
Thursday salt can be prepared in two ways:
The first way: go to three neighbors or friends, and ask them for a handful of salt, then mix it, preferably in earthenware, and use it as needed. It is said that added to the food and drink of a seriously and even terminally ill person, thursday salt can help to cure him.
The second way to prepare Thursday salt is as follows: pour a pack of salt into the pan and fry it, stirring constantly, while reading “Our Father”. You will feel the readiness of the salt yourself.
Monday
On this day begins a big tidy. The house is cleared of old, bulky things.
Tuesday
Buying food for Easter. Women prepare medicinal infusions. Men should not even touch herbs, tinctures, powders.
Wednesday
This is the day of washing and all sorts of rubbing. On Wednesday, it is advisable to thoroughly wash, scrape the floors, knock out the carpets.
On Wednesday during Holy Week, they remembered a special rite against any bodily infirmity. It was necessary to scoop up a mug of water from a well or from a barrel on the street or draw water from a river. Crossing themselves three times, they covered the mug with a clean or new towel, and at 2 o'clock in the morning, crossing themselves again three times, they poured this water on, leaving a little in the mug. After that, they put on clothes on a wet body, without wiping themselves, and the water that remained in the mug was poured up to 3 hours on a bush or flowers. It is said that a body washed in this way is reborn.
Thursday
Maundy Thursday was advised to cut the hair of a one-year-old child for the first time (up to a year it was considered a sin to cut), and for girls - the tips of the braids so that they grew longer and thicker. All livestock were also advised to cut a tuft of wool for health and well-being.
Cooking on this day thursday salt: it is calcined in a pan, and the salt acquires medicinal properties. It is desirable to consecrate this salt in the Temple.
Maundy Thursday is traditionally called “clean”, and not only because on this day every Orthodox person seeks to cleanse himself spiritually, to take communion, to accept the sacrament established by Christ.
On Maundy Thursday, the folk custom of cleansing with water was widespread - bathing in an ice hole, river, lake or dousing in a bath before sunrise. ?Many traditions are associated with this day.
On Maundy Thursday, they cleaned the houses, washed and cleaned everything. It was customary to collect and burn juniper branches to fumigate dwellings and stables. It is believed that the healing juniper smoke protects the person and the "animal" from evil spirits and diseases.
There was also such a belief that eggs laid on Good Thursday, eaten at Easter, protect against illness, and egg shells buried in the ground in a pasture reliably protect livestock from the evil eye.
Starting from Maundy Thursday, we were preparing for festive table, painted and painted eggs. According to ancient tradition, colored eggs were laid on fresh sprouted greens of oats and wheat.
On Thursday morning they started baking Easter cakes, women, small products made from wheat flour with the image of crosses, lambs, doves, larks, as well as honey gingerbread. Easter was being prepared in the evening.
Everyone in the family should take a handful of salt and pour it into one bag. This salt is removed and stored, and it is called "Thursday salt", i.e. Great Thursday. You can treat yourself with it, as well as your family and friends. This salt is used to make amulets for the family, livestock, garden, home, etc.
On Holy Wednesday and Maundy Thursday, it was customary to wash all domestic animals - from cows to chickens - with water melted from snow and burn the salt in the oven, which, according to folk beliefs acquired from this healing properties. In some villages, at midnight on Maundy Thursday, women were also instructed to douse themselves with water to protect themselves from disease.
If before dawn you wash your face on Maundy (Clean) Thursday, you need to say at the same time: “I wash off what they let loose on me, then what the soul and body toils with, everything is removed on Pure Thursday.”
On Easter morning, they wash themselves with water left from Maundy Thursday. It is good to put a silver little thing or a spoon in it, you can use a coin. Wash for beauty and wealth. If a girl cannot get married, she needs to give the towel with which she dried herself on Maundy Thursday to people for Easter, those who beg for alms, along with krashenka and Easter cake. After that, they soon get married.
There was also a custom to burn crosses on doors and ceilings with a candle to protect the house from the invasion of evil spirits. Passionate candles were given into the hands of seriously ill or suffering from difficult childbirth, they have healing power. From Maundy Thursday it was forbidden to sweep the floor in the house until Easter itself.
