Spiridon's Day: what is strictly forbidden, folk omens
Every year on December 25, Orthodox believers celebrate the feast day of St. Spyridon of Trimiphunt, one of the most beloved saints. In 2024, the commemorative date falls on Wednesday. In the people the holiday of December 25 is known as Spiridon Solntvorot, it has pre-Christian, pagan roots. Our ancestors noticed various details of the weather, including those related to the Sun. That's when they noticed that around this date, the daylight hours begin to get longer. Read more about the saint, his connection with the national holiday, as well as traditions and omens associated with this date - in the material "Izvestia".
Spiridon's day: what is the folk holiday on December 25
Today, December 25, Orthodox Christians celebrate the day of memory of Spiridon of Trimiphunt. For believers, he is one of the greatest saints and is considered a miracle worker by both Orthodox and Catholics. The feast is non-transitional, being celebrated on the same day year after year.
The dates of St. Spyridon's life are not known, but the approximate years of his birth and death - 270th and 348th - are given. Tradition says that Spyridon was born in Cyprus to a poor family. He was always kind to others: he gave shelter to the homeless, and fed wanderers and gave them a place to rest. He considered the Old Testament righteous men David, Jacob, and Abraham to be his examples. He drew from each of them something different: humility and submission, kindness, and love for travelers.
The saint also had a family, but he did not have to enjoy family troubles for long: his wife died early. However, the heavy loss did not deprive him of his faith in God; he continued his ministry and, as before, helped the needy. At a mature age he became bishop of the city of Trimithunta (now the village of Tremetousia in Cyprus).
The saint is known not only for his good deeds, but also for the miracles that occurred both during his lifetime and posthumously. According to legend, he could raise the dead, rid the area of drought and exorcise demons. He also helped financially. That is why nowadays believers ask the saint in prayer for help with money, as well as in finding a job. Among other things, he helps in illnesses, as well as couples in the upbringing of children.
Among the miracles that have become legendary are:
- The resurrection of an infant and his mother. One day a woman came to the bishop with the body of an infant in her arms. She asked the saint for intercession and the resurrection of the child. After prayer, the woman's request was fulfilled, but the miracle so shocked her that she herself fell down dead. Repeated prayer also brought the mother back to life;
- salvation from drought. According to a legend, a drought and famine began in one village, and local merchants took advantage of it and profited from the people's misfortune by raising the price of bread. Then one poor man, having no means to afford even a small piece of bread, went to St. Spyridon. At his prayer, God sent a downpour over the land, which washed away the grain and other fruits from the merchant's barn so that anyone could take them. One of the merchant's barns was completely ruined.
- salvation from poverty. Another poor man asked the same merchant for a loan of food. However, he had no collateral, so he did not get any bread. Then the man went to Bishop Spyridon, who turned an ordinary snake into gold. The farmer gave the money as a pledge for the bread, and after the harvest he returned the bread to the merchant and the pledged gold to himself. Then he took the golden snake back to Spiridon, and the latter returned the reptile to its original form.
- defense of the innocently condemned. One day the saint went to a wrongfully condemned man, but on his way a stream overflowed. At his command the water parted, and Spiridon was able to continue his journey unhindered. Having learned of this miracle, the unjust judge released the innocently condemned man.
In Russia, the day of the saint's commemoration is known as Spiridon Solntsevorot. However, at its core it has pre-Christian, pagan roots. It is believed that at that time our ancestors honored Svarog as the supreme god. There are many versions about the meaning of his name, but most often it is interpreted as "Sun" and "shine". Svarog was also called the god-smith.
At some point, our ancestors noticed that around December 25, the day begins to gradually increase, and the night - shorten. Thus, they believed that on this day the Sun makes a "turn" from winter to summer, so the day became known as the Solstice. A popular saying became: "Sun - for summer, winter - for frost".
In the modern world, the analog of the Solstice can be called the day of the winter solstice, which takes place a little earlier and also has a long history, filled with its rites, rituals and even fortune-telling.
