Sweet life: when to celebrate the Honey Spas

For August, there are many Russian holidays, one of which is the Honey Spas. In the old days it was believed that after it bees are no longer so tasty and useful honey, because the flowers are not so rich in nectar and useful substances. That's why people tried to collect the whole harvest before the landmark date, to sum up the sweetest summer celebration and to stock up on honey for the whole year.

Honey Spas 2016: when can I try honey?

According to the new style, the Honeymoon Savior is celebrated on August 14, including in 2016. By this day, beekeepers are trying to collect the entire crop from the hives and prepare it for storage. It has long been believed that it is from this day you can eat and buy honey, because it absorbed all the useful substances of summer plants collected by bees. In fact, it is the quintessence of summer, therefore it is able to cure many diseases - influenza, acute respiratory disease, sore throat, runny nose, malaise and just an autumn or winter spleen.

By tradition, only the honey that was consecrated in the church is considered to be healing and "right", therefore services will be held in Orthodox churches in the Honeymoon. It is with them in the early morning and begins the celebration.

Also on this day in 2016 will be celebrated the Small Water Savior - the priests will consecrate water in wells and small bodies of water. This date is called Wet or Water Spas, and it is believed that the next morning is a miraculous dew that can not only cure diseases, but also give beauty, vivacity and cleanse the soul of sins.

Traditions of a sweet holiday

When the Honey Spas comes, people congratulate each other and traditionally give small jars with a consecrated delicacy. This is very similar to the exchange of Easter cakes, and since the Slavic peoples have always been generous and friendly, the holidays reflect a unique mentality. When beekeepers bring honey and honeycomb to sanctification, they give a portion of the harvest to the young children and the poor who stand at the porch and ask for alms.

Another wonderful tradition of the Savior is the preparation of sweet rolls with poppy seeds. For this reason, the honey feast is also called Makovei. Rolls are prepared from yeast dough for honey, and inside is put a large amount of fragrant poppy. The festive table is bursting with sweet treats - poppy rolls, poppy cooked in honey, all kinds of rolls and sweet ochevova (wheat porridge with raisins, nuts and poppy seeds, seasoned with honey).