Friday
Cooking on this day is argued. They continued to bake and prepare for the celebration of Easter. “Angels help,” say pious people.
On Friday they sweep the corners with a rag, this rag will help get rid of lower back pain if you tie yourself with it. The same rag is used to wipe the feet in the bath after washing, so that the feet do not hurt. Ash, taken on Friday before Easter, will help to recover from alcoholism, black shaking, from the evil eye and from mortal anguish.
Saturday
Last (quiet) tidy. You can also dye eggs. On this day, common festive dishes are prepared. On Saturday, they brought painted eggs, Easter cakes, Easter cakes and other products to the church to consecrate. And before going to the service on Easter night, they left refreshments on the table so that later they could break the fast. True, they ate a little - only symbolically, after which they went to bed.
According to the materials of the site "Women's World"
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“He who has peace in his soul, paradise in hard labor,” says a Russian proverb. Let us recall one of the works of Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky. He describes how convicts, bound in chains, on Pascha, having felt the grace of the Lord, having been communed with the Mother Church from childhood, sing the Paschal stichera by heart: “May God arise and scatter His enemies.”
“Adam was in paradise, and in Adam there was paradise,” said the once great Russian preacher St. Innocent of Kherson. "In every place, may my soul bless the Lord."
A Christian who is not like that in name, but in life, is called to make the very heart a camp church. And indeed, whether in solitude, among people, in the place of your everyday work or in the circle of your family, God is always with you and in you.
And His grace inseparably abides with us, which means that it is necessary to try at every place and every second of our existence from the inside, mind and heart, to cry out to the Lord: “Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner!” And sing at Easter: “Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and bestowing life on those in the tombs!”
Simply repeat, as children do, calling on their mother or father: “Christ is risen! He is truly risen!" And then the space around us will be illuminated with divine grace in exact accordance with the words of St. Seraphim: "Acquire the Paschal peace of Christ - and thousands around you will be saved."
But no matter how busy a person is, he can always find such evening services in which no one will forbid him to participate.
Even if you are an astronaut who rotates in near-Earth orbit, you can watch the service from the Cathedral of Christ the Savior on your tablet and participate in it with your spirit. And if you are just an installer or a high-altitude worker, or a doctor in intensive care, look for what free windows you will get on Holy or Bright Week.
Well, how not to attend on Holy Week on Thursday evening that service when everyone gathers in front of the Crucifix, hoisted in the middle of the temple and, lighting candles, listen to the measured reading by the priest of passages from the Passion Gospels?
Well, after the twelfth Gospel, how can one not take a burning candle or lampada home in order to protect the dwelling from evil spirits by depicting a cross with soot on the lintel?
Bright Week is a daily morning and evening service. On Easter, at the evening service, the priests change their vestments from red to white, then to green and yellow. And all this is so that we remember how the resurrected Christ every time in a new way, unrecognizable, appeared first to Mary Magdalene, then to the apostles locked in the Zion chamber, and even to a large circle of apostles on Mount Galilee. And you need to try to grab this Easter joy by the edge.
I think that those who want to, in Russia, will always find the opportunity to leave some kind of inscription on the desktop: “Gone to the base” or “sanitary day”, “library day”, and go to the temple. Do you know who seeks, he must be the blacksmith of his own happiness.
Archpriest Alexy Uminsky: Live the Passion Day as honestly as possible
If you can’t go to services during Holy Week, then how can you try to live it? 
Most honestly, most seriously. There are cases when a person cannot for some reason - people work, for example. Often something completely unexpected for many happens during Holy Week, people get sick during Holy Week. But still, the inner experience of these days can be very deeply perceived by us.
I know one wonderful story that happened to close friend a friend of mine who really wanted to go to the Holy Week service of the Twelve Gospels, but she did not succeed. She so asked God to give her the opportunity to go, but it did not work. Something has changed, she was called for some kind of interview about new job, all this dragged on, she could not, did not have time. And she was so deeply worried, with such a sense of loss and suffering that she could not be in the service of the Twelve Gospels, she came to her house on Thursday evening, and suddenly noticed by chance that the willow from the year before last, which she had in a vase without water, blossomed.
