On January 23, Orthodox believers honor Saint Gregory of Nyssa, who lived in the 4th century. In the folk calendar, this day is known as Gregory Letoukazatel. Ancestors believed that on this day one could predict the summer weather — whether there would be rain or drought.
On January 23, Orthodox churches commemorate Saint Gregory, Bishop of Nyssa, who lived in the 4th century in Cappadocia.
He was the younger brother of Saint Basil the Great and a close friend of Gregory the Theologian, a well-known defender of Orthodox dogmas and devoted to his flock. According to traditions, this philosopher and theologian was distinguished by his magnanimity, patience, and love for peace.
Folk Calendar: Gregory Letoukazatel
The folk holiday dedicated to Saint Gregory of Nyssa was called Gregory Letoukazatel, Gregory Letoukaznik, and simply Letoukazatel.
In ancient times, preparations for spring fieldwork began at this time. Men checked tools, tidied up the barns, and sorted grain.
Women took care of household chores: cooking, washing, cleaning, and caring for children.
This day was considered calm and family-oriented. In the evening, families gathered for dinner, having gatherings with a samovar. A meat dish was always prepared for dinner, believing that it would bring luck and health to all family members.
Gregory Letoukazatel: What Needs to Be Done
The folk holiday was associated with rituals aimed at attracting wealth and harvest. The symbols of the day were a haystack and Stogovoy — the spirit residing in it, thus rituals were conducted at the threshold of the house.
Ancestors believed that to become wealthy, one needed to walk around the haystack three times counterclockwise. To make dreams of wealth come true, a small amount of hay was brought into the house.
It was believed that if one worked well on Gregory Letoukazatel, luck would not leave the house, and peace and tranquility would reign in the family.
To appease Stogovoy, it was customary to bring him a loaf of bread. If the spirit of the fields was full and satisfied, there would be no need to fear dampness or rodents in the summer.
Gregory Letoukazatel: Folk Omens
The holiday of Gregory Letoukazatel could predict what to expect in the summer: whether there would be rain or dry days. To find this out, haystacks were checked. If they were covered with frost, the summer promised to be rainy.
If frost was observed on the trees, it was a joy: it meant that the weather would be mild and comfortable: “Trees in frost — the sky will be blue.” Another saying related to the weather and Letoukazatel has survived: “A day rich in long frost — the summer period will be unsettled, young rye will bloom just before the rain.”
On January 23 (January 10 in the old style), name days are celebrated by: Anatoly, Antip, Gregory, Zenon, Macarius, Paul, Peter, Theophan.
People born on this day are distinguished by original thinking. They are unlike those around them and attract people to them like a magnet. They have many friends and secret enemies. The gift of predicting the future and seeing what is inaccessible to others helps them avoid major troubles that often follow them.
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Gregory Letoukazatel: What Not to Do
One of the prohibitions of this day concerns idleness. Elders warned the youth that lazy people would face great misfortunes. On Gregory Letoukazatel, it is forbidden to:
Throw away food scraps. Everything down to the last crumb should be given to pets and birds.
Whine, suffer, and complain about problems — after this, they will triple.
Avoid taking out the trash until the next day — along with it, luck and fortune may be thrown out of the house.
Boast about successes — they will not come again.
Wash dishes while visiting — this may cause discord in someone else's family.
Ancestors believed that on Gregory Letoukazatel, one should not pick up spoons that have fallen from the table. This should only be done the next day, otherwise, one may receive bad news.
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