“Alexander shepherd”: the folk festival 28 February 2018

2018-02-27 17:27

“Alexander shepherd”: the folk festival 28 February 2018
It was believed that from this day Winter is getting polled. This day is considered a good for divination.

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Folk festival “Alexander shepherd” is celebrated on February 28 (old style – February 15).

In the Orthodox Church calendar is the day of memory of Apostle from 70-ti Onesimus. Other names of the holiday: “Ivan”, “Onesimus Ovcharik”, “Barniz”, “Samobor”.

It was believed that from this day Winter is becoming hornless (first horn knocked Blaise, see This day).

In his youth St. Onesimus lived in Phrygia in the city of Colossae. Was a slave of a noble Christian. After meeting with the Apostle Paul took the Christian faith and was freed from slavery. Living free Onesimus of dedicated service to the apostles, and then became a preacher. In his old age, he was appointed Bishop of the city of Ephesus. When Imperator Trajan in the year 109, St. Onesimus was arrested. After prolonged torture, he was sentenced to death for their firm confession of the Christian faith.

Onesimus was considered the patron Saint of sheep. The day of remembrance of the Holy shepherds “called” the stars that the sheep gave a large and healthy litter. This was done so: in the evening the farmer went out into the yard and laid on all four sides by three bows. Then took fleece and made a conspiracy: “Glows, star clear, joy to the world baptised. You education, star clear, the flame of beloyarovka sheep. As the sky stars innumerable, it would freak the sheep more.” Interestingly, the connection of sheep with the stars is reflected in the many puzzles. For example: “the Field is not to measure, not a few sheep, a shepherd cattle”; “a shepherd of thousands of sheep herding”; “Ran sheep on Kalinova the bridge, saw the last post, tossed in the water.”

Rituals for the future well-being 28 February carried out not only by the shepherds. It was necessary, for example, to collect in the barn, different seeds, put them on three of the morning in the cold and delay before planting. On this occasion, said: “in February the call, so the fall will echo.”

Needlewoman, ending the spinning, choosing the best ball in the morning and also carried out with the assurance that the yarn will be white, clean and strong. This custom was called “thornit yarn”.

This day is considered a good for divination. Healers did “shorten” long tongues spoke people from zaslow I, as well as men, who loved “parasykite hands. It was believed that if the time to do it in Onisimova a day, then a man for a year the wife and wouldn’t hurt.