The Orthodox Christians who follow the Julian calendar on September 21 celebrate the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Nativity of Mary, or the Birth of the Virgin Mary, which is a Christian feast day celebrating the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is one of the four great Marian feast days, IPN reports.

By tradition, the people on this feast day go on pilgrimages to monasteries and go to church and take fruit, bread and candles for being blessed there. The parishioners go to the service in the morning and kneel before the Icon of Virgin Mary.

Archbishop Ioan Ciuntu, of “Saint Teodora de la Sihla” Chruch, said Virgin Mary for the Church is the one who gave birth to God and this feat is celebrated in a special way and the priests wear green clothing as a symbol of eternity. “The birth of Virgin Mary is a choice of the heaven for the people so that we do not say that God does not know our sorrows and difficulties,” he stated.

The people say one should not start fire on this day as this will bring evil, but the priest noted the religious holidays have nothing to do with superstitions. “Another mistake is that the people celebrate with wine and beer and play cards,” said Ioan Ciuntu, noting this feast should be celebrated by prayers and by singing profound church songs. Those who are in jail or hospital or are in difficulty should be visited and be offered alms as faith without good deeds represents death, stated the priest.

It is said that the Nativity of Mary represents the astronomic border between summer and autumn and the moment when the autumn agricultural works should start. On this day, a number of churches, communities and families celebrate the ‘hram’ or saint patron’s day. Also, the women called Maria (Mary) celebrate the name day.