Archpriest Vladimir Novitsky: Easter must be in our hearts
I think that after all, Easter must be waited for, to be in anticipation of this event. Remember that there are perhaps a few days left before Easter, that we must wait for this, that we must prepare for this, that this is very serious. And you need to change something in yourself, reconsider your life, maybe free your heart from everything superfluous, superficial, unnecessary, so that the Lord enters there. So that this Easter is not only external, so that this Easter is inside, in our hearts.
See what's in our hearts? After all, we often suffer from such diseases, problems as absent-mindedness: absent-mindedness of attention, absent-mindedness of the soul as a whole, absent-mindedness in the heart. Then all kinds of addictions also torment us and fill our soul. And diligence, of course.
Multitasking is one of the main evils, oddly enough. The Lord says, "Do not burden your hearts with drunkenness, gluttony, and the many cares of this world." You see, the Lord puts carelessness on a par with drunkenness. It would seem that drunkenness is such a terrible sin, and carelessness is not such a terrible weakness, because people really have a lot of worries: there are relatives, friends, there is work, there are duties that we must fulfill.
But if we have these duties, if we do our work, if we put our worldly life in the first place, then there is no place left in the soul for Christ, then we live an earthly life, the earth. And then we are no higher than a drunkard.
Maybe even worse, because everyone blames drunkards, they humble themselves, they feel that they are sick people, and they do not pretend to anything and understand their weakness. And we think that we are doing something else, that we are good people, that we are useful, necessary people, and so on and so forth. But in fact, we have emptiness inside, we have everything in the cares of this age.
That's when we remove these worries ... It's not that we don't do them, no. We just put something else first. It is very important that there is a correct scale of values, the purpose of life: what do we live for, what will we live to, in the end, what do we want from life, what do we work for, what is most important? The most important thing, after all, is pleasing God according to the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ. There is nothing more important than this.
When the Lord comes to the first place, when every time we put Him in the first place by the effort of faith, then we will overcome many concerns, because then we will simply not take on unnecessary worries, but will do what is necessary.
And then the heart will be freed, cleansed, and then we will be able to absorb the grace of God, which the Lord gives us abundantly and without measure, then we can accept Christ in ourselves, be with Christ. And it’s good to think about this during Holy Week, to prepare for Easter in this way and to enter the Easter period in this way. Besides reading the gospel, of course, apart from praying, that goes without saying.
Recorded by Daria Mendeleeva, Tamara Amelina
Video: Victor Aromshtam, Alexander Basalaev
There are quite a few prohibitions associated with Good Friday, so you can often hear the question: is it possible to work on this day? A detailed answer to it, as well as the comments of the clergyman, are given in the article.
Good, or Good, Friday is the day when Christ was judged, after which the Savior was crucified and died on the cross. It is believed that on the same day the body of Jesus was removed from the cross and buried.
The death of Christ was a very tragic event. The Bible says that as soon as he died, the stones next to the cross split, and during the day it became dark as night. The crowd of people shuddered, and many of them sincerely believed that Jesus was indeed the Son of God, and not an ordinary swindler, as his accusers believed.
However, the tragedy of history lies not so much in these upheavals, but in the fact that, in fact, so many people betrayed the Savior. Not even a week had passed before the crowd enthusiastically welcomed his entry into Jerusalem on a donkey (today Palm Sunday is celebrated in honor of this). And on Friday, during the trial of Pontius Pilate, many of them shouted in a fit of rage: “Crucify him!”
The story is detailed in all four gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Here short description events of that day, which happened about 2000 years ago: the judgment of the Lord and his execution.
Is it possible to work and do household chores
If possible, on such a day, one should refrain from both work and any habitual activities that take up a lot of time. For example, these are all kinds of household chores - general cleaning, washing, sewing, ironing, feasts, visiting and receiving guests, etc. It is obvious that each business gradually absorbs a person, because of which it is very difficult for him to concentrate on spiritual reflections and honoring the memory of Christ.
