Why on October 24, you couldn’t look at the crows

The day of St. Philip - the apostle from seventy - the Orthodox Church celebrates October 24. In the folk tradition - Philip, Philippov Day, Philippov's damner. Doing household chores, visiting the miller and appeasing cats.

Folk names of holidays are sometimes fraught with mysteries that cannot be solved without knowledge of the context. A classic example is the Philippian damner. In addition to the direct meaning (thin gold or silver thread, which is used for embroidery), the kanator in a figurative sense denotes a tedious business, which has no end and edge to see. The fact is that the manufacture of such a thread was a long and painstaking process. Since mid-October, late autumn came and the weather deteriorated completely: it rains, then wet snow, then a penetrating cold wind, and all this is mixed and haphazard. There is mud in the yard, the roads have taken off, there is nowhere to get out of the village, the mood is appropriate. Well, what else is it decent to call, if not a smoker? “Philippe was stuck to the stove, so the roads drove,” the peasants said.

Work was not very good, but it was impossible to idle, since the apostle was considered a great worker. The main thing is grinding flour. Domestic millstones were in almost every family, but a large amount of grain was carried to the mill. Usually from the village was equipped with several carts, and at the entrance lined up whole queues. Since each miller at the farm fed several cats, to go to visit without treats was not accepted. The millers in the village were in demand, but they enjoyed bad fame (as they say, do not do good - you will not get evil), and no one wanted to hurt their pets. On Filippov's cursing mistress necessarily baked cakes from freshly ground flour. On this day, the last weddings were played. Those who did not get married before Filippovka had to wait for the next year, because before Christmas (Philippov) fast. However, to make plans for family life this girls did not interfere.

During the evening gatherings, ribbons were embroidered in a special way: on one end it was necessary to depict the first letter of your name, on the other - the letter with which the name of the guy you liked began. According to legends, if you wear it without removing it, the young man will definitely reciprocate. But it was impossible to take sweets from the guys - he would sail and throw. Never mind getting married, just hint. Therefore, on Philippov day, girls were not recommended to approach the forest. Although here from which side to look - the cavalier, of course, is not good, but stocky, will not let you die from hunger. In addition, it is also unkempt: for a caring woman, there is just where to walk.

TRUTH

♦ It was impossible to look at the crows - the rotosis risked to call upon himself and others the discontent of St. Philip, who did not like to spend time in idleness.

Women made brooms from birch branches, with which they swept garbage out of the gates to discourage misfortune, thieves and envious people from home.

♦ Snow on Philippov day fell on the damp ground, but did not melt - in the spring you can hope for a good income. If the rivers were frozen by this time, it was necessary to walk on ice - this promised an improvement in monetary affairs.

NOTES

Morning snowfall heralds a cold winter.

The moon on Philippov's dungeon in a dim haze - to bad weather.

♦ If this day is still falling, then next year will be difficult.

bebenina@sb.by