December 3rd is celebrated in the world and in Ukraine by a number of events, and according to church traditions, this day is associated with prayers for health and restraint in speech. The date has both religious, cultural and folk significance.
Church holiday December 3
According to the new Julian calendar, today we honor John the Silent, a miracle worker who is prayed to for healing from illnesses. The saint's name is inextricably linked to the idea of silence as a spiritual practice, so believers pay attention to silence and restraint in speech.
According to the old style, this day commemorates Saint Gregory the Decapolis and Bishop Proclus of Constantinople.
Holidays in the world
December 3 is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Its goal is to draw attention to the rights and needs of people with disabilities, to create an inclusive environment, and to ensure their full integration into society. For Ukraine, this topic is particularly acute due to the consequences of the war.
Also, December 3rd marks Computer Graphics Day - a professional holiday for designers, animators, special effects artists, 3D modelers, and everyone who works with digital images.
In addition, today is International Pesticide Day. The date is intended to remind us of the harm that chemicals do to the ecosystem and the need to limit dangerous agricultural technologies.
Holidays in Ukraine
There is no separate public holiday in Ukraine today, but the date is associated with several prominent birthdays: philosopher Hryhoriy Skovoroda, geographer and cartographer Stepan Rudnytskyi, conductor Ivan Sleta, and modern writer Andriy Lyubka were born on this day.
Among the people, December 3 is shrouded in traditions that have survived since ancient times - they are often associated with winter omens and rites of silence.
Folk holiday and signs
In the folk calendar, this day was called Ivan the Silent. It was believed that on December 3, one should speak as little as possible: silence helped the power of thought and contributed to success in any matter. The ancestors believed that work done without unnecessary words would definitely be successful, and a silent person would become eloquent in the coming year.
Weather signs on December 3 helped predict the course of winter:
The roads were muddy - December would be damp;
a sunny day promised warmth;
a bullfinch was singing - the weather would soon improve;
snowfall meant a rainy March.
That today cannot be done
The traditions of the day are related to the restriction of words. Empty chatter, gossip, swearing, lies, boasting, and loud promises are considered forbidden. It was believed that what was said out loud could turn against a person, so it was advised to speak only when necessary and to refrain from harsh expressions.
