Every year on August 1, Orthodox Christians in Ukraine celebrate the Feast of the Honey Savior, also known as Macovei.. After the church calendar reform, the date of celebration moved from August 14, but the traditions remained unchanged.
Makoveya has both ecclesiastical and folk significance. On this day, the memory of the Maccabean martyrs is revered, and people associate the holiday with the poppy, hence the names - “Poppy”, “Makotrus”. It is also called the Honey Savior, because fresh honey is blessed in churches. From this day begins a two-week fast - saving. How it is traditionally celebrated in our country, told BBC News Ukraine.
From the very morning, believers bring “makoveychiki” to churches - small bouquets of poppies, flowers and herbs. In cities, particularly in Kyiv, they are often sold near churches. Here you can see everything - from simple bouquets to complex floral arrangements.. Once upon a time, women in every family were engaged in the creation of “makoveychik”.
The festive bouquet has deep symbolism. Poppy is added to it for beauty and well-being, hydrangea for beauty, lovage for love, thyme for attracting guys.. Poppy heads or sunflowers are usually placed inside, and around them are marigolds, dahlias, periwinkles, mint, wormwood, yarrow and other plants.. Sometimes they even make figures that look like dolls.
After consecration, the poppy seed is kept behind the icons as a talisman and “medicine”. Dry herbs were used to fumigate livestock for health, they were used to bathe babies, and girls washed their hair with it to make it grow better.. In different regions, vegetables were also added to the bouquet - for example, in Polesie they put carrots, corn, legumes, and dill. In general, on Makovei, a new harvest is blessed: vegetables, sometimes even pumpkins.
In Podolia, a whole sheaf of herbs and vegetables was blessed, with which they walked around the farm, hoping for a good harvest next year. Such a sheaf was left at the entrance to the house for several days.
The blessed poppy was considered a strong talisman. They sprinkled it on cattle and newlyweds to protect them from evil forces and the “evil eye”. In popular beliefs, the poppy had protective powers against witches, ghouls and evil spirits: it was believed that they could not harm until they had collected all the seeds. The poppy from the first poppy was especially valued. In the spring it was sown in vegetable gardens and orchards, and girls wove flowers into their braids and wove wreaths..
In the Right Bank of Kiev region, an interesting custom is still preserved: the day before they install “Makoveya” - a tall pole decorated with greenery and flowers. In different villages it can be either small or up to ten meters high. The guys bring a pine pole from the forest, the girls decorate it, and place a pumpkin “head” with a candle inside on top.
They light a fire near this sign, arrange a general meal and walk until the morning, making sure that the neighbors do not destroy the structure - this is considered a great insult. Traditional dishes are prepared for the table: shuliki with poppy seeds and honey, copper cakes, pies, dumplings with poppy seeds, and pear jelly is also served.
On the Day of the Savior, fruits are also blessed, a poppy pillar is decorated with them, and then it is burned so that the smoke “goes to God.”. In addition, water is blessed - both in temples and in wells or rivers. It is believed to have healing properties and protect against illnesses and evil forces..