The Feast of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos celebrated on October 14, has always been especially revered by the people. On this day, it was customary to prepare for winter and note what it would be like. What will the cover signs tell about?
“The cover sees off the autumn and meets the winter” – so they say among the people. This is the time when the agricultural year is over – it’s not for nothing that the people say: “Who is this according to the Protection, you can’t give a cow.” Nature falls asleep, a cold season sets in – our ancestors considered this time to be mystical. Their experience will help us predict the coming winter, protect ourselves from misfortunes, and call for good luck.
Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos – rituals for prosperity and peace in the house
Traditional ceremonies on Pokrov are performed by women – for the family, for the home, for children.
In the old days, on this day, they first stoked the stove, kindling it with branches of fruit trees – for harvest and good luck. Today, from this rite, there remains the custom of lighting an apple branch and fumigating the house, saying:
“Smoke curl, strive for the sky, my desires come true, and wealth in my wallet settle!”
On Pokrov, housewives traditionally “bake corners” from the winter cold and unkind people. It was believed that the brownie falls asleep in Pokrov for the winter, and so that he is full and the house is calm, the hostess divides the first pancake into 4 parts and lays it out in 4 corners of the kitchen. It is customary to treat the rest of the pancakes to friends and neighbors – this is for prosperity and a good winter.
And you can also make a charm of aconite, which must be plucked just before the Intercession. Dig it up along with the root and keep it at home, and the plant will save you from envious people and all evil people who want to harm you.
Fortune telling on the Protection of the Virgin
Although the Orthodox Church does not take divination and superstition very well, nothing is so easily thrown out of folk traditions. Therefore, divination on the Protection of the Virgin had and still has great popularity.
Divination for a future husband
On the eve of the Feast of the Intercession, in order to see your betrothed, you need to say before going to bed:
“Dawn – lightning, red maiden, Mother of the Most Holy Theotokos! Cover my sorrows and illnesses with your veil! Bring me the betrothed mummer.”
And in a dream, this very narrowed one must necessarily appear.
Fortune telling on a candle
First, you need to come to the church early in the morning and put a candle in front of the icon of the Intercession of the Virgin, and then carefully watch how the candle burns.
- A quiet and even flame – a calm and even fate, love without problems and failures;
- white and bright flame – many children, bright life;
- a very bright flame and crackles – an explosive union, you will have to rub against the narrowed one.
Feast of the Intercession of the Virgin – signs of the weather
According to folk signs, “on Pokrov it is autumn before lunch, and winter in the afternoon.” On this day, signs indicate what the coming winter will be like.
- If the wind is north, the winter will be cold and snowy; if the wind is south, it will be warm.
- If snow has covered the ground, expect a frosty and snowy winter for all three months.
- If the day is without snow and rain, the autumn will be protracted: “There is no snow on Pokrov – there will be no on Katra (St. Catherine – December 7).
- If the mountain ash has disfigured well – wait for a frosty winter.
- The trees have completely shed their leaves – winter and next year will be warm; if there are still leaves, the winter will be cold and protracted, and the spring and summer will be cold
- If cranes fly in the sky – wait for early winter.
For the first time, a stove was heated on Pokrov, and it was supposed to use chopped dry branches of fruit trees as firewood: then next year there would be a good harvest. Fruit trees were used to determine what the weather will be like in the coming months.
- If the cherry leaves fall before the Pokrov, the winter will be warm; if the cherry on the Pokrov is still green, expect frost.
- If there is wind on Pokrov, the winter will be changeable, and the spring will be cold and windy.
- If oak and birch completely flew around to Pokrov, the winter will not be severe, but if the leaves remain on them, then severe frosts and winds are ahead.
The Feast of the Intercession was customarily celebrated merrily. It was a reflection of the coming winter: you will be cheerful and cheerful on this day and the long winter will pass unnoticed, without troubles and sorrows. For the same purpose, people tried to help the poor indigent on Pokrov. Be generous – you will be rewarded.
Much has changed since then, but even now it would be useful to take advantage of the signs and customs of those years. For example, take sweets and things to an orphanage or a nursing home, help an old neighbor. Invite close friends to your home, make peace with those with whom you are in a quarrel, think about your soul, read a good book.
