CrimeaPRESS reports:
This day was also called Savva, Savva the Sanctified, Savva the winter, Savva’s day, Savva with a nail. What was remarkable about him?
As a rule, the frost gets worse on Savva. They tried not to leave the house unless absolutely necessary, since there was a high probability of getting lost and freezing. Among the people, there were very widespread beliefs associated with the personality of Moroz — a tall old man with a gray beard, who right now walks the streets and breathes on the windows of houses, which is why patterns are formed on them. If Frost stamps his foot, the forest will rustle, and if he screams, it will snow. That is why meeting him was dangerous — Frost could kill a person. On Savvin Day, the peasants also tried to go to bed early in order to save splinters. In general, they said that the day had become longer, but in fact, this effect was created due to the fact that the bright snow perfectly reflected the light (well, signs are not always true). So, women sat at the window to spin in the morning — there were all the conditions for this.
And also:
- Not working that day was a sin. This could offend the holy ascetic. Owners of horses were not allowed to swear.
- Anyone who wooes on this day will never be separated.
- There was also a bad omen: if someone in the family dies today, then next year death will take another life.
- The people believed that a pregnant woman should not wash her hair on Savva, otherwise her child would have a bad memory.
On December 18, the church honors the memory of Saint Sava, who lived around the 5th century in the territory of Cappadocia. Savva was born into a family of pious Christians and at the age of 8 he went to study the Word of God at the monastery of St. Flavian. There he quickly learned to read and write and became a true Christian. Savva’s parents really asked him to return to worldly life, but he saw his destiny in serving God. It is not surprising that Savva decides to take monastic vows. He spent 10 years in a monastery, where he constantly prayed and fasted. After 3 years, he decides to seclude himself in a cave, where he stayed for 5 years. The monk’s life was constantly monitored by the Monk Euthymius, who instructed Savva in his Christian virtues. After Euphemia died, Savva decided to settle near the monastery of Gerasim of Jordan. Very soon, disciples begin to come to Savva, as a result of which the Great Lavra is formed. Next, the monks received a sign from above to build a church inside the cave. Subsequently, Savva founded several more monasteries. They said that with his prayers he could perform miracles and had the gift of healing the sick and those stricken by demons.
Signs of the day:
- The logs are crackling in the stove — it will be cold.
- Red fire in the stove — expect cold.
- Smoke trails — there will be bad weather.
- Whoever gets married on this day will have a happy marriage.
- In frosty weather, squirrels leave their nests and come down from the trees — wait for the thaw.
- The bullfinch sings — there will be snow, blizzard, slush.
- The loose snow has begun to melt a little with gaps — expect warmer weather in the coming days.
Name days are celebrated today by: Sergey, Zakhar, Ilya, Gennady.
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