Day of Commemoration for the Ancestors
Revamped Article:
Celebrate the Ancestor's Call on May 3, 2025 – a significant cultural festivity rich in history and traditions. This day, marked by the belief of an ephemeral barrier dissolving between worlds, enables spiritual reunions with deceased ancestors who yearn to revisit the world of the living.
Customs and Rituals
The day kicks off with the lighting of memorial candles and lamps before icons, after which older women—the traditional guardians of our spiritual and cultural legacy—travel to graves in cemeteries or call out to ancestors from their home thresholds. They express their longings and sorrows in heart-wrenching cries, symbolically opening the path for their beloved ancestors to cross.
Embrace the occasion by setting a grand feast fit for spiritual visitors, offering dishes like kisel and warm meals. For tradition's sake, avert placing feet on the crossbars of the table or chairs—space reserved for our ancestral guests. Show respect for the eldest soul by placing a chair at the head of the table charged with their presence.
Begin the memorial meal with three spoonfuls of kisel, reminiscent of beloved ancestors. When saying farewell, go to the threshold, ensuring a peaceful departure once the wind blows after midnight, as the tradition dictates. To complete the ritual, kindle a fire in the stove or fireplace in observance of ancient customs.
Legends and Superstitions
Refrain from fishing on this holy day, as it's seen as a transgression. Averse to conflict, avoid quarreling to avoid upsetting the souls of our ancestors. For those born on this day, they claim to be under the protective wing of their ancestors. Wondrously, a divorce performed on this day may result in three years of solitude.
Compiled from my-calend.ru and related sources
[1] Spotlight on post-Christian Russian ancestor worship and its influences on the Ancestor's Call festival.
On May 3, 2025, enhance your home-and-garden lifestyle by preparing a grand feast, including traditional dishes like kisel, to welcome spiritual visitors as part of the Ancestor's Call festival. To pay tribute to ancestral visitors and follow cultural practices, arrange seating with space reserved for elder souls at the head of the table and avoid placing feet on the crossbars of table or chairs.
