Krasnaya Gorka is celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter. This is a national Christian holiday. In 2020, it falls on April 26th. On this day, the Orthodox Church remembers the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the meeting of the Apostle Thomas with the resurrected Savior.

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history of the holiday

Krasnaya Gorka is a pagan holiday of the ancient Slavs. It was in the spring when the thaw came. On this day, people glorified Yarila - the pagan deity of the spring sun and fertility, and Lada - the goddess of fun and love. The youth gathered on hills and glades warmed by the sun, organized festivities, dances and games. On this holiday, couples in love arranged weddings, and single young people were looking for their other half. In the name of the holiday, the word "red" meant "beautiful", which was associated with the beauty of the awakened nature.

After the adoption of Christianity in Russia in 988, the clergy adapted the pagan folk calendar in accordance with Orthodox traditions. The celebration of Red Hill was replaced by Antipaskha, or Fomino Sunday. The name "Antipascha" means "instead of Easter". The holiday is timed to coincide with the events that are described in the Gospel. After the resurrection, Christ appeared to the apostles, among whom was not Thomas. The apostle doubted that Jesus was the Son of God. He wanted to see for himself and meet the Savior. On the eighth day after the resurrection, Christ appeared before Thomas.

Traditions and rituals of the holiday

In the Orthodox tradition, on Antipascha, divine services are held in churches dedicated to the Apostle Thomas, and the memory of the resurrection of Jesus Christ is renewed. After the service in the temples, the parishioners go to the cemeteries. They visit the graves of deceased relatives, bring flowers and treats. On this day, people arrange weddings and weddings. After a nine-week break, the sacrament of marriage is resumed in Orthodox churches.

The ancient Slavic traditions are being revived among the people. In honor of the Red Hill holiday, people organize fairs, where mass folk festivals take place. The youth sings songs and dances. Unmarried girls on this day are guessing at their betrothed.

Signs and beliefs on Red Hill

• A calm day is a sign of a good grain harvest.
• If you marry Krasnaya Gorka, then family life will be happy.
• Sitting at home on this day is a bad sign: this way you can be left without love for a long time.
• You should not swear at Krasnaya Gorka, otherwise it will not be possible to make peace before the Trinity.
• On this day, you can not be sad and cry, otherwise the whole year will be full of trouble.

If you scroll through the Orthodox calendar, you can find that exactly one week after Easter, believers celebrate another holiday - Fomino Sunday. This day is dedicated to the memory of the Apostle Thomas. However, among the people this event is often called Red Hill, there is also an alternative name - Antipascha. What date is the Orthodox Krasnaya Gorka 2018? Is it possible to get married on this holiday or visit the graves of relatives? Today we will talk about this and much more.

It is interesting: The name "Antipascha" was given to the holiday because of the Apostle Thomas, who did not believe in the resurrection of Christ. However, “unbelieving Thomas” had to take back his words when the Savior personally appeared to him in the flesh.

What date is Red Hill 2018

Every year this event is celebrated on Sunday, exactly one week after Easter. If you wish to know what date is Krasnaya Gorka 2018 then keep in mind that it will pass April 15. By the way, in Russia this holiday was celebrated no less solemnly than bright Easter. In some regions of the country, the celebration even lasted a whole week. Apparently, the people, after a long fast, were in a hurry to treat themselves to their favorite dishes!

The Slavs under the word "red" did not understand the scarlet color at all. For them, this word was synonymous with the meaning "beautiful", "cheerful" or "blooming". Remember, for example, the proverb “red maiden”. Thus, Krasnaya Gorka is a time of renewal of nature and spring flowering. In other words, the holiday can mean the victory of spring over winter or life over death.

Customs and signs on Fomino Sunday

As on Easter, on Krasnaya Gorka 2018 you can bake Easter cakes and paint eggs. Such “paintings” are supposed to be given to other people - relatives, friends, acquaintances, or even random passers-by who you meet on the street.

In some places, mainly in rural areas, Krasnaya Gorka is called a "girl's" day. This name has remained since the time when grooms wooed brides exactly on this Orthodox holiday. In anticipation of their beloved, the girls did not sit idly by. They had to set the table, tidy up the hut and, of course, dress up more elegantly. Behind all these chores, ritual songs were performed.

