Folk signs for December 17: 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 Wednesday, December 17th, and which church holidays are celebrated on this day.

Folk signs for December 17th

In Russia, December 17 was celebrated Barbarian Day, also known as Barbarian Frost or Varvara Winter. The holiday marked the beginning of severe frosts and was part of a single cycle of celebrations along with Savin and Nikolin days. The people talked about it.: "Varvara is paving, Savva is sharpening nails, and Nikola is nailing," indicating a gradual increase in the cold.

Traditionally, houses were put in order on Varvara, winter supplies were checked in cellars and barns. The women baked pies and special biscuits with poppies, which were called "jam" in honor of St. Barbara. Young girls performed fortune-telling on their betrothed. To do this, cut cherry branches were placed in the water. It was believed that if the branch blossomed by Christmas, then there would be a wedding in the new year.

Folk signs of this day were associated with the weather and the future harvest. Our ancestors believed that it was from Varvara that winter finally came into its own, and the weather could tell a lot about the future. For example, a clear and frosty day foreshadowed a warm summer, and a strong wind promised prolonged snowfall.

Other signs of the day:

• Red sunset — the next day will be clear;
• Clouds are moving low, leading to increased frosts;
• dim stars in the night sky — for a thaw;
• A cat sleeps with its paw over its nose, ready for frost;
• There is abundant frost on the trees, leading to a rich grain harvest.

What not to do on December 17th

Barbarian Day, being the beginning of the festive winter cycle, was surrounded by a number of strict prohibitions. Our ancestors believed that violating these rules could lead to illness or bad luck. Quarrels and profanity, which could bring discord into the house, were especially condemned. Men were strictly forbidden to raise their voices at women, so as not to incur the wrath of the patron saint of the day. They also tried not to plan long-distance trips, considering the road to be unfavorable on that day.

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What else can't be done on December 17th:

• Holding a grudge against loved ones can lead to illness.;
• plan important meetings — they will go to no avail;
• Bragging about success and wealth is believed to attract the attention of evil forces that will take away good luck.;
• to refuse to help those in need — indifference will turn into personal difficulties.;
• women should complain about fate or conflict with their mother—in-law in order not to spoil the relationship.

What is the church holiday on December 17th?

On December 17 (December 4, Old Style), the Orthodox Church commemorates two outstanding saints: the Great Martyr Barbara of Iliopolis, who is revered not only by Orthodox Christians but also by Catholics, believers of the Armenian, Anglican and Coptic Churches, and St. John of Damascus, who went down in history as an outstanding theologian, philosopher and defender of icon worship.

Saint Barbara lived in the late III – early IV centuries in the city of Iliopolis (on the territory of modern Lebanon). Born into a noble pagan family, she had been thinking about the one Creator of the world since her youth. Fearing the influence of Christians, the father imprisoned the girl in a tower, but the solitude only strengthened her in her search for truth.

Having been given the opportunity to leave the tower, Varvara was secretly baptized. Upon learning of this, her pagan father brutally tortured her daughter and then executed her with his own hands. According to legend, both the father and the ruler of the city, who allowed the girl to be tortured, were soon incinerated by a lightning strike.

St. John was born in the 7th century in Damascus. He came from a noble Christian family that held a high position at court. However, the saint preferred monastic tonsure to worldly life. During the period of iconoclasm, he wrote his famous works, "Three Defensive Words" and "An Accurate Exposition of the Orthodox Faith," which became the theological basis of Orthodox teaching.

Thanks to him, the famous icon "Troeruchitsa" appeared. According to legend, after John was slandered and sentenced to have his right hand cut off, he applied the limb to the wound and prayed fervently to the Mother of God. Then he dozed off, and when he woke up, his arm was intact. In gratitude for the healing, John made a silver hand and attached it to the icon. And so the revered image appeared.

The most powerful prayer to Saint Barbara: text and meaning

Prayers on December 17th

Saint Barbara is revered as a protector against sudden and violent death. In Russia, she is revered as the patroness of miners and military personnel of the Strategic Missile Forces. She is asked for intercession during thunderstorms, fires and for help in dangerous situations. St. John of Damascus is asked for help with hand diseases, as well as for the gift of wisdom and confirmation in Orthodox teaching.

Prayer to Varvara of Iliopolis

"Holy Great Martyr of Christ, Barbara! Pray with us and for us, the servants of God (names), we beseech God from His mercy, that He may graciously hear us who ask for His mercy, and grant us all the necessary petitions for salvation and life, and grant us a Christian end to our lives, painless, shameless, peaceful and partaking of the Divine Mysteries, and by grace Through God's and your warm intercession, always abiding in health, body and soul, we glorify the wondrous God of Israel in His saints, who does not withdraw His help from us, always, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen to that."

Prayer to John of Damascus

"O holy head, Venerable Father, most Blessed Abba John, do not forget your poor to the end, but always remember us in holy and auspicious prayers to God: remember your flock, which you have saved yourself, and do not forget to visit your children and pray for us. <...> Remember us unworthy at the Throne of the Almighty, and do not stop praying for us to Christ God. <...> Do not depart from us in spirit, keeping us from the arrows of the enemy and all the charms of demons and the machinations of the devil, our good shepherd. <...> We bow down to you and pray to you: pray for us to Almighty God, for the benefit of our souls, and grant us time May we pass from earth to heaven unchallenged, may we be delivered from bitter ordeals, demons of the air, and eternal torment, and may we be heiresses of the heavenly kingdom with all the righteous who have pleased our Lord Jesus Christ from time immemorial.: To Him belongs all glory, honor, and worship, together with His Beginningless Father, and with His All-holy, Good, and Life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen to that."

Earlier, Izvestia told what they pray to St. John the Silent.

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