On the eighth of January in the national calendars of many Nations that have Slavic roots, we have a Day of midwives, which is otherwise called a woman’s day or woman’s cereal. The holiday is almost forgotten, especially today, not everyone knows the meaning of midwife.
the Midwives called women helping the child to be born before he developed the Institute of obstetrics. As healthy physically and mentally procreation was taken very seriously, to prepare women for motherhood and birth was supposed to with all the thoroughness. (The myth of a woman giving birth in the field in the haystack, and then she stood up and went to work, came during the great Patriotic war, the era of building socialism. Along with the ditty: “I’m a horse, I’m a bull. I’m a woman and a man”).
the Midwives were usually married women who had their children, but non-reproductive age. Midwives had the best reputation as women are not stained their honor adultery or grumpy or cantankerous character. Midwives know the traditions, the charms and prayers. They had a great experience birthing, otherwise you could harm the health of the newborn. It was considered that between the midwife and the baby was born with it, established the spiritual-kinship.
In fact, the Day the midwife was not celebrated on 8 January, and the day after Christmas. And in his description says that its pagan roots date back to the worship of the great mother goddess, and Association with embodies the fertility of the great mother understood. But was in holiday and Christian-based, derived from the Marian days.
explain the binding of the holiday to Christianity at first glance, there is no other historical monument has never referred to the presence of a midwife or a doula at the birth of Baby Jesus women.
And yet, a logical relationship exists. The fact that the day after Christmas the Orthodox Church celebrates the feastWH ICH is called the Cathedral of the blessed virgin. In other words, a festival dedicated just given birth to young Mary (it is possible that for this reason the day of a midwife often congratulate and childbirth. Mary that is revered not only as the woman who gave birth to the Messiah, but the spiritual Mother of all people. If eve were all born into the world, that through Mary all were born spiritually. Not coincidentally icons Helper in childbirth (the childbirth Pomorzanie) and Blessed are the womb (celebration of the icon also falls on 8 January), the Central figure of which was the mother of God. Accordingly, her pray and midwives and pregnant women.
the Cathedral he called because unlike certain feasts of the blessed virgin (her conception, Nativity, assumption) this day takes place in Council — General — the celebration of the virgin Mary and people close to her and to Jesus Christ. Namely, Joseph the betrothed, king David, Jacob (son from first marriage Joseph), who accompanied the family during the flight into Egypt.
Another interesting detail of this day is the most popular in the people’s worship was a musician and tamer the wrath of king David. Going to this day in the road, the traveller asked him for protection against beasts and robbers, believing that the Holy Psalmist his singing and playing the harp will be able to pacify and calm any enemies.
the Cathedral of the blessed virgin Mary — a holiday with an ancient tradition: it was mentioned in the 4th century Epiphanius. And St. Ambrose of Milan and blessed Augustine in his sermons on the Nativity thanked the Mother who bore Jesus. Officially the celebration of the Synaxis of the Theotokos on the day after Christmas was fixed in 79 the fourth Ecumenical Council, held in 680-681, respectively.
Interesting hypothesis that some time after the Baptism of the pagan Rus, the feast of the Synaxis of the blessed virgin Mary was more important than Christmas. At least for women. The situation has certainly changed over time, but from that time preserved a saying: if on this day a pregnant woman will work, the baby will be born with physical disabilities. Sign beautiful in its hidden meaning: using the subconscious fears of men that their heir will not match their ideas about norms, women are “repulsed” official day off.
he managed to get himself a woman and another bonus — baking cakes and pancakes are not for my husband and family, but only for themselves. This morning was supposed to have pies to go to a Church service. Part to sacrifice the virgin to appease her, the rest is attributed to midwives, where he got “hen party” all night. Porridge, of course, also carried — where do without cereal. Because the name stuck Indian porridge.
Metropolitan of Kiev and all Russia Mikhail in 1590 strongly condemned the custom of female gatherings as incompatible with the Holiness of the blessed virgin. But absolutely forbid a woman’s day was too risky: in celebration of women came with small children, so she blessed them for a happy and healthy life. Tell the family to give up this ritual as from the pagan, did not dare to the Metropolitan.
remained in the tradition of woman’s day is a holiday with pagan and Orthodox traditions.
