Folk signs for February 13: 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 Friday, February 13, and which saints are revered on this day.
Folk signs for February 13
According to the national calendar, Nikita Pozharnik is celebrated on February 13. In the old days, it was believed that fire gained special power on this day. He had to be handled very carefully to avoid a fire. Special rituals were also performed on the holiday to cool the ardor of an unfaithful spouse and save the family from the "fire of passions." Such rituals were popular specifically for Nikita the Fireman, as the day was considered magically powerful for such practices.
Another concern of the peasants was protection from the goblin. There was a belief that on a holiday an evil spirit sits on a horse on the roof and begins to swing on it, sending "bad winds" into the house. To avoid possible troubles, crosses were chalked on the doors and window frames, and an axe was placed under the threshold. These measures, according to beliefs, were supposed to stop evil spirits.
Sometimes, for greater protection, bunches of nettles, wormwood and thistles were laid out in the room. It was believed that the thorns and the bitter smell of these plants served as the best talisman in the cold, when evil spirits were particularly active. They tried not to leave the hut for a long time, so as not to leave the dwelling unattended.
Based on the weather signs of the day, a forecast was made for the coming days. Special importance was attached to the observations of the flame in the furnace on February 13. For example, the scarlet color of the fire in the stove foreshadowed increased frosts, and the whitish flame promised an early thaw. If the firewood burned poorly, smoked and hissed, it also indicated the approach of heat.
Other signs of the day:
- sparrows are fussing, warming their nests — for a cold snap;
- Crows are cawing loudly and restlessly — for a snowstorm;
- thick frost on the branches of trees — for a clear and quiet night;
- birds "bathe" in the snow — for warm but wet weather.
What not to do on February 13th
On Nikita the Firefighter's day, there was a set of strict rules that our ancestors feared to violate more than fire. The main taboo was careless handling of fire. For example, it was forbidden to unnecessarily use kindling and candles. It was believed that sparks from them could lead to a fire. They feared not only a real fire, but also a "spiritual" one — quarrels and squabbles, which, according to beliefs, could lead to a long-term discord and even destroy a family.
What else can not be done on February 13:
- to enter into disputes and start litigation — the case will drag on.;
- to borrow or lend money, it will be difficult to repay the debt.;
- Leaving a house empty can cause evil spirits to enter an empty dwelling.;
- telling bad dreams that you had on the night of February 13th is how you can "release" trouble.;
- drinking alcohol will increase the effect of negative factors.
What is the church holiday on February 13th?
On February 13 (January 31, Old Style), the Orthodox Church honors the memory of St. Nikita, also known as Nikita the Hermit and Nikita of the Caves. The saint was born in Kiev in the 11th century. At a young age, he took vows at the Kiev Caves Monastery and, despite the objections of Abbot Nikon, went into seclusion, wanting to achieve the fastest spiritual perfection.
Here he was sorely tempted. The devil appeared to Nikita in the form of an angel and convinced him to give up prayer, promising to pray for himself. The seduced monk succumbed to temptation and abandoned the reading of the Gospel. Through the prayers of the elders of the Caves, the demon was exorcised, and Nikita himself, deeply repentant, served the Lord with even greater humility and obedience, surpassing many monks in virtue.
In 1096, the Metropolitan of Kiev elevated Nikita to the episcopate and appointed him to the Novgorod see. Thanks to his care, the Church of the Transfiguration of the Savior, the Church of the Annunciation and the wooden Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Antoniev Monastery were built in Novgorod. The saint died in 1108 and was buried in St. Sophia Cathedral in Novgorod.
Nikita was popularly considered a guardian from fire and drought. This is due to the legends about the miraculous salvation of Novgorod from disasters. According to one of them, in 1097, St. Nikita extinguished the fire that destroyed the city with his prayer, and on another occasion he brought down rain during a devastating drought.
On the same day, they remember the holy Martyr Tryphen, who lived in the first century in the Malaysian city of Kizik (now Turkey). She voluntarily gave herself up to suffer for Christ. The martyr was thrown into a red-hot furnace, thrown from a height onto sharp stones, and given to wild animals to eat. But the Lord kept her safe. Finally, she was mauled by an angry bull. According to legend, at the place where her blood was shed, a wonderful spring gushed out, helping to make up for the lack of milk from nursing mothers.
Prayers on February 13th
They pray to St. Nikita for protection from fires, lightning and drought, for the protection of farmers and soldiers. He is also asked for help in the fight against temptations and sinful thoughts. Saint Tryphena prays for perseverance in faith, healing of diseases and problems of breastfeeding. There is no separate akathist or prayer for the martyr, so common prayer texts for this category of saints are used on the holiday.
Prayer to Nikita Pechersky
"O bishop of God, Saint Nikita, hear us, your sinful servants, who have flocked today to this sacred temple, praying to you and flowing to your sacred shrine and crying out with emotion: just as you sat on the throne of your holiness in this Great New City, and with a single rainless rain, you brought down through your prayers and surrounded this city with a fiery flame Through prayer, you have extinguished the flame of fire, and now we beseech you, O Saint Nikita of Christ, to pray to the Lord to deliver this Great City and all Christian cities and countries from cowardice, flood, gladness, fire, hail, sword, and from all enemies, visible and invisible, so that your chosen prayers may be for the sake of salvation We glorify the Most Holy Trinity, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and your merciful intercession, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen to that."
Prayer to Tryphene of Cyzicus
"Oh, the long-suffering and wise martyr of Christ Tryphenos! Now, honoring your holy memory, we fervently seek refuge in you and pray in the tenderness of our hearts. You have loved the sweetest Lord Jesus Christ more than all earthly blessings, and you have faithfully followed Him through all your life, nourishing your soul with divine grace. Ask for the grace that enlightens us, so that we may be overshadowed by it, that we may prosper in faith and piety, in the struggles of chastity and love, and that we may strive unflinchingly to serve Christ in His neighbors. Therefore, pray to our Saviour that He may vouchsafe us to complete our earthly pilgrimage without blemish, and to end our life in peace and repentance, so that we may live on earth, eternal and blessed lives in heaven, and there with you and with all the saints, let us together praise the Consubstantial and Indivisible Trinity, and sing of the One Godhead, the Father and the Son and Of the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen to that."
Earlier, Izvestia told us what they pray for on St. Basil's Day.
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