Nikola Winter: what is categorically forbidden, folk omens
Today Orthodox Christians all over the world celebrate the Memorial Day of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, who is also called Myrliky or St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. In the people this day is called Nikola the Winter. The holiday is celebrated annually on December 19. St. Nicholas is one of the most revered in Russia, he is asked in prayers for health, protection, success at work and help with marriage. Around the world, St. Nicholas is also known as the prototype of Santa Claus, Santa Claus and other Christmas and New Year characters. Read more about Nicholas the Wonderworker, the holiday on December 19, as well as traditions, omens and prohibitions associated with it - in the material "Izvestia".
Nikola the Winter: what is the folk holiday on December 19
On December 19 falls the holiday, in the church calendar called the Memorial Day of Nicholas the Wonderworker. In the folk tradition, he began to be called Nikola the Winter. On the territory of Russia, the saint began to pray to him almost immediately after the adoption of Christianity, and he quickly became one of the most revered of our ancestors. Nicholas the Wonderworker is considered the patron saint of sailors, travelers, the poor, the innocently convicted and children.
In popular tradition, Nicholas the Winter represents the protector of Russian society, he is prayed to with requests for help on a variety of occasions. It is believed that the saint is kind and merciful, so he will certainly fulfill any request, and quickly. Because of this, and there was an opinion that St. Nicholas is called in connection with the widespread help to believers. However, this is not quite true. In the Church tradition, the word "acceptable" means ministers and all the saints, for whom pleasing God has become the purpose and meaning of all life.
St. Nicholas is one of the most revered among Christians around the world. According to tradition, his life occurred at the turn of the III-IV centuries. Some sources give exact dates - 260-343. He was a bishop in the city of Myra in Lycia (in ancient times a country in the south of Asia Minor on the territory of modern Turkey). It is because of this that St. Nicholas is also called Myrlikiyskiy (you can meet the writing Mir Lykiyskiy).
Nicholas the Wonderworker was born into a family of deeply religious but childless Christians, Theophanes and Nonna. For a long time they prayed to the Lord to give them a child and soon they were rewarded, a son was born to them. His parents brought him up in the Christian faith, from childhood he fasted, studied the Scriptures and prayed a lot. However, during the time of the Roman Emperor Diocletian, known for his persecution of Christians, Nicholas, already being a bishop, was imprisoned in a dungeon and subjected to torture and torment along with other believers. He spent many years there until St. Constantine (Emperor Constantine I the Great) came to power. It was through his policies that St. Nicholas was freed and returned to his flock.
Icon "Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker"
The most popular nickname of the saint is the Wonderworker. He received it because of the many miracles that were performed both during his life and after his death:
- The defense of the innocently accused. There are many such examples, but according to one of them, St. Nicholas helped the son of the Serbian king Ilutin, who was slandered by his stepmother. Ilutin believed her and blinded the tsarevitch. Soon the unfortunate was sent to Constantinople and imprisoned in a monastery. There the tsarevitch did not stop praying to St. Nicholas and in five years he regained his sight;
- saving Lycia from famine. The Saint, in order to save the starving, appeared in a dream to a merchant and ordered him to deliver bread to the ancient country. For this, Nicholas gave him three gold coins. Waking up, the merchant really found gold in his hand and regarded the dream as a command from above. He brought food and rescued the inhabitants of Lycia;
- help for sailors. St. Nicholas, being the patron saint of sailors, not once helped them in a difficult moment. So, a vivid example can serve as a legend about the resurrection of one of them. On his way to Alexandria, St. Nicholas the Wonderworker brought one of the sailors back to life after he fell from the mast and crashed on the deck;
- rescue from ruin. St. Nicholas the Wonderworker is known around the world as a prototype of Santa Claus - an elder who secretly gives gifts. The reason for this lies in one of his miracles. According to legend, the saint learned that one merchant, who had lost all his money, could not provide his three daughters with a dowry for a decent marriage and decided to capitalize on their beauty. Then Nicholas secretly gave the girls three bags of gold, which saved the family from dishonor and enabled the daughters to marry with dignity. It is believed that one of the bags fell into a stocking lying on the floor, so in the West there was a tradition to hang stockings in anticipation of gifts.
