In the seventh week before Easter, the cheerful and wide Maslenitsa is celebrated. After it, Lent begins, lasting seven weeks. On the last day of Maslenitsa, Forgiveness Sunday comes - the line between a cheerful farewell to winter and strict Christian fasting. This day does not have a clear date; it falls differently every year, seven weeks before Easter. However, it is always the Sunday of cheese week. On Saturday night, a liturgy begins in all churches, which tells about the expulsion of Adam and Eve from paradise for sinful intemperance, about the great power of the Lord’s forgiveness. Believing Christians pray and ask for forgiveness from everyone who, wittingly or unwittingly, they may have offended. Great Lent implies the beginning of cleansing the soul and body from dirty thoughts and everything gross that has accumulated since last year. Christians specifically ask for forgiveness, and do not apologize, since sincere repentance is possible only through a request to forgive, and apologies are only a sign to consider omissions forgotten. In addition, the person from whom forgiveness is sought must necessarily let go of grievances, without holding anything bad in his soul. People enter Lent with their inner world as purified as possible. You should not be burdened by your own mistakes or by the reproaches and insults of others weighing on your shoulders. During repentance, no worldly thoughts should burden you, and therefore the more thoroughly the soul is cleansed on Forgiveness Sunday, the more calm and focused these days will be. Despite the fact that Maslenitsa week is quite cheerful and well-fed, some prohibitions already apply on Forgiveness Sunday, for example, on meat and milk. On the night before the beginning of the first seven weeks, Christians pray in temples and churches, asking forgiveness from the Lord together, for the “forefathers”, and for themselves. Forgiveness Sunday is a chance for a person to try to correct his sins and begin to fast calmly. In Russia, everyone knows about the existence of such a day on which they pray for those who have left this world and establish contacts with friends and loved ones.

Farewell to Maslenitsa

On the third Sunday of March, it is customary to celebrate the “Day of Workers in Consumer Services and Housing and Communal Services.” This day is a professional holiday for many people who strive to improve our lives around the clock. People first became interested in landscaping back in 1917. Subsequently, the development of the household economy did not stand still and at the moment it is no longer possible to imagine life without it. The date of this holiday was legalized only in 1988, namely November 1. Until this time, the day of celebration was postponed several times. On this day, it is customary to congratulate employees of all services who help make our lives better. Each of us strives to make our home light, warm and cozy. We don’t think about where the light, water, gas and much more in our apartments come from. All this is monitored by utility workers. Workers monitor the purification and heating of hot water and heating, gas pressure, timely supply of electricity, cleaning of local areas and garbage removal around the clock. Also, municipal workers keep parks and squares clean, clear roads from snowfall in winter and moisten roads from dust in summer. Household services include various equipment repair services, shops, beauty salons, shoe repair shops, and so on. The employees of these institutions have enormous patience and know how to find an approach to each of us, they are always friendly with the client, regardless of personal circumstances. Most of the people working in these areas celebrate this holiday right at their workplace. Each of them strives to make our lives easier with their knowledge and skills. Whether or not to congratulate their friends on this holiday, everyone decides for themselves. There is no need to give expensive gifts, just say a few warm words; they will be pleased that their seemingly invisible work is appreciated.

