On December 2, Orthodox Christians remember Saint Obadiah in their prayers. One of the twelve minor biblical prophets entered the history of Christianity due to his feat of saving a hundred clergymen, whom he hid in a cave. On the day of Obadiah the Guardian, as this holiday is named in the Orthodox calendar, our ancestors honored the prophet, whom they considered the protector of families, and performed all necessary actions to safeguard their homes from misfortunes and poverty.
On December 2, believers honor the Old Testament prophet Obadiah, who lived in the late 10th – early 9th century BC. As the steward at the court of the Israeli king Ahab, he led a pious life, which led him to fall out of favor with Jezebel – the king's wife. When, at her command, persecutions against the servants of God began, Obadiah hid a hundred of them in two caves, who were saved thanks to his courage.
After leaving royal service, the former steward went on a journey with the prophet Elijah. Receiving the gift of prophecy, he began to help people by guiding them and warning them of misfortunes. However, as researchers of Christianity note, the book of the prophecies of Obadiah contains only one chapter.
Obadiah the Guardian: Folk Calendar
Saint Obadiah was considered the patron of families. The prophet contributed to maintaining harmony in the home, helping with household matters and child-rearing. For this, our ancestors called him the Guardian and the Parent.
In the past, Obadiah's day was considered a rather dangerous time. Our ancestors knew that on December 2 (November 18 in the old style), evil spirits roamed the earth in search of victims. Therefore, closer to evening, people would not leave their homes without a good reason.
One of the main signs of Obadiah's day was the sign about the axe. Farmers would knock the back of their axes against door frames and window sills on this day, believing that this would protect their homes from evil spirits.
In the evenings, families would gather around the table, have dinner, drink tea, communicate with each other, and teach their children the crafts they knew. Women would show their daughters how to sew, knit, and spin. Men would share secrets of making wooden utensils and various crafts. On the eve of Christmas, fairs would take place in towns and villages, where souvenirs could be sold, and the proceeds used to buy food for the festive table.
Obadiah's Day: Folk Signs
Obadiah the Guardian can predict the weather. He indicates what the winter will be like and what to expect in spring. It was believed that if a strong wind blows on Obadiah's day, the winter and spring will be damp and windy. If, however, there is a lot of snow on Obadiah the Guardian, people understood that a good harvest could be expected in the summer.
Obadiah the Guardian: What Not to Do
The folk holiday has its own prohibitions. In ancient times, people knew that on Obadiah's day, one should not quarrel, curse, or offend elders. Violating these prohibitions could lead to misfortunes for both the violator and their loved ones.
The elders strictly forbade throwing away food scraps. They should be collected down to the last crumb and given to birds or animals. If this was not done, one could end up without money.
On the day of Obadiah the Guardian, it was also forbidden to recount dreams, which were considered prophetic. Those who dared to break this tradition would remain alone for a long time.
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