Photo of the Day for August 19, 2010

Apple-Blessing Festival (part IV), Azdamichy 2009/Яблычны Спас (частка IV), Аздамічы 2009 год

Apple-Blessing, observed on August 19 — Transfiguration Day in the Orthodox calendar — is an early harvest festival.  In memory of children who have died young, people, especially women, traditionally must not eat new apples or other newly-ripe fruit before the blessing of apples; it is a traditional belief that deferring the eating of apples permits deceased children to receive apples from the Lord in heaven first.

The Apple-Blessing church service in Azdamichy in the Central Pripet region of Polesia is always heavily attended.

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