It is customary to spend Parent's Day on the Tuesday of the second week after Easter. On this day, Orthodox Christians celebrate "Radonitsa" - a memorial day for all the dead. Over the centuries, the traditions and customs of this day have developed not only among the Orthodox, but also among the Jews and Catholics.
"Radonitsa" means the spring commemoration of the dead. Just during this period, when nature begins to flourish, the living appeased the dead, remembering them, trying to share with the dead the joy of resurrection. Radonitsa urges believers not to worry and not cry over the death of relatives, but, on the contrary, to rejoice at their rebirth for a new eternal life. This holiday is recognized by the church, but it has pagan and folk roots.
Orthodox traditions
On this day, people visit churches and temples, and also listen to funeral services. In addition, it is customary to bring treats in order to remember the deceased in the home of loved ones, in a work collective, or near the grave of the deceased. It is also customary to bring treats (cookies, sweets) to the temple, which after the memorial service are distributed to those in need, something is transferred to orphanages around the church.
Traditionally, on parental day, people visit the cemetery in order to bring the graves of their deceased relatives into a dignified form. Before arriving at the cemetery, you need to perform the following ritual: one of the relatives of the deceased needs to visit the church at the beginning of the memorial service in order to give a piece of paper with the name of the deceased. The deceased will be remembered in the altar. It is also encouraged if those who commemorate this day take the Holy Communion themselves.
Folk and pagan traditions
There is another tradition on the parent's day: to leave food on the grave of the deceased. And some even leave a glass of vodka next to the grave. But this tradition is not Orthodox, but refers to paganism. On this day, it is important to pray for the soul of the deceased, and it is recommended to distribute food products to the poor, but not leave them in the cemetery.
Many relatives strive to decorate the graves of their loved ones with artificial flowers. The church strongly does not recommend doing this, since this ritual is a fraudulent process. Artificial flowers are a symbol of everything that is not real. It is worth decorating the grave only with fresh flowers and it is advisable that the flowers come from your own garden. It is also worth refraining from buying flowers; it is most correct to distribute money to the hungry. Deceased relatives need memory, not your senseless waste.
Having visited the grave of a deceased relative, you need to remember his good deeds, name his good deeds. It is important to remember all the positive aspects of character and to have a conversation with the deceased. A family memorial dinner is also a good tradition of a parent's day.
