Today, December 20, according to the new church calendar, the memory of Saint Ignatius the God-bearer is honored. The people call this day Ignatius' Day, full of traditions, signs, and prohibitions.
Holiday in the new and old style
In 2023, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine switched to the New Julian calendar, so non-transitory holidays are now celebrated 13 days earlier.
- Today, according to the new style, we honor Saint Ignatius of Antioch. He is considered a disciple of John the Theologian and one of the great Christian writers.
- According to the old style, that is, according to the Julian calendar, today is the feast day of Saint Ambrose of Milan.
Signs of December 20
Folk observations on this day help predict the weather and harvest:
- Wet snow portends a rainy summer, and clear weather portends a drought.
- The sun in the haze - to a blizzard.
- The loud croaking of crows promises wet snow.
- Spiders are weaving webs - tomorrow will be a clear day.
The people called this day "apple day": it was believed that shaking snow off the trees would bring a future harvest.
What not to do on December 20
The Church does not approve of quarrels, backbiting, laziness, envy, revenge, or refusal to help. You should also not:
- Borrowing or lending money can lead to financial difficulties.
- Buying shoes - according to legend, it can shorten your life.
What to do
Today, people pray to Saint Ignatius, asking for protection from evil, the evil eye, good luck in business, family well-being, and help for people who have strayed from the faith.
According to folk traditions, it is worth walking around the house with the icon and bowing to it to protect the home from evil, natural disasters, and famine.
Who celebrates the name day
Name days according to the new calendar are celebrated by Ivan, Ignatiy, and Danylo.
According to the old style - by Alexander, Alexei, Grigory, Yevgeny, Kateryna, Mark, and Mikhail.
Let's remember traditions, follow signs, and do good deeds on this day!
