Folk signs for February 21: 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 Saturday, February 21, and what church holidays are celebrated on this day.
Folk signs for February 21
In Russia, February 21 was called Zakhariev Day, or Zakhar Serpovidets. This holiday was closely connected with the preparation for the upcoming spring field work. The main symbol of the day was the sickle, the main tool of the harvest.
The peasants believed that if the sickle was not put in order on February 21, the harvest could be scarce. Therefore, it was carefully examined, cleaned, sharpened and sprinkled with Epiphany water. "If you don't cut a crooked sickle in time, you won't push a sheaf into the field," they said in Russia.
There was a belief that on the night of February 21st, the month had a special "power." The ancestors took out a sickle, which had been kept stuck in the lintel since the New Year, and put it under the moonlight. It was believed that such a rite would make the instrument especially sharp and reliable.
Also on St. John's Day, people closely followed various signs, hoping to find out what spring would be like, for example, a severe frost foreshadowed an early warming.
Other signs of the day:
Thunder — for a rainy summer;
the north wind leads to a prolonged cold snap and a cool spring;
smoke from the chimneys spreads across the ground — to the snowfall.
dogs lie quietly in the snow — to warming; behave restlessly — to a blizzard or a blizzard;
The reddish hue of the moon on the night of February 21 is a sign of an early thaw.
What not to do on February 21
St. John's Day in Russia was considered a date that required special care and inner concentration. There were a number of prohibitions associated with it, the violation of which, according to beliefs, could turn into trouble. On a holiday, they were afraid to remove teeth — it was believed that this would deprive a person of the protection of the family and attract trouble into his life.
What else can not be done on February 21
perform surgical operations — wounds will take a long time to heal;
to be envious — all the negativity will return in double size;
to do wet cleaning — it was possible to "wash" health and prosperity from the house;
girls look in the mirror for a long time — they can "overlook" their beauty and cause skin problems.
What is the church holiday on February 21st?
On February 21, the Orthodox Church honors the memory of the Old Testament prophet Zechariah, one of the 12 minor prophets. Even in his youth, he showed the gift of prophecy. The saint received his nickname Sickle-Seer due to one of the visions in which he saw a flying scroll curved in the air like a sharp sickle. This symbol was interpreted as an image of God's judgment and retribution.
The Book of the Prophet Zechariah, which became part of the Old Testament, contains many important prophecies. He predicted the coming of the Savior, his birth, the solemn entry into Jerusalem on a young donkey, the betrayal for 30 pieces of silver, the eclipse of the sun at the time of the sufferings of the cross, and other key events in the gospel story. The prophecies of Zechariah became an important link between the Old and New Testaments and had a great influence on the development of Christian thought.
Prayers on February 21st
Troparion to the Prophet Zechariah the Sickle-eyed
"O Lord, we celebrate the memory of your Prophet Zachariah, and we beseech You: save our souls."
Kontakion to the Prophet Zachariah the Sickle-eyed
"Enlightened by the spirit of your pure heart, the prophecies of your most illustrious friend were: behold, you are real, far away; for this we honor you, blessed prophet Zachariah the glorious."
Earlier, Izvestia told what they pray to St. Theodosius of Chernigov.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
