October 7, Orthodox Christians honor the memory pervomuchenitsy Thecla of Iconium. In the Ukrainian tradition, it is called Thekla Zarevnitsey. This day is also called the holiday "Zamolotki", as it was on October 7, our ancestors began thrashing.
Saint Thekla pray for health, healing the diseases of the skin, as well as the prosperous marriage. Thekla Iconium styled her at her place of birth. We have also increasingly heard "Thekla Zarevnitsa". There is a "Zarevnitsa" from the word "glow" as the day mined "new" fire. And why, read on.
A little history
Thecla was born in Iconium, in the territory of modern Turkey into a wealthy family and was to marry Firamida. But hoops with him, she refused entry into marriage because acquainted with sermons about Iiisuse Christ who read the apostle Paul, and decided to devote himself to the Christian faith.
When the ruler of the city learned that she came to believe in Jesus, and intends to become a Christian, that she was sentenced to be burned at the stake. But a miracle happened: the fire did not burned it, and the heavens burst into thunder and heavy rain, to extinguish the fire.
Soon she left his hometown and look for the Apostle Paul, and together they preached faith in the One God. At the same time in love with her the governor of Syria, Alexander, but he was rejected three times. As a result, Alexander decided to take revenge Thecla, specifying it in front of the rulers.
Thus, she was again sentenced to death: it is locked in a cage with wild animals, but her prayers were answered and the animals it was not touched. As a result, the governor himself was surprised and believed in the power of Jesus of faith and let go of the holy.
Traditions
On the night of October 7, traditionally married men lit a new fire, before it put out all the candles and stoves in the house. So begins "zamolotki"
Live fire produced by friction, ran down the yards, they fumigated homes, sheds, livestock and bins. It was believed that it will bring prosperity and wealth to the house.
Our ancestors believed that if the October 7 that a tie, it will never unleash. Therefore, this day has been very popular for weddings.
Zamolotki on young girls to marry wondered: were carrying some roll in the bath and waited who touches their hand. If touching the hand turned out cold, the thought that marry to men, if the cold - that for the poor, and if nobody to touch her and then have her old maid.
October 7 completed the mushroom season, the last time in the mushroom season, went to the forest for mushrooms, sure sign of the cross, because it believed that with the advent of cold weather devil rages in the forest and can carry off into the thicket. Therefore, children with them to the forest did not take.
And 7 October, it was decided to collect beet harvest, saying: "On Thecla twitch beets."
Signs
On the day of Thecla Zarevnitsy as our ancestors tried to determine what will be the year for the following signs:
- If a lot of acorns, the winter will be warm, and summer - harvest.
- Bright sun at the dawn of October 7 promises a sharp change of weather.
- If the protein beginning with the tail shedding, be the winter cold.
- If thunder, winter will be short and warm.
Photos from public sources
