The Day of Catherine, Saint Great Martyr - history, traditions, features

Catherine's Day, holy Great martyr, is widely celebrated all over the world. Catherine is the legendary saint among Christians. It is loved and revered by all Christians: Catholics, Orthodox, Lutherans, supporters of the Armenian-Gregorian and Coptic directions. Particularly idolized and respected by Catherine in our country.

Brief description of the life of the Great Martyr Catherine

St. Catherine the Great Martyr Day Note on December 7 (November 24 in the old style). On this holiday, all Christians honor the feat of the great saint in the name of faith.

A saint from Alexandria. When she was alive, fame came about her as a very smart, beautiful and wealthy woman. Having adopted Christianity in 304, she was a preacher of the faith and teachings of Christ.

The Emperor Maximilian, an ardent opponent of Christianity, tried in various ways to force Catherine to renounce his faith and go into paganism. She was kept in jail without water and food, beaten until the body became like a solid wound, tortured, tied to wheels with sharp teeth, cut off her head with a sword.

The suffering and persistent faith of the girl in the teachings of Jesus Christ served to the fact that many pagans of that time renounced their faith and became pious Christians.

The remains of Catherine are considered a great shrine for all Christians, they can be worshiped on Mount Sinai, in the monastery that bears her name.

The place where Catherine was executed, tourists and now can see when visiting Alexandria. In honor of the martyrs around the world, in particular in Russia, many churches and temples have been built.

The meaning of the name Catherine

It is the name that is the key to Catherine's deed. "Katarina" from the Greek "clean", the particle "e" carries a semantic meaning - "always." In other words, this name means - "always clean".

St. Catherine became a symbol of the purity of faith, integrity and truth. Even in prayer, Christians call the saint a pure, undefiled virgin who has martyred because of an unshakable faith in God.

In the day of St. Catherine's Prayer sounds like Amulet. Christians turn to a clean, undefiled virgin who martyred because of the love of God, asking for help in solving many vital issues.

What are they praying for Saint Catherine

December 7 - the day of St. Catherine - is significant in that he gives hope to all unmarried girls to find their happiness. The Saint pray with a request to get a good, pious groom, to marry successfully and live a happy family life.

The saint helps during difficult births, so she is resorted to in prayer for the help of a woman in childbirth.

The day of Catherine, the holy martyr, is considered a holiday by philosophers and preachers. They believe that the saint is their heavenly patron, praying for her to enlighten her mind and acquire new knowledge. Ask her to support her students and teachers, because knowledge and new teachings are patronized by Catherine.

Praying from the heart, the believers hope for the speedy fulfillment of their plans. And often faith does wonders.

The Day of Catherine, the Holy Great Martyr - signs of the feast

This day is really festive, with signs connected with it, predicting what the harvest will be for the next year. According to the beliefs of our ancestors, a bad harvest should be expected if by this day a lot of snow falls on dry land.

Among the weather predictions, the forecast was popular before the holiday of Varvara (December 17). If for the day of Catherine, Holy Martyr, fog and thaw, we should expect the same weather to Varvara, there will be no frost.

Celebrations for Catherine

This is a winter holiday. Usually on this day the winter is in full swing: the ground is covered with snow, frost and cold prevail.

December 7, the day of St. Catherine, in the old days was famous for folk festivals, they were called Catherine. Categorically forbidden to sit at home and miss this day. People were having fun, because the obligatory ceremony of this holiday was skiing on a toboggan or a horse - drawn carriage. The guys who were going to marry, it was on this day, among the walking crowd, that they were looking for brides to play a wedding during the winter meat-eater. To the wife caught a good, the boys on the eve of the holiday fasted.

Holiday fortune-telling on a married man

Unmarried girls for marriage were converging on that day in one of the houses. After congratulations on the day of Catherine, Saint Great-martyrs, arranged gatherings on which together from common products they prepared porridge or soup. Exactly at midnight the guessing and dreaming to know their future took cooked food and, going out with her to the gate, called their fate. It was believed that if a cock roars on prizes somewhere, then the girl expects a successful marriage and a good family life. Silence, on the other hand, did not bode well.

It is December 7, the day of St. Catherine, is considered the best holiday to learn the future. Before the sun rises, on this day the girls tried to cut a cherry twig. At home, a cut twig was put in the water to make a prediction - waiting for the old New Year. The dry branch is a sign of "shrunken" happiness, an unhappy fate. Cherry blossomed - wait for the girl's matchmaker next year.

Congratulations on the day of Catherine, Saint Martyrs, are widely used by believers in our time. It is necessary to congratulate women who bear the same name as the saint. It can be done simply in words, in poetic form, by writing a congratulatory letter, but the best manifestation of love and care for a loved one is the prayer that comes from the heart.

This holiday is known and honored. Believers visit churches and temples on this day, to put a candle, to ask a saint, believing that sincere prayer can work miracles.