The Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos: mystical signs and secrets of the autumn holiday

On October 14, the Orthodox calendar celebrates the Feast of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos, one of the most significant church celebrations of autumn. This day combines deep religious traditions, folk customs and omens related to the weather and agriculture. Mystical and weather folk signs, as well as customs related to October 14, are described in the Izvestia article.

Historical and religious significance of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos

The Feast of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary was established in memory of the miraculous appearance of the Virgin Mary in the Blachernae Church of Constantinople in the 10th century. According to legend, during the siege of the city, the Most Holy Theotokos appeared to the worshippers, spread her veil over the city, thereby protecting it from enemies.

Today, the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos is a day when spiritual traditions and folk customs combine, when people turn to the Most Holy Theotokos with prayers for protection and well—being, and also follow signs and customs to meet winter prepared and with peace of mind.

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Folk signs and beliefs

On October 14, on the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos, there are many folk signs related to the weather that help predict what winter will be like. If snow falls on this day, it is considered a harbinger of a harsh and snowy winter. On the contrary, the rain in the Cover is a sign that the winter will be wet and snowless. Sunny weather on this day, on the contrary, foreshadows a long and warm autumn, and thunder indicates a short and snowless winter.

In addition, wind direction also plays an important role in predictions. A north or east wind indicates a cold winter, while a south wind indicates a mild and snowy winter. Variable winds, in turn, predict a changeable winter.

It is noteworthy that the people also paid attention to the behavior of animals and birds. If the cranes have flown away, it portends an early and cold winter. And if the leaves from the trees have completely flown off, you can expect a light and snowy winter. A fully faded squirrel also symbolizes snowfall during the winter months. All these signs, passed down from generation to generation, help people prepare for the cold weather and correctly interpret changes in nature.

Traditions and customs

With the Cover, the peasants completed all agricultural work and began preparing for winter. On this day, it was customary to insulate houses and check food supplies in order to face the cold months fully armed. They also paid special attention to heating: they heated the stoves with branches of fruit trees so that the house would be warm all winter. Religious ceremonies were also held — houses and clothes were consecrated, bringing shawls, shawls and baby blankets to the temple, which were also consecrated to protect them from the cold.

The veil was also considered the beginning of the wedding season. On this day, the girls prayed for marriage, putting candles in the church, and the young men wooed the brides, confident that the wedding, played on the Veil, would be happy. There was a belief that the one who would be the first to light a candle in the temple would get married faster.

Generosity and hospitality on this day were integral parts of the celebration. They prepared a festive dinner, baked pies, buns and pancakes, invited guests and treated them, believing that this would bring prosperity to the house. At the same time, when setting the table, they put a bowl of milk behind the stove to appease the brownie and ensure family well-being in the coming winter season.

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Bans on Covering

There were certain prohibitions on Protection, the observance of which was considered necessary to preserve the well-being and protection of the house. On this day, they did not work at home, did not do cleaning, laundry or other household chores, so as not to disturb the peace and protective spirit of the holiday. It was also forbidden to swear, swear or quarrel, as this was considered a violation of harmony and well-being in the family.

It was not allowed to lend or borrow money, as well as to start new businesses or make promises that could not be fulfilled, as this could affect luck in the future. It was also not recommended to go on long-distance trips, so as not to violate the protective cover. In addition, it was impossible to do needlework with a needle, so as not to "pierce" the protection itself, which, according to legend, protects the house and its inhabitants from harm.