CrimeaPRESS reports:
On August 8, the weather was always good, as people noted. The day was warm, dry and sunny, so they worked in the field, in the garden and in the vegetable garden. But women were not allowed to go out into the field on Yermolai — it was a man’s day. Needlework was also prohibited for young ladies, especially sewing. It was believed that the one who took a needle in her hands would be unhappy in marriage.
These days were also marked by another unspoken prohibition: it was not allowed to eat apples (until Apple Savior), although they were already ripe. But on this day, housewives made preparations from apples for the winter — they cooked jam, soaked them in barrels. Overripe fruits were used to make homemade wine (cider), liqueurs and tinctures.
And on August 8, healers went to collect medicinal herbs, because, according to signs, it is believed that right now, after the morning dew, they will have beneficial properties.
And! It was considered a good omen on this day if a cat paid attention to its owners. If they rub against their owners’ feet and let themselves be petted, it means wealth and prosperity for the whole year.
The Church now honors the memory of Saint Hermolaus, one of the martyrs along with Hermocrates and Hermippus. According to the Holy Scripture, in the 4th century, as a result of the persecution organized against Christians by Emperor Maximilian, 20 thousand believers died in an arson attack in the Nicomedia church, but it was the three above-mentioned people who were able to escape. After that, they hid for a long time on the territory of the empire, continuing to teach faith in Christ to all who wanted it. According to legend, one day a young man who was a pagan passed by the house where Hermolaus lived. Hermolaus came up to him and began to explain to him the falsity of pagan beliefs. After this, the young man repented and began to visit Hermolaus daily. Interestingly, it was he who later became known as the martyr Panteleimon. In the end, Hermolaus, as well as his disciples Hermocrates and Hermippus, were exposed and arrested. They were asked to renounce their faith in Christ, but they refused to do so. Then they were threatened with torture, but at that very moment a strong earthquake occurred, as a result of which the idols fell from their pedestals and broke. Emperor Maximilian, having learned of this, pronounced the death sentence on the martyrs.
Signs of the day:
- If during harvesting a peasant tucks a few rye ears into his belt, his back will not hurt, and he will have enough strength until the evening.
- It is believed that herbs collected on this day have healing powers. But they should not be collected before midday, when the earth and air have saturated them with life-giving moisture.
- Tie a scarlet woolen thread around your wrist on the eve of harvesting to provide yourself with strength and health.
- On this day, you cannot lend your working tools to anyone — it will lead to loss of health. But if you can’t do without it, you need to put the tool on the ground, and not pass it from hand to hand.
- Eating apples before Apple Savior is a bad omen.
- Doing needlework on August 8th means misfortune in married life.
- Anyone whose name begins with the letter E will be especially lucky on St. Hermolaus’ Day.
- A cat lying down next to you means good luck and wealth.
Name days are celebrated today by: Praskovia, Moses, Fyodor, Sergei, Ignatius.
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