Folk signs for July 7: 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 July 7 and what church holidays are celebrated on this day.
Folk signs for July 7th
In Russia, on July 7, Ivan Kupala Day was celebrated — one of the most revered and mysterious holidays of the Eastern Slavs. This celebration is based on ancient pagan beliefs associated with the summer solstice, the flowering of nature and the worship of fire and water. With the advent of Christianity, the holiday was timed to coincide with the Nativity of John the Baptist, but it retained many pre-Christian rituals and beliefs.
In the imagination of our ancestors, at this time nature reached its highest power, and herbs and water acquired special properties. It was believed that it was on Kupala night that secret knowledge was revealed and a person's connection with the outside world was strengthened.
In the old days, many magical rituals were performed on Ivan Kupala, the main of which were considered purification by fire and water. On this day, they swam in rivers and lakes, and also lit bonfires, over which they jumped in pairs and alone. Special attention was paid to the search for a flowering fern — according to legend, whoever finds it on Kupala night will gain the ability to understand the language of animals and predict the future.
Special attention was paid to weather signs. The ancestors closely monitored the weather on this day, as it was considered a harbinger of the harvest and the weather for the coming months. If it rained on Ivan Kupala, it promised a bountiful harvest of mushrooms, and if there were many stars in the sky at night, then autumn promised to be warm and dry.
Other signs of the day:
- heavy dew in the morning leads to a rich harvest;
- a quiet night without wind leads to steady heat;
- a lot of stars on the night of Kupala leads to an abundance of mushrooms;
- lots of fireflies in the grass — by the dry August;
- the abundance of berries in the forest leads to a cold and snowy winter.
What not to do on July 7th
On the day of Ivan Kupala, there were certain prohibitions and superstitions. People believed that breaking these rules could cause misfortune for the whole year. For example, it was believed that one should not sleep on Kupala night, since it is at this time that all evil spirits are activated — mermaids, water goblins and witches. They also avoided solitary walks in the forest, especially at night, so as not to "get lost" under the influence of evil spirits.
What else can not be done on July 7:
- ignoring purification rites leads to diseases;
- swimming in unfamiliar bodies of water is dangerous;
- picking up things and money on the road — they may be damaged;
- fighting and swearing can attract evil spirits into the house.
What is the church holiday on July 7th?
The Orthodox Church celebrates the Nativity of John the Baptist on July 7. The Prophet was born into the family of the righteous Zachariah and Elizabeth. His birth is considered miraculous because his parents were at an advanced age. One day, during the service in the Jerusalem temple of Zachariah, the Archangel Gabriel appeared and announced that he would have a son who would be a great prophet and Forerunner of the Lord. Zachariah questioned why he was being punished by dumbness until the fulfillment of the prophecy.
At the angel's command, the baby was named John. From an early age, he devoted himself to the service of God. He led a strict ascetic life in the desert, preparing himself for the great ministry of preaching repentance and the baptism of the Lord Jesus Christ in the waters of the Jordan.
On the same day, the church honors the memory of St. Anthony of Dymsky. He lived in the 13th century and was a pupil of Varlaam Khutynsky. The saint was born in Novgorod around 1157 and from a young age aspired to monastic achievement. He took vows at the Khutyn monastery, and then became abbot of the monastery. He also founded a monastery on the shores of Lake Dymsky — now the Antonievo-Dymsky Monastery — which is considered one of the oldest monasteries in Northern Russia.
Prayers on July 7th
Believers pray to John the Baptist for repentance, spiritual purification and strengthening of faith. He is asked for help in overcoming sinful habits and finding inner balance. They pray to St. Anthony of Dyma for patience, humility and protection from life's difficulties. They also turn to the saints for healing and support in difficult situations. It is believed that sincere prayer on this day is especially powerful.
Prayer to John the Baptist
"Holy John, the Forerunner and Baptist of Christ! O preacher of repentance, do not despise us who repent, but pray to the Lord Christ for us, unworthy servants, despondent, weak, and fallen into many sins. We fear death, but we fear none of our sins, and we will not worry about the Kingdom of Heaven: but do not despise us, the Baptist of Christ, the honest Forerunner, the pain of all who were born, the mentor of fasting and the hermit, the teacher of purity and the neighbor of the friend of Christ. We beseech you, we run to you: do not reject us who ask for your intercession, renew our souls with repentance, which is the second baptism: through your intercession before the Lord, ask for the cleansing of our sins. An unworthy mouth cries out to you, and a humble soul prays, a contrite heart sighs from the depths: stretch out your most pure right hand and protect us from enemies visible and invisible. By God, Jesus Christ! Through the prayers of St. John the Baptist, and more than Your Most Pure Mother, our Lady Theotokos, save us, Your sinful servants, who repent of our sins. For You are the God of penitents, and in You, the Savior, we place our hope, glorifying Your Most Holy name, with Your Beginningless Father, and with Your Most Holy, Good, and Life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen to that."
Prayer to Anthony of Dym
"O good shepherd, our teacher and mentor, and the head of the holy monastery of the Smoke, Reverend Father Anthony! We pray to you fervently. As you have boldness towards the Lord Christ and His Most Pure Mother, be an intercessor and a warm prayer book for us unworthy ones who flow to you with faith, protecting us from all troubles and misfortunes, so that through your prayers and intercession we may remain unharmed from our enemies, visible and invisible. Pray to His mercy to save us from our sins, which are the news of our fates. Pray for His goodness, that He may graciously grant us and the whole world what we need. Pray to Him Who gives peace to all: grant peace to the Churches, gathering those who are lavished into one, preserve our country in peace and quiet, and grant good and serene days everywhere to everyone who is faithful at home and on the way, to pacify our lives, and have mercy on us who come here and for the blessed wine of our departed father and brothers, and the whole world, And to save our souls, that we may glorify, praise, sing, and magnify the most honorable and magnificent name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen to that."
Earlier, Izvestia reported on the folk and church traditions of the Ulyanovsk Day holiday.
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