Today is one of the biggest holidays – St. George’s Day, the Day of Courage, the moment when St. George defeats the dragon. For our year to be happy, since ancient times we have to observe three prohibitions and follow 16 traditions. Here’s who they are:
Prohibit:
1. On the evening before St. George’s Day, no loan is given, especially of milk, cheese, butter, or of dairy products in general, so that the animals do not lose their milk.
2. A child is not conceived on St. George’s Day, so as not to be born with a disability.
3. You should not sleep on the holiday.
Traditions:
1. On St. George’s Day, a candle is lit at the doors of all buildings, a sprig of nettle and a sprig of hawthorn are placed in front of them.
2. On the morning of the holiday, which is the earliest, he washes his face with a stalk of nettles and hurries to hit the feet of those who are still sleeping with the nettles – so that they are nimble in the summer and so that evil does not reach them.
3. With a young branch, children are hit under the covers while they are still sleeping, as well as the oldest woman in the home – to keep them healthy.
4. A blooming hawthorn is placed under the pillow – people should be early risers.
5. The doors and windows of the home are decorated with flowers, geraniums and beech noise.
6. Drink water in the morning on an empty stomach “to purify the blood.” It is especially good if it is sipped from a new vessel.
7. Early in the morning, women and children pick flowers in the meadows, primroses, primroses, cornflowers… – wreaths are made from them for the lamb, for the sheep that will be milked first, for the bucket, for the shepherd’s hat, for the home, for the table.
8. If the girls comb their hair under the poplar before sunrise, their hair will grow as long as the poplar.
9. If a girl measures herself three times in front of a poplar tree, she will grow tall and slender.
10. All roll in the dew for health.
11. Faces are washed against freckles with Gergiev Dew.
12. The ritual breads are mixed with dew, the milk is leavened.
On the holiday itself:
13. The sick go to bathe in “left water” – where the water turns to the left – and hope for healing.
14. In order to recover, the sick can also crawl under the branches of an ancient tree three times.
15. Bathing in a river on the holiday protects against fever.
16. Against back pain, a willow or dogwood and three stalks of rye or barley are tied.
17. The festive bread is kneaded by a maiden or young bride with freshly poured water from fresh flowers. Mixing is a ritual with special songs. Children and brides, the threshing floor, the cowshed and the stables are sprinkled with the water from the cauldron. The water for kneading is warmed over an open flame. The fire should not have flames and smoke. Thorns are also placed in it – to protect against evil, beech branches – to make the milk swell and be abundant.
18. For shepherds, goat herders, and cattle herders, special cows are prepared. And the maidens and brides, when they bring them to the stables, must walk with them three times around the buildings to protect them from magic and diseases.
19. The first milk is milked with a special ritual, its main purpose being to induce good and abundant milk and to protect against the spells of vagabonds and harlots. The milk cauldron is decorated with flowers and herbs against the evil eye, with wild garlic, nettles, geranium, gerbera, tied with red thread. The milk is milked through a small cowl or a silver bracelet. A ring, Gergiev’s knuckle, shuttlecock, egg can be dropped into the cauldron to magically strengthen the milk.
20. The first milk is necessarily distributed to neighbors and relatives, and a small part of it is poured into a river – “to flow on water” throughout the year.
21. A red Easter egg is buried under the milking place.
22. The lamb and the bread are consecrated in a church. One shoulder of the lamb is given to the priest or given away for health and success. After the service, a communal meal is arranged.
23. Everyone should swing on a swing on St. George’s Day. He who does not swing will have misfortunes and bad luck in the summer.
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