{{Short description|Syriac Christian liturgical season beginning in December}} {{about|the Syriac Christian liturgical season in December|the feast day in March|Feast of the Annunciation|the Biblical event|Annunciation}} {{redirect|Subara|the Serbian hat|Šubara}} {{Infobox holiday | type = Christian | holiday_name = Season of Annunciation | official_name = ܣܘܒܪܐ | date = | image = Subara icon.jpg | caption = Ancient Christian Icon depicting the Annunciation by St. Gabriel to Mary | observedby = [[Assyrian Church of the East]], [[Chaldean Catholic Church]], [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]], [[Syriac Orthodox Church]], [[Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church]], [[Syro-Malankara Catholic Church]], [[Maronite Church]] | nickname = Suboro/Subbara/Suvara }} {{Liturgical year}}
The '''Season of Annunciation''' or '''Season of Announcements''' ({{Langx|syr|ܫܒܘܥܐ ܕܣܒܪܐ}}),<ref name=":3">{{Cite magazine |last=Andrious |first=Rev. Tower |date=3 August 2020 |title=The Ecclesiastical Liturgical Year for the Church of the East |url=https://bethkokheh.assyrianchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/The-Liturgical-Year.pdf |access-date=26 August 2025 |magazine=Church of Beth Kokheh Journal |location=[[Greenfield Park, New South Wales|Greenfield Park]] |pages=2–3 |language=English |volume=8}}</ref> also known by various Syriac [[transliterations]] such as '''Subara''', '''Suvara''', '''Subbara''', or '''Suboro''' ({{Langx|syr|ܣܘܒܪܐ}}),<ref>{{Cite web |title=ܣܘܒܪܐ |url=https://assyrianlanguages.org/sureth/dosearch.php?searchkey=9454&language=id |access-date=25 August 2025 |website=assyrianlanguages.org |publisher=Association Assyrophile de France |quote=2) annunciation, preaching/delivering a sermon}}</ref> is a [[liturgical year|liturgical season]] in [[Syriac Christianity]]. The name of the season is in reference to the [[Annunciation|Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary]],{{Sfn|Ozer|2019|p=3}} the announcement by the [[Archangel Gabriel]] to the [[Mary, mother of Jesus|Blessed Virgin Mary]], that she would [[fertilisation|conceive and bear]] a son through a [[Virgin birth of Jesus|virgin birth]] and become the mother of [[Jesus Christ]].
The Period of Annunciation is present in both the [[East Syriac Rite|East]] and [[West Syriac Rite|West Syriac]] rites, covering the Sundays before [[Christmas]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Brock |first=Sebastian |author-link=Sebastian Brock |title=Mary |url=https://gedsh.bethmardutho.org/Mary |access-date=25 August 2025 |website=Gorgias Encyclopedic Dictionary of the Syriac Heritage: Electronic Edition |publisher=[[Beth Mardutho]]}}</ref> In the [[East Syriac Rite|East Syriac tradition]], the liturgical year starts with the Period of Annunciation, and is equivalent to the season of [[Advent]] in the [[Latin liturgical rites|Western liturgical tradition]]. Like Advent, it is a time for the celebration of the [[Nativity of Jesus]]. But unlike Advent, the whole season is a celebration of the Nativity, while in Advent the first 24 days are a preparation for the Nativity on 25 December. Traditionally, in both rites, the depiction of the Annunciation has been popular in [[Syriac literature]] and art.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thomas |first=Merin |date=2022-03-27 |title=Through Her Ear, Mary Receives Christ |url=https://urhotheway.com/2022/03/27/through-her-ear-mary-receives-christ/ |access-date=2025-08-28 |website=Urho, The Way |language=en}}</ref>
Historically, the Annunciation season in the [[Syro-Malabar Church]] came to an end in early January with the feast of [[Epiphany season|Epiphany]] (''[[Pindikuthi Perunnal]]'') which was the more celebrated feast. But by the 20th century, due to influence of the Western tradition and the secular world, Christmas Day (December 25) became the focal point of the season. The season is also celebrated on March 25 in the [[Feast of the Annunciation]].{{Sfn|Mon|2022|p=9}}
== East Syriac Rite ==
In the [[East Syriac Rite]], the Season of Annunciation, like Advent in the [[Roman Rite]], marks the start of the liturgical year,<ref name=":3" /> and begins on the Sunday that falls between November 27 and December 3 inclusive.