A significant holiday on November 26 is St. John Chrysostom Day: the exact signs of the national holiday

On November 26, according to the new style, Orthodox Christians honor the memory of St. John Chrysostom, the great defender of the poor and a wise preacher. This day is filled not only with liturgical solemnity, but also with a rich folk tradition, including many weather and household signs that helped our ancestors navigate nature and prepare for winter. Izvestia tells us what rituals are associated with this day.

The Story of St. John Chrysostom

St. John Chrysostom is one of the three great Ecumenical teachers of the Church, known for his eloquence and deep theological heritage. He was born around 347 in Antioch in the family of a military commander. Having lost his father early, his mother took care of his upbringing, who guided her son to the path of piety. In his youth, John studied with the best philosophers and rhetoricians, including Libanius, but soon chose a spiritual life, serving in the church first as a reader, then as a presbyter — priest.

After becoming Archbishop of Constantinople in 398, he became famous as an outstanding preacher and defender of the poor and oppressed. For his directness and boldness in condemning the vices of the nobility, he was persecuted, exiled, and died in exile in 407. His nickname Chrysostom ("the golden-eloquent") emphasizes the gift of eloquence, thanks to which he left a huge literary and spiritual legacy, including the famous Liturgy of John Chrysostom, which is used in Orthodox worship to this day.

Folk signs for St. John Chrysostom on November 26

In the national calendar, St. John Chrysostom's Day is considered an important boundary between autumn and winter, when nature begins to freeze. On this day, our ancestors tried to complete all agricultural work, as it was believed that after November 26, the real winter began.

Weather signs of this day help to understand what the coming winter will be like. If the coals in the stove are smoldering brightly, a cold period is expected. The cawing of crows foreshadowed a thaw, and a clear starry sky with a brightly visible Milky Way — future frosts. Folk observations, preserved for centuries, served as a practical guide in preparing for the winter season.

Dumplings, which were widely cooked on this day, were a symbol of prosperity, warmth and family unity. The more you stick them on and eat with your loved ones, the more successful and happier the next year will be. That is why making dumplings has become a family ritual that unites generations and brings joy.

How is John Chrysostom Day celebrated?

On the morning of November 26, believers went to church for service, read prayers and the akathist to the saint, asking him for his blessing and help. Upon their return, the household gathered at the table, where the dumplings occupied a central place. This family ritual strengthened family bonds and brought joy to the home.

In addition to cooking, household signs required taking laundry outside for airing in order to banish diseases and negativity. It was also forbidden to quarrel and gossip, as it was believed that such manifestations of negativity could destroy peace and well-being in the family.

St. John Chrysostom's Day was the time when the real winter season began, and folk signs helped to understand what the weather would be like, how severe the winter would be.