Folk signs for October 16: what can and cannot be done
In Russia, omens have been given special importance since ancient times. They were used to judge the weather, when to sow and harvest, and what to expect in the future. Therefore, every day of the national calendar was full of rituals and superstitions. Izvestia tells about the popular signs of Thursday, October 16, and what church holidays are celebrated on this day.
Folk signs for October 16, 2025
In Russia, on October 16, Denis Pozimny Day was celebrated. The people believed that from this time on, winter begins to show its power, and before the onset of cold weather, autumn fevers, evil spirits that cause diseases, come to the earth. According to legend, they could enter the body and home in various ways — through an open window, get under clothes on the street or fly a speck into the eye. Aspen bark, which was supposed to be carried with them, was considered an excellent remedy for them.
In addition to fevers, in the old days they were afraid of spoilage and the evil eye. "Denis has come — beware of the dashing eye," the people said. Onions, garlic and radish were used in the villages against these plagues. They tried not to leave the house unnecessarily, spending time with their family. The housewives baked pies and pancakes, and in the evening the whole family gathered at the samovar. The elders told their offspring fairy tales and funny stories from their lives.
Great importance was attached to weather signs. They were used to judge what the end of autumn and the beginning of winter would be like. Birds and animals were especially closely watched as the main harbingers of future weather changes. So, if the sparrows are rushing from place to place, they knew it was going to rain soon. And if the hares began to overeat for the winter, they prepared for cold weather and frosts.
Other signs of the day:
- The clouds are dark and low, leading to short—term precipitation.;
- It was a warm day, and there won't be any frosts in the near future.;
- jackdaws gather in flocks and shout loudly — for clear weather;
- The rosehip has bloomed again — autumn will be warm and lingering.;
- mice are burrowing on the south side — the winter will be frosty and snowy.
What not to do on October 16
Since the day was associated with the rampant evil spirits, in the old days they adhered to certain prohibitions that helped to avoid trouble. In particular, our ancestors tried not to open windows and doors unnecessarily for fear that evil spirits would enter the dwelling through them. On this day, the windows were supposed to be tightly closed and the doors closed to keep out trouble.
What else can not be done on October 16:
- picking up things at intersections is a risk of "catching" someone else's trouble or illness.;
- looking in the mirror for a long time, especially with sadness, can "attract" forty troubles.;
- cut your hair — it was believed that after that they would grow for a long time;
- throwing away garbage — you can accidentally "take out" luck with it.;
- talking loudly and arguing — the day requires silence and benevolence.
What is the church holiday on October 16?
On October 16, the Orthodox Church honors the memory of the Holy Martyr Dionysius the Areopagite, an early Christian thinker and author of many theological works known in science as "Areopagitics." Dionysius was born at the beginning of the 1st century in Greece. Due to his excellent education, he took a position in the Supreme Court of Athens — the Areopagus, which is why he got his nickname. He heard about the Savior from the Apostle Paul and was Paul's closest associate for three years, after which Paul appointed him bishop of Athens.
After the death of his mentor, Dionysius preached in Western countries, including Gaul (modern France). There he was captured and imprisoned. Despite torture and interrogation, the saint refused to renounce his faith, for which he was sentenced to death by beheading. According to legend, after the execution, Dionysius walked for some time with his head in his hands, going to the Christian temple, and only there he fell dead.
On the same date, the feast of the Trubchev Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos is celebrated, a miraculous image that was painted in 1765 by Monk Euthymius from the Naberezhnye Chelny monastery of the Trubchev district of the Orel province. The icon got its name from the name of this area. Then she was kept in the Narovchatsky Trinity-Scan Convent of the Penza diocese.
It is known from the chronicles of the monastery that the holy image saved the inhabitants of the city from the cholera epidemic that raged here in the XVIII century. Later, a church was built at the monastery in honor of the icon, which was consecrated on October 16 (October 3, old style). It was on this day that the celebration was established.
Prayers on October 16
Believers turn to Dionysius the Areopagite with requests for the gift of wisdom, protection from delusion, spiritual enlightenment and enlightenment, as well as for help in clarifying the complex truths of Orthodoxy. In front of the Trubchev icon of the Mother of God, they pray for the well-being of relatives and friends, peace in the family, conception and birth of children, deliverance from misfortunes and addictions. It is believed that on a holiday the power of prayer increases many times.
Prayer to Dionysius the Areopagite
Troparion, glas 4
"Having learned goodness, and being sober in all, you have been clothed with a good conscience, a priestly one, you have received an ineffable gift from a chosen vessel, and you have kept faith, you have completed an equal course, Holy Martyr Dionysius, pray to Christ God, that our souls may be saved."
Kontakion, glas 8
"Having passed through the gates of heaven in the spirit, as a disciple of the third heaven, who reached the apostle, Dionysius, thou art enriched with all understanding of the ineffable, and hast enlightened those who sit in the darkness of ignorance. Moreover, we call: Hail, universal Father."
Prayer in front of the Trubchevskaya icon
"O Most Pure Lady, Intercessor of peace, Mother of All Saints! Look mercifully upon Your people who stand before Your miraculous icon with fear, faith and love. Listen to the painful sighing of our souls, and look down upon us from your holy height. For we are immersed in sins and overwhelmed by sorrows, looking at Your honest image, for You are alive with us, and we offer humble supplications from the depths of our believing hearts to you, O Lady. We pray to You fervently: do not turn Your face away from those who run to You, be a protector and Intercessor for us sinners before God, and His righteous wrath for our iniquities, moved against us, will soon soften and turn away. <...> Understand and teach us to walk without blemish along the path of this earthly life, put the spirit into our hearts the fear of God, the spirit of piety, the spirit of meekness, humility, patience, and forgetfulness, soften our evil hearts, send down zeal for our souls and for the salvation of our neighbors. Grant to all of us who pray to You a Christian end to our lives and a kind answer at the last judgment seat of Christ. For we entrust our lives to Your providence, so that we may always fervently sing to You with all the saints: hail, full of grace, hail, overjoyed, hail, most blessed, hail, most glorified forever. Amen to that."
Earlier, Izvestia told what they pray to Blessed Andrew of Constantinople.
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