We live in a time where garbage on the street, an unmown lawn, or snow not removed from the road brings a lot of inconvenience, and it’s not just an aesthetic disorder. We are already accustomed to clean streets, electricity in the house, gas in the kitchen, and water from the tap. All these are communications that we use every day, pay for their use and think little about how they get into our homes, who maintains their stable operation and serviceability. All these comfortable conditions of modern life are the merit of public utility workers. Their professional holiday is celebrated in Ukraine. This happens every third Sunday in March. For this day, the state is preparing special events for representatives of these professions. The Day of Workers of Housing, Communal Services and Consumer Services of the Population of Ukraine is a day on which residents of the country have a chance to say thank you to all those who help us live in civilized, comfortable conditions. Of course, every resident of large and small settlements has the sin of scolding the “utility workers” when some misfortunes happen - say, during snowfalls, sidewalks and roadways are not cleared on time, heating pipes break, or the street is not sufficiently cleaned, in the yard or on There is trash in the playground. However, you need to understand that it is clean where there is no litter. And before you scold these people for not performing their work duties perfectly, remember - did you always take the garbage to the trash can? Have electrical appliances been used in accordance with all fire safety requirements? In a word, let's respect the work of those who protect our life and make it as convenient as possible for us. If everyone does the minimum of actions to make the work of others easier, order will finally come to our country, because we need to start with ourselves. And even garbage carefully thrown into a trash can, parking in a specially designated place - so as not to block the passage of an ambulance or a fire brigade - all these are the little things that guarantee order to society. Statistically comparing the level of cars, emissions from factories, the amount of garbage - plastic, bags, etc., as well as the level of growth in the number of residential buildings in large cities with the last century, it is worth recognizing that the public utility sector of the state is quite busy. That is why the staff of workers providing consumer services to the population is growing every year. So, do not forget to congratulate your friend a janitor, electrician, road repair and maintenance worker or heating main on his professional holiday - on the third Sunday in March.

In countries where Irish traditions are respected and people like to have fun, they celebrate St. Patrick's Day, which falls on March 17th. On this day, they remember Patrick, who lived in the 5th century. Thanks to him, Christianity came to Ireland. There is also a legend that the saint drove all the snakes from the island, making life much easier for the Irish. Saint Patrick was a Christian saint; the people of Ireland and Nigeria considered him their patron. Patrick was the author of the Confessions and the founder of Irish literature. According to legend, the saint explained to believers what the Holy Trinity is: “Just as these three leaves grow from a single stem, so God is one in His three persons.” Since then, when celebrating St. Patrick's Day, participants in the festivities symbolically pin a clover plant to their clothes (a symbol of good luck). It is customary to decorate houses with shamrocks, glasses on festive tables, etc. In addition to clovers, leprechauns (dwarf wizards who grant wishes) and Irish flags are symbols of the holiday. The saint was revered by Catholics and the Protestant Church, as well as certain communities of the Orthodox Church. Saint's Day is celebrated by the Irish all over the world, and especially from the USA, Great Britain, Canada, Argentina, Australia, and New Zealand. Out of respect for the saint, many churches and cathedrals were built, which are distributed throughout the world. The day before the celebration, a festival dedicated to the Irish saint takes place. It began to be celebrated back in 1995. The idea of ​​creating the festival was to tell the whole world about the latest achievements of the Irish. And on the morning of March 17, a morning service is held in St. Patrick's Cathedral. Then processions and parades begin, the participants of which dress in a variety of costumes in the national green color. There is music everywhere and beer parties are held. On this day, religious people are allowed to lift restrictions on alcohol consumption. Today, the holiday has begun to be celebrated as Ireland's Day. St. Patrick's Day is also remembered in Russia, although it is celebrated without such a scope.

Our ancestors commemorated two reverend Gerasimovs on March 17. The first is a monk who lived in the fifth century in the Asia Minor state of Lycia, now Turkey. Born into a wealthy, wealthy family, Gerasim, nevertheless, chose the path of a hermit, became a monk, reached the Jordan River and founded a monastery there. The monastery still exists today, having been rebuilt many times. A widely known story is in which the Monk Gerasim of Jordan tamed a lion that had been healed of its wounds. The mighty beast, in gratitude for the healing, became the monk’s “disciple” and followed him everywhere. Gerasim, in turn, provided the lion with shelter in the monastery and named it Jordan. Nowadays the Lion Jordan is a symbol of the holy monastery. The second no less revered Gerasim is the Vologda miracle worker, who is credited with both the founding of the city of Vologda and the founding of a monastery in honor of the Holy Trinity on Kaisarov Stream. The legend claims that the saint died on March 4 according to the Julian calendar, which corresponds to March 17 of the Gregorian calendar, hence the holiday date. Both namesake monks miraculously died on the same day, more than 700 years apart. The return of birds earlier than March 17 was perceived as a bad omen, promising a lean and hungry year. To encourage the rapid onset of heat, housewives began to bake “rooks.” These are buns made from sour rye dough, with a characteristic shape resembling birds. On March 17, it was customary not only to watch the rooks and remember the two saints Gerasimov. It was believed that that day was the best time to expel the kikimora, the great domestic dirty trick. This evil spirit, a kind of brownie, was accused of broken dishes, thrown pots, tangled yarn, night sounds and knocks that frightened the owners. The kikimora, they say, did all this in order to get the inhabitants out of the house. She was considered the wife of a brownie, only she had a more malicious character and played dirty tricks with pleasure. They depicted this evil spirit in the form of a thin and small creature that penetrated the house in the form of a charmed doll, planted by ill-wishers. And only on March 17, on the day of Gerasim the Rook, the kikimora became quiet and lurked in the corners. This fear of evil spirits was used to drive out the uninvited guest and a healer was invited. He drove out the kikimora with spells and sweeping the home with a wormwood broom. If the ritual was successful, then there was no need to fear evil spirits until the fall, when the rooks left their nests and flew away for the winter.

