The Lord's Settlement is one of the twelve major Christian holidays, which is celebrated on February 2 (earlier - February 15). This day symbolizes a person's meeting with God and has a deep spiritual importance for believers.
The feast of Settlement arose in honor of the event described in the Gospel of Luke. Forty days after the birth of Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary and Joseph brought the baby to the temple of Jerusalem to fulfill the demand of the Moses Law - to devote the firstborn to God. In the temple, they were met by the old man Simeon, who was assumed that he would not die until he saw the Savior. Having taken the baby, Simeon proclaimed the famous prayer "You are now letting go", predicting that the son of Mary will become the Savior of the world, and Mary herself is waiting for great suffering. The name of the holiday "Setting" comes from the Old Slavic word "to shoot", which means "to meet". This day symbolizes the meeting of the Old and New Testament, the meeting of man with God, as well as an important event in the history of salvation.
In the Orthodox tradition of the Lord's Settlement, it is a feast of spiritual enlightenment and a symbol of awareness of the higher meaning of life. This holiday is considered the day when humanity, symbolized by the old man Simeon, meets the Savior, and at the same time - a new spiritual birth. Setting is also a symbol of the transition from darkness to light, from winter to spring, which reflects the mandatory spiritual transformation of the believer. One of the main traditions of the seating is the consecration of candles. On this day, the so -called "Street candles", which, according to beliefs, should protect the house from disasters, lightnings and thunder. They were used in thunderstorms and during illness, giving seriously ill to recover health. Another important tradition is the consecration of water. Water, consecrated to the seating, is equivalent to the flower and has a special force. It is stored throughout the year and used for blessing of home and treatment.
In the folk tradition of the Lord's Settlement is also associated with natural changes. It was believed that this day is the boundary between winter and spring. Here are a few folk signs: clear weather on Septenna - until early spring, gloomy - winter will stay. Snowstorm or heavy snow - spring will be late and cold. Drops on the route - until the harvest year. If birds have arrived on the garden - spring will be warm and fast.
This day is also an important moment for prayer and reflection on spiritual renewal. For believers, it is not only a religious holiday, but also a time when nature and soul "meet" and open up for a new life.
