Valentine's Day: the history of the holiday, the essence, traditions and customs of the celebration. Russian Valentine's Day

Or Valentine's Day - a holiday that is celebrated on February 14 all over the world. There are several versions about the origin of this holiday, according to one of which Valentine's Day was once called the "Bird's Wedding", since it was believed that on this day, February 14, birds choose their mate. According to another version, many years ago, a Christian priest named Valentine performed a wedding ceremony forbidden by the Roman emperor, for which he was executed on February 14 and since then he has been considered the patron saint of lovers.

Another legend refers to the time when Rome was pagan. It tells how the Christian preacher Valentine was imprisoned for his faith and in front of everyone healed the jailer's daughter and gave her sight. He was sentenced to death, and on February 13, on the eve of his execution, he sent her a tender farewell letter.

The next legend combines the previous two. They say that Valentine, being the bishop of Terni, showed a special disposition to young lovers, helped write letters with declarations of love, reconciled those who quarreled, gave flowers to young spouses. His arrest was allegedly caused by the fact that the Roman emperor Julius Claudius II did not allow the soldiers of the imperial legions to fall in love and marry, and Valentine secretly married legionnaires. When Valentine was in prison, he, as legend has it, fell in love with the blind daughter of his executioner and healed her. Before his execution, he left her a farewell note signed "Your Valentine".

Subsequently, as a Christian martyr who suffered for his faith, Valentine was canonized by the Catholic Church. And in 496, Pope Gelasius declared February 14th St. Valentine's Day. Since then, lovers have revered St. Valentine and consider him their intercessor. In memory of the letter written by Valentine to his beloved, on this day it is customary to give each other greeting cards "valentines" in the form of hearts, with best wishes, declarations of love, marriage proposals or just jokes.

Later, in the Catholic Church, Valentine's Day began to be considered an optional holiday. Since 1969, as a result of the reform of worship, Saint Valentine was removed from the liturgical calendar of the Catholic Church (along with other Roman saints, information about whose life is contradictory and unreliable).

Despite this, Valentine's Day, the patron saint of all lovers, has received truly worldwide recognition, it has become popular in many countries, among believers and non-believers, regardless of nationality and religious denominations. In addition, in many countries there were analogues of Valentine's Day, and often the inhabitants of these countries celebrate the holiday twice - in February, on Valentine's Day, and on their traditional day.

In Russia, this holiday has been celebrated most massively and openly since the early 1990s. A kind of domestic analogue of St. Valentine's Day or Valentine's Day in Soviet times was International Women's Day on March 8, and now - the All-Russian Day of Conjugal Love and Family Happiness, celebrated on July 8. On this day, the Russian Orthodox Church celebrates the day of memory of Saints Peter and Fevronia, who since ancient times were considered in Rus' as the patrons of the family and marriage.

The love story of Peter and Fevronia is described in detail and colorfully in the famous old Russian "The Tale of Peter and Fevronia". According to the Lives of the Saints, Prince Peter ascended the throne of Murom in 1203. A few years earlier, he had contracted leprosy, from which no one could cure him. In a dream, it was revealed to the prince that the pious peasant girl Fevronia could do this. The prince fell in love with Fevronia for her piety, wisdom and kindness and vowed to marry her after the healing. Fevronia cured the prince and married him. The holy spouses carried love and fidelity to each other through many trials. They became famous for their righteous life and mercy.

Saints Peter and Fevronia died on the same day and hour on July 8, 1228, having previously taken monastic vows with the names David and Euphrosyne. The bodies of the saints were placed in one coffin. The Russian Orthodox Church canonized Peter and Fevronia as saints. Today their relics rest in the Holy Trinity Convent in Murom.

At the initiative of the inhabitants of the city of Murom (Vladimir region), where the relics of the holy spouses are buried, the pre-revolutionary traditions of celebrating the day of Sts. Peter and Fevronia. This idea was supported by the deputies of the State Duma of the Russian Federation and in 2008 the holiday received official government status.

