December 5 - Prokopyev Day: history, traditions, folk omens
In Russia, on December 5, Orthodox believers honor the memory of St. Procopius of Caesarea (Palestine), who lived in the 3rd century. In the folk calendar, the date is called Prokopy's Day, or Prokopy Winter. In 2024 it falls on Thursday. What traditions and omens are associated with this holiday, read in the material "Izvestia".
Prokopiev Day - the history of the holiday
St. Procopius was born in Jerusalem in the III century. He served as a reader of the Word of God in the Church of Caesarea, and also translated the Holy Scriptures into Syriac. It is known that he had the gift of a miracle worker, healing the seriously ill and those possessed by demons.
In 303, during the persecution of Christians, Procopius was seized by the authorities. He was demanded to renounce his faith and sacrifice to the pagan gods. However, he refused, for which he was executed by court decision.
The faithful committed the body of Procopius to the ground on a Jerusalem hill on the territory of the monastery of St. Modestus, where later a church was erected in honor of the saint. Its ruins have survived to this day.
Traditions of Prokopyev Day
In folk tradition, this day symbolizes the establishment of a winter, toboggan road. Peasants associated the name of St. Procopius with the arrangement of roads, since it is consonant with the word "digging". The people even had a saying: "Prokop came - he dug up a snowdrift, on the snow he treads, he digs the road".
In this regard, December 5 is considered a day of special patronage to travelers, when it is customary to pray for the safety of travelers and their safe return home.
From this day in Russia began the period of fairs. To get to them, on Prokopy Winter it was customary to lay toboggan tracks and set special milestones - stakes with soot and straw to indicate the way. This was done "by the whole world", after which folk festivities with Lenten food and fun were organized. Also in the evening of December 5 it was customary to make riddles to each other.
Starting from Prokop'eva day all attention was shifted to winter work: repairing the house, firewood and taking care of livestock. Men "sledded" - made and repaired sleds. It was considered a good thing to do household chores, idleness was perceived as disrespect for traditions.
What should not be done on Prokop's Day on December 5
On the holiday it was forbidden to quarrel and swear. According to beliefs, any negativity could attract misfortune or illness to the house. According to folk beliefs, on this day it is undesirable to lend water and flour, as it can mean hunger. And to give alms, on the contrary, it is necessary, otherwise the family may be left without money.
People believed that on the holiday you can not look long and intently into the eyes of the interlocutor, as it is fraught with quarrel.
It should also be remembered that Prokopiev Day falls on the Christmas fast, which will last until January 6. During this period, Orthodox believers can not eat meat, eggs and dairy products.
Folk omens on Prokop's Day in 2024
On Prokop's day in the people it was customary to observe nature in order to understand what kind of winter is to come or what kind of harvest to expect next year. Thus, snowfall on the holiday heralded a cold winter, and clear weather - early spring.
If it was warm on Prokopiev Day, it was understood that spring would be late, and a large amount of snow would fall in the winter months.
Earlier "Izvestia" told about the history and traditions of celebrating in Russia Grigory Zimopazatel.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