<ref name="moolan13">{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/periodofannuncia0000paur/|title=The Period of Annunciation{{ndash}}Nativity in the East Syrian Calendar: Its Background and Place in the Liturgical Year|first=John|last=Moolan|year=1985|publisher=Pontifical Oriental Institute of Religious Studies|publication-place=Vadavathoor, [[Kottayam]]|page=[https://archive.org/details/periodofannuncia0000paur/page/12/mode/2up 13]}}</ref> The season extends past Advent to also include [[Christmastide]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.syromalabarchurch.in/seasons.php#seasson1|title=Syro Malabar Liturgical Seasons|publisher=Syro-Malabar Church Internet Mission|quote=Liturgical seasons of the year are Annunciation, Epiphany, Great Fast, Resurrection, Apostles, Summer, Eliyah-Sliba, Moses, and Dedication of the Church}}</ref>{{Sfn|Madhavathu|2016|p=6}} However, the present-day [[liturgical calendar of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]] (one of the churches that uses the East Syriac Rite) regards "Annunciation" and "Nativity" as separate seasons, with the Season of Annunciation ending prior to Christmas.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.syromalabarliturgy.org/assets/assettt/panchangam%20English%202021%20(1).pdf|title=Syro-Malabar Liturgical Calendar: 2020–2021|format=PDF|author=Syro-Malabar Major Archiepiscopal Commission for Liturgy|page=6|quote=The liturgical year of the Syro-Malabar Church begins with the period of Annunciation. The four weeks in preparation for the feast of the Nativity of Jesus celebrated on 25th December, constitute this season.}}</ref> This is believed to be due to [[Monasticism|monastic]] influences,<ref name=":3" /> and the practice is known as ''Irupathanchu Nombu'';{{Sfn|Madhavathu|2016|p=76}} in 1971, the liturgy for Subara was revised in [[Malayalam]] by the Syro-Malabar Central Liturgical Committee.{{Sfn|Madhavathu|2016|p=22}} The church considers the [[Feast of the Annunciation]] as a liturgical holiday.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Syro malabar Church Lityrgy Seasons |url=https://www.syromalabarchurch.in/seasons.php#seasson1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304071723/https://www.syromalabarchurch.in/seasons.php#seasson1 |archive-date=2016-03-04 |access-date=2025-08-26 |website=www.syromalabarchurch.in}}</ref>
In the [[Assyrian Church of the East]], on the second Sunday of the season, the congregation will hear Gabriel's Annunciation to the Virgin Mary, followed by gospels the two Sundays after telling the mission of [[John the Baptist]] and the proclamation to [[Saint Joseph]].<ref name=":3" /> The season closes with the Feast of the Annunciation, and lasts about seven weeks.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: East Syrian Rite - The calendar |url=https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14413a.htm |access-date=2025-08-26 |website=www.newadvent.org}}</ref> The church has its own unique hymn assigned to the Book of Ḥudra for both the Season of the Annunciation and the Nativity;{{Sfn|Sada|2021|p=63}}{{Sfn|Sada|2021|p=66-68}} the opening of the Ḥudra begins with the first four Sundays of Subbara.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Awa |first=Mar |author-link=Awa III |date=2022-12-15 |title=A Brief Survey of the Christology of the Assyrian Church of the East as Expressed in the Hūdrā |url=https://mardutha.com/en/a-brief-survey-of-the-christology-of-the-assyrian-church-of-the-east-as-expressed-in-the-hudra/ |access-date=2025-08-28 |website=الثقافة السريانية |language=en-US}}</ref>
A separate commemoration of Subbara was added in the rite of the [[Chaldean Catholic Church]].<ref name=":0" /> For the church, the season is composed of four weeks and usually begins on a Sunday (either December 1 or the first Sunday before).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Liturgical Year of the Chaldean Church: Subara, or the Annunciations |url=https://chaldeanchurch.org/liturgical-year-of-the-chaldean-church/ |access-date=2025-08-26 |website=Chaldean Diocese of St. Thomas the Apostle U.S.A |publisher=[[Chaldean Catholic Eparchy of Saint Thomas the Apostle of Detroit]] |language=en-US |publication-place=[[Southfield, Michigan]]}}</ref>
== West Syriac Rite ==
Churches that follow the [[West Syriac Rite]] call this period the Season of Annunciation (as with the [[Syro-Malankara Catholic Church]])<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.syromalankarausa.org/sites/default/files/epl/Panchangom%202020-2021%20English.pdf|title=The Sacred Lectionary 2020{{ndash}}2021|publisher=The Major Archiepiscopal Curia of the [[Syro-Malankara Catholic Church]]|year=2020|page=26}}</ref>{{Sfn|Mon|2022|p=5}} or the Season of Announcements (as with the [[Maronite Church]]).<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 November 2022 |title=Nov. 20, 2022: The Announcement to Mary |url=https://www.stmaron.org/feast-day/the-announcement-to-mary |access-date=26 August 2025 |website=stmaron.org |publisher=[[Maronite Catholic Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn]] |publication-place=[[Brooklyn, New York]]}}</ref> In this rite, the season begins six Sundays before Christmas,<ref name="moolan13" /> making it coterminous with Advent in the [[Ambrosian Rite]].
