Message history of family day of love and fidelity. Preserving Russian traditions. Day of Family, Love and Fidelity. When is the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity celebrated?
Family Day of Love and Fidelity is a holiday celebrated by married citizens of the country, couples in love.
Meaning: the holiday is dedicated to the day of remembrance in the Russian Orthodox Church of the blessed princes Peter and Fevronia, the Murom miracle workers.
On the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity, entertainment events, folk craft master classes, theatrical performances, sporting events, concerts, fairs, and stroller parades are traditionally held. Married couples are awarded the commemorative medal “For Love and Fidelity” and the Order of “Parental Glory.”
history of the holiday
The Day of Family, Love and Fidelity arose thanks to Saints Peter and Fevronia, who lived in the 12th-13th centuries. According to legend, Prince Peter suffered from leprosy. One day he saw in a dream that he was healed by Fevronia, the daughter of a poison dart frog, who lived in the Ryazan lands. The prince found the girl. After healing they got married. The couple died on the same day - July 8 (June 25, old style). In the memory of the people they remained the image of an ideal couple. In 1547, the Orthodox Church canonized them as saints.
In 2002, the active youth of the city of Murom proposed reviving the tradition of celebrating Peter and Fevronia Day in Russia. In 2008, this idea was supported by the Russian Orthodox Church, public organizations, and the Interreligious Council of the Russian Federation. July 8 became the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity - an all-Russian holiday. The organizing committee of the celebration was headed by the President of the Foundation for Social and Cultural Initiatives, Svetlana Medvedeva.
Celebration traditions
The main events of the celebration of the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity take place in the homeland of Saints Peter and Fevronia - in the city of Murom. On July 8, entertainment events, theatrical performances and reconstructions of scenes from the lives of saints, fairs and master classes of folk crafts, and sports competitions are organized for residents and guests of the city. Parishioners visit holy places and pray for the well-being of their families and the health of their spouses.
For Russians, this holiday is an occasion to get together with the whole family and spend time together. Among young couples, it is considered a good omen to ask their parents for blessings for their future family life. Many couples in love register their marriage on this day.
In city parks, stroller parades are held - carnival processions with unusually decorated carriages. Festive concerts with the participation of pop stars and amateur performance groups are held in the main squares of cities. Entertainment programs and congratulations from the country's top officials are shown on television.
Married couples who have lived together for more than 25 years in love and harmony receive the medal “For Love and Fidelity.” Some families are awarded the Order of Parental Glory for their great contribution to strengthening the family and raising children.
Since ancient times, the Slavs have endowed July 8 with magical powers. The girls told fortunes about their betrothed and cast love spells. Fishermen and sailors believed that on this day mermaids sank to the bottom. Therefore, they set off on long voyages, without fear of being at the mercy of evil spirits.
Daily task
Dedicate this day with your family or loved one. Attend a cultural event or organize a picnic. Take photos of the brightest moments of this day and decorate your photo album with them.
- In 2008, the organizing committee of the holiday established the medal “For Love and Fidelity.” The award is presented annually on July 8 to spouses who have been married for at least 25 years and set a public example of a strong family life. On one side of the medal there is a daisy depicted, on the reverse - Saints Peter and Fevronia.
- The Murom miracle workers were also considered patrons of the Russian tsars. They were revered and made pilgrimages to their relics by Ivan the Terrible, Tsarina Irina Godunova, Peter I, Catherine II, Nicholas I, Alexander II.
- On July 8, many young couples want to legalize their marriage. However, wedding ceremonies are limited to the registry office. Since the holiday falls on Peter's Fast, the wedding has to be adjusted before its completion.
- In Russia, family law originated during the reign of Peter I. He emphasized voluntary marriage. Relatives from the bride and groom took an oath, which stated that they did not force the newlyweds to start a family.
- The tradition of wearing wedding rings comes from Ancient Egypt. As a sign of love, boys and girls exchanged rings woven from reeds. This tradition took root among the Greeks and Romans. In Rome, during the engagement, the guy gave the bride's parents a metal ring as a sign that he was taking upon himself the responsibility of caring for his future wife.
