This day our ancestors called both Nicholas the Wonderworker and Nikola the Veshny, with him not only a lot of example and beliefs, but also a sufficiently large number of rituals and rituals. On the national signs on May 22, that is, Nicolas summer, we'll talk today.
Celebration of Nicholas the Summer
First, let's learn a little about what is so famous for this holiday and what significance it had for our ancestors. Nicholas the Wonderworker was a defender of weak and oppressed people according to religious teaching, he relieved from illnesses, could contribute to the fulfillment of desires, and also helped to get rid of those pursuing failures and troubles. This saint is one of the most revered for Christians, many believers still today put candles in front of his face and ask for help or intercession. Therefore, on the day when the Nikola summer (May 22) is celebrated, it is necessary to visit the church, and if not to stand up for service, then at least put a candle in front of the Miracle-worker icon.
Many people know that Orthodox people celebrate not only the summer and winter days of Nikola, but why this division took place and what each of these holidays means, some do not understand. Everything is very simple, the winter Nikola (December 19) is the day of the death of the saint, and the Nicholas Nikola, celebrated in May, is the date of the transfer of the relics of the Elder to the Italian church of the city of Bari. Orthodox people honor both dates, because each of them is significant for every believer.
On this day it was customary not to do household chores, that is, cleaning, washing and other similar activities had to be postponed or remade in advance. It was a great sin not to feed a beggar on a festive day or not to give alms to a begging person, because during the lifetime Nicholas the Wonderworker gave all his money to the needy, and to enter his feast followed as well as the saint. Some people even believed, and they believe that the old man himself can appear on his holiday before the believing person and experience it, and if to show himself generous and not evil, then the saint will necessarily perform a miracle and fulfill his cherished dream or save from misfortune.
Folk features on Nikolas summer
A lot of the beliefs on May 22 were associated with the harvesting and domestic cattle, our grandmothers and grandfathers saddled horses that day only after the prayer, otherwise according to the beliefs on the horse an unclean force will ride, which will simply drive the animal to death. If a person saw that the horse shudders or is nervous, it was necessary to say - "Kysh, unclean, kysh . "
No less interesting is the custom, according to which it was on the day of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker it was necessary to determine which land areas would be put under planting, and which would serve for grazing cattle. In areas where vegetables or wheat would later be planted sticks, it was a sign that all the villagers understood.
By the way, on May 23, that is the next day after the holiday, was considered the last day, when still
According to the signs on Nicholas summer it was necessary not only to go to the church service, but also to do some rituals . For example, it was believed that washing in the morning of May 22, dew at dawn, you can get rid of diseases, but to swim, on the contrary, was forbidden, this entailed misfortune and hunger. A good sign was to see the sun on this day, it promised a warm and not dry summer, which will be fruitful, but the rain was perceived as an omen of colds that will last almost a month.