Every year on November 24, the Orthodox celebrate the day of memory of the Monk Fyodor the Studite. According to Christian beliefs, the earth is getting colder since November 24, and winter winds arrive. People say – Fedor came to freeze the earth. Hence the name of the holiday, translated as 'cold'.
According to the old style, on November 24 (December 7 according to the Gregorian calendar), the Orthodox celebrate the day of the great martyr Catherine Sannitsa. Folk festivities with sledding are organized in towns and villages.
It is believed that what day turned out to be for Ekaterina Sannitsa and Fyodor Studit, this will be the same winter. Therefore, each peasant tries to stock up on food in advance, harvest the crops and put the farm in order in order to participate in general festivities and the opening of a sled road.
Customs
Feodor Studit's holiday opened sledges, after which peasants went to the markets to sell their crops.
Traditionally, a Sannitsa doll is made on Fyodor Studit and put on a sleigh downhill. It is believed that she should be the first to open a safe path for merchants. Moreover, people noticed if the doll drove far – to be a good harvest, if it fell – a good purchase of canvases.
In Russia, on November 24, folk festivals are held, young people ride on sleds, and in the evening the girls guess at their betrothed. To find out whether it will be narrowed or not, you need to count the cloves of one head of garlic on November 24. If it's an even number – there will be a wedding next year, if not – a year in girls.
On Fedor Studit and Ekaterina Sannitsa, unmarried girls go to bed and call their betrothed. For this, a glass of water and a piece of bread are taken, placed at the head of the bed with the words – 'The betrothed-mummer, come, give me some water to drink and feed me'. It is believed that a future spouse should appear in a dream.
By the 24th, people are trying to complete all field work. If you do not have time to harvest the crop in time, the next year will be bad.
On November 24, there is a custom – you cannot get married or get married, otherwise the marriage will be unhappy.
After Fyodor Studit, people do not walk in the forest. Birds hide for the winter, while wolves hunt. Therefore, people try not to plan long journeys unnecessarily, so as not to get lost in the forest and not get caught by predators.
In order for Fedorov's omens to come true, in every house it is necessary to brew hot tea with wild berries – strawberries or blueberries. At the same time, cabbage soup is also boiled, and it is believed that the more cabbage soup you eat, the warmer the winter months will be.
Another custom is associated with the celebration of the winter Fedor the Studite. The Orthodox believed that it was on this day that it was imperative to get rid of unnecessary things, especially to throw cracked dishes out of the house, otherwise you would be in poverty all year.
Signs
According to popular beliefs, on the night of November 24, if there are many stars in the sky, there will be a large harvest of berries and mushrooms next year.
The signs of the day of Fedor Studit and Ekaterina Sannitsa include:
- if it is damp or snowing on November 24, wait for a thaw on Introduction (December 4);
- The warm day is getting cold – it welcomes the winter;
- rain on Studita – there will be no frost until December;
- the geese went out to the ice – a warm day on Christmas;
- It's warm on Fyodor – soon the thaw is in the yard.
On November 24, peasants observe the weather for the winter. If the weather is warm, then it is necessary to wait for a quick warming and early spring, if it is cold, it will be a cold winter.
A baby born on November 24 will have a cool temper. Its talisman is citrine stone – it increases the wearer's self-esteem, gives him confidence and stimulates creativity.
Herbs harvested on November 24
For November 24, herbalists harvest medicinal herbs. The peculiarity of the collection of herbs in November is due to the concentration in them of the greatest amount of substances useful to humans.
- Treelike aloe (agave). Heals constipation, purulent wounds, gastrointestinal diseases.
- Alder gray (spruce). It is used for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and articular pathologies.
- Common spruce (European). Useful for inflammation of the upper respiratory tract, cough and rheumatism.
- White mistletoe (oak berry, bird glue). It is used for bleeding and hypertension.
So, November 24 is the day when a general holiday of seeing off autumn and meeting winter was established in cities and villages, after which winter driving begins. The peasants attached special importance to it – the day marked the end of field work, and according to his signs, they planned sowing for the next spring.
