The eleventh day of November is considered to be the professional holiday of the shepherds. On this day, the grazing of sheep ended, and the shearing of the livestock began. On this occasion, mass festivities were organized – people honored the shepherds, thanked for the saved flock. It was believed that in this way, one could appease the spirits guarding the sheep, and inspire the shepherds to better fulfill their duties for the next year.
People's omens for November 11 tell them to go to church, light candles and ask for the preservation of livestock, protection of the cattle sheds and shepherds from fires and damage. On this date, the Orthodox Church venerates two saints Abramius of Rostov and Anastasia the Sheep – they are both faithful Christians.
Anastasia is recognized as the patroness of sheep. She is popularly believed to take care of sheep, shepherds and those who make various things from sheep's wool. Abraham is the defender of the sheep, the owner of a rod with a cross and the founder of the church of St. John the Theologian. Purposefully, in front of the icons of Saints Abraham and Anastasia, the peasants put candles on November 11, they were asked to protect the livestock and give good luck to the sheep.
What awaits you in the near future
Many beliefs are associated with the eleventh day of November:
- It is believed that shepherds are born on this day. That is, a person born on November 11 will understand the language of animals, become the owner of all the qualities necessary for a shepherd, such as attentiveness, endurance, conscientiousness and others;
- A person born on November 11 will certainly be a long-liver;
- On this day, wild animals do not touch domestic animals;
- If wolves are seen in the fields, this is a prediction of impending disasters of a large scale (war, hunger, and the like);
- To spend this day in an unfamiliar noisy company – to become a participant in a major quarrel;
- If you leave the child alone on this day, trouble is inevitable.
The wind was noticed on November 11. Old-timers on this day make a weather forecast for the near future and several months ahead.
Signs for November 11 about the weather:
- It is sleet or raining – warming is expected on November 21;
- The low position of the clouds predicts a cooling;
- Cooing pigeons – for good weather;
- If frost covered the ground at night, there will be no snowfall during the day.
Customs
On this day, they began to shear sheep in the northern regions, and in the southern regions they finished shearing.
The women cooked a delicious dinner, baked pies from good flour and treated the shepherd. They believed that such an offering would provide them with a special attitude of a shepherd who would better protect the flock, therefore, next year, his sheep would be safe and sound under vigilant supervision.
Other customs:
- To appease the spirits, a piece of fleece was inserted into the scissors before touching the fur on the animal;
- We went to church, lit candles near the icon of Anastasia, prayed for health, asked to protect the cattle;
- They walked around the pastures with the faces of Saints Abramius and Anastasia, read prayers and conspiracies, left icons in the fields. This was to protect the sheep from animals and diseases, to ensure a good offspring;
- Anastasia's day was spent with her family. It was believed that this way the relatives would become strong, friendly and healthy;
- The girls wore coral beads. This helped to meet a good groom and find happiness;
- If you hang such beads at home in a conspicuous place, this amulet will protect your home from evil spirits.
According to legend, the goblin spoils the livestock, feeds it to wild animals, but he can also help the shepherd, guard the herd. The shepherd negotiated with the devil not to touch the cattle, promising in return not to pick berries, not to ravage anthills, not to destroy the life of forest dwellers. The lord of the beasts, in gratitude, could give the shepherd a magic item or give an assistant.