According to an old sign, a girl who wants to get married soon should bake a loaf on Fomino Sunday. And in order for family life to be happy, when mixing the dough, it was supposed to imagine a good husband, healthy children and a house - a full bowl. Cooked pastries were kept near the icon for some time, and then crumbled and fed to the birds.

Do you want to know if luck awaits you next year? Finding it out at Krasnaya Gorka 2018 is as easy as shelling pears! Take a colored egg and try to gently roll it down a low hillock. If the testicle remains intact and completely without cracks, then you are definitely lucky. Small cracks mean minor problems. And if the egg is deformed or most of the shell peels off, then, alas, you should prepare for trouble.

Our ancestors believed that if on the eve of Antipascha you wash all the icons in the house with water, and then wash yourself with the same water, then you can get rich. On the same day, it was supposed to pray to God for health and for the remission of sins.

Of course, Krasnaya Gorka 2018 is not much like an old holiday revered by our ancestors. The traditions of walking together, dancing and having common meals are a thing of the past.

Is it possible to go to the cemetery on Krasnaya Gorka?

Strictly speaking, there is no direct ban on visiting the graves of deceased ancestors on this day. However, one should not forget that Krasnaya Gorka is a celebration of life, and it is better to dedicate it to the living. This is far from the most suitable day for remembrance and mourning. It would be much better to eat festive Easter cakes, enjoy the warm spring weather and communicate with loved ones.

Wedding on Krasnaya Gorka - for good or not?

Of course, this celebration of life and spring is ideal for starting family life. In the old days, many couples wanted to get married on Krasnaya Gorka. It was believed that the alliance concluded on this day would be strong, and neither the intrigues of the rival, nor other circumstances could destroy it.

One of the folk signs says that the richer and more magnificent the young people played their wedding on Krasnaya Gorka, the more abundant the harvest will be next year. In addition to other dishes and dishes, colored eggs, symbolizing harmony and beauty, must have been present on the festive table.

A simple ritual for wealth

This rather simple ritual will help you gain wealth or fulfill another cherished dream on Krasnaya Gorka 2018. You just need to take any small coin and throw it into the well. At the same time, it is necessary to imagine that what you have planned has already come true. The brighter and more clearly you imagine your fulfilled desire, the higher the probability of success. By the way, if you fail to find a well, then a coin for good luck and wealth can be thrown into the river.

Video "Red Hill 2018"

Red Hill, or as it is also called Antipaskha, is an ancient holiday in which pagan and Orthodox traditions are closely intertwined. Servants of the Orthodox Church remind that Antipascha does not have a fixed date for celebration, because this holiday is directly tied to the Bright Resurrection of Christ and is celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter. Antipascha or Red Hill in 2019 falls on May 5th.

A special holiday, which surprisingly combined the traditions of Orthodox people and the rituals of the pagans, is the spring holiday of Krasnaya Gorka. Since ancient times, it was believed in Russia that on this day spring fully comes into its own, and the period when young men go to get married begins. On the holiday of Red Hill, the god Yarilo was glorified, young people arranged fun festivities. What are the customs of the Red Hill holiday? What are the signs on this day? How can you guess in Krasnaya Gorka? Our article will give you answers to all these questions.

Since ancient times, rituals and fortune-telling have been held in Krasnaya Gorka

According to biblical writings, on Easter Christ appeared to his disciples with the news of his resurrection, but at that moment Thomas was not around with his brothers. Because of this, he did not take their word for it and doubted for a long time whether his comrades had deceived him. Exactly a week later, that is, on the following Sunday, Jesus appeared to Thomas so that he would believe in a miracle.

Various rituals were held in Krasnaya Gorka in Russia, which were supposed to ensure a good harvest, and protect the village from various adversities. When it was still dark, women gathered on the edge of the village, plowed a furrow around the village, as if creating a protective circle. At the same time, they recited prayers. It was considered very good when a cross formed in the place where the furrow closed. If the furrow was deep, it meant that disease, drought, crop failure and other troubles would bypass the settlement. When the ceremony was completed, a merry festivities began, during which young girls tried by all means to attract the attention of guys.

For young beauties, they put on their best clothes, bright scarves, and bright ribbons were woven into their braids. The most important was the girl Lada, who knew all the songs, directed round dances and started games. In Krasnaya Gorka, every guy or girl tried to show everything they were capable of. Someone had a chic voice, and someone had no equal in the dance.

