What not to do on October 1: signs on Arina Shipovnica

According to the national calendar, on October 1, Arina Shipovnitsa, or Arina Autumn, is celebrated. This date was associated with the collection of ripe rose hips, the departure of cranes and many signs by which they tried to predict the weather for the coming months.

In the church calendar on this day remember the martyrs Sophia and Irene, who lived in Egypt. According to life, they suffered for the confession of the Christian faith. In folk tradition, the church date eventually intertwined with the seasonal customs of early October.

One of the main symbols of the day was the rosehip. By this time, its fruits were ripe, so they were collected, dried and used to prepare infusions, jam and jelly. In folk beliefs, berries were attributed a special power, and the rosehip collected on October 1 was considered capable of protecting against diseases.

Another name of the date, Crane Summer, is associated with the flight of birds to the south. Seeing a crane wedge in the sky, people accompanied him with the words “Wheel the road!” So the birds wanted to safely reach the warm edges and return in the spring.

With the day of Arina Shipovnitsa was associated with many prohibitions. They were not advised to boast about wealth and success, complain about fate, quarrel, swear and gossip. It was believed that the conflicts that began on October 1 could last for a long time. We also tried not to arrange noisy gatherings and not invite strangers to the house.

It is believed that on this day should not cut hair and nails. The girls were advised not to spend much time in front of the mirror. It was not customary to wave after flying cranes: such a gesture was associated with a long separation.

Particular attention was paid to the weather. High-flying and loudly curling cranes promised a warm autumn, and a low and silent wedge was considered a harbinger of a harsh winter. If the birds were already heading south, the first frosts were waiting for Pokrov, October 14. The absence of cranes in the sky, on the contrary, was associated with prolonged warmth and mild winter.

We watched the trees, the wind and the sky. If the yellowed birch leaves did not fall for a long time, the winter was expected to be warm. The east wind was considered a harbinger of several dry days, and the unusually flattened sun at sunset was associated with the approach of rain. According to another popular sign, the weather on October 1 could be repeated on April 1.