Folk Signs on October 18 — Haritina — the First Cloths 0 71

Haritina of Amisia was a young beautiful girl who lived under the protection of her guardian Claudius. She studied Scripture and hosted believers. When the persecutions of Christians began, she was captured and tortured.

According to legend, all of them ended in a miracle: she felt no pain from the vinegar torture, after being shaved bald her hair immediately grew back, she was thrown into the sea with a stone around her neck, but the stone came loose, and she walked on the water. When they wanted to dishonor her, she prayed and died. This happened around the year 304.

Haritina of Lithuania is honored in Russian Orthodoxy as the patroness of Lithuania. She was from a family of Lithuanian princes but was forced to leave the country, taking vows in the St. Peter and Paul Women's Monastery. Soon, for her asceticism, she was appointed abbess of the convent. The saint died in 1281.

On October 18, women tried to weave the first cloth: "Haritina — the first cloths." Saint Haritina was revered by the people as the patroness of weavers. The thread that was woven on this day was considered a talisman — it was tied around the left wrist, believing it would protect against the evil eye. In addition, on October 18, they began to roll wool for felt boots.

Weather Signs

On this day, if there is no wind — it will get colder. If snow has not fallen by October 18 — winter will come late. If snow has fallen, but the trees have not lost all their leaves — the snow will soon melt.