Fomin’s week is the second week after Easter. It is believed that it is during this period that Easter passes for the deceased. Funeral rites are held, cemeteries are visited, refreshments are left for the relatives who have left us. In Our Country, these days, the dead were expected at home, windows were opened for them so that they could find their way.
It starts on Krasnaya Gorka and ends on Saturday before the third week after Pascha – the holy myrrh-bearing women.
When is Fomin’s week in 2023
Fomin’s week in 2023 will start April 23 on the day of Antipascha and will last until April 29 inclusive.
Days of Thomas week
Fomin’s week has many names: Radonitskaya, Memorial, Wired, Renewal Week. Our ancestors attached special importance to each day and each of them had its own tradition. Let’s look into this in more detail.
Fomino resurrection. “Antipaskha”, “Red Hill”
The first day of the Radonitsa week is called Antipascha. Like Easter, on this day they continue to rejoice at the resurrection of Christ.
Another name is Red Hill. Weddings are allowed. Often the wedding was planned specifically on Krasnaya Gorka, because, according to popular belief, a marriage concluded on this holiday will be happy and strong.
In the divine service, it is on St. Thomas Sunday that the appearance of Christ to his disciple Thomas is remembered, who did not want to believe the words, but wanted to make sure of the resurrection of God personally.
Fomin Monday. “Seeing”
There is a belief that on Fomin Monday the dead celebrate Easter by visiting the houses where they lived. The task of relatives is to meet them, treat them with Easter cakes, krashenka and take them back. Thus, on this day, they begin to commemorate those who have left us.
Fomin’s Tuesday. “Workshop”
On Tuesday after Easter week, the Orthodox celebrate Radonitsa – the main memorial day. People go to the cemetery to clean up the graves and decorate them. Treats, sweets, and krashenki are brought to the grave of relatives. Part of the funeral treats are distributed to those in need. There is no place for frustration, sadness on this day. That is why the name Radonitsa, that is, joy, kind. Believers remember the dead with a smile and rejoice in their transition to another life. The meaning of this holiday is to share the joy of the Resurrection of Christ with the departed. In addition, on Radonitsa they ask the deceased ancestors to bless for marriage, protect the house, give love.
Thomas Wednesday. Dry environment, Bald environment, Loud environment
On this day, memorial services are held in the temples. The people believed that on Fomin’s Wednesday it was undesirable to engage in a garden and sow something, otherwise there would be no seedlings.
Fomin Thursday
It is believed that on Thursday the dead visit their home. They should be met with honors. For this, refreshments were placed in one of the rooms. Be sure to leave the windows open in this room. It was forbidden to enter this room until the morning.
Fomin Friday. “Wired” Friday
On Fomin Friday, after finishing work in the field, they collected a stuffed animal from dry branches and burned it so that nothing otherworldly would harm the future harvest.
Thomas Saturday. Grandfather’s Saturday. “Vyunishnik”
Grandfather’s Saturday is the last day of St. Thomas’ week. On St. Thomas Saturday, there was a tradition to exorcise death and disease. This was accompanied by a gathering of the entire village on the street and shouting curses at death. It was believed that the more terrible and longer the curses, the faster and for a longer period you can get rid of diseases.
Popular questions and answers
What can and cannot be done on Fomin’s week?
These days it is customary to wash oneself with holy water so that illnesses recede.
Any help to those in need is welcome.
In the holiday week, you can not be sad and scold. All conflicts must be discarded, there must be peace and tranquility in the soul, as well as a positive attitude.
You can not do hard work, small household chores do not count.