Mikhailov Day: folk signs for September 19, which are more accurate than the weather forecast

On September 19, the Orthodox Church remembers the miracle of Archistratig Michael, performed in the Khons of Asia Minor in the IV century. According to legend, next to the temple of the archangel beat a healing spring: once in a dream Michael appeared to a local resident and promised that his mute daughter would talk, drinking water from there. And so it happened - a grateful father built a temple in honor of the saint.

The second miracle is the salvation of this temple. The pagans destroyed the dam on the river, and the seething stream rushed to the building. Serving there, the ponomar Archipus prayed - and the Archangel Michael appeared, hit the ground with a rod, a cleft formed, where all the water went. The place was called Hona, which means “hole”.

The people of the holiday have several names: Mikhailov Day, Mikhailovo Miracle, Mikhailovsky frosts - the latter because it was by this date that the first morning frosts usually occurred. “Michael frozen the land,” the peasants said.

Mid-September was the most important weather frontier for farmers. By Mikhailov’s day, the main field work was already completed, and people had time to take a close look at nature. Here are the observations passed down from generation to generation:

The main tradition of September 19 was the first autumn fraternity - a general village gathering, which ended with a joint meal. Each family brought supplies of a new crop: meat, fish, vegetables, flour. Women cooked together - on the tables appeared cold, blueberries, twists and, of course, pies with a variety of fillings. It was believed that the richer the food, the more generous the next year will be.

Before the feast was supposed to resolve all the accumulated disputes. Disputed relatives and neighbors were literally forced to reconcile, and reconciliation was fixed at the common table. The people said, “Whoever is angry with Michael, he will not see good.” After eating, festivities began - they sang songs, danced, the youth met and looked after a couple. Michael's day was also considered a good time for matchmaking.

They did not forget about the strangers and the poor: they were supposed to feed, drink, and give alms to those in need. Generosity on this day was not just a gesture, but a kind of “insurance policy” for the next year.

Mikhailov Day is associated with a number of popular prohibitions, many of which are still alive in the villages:

Hard work is forbidden. Especially in the field. They said, “You can’t work for Michael, God will punish you.” At the same time, it was not forbidden to cook food, look after children and take care of livestock - life is everyday life.

To quarrel and slander. Mikhailov’s day is a time of reconciliation, and a new conflict, according to legend, could drag on for a long time or turn into a real disaster.

Throwing away leftover food. Food sent to the garbage allegedly caused starvation. Remains should be given to the needy or fed to animals.

Wash your hair. It was believed that with water you can “wash your mind” and become forgetful. How serious this is - I will not judge, but the sign is curious.

Leave the house for a long time. The day was recommended to be spent in a circle of relatives. A long road, according to legend, promises trouble.

Polluting the water. Since the miracle of Archangel Michael is associated with the salvation of the temple from the water flow, on September 19, they tried not to throw anything into the wells and rivers. They believed that the water on this day acquires special vitality.

The skeptic will note that the September signs are nothing more than the result of centuries-old observations of climate cycles. Frost does correlate with the temperature regime, and the direction of the wind in September is associated with atmospheric fronts, which largely determine the nature of winter. But folk predictions do not guarantee accuracy — they reflect probabilistic patterns seen long before meteorological satellites.

Yet even in the age of smartphones with ten-day forecasts, there’s nothing wrong with stepping out on the porch on September 19, looking at the aspen, noticing whether the leaves lie “face” or “inside” – and smiling at how generations of our ancestors did. Perhaps nature will tell you something that no app will show. A warm cake with mushrooms on this day is already a good sign in itself.