As of September 1, 2023, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) have adopted the New Julian calendar, which means that most major church holidays are now celebrated 13 days earlier.

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Therefore, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord will be celebrated on February 2, 2025. This is not just an important religious holiday, but one of the twelve major feasts – the 12 most significant Christian holidays of the year.

The term "Presentation" means "meeting," and its second meaning is "joy."

The significance of the holiday lies not only in the fact that the infant Jesus was brought to the temple and met by Simeon and Anna, but also in the overall meeting of humanity with God through the elder Simeon.

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In the following material, we will tell you everything about the holiday, not only what the term Presentation means, but also its traditions, history, main prohibitions, and omens. It is believed that on this day, one can learn not only about the upcoming weather but also about their future.

Now that the date of the Presentation is clear, it's time to delve into the history of the holiday and its traditions.

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The Presentation of the Lord 2025: holiday traditions

The Presentation of the Lord is a very ancient holiday, but it has not always been as significant. It became one of the twelve major feasts only in the 6th century. Under Emperor Justinian, in 528, this celebration was marked very widely for the first time.

It is worth noting that the traditions associated with the Presentation of the Lord concern both the church and ordinary people. For instance, priests are required to conduct services exclusively in blue vestments on this day, as it represents the purifying period of the Holy Virgin and the dedication of the Infant to serve God.

Additionally, it is significant that on the Presentation of the Lord, not only water but also candles are blessed in churches. This symbolizes enlightenment, warmth, and the purifying fire.

Interestingly, this is connected to the holiday's history. According to beliefs, when Jesus was 12 years old, he was again taken to the temple. However, he got lost in the crowd. The Virgin Mary and Joseph searched for him for a whole day but could not find him. Fearing that they had lost the Son of God, they went to the temple and found Jesus there. He was surprised, asking why they were searching for him when it was clear that he should be in his Father's house. During that day, the boy had time to converse with the apostles and astonish them with his wisdom at such a seemingly immature age.

We have noticed that many people are interested in divination on the Presentation. However, we must disappoint you here, as this is far from a church tradition, so there are no specific guidelines related to fortune-telling on this day.

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What is prohibited on the Presentation of the Lord 2025: main prohibitions of the holiday

Church rules state that one cannot argue on the Presentation.

Moreover, it is prohibited to work and clean the house on this holiday. Interestingly, this tradition arose when Christianity first came to Kievan Rus. At that time, people were driven to church, forbidden to work under the threat of divine punishment. Washing and working in the garden are also not allowed.

Additionally, it is interesting that one should not bathe on the Presentation of the Lord. However, the church reminds us that taking a shower is not a sin and will not lead you to hell. Logically, the interpretation of this prohibition is as follows: preparing the bath requires chopping wood, fetching water, and monitoring the stove for several hours – in other words, it involves a lot of work.

It is also believed that one should not embark on a long journey on the Presentation, as it may end very poorly. Therefore, people try to spend February 2 at home and visit the church.

It is important to note that despite many claims that "On the Presentation of the Lord, it is forbidden to sew and knit", this is not entirely accurate. In fact, there is no such prohibition unless one considers these activities as work.

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