On February 6 and March 17, the Kingdom of Thailand, as well as in more than 130 countries around the world, celebrates National Muay Thai Boxing Day. For Thais, this martial art is not only part of the national culture, but also plays an educational role, reminding all residents of the freedom-loving spirit of the people. Many legends are associated with this solemn day. One of the transmitted legends is dedicated to the legendary Thai fighter Nai Khan Tom. During the War of Thai Independence from Burmese rule, he was captured. Considering his merits, the Burmese brought the Thai to Rangoon, where he was forced to fight against representatives of the ruling nation at the request of the King of Burma, Lord Mangra. In his ten fights, he did not lose to any of the Burmese fighters involved in parma (Burmese martial arts). For this, he was not only sent home, but also given many honors. The transmitted legend is known to any Thai and teaches the younger generation the perseverance and indestructibility of the Thai spirit. According to another legend, this memorable day was invented in honor of two masters considered the founders of Thai martial arts: Muay Boran and Krabi Krabong. It was these ancient fighters who created Muay Thai. For more than two hundred years, until 2012, March 17 was the national Muay Thai National Boxing Day, and only in 2012 the date was moved to February 6. The date was not chosen by chance. On this day in 1702, the coronation of the Thai king Somet Phra Sanphet VIII (Somdeta Phra Sanphet VIII), who is also known as the Tiger King (Phra Chao Susa), took place. Throughout his reign, the Tiger King supported the national Thai martial arts, and that time is considered by many Muay Thai masters to be the golden age of the national martial art. February 6, 2013 became the first international Muay Thai National Boxing Day. The capital of Thailand, Bangkok, hosted the first festival, which was held by organizations created in accordance with the decision of the government. In addition to amateur and semi-professional communities, the organization of the festival included the World Muay Thai Council (WMC), the International Muay Thai Federation (IFMA), the Amateur Muay Thai Association of Thailand (AMTAT), as well as the leadership of the Thai capital itself. Since then, in honor of the solemn day, a solemn ceremony has been held, consisting of two parts. The first is held at the Ministry of Culture for athletes and Muay Thai masters, as well as people actively involved in the popularization of Thai martial art. The second part is devoted to sports competitions held in honor of the King of Thailand. At the same time, athletes compete for awards established by the state government and the Organization to Combat Female Violence.

Festival of Whispers

The ancient Roman god of wine had a female version called Libera, who was the patron of marriage and fertility. During the grape harvest, it was transported through all the lands of the country, accompanied by a noisy, cheerful procession. Participants in the celebration drank wine, held masquerades and mass celebrations, sacrificed goats, and in some places even organized unbridled orgies.

