A special holiday on December 22 is Anna the Dark: history, traditions, omens
Every year on December 22, the Orthodox Church celebrates the Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary by Righteous Anna. In 2025, the celebration falls on a Monday. In Russia, this day was called Anna the Dark or Conception Day. Read about the history, traditions, strict prohibitions and signs of the holiday in the Izvestia article.
What is the church holiday on December 22
According to legend, the mother of the Virgin, the righteous Anna, was the youngest daughter of the priest Matthew, who came from the tribe of Levin, the family of Aaron. Her husband, Joachim, was from the tribe of Judah, from the house of King David. According to ancient prophecies, it was from this family that the Messiah was to come.
The couple lived in Nazareth and were distinguished by piety. Every year, they gave two thirds of their income to the Jerusalem Temple and to help the poor. One thing overshadowed the holy couple's life — despite their advanced age, they had no children. At that time, the Jews considered insanity to be a punishment from the Lord for grave sins. The couple grieved greatly about this and fervently prayed for the gift of offspring.
One day during the feast, when the Israelites were bringing gifts to the temple, the high priest refused to accept Joachim's sacrifice, explaining that a childless husband did not have God's blessing. Saint Joachim was deeply saddened by this humiliation. Without returning home, he retreated to the desert, where he spent 40 days in fasting and prayer.
Righteous Anna considered herself the main culprit of their common grief. She was also in sorrow and prayer. One day, seeing a nest with barely fledged chicks among the branches of a laurel tree, a woman tearfully prayed for the birth of a child, promising to dedicate the baby to God. As soon as she uttered the words of the vow, an Angel of God appeared to her, announcing the imminent arrival of Mary's daughter in the family, through whom "all the tribes of the world will be blessed." Jacob received the same message in the desert.
Inspired by happiness, the couple met in Jerusalem, and nine months later the Virgin Mary was born. Until the age of three, she lived in her parents' house, and then was transferred to the Jerusalem Temple for upbringing, where she remained until adulthood.
Traditions of the national holiday Anna Dark (Conception Day) on December 22
In the folk tradition, the feast of the Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary was called Anna the Dark or Winter. The fact is that December 21-22 is the longest night of the year, the winter solstice. In Russia, it was believed that on this day winter especially vividly declares itself with severe frosts, cold wind and long darkness. In the old days, a new annual cycle began from this moment.
Beekeepers attached special importance to Anna Dark. Early in the morning, they came to omshaniki, where the hives were wintering, to read special spells on the health of bees and a good harvest of honey.
The feast in honor of St. Anna was also called Conception Day. It was believed that girls, girls and women of all ages should be protected at this time. Pregnant women were treated with special respect. On December 22, they were not allowed to leave the house, do needlework, pick up sharp objects and light a fire. It was believed that the fire that a woman would light on this day would leave a mark on the baby's body, sharp objects would cause incomprehensible scars, and tangled threads during sewing could allegedly twist the umbilical cord.
At the same time, on Anna the Dark, all pregnant women were supposed to observe strict fasting, whereas on all other days expectant mothers, on the contrary, were exempt from it.
What not to do on December 22nd on Anna the Dark Day
On Conception Day, the ancestors adhered to a number of strict prohibitions, many of which were aimed at preserving women's health. They did not wear their hair down on the holiday, fearing that evil spirits might hide in loose curls.
What else can not be done on December 22
- women eat fatty foods — leading to the birth of a large baby and difficult childbirth;
- doing needlework, washing, cleaning, ironing can lead to illnesses and troubles in the family;
- Going to the forest is a high risk of encountering wolves.
Folk signs for December 22
On Anna the Dark, the ancestors closely followed various weather signs. It was believed that the weather on the day of the winter solstice could determine what the coming seasons would be.
Omens of December 22:
- hoarfrost on the trees — for a good harvest next year;
- It's snowing — for a rainy and slushy spring;
- severe frost — cloudless weather for the next week;
- bright sun — it will get warmer soon;
- the dog sleeps all day — by the cold snap;
- the snow lies close to the hedge — to the lean summer;
- the snow lies near the hedge with a gap — the year will be fruitful.
Earlier, Izvestia reported on the history, traditions and signs of the national holiday of St. Nicholas the Winter.
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