Folk signs for October 5: what can and cannot be done
In Russia, omens have helped people navigate their lives for centuries: they were used to predict the weather, choose suitable days for work in the field, and adjust household chores to natural cycles. There were no random dates in the national calendar — every day had its own signs, rituals and beliefs, which were treated with great attention. The Izvestia article contains signs related to October 5, as well as information about the church holiday celebrated on this day.
Folk signs for October 5th
October 5 was known in the national calendar as the day of Jonah and Phokas, or Listopadnaya (Listoder). It was believed that the real autumn began from this date.
In early October, the villages were finishing harvesting radishes, which were considered one of the main autumn vegetables. It was appreciated for its accessibility, nutritional value and medicinal properties. This root vegetable was used to treat joint pain, cough, digestive problems and heart diseases. Aspen was also revered on the holiday. The ancestors believed that this tree was able to "take away" a person's pain and protect them from evil spirits.
On Jonah and Phocas, special attention was paid to omens, on the basis of which predictions about the coming winter were made. The birch tree served as the main landmark — if it had not yet shed its leaves by that day, it was believed that the snow would not fall soon.
Other signs of the day:
- aspen drops its leaves by the end of autumn;
- there are a lot of cobwebs in the air — by the warm autumn and the late onset of frost;
- lots of mushrooms (especially honey mushrooms) — for a snowy winter;
- few cones on a pine tree — for a warm winter;
- a lot of cones on a pine tree — for severe cold weather;
- Chickadees often fly up to the house — in the early and frosty winter;
- mice store more food than usual — for a snowy and severe winter.
What not to do on October 5th
The main prohibition of this day is on fish: it can neither be eaten nor caught. It is directly connected with the memory of the prophet Jonah, who, according to legend, spent three days in the belly of a whale. As a sign of respect for this story, the people tried not to touch fish dishes and not go fishing, replacing them, for example, with radish dishes, which were just ripe by that time.
What else can't be done on October 5th:
- burn old brooms and garbage — along with the ashes, the wind can take away well-being and prosperity from the house.;
- sleeping until lunch leads to financial difficulties;
- Sleeping in someone else's bed can take away the owner's misfortunes.;
- starting important things will not bring results.
What church holiday is celebrated on October 5th
On October 5, the Orthodox Church honors the memory of the prophet Jonah, who lived in the 8th century before the Birth of Christ. According to legend, he was the son of a widow, with whom the prophet Elijah stayed during the famine. During this period, Jonah, who was still very young, was seriously ill and died, but at the saint's prayer he returned to life. Subsequently, he was called to prophetic ministry — the Lord sent him to Nineveh to preach.
Jonah didn't want to be a preacher and tried to escape, but the ship he was sailing on got caught in a storm. The prophet was thrown into the sea, where he was swallowed by a whale, in whose belly, according to legend, he spent three days and three nights. After that, the repentant Jonah was cast ashore and fulfilled God's will. It is believed that his story became the prototype of the three-day burial and Resurrection of Christ.
On October 15, believers also remember Blessed Paraskeva Diveevskaya (in the world Irina). She was born in the early 19th century into a family of serfs in the Tambov province. After the death of her husband and the unfair accusation of theft, she went to Kiev on a pilgrimage. There she took monastic vows and decided to devote her life to serving God. The police returned her to the landlords twice, but the saint preferred wandering to her usual life. For more than 20 years she lived in the caves of the Sarov forest, and then in the Diveevsky monastery. Paraskeva became famous for her gift of perspicacity and miracle-working. She died in 1915.
Prayers on October 5th
They turn to the prophet Jonah with prayers for repentance and admonition, asking for help to hear and fulfill the will of God, to find patience in sorrows and comfort in difficult circumstances, and also seek his intercession when traveling and on the water. They pray to the Holy Martyr Foka for strengthening faith, courage in the face of trials, protection from fires and the elements, healing of ailments, family well-being and a safe return from travel, honoring him as a reliable intercessor and patron in various difficulties of life.
Prayer to the Prophet Jonah
"O most laudable and most prodigious prophet of God John! Hear us, sinners and worthless, who at this hour stand before your holy icon and fervently seek your intercession. Pray to God, who loves mankind, for us, that He may give us a spirit of repentance and contrition for our sins, and by his all-powerful grace help us to forsake the ways of wickedness, and to prosper in every work of bliss; that he may strengthen us in the struggle against our passions and lusts; that he may plant in our hearts a spirit of humility and meekness, a spirit of brotherly love and kindness, the spirit of patience and chastity, the spirit of zeal for the Glory of God and the salvation of others. Through your prayers, O prophet, abolish the evil customs of the world, especially the pernicious and corrupting spirit of this age, which infects the Christian race with disrespect for the Divine Orthodox faith, for the charter of the Holy Church and for the commandment of the Lord, with disrespect for parents and those in authority, and plunges people into the abyss of impiety, corruption and destruction. Turn away from us, most holy prophet, through your intercession, the righteous wrath of God and deliver all the cities and towns of our Fatherland from idleness and gladness, from terrible storms and earthquakes, from deadly plagues and diseases, from the invasion of enemies and internecine warfare. Strengthen through your prayers, O Most Glorious One, the rulers of our power in the great and laborious asceticism of the people, and help them in all their good deeds and endeavors to establish peace and truth in our country. Help the Christ-loving army in the battle with our enemies. Ask, O prophet of God, from the Lord our shepherd, holy zeal for God, heartfelt concern for the salvation of the flock, wisdom in teaching and management, piety and strength, in temptation, ask judges for non-partiality and selflessness, righteousness and compassion for the offended, concern for subordinates to all superiors, mercy and justice, and submission and obedience to subordinates. Let us strive for power and diligent fulfillment of our duties; so that, having lived in this world in peace and piety, we may be worthy to partake of eternal blessings in the Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who deserves honor and worship with His beginningless Father and the Most Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen to that."
Prayer to Blessed Paraskeva Diveevskaya
"Oh, beautiful brides of Christ, pure doves, sweetened by the Holy Spirit, companions of an Angel, who planted a spiritual paradise on earth with their virtues, our Venerable mothers Pelagia, Paraskevo and Mary. We will bring you anything worthy as a gift, except our humble and sinful supplications, which you accept, purify me with your holy prayers and bring to the Throne of the Most Holy Trinity. Pray to God for us, O our blessed mothers, that the Lord may not rebuke us with His fury, nor punish us with His wrath for our many sins, but may He protect us with His mercy and grant us time for repentance and correction. Oh, our mothers Pelagia, Paraskevo and Maria! Overshadow all those gathered in this holy monastery with your intercession and ask the King for Powers that are not needed in this temporal life, above all, help us to attain the Heavenly Kingdom through your warm prayers and intercession to the Lord Jesus Christ, Who deserves all glory, honor and worship with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.. Amen to that."
Earlier, Izvestia reported on the signs and traditions of the national holiday Trofim and Zosima.
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