What are you allowed or not to do on Assumption? Customs and superstitions

Orthodox Romanians from the countryside get ready to welcome Assumption celebrations this weekend. Saint Mary or the Assumption, known in Romanian popular tradition as the Great Saint Mary, is one of the biggest Christian holidays of the year.

In the countryside in Romania the day was known as the one that breaks the hot months from the cold ones.

In the traditional Romanian village, August 15 was usually opening the marriage season that used to last until the Christmas fasting.

On Saint Mary Day, the peasants also used to hold autumn fairs and markets and the time between the two Marys, the Great and the Small one, was acknowledged as the best time for autumn seeding.

If near Saint Mary the roses were blooming, it was a sign that autumn was to be a long one.

Bathing in any river waters defiled by deer as well as sleeping on the porch were forbidden on August 15.

Also in the countryside, men used to change their hat with the cap on August 15, as a sign that colder times are coming, while women used to go to the church and share grapes, plums, honeycombs and they also used to go the cemetery to cense the graves.

On Saint Mary, girls used to wear a plant named “Navalnic” or “Limba cerbului/ Hart’s tongue” which was said to have the power of luring the lovers.

The last cure plants were picked up on the day of August 15.

Superstitions

One cannot cut his/her hair and throw it on the scrap heat on Saint Mary.

One shouldn’t go back as it would draw Virgin Mary’s sadness.

People are not allowed to make the fire in the stove, as it would attract disease and bad luck.