CrimeaPRESS reports:
This day was also popularly called Danil and the Three Youths, Danil, Daniil, Danil the Winter Guide, Danilov’s Day, Daniil’s Gathering. They believed that dreams that night were prophetic. And in order to more accurately unravel the dream, the people turned for advice to Saint Daniel, who was famous for his ability to unravel dreams. Moreover, dreams could be “ordered” for this day: in order to see their betrothed, the girls put three bay leaves under their pillow at night with the names of three youths written on them.
By the way, our ancestors never abruptly woke up or turned over a sleeping person, because his wandering soul might not be able to return to his body in time or simply not recognize him. They believed that if this happened, a person would immediately fall ill with epilepsy, lose his memory, or even die.
On December 30, the Church honors the memory of Saints Ananias, Daniel, Misail and Azarias. Tradition says that 600 years before the birth of Christ, the inhabitants of Babylon conquered Jerusalem, and the indicated youths were among the captives. Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, decided to bring them into his court because the young men were very capable. In particular, the king planned to teach the young men Chaldean sciences. To do this, he surrounded the youths with luxury and abundance. However, the young men refused excesses and led a modest and ascetic lifestyle all this time. It was for this that the Lord gave them wisdom. One day, Nebuchadnezzar decided to build a giant statue like himself for the people to worship. The youths refused to do this, for which the king ordered their execution. However, the young men remained unharmed, and after this the ruler gained respect for the followers of the Christian faith.
And another tradition on December 30th. On New Year’s Eve, housewives lit the stoves so that there was enough heat for two days. And they definitely took a steam bath, washing away the sins of the past year. At the same time, there were special rules for those washing, according to which, for example, it was forbidden to drink water prepared for washing, talk loudly, knock, and wash “on the third steam.” They say it was intended for Bannik himself and his many accomplices — Obderikh, Naviy and even devils and little devils. And if someone wanted to see them, they had to come to the bathhouse in the dead of midnight, step over the threshold with one foot, remove the cross from their neck and put it under their heel. At the same time, if you were lucky and Bannik was peacefully sleeping in the bathhouse, you should immediately pull the hat off his head and rush headlong to the nearest church. Anyone who managed to get there became the owner of a magic invisibility hat, and those whom Bannik caught up with were no longer seen among the living. Bannik was popularly known as a treacherous old man, dressed only in sticky leaves that had fallen off brooms. Although even he appreciated a kind and respectful attitude towards himself. It was worth, for example, a tired traveler, bowing from the waist, and saying: “Master-father! Let me sleep and spend the night!”, as the thawed Bannik lit the stove, and supplied the newcomer with brooms and even protected the sleeper from all evil spirits.
But Bannik’s close relative, the small but very evil and cruel bath spirit Obderikha, could not be appeased by anything. He stopped any sudden, and especially at night, visits to the bathhouse, especially with the boast that there was no need to be afraid of the devil, by dousing the person who entered with boiling water. Therefore, at all times, God-fearing people did not visit the baths at this time, and for Bannik, Obderikha and their night guests they certainly left a bunch of water and a small soap. It was customary to live in peace with neighbors, even such restless ones.
Signs of the day:
- Whatever the weather is like on Daniel, so will May be.
- If frost appeared on the trees on Daniel, then the weather will be warm on Christmastide.
- If a person was born on December 30, then he should wear turquoise and jasper as a talisman.
- A snowstorm has begun — a sign that bees will swarm well.
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