Forty Saints-2022: the main traditions and what not to do on this day

Today, March 22, the Orthodox honor 40 saints. This holiday is dedicated to the memory Forty Martyrs of Sebaste
. And in the people this day was called the holiday of Magpies.

The events to which the church holiday is dedicated have far from festive prerequisites, and took place at the beginning of the 4th century in the Turkish city of Sevastia. What day is this, for what traditions, prohibitions and signs worth paying attention to
read our article.

40 saints: a bit of history

During the reign of the Roman emperor Flavius ​​Licinius, who was known for the brutal persecution of Christianity, forty of the best warriors died a harsh death. in the name of faith in Christ
.

These warriors were originally from Cappadocia and served in the squad of Emperor Licinius. They preached the Christian faith and refused to sacrifice to the pagan gods, for which they were subjected to severe torture. Then they were stripped and sent freeze into the icy water of Lake Sebastia
.

Seeing the resilience of the Christians, the Roman warrior Aglaius joined them and also entered the icy water. Exhausted warriors were executed
breaking their legs, then burned at the stake, and the remains were thrown into the water.

Three days later, the forty Martyrs of Sebaste appeared in a dream to Bishop Peter to buried according to Christian custom
which was done.

On the day of their death, the Orthodox Church honors memory of 40 saints
: Kirion, Candide, Domnus, Hesychius, Heraclius, Smaragdus, Eunoikus, Valente, Vivian, Claudius, Priscus, Theodulus, Eutychius, John, Xanthius, Ilian, Sisinius, Angius, Aetius, Flavius, Akakiy, Ekdikiy, Lysimachus, Alexander, Elijah , Gorgonius, Theophilus, Dometian, Gaius, Leontius, Athanasius, Cyril, Sakerdon, Nicholas, Walerius, Philoktimon, Severian, Khudion, Meliton and Aglaius.

40 saints: traditions of the day

• traditionally believers went to the temple, read a prayer and put 40 candles
  ;
• during this period they returned from the south 40 different types of birds
  carrying spring on its wings, the first of which were larks;
• hostesses baked for 40 saints 40 lark buns
  handed them out to children to call spring birds;
• on the Magpie holiday, people dressed tree branches with flowers and ribbons, calling spring
  ;
• on this day girls guessed
  on their fate, suitors, love and future;
• married women and mothers prayed to forty saints for their husbands and sons
  for them to return home safely.

What not to do on the day of the Forty Saints

• as on other significant church holidays, 40 saints are banned housework and dirty work
  : you can not sew, wash, clean, engage in heavy physical labor;
• on the day of 40 saints is not necessary lend money
  ;
• categorically impossible quarrel, quarrel
  sort things out, show aggression;
• you can not violate Great Lent, however slight relaxation is acceptable
  – you can eat food with vegetable oil and drink some wine.

Previously, we told you when Palm Sunday will be in 2022.