In the [[Syriac Orthodox Church|Syriac Orthodox]] and [[Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church]]es, the Suboro is considered one of the most important feasts in the liturgy; the [[Holy Qurobo]] is required for recital even if the Feast of the Annunciation falls on [[Good Friday]], where it would otherwise be prohibited.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Feast: Annunciation to the Virgin |url=https://syriacorthodoxresources.org/Feast/Annunciation.html |access-date=2025-08-26 |website=syriacorthodoxresources.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Suboro (Annunciation to the Virgin St. Mary) |url=https://www.neamericandiocese.org/feasts/feasts_details/35 |access-date=2025-08-26 |website=www.neamericandiocese.org |publisher=[[Malankara Orthodox Diocese of Northeast America]] |publication-place=[[Muttontown, New York]]}}</ref>
=== Assyrian tradition === [[Assyrians]] in the SOC (namely from [[Tur Abdin]]) maintain unique traditions in honor of the season of Suboro. This tradition, also called Suboro, takes place annually on March 25.<ref name=":0" /> A [[Assyrian culture|cultural]]/[[Assyrian cuisine|culinary]] tradition involves kneading unleavened dough and sprinkling grains on top; the daughter of the family then puts white and red yarn in the shape of the [[Christian cross|Cross]] on the dough<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 March 2021 |title=Meryem Ana Müjdelenme Bayramı: Siboro – Sabro {{!}} Umut |url=https://www.gazetesabro.org/2021/03/24/meryem-ana-mujdelenme-bayrami-siboro/ |access-date=2025-08-26 |website=www.gazetesabro.org |publication-place=[[Midyat]]}}</ref> before walking around town.{{Sfn|Ozer|2019|p=3}} During the making of the dough, families will also sing a [[Syriac sacral music|hymn]], ''The Bread of Life is Mine''.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Begtaş |first=Yusuf |title=Siboro Geleneği |trans-title=Siboro Tradition |url=https://www.karyohliso.com/Articles/Article/2167 |access-date=2025-08-26 |website=www.karyohliso.com |language=Turkish |publication-place=[[Mardin]]}}</ref> All the available grains in the house will be added to the dough when cooking.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Begdaş |first=Yusuf |title=Turabdin'de Siboro Geleneği |url=http://www.suryaniler.com/kultur-sanat.asp?id=370 |access-date=2025-08-26 |website=www.suryaniler.com |publisher=Süryaniler {{!}} Renkler Solmasın, Kültürler Kaybolmasın |language=Turkish}}</ref> The dough is then taken to the roof of the house and left to sit while hymns are sung; after church service, the bread is placed under the [[Bible]] and then served to the congregation.
