Matron Nastovytsia is celebrated according to the folk calendar on April 9, or in other words, it is also called Semi-Rapeseed. Also, the origins of this holiday are intertwined with the church calendar, when this day was especially revered Matron of Thessaloniki. Many women’s worries, domestic worries today are of particular importance and it is necessary to follow certain traditions and look closely at the signs that our ancestors believed in.
Kiev. Ukraine. Ukraine Gate – April 09, 2021 – Ukraine society and culture
History of the holiday
April is considered the month of stormy water, the first flowers – snowdrops. The national holiday of Matron Nastovitsa (Semi-Rape) is celebrated on April 9 (in the old style – March 27), these two dates are fixed in the church calendar. This is the date of honoring the Matron of Thessalonica, who accepted martyrdom for her faith. She endured all persecution and died for the love of God. This is a story about how the hostess forced Matron to renounce Christianity, but the girl secretly attended church. Upon learning of this, the hostess ordered to beat Matron with sticks, and exhausted from her wounds she was thrown down.
Matron got her first nickname, Mistress, because the clear April nights end with frost. And the snow that melted at night, freezing turned into nast. According to another sign – this is the time of arrival of special birds – guinea fowl: oatmeal, partridges, chibis. These birds probably returned from wintering in their native lands in early April.
According to some folk beliefs, this day was called Half-Rapeseed, so in early April it was necessary to divide all stocks of vegetables into two parts: what is better – the seeds, and the rest was eaten.
Traditions and rites
April 9 – Matrona Nastovitsa’s day was dedicated to economic affairs. At first, they went to church in the morning to pray in front of the martyr of Thessalonica for peace and tranquility in the house.
St. Matron is considered the patroness of housewives and at all times women ask her for support and help with the household. On this day, especially engaged in cleaning the house. All housewives brought order and cleanliness in the house. Quarrels and quarrels were swept out of the house together with the broom, and when dust and cobwebs were removed from the corners, it means that they got rid of the evil force.
Also on this day, you need to go to the garden and start cleaning up garbage and burn everything bad with it. The Matrons of the Half-Rape also prayed that turnips would grow well because for a long time our ancestors had potatoes instead of them. Therefore, the Matrons were asked for a good harvest of turnips – one of the main vegetables in peasant cuisine.
Turnip was always on the table and was considered a traditional dish in the diet of peasants. Why Semi-rape – because turnip – was the main product in ancient Russia, now this vegetable is losing its relevance. After all, turnip dishes were considered a simple dish, it was baked, cooked, added to porridge and even eaten raw. Turnips were filled with water and put to stew in the oven, and the food was ready. Therefore, the saying “easier than steamed turnips” has always been used. To honor the traditions of their ancestors,
Signs
In April, there are many folk signs, because, during this period, preliminary work begins to prepare the soil for sowing. From that day on, the people judged the future weather and the harvest.
In early April, all nature wakes up, streams roar, snow melts in the mountains and water flows down the fields and ravines. Birds arrive from warm regions. The heat returned after the winter. April is glorious with water, everyone will drink.
“A good year is visible in the spring” – the people believed.
“Chibis arrived – he brought water on his tail.”
According to weather signs, the turnip harvest should be good if frost is still visible on the trees in the morning. And if the chibis fly low and with a shout, then in the coming days the weather will be dry and sunny.
Read Also: Annunciation 2021, The Traditions of This Holiday
Source: Ukrgate