Folk signs for January 29: 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, January 29, and what church holidays are celebrated on this day.

Folk signs for January 29

In Russia, Peter's Day, or Peter the Half-fat, was celebrated on January 29. During the holiday, special attention was paid to the counting of hay, straw, oats, as well as grain and flour for the family. It was believed that by Peter's Day, exactly half of the reserves should be used up. Well-being depended on this balance until the very end of winter. Hence the name "half-feed".

In the old days, the day began with prayer, after which the whole family went on a thorough audit of the household. The owners went around the barns and barns, looked into the bins, felt the haystacks, assessed the fullness of feeders and barrels of grain. The housewives counted the stocks of rye flour, which was the basis of nutrition.

The day also featured special care for pets. Our ancestors believed that good care of cattle on Peter's Day would ensure healthy offspring and plentiful milk yields in summer. The animals were given fresh bedding, the best food, and checked for drafts in the stables.

Peter the Half-feed was also an important day for weather observations. They were used to make forecasts for the upcoming spring and summer. If there was a severe frost on Peter, then a hot, dry summer was expected. A blizzard and blizzard on this day foreshadowed a prolonged, rainy and cold spring.

Other signs of the day:

• the north wind leads to severe frosts soon;
• chickens huddled together — to increase the cold;
• clear and sunny skies — for a warm and fruitful summer;
• heavy snowfall leads to a lot of grass in summer and good fish biting.

What not to do on January 29th

Like other days, the holiday was associated with a number of prohibitions. For example, it was strictly forbidden to quarrel and get angry, as this could lead to a long-term disorder in the house. It was also not recommended to frivolously waste or throw away food, especially bread, and to offend animals so as not to cause hunger and hardship.

Miracles and help of Nil Stolobensky: what do legends and tradition say about it

What else can't be done on January 29th:

• Holding a grudge against loved ones can lead to illness.;
• plan important meetings — they will go to no avail;
• Going on a long journey can cause trouble along the way.;
• For unmarried girls to wear black clothes is to attract loneliness.

What is the church holiday on January 29th?

According to the church calendar, January 29 (January 16 in the old style) is the Day of worship of the honest chains of the Apostle Peter. The history of the holiday dates back to the event of the 1st century, when Peter was imprisoned by order of Tsar Herod Agrippa for preaching about Christ. He was chained in iron chains.

According to legend, on the night before the trial, an Angel of the Lord appeared in prison, the fetters miraculously fell from Peter's hands, and he was released unhindered. The chains were preserved by the first Christians as a great shrine, symbolizing the victory of faith over fear and the hope of liberation through the prayers of the apostle. Later, their particles were transferred to Constantinople and Rome.

On the same day, the Russian Orthodox Church honors the memory of the righteous Maxim of Totem, who lived in the Vologda region in the first half of the 17th century. As a priest in the city of Totma, for 45 years he carried out the feat of foolishness for Christ's sake: he spent his life in prayer, strict fasting and complete disregard for bodily comfort. Even during his lifetime, the townspeople revered him for a holy life.

The righteous Maxim died in old age on January 16, 1650 and was buried at the Church of the Resurrection. After his death, he became famous for numerous miracles related to cures from serious illnesses, including fever and mental ailments. His memory is celebrated twice a year: in winter, on the day of his death, and in summer, at the Cathedral of the Vologda Saints.

Who does St. Nicholas the Wonderworker help and in what cases do they turn to him?

Prayers on January 29th

The Apostle Peter is asked to grant spiritual freedom, strengthen faith, and have the courage to defend his beliefs. They often pray to him for the release of those who are in custody, captivity, as well as for help in situations where a person feels constrained by circumstances. Maxim Totemsky is asked to heal diseases, get rid of various adversities and everyday needs.

Prayer to the Apostle Peter

"O Saint Peter, great apostle, self-seer and fellow-servant of God, through the all-powerful right hand of your Teacher, rise pleasantly from the troubled waters and be free from the final drowning! Do not forget us poor (names), mired in the mire of sin and overwhelmed by the waves of the sea of life: give us your strong hand, help us and keep us from drowning in passions, lusts, lies and slander. Grant us the mercy shown to you from the Lord, so that we may not bend in doubt and lack of faith. Teach us, our teacher, to shed tears of repentance, so that we may weep bitterly for our deeds in this world. And if your tears, poured out in repentance, have covered your Lord and Teacher with Your mercy, ask us, with apostolic boldness, for forgiveness for our hourly sins. May we live a quiet and silent life in this place until the hour when the Lord, our impartial Judge, calls us to the ages. But you, O all-laudable apostle, do not reject our crying and groaning to you, but intercede for us before Christ, your Teacher, so that we may unceasingly glorify His mercy towards us, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen to that."

Prayer to Maxim Totemsky

"O Most blessed and venerable servant of God, Maxim the Righteous! Having received the grace of the Holy Spirit, you first served the immaculate priesthood of the Most Holy Trinity, standing before the Throne of God and offering Bloodless Sacrifices for people. When you were possessed by an extreme desire for the Lord, you chose the foolish life of Christ for Christ's sake, rejected worldly delights, clothed yourself with bodily nakedness, like a scarlet robe, endured the heat of the sun and great darkness with love, struggled in the city of Darkness, and for this you inherited the Heavenly Palace in the villages of the righteous. But because you have boldness towards Christ God, pour out warm prayers for us, O holy one of God, so that we may be delivered from every need and every resisting evil. Do not cease to pray to the Word, Christ our God, for hail and people, that they may be preserved intact from plague and pestilence, fire and sword, and from the invasion of enemies. Send down from heaven, O holy head, to the most blessed Maxim, upon us, who fervently flow to you and lovingly kiss your holy image, peace, grace and salvation to our souls, so that we, along with all the saints, may be heirs of the Heavenly Kingdom, praising together the Holy Trinity, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now, and always, and forever and ever. Amen to that."

Earlier, Izvestia told what they pray to St. John Chrysostom.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.