On March 26, 2008, at a meeting of the Federation Council Committee on Social Policy, the Federation Council unanimously approved the initiative to establish a new public holiday - the All-Russian Day of Spousal Love and Family Happiness. In 2008, Russia for the first time celebrated July 8 as a national Day of Family, Love and Fidelity.

However, unlike the Western counterpart, the Russian holiday has several patron saints at once. The pious couple Joachim and Anna, in whose family the Mother of God was born, are considered the patron saints of family well-being. On August 29, the Orthodox Church honors the memory of the miraculous Fedorov Icon of the Mother of God, which is revered as the patroness of brides, family well-being, the birth of children in childless couples, helping in difficult childbirth. In Russia, there is another holiday during which the Orthodox pray for the gift of a prosperous family life - this is the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos. From Intercession Day - October 14 - they began to celebrate weddings, and the girls went to church that day to pray that the Lord would send them good grooms .

The material was prepared on the basis of information from RIA Novosti and open sources

Almost everyone associates Valentine's Day with a famous holiday celebrated in mid-February. Despite the fact that it is alien to Russians, in the nineties of the last century they began to celebrate it in educational institutions and gradually made it almost the main event of the winter. But many politicians, public figures and even representatives of religious denominations for many years have taken the initiative to cancel this holiday, which is not related to Russian history and traditions. About ten years ago, the requests of our compatriots were partially considered and the government issued a decree establishing its own Valentine's Day in Russia. However, at the official level, it has a slightly different name - the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity, or the Day of Peter and Fevronya. This special day is connected with the touching story of the life of two lovers who became an example of devotion to each other. Since Russian Valentine's Day is considered a relatively young holiday, its history and traditions are not well known. Today we will correct this omission and tell you why exactly Peter and Fevronya in Rus' have long been considered a model of fidelity and tenderness.

Valentine's Day in Russia: the history of the holiday

Every holiday has its own history. The legend that formed the basis of the Russian Valentine's Day included the biography of Prince Murom. At the end of the twelfth century, the son of Grand Duke Yuri Vladimirovich, Pavel, was blessed to reign in Murom. According to legend, a snake used to visit his young wife at night. In order for the beauty not to refuse him, he took on the appearance of Paul and thus confused the girl. Suspecting something was wrong, she told her husband about the night visitor. Then the angry prince ordered to find the snake and kill him. Many fellows from Murom and other cities tried to do this, but to no avail. Then the younger brother of Prince Muromsky, Peter, volunteered to defend the honor of the young princess. Bold and self-confident, he found the serpent and fought with it. In battle, the blood from the wounds of the reptile fell on the skin of the young man, and he was struck by a terrible disease. The body of the prince was covered with ulcers and scabs, which constantly bled and brought excruciating suffering. The doctors could not alleviate them and made a disappointing diagnosis - leprosy. It was impossible to cope with the disease in those days, so the prince was saddened and prepared for death.

However, in a dream, a young beauty appeared to him. The girl said that she could cure Peter if he fulfilled her wish. The next morning, the young man ordered to look for a healer from a dream, although he did not hope that she was real. But soon he was told that such a girl really exists. Her name is Fevronya and she lives in a small village on the outskirts of the forest. The beauty was the daughter of a wild honey gatherer and from an early age was interested in healing. She knew the power of almost every blade of grass and could use it for the benefit of a person. Also, the girl was pious and always approached treatment with prayer. The result of her actions was simply miraculous, therefore, from many cities and villages, people in need of healing went exactly to Fevronya.

Prince Peter also went there. At the first meeting, the girl struck him with her beauty and intelligence. She examined the young man and said that she could restore his health, but on one condition - he would have to marry her. The delighted prince agreed without hesitation and in a few days returned to Murom completely healthy and full of strength. However, he did not return for the girl, as he did not want to tie the knot with a commoner. After some time, leprosy again made itself felt, and the prince had no choice but to go with a guilty head to Fevronya. The girl listened to him and reminded him of the promise. This time, Peter kept his word and married a beauty.

