Church feast Makovei: traditions. What to cook on Makoveya?

In our time there is a large number of church holidays. We'll talk about one of them today. Also consider what traditions exist related to it. In addition, the topic of the meal, as well as what should be cooked on this day will be touched upon. So, what is this holiday - Macovei? To most people, he is known by a completely different name. They know him as the Honey Spas. During this period, useful honey is being pumped on apiaries, and poppy is already beginning to ripen. There is an opinion that the Makovei holiday is a real harvest festival. Maybe that's so. And if you deal with decoding the word itself, you get a "poppy holiday". Because the word consists of two parts: "poppy" and "wei".

Flowers and bouquets - amulets for home and family

What is so special about this unique holiday Makovei? On this day, all the people gathered bouquets of flowers of asters, carnations, marigolds, grasses of cornflowers, mint, wormwood and yarrow. Residents of different regions added their plants and herbs. So there were bouquets with carrots, corn, peas, dill. We wreathed wreaths and added a candle. In each such popular "masterpiece" the owner put his hopes on the productivity of the year and prosperity in the house. But the obligatory attribute of such a bouquet was a poppy, its ripe heads.

Such a bouquet was called in a special and very gentle way - "makoveichik." With these flowers, all the parishioners went to church for service. There they consecrated the gathered herbs. Arriving home, a bouquet is removed for the icon. Such poppies used to protect their homes and cattle living in the courtyard. It was believed that these seeds can save a child just born from the "evil eye".

Therefore, poppies scattered before the threshold of their houses. Many believed that if you scatter seeds in a circle and get into this "drafted" amulet, you can get rid of all evil, and forever. All the consecrated herbs healed any diseases, cleared the well water and returned the family happiness to the house. Exactly one year later on the Makovei church feast, when a new bouquet is ready, the old one had to be burned.

Also in the church for the consecration carried honey, a ritual dish - "Shuliki." This interesting batch consisted of cakes, broken into pieces, filled with water with honey and a poppy.

Each hostess was preparing her special meal that day. Who cooked pies, pampushki and pies. But seeds of poppies and honey were added to any prepared dish or dough. There is such an interesting tradition.

Holy water

On the holiday, Makovei was especially careful about water. The middle of August is always hot. Because of the dry summer, massive diseases could begin. Water was sanctified, believing that this ritual cleansed it. Therefore, there is another name for this holiday - Water or Wet Spas. They tried to dig a new well by this day, holy water was prepared for the sick, pregnant and children. In addition, it sprinkled the haystacks with hay and straw, so that the mice would bypass the side and do not arrange their nests in mop. On that day in Byzantium, during a drought, the cross on which Jesus was crucified cleared the water.

Useful honey

Why Makokey is a sacred plant considered a poppy, it is understandable. But that's why they treated Russia equally in honey - it's not clear. Probably, because it is a very useful product of bees' labor. And before the honey was added to almost all dishes, they were replaced with sugar, even used to cook various dishes of meat.

What is served on the table on a holiday?

But the Makovei festival is known and celebrated not only in Russia. In Georgia, Ukraine and Romania, too, observe the Orthodox traditions and celebrate in their own way. In each house, a porridge of cornmeal with honey and poppy is required. This dish was cut with a knife, as it was very thick. Drinks also contained honey and herbal tea.

So, if the housewives want to please their loved ones with original cuisine, remember that this will be very useful August 14, Makovei holiday is a special day. Therefore, you need to prepare delicious and healthy dishes. Just want to give one piece of advice: before adding poppy to the dough, first it should be crushed and soaked in water. Juicy and fragrant are provided.

Another explanation of the name

Orthodox Christians have their own explanation for the event to which the holiday is dedicated. It is worth turning to the Old Testament. They honor and remember the holy martyrs, the seven brothers of the Maccabees, who refused to accept the pagan faith, since they believed only in the True God. The brothers, together with their mother Solomon and teacher Eleazar, were put to death on that day. From this day, people begin to observe a fortnightly strict Dormition fast. Therefore, the day of August 14 is rightfully considered and celebrated as a religious festival of Makovei.

In our time this is one of the biggest events for Orthodox believers. In all churches and temples, the Life-giving Cross is always carried out, worshiped and asked to be rid of all diseases and to forgive sins. On this day, the last time they drank horses and other animals, and they washed themselves in rivers and lakes to gain strength and health.

Shuliki - delicious pastries for children and adults

August 14 is the Makovei festival. He pleases delicious pastries, especially children. Unusual shuliki, which was mentioned earlier, you can cook and serve to the table. The dough is prepared lean and fresh. It will suit both for baking in the oven and for frying in a frying pan. The yeast dough is prepared as follows. You will need one glass of water, 1 tablespoon of sugar, 1 teaspoon of salt, three tablespoons of vegetable oil, three glasses of flour and 1 teaspoon of yeast.

You need to knead a steep dough. Roll out, cut into small pieces and send for baking in the oven. This is only one part, the so-called blank. Now you need to make poppy sauce. Take 200 grams of poppy seeds. One glass of water and sugar. Mack beforehand grind in a coffee grinder. Put everything in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Then add the poppy seeds and simmer 5 minutes. Stirred billets from the dough pour into the cooked sauce. That's all, the dish is ready. Now you can safely serve it on the table.

A small conclusion

Now you know when the Makovei festival is coming. August 14 this happens. This holiday was still one of the most "sweet" during Rus. The hospitable hosts treated guests, acquaintances and relatives not only with fresh honey. What kind of goodies women did not come up with! After all, you need to have time to eat, then there will be a fast. Children and adults enjoyed eating poppy pies, rolls and gingerbread. To the table pancakes were served for the Makovei holiday. On August 14, poppy seeds were poured into all the pie fillings. And in the clay pots, sweet honey of various kinds was always served.