Young girls aspired to get married at all times. And festive fortune-telling made it possible to find out the name of the betrothed, and when they will get married. So, the day before the Red Hill holiday, the girl baked a loaf, took two new, never used needles, and spoke in special words. Needles were stuck in the form of a cross into a loaf, which must first be sprinkled with salt. After that, the loaf is taken out into the corridor. In the morning you need to pick it up and put it on the highest place. It was believed that during the year the girl should get married. There are many such fortune-telling, but many of them have remained in the distant past.

Folk omens did not bypass the Orthodox Krasnaya Gorka

We can say that Krasnaya Gorka or Antipaskha is an incredibly fun holiday that carries the victory of life over death, rebirth, and the supremacy of spring over winter. Many customs and signs have already been lost, so you need to keep and revive them.

Among the signs of a colorful and cheerful holiday, Krasnaya Gorka, the following can be distinguished:

*In order not to experience a lack of money, you need to wash yourself on the day of the Red Hill, standing facing the icon. The eldest in the family must wash everyone else, but not vice versa.

*Make a wish and throw a coin into any body of water (river, lake, well in the yard). Such a ritual should bring happiness to the house, and the desire will certainly come true.

*Pray to the Lord, sincerely, with all my heart, ask for longevity and good health. Our ancestors sincerely believed that on this day the words of their prayer reach not only the Lord, but also their deceased relatives.

*According to folk signs, a marriage concluded on this day will be strong and for life.

This festival symbolizes the onset of spring, the change of the cold season to a warmer one. Its second name is Fomino Sunday. It is characterized by noisy festivities, loud songs, round dances, matchmaking and wonderful weddings. That is why it is very important for potential brides and grooms to know what date the Red Hill holiday is celebrated in 2018.

When the holiday falls in April, according to statistics, more than half of the weddings in the coming year are registered on Fomino Sunday. It is no less important that in the next 5 years the holiday is celebrated in April.

The mentioned holiday belongs to the well-known pagan celebrations. Even in Ancient Russia, a custom appeared in a special way to meet spring. As a rule, this event took place at the end of April - beginning of May. The all-night festivities were dedicated to the sun god Yarila. The people sang songs, danced round dances, baked magnificent pies and loaves. Festive dishes were given a round shape, symbolizing the beginning of a new cycle of life and the heavenly body.

On this solemn day, young people and girls who had the intention of soon getting married, specially dressed up. Young maidens weaved colorful ribbons into their braids. It was important for everyone to take part in the celebration, otherwise the young would risk being completely alone until old age. And those who got engaged on this day were promised the patronage of Yarila and a long, strong family life with all the benefits.

A dressed sorcerer is invited to a wedding in a temple for a holiday. After the ceremony, he casts spells, protection from damage and the evil eye, and also wishes the newlyweds love and prosperity. For success in marriage, the bride's outfit should include red jewelry, it can be a beautiful flower or an expressive hairpin.

At the wedding festivities, according to custom, couples of young men and women who have not yet been married are standing in front of the groom. On command, they scatter in different directions and whoever they catch first will marry faster than the rest. Then the bride and groom stand in a round dance formed around them, the guests holding hands move clockwise, while expressing their wishes. At the end of the wedding, the bride blesses her bridesmaids for marriage, wrapping them with a ribbon released from her braid.

It is worth noting that Christians have preserved the tradition of celebrating St. Thomas' week. The holiday was celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter. At this time, the 7-week Great Lent, which forbids young people to get married, ended. And as soon as there was an opportunity to perform this rite, a huge number of people gathered, as a result of which the church did not have time to perform the desired sacrament over everyone. Those who were lucky enough to get married on Krasnaya Gorka were promised a happy marriage and prosperity.

Among the Orthodox Slavs, a marriage proposal was made on Fomin's day, and a wedding followed by a wedding was held during St. Thomas' week.

According to one of the beliefs, this celebration is also able to realize the most cherished desire of a person. It is believed that if you throw a coin into the well on Krasnaya Gorka, then the wish will come true.