Test of Loyalty

At the beginning of the thirteenth century, a young man became the prince of Murom. He rose to reign and was faced with the fact that the boyars flatly refused to recognize his marriage to a commoner. They did not accept her as their princess and demanded to terminate the union. After much debate, it was not possible to come to a consensus, so the boyars went straight to Fevronye. They ordered her to immediately leave Murom and forget about her short stay here. The girl meekly agreed to leave the city, but made her last request - to take the most precious thing with her. The boyars decided that Fevronya, who had grown up in poverty, would take jewelry, clothes and precious stones from the tower, and agreed to this ransom. However, the wise girl acted differently. She entered the princely chambers, took Peter by the hand and left Moore with him.

After a short wandering, the couple settled in a small house and began to live on their own farm. The legends say that Fevronya possessed many virtues, and among them were really wonderful ones. For example, even wild animals obeyed her voice and came to the call. She felt at home in the forest, so the prince and princess did not feel any need, although they lived very modestly. Every day, Peter admired his wife more and more and during the years of exile he never regretted that he had given up power and wealth for her sake.

The couple lived in love, respect and care for each other. Over time, they got so used to a simple life that they did not even think about returning to Murom. However, fate had other plans for them.

Prince and Princess of Murom

Without a legitimate ruler, turmoil began in Murom. The boyars could not decide which of them would get the power, and constantly cursed among themselves. They introduced new taxes, which placed a heavy burden on the common people, who rebelled, remembering the exiled Prince Peter. Soon a messenger was sent to him with a bow. He conveyed the request of the Muromites and the prince, after consulting with his wife, returned to his native city.

The people greeted him with joy, and soon the princess was able to earn universal love with her actions, piety and attitude towards Peter. She was revered on a par with the ruler, and after a few years they completely forgot about the origin of Fevronya. In Murom, the couple ruled until old age and they always appeared only together. After Peter and Fevronya retired from princely affairs, they decided to take tonsure in an Orthodox monastery. The prince received the new name David, and the princess was tonsured as Euphrosyne. Being in different monasteries, the lovers prayed for each other, and especially about dying on the same day. Even an unusual coffin with a partition in the middle was prepared for them, which had never been done in Rus'.

According to legend, the spouses really died on the same day. According to the new calendar, this happened on July 8 (Valentine's Day in Russia later began to be celebrated on this very day). But they did not bury the couple together, the monks and boyars considered that this was contrary to Orthodox customs. Therefore, the prince and princess were buried in different monasteries. Imagine the surprise of the monks when the next morning Peter and Fevronya were in the same coffin. After their bodies were taken to different cloisters, they were together again at dawn. This was taken as a sign, and the boyars, after conferring with the monks, decided on a joint burial of the spouses. They found their last refuge in their hometown. Their refuge was the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Around the middle of the sixteenth century, the Orthodox Church canonized the prince and princess. Since then, people began to pray to the saints for peace in the house, the birth of children, or a long-awaited meeting with a loved one. In all such cases, Peter and Fevronya always help even without special prayer. The main thing is that the request for help comes from a pure heart, and there is no envy, anger and resentment in the thoughts.

Relics of Peter and Fevronya

Long before the establishment of Valentine's Day in Russia, Murom saints were greatly revered. Their relics have miraculous power, so pilgrims came to Murom from all over the country.

After the official canonization of the married couple, their relics were transferred to the Holy Trinity Convent, where they remain to this day. Absolutely anyone can come here with a request. They say that Murom saints rarely refuse help, but still, first of all, they patronize married couples.

Over the years, a lot of evidence has accumulated of how, after prayer at the relics, peace returned to families, the house became a full bowl, and the bonds of love were noticeably strengthened. For those who could not have children, the saints often gave the long-awaited happiness of being parents. Also, very often Peter and Fevronya healed pilgrims from the most serious diseases. Stories about the miracles they performed after death were passed from mouth to mouth, and the prince and princess of Murom became reliable guardians and protectors of the family.