In Russia, Nicholas the Wonderworker began to be honored long ago. Did not bypass the miracles of the saint and our ancestors. The first of the known ones took place in Kiev and was called "The Miracle of a certain child drowned, and Saint Nicholas kept him alive". According to it, on the day of the memory of Boris and Gleb, the wife of a rich Kiev citizen dropped a child into the river and the child immediately drowned. The parents grieved greatly because of what had happened and turned to St. Nicholas. That same night, after the strong prayers of grieving parents, the servants of St. Nicholas Cathedral found the child alive and unharmed.
Today, December 19, is one of the three days of commemoration of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, which are set aside by the Orthodox Church:
- May 22 (May 9, O.S.). This day is called Nikola Veshny or Summer Day. It is celebrated in connection with the transfer of the relics of the saint from Myra of Lycia to Bari (Italy) in 1807;
- August 11 (July 29). Nicholas of the Fall is celebrated in connection with the saint's birth date. It is important to note that in Catholicism this date as an official feast in honor of the saint is not recognized or celebrated;
- December 19 (6). This date falls on the day of commemoration of the saint's death.
All these holidays are non-transitional and are celebrated annually on the same day.
Traditions of the holiday of Nikola the Winter in Russia
In Russia, Nikola Winter has always been of great importance and celebrated with a scope, even despite the fact that December 19 falls on the Christmas fast. This holiday is a church holiday, so, as in any other, in the morning it is customary to go to service in the temple.
The Christmas fast always begins on November 28 and is divided into three parts. December 19 is the last day of its first stage. According to Church rules, at this time believers can eat fish on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Products of animal origin are forbidden on this day.
Depending on the region, the holiday could differ. For example, in some provinces, Svyatki began not on Christmas Day, but on the day of Nikola the Winter. The holiday was celebrated by the whole village, organizing large feasts that could last several days, they were called Nikolskaya. In spite of the fact that at that time it was Christmas Lent, during the feasts it was customary to eat a bull, and it had to be bought by the whole village together, or it had to be raised by joint efforts.
Deals and contracts were also made at the table. It was impossible to change the terms afterwards.
The holiday of December 19 was especially favorite with children, because they were given sweets, which were hidden under a pillow or somewhere else. Hence the tradition of giving gifts on New Year's Day, because it is Nicholas the Winter is considered the prototype of everyone's favorite hero of the holiday, and Nicholas the Wonderworker himself is the prototype of Santa Claus in Russia.
Among other traditions of this day it is important to highlight:
- Wedding planning or matchmaking. Both, and both, it was believed, prophesize a couple a strong and happy marriage;
- visiting a bathhouse. In this way our ancestors cleansed themselves of negative energy;
- going to the fair without fear of being cheated. People believed that St. Nicholas will punish all the dishonest.
What you can not do on Nikolin's Day in 2024
In addition to the above traditions, there were also prohibitions associated with Nikolai Winter. So, on December 19, it was impossible to scold children, especially small ones. Nicholas the Wonderworker is their patron saint, so it was not worth it to anger him.
On the other day it is necessary to postpone cleaning, needlework and other heavy work. This is due to the fact that in Russia believed: such activities can take away good luck from the house for a long time. In addition, if you do not postpone the household for another day, then a person is waiting for a life without rest and happiness.
Although it was customary to make deals on December 19, it was forbidden to lend or borrow money. On the contrary, it was worth paying back everything that was owed. Otherwise, the next year could be spent in poverty.
As on other church holidays, an important prohibition was to refuse to help the needy, otherwise relatives and friends could find themselves in their place.
One could not spend the day in despondency and sadness. It is believed that sadness on this beautiful and bright holiday will bring frost.
Itwas also forbidden to swear and swear - all the negativity would be multiplied and returned to the speaker.
Since in Nikola Winter it was customary to gather at one big table with the whole village, quarrels are also forbidden. On the contrary, it was worth making up and sitting down to feast as one big family.
Nikola Winter: folk weather omens
As on other festive dates, our ancestors observed the weather and identified patterns. So, they paid attention to the fact that it is on the day of Nikola the Winter that severe frosts come, winter really comes into its own. But a number of other omens also appeared:
- how much snow falls on December 19, so much grass will grow in the spring;
- the morning was frosty and sunny - there will be a good harvest in the coming year;
- snowfall has covered the roads, it will continue until the New Year;
- if there was a cold winter before December 19, then after December 19 there will be a thaw;
- on Nikola the Winter is clear, on Nikola the Summer will be dry and warm;
- if there was frost on the eve of Nikola's Day, it heralded a good harvest of oats.
