Christian holiday Trinity is one of the Orthodox twelve-day celebrations, which is celebrated on the 50th day after Easter, on Sunday. The churches of the Western tradition celebrate on this day the descent into the Apostles of the Holy Spirit, Pentecost, and the Trinity itself - in the resurrection following it.
The Meaning of the Trinity Holiday
The Bible says that the grace given to the apostles by the Holy Spirit descended upon them on this particular day. Thanks to this people the third person of God was shown, they joined the sacrament: the unity of God is manifested in three persons - the Father, the Son and the Spirit. From this day the message is preached throughout the earth. In general, the significance of the Trinity as a holiday is that God opens people to people in stages, and not immediately. In modern Christianity, the Trinity means that the Father who created all life sent the people to the Son, Jesus Christ, and then the Holy Spirit. For believing people, the significance of the Most Holy Trinity boils down to praising God in all its manifestations.
Traditions of celebrating the Trinity
The Holy Trinity, whose history of celebration is estimated for thousands of years, is also widely celebrated today. The people celebrate the Trinity for three days. The first day is the Nervous or Green Sunday, when people had to be extremely careful because of the aggressiveness of mermaids, mavocs, and other mythical evil spirits. In the villages the holiday of the Russian Trinity is celebrated with observance of traditions and certain rituals. The floor of churches and houses was decorated with grass, icons - with birch branches. Green color symbolized the renewing and life-giving power of the Holy Spirit. By the way, in some Orthodox Churches the same meaning is given to golden and white colors. Girls on Green Sunday wonder with wicker wreaths. If the wreaths launched on the water converge, then this year the young woman will be matted. On this day in the cemeteries remembered the deceased relatives, leaving on the graves of food. In the evenings buffoons and mummers entertained the villagers.
In the morning, Monday is Monday. After the service in the church the clergy went to the fields and read prayers, asking the Lord for protection for the future harvest. Children at this time participated in interesting games-fun.
On the third day, Bogodukhov day, the girls "drove to Topol". Her role was played by the most beautiful unmarried girl. She was adorned with unrecognizable wreaths, ribbons, led to the farmyards, so that the owners could treat her generously. The water in the wells was consecrated on this day, getting rid of the unclean spirit.
Christian Western Tradition
Lutheranism and Catholicism share the feasts of the Trinity and Pentecost. The cycle opens Pentecost, marks the Trinity a week later, on the 11th day after Pentecost - the feast of the Blood and Body of Christ, on the 19th day - the Most-Sacred Heart of Christ, on the 20th day - the feast of the Immaculate Heart of St. Mary. In Poland and Belarus, the Catholic churches of Russia these days, the churches are decorated with birch twigs. The state holiday is considered to be the Trinity in Germany, Austria, Hungary, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, Iceland, Luxembourg, Latvia, Ukraine, Romania, Switzerland, Norway and France.
Trinity and modernity
Today, the Trinity is especially celebrated in the countryside. Before this day, the housewives usually restore order in the house and the courtyard, preparing festive meals. Collected early in the morning, flowers and grass are adorned with rooms, doors and windows, believing that they will not be allowed into the house with an unclean force.
In the morning, festive divine services are held in the temples, and in the evening one can visit concerts, folk festivals, participate in cheerful competitions. Most of the traditions, unfortunately, are lost, but the holiday is still one of the most important for believers.