Remembrance Day of the Apostle Jacob Alfeyev: what can and cannot be done on October 22
The Orthodox Church remembers one of the twelve apostles
On October 22, believers honor the memory of the Apostle Jacob Alfeyev, one of the twelve closest disciples of Christ. According to legend, he was the brother of the apostle and evangelist Matthew and preached the doctrine of the Savior in Judea and Edessa, where he was martyred. In folk tradition, the day was called Yakov Woodmill: it was believed that from October 22, it is time to cut wood and insulate housing before the cold.
What to do on October 22nd
The main activity of the day is to collect firewood. Men went to the forest to chop and bring firewood for the winter, and women at this time warmed the house and cooked supplies. It was also customary for Jacob to bake cakes and treat relatives and neighbors with them, which was believed to bring prosperity and warmth to the house. "" It was considered a good thing to help those in need: to give alms, feed a hungry person or support an elderly person.
Another tradition is to guess the future harvest by the weather and note the signs. For example, if it snowed on October 22, a good harvest was expected next year.
What not to do on October 22
It was not recommended to go on a long road - it was believed that the traveler could be in trouble, and the road would be difficult. It is not necessary to be lazy and postpone household chores: they believed that those who idle on Jacob would freeze all winter.
You can not quarrel with loved ones, slander and gossip - they said that evil words can come back and harm the person. It was also not recommended to lend money or things: it could lead to losses and loss of wealth. "" Also, they avoided bragging and praising their successes because it was believed that you could lose luck.
Weather marks
If it snowed on October 22nd, a good harvest was expected. The clear and warm weather foreshadowed that winter would come late, and a cold and windy day would be a harsh winter. The morning frost promised frost, and the muddy moon at night - early snowfalls.
