A special national holiday on December 3 is Proclus Day: history, traditions, omens
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- A special national holiday on December 3 is Proclus Day: history, traditions, omens
The third day of winter in Russia has always had a special, almost mystical status. It was considered an important frontier when winter finally came into its own, and was dedicated to the exorcism of evil spirits. It was popularly known as Proclus Day, in honor of St. Proclus, Archbishop of Constantinople, whose name was consonant with the word "curse." In 2025, the celebration falls on a Wednesday. Izvestia tells about the traditions, signs and prohibitions of this day.
What is the church holiday on December 3rd?
Saint Proclus lived in the 5th century and served as archbishop of Constantinople. He was a disciple of John Chrysostom, from whom he acquired a deep knowledge of the Holy Scriptures and a brilliant command of oratory.
The patriarchate of Proclus fell on a difficult period. According to his life, during the years of his ministry, Constantinople and its surroundings were struck by a powerful earthquake that destroyed many cities. To put an end to the calamity, the saint gathered the faithful for a penitential prayer service.
A miraculous event happened during prayer. An invisible force lifted a boy who was among the worshippers into heaven, and then safely returned him to earth. The young man said that he had heard the voices of angels above and had conveyed the words he had heard to Proclus. He voiced them during the prayer service, after which the earthquake stopped.
These words sounded like this: "Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us." Later, they formed the basis of the prayer known as the "Trisagion", which became firmly established in Christian worship.
Saint Proclus peacefully departed to the Lord around the year 447, going down in the history of the church as a zealous defender of the Orthodox faith and organizer of church deanery.
Traditions of the national holiday Proclus Day on December 3rd
In Russia, the memory of Saint Proclus merged with ancient rituals aimed at protecting against evil forces. The consonance of the saint's name with the word "curse" played a key role here. In the popular consciousness, this gave rise to a unique tradition of exorcising and cursing evil spirits.
It was believed that with the onset of frost, evil spirits hide underground, in ravines and voids to wait out the cold. In order for the evil spirits not to come out and harm people, they had to be "cursed", that is, neutralized with a word.
To do this, they pronounced special spells-curses, and also performed a ritual "sealing" the dwellings. Cracks in windows, doors and chimneys were crossed, thus closing loopholes for the entry of evil spirits. The housewives lit lamps and candles in the house, believing that this ritual would ward off evil and purify the energy of the house.
Other Proklov Day traditions were related to the road. Usually, by the beginning of December, dirt roads were frozen and covered with stable snow, which marked the opening of the toboggan run and the resumption of road traffic, which had almost stopped in the autumn mud. The people talked about it.: "Before Proclus, don't expect anything from the road."
The day was favorable for planning future trips and prayerful guidance for those who were going on a long journey. Our ancestors turned to Saint Proclus, asking him to send good luck and prosperity to all travelers.
What not to do on December 3 on Proclus Day
As with other national holidays, there were a number of prohibitions on Proclus Day. Their violation, according to beliefs, could lead to various troubles and misfortunes. They were especially afraid of actions that could attract the attention of evil spirits. In this regard, it was forbidden to talk loudly, make noise and show any negativity. It was also not recommended to go outside unnecessarily, since frosts on this day were considered especially "evil" and insidious.
What else can not be done:
- arrange noisy feasts and festivities — they can turn into trouble.;
- neglect the sanctification and protection of the house — evil spirits could enter the dwelling.;
- starting arguments and conflicts — any discord can ruin a relationship for a long time.;
- to commit impulsive acts promises a series of minor failures.;
- Going to bed late is believed to be doomed to nightmares if you stay awake after midnight.
Folk signs for December 3rd
Nature observations were an important part of Proclus Day. Weather signs were considered extremely important, as they were used to judge not only the upcoming winter, but also the future harvest. For example, if it snowed from morning to noon, it predicted an early warming. And the logs crackling in the stove were a sure sign of the coming frosts.
Other signs of the day:
Clouds float against the wind, towards the snowfall;
bullfinch sings loudly at the house — for a snowstorm;
the magpie is hiding under the roofs — wait for a strong blizzard;
clear starry sky — for a frosty day;
hoarfrost on the trees — for a good grain harvest next year.
Earlier, Izvestia was told about the national holiday by Platon and Roman Zimokazatel.
All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