Toasts
“Today I would like to congratulate my closest and dearest people on the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity. My dears, may love always bloom brightly and luxuriantly in your families, which is not afraid of everyday problems and quarrels, may those problems that can interfere with your happiness never knock on the door, but bypass your happy home. Family, love and fidelity are the main components of true happiness, let your home really be that fortress behind whose walls it is calm, quiet and cozy.”
“There is no happy family without love, there is no true love without fidelity. Let today, on the All-Russian Day of Family, Love and Fidelity, happiness, prosperity, prosperity, mutual understanding, peace, harmony and good luck knock on every home. Let children’s laughter sound everywhere, joy sparkle and health abound.”
“Love warms us, warms our hearts and our soul. Loyalty gives us strength for future life, gives us hope for all the good things. Family is what happens when two people are united by love and loyalty. Today is the most magical day, because today is the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity. I sincerely congratulate everyone on this day and wish you all the best. May you always have love, loyalty and a loving family.”
Present
Jewelry decoration. The jewelry will serve as a memorable gift for your loved one or spouse. A ring, bracelet or pendant with a pendant can be decorated with an engraving in the form of a beautiful phrase or the date of your acquaintance.
Romantic dinner. A romantic dinner by candlelight will allow you to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of a first date and enjoy communicating with each other. You can arrange such an evening at home and cook your favorite dishes yourself or book a table at a restaurant.
Photoshoot. A “love story” style photo session will allow you to take high-quality professional photographs that will decorate your photo album and become a symbol of love.
Traveling together. Surprise your spouse or lover. Book a tour to an exotic resort or sea cruise. Such a gift will allow you to spend a vacation or weekend together and leave vivid memories.
Competitions
Romantic acquaintance
Couples take part in the competition. Their task is to tell and show the story of their acquaintance. Guests of the festival evaluate the creativity and acting skills of the contestants and award prizes.
The largest family
This competition is suitable for families with children. Family members stand in a circle and hug tightly. The presenter uses a measuring tape to measure their circumference. The family that turns out to be the largest wins.
Dance Marathon
Married couples and parents with children can take part in the competition. The presenter turns on the music. It is necessary to prepare in advance compositions of various styles, 1 minute each: lambada, waltz, rock and roll, tango, and so on. The task of the contestants is to adapt to musical styles as quickly as possible. The audience applauds to determine the winners.
This holiday in other countries
On July 8, Peter and Fevronia Day is also celebrated in Belarus, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Great Britain and France. However, in these countries the holiday is of a religious nature and is not widespread.
On this day, the Russian Orthodox Church celebrates the day of remembrance of Saints Peter and Fevronia, who from ancient times were considered patrons of family and marriage in Rus'.
The initiative to establish a new public holiday - the All-Russian Day of Married Love and Family Happiness in honor of the faithful Prince Peter and Princess Fevronia was unanimously approved in the Federation Council at a meeting of the Federation Council Committee on Social Policy on March 26, 2008.
According to the lives of the saints, the blessed Prince Peter was the second son of the Murom prince Yuri Vladimirovich. He ascended the Murom throne in 1203. Several years before his reign, Peter fell ill with leprosy, from which no one could cure him. In a dream, it was revealed to the prince that he could be healed by the beekeeper’s daughter Fevronia, a peasant woman from the village of Laskovoy in the Ryazan land. Fevronia was beautiful, pious and kind, besides, she was a wise girl, knew the properties of herbs and knew how to treat ailments. The prince fell in love with Fevronia for her piety, wisdom and kindness and vowed to marry her after healing. The girl healed the prince, but he did not keep his word. The illness resumed, Fevronia again cured the prince, and he married the healer.
When Peter inherited the reign after his brother, the boyars did not want to have a princess of simple rank and demanded that the prince leave her. Peter, having learned that they wanted to separate him from his beloved wife, chose to voluntarily renounce power and wealth and go into exile with her. Peter and Fevronia left Murom, sailing on a boat along the Oka River. Soon, unrest began in Murom, the boyars quarreled, seeking the vacated princely throne, and blood was shed. Then the boyars, who came to their senses, gathered a council and decided to call Prince Peter back. The prince and princess returned, and Fevronia managed to earn the love of the townspeople. They ruled happily ever after.