However, we can't always afford to devote the whole day to God. And in many cases, it's not the fault of the person. If Good Friday falls on a normal working day (and it usually does), we simply have to accept this situation and go to work. However, you should definitely visit the temple, offer a prayer and read the relevant places in the Bible.
GOOD FRIDAY IS A OFF?
Interestingly, in some countries, in connection with Easter, not one, but 4 days off are established at once: from Friday to Monday, residents of 15 countries have a rest:
- Germany;
- Italy;
- Lithuania;
- Latvia;
- Slovakia;
- Spain;
- Austria;
- Portugal;
- Great Britain;
- Australia;
- Switzerland;
- Slovenia;
- Croatia;
- Finland;
- Sweden.
Is it possible to work on the Friday before Easter - the priest's answer
So, there is no strict ban on work on this day. On the other hand, it is clear that in mournful hours a believer should concentrate as much as possible on the memory of Christ and his sufferings (passions). That's why you should do your best to at least visit the church.
The corresponding commentary is given by the rector of the church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.
NOTE
Of course, Good Friday in our country does not apply to days off. Therefore, it is definitely necessary to go to work: this is the duty of every person, from which it is impossible to get rid of.
And even Christ once said: "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." This means that we cannot withdraw from earthly affairs, and even more so we must not oppose the social order.
That is why the answer to the question of whether it is possible to work on Good Friday is unequivocal: if you must do it, then so be it.
What to do if there is no time to visit the temple
Unfortunately, life very often puts before us such requirements, the failure to comply with which is fraught with serious consequences. How to be a person who, for example, works hard shift schedule and goes to his usual service for the whole day? What to do if it is on Good Friday that you need to sit with a sick child, take him to the doctor?
Of course, each of us can act according to his own conscience and taking into account the real circumstances. This means that we ourselves are able to determine whether we can go to the temple today or objectively there is no such possibility.
Of course, it is important to do everything possible to visit church service. You can, for example, change in advance or even take a day off or vacation. But if it’s completely impossible to visit the church, a believer can read the canons from the service, as well as those places in the Bible that describe the story of the crucifixion of Christ (below is the answer of the rector Vsevolod Chaplin again).
What to read on Good Friday at home
So, if you didn’t have the opportunity to visit the temple and attend the service, you can read at home those canons that are read in the temple on Good Friday: 
What to do on Good Friday
So, there is no specific prohibition on whether it is possible to work on the last Friday before Easter. Of course, it is preferable to pay attention to God all day, reading the Bible. And at least - it is important to visit the temple.
However, even if there is no time at all, it is useful to know what you should categorically refuse on Good Friday:
- Obviously, on Good Friday, Great Saturday and Bright Sunday itself, you should not get annoyed, swear, which means you don’t need to start a showdown. There are other days for this - why then darken the memory of Christ and the feast of Easter?
- You should not take alcohol, arrange and participate in feasts, parties. If a birthday falls on this day, it is better to postpone it or celebrate it as modestly as possible.
- Spouses are advised to give up mutual pleasures. There is no strict ban on intimacy, but it is intuitively clear that the remembrance of Christ, participation in his suffering does not imply any carnal pleasures.
- Of course, it is worth excluding any idle talk, gossip, lengthy reasoning, jokes. Good Friday is a day of remembrance and mourning. And any lively communication can simply dispel the atmosphere of sacred veneration of the deceased Savior.
What to eat on Good Friday
Finally, those who follow great post, know that on Good Friday it is prescribed not to eat any food until the removal of the shroud from the temple (this happens about 15 hours, i.e. after dinner). And then you can eat only bread (any, but not sweet pastries) and drink water throughout the day. Such a ban lasts until Sunday night, when, after the service, believers joyfully exclaim: “Christ is risen! He has truly risen!" Of course, such a strict ban does not apply to people with poor health, children, the elderly, as well as those who work physically and can simply lose strength from starvation.
Thus, there is no strict ban on whether it is possible to work on Good Friday, do household and other everyday affairs. Of course, life does not end on this day. However, it should be borne in mind that Good Friday- a special time. And we must do our best to share the suffering of Christ and pay tribute to the Savior.
