On April 7th 2025, Russians and other Eastern Orthodox Christians celebrate the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Annunciation is a non-transient holiday, that is, it is always celebrated on the same date. It marks “the announcement made by the archangel Gabriel to Mary that she would conceive and bear a son through a virgin birth and become the mother of Jesus Christ, the Messiah and Son of God”. This is a very important day in Christian history as recorded in the Gospel of Luke. The Annunciation is not a “bank holiday” in Russia. But, millions will church attend services or at least send warm messages to family and friends.

History of the holiday and its names

The Russian name of the holiday (from the Greek “Evangelismos”) means “Gospel”. “Evangelie” translates as “good news.” According to Scripture, on this day God sent the Archangel Gabriel to Nazareth to tell the Virgin Mary, who lived there, that she was to conceive by the Holy Spirit and give birth to a child – the promised Messiah. Appearing to Mary, the archangel said approximately:

“Hail, Most Gracious One! The Lord is with you! Blessed art thou among women.”

This was the first “good news” that mankind received after the expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise.

A full liturgy is always celebrated on the Annunciation, even if April 7 is a weekday and despite Lent. Usually the liturgy during Lent is celebrated in a special way (see below), and only on Wednesday and Friday. Technically the holiday can be considered to have started late in the evening the previous day on the 6th, but the more colorful and public side of the holiday is seen as being on the 7th.

In many churches after the Annunciation service white doves are released (in Christianity this bird is associated with the Holy Spirit). Even one of Alexander Pushkin’s poems mentions the custom of releasing birds from cages in this way.

Image above: Light blue clothing represents the Virgin Mary

Old Time Folk Traditions for the Annunciation

In the olden days on the Annunciation “scorched the winter” and “warmed the spring”. At night, bonfires were set up on the ground, where straw, garbage, rags, old shoes and dung were burned. Around the fires they led group dances and sang songs. However, the fire was not mandatory and the Annunciation was rejoiced by all the faithful.

In the morning people washed their faces with melted, spring or well water – “for good health”.

What you do modern Russians do on the Annunciation?

– They do charity and make non-monetary donations to help the needy it is a holiday of good news after all.

– Visit relatives and friends.

– Bake “larks”, that is birds made of dough are traditionally baked for the holiday. They are thrown into the air in connection with the arrival of spring. You can also decorate your house with lilies. They a symbol of purity.

Image above: “baked larks” as a symbol of spring.

What is forbidden during Annunciation?

– On Annunciation they do not hold funeral services and do not marry people. Those wishing to marry according to Orthodox tradition can do so on the first Sunday after Easter or later.

– The oldtime inhabitants of Russia said that on Annunciation “a bird does not build a nest, a maiden does not weave her tresses”. On the holiday you can not work in the house and/or vegetable garden, you must refuse to even wash the dishes. Women are not allowed to braid hair or sew anything during the holiday.

– It is not allowed to “quarrel” as peace and harmony should reign in the family.

– It is best not to visit unfamiliar people on this day.

– You can not borrow or lend. It is believed that if you shall do so, then you’ll wind up with no money at all.

– It is not recommended to make long trips.

– You can not consume meat, eggs, dairy products and alcohol.

Omens during the Annunciation

Russian people associate the Annunciation with a number of “omens”:

– If you see no swallows, you’re in for a long cold spring;

– Wind with fog means for a fruitful summer is coming;

– Snow means you’re in for a poor harvest of oats;

– Rain means an abundance of mushrooms in the forest and fish in the rivers;

– Frost is actually good for the harvest of spring crops like cucumbers and pears;

– Thunderstorms mean you’ll get a warm summer and plenty of nuts;

– Cloudless and sunny weather signifies summer thunderstorms, and a warm day means a good harvest for the whole year;

– Whatever weather there is during Annunciation, will be the same on Easter;

– Cranes flying high is a sign of upcoming bad weather;

– Putting on new clothes means that they will soon wear out;

– Giving or borrowing money means there will be no money at all later;

– Making a lot of noise means predators will be afraid for the long term and will not touch livestock this year.

Image above: On the eve of the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Christians march through the streets of Voronezh.

What is the Special Liturgy for the Annunciation like?

The special Liturgy for the Annunciation in the Russian Orthodox Church is a profound celebration of the moment when heaven touched earth—the Archangel Gabriel’s announcement to the Virgin Mary that she would bear the Son of God. The service is imbued with a sense of joy and theological depth, standing out even amid the penitential atmosphere of Great Lent if the feast falls during that season.

The clergy don blue vestments, a color reserved for Marian feasts, symbolizing purity and the divine. The church glows with candles and flowers, and the icon of the Annunciation—depicting Gabriel’s outstretched hand and Mary’s humble acceptance—takes center stage for veneration. The hymns, sung only on this day, weave together Scripture and poetry. The Troparion proclaims, “Today is the beginning of our salvation,” while the Kontakion hails Mary as the “invincible leader,” blending awe and tenderness. The Gospel reading (Luke 1:24-38) recounts the angel’s words, and the Epistle (Hebrews 2:11-18) reflects on Christ’s incarnation as the bridge between God and humanity.

Before the Gospel, the Great Prokeimenon echoes Psalm 72: “He shall descend like rain upon the fleece,” a metaphor for Christ’s quiet arrival into the world. The Eucharistic prayers that follow are infused with festal gravity, culminating in Communion and a final blessing that ties the feast to salvation history: “May Christ our true God, Who deigned to be incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, save us through her prayers.”*

This Liturgy is more than a ritual; it’s a living icon of the Incarnation, where hymns, Scripture, and symbols unite to make the invisible mystery tangible. Whether observed in a grand cathedral or a humble village church, the Annunciation service invites the faithful to stand, like Mary, at the crossroads of heaven and earth.