In their old age, Peter and Fevronia took monastic vows in different monasteries with the names David and Euphrosyne, and prayed to God that they would die on the same day, and bequeathed themselves to be buried together in a specially prepared coffin with a thin partition in the middle.
They each died in their own cell on the same day and hour - July 8 (according to the old style - June 25) 1228.
Considering burial in the same coffin incompatible with the monastic rank, their bodies were placed in different monasteries, but the next day they found themselves together. So they buried the holy spouses together in the city of Murom in the cathedral church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Approximately 300 years after their death, Peter and Fevronia were canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church. Nowadays the relics of Saints Peter and Fevronia rest in the Holy Trinity Convent in Murom.
Since then, the Orthodox world has been honoring family patrons on July 8th. The tradition of secular celebration of the day of Peter and Fevronia was restored by Murom residents in the 1990s: they decided to combine the city day with the day of family values.
The Day of Family, Love and Fidelity became an all-Russian holiday in 2008.
On one side of the medal the symbol of the holiday is depicted - a daisy, on the reverse - the faces of Saints Peter and Fevronia. The slogan of the medal is: “For love and loyalty to the family.”
Along with the medal, valuable gifts are also awarded, which correspond to the “family” theme and are determined by local authorities and organizers.
In 2011, more than 5 thousand Russian families were awarded medals. In 2012 awards.
The material was prepared based on information from RIA Novosti and open sources
Russian history
Literature
Day of Family, Love and Fidelity: the story of Peter and Fevronia
On July 8, Russia celebrates the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity. The holiday is based on the day of remembrance of the saints who are considered the patrons of marriage and family - Peter and Fevronia. What story underlies the holiday, did the saints have real historical prototypes, and why can the love story of Peter and Fevronia be called beautiful? The answers are in our article.Since 2008, a new holiday has appeared in Russia - the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity, which has become a pleasant alternative to the traditional but European Valentine's Day. The date June 25 according to the old style, and July 8 according to the new one, was not chosen by chance - this is the day of remembrance of Peter and Fevronia, the Orthodox patrons of marriage.
“The Tale of Peter and Fevronia of Murom” is the main source telling us the story
We can find information about the heroes of the holiday - Peter and Fevronia - in "The Tale of Peter and Fevronia of Murom", which was created in the era of Ivan the Terrible by the famous author Ermolai-Erasmus.For a long time in history, the question of the author of the story caused fierce debate. Mainly because of the reality and everyday life described in the story, Soviet historians expressed concern that the author could not possibly belong to the era of Ivan the Terrible, but rather worked in the 15th century. However, authoritative source scholars insist that the Tale was created in the middle of the 16th century, and the author was the famous publicist, author of the “Book of the Trinity” and “The Word on the Reasoning of Love and Truth and the Conquering of Enmity and Lies” - Ermolai Erasmus.
What do we know about the author?
Ermolai Erasmus, also known as Ermolai the Pregressful, was a fairly popular author of the 16th century. Little is known about his life and mainly from his own works. The peak of his writing career, as we would now say, came in the middle of the century - it was then that the author sent his treatise “The Ruler and Land Surveying to the Tsar’s Well-Wishing” to the formidable king. Erasmus was personally acquainted with the court bookworm of Ivan the Terrible - Cyrus Sophrony. His acquaintances and talent allowed Erasmus a little later to join the group of scribes assembled by the famous Metropolitan Macarius. Their main task was to create the lives of saints, organized in the process of preparing new canonizations at the Local Councils of 1447-49.
On the instructions of Macarius, the same one who crowned Ivan the Terrible as king, Ermolai - Erasmus created “The Tale of Peter and Fevronia.” Its original name, by the way, is much longer. You can read the full text on the website of the Institute of Russian Literature of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
Why was the Tale written?
The history of the holiday of Family Day, love and fidelity gives us an excellent reason to turn to the history of our country. Not a single literary work is created “just like that,” and hagiography is a branch of Church Slavonic literature, otherwise, lives and biographies of saints are precisely literature.