Holy Week in 2018 began on April 2 and will last until Easter. Read what you can not do these days, what you can eat, the signs and traditions of Holy Week.
Holy Week is the last few days before Easter. The Orthodox also call it Holy Week. She ends Great Lent. In 2018 Holy Week runs from Monday 2 April to Saturday 7 April. Each of these days has a special meaning and rules of conduct. You need to know what you can do during Holy Week and what you can’t.
During Holy Week we are remembered day by day last days earthly life of Jesus Christ, we have the opportunity to be witnesses of these Gospel Events to follow Christ.
During Holy Week, believers remember the suffering and martyrdom of Jesus Christ. Each of the six days of this time has its own meaning.
Holy Week - 2018: what not to do, signs and traditions
Holy Week, although formally, does not refer to Great Lent. But these days amusements, even the most innocent ones, are out of place. It is undesirable for believers to celebrate birthdays and weddings on next week. In Holy Week, you need to show humility and purity of thoughts.
Many folk traditions Holy Week have little in common with the Orthodox canons, it is rather folk customs. But they are also interesting.
Great Monday. Usually on this day they put things in order in the house: something can be tinted, something can be repaired. It was believed that the bright sun on this day would bring a good, fruitful summer. People in Russia washed themselves with water, in which they put gold and silver jewelry. This helped, according to beliefs, to preserve youth and financial well-being.
Maundy Tuesday. Festive clothes for the Light One Sunday of Christ prepared on Maundy Tuesday. On the same day, they continued to put the house in order, they could organize laundry.
Great Wednesday. General cleaning started on Great Wednesday and could continue on Maundy Thursday.
Clean Thursday. On Thursday of Holy Week, a passionate candle was brought from the church, which helped in the treatment of diseases. On the same day, you can cook the so-called thursday salt, which has healing properties for both the person and the relationship. For this common salt put for 10 minutes in the oven or oven, and then consecrate. Also on Maundy Thursday, housewives painted and painted eggs and prepared cottage cheese Easter.
Good Friday. On Good Friday, candles were bought in the church and burned throughout the day in all rooms of the dwelling. Easter cakes are baked on the same day. Before cooking, you need to read "Our Father".
Holy Saturday. On Great Saturday, all believers mourn for the Savior. This day you should especially refrain from fun, intimate relationships, alcohol. The consecration of Easter cakes and Easter is performed in churches. Finally, on Saturday night, everyone gathers in the church for the Easter procession, Easter service and Liturgy.
If it is not possible to defend the Vespers, then it is still better not to go to bed. It is believed that this can bring good luck.
- See also: 3
Holy week 2018: what you can eat by day
All fasting restrictions apply to Holy Week 2018. Moreover, during Holy Week, the Orthodox try to fast more strictly than they fasted throughout Great Lent. For example, on Good Friday, healthy adults do not eat at all until the evening service.
Naturally, during the whole week you can not eat food of animal origin: meat, milk and dairy products, eggs and dishes from these components. Alcohol is strictly prohibited. Chocolate is undesirable - it may contain animal products. Baking - only lean and without the use of vegetable oil.
April 2, 2018, Holy Monday - Monastic charter: dry eating (bread, vegetables, fruits);
April 3, 2018, Holy Tuesday - Monastic charter: dry eating (bread, vegetables, fruits);
April 4, 2018, Great Wednesday - Monastic charter: dry eating (bread, vegetables, fruits);
April 5, 2018, Great Thursday. Remembrance of the Last Supper - Monastery charter: dry eating (bread, vegetables, fruits);
April 6, 2018, Great Heel. Commemoration of the Holy Saving Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ - According to the monastery charter - complete abstinence from food;
April 7, 2018, Great Saturday. Annunciation Holy Mother of God. – Wine is allowed at the meal (fish and oil are not allowed);
And yet fasting all sorts of restrictions on Holy Week is not an end in itself. Orthodox priests they say that all this is done in order to try to feel and understand that Christ is somewhere very close. That His suffering and resurrection is something quite modern and relevant. It's not about ancient history, this is about us. When you manage to feel it at least a little bit, then all questions about what can and cannot be done during Holy Week disappear.