Solstice Day is an astronomical phenomenon that annually falls on December 21 or 22. The duration of the daylight hours at this time reaches its minimum, and the night, on the contrary, the maximum. Astronomical winter comes, which lasts until the vernal equinox. In 2025, spring will arrive on March 20.
With the advent of Christianity on the territory of Russia on December 25 began to celebrate the church day of the memory of Spiridon of Trimiphunt, but the memory of the pagan celebration still existed in the people for a long time. As a result, as it happened with other Christian holidays, pagan and Orthodox traditions were partially intertwined. Thus, now there are two holidays on the same day: the Memorial Day of Spiridon of Trimiphunt and Spiridon Solntsevorot (also known as Spiridon's Day).
Traditions of celebrating Spiridon's Day
December 25 was a special date for peasants because of the fact that the day was beginning to gradually arrive and the Sun was "turning" towards summer.
It was believed that on this day bears in their dens could turn even at the sound of human footsteps. That's why they tried not to go into the forest on December 25.
On Spiridon's Day it was considered important to see the dawn from the highest point in the area.
In addition, old beliefs said that December 25 is a day of struggle between darkness and light, so peasants, longing for the coming of heat and longer daylight hours, tried to help the light, or the Sun, with different rituals:
- baking ritual bread. The tradition of baking round bread in the shape of the nearest star to the Earth was considered important;
- and the round dance. The name is based on the word "circle", which means the Sun. That is why round dance is a ritual action or dance connected with the cult of the Sun;
- rolling a lighted wheel down a hill. The wheel also represented a symbol of the Sun. Such a ritual was supposed to help the heavenly luminary to return faster and bring spring. At the same time they used to say: "Roll the wheel down the hill - come back to us in red spring!";
-they burned bonfires everywhere. It was believed that in this way one could help the Sun to dispel darkness and frost;
-to dispel evil spirits. Guests were given a special ritual wine bowl and recited incantations. It was important to place symbols of the Sun all over the house, which were intended to protect the house from evil forces. For this purpose, an axe was stuck in the threshold and a sickle in the vestibule.
In addition to the above, on Spiridon Solntsevorot it was customary to read incantations, asking for a good fortune. At the same time at dawn washed with snow or melted water. At the same time, they always asked for the same thing: for a good husband and children, for money and a full table, for health and others.
What you can and can not do on Spiridon's Day, December 25
Today Spiridon's day has a great connection with the church, so the prohibitions of the day relate specifically to the religious holiday. So, you can not work on this day, go hunting or fishing. Going on a long trip is also considered undesirable. Heavy work, sewing and knitting are forbidden. As always, Orthodox Christians are not allowed to lie or quarrel.
It is also important to note the restrictions associated with the fact that the holiday falls on the Christmas fast, which will last until the evening of January 6. The strictest days are Wednesday and Friday. In monasteries, the fast is stricter, and for ordinary believers it is milder. On this day you can not eat products of animal origin, it is recommended to replace them with fruits and vegetables.
Spiridon's day: folk and weather omens
Slavs from ancient times have noticed changes in the weather, which helped to make a forecast for a small time ahead. In addition, some patterns predicted to our ancestors what the harvest would be and much more:
- if the wind blows from different directions on Spiridon's day, there will be bins full of crops;
- sparrows carry down and feathers to their nests - frost will soon come;
- cut a cherry branch on the day of Spiridon Solstice, it could indicate the amount of harvest in the coming year. For this purpose it was put in a pot and cared for. If flowers appeared by Christmas, the harvest would be rich;
- chickens, as it was believed, on this day should be fed buckwheat from the right hand, then they will start laying earlier;
- if apple trees are cleared of snow on Spiridon's day, they will blossom earlier in spring;
- the Sun shines brightly - the summer will be sunny and fertile, and the New Year will be clear and frosty;
- the 12 days after Spiridon's Day will be the same as the next 12 months;
- cloudy weather and frost on the trees - the New Year will be warming;
- A cloudy morning also heralds an early spring.
