Feast of St. Andrew the First-Called: date, rituals. Day of Remembrance of the Apostle Andrew

In ancient times young young ladies waited long and anxiously for December, after the 13th day the feast of St. Andrew the First-Called. By tradition, during this event, you can find out who your betrothed is, by conducting popular fortune-telling. Despite the fact that they started celebrating this day a long time, in our time of popularity the event has not lost. Almost every Orthodox person takes the traditions and customs very seriously, therefore this day is special for him, a saint.

Apostle Andrew - who is he?

Of course, the knowledge that December 13 is the Day of St. Andrew is very common, but not everyone knows the history and origin. The Holy Scripture states that John the Baptist was his teacher, and it was he who decided to send an intelligent disciple to serve Christ. Andrew entered the number of twelve apostles and did together with all three-year path. After the appearance of the Holy Spirit, the disciples of the Son of God cast lots, which determined the future path of the ministers of faith. The share of the Apostle Andrew fell territory of the eastern lands. Now it is the distance from Asia Minor to Kiev. He had to overcome this path and tell everyone he met about the Son of God.

It is believed that Andrew completely devoted himself to serving the truth, leaving worldly problems, including marriage, to ordinary people. He died painfully, he, like Christ, at one time crucified on the cross. The only difference is that Andrei made sure that he was executed on the X-shaped cross, because, in his opinion, he did not deserve the same death as the Son of God. Subsequently such crosses began to be called Andreevsky. After the decision on such execution the apostle did not leave attempts to inform people of the truth about faith. And the people began to support him, so the authorities, in an attempt to avert an impending riot, decided to cancel the verdict. And at that moment Andrei began to pray, his appeal to the Lord was to ask him to take the saint to heaven. From mouth to mouth a legend is transmitted that, when the apostle was dying, a piercing light was shining from the sky, which could not be looked at. No one could come closer and see what was happening there. That is why the congratulation on the Day of St. Andrew the First-Called contains not only happiness and joy, but also a part of sorrow for the great martyr.

What happened after his death

From the biblical sources it is known that Andrew the First-Called performed a large number of miracles, healed a lot of ordinary people. Therefore, the people to whom he had knowledge of Christ and the Gospel had no doubt that it was the Lord who carried out his works through the apostle. Everyone believed in the righteousness and holiness of this servant of God.

When the apostle died, many states made up an act that referred to the patronage of Andrew the First-Called over their lands. These countries included Scotland, Sweden and Russia. The saint was most respected in the last country. Andreevsky cross was even placed on the flag of the country's navy to protect the sailors in their travels and serving the people and the country.

Information about why December 13 - the Day of St. Andrew, no. Historical information and study of old documents by contemporaries allowed to learn only that the church had to make compromises after Rus passed the baptismal ceremony. That is why many celebrations began to be called in honor of the ministers of the Christian faith.

Great rulers who revere the apostle

Through time, the great figures and rulers who served on Russian soil took up the name of the apostle. The name of St. Andrew was honored in Orthodox Russia. Almost all of them on that day ordered a sermon on the day of the memory of Andrew the First-Called. During the reign of Vsevolod Yaroslavovich, not one church was built but countless many temples in honor of this apostle. And in 1699 on December 11, according to Peter the Great's decision, a cross was placed on the flag of the navy fleet, which is considered to be Andreevsky. In addition, this ruler created the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called, which could be obtained by people who made special achievements for the state. Then everyone believed that every victory of the fleet was obtained precisely because of the patronage of the apostle.

Beliefs

For ordinary citizens, the feast of St. Andrew's Day was special, and over the centuries there were many customs and beliefs. It was believed that this winter begins precisely in the Andreev day. Many believed that if you go to a pond and listen to water, you can find out what kind of weather this winter will be. Ancestors believed that if under the ice they hear the noise and vibrations of the reservoir, then ahead they are waiting for blizzards, strong wind and frost. In the case of calm on the pond, the legend said that the winter will pass quietly and calmly, and in the street it will be quite warm.

It was also important to watch what the weather would be on that day. According to Orthodox residents, the snow that fell on the feast of St. Andrew, will lie throughout the winter and even grab the first spring month. If on this day the weather will be cold and clear, all the good and joyful will be ahead of people. If it gets warmer, then it's worth waiting for trouble, because it's a bad omen.

Rituals

The rituals on the Day of St. Andrew are very special, because the roots of this holiday come from pagan beliefs. According to some beliefs, the apostle patronized wild animals. Therefore, each hostess had to cook a little corn and carry it to the field, scattering it there. Some threw it into the chimneys. It was believed that this would save future crops and pets from the attack of wild animals.

Many mistresses also practiced needlework on the feast of St. Andrew, as there is a legend that this occupation can save young girls from meeting with a bear or other wild animal. Honoring this day was considered very important and special. If the residents of the house wanted to get a good harvest next year, then they should have seriously prepared. It was necessary to note very well, congratulations on the Day of St. Andrew were to be sincere and good.

Fortune-telling on small objects

The most important entertainment for girls on this holiday is fortune-telling on the narrowed. Many rural girls, and not only, gathered together under one roof. Together they conducted special rituals, allowing to know the future, to predict their own destiny. Many guessed on small subjects to find out the time when the long-awaited wedding will take place. Everyone could participate in this ritual.

Girls and boys gave away their small things, which then formed under a large dish, and after all objects and pieces of bread had been put in it, it was covered with a towel from above. Then everyone singing a special song in a friendly manner, in between the couplets uttering a conspiracy saying that the object returned to the master testifies to the imminent realization of the dream. When they stopped singing, people blindly took out objects. The early wedding was foreshadowed by those whose things the person of the opposite sex would pull out.

Fortune-telling on a birch-ray

It is believed that this is the quickest and easiest way to predict your fate. It was necessary to get a ray of birch from the fire and dip it into clean water. After that it was necessary to light a ray. According to the belief, quickly and smoothly lit ray signified a long and happy life, and also foretold a good year ahead. If it starts to burn unevenly and pop, it means that the guesser is waiting for hard times. A year ahead will be very restless, there is a high probability that a person will deteriorate health.

Fortune telling on straw and spoons

To guess, using the straw, on the feast of St. Andrew is simpler than that. You just need to take her bunch and throw to the ceiling. It is believed that the number of straws stuck and not fallen, corresponds to the number of members of the future family. With the help of spoons, they knew what the coming year would be like. A bowl of water was collected, spoons of all members of the family were folded into it, then the vessel was chattered, so that the objects changed their location in a chaotic order. If at the end of the procedure all the objects lie side by side, everything will be fine. The reclining spoon on the side meant that its owner was waiting for a long journey or death.