So, the era of Ivan the Terrible, and the entire 16th century, is a turning point for culture and the church. On the one hand, the church is becoming closer to the culture of ordinary laity: characters are finally depicted in books, illustrativeness appears, and not just descriptiveness. On the other hand, let us remember Ivan the Terrible and his time - the church and its ministers more than ever demand adherence to the canons, denying any heresy, including in literature. Now we would say this: “Saints are saints, there is no need to talk about them as if they were people.”
As mentioned above, “The Tale of Peter and Fevronia” was created for inclusion in the “Great Menaions of Chetya” - a collection of chronicles and lives, but... but was not included. The reasons lie precisely in the peculiarities of the narrative: Erasmus portrays the prince and future princess of Murom as ordinary people with their own passions. True, the Metropolitan allowed the work itself to be called a life and “published” - so within a few years the text was widely distributed throughout the country.
In the text of Ermolai-Erasmus itself there are no direct indications of which Murom princes are meant. Nevertheless, the great historians Vladimir Osipovich Klyuchevsky and Evgeny Evsigneevich Golubinsky conducted the necessary research in order to guess with a high degree of probability who the publicist was talking about. Apparently, Prince Peter is the Murom prince David Yuryevich, whose reign occurred at the beginning of the 13th century.
For those who love historical detective stories and finding mistakes, we have information. The Day of Family, Love and Fidelity is celebrated on July 8 (June 25). In the “Book of Verbal Descriptions of Russian Saints,” which is a whole century older than the Tale itself, it is June 25 that is indicated as the date of death of the saints. But if we look at the chronicle, which contains information about David of Murom, the date will be different. Firstly, for a year, and secondly, April was named as the month of the prince’s death.
There is also a second version of the prototype of Peter (there is no information at all about the peasant woman Fevronia). According to another historian of the century before last with the interesting surname Kvashin-Samarin, Saint Prince Peter is the Murom Prince Peter, the ancestor in the future of the very famous boyars Ovtsyn and Volodimirov. Although who wouldn’t want a saint as their ancestor? However, sources offer us facts to confirm this theory: in two Murom synodics - texts for commemoration - there is information about the life of such a prince and his two brothers. True, the recording itself was made later than the release of “The Tale of Peter and Fevronia”, and may already be a copy from it.
The third option is contained in the Legend of Vasily of Ryazan and Murom, where we are talking about the prince and his wife, who lived later than David Yuryevich, but much earlier than Peter from the Murom synodics. To sum up all three sources, we can say that the historical prototypes of Peter and Fevronia, if they existed, lived at the end of the 13th century and, alas, are absolutely unknown to us.
Day of Family, Love and Fidelity - an unfavorable start to the relationship between Peter and Fevronia
In fact, if you carefully read the Tale, thinking about the motives of the actions of its characters, it becomes not entirely clear why the story of the relationship between these two characters becomes an ideal idea of marriage. Let's look at the text again.So, the brave Prince Peter of Murom kills with a sword the Serpent, who, under the guise of Prince Paul - Peter's brother - comes to his wife. The terrible devil, who took the form of Paul, dies, but his blood falls on Peter. As a result, the prince becomes seriously ill and becomes covered with scabs. Further, everything follows the fairy-tale canon, which Ermolai Erasmus could not help but use. Every effort is made to search for a healer, but they do not bring any results. As a result, the prince manages to find Fevronia in the wilderness - the daughter of a honey collector, an ignorant but wise girl. From this place the relationship of the heroes begins.
 “The Life of Saints Peter and Fevronia of Murom in the painting of Alexander Prostev” |
Fevronia does not want to cure the prince “just like that,” even knowing that Peter killed the Serpent-Devil himself. According to the logic of fairy tales known to us from childhood, the hero must pass a test in order to get a beautiful wife, but he has already passed it! Alas, Fevronia announces the following demands to the prince’s servant: “Here is my word to him: if I do not become his wife, then it is not proper for me to treat him.” Prince Peter does not want to take a girl “from the forest” as his wife, and he deceives her: he accepts treatment, but does not fulfill his promise to marry Fevronia. It would seem a sad, but very real ending. Only Fevronia, the future saint, turns out to be more cunning: she deceives Peter. Handing the potion to Peter’s servant, she says the following: “Let them heat your prince’s bathhouse, let him anoint his whole body with it, where there are scabs and ulcers. And let him leave one scab unanointed. And he will be healthy! The prince believes, leaves, sends gifts in return, but from that ill-fated scab a terrible disease again spreads throughout the body... |
Only after this does Peter return to his healer, and she promises that the prince will be healed as soon as he takes her as his wife. Which is exactly what happens. Next, the author tells us about the relationship between the prince and Fevronia, already married. About the trials that she has to go through because of the envy of noble wives and wicked boyars. In the end, everything ends well, and the life of the pious and faithful Peter and Fevronia, although full of doubts and difficulties, can truly become an inspiration to future generations.
