Folk signs for September 20: what can and cannot be done

In Russia, signs and beliefs were given special importance. They were used to determine when to start and finish field work and what the weather would be like in the coming days. The national calendar was full of beliefs and rituals. Izvestia tells about the folk signs of September 20 and the church holidays that fall on this date.

Folk signs for September 20th

In Russia, on September 20, Bows Day was celebrated. Onions, one of the main vegetables in the diet of our ancestors, ripened in the villages for the holiday. It was used in cooking, medicinal tinctures, and even as a talisman against evil spirits. In the morning, the housewives were preparing treats for the communal table. It was believed that the more onions you could eat, the better your health would be. The main dish was stuffed onions, large, stuffed with minced meat.

On Lukov Day, the ancestors paid attention to changes in nature in order to predict the weather for the upcoming winter.

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The Orthodox Church celebrates the celebration on September 21

Omens of September 20th

• there are a lot of husks on the bulbs — the winter will be harsh and frosty;
• rain — autumn will be slushy and protracted;
• the cones on the fir trees are growing low — for the imminent arrival of winter;
• few clouds in the sky — winter will be cold and windy;
• cranes fly high and slow — autumn will be rainy;
• The leaves on the trees began to turn yellow quickly — the cold weather is coming soon;
• birds fly high — for a warm winter.

What not to do on September 20th

On Luke's Day, the ancestors adhered to certain prohibitions in order to avoid misfortunes and troubles. There were no weddings or matchmaking on the holiday, as they believed that such a union would be short-lived.

What else can not be done on September 20

• Giving dolls to girls was believed to lead to infertility.;
• brag about your health and wealth, otherwise you can quickly lose these benefits.;
• accepting gifts from strangers — there is a risk of encountering spoilage;
• lending and borrowing money leads to financial difficulties;
• Eating turnips and potatoes leads to diseases;
• Mentioning the names of the dead can attract misfortune.

Church holidays on September 20th

On September 20, the Orthodox Church celebrates the day of memory of St. Luke of Glugorechensk, who lived in the 10th century. He was the abbot of the monastery of "Deep Rivers" near Constantinople and was famous for his righteousness. In the national calendar, the saint's memorial day was named Lukov Day, because his name is consonant with the word "onion", and the celebration itself falls during the harvest of this vegetable.

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Also on September 20, believers remember St. John, Archbishop of Novgorod, who lived in the XII century. From an early age, he devoted himself to the service of God and became a monk with the name Elijah. In 1165, after the death of Archbishop Arkady, John was elected by the Novgorodians to the archiepiscopal see.

He was actively involved in the construction of churches, including the Church of the Annunciation in Arkady, and took care of the spiritual life of his flock. Upon learning of the approach of his death, the saint accepted the schema with the former name John and peacefully departed to the Lord in 1186. His relics were preserved incorruptible in 1439 in the Novgorod St. Sophia Cathedral. Later, in 1547, St. John was glorified as an all-Russian saint.

Prayers on September 20th

Orthodox believers can pray to St. John of Novgorod on September 20. They turn to him for help in healing diseases, strengthening faith and guiding them on the right path.

Prayer to St. John of Novgorod

"O most honorable and holy head and full of the grace of the Holy Spirit, dwelling of the Savior with the Father, great bishop, our warm intercessor, to St. John, standing at the Throne of all Kings and enjoying the light of the Consubstantial Trinity and cherubic angels, proclaiming the trisagion hymn, and having great and unexplored boldness towards the All-merciful Master, pray for the salvation of the flock of Christ. O people, confirm the welfare of the holy churches, bishops, adorn with the splendor of sanctification, strengthen monasticism by the feat of a good current, preserve the reigning city and all the cities of the land with goodness, and keep the holy immaculate faith, pacify the whole world through your intercession, deliver us from gladness and destruction, and preserve us from the attacks of foreigners, comfort the old, guide the young, and mad Be wise, have mercy on widows, intercede for orphans, raise up infants, bring back captives, heal those who are weak, and everywhere those who warmly call upon you and with faith prostrate themselves and pray to you from all misfortunes and troubles, through your intercession, pray for us to the All-merciful and Loving Christ our God, so that on the day of His terrible coming He may deliver us from our suffering. and the communicants will create the joys of the saints with all the saints forever and ever. Amen to that."

Earlier, Izvestia told about the signs and traditions of the Mikhailovo Miracle holiday.