Wedding on Red Hill

The beloved traditions of Krasnaya Gorka do not lose their relevance to this day, attracting more and more modern youth, 2018 was no exception. On this day, the longest lines line up at the registry offices, and a lot of people getting married line up in churches. Nature itself gives confidence that married life will pass happily and smoothly. All living things awaken from sleep, and warmed by the warmth of spring, it symbolizes the birth of something new, expresses the most sincere love.

As for the script for such weddings, it is based on ancient traditions. Accompanied by the traditional playful jokes of the bridesmaids in multi-colored aprons, a ransom is held. Guests and relatives are treated with compliments, neat caramel cockerels on sticks or pies in tulle with scarlet bows. For successful photo sessions in a traditional style, stock up on a bouquet of wild flowers or a wreath, as well as a basket of hot cakes.

When decorating a wedding celebration, it is worth giving preference to scarlet and snow-white flowers, the festive banquet table is decorated with ribbons, balloons and other attributes that are in harmony with the soft green spring landscape.

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The entire next week after Easter is called Bright Week, Easter week and ends on Sunday, which is called -. In church tradition, the holiday is also called Antipascha or St. Thomas Sunday and is dedicated to the memory of the appearance of Christ to the Apostle Thomas on the eighth day after the resurrection. This is the Christian essence of this holiday.

Among the people, the holiday is borrowed from the Eastern Slavs and it is customary to celebrate it joyfully, cheerfully, with noisy folk festivals, merrymaking, round dances, with the calling of spring and making fires.

Weddings and weddings are timed to Krasnaya Gorka, it's time after the winter and the end of the fast to break the fast and have a good rest before spring work. There is a belief among the people: a wedding on Krasnaya Gorka will make the marriage union strong and indestructible.

Somewhere Krasnaya Gorka is also called the Tuesday of the Radonitsa week following the Easter week, and even the whole week, and in some places this means the spring St. George's day or its eve.

Everywhere, the Orthodox celebrate on Tuesday after the end of the Easter week, with a visit to the cemetery and the commemoration of all the dead.

What date is Red Hill? In 2018, this holiday fell on April 15, in 2019 - on May 5.

What is the essence of the Red Hill holiday among the people

Krasnaya Gorka is a continuation of Easter, a festive end to the Easter week. On this day, a ritual of light fortune-telling was used, in which they “rolled eggs from a hill”, that is, they rolled colored eggs from small hillocks. This is where the name of the holiday comes from.

It was believed that if the egg rolls and does not break, then its owner will be lucky and happy.

Among the ancient Slavs, this holiday was associated with the renewal, rebirth and flowering of nature, the entry of spring into its full rights. Hills and hillocks were the first to be freed and dried up from snow, covered with green grass. The people called them red, which meant "beautiful."

People burned bonfires, danced around them. On this day, they dressed up in the best clothes, the girls put on their jewelry and wove festive ribbons into braids, if the week fell on May, then they wove wreaths and decorated their heads with them.

Subsequently, the Orthodox Church began to hold weddings on the day of Red Hill. Fasting and Easter rites ended, so couples in love could enter into family unions illuminated by the church.

Signs and beliefs on Krasnaya Gorka

Like most folk holidays, Krasnaya Gorka is associated with omens. Let's highlight the most famous of them:

• If you wash yourself in front of the icons early in the morning, then the whole year will be monetary and profitable. If the eldest member of the family is the first to wash his younger relatives, then financial well-being awaits all relatives.
• Wishes will surely come true if you make them on a coin that day and throw it into a well or some kind of reservoir.
• Prayers read on this day have special power and impact. They are heard not only by God and the Saints, but also by relatives who have died earlier. They will help the praying person, give him health, protect him from troubles and misfortunes.
• If you roll a painted Easter egg down a small hill, and at the same time it does not break, it rolls smoothly, then good luck awaits its owner for the next year.
• If an unmarried girl dreams of getting married, she needs to feed and caress a cow that carries a calf in the morning before others, soon the girl will meet the groom, marry him and give birth to a child.
• In general, it was believed that sunny, clear weather on this day promises fertility and a good harvest, and cheerful festive festivities will attract happiness, good luck, health and prosperity.

You can believe or not in the signs associated with the Red Hill. Who believes and gets what he wants! But the most important thing is to keep the purity of your thoughts and desires, sincerely rejoice in the victory of life over death in these bright days after Easter.

We read about the Radonitsa holiday, which follows Krasnaya Gorka, at the link

Peace to your home!