Honey Spas: interweaving pagan and Christian traditions

Honey Spas: History Holidays and traditions.

Honey Spas – Christian holiday with pagan roots.

On this day last honey beekeepers pumped.

People with bouquets of herbs, flowers and poppy heads go to church, hallow water, honey and made amulets, which will protect the house from evil spirits, and people – diseases throughout the year.

When and how to celebrate Honey Spas

Under the new calendar celebration falls on Honey Spas 14 August.

In the last month of summer, people say three Spas:

1. Honeyed;
2. Apple;
3. hazel.

Macovei (another name Honey Spas) celebrate the first. This day – Assumption beginning of Lent, continuing to 29 August (last Spas).

In this festival definitely pumped honey svyatyly it in the church. In Makoveya first began to conduct fairs and celebrations, timed harvest and beekeeping.

On this day, not only collecting honey, but ripe berries. They were used for making pies, flavored drinks and preparations for the winter (compotes, preserves and jams).

On holiday hostess rich table cover. Be sure to make pastry with poppy seeds and honey.

It can be:

• honey cakes;
• cake with berries;
• Pancakes with poppy;
• rolls with honey-poppy filling;
• honey biscuits, etc..

As a fast start, the table does not serve meat and fish dishes, and baking the dough must use lean.

But this sweet delicacy did not suffer, as they generously flavored with honey or jam.

But apples, pears and other fruits can be eaten to Apple Spas (19 August).

The most popular treat at Makoveya previously pancakes with honey and poppy seeds.

Women were ground poppy, adding to it honey.

Cooked pancakes need to dip into the so-called poppy milk and enjoy the amazing taste.

Also on this day they drink mead is not just for fun, but also for medicinal purposes.

In ancient times, people prepared mead from honey and berry juice.

But its preparation required a lot of time – it must insist more 10 years.

People began to look, how to speed up the process of making intoxicating drink and began to add hops, yeast.

Today ancestral recipe of traditional honey drink can be found only in history books.

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A little history

Today Christians 14 August is celebrated Tree Removal Cross.

In the ninth century in Constantinople hottest summer month was associated with deaths, who died from various diseases.

This is due to the spread of epidemics due to water and other ways.

After, as the True Cross, on which Jesus Christ was crucified, carried around the city, people began to get sick less and the number of deaths decreased.

Since there was a tradition every year on this day in the city carry the Cross, that hallowed streets, and disease and illness receded.

According to some people, name of the holiday – Spas connected with the Savior, while others say, that the origin of the name is in pagan times, when there was a tradition to help the widows and the poor;, saving them from starvation and crisis, impending cold.

The second name First Savior – Makoveya linked to commemorate the martyrs Maccabean brothers and their mother Salome, not abandoned their faith.

On this day, the church also honor the memory and other saints:

• Teachers Maccabean brothers Yelizara;
• martyrs Alexander, Katun, Leonty, Mineona;
• svyatomuchenyka Dimitry Pavlovsky.

But historical events, associated with the holiday, not without end.

In the Russian Church began to celebrate the feast after victory over Andrew Bogolubsky Volga Bulgars, gained in 1164 year.

On this day, the Greek emperor Maniul won the war with Arabs.

Legend, that the emperor, Russian prince and prayed to the Holy Cross, that was always with them.

At night, they had a vision, in which the icon of the Virgin came to light warriors.

In the morning begged brave warriors into battle and defeated. In honor of this important event was organized crusade to the river.

Water Spas

Old Style 1 Prince Vladimir of Kiev in August was consecrated Russia.

In this regard, the feast hold little water blessing. This also explains the origin of another title celebration – Water Spas.

Earlier in the day required:

• svyatyly water in church;
• clean wells and sources of drinking water;
• svyatyly new and old dug wells;
• swimming in reservoirs, washing away dirt and mental sins;
• ate and cute animals in ponds.

At Honey Spas can swim in the last year, since then the water is cold and begins to bloom.

Old people say, that after 14 Aug. swimming in the pond can turn disaster – illness and even death.

Now the Church of Saints not only honey and poppy, and the first water, which all family members wash, to protect against disease and failure.

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Makoveychik – guardian Honey Spas

In pagan times 14 Aug. women doing amazing bouquets of herbs and flowers, which served as a talisman for all ills and diseases.

The emergence of Christianity had no impact on tradition, except that now the fragrant bouquets svyatyly with water and honey in the church.

And now people with bouquets sent to church on Honey Spas.

Now they are sold on every corner, but it is, the woman or girl must gather their own charm.

So she puts him positive thoughts, kindness and grace.

In ancient times, bouquet consisted of 17 herbs. Now its composition has changed a bit, but it must be present:

• m'yata;
• oats ears;
• viburnum;
• calendula;
• rue;
• poppy head;
• Pauline;
• motherboard.

Each plant has its value. Ruth and calendula protect against disease, ears is a symbol of rich harvest, and viburnum – Beauty girl.

Mint promotes peace and understanding in the family. Need to dress bouquet of red tape.

Dedicated guardian must hang in front of the house or put in a prominent place, and then he will protect all family members from various illnesses and troubles aside.

Poppy heads soothe the nervous system and improve sleep. They were placed under the pillow or the bed put small children or adults, suffering from insomnia.

Poppy seed as laid out in the corners house, to expel him from evil spirits. Charm retains its strength throughout the year.

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Tradition holidays

Honey Spas – holiday honey. Knowing, When Honey Spas, He prepared to not only housewives, but beekeepers.

On this day, pumped honey, considered as, that after 14 August bees give "wrong" honey.

This day – beginning fairs and harvest honey.

At first Savior before beekeepers must open cells with honey, and then went to church.

Fragrant and sweet bee product must svyatyly in church.

Beekeepers of honey left in the church for parishioners, and treated his children and beggars, they met.

Women always treats baked with honey: pies and cakes, cakes and gingerbread.

honey – useful product, but eating it on Makoveya has healing properties.

Drink sweet treats preferably holy water. In ancient times helped to Honey Spas miserable and widows.

They help provide firewood for the winter, harvesting etc.. They were also treated to sweets and goodies.

This day began chores. People working in the field, getting ready for winter, harvested crop.

Believers consider, that women Maccabeus forgiven sins. BUT, is known, sins are each, because the fair sex that day go to church and pray to God for forgiveness.

Honey Spas – strange holiday, which are closely intertwined Christian and pagan customs.

Although over time the celebration has changed significantly, many traditions have survived to the present day.

Age proverb – This experience of generations of our ancestors, they carefully collected and passed on by word of mouth.

This knowledge is priceless. They need to cherish and sometimes even listen to the voice of the century.