The formation of the holiday

The Valentine's Day holiday in Russia has existed for only ten years, but this is true only for the modern history of the country. Before the revolution, the saints were very well known and on a special day they remembered them with a prayer for their loved ones. Memorial Day of Peter and Fevronya was considered a real holiday for the family and all lovers who wish to marry. In Soviet times, these saints were undeservedly forgotten, but at the beginning of the twenty-first century, the inhabitants of Murom began to collect signatures to introduce a new holiday - the All-Russian Family Day. Naturally, the love of Prince Peter and the commoner Fevronya was to become his symbol.

Ten years ago, a decree was signed to celebrate Valentine's Day in July. In Russia, for the first time, an analogue of Valentine's Day, which is considered a Catholic holiday, appeared. Many consider these two dates to be absolutely identical, but in reality they have significant differences in their concept.

Saint Valentine is considered the patron saint of all lovers, regardless of their nationality and age. That is why February 14 is called Valentine's Day. But the concept of the Russian holiday is a little different. Peter and Fevronya help married couples and are responsible to the Almighty for their well-being. Therefore, Valentine's Day in July in Russia is still a holiday of family, love and fidelity. However, this is the name he has at the official level.

Symbolism of the holiday

This holiday has two important symbols. The first, of course, are the saints of Murom, who give their patronage to married couples and help preserve love in the marital union. During the celebration, their images are found almost everywhere as a symbol of all that pure and bright that marriage brings.

When Russia celebrates Valentine's Day, husbands give their wives bouquets of daisies. This simple and cute flower has become the second symbol of the July holiday. Even in the old days, it symbolized love, which is why they guessed on it, tearing off the petals.

Today in Russia the holiday is celebrated quite widely, and monuments to the saints have been erected not only in Murom. In those cities where they exist, newlyweds come to Peter and Fevronya after marriage, expecting their blessing for a happy and long family life.

In honor of the holiday, a special medal was established, which is awarded to couples who lived together before the golden wedding, or who have many children. It is not surprising that the main symbols of the holiday are depicted on the medal.

When is Valentine's Day celebrated in Russia?

When choosing the estimated date of the holiday, our contemporaries relied on the time at which our ancestors celebrated it. It so happened that this was done on the day of the death of Peter and Fevronya. It was then that it was customary to commemorate the saints, their way of life and the miracles created after their death.

Today, many will confidently answer on what date Valentine's Day is celebrated annually in Russia. But even five or seven years ago, practically no one knew about the eighth of July. Couples in love now, like many centuries ago, are trying to match the wedding day to the date of the holiday. After all, then, according to beliefs, the union will be happy.

Holiday traditions

The customs of July 8 (Valentine's Day in Russia adopted almost all the traditions that came from the ancestors) are associated with love and rituals for its acquisition. Since, nevertheless, this holiday is related to Orthodoxy, it is necessary to go to church and pray for the well-being of your family. On the eighth of July, such prayers are very powerful.

In the old days, on this day, lovers tried to negotiate a future marriage. The fact is that most often at the beginning of July, Petrov fast falls, during which it is forbidden to get married. Therefore, a church marriage, the only possible one for our ancestors, was unrealistic. But the guys and girls performed a ceremony reminiscent of today's engagement. In the presence of all family members, they confessed their love to each other and exchanged rings. After that, they were considered the bride and groom. Within the next six months, the lovers were to get married.

pagan rites

Our ancestors considered the eighth of July a special day. It was on the feast of Peter and Fevronya that one could swim in rivers and lakes without fear of water evil spirits. Previously, there was a great risk of getting caught by mermaids or mermen, which in early July go to the very bottom and fall asleep until spring.

Despite the fact that Orthodox priests are categorically against fortune-telling on this day, girls have always sought to perform several rituals on their beloved. This tradition has come from the most ancient times and is preserved among our contemporaries. Fortune-telling on mirrors was especially popular. They often started as early as June. On Valentine's Day (in Russia this trend continues today), there was a peak of divination for the betrothed.

It so happened that it was from the eighth of July that the mowing began. In the same period, healers began to collect medicinal herbs, because it was believed that all greenery comes into its greatest strength precisely in early July.