However, the beginning of the story does not seem like an exemplary acquaintance of either two lovers or two saints. The fact is that Ermolai Erasmus, although he does not doubt the holiness of a simple girl - in his story she works many miracles by God's grace, but uses in his story elements of a typical European fairy tale about a cunning peasant woman. Perhaps, wanting to bring life closer to a worldly - simple - understanding. This is what makes The Tale of Peter and Fevronia a unique work, and calls us to think about both marriage and love.
In contrast to the Catholic Valentine's Day, much fewer people know about the Russian holiday of family, love and fidelity. However, it is important for a Russian person to know how this holiday was born, which is celebrated on July 8 throughout Russia. And today we will introduce you to the history of the holiday Day of Family, Love and Fidelity, which is celebrated on the day of Saints Peter and Fevronia.
Holiday July 8th Family Day of Love and Fidelity - the history of the holiday
In the 16th century, a work was written that in our time is a monument of ancient Russian literature. We are talking about a story telling about the spouses Peter and Fevronia of Murom. It was the story of their love, which passed through generations, that became the source of the appearance of the bright Russian holiday, which is celebrated quite recently.
The Tale of Peter and Fevronia, as a background to the creation of the holiday
The work tells the story of Peter, the prince of the city of Murom and his wife Fevronia. The prince, who fell ill with leprosy, for which everyone was powerless to treat, sees in a dream a peasant woman who gave him healing. Waking up, Peter decides to meet her.
After listening to the prince's dream, the young peasant woman Fevronia promises to help Peter, but only if he accepts her as his wife. The wisdom, nobility, purity and beauty of the peasant woman attracted the prince, who agreed to her conditions. The peasant woman was able to heal Peter, and he, in turn, fulfilled his promise, which angered the boyars.
They demanded that Peter leave Fevronia, but instead Peter and his wife left Murom, abandoning the principality. Without the prince, bloodshed and crimes began in the city, which horrified the townspeople. In fear for their future, the boyars began to ask for the prince to return back to Murom.
Peter and Fevronia returned, while maintaining their love and showing everyone around them an example of respect for each other. The townspeople began to respect the smart, wise and kind Fevronia. Her love healed, she could turn poles stuck into the ground into magnificent trees.
In his old age, anticipating his death, Peter sent for his wife to the monastery where she lived at that time. People who once tried to separate spouses were unable to do so. But even death itself did not separate them.
The couple asked God to let them die on the same day, and so it happened. The last will of the prince and his wife is to be buried in the same coffin. However, people considered this an act that was contrary to the path of a monk.
Not fulfilling the last will of the spouses, the townspeople separated them, placing each in their own coffin. But in the morning the bodies of the spouses lay together. After a second attempt with the same outcome, the townspeople no longer separated Peter and Fevronia, burying them together.
Foundation of the holiday in Russia
The relationship between Peter and Fevronia became a symbol of eternal love, and in 47 of the 16th century the canonization of Fevronia and Peter took place (the process of canonization).
In order to tell this story to people, in 2001 the mayor of Murom called for celebrating the holiday of loving hearts, which it was decided to call the Day of Love, Family and Fidelity in honor of Saints Peter and Fevronia.
The daytime celebration was proposed to be July 8th according to the modern calendar. This day is considered the day of remembrance of saints.