The white and red yarn are also used to create [[wristband]]s, representing the interwined nature of the humanity (red) and [[Resurrection of Jesus|divine resurrection]] (white) of Christ.<ref name=":4" /> The wristbands by themselves represent the appearance of the Archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary.<ref>{{Cite thesis |last=Tiğiz |first=Macide |title=Assyrians' Participation Motivations towards Faith Tourism: The Case of Mardin |date=2019 |access-date=26 August 2025 |degree=Master's |publisher=[[Batman University]] |url=https://earsiv.batman.edu.tr/server/api/core/bitstreams/a82efe15-ee16-4ab3-a7d9-a3fd005c9d07/content |place=[[Batman, Turkey|Batman]] |page=18 |chapter=RABBANİ BAYRAMLAR}}</ref> Some bracelets also include black yarn, which can represent either the [[death of Christ]] or combine with the other colors to represent the [[Holy Spirit in Christianity|Holy Spirit]].<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite thesis |title=Lozan'Dan Günümüze Êzidiler ve Süryaniler (Yezidis and Assyrians from Lausanne to Today) |date=December 2016 |access-date=26 August 2025 |degree=Master's |publisher=[[Muş Alparslan University]] |url=https://acikbilim.yok.gov.tr/bitstream/handle/20.500.12812/101813/yokAcikBilim_10102994.pdf;jsessionid=79A14BE7D025E12111FE34ECF7D687CC?sequence=-1 |language=Turkish |page=95 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231016055900/https://acikbilim.yok.gov.tr/bitstream/handle/20.500.12812/101813/yokAcikBilim_10102994.pdf;jsessionid=79A14BE7D025E12111FE34ECF7D687CC?sequence=-1 |archive-date=16 October 2023}}</ref> The wristbands are worn until [[Easter]], but they may also be worn until the Christmas holiday. Sometimes, the wristbands are burned under a pot of [[rice pudding]].<ref name=":4" />
Suboro is additionally practiced by [[Yazidis]] and the [[Mhallami]], an Arabic-speaking ethnic group theorized to have Assyrian origins; the Mhallami create blue and white bracelets called Basımbar.<ref name=":4" /> The tradition is not as prominent among Mhallami compared to Assyrians, but is celebrated by a few today.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Yeşilmen |first=Halit |date=2016-12-12 |title=Etno-Dini Kimlik Açıdan Mahallemiler |url=https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/artukluakademi/issue/32033/354374 |journal=Artuklu Akademi |volume=3 |issue=2 |page=33 |issn=2148-3264 |access-date=28 August 2025 |quote= |trans-quote= |via=DergiPark}}</ref> Yazidis make bracelets on a special day during the year with additional green and yellow colors, and hang it on several objects like cars and houses, as well as their wrists.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Can Emmez |first=Berivan |date=18 October 2020 |title=RAKSHA BANDHAN'DAN ÇARŞEMA SOR'A: KUTSAL BAĞ GELENEĞİ ÜZERİNE ANTROPOLOJİK BİR İNCELEME |trans-title=FROM RAKSHA BANDHAN TO ÇARŞEMA SOR: AN ANTHROPOLOGICAL ANALYSIS ON THE SACRED BOND TRADITION |url=https://www.icoess.com/upload/c39286f4-e9fa-4e09-bc48-73cba7479628.pdf |access-date=28 August 2025 |website=icoess.com |publisher=International Congress of Eurasian Social Sciences |page=56 |language=Turkish |isbn=978-605-68062-9-2}}</ref> Another tradition from the [[Balkans]], known as [[Martenitsa]], is similar to Suboro.
== See also == * [[Advent]] * [[Nativity Fast]] * [[Feast of the Annunciation]]
== References == {{Reflist}}
== Bibliography == {{div col|colwidth=30em}} *{{Cite thesis |last=Madhavathu |first=Maryann |title=Liturgy as a Sacrament of the Paschal Mystery: A Study of the Theological Relations between the Liturgy of the Eucharist and the Liturgy of the Hours in the Roman and Syro-Malabar Rites |date=2016 |access-date=26 August 2025 |publisher=[[Katholieke Universiteit Leuven]] |url=https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/80792869.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419153104/https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/80792869.pdf |archive-date=19 April 2021}} *{{Cite thesis |last=Mon |first=James |title=The Marian Spirituality as a Model for Joyful Christion Life in the Light of Pope St. John Paul II |date=March 2022 |access-date=4 September 2025 |degree=LTh |publisher=[[Jnana Deepa, Institute of Philosophy and Theology]] |url=https://malankaralibrary.com/ImageUpload/489e810ea8492edc5bf054526333a6f8.pdf}} *{{Cite journal |last=Ozer |first=Cagla |date=19 December 2019 |title=A monographic research on the Assyrian culinary culture in Turkey |journal=Journal of Ethnic Foods |volume=6 |issue=26 |article-number=26 |doi=10.1186/s42779-019-0036-0 |doi-access=free}} *{{Cite thesis |last=Sada |first=Eve Georges |title=Assyrian-Syriac Chants from the Liturgy of the Church of the East |date=December 2021 |access-date=28 August 2025 |degree=DMA |publisher=University of Oklahoma |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/362791024_Assyrian-Syriac_chants_from_the_liturgy_of_the_Church_of_the_East}} *{{div col end}}
[[Category:Liturgical seasons]] [[Category:Nativity of Jesus in worship and liturgy]]