On January 22, Philip's Day is celebrated in the folk calendar. At this time, our ancestors visited the bathhouse to “wash away the Twelve Days of Christmas,” sought an invisibility cap, and tidied up their household.
Philip's Day: Traditions of the Folk Calendar
On Philip's Day, our ancestors engaged in various household chores. The holidays — Christmas, the Twelve Days of Christmas, Epiphany Eve, and Epiphany — were behind, and it was time to think about the future.
The frosts had not yet ended, and spring was still far away. This required checking supplies. It was also necessary to tidy up the house and not forget about oneself.
Therefore, Philip's Day was filled with household tasks, in which the whole family participated. Women cooked and did laundry, children cleaned, and men tidied up the barn, checked the sleds, and in the middle of the day started heating the bathhouse to “wash away the Twelve Days of Christmas” by evening.
The main work fell on the strong shoulders of women, which was reflected in proverbs emphasizing the importance of their labor: “A house stands with a good mistress”; “A good mistress is worth more than gold”; “Not the mistress who speaks beautifully is good, but the one who cooks delicious cabbage soup.”
What to Do on Philip's Day
The first and most important thing is to visit the church. People sought protection from all misfortunes and troubles that might arise on life's path from Saint Philip.
On Philip's Day, our ancestors sought an invisibility cap. Elders claimed that the spirits residing in the bathhouse left such caps for good people.
If finding a magical cap was unsuccessful, one should seek help from the Bathhouse Spirit — the master of the bath. It was believed that the Bathhouse Spirit could help reveal the truth about the future, and for this, one had to swear loudly in the bath.
Women had their own concerns. It was believed that on Philip's Day, one could drive away mistresses from their husbands. To do this, one needed to pour cold water into a tub, dip a birch broom into it, and say: “Bathhouse Spirit, accept my offerings, drive my rival away from the house.”
After this, the water was taken out beyond the gates and poured out. The broom was left in the bath, where it lay under the bench for seven days, and then it was discreetly exchanged for the one that was already in the house.
On the night of Philip's Day, prophetic dreams were said to occur. To ensure a good dream came true, it had to be told to someone.
A special ritual was performed on Philip's Day: women took a wallet in their hands and showed it to the Moon. However, success could only be achieved during the waxing Moon.
Philip's Day: Folk Omens
In ancient times, it was said that if a snowstorm began on Philip's Day, the summer would be rainy. If the clouds moved against the wind, a snowstorm would soon begin, covering everything with snow.
Crows could “tell” of a snowfall. If flocks of birds circled in the sky, it foretold a strong snowstorm. If the noisy birds walked on the snow, it meant that a thaw was coming soon.
On Philip's Day, one could understand what March would be like. If it was very cold outside, the first month of spring would be very cold.
Domestic animals were considered weather predictors. If a cat was suffering from thirst, drinking a lot of water and scratching the floor, bad weather was already near. If a dog was sleeping curled up, it would soon get sharply colder.
What Not to Do on Philip's Day
Every folk holiday has its own signs and prohibitions, and Philip's Day was no exception. One of the main rules concerns the attitude towards labor.
On January 22 (January 9 in the old style), it was strictly forbidden to be idle. People who believed in omens knew: lazy people faced severe punishment: either illness or poverty. On Philip's Day, it is forbidden to:
Swear, use foul language, offend children and the elderly — you may lose your voice.
Go on a long journey. Philip's Day, considered dangerous, is not the best time for travel. If the trip cannot be postponed, before leaving the house, one should sweep the floor in front of them.
Wear old and dirty clothes — this leads to sorrow and melancholy.
Wash the floors — this leads to poverty. Pouring out dirty water may spill out luck and material well-being.
Sew on buttons — you may “attach” misfortunes that will be difficult to get rid of.
Work half-heartedly. Happiness and luck will leave the house.