Symbols of the holiday of family, love and fidelity
In order to develop a symbol for the holiday, an organizing committee was created headed by Svetlana Medvedeva. The result of her work was the development of a medal. On one side of the medal there is a portrait of saints, and on the other the symbol of the holiday is a daisy. Traditionally, these medals are awarded to families who can be an example for many families in Russia.
Chamomile was not chosen as a symbol of the holiday by chance, because this flower has long symbolized love. Young people gave bouquets of daisies to girls as a symbol of purity and fidelity, and the girls, in turn, told fortunes using their petals.
But the symbol of the holiday was an unusual chamomile. The symbolic chamomile, in addition to white petals, also has blue and red petals.
Customs of Family Day, love and fidelity
The main custom is that newlyweds want to get married on July 8th. There is an assumption that the family will live happily together if the wedding takes place on this holiday.
Also on July 8, lonely hearts who dream of finding their love, as well as those who already have it, go to the monuments of Peter and Fevronia in their cities. Some ask for love, others ask to keep it.
You will find SMS congratulations on this holiday Here !
Many people have heard about the day of Peter and Fevronia. The date of the celebration falls on July 8th every year. In the Orthodox tradition, these saints are the patrons of love and marriage. Since 2008, Russia has celebrated the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity on the Day of Peter and Fevronia.
From this date, our ancestors lifted the ban on swimming in reservoirs and harvesting herbs. It was believed that mermaids from the banks go deep into rivers and lakes, so swimming becomes safe.
Peter and Fevronia Day: history of the holiday
According to legend, Prince Peter lived in Murom and suffered from leprosy. One day he had an unusual dream in which he was healed with the help of herbs by a young peasant woman, Fevronia. Peter began searching for the girl from the dream and was able to find her. She lived in the Ryazan lands. Fevronia healed the prince, and in gratitude for this he took her as his wife. The couple lived in love and harmony until old age.
In old age, Peter and Fevronia took monastic vows and asked the Lord to die on the same day. According to legend, they actually died on the same day, July 8, 1228 (new style). Their bodies were placed in different monasteries. But in the morning people discovered that they were together.
In 1547, Peter and Fevronia were canonized. They become patrons of marriage and family. The Orthodox Church honors their memory annually on July 8th.
Peter and Fevronia Day: traditions
Peter and Fevronia are approached with requests to give happiness in marriage. Those getting married on this day ask the saints for blessings, and married people ask for well-being. In Rus', from this date until Peter's Day, it was customary to play weddings. It is believed that marriages concluded during this period are very strong. Many people still try to get married on July 8th in order to live a long and happy life next to their loved one.
On this day, services are held in churches. The relics of the saints are kept in the Holy Trinity Convent, located in the city of Murom. Many believers make a pilgrimage here on July 8th.
Unmarried women tell fortunes about their betrothed. Dream fortune telling is considered popular. To see your future spouse in a dream, you need to sleep alone. And before going to bed, put a comb under your pillow and say:
“The betrothed-mummer come comb me in my sleep.”
Peter and Fevronia Day: signs and beliefs
- The weather on July 8 will last for another 40 days.
- In order for family life to be happy and prosperous on this day, you must pray in front of the icon of the saints.
- It is considered a good omen to woo or have a wedding on July 8th.
- You can ask the saints for health and happiness for your children.
- Anyone who spends the whole day with his family will live in abundance and love.
Peter and Fevronia Day: what to do and what not to do
The holiday falls on Peter's fast. If the date falls on Tuesday, Thursday or a weekend, then fish can be eaten. On Monday it is allowed to eat hot food without oil, and on Wednesday and Friday - dry eating.
It is better to spend this day in prayers for family happiness, visit a temple and light candles for the health of your loved ones. You cannot perform various magical rituals, slander, gossip, or swear. Since the date falls on Peter's Fast, it is impossible to get married.
Peter and Fevronia Day: what do they give on July 8?
On this day, it is customary to give icons depicting saints to loved ones. Hand-embroidered images are especially powerful. The symbol of this day is daisies. Therefore, you can give your beloved girl a bouquet of these flowers.
Don’t forget that attention and care are the best gifts for loved ones. Put everything aside and try to spend time with your loved one. Go to the movies together or go outdoors.
Video: the ideal marriage of Peter and Fevronia