Day of family, love and fidelity in 2018

This year, the holiday falls on Peter's Lent, so the Orthodox who plan to celebrate it will have to adhere to several rules. Depending on the day of the week, the number of allowed dishes on the table varies. In 2018, the celebration will take place on Sunday, so the Orthodox can diversify their menu a little. They are allowed to eat fish and cook with oil.

Since it is impossible to get married on Petrov Lent, the lovers try to organize a secular marriage. Although all Orthodox clergy do not recommend playing weddings in fasting in Russia. But in any case, the choice remains with the couples, because Peter and Fevronya cannot but bless the hearts in love for marriage.

In recent years, the list of holidays in our country has expanded significantly. New holidays appear, old ones are remembered and revived. And some, having come to us from abroad, quickly win hearts and get loyal fans. But before supporting foreign traditions, one should pay attention to one's own, primordial, rooted deep in the history of our country. This happened with the Western holiday of all lovers, celebrated. He quickly fell in love with Russian youth. However, not everyone knows about the existence of the Russian "analogue" of Valentine's Day. Perhaps because it was established only a few years ago, but today it is celebrated on a no lesser scale. This Russian Valentine's Day, fixed on the date of July 8, is called the Day of Peter and Fevronia, on which family, love and fidelity are honored.

Peter and Fevronia

On a note! The holiday has very deep roots, originating in ancient Russian chronicles and legends, telling about the life of two saints who lived a long, righteous life and died not just on the same day, but at one hour and minute.

Below we will tell you how this holiday appeared, where it came from, and when it was officially established.

The Russian Valentine's Day, which falls on July 8, is the date when Orthodox saints bearing the names of Fevronia and Peter are remembered. Officially (in the state, secular sense) it is called the Day of Family, Love, Fidelity. The most interesting thing is that, if we turn to official documents - chronicles - they do not contain any mention of a prince named Peter. However, most researchers agree that the two saints, the heroes of the story, do have real prototypes - the prince who ruled in Murom, named David Yuryevich and his wife (her name has not been preserved at all). His reign fell on the period from 1205 to 1228. David was tonsured a monk and took the name Peter. And the couple was canonized in 1547. Later, a story appeared in ancient Russian literature that tells about the wonderful love of Fevronia and Peter with a rather poetic, even fabulous content. Two plots merged in it: one tells about the battle of the prince with a serpent spitting fire, and the other about a miracle-working maiden who healed him after the battle. Let us briefly touch on these legends and tell the plot of the essay about people whose lives gave rise to such a holiday as Russian Valentine's Day.

At a time when Peter had not yet accepted the principality, he had to fight with a huge fiery serpent. He defeated the creature, but was stained with the monster's blood, which infected him with leprosy. None of the doctors could cure him. Salvation came in a dream, from which Peter learned that in the Ryazan lands, in the village of Laskovo, there lives a certain tree climber (in other words, a beekeeper or someone who knows how to get wild honey), whose daughter is a miracle worker named Fevronia. And only she can heal him. Therefore, we can assume that the future patrons of all Russian families, whose names the Russian holiday bears Valentine's Day, met in a dream.

Peter turned to Fevronia, but she demanded a fee, namely: in the event of a good outcome, marriage to herself. Peter, of course, agreed, but when he went on the mend, he did not keep his word, since he did not need a commoner princess. The healer, on the other hand, went to the trick and did not fully heal one of the wounds of the prince. Soon the disease returned, Peter again turned to Fevronia for treatment, after which he still married the girl.

The future patrons of all Russian families, whose names bear the Russian holiday Valentine's Day, met in a dream

When the turn of Peter came to accept the principality, the boyars of Murom did not want a princess of an ignoble family, because they regarded this as an insult to the position of their women. They delivered an ultimatum: either give up your wife or the principality. Peter did not leave Fevronia, and together they left Murom. Left without a ruler, the principality plunged into turmoil. Murders, rapes, robberies began. The boyars changed their minds and again called on Peter to reign. The couple returned to the city, and after some time the townspeople began to sincerely respect Fevronia for her qualities and actions. Having lived to an advanced age, Peter took the monastic vows in one monastery, taking the name David, and Fevronia in another, taking the name Euphrosyne. And until the very last day, both asked God to grant them death in one hour and a day, and the environment - to bury them in one coffin, which was even made in advance. They really died on the same day. But their monastic position did not allow them to lie in the same coffin. But being buried in different graves and monasteries, literally a day later they ended up in the same coffin and grave.