According to the folk calendar, Gerasim Grachevnik is celebrated on March 17 (March 4, old style). On the one hand, the holiday is named in honor of two saints - Gerasim of Jordan and Gerasim of Vologda, revered by the Orthodox Church on this day. The history of Gerasim of Jordan began in the 5th century. He built a monastery near the Jordan River, led an ascetic life, strictly observed fasts and prayed a lot. Gerasim of Vologda was born in Kyiv in the 12th century and served as a priest in his youth. But wanting to retire in prayer to the Lord, he went north, settled near Vologda and became a hermit. Other monks were drawn to him, so over time his monastery turned into the Holy Trinity Monastery. The people called Gerasim the Rooker for the return of rooks from warmer climes. Their arrival symbolized the onset of spring. The peasants greeted the birds with joy, because the rook was also an assistant in exterminating harmful insects. On this day, housewives prepared cookies in the shape of a rook and treated them to the children. The day was considered successful for expelling kikimoras from their homes. She was represented as an evil spirit; she had the ugly appearance of a thin, short old woman with disheveled hair and twisted hands. According to Slavic beliefs, a kikimora was the wife of a brownie or goblin and could help with household chores. But, if the kikimora did not get along with the owners, then she would play various dirty tricks on them: she would knock objects at night, break dishes, disturb the children’s sleep, and confuse the housewives’ yarn. In this case, they got rid of it by calling a healer to the house - the owners washed the house completely, and he read a special spell. Also, to drive away kikimora, branches of juniper and fern were hung in the room, the floor was swept with a wormwood broom, and a stone with a hole inside was hung in the chicken coop. Unmarried girls wondered about Gerasim Grachevnik. They got together and took turns running out the gate. If the first person to meet was a woman, then the girl was expected to get married this year. And if a man met, then matchmakers were expected at least a year later. The signs on Gerasim Grachevnik were associated with rooks. The settling of rooks on old nests was noted during the warm spring, but their abandonment promised cold weather. If they returned before March 17, then the year was foreshadowed by a lean year. The weather on Gerasim showed what the next winter period would be like.

Orthodox holidays March 17:

On March 17, the Orthodox Church honors the memory of the holy noble prince Daniel of Moscow, whose holy relics are kept in the Danilov Monastery in Moscow. The future saint was born into the family of the famous Prince Alexander Nevsky in the ancient majestic city of Vladimir. But the youngest of four brothers was not destined to remember his great parent, having lost his father at the age of two. After the division of his father's inheritance by his older brothers, Daniel received the small Principality of Moscow, which until then had been ruled only by governors. Upon arrival in Moscow, the young prince saw the neglect and insignificance of the city. First of all, he decides to build a monastery in the principality. On the banks of the Moscow River a temple and monastery were built in honor of the Monk Daniel the Stylite. The activity of the faithful was based exclusively on mercy and Christian virtues, which was not typical for rulers during internecine wars. In 1293, the prince allowed refugees from Russian cities devastated by the alliance of his brother Andrei and the Horde into Moscow. Together with the rescued and ordinary Moscow people, Daniil Alexandrovich experienced all the hardships of the enemy attack, preserving the fragile peace and the lives of the Orthodox. After the destruction of Moscow, the prince divides his property with the townspeople and begins the restoration of the city. Moscow, of which only ashes remained, was rebuilt in just a year. The saint was distinguished by his courage and desire for justice; in 1300 he opposed the Ryazan ruler Constantine, who had stained himself with connections with the Tatars. Daniel defeats the mixed troops of the Ryazan principality, exterminating many Horde soldiers, but refuses to appropriate the conquered lands and rich booty. And he makes the captive Konstantin a guest of his lands, thereby strengthening peaceful relations with Ryazan. Wise rule makes the Moscow principality one of the most significant. This was especially facilitated by the expansion of the boundaries of the principality after Daniel received the city of Pereslavl-Zalessky as an inheritance from his uncle Ivan Dmitrievich. Before his death, the Moscow ruler comes to the monastery and accepts the great schema, bequeathing to bury his remains within the walls of the monastery. Muscovites mourned the death of their ruler as if they were their own father. But after only 30 years, the name of Daniil Alexandrovich and his great deeds were forgotten, and the faithful reminded of himself by appearing to one of the close associates of Tsar John III. Daniel reproached his descendant for forgetfulness and neglect of his great family. After what happened, John ordered requiem services to be served in honor of the ancestors, and when miraculous healings began to occur at Daniel’s grave, it was decided to hold an annual religious procession to the holy remains. Under Tsar Alexei Romanovich, the relics of the beneficent prince were discovered, which remained incorrupt. Daniel was canonized, and his relics were solemnly transferred to the monastery cathedral.

Memorial Day of St. Gerasim of Jordan