And how to determine the future by the water surface
On April 15, the Orthodox Church commemorates the Monk Titus the Wonderworker. Our ancestors called this saint “Icebreaker”. The fact is that on the day of the memory of Titus, the future could be determined by the ice and water surface. What else was supposed to be done on April 15?
The Monk Titus the Wonderworker, whose memory the believers honor on April 15, lived in the 9th century and went to the monastery as a teenager. There the saint spent many years and became famous for his meekness, long-suffering, love for neighbors and mercy.
Saint Titus received the nickname “Icebreaker” in Russia due to the fact that rivers and lakes are finally opened on the day of the saint’s memory. Our ancestors watched this process very closely. By the way ice floes, spring waters and numerous streams behave, they made predictions about the future.
It was believed that if a broken ice floe sinks under its weight, sinks to the bottom, the year for the fortuneteller and his family will be difficult, hunger and disease in the house cannot be avoided. Floating ice floes were considered a good sign. They promised the fortuneteller health and good luck in all endeavors, especially in garden affairs. The fate was also predicted by water: if the melted spring waters overflowed in the meadows, it was worth waiting for forbs and early mowing.
It was also said that if the ice has not yet melted to Titus, it means that fish will be caught badly this spring. On April 15, we also observed birds. If the quail screams, there will be a lot of bread and a lot of grass.
What else was required to be done on this day, according to popular belief:
– to tell fortunes for the future;
– dig up the ridges;
– check seed stocks;
– feed the birds (they were considered companions of spring, therefore they were especially revered);
– prepare kvass, give it to all household members and guests (it was believed that this ritual gives strength and bestows health).
On April 15, the people called and “Beshlebiceth “. By this day, as a rule, grain stocks ran out, and our ancestors switched from bread to kvass. On this score, there were many sayings and sayings. For example, such: “There used to be a shovel for everyone, but now they have survived – their legs have shrunk“; “Who has nothing, but we have even more than that“. At the same time, in the event of even the most severe famine, the grain intended for sowing was not touched, saying: “Sell the cow, and sow the field with good seed” or “Starve yourself, and do not deprive the field of grain“.
However, tense and half-starved April 15 was not for everyone. Traders called this date “profit-day”. They knew: from that time on, the peasants needed their goods much more urgently than before, when their own stocks had not yet run out. The merchants on April 15 tried to celebrate it as loudly as possible. This behavior, they said in Russia, was the guarantor of good profits throughout the year.
Quite often, the day of Titus the Icebreaker falls on the period of Great Lent. This explains many jokes, sayings and sayings about Titus. For example, such: “Our Titus also fornicates in Lent“; “Drunk Titus repeats psalms“; “Our Titus has both pitot and bito“.
Happy birthday on April 15, you can congratulate:
George, Gregory, Efim, Titus.