How the holiday was established

Saint Fevronia and Saint Peter have been considered the patrons of the family since ancient times. However, the day of their death acquired the status of an all-Russian holiday only in 2008. This event was preceded by many years of work by the residents of Murom, headed by their mayor, so that this holiday changed its status from municipal to all-Russian. According to the residents of the city, in whose Trinity Convent the relics of saints are kept, the couple, whose remains were miraculous, are more than worthy to patronize love and family at the state level.

The "fight" for the Russian Valentine's Day began in 2001, when the then mayor decided to hold the day of the city of Murom on July 8th. Thus, he took care of the observance of historical traditions. For the next five years, the Murom administration took various steps to make their city holiday become an all-Russian one. In 2006, a petition (petition), signed by fifteen thousand citizens, was sent to the State Duma. And on March 26, 2008, the holiday was established unanimously, called the Day of Marital Love and Family Happiness. And the summer chamomile flower, which Russians traditionally treat with great love and warmth, has become a symbol of this holiday.

In order to popularize the holiday and strengthen its status, since 2008, monuments to the canonized couple have been erected in almost every Russian city.

On a note! By the way, one of the reasons for the approval of the holiday was the need to have an alternative to Valentine's Day. And it was confirmed at the official level.

Saints Peter and Fevronia of Murom

In Europe, the holiday of all lovers is Valentine's Day. In the Russian Orthodox tradition, there is also a feast of lovers. This is the Day of Remembrance of Saints Peter and Fevronia of Murom, highly revered by the Christian Church and celebrated on July 8th.

In fact, this holiday was lost in the pre-revolutionary era. But the images of the saints were not forgotten thanks to the story of the writer-publicist Yermolai-Erasmus, who lived in the 16th century. In his work, he says that Peter and Fevronia of Murom reigned in Murom at the beginning of the 13th century. And around their historical names, a lot of folk legends have developed, based on the facts of the victory of female wisdom over the male mind.
...When Peter defeated the serpent, who tormented the wife of his elder brother by devilish obsession, a terrible thing happened: before his death, the serpent sprinkled the winner with his poisonous blood, as a result of which the body of the young prince Petra covered with sores and scabs.
No one could heal him from this serious illness. Sent in search of a doctor, the young man accidentally wandered into the house of a lonely peasant woman named Fevroniya who agreed to cure Petra but on the condition that he marries her. The prince agreed.
Fevroniya prepared a healing potion and ordered the prince to wash in the bath, and then lubricate all the ulcers on the body, except for one.
But here is the main intrigue: when the prince promised Fevronia marry her, he was not going to keep his word. In addition, his princely origin would not allow him to go for such a marriage. Therefore, he refused to marry a simple peasant woman and soon fell ill again. To permanently get rid of a serious illness, Peter had to go back to Fevronia, obey her and fulfill your promise.
Peter and Fevronia lived in love and harmony happily ever after. In old age, they took monasticism and bequeathed to bury themselves in the same coffin. They died on the same day and hour. However, people considered it impious to bury monks in this way. And violated the will of the dead. Since then, two times their bodies were carried to different temples, but by some miracle they were nearby ...
The relics of the saints are still kept in Murom - in the Trinity Monastery. Local people say that, having touched the holy relics, people to this day receive as a gift from the most precious thing - to love and be loved...
Russians and Russian women who want to meet their soul mate or receive God's blessing can pray on July 8 Saints Peter and Fevronia- they will not refuse to help even those who have already lost faith and despaired of finding their love.
One old woman standing near the church said something like this: “Every Fevronia find your Peter on the appointed day and hour. These are truly wise words. So love each other and believe in your happiness no matter what.