September 23 signs and rituals. What does the autumnal equinox mean? History and traditions

Saints Peter and Paul, Bishops of Nicaea (IX). Rev. Paul the Obedient, Caves (XIII-XIV).

Popular name:

Peter-Paul - mountain ash, name day of mountain ash, autumn equinox.

Signs and customs

September 23 is the autumnal equinox, when day equals night. According to beliefs, the sun went to bed before the onset of spring. The autumn equinox in Rus' was celebrated as a great holiday.

In the villages, festivities were organized, tables were laid, where pies with various fillings occupied a central place: meat, cabbage, mushrooms, lingonberries. The peasants turned to Peter and Paul with prayers, asking them to help them survive the winter and live until the next spring.

September 23 was the name day of the mountain ash, which was considered the personification of the sun. After the first autumn frosts, the berries become soft and sweet. Such berries served as an excellent amulet. Brushes of mountain ash were hung under the roof of the house in order to attract happiness and prosperity to the hut. For the same purpose, bunches of rowan were placed on a leash - a hayloft located above the stable and the barn. I must say that when going for mountain ash, they never picked berries clean from the trees - they always left the forest inhabitants for food.

Rowan is sweet for their name days.

There is no mountain ash, and autumn is not autumn.

Pyotr and Pavel, mountain ash growers call to sour mountain ash and stock up for the future.

The sun begins to curtain the windows of his tower with stars to sleep.

Name day on September 23 is celebrated by:

Andrew, Apellius, Callinicus, Kasyan, Clement, Lukiy, Minodora, Mitrodor, Nymphodora, Pavel, Peter, Pulcheria.

Day of the autumnal equinox. The Earth occupies a strictly vertical position relative to the Sun, this happens only 2 times a year in spring and autumn. The sun will cross the celestial equator and move from the northern hemisphere of the celestial sphere to the southern.

(In science, the spring and autumn equinoxes are distinguished. The autumnal equinox occurs on September 22 or 23, when the Sun moves from the northern hemisphere to the southern. In 2016, this happened on September 22 at 14:21 (Coordinated Universal Time. The abbreviation UTC has no specific decoding. UTC was introduced instead of the obsolete Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Samara is part of the UTC + 4 time zone. Samara time (SAMT) - the informal name of the local time of the time zone in which the city of Samara is located - the administrative center of the Samara region Samara time is 4 hours ahead of coordinated universal time and 1 hour ahead of Moscow time (UTC + 4, MSK + 1. This is the official time in Astrakhan, Samara , Ulyanovsk regions and Udmurtia. Therefore, astronomical autumn came on September 22, 2016 at 18:21.)

On this day, the length of day and night on the whole Earth is the same and equal to 12 hours. However, due to refraction, which, as it were, “raises” the Sun above the horizon, daylight hours still last a little longer.

In Rus', the day of the autumn solstice was considered a holiday and was always celebrated with pies with cabbage, lingonberries and meat, as well as folk festivals.

According to the folk calendar, on this day autumn passes into the second stage - golden autumn. This beautiful time, which took the classics of pen and brush for a living, will last until October 14th. 23 September ( Autumn Peter and Pavel - Fieldfare) Our ancestors honored the sun, prayed to accumulate strength and drive away the approaching darkness.

More about the history of this day:

Peter and Pavel Ryabinniki

This day marks the memory of Saints Peter and Paul, Bishops of Nicaea. In the 9th century, under King Leo the Isaver, Saint Peter defended Orthodox faith from the iconoclasts and suffered for it.

Four letters of St. Theodore the Studite to St. Peter are known. No information has been preserved about the life of Paul, who also preached Orthodoxy in Nicaea.

By the day of Peter and Paul, the ripened mountain ash from autumn frosts became sweet (they said that the tree celebrates its name day).

“From Peter's day in summer, eat strawberries, and from autumn - mountain ash,” they said among the people. Berries began to be harvested for the future, compotes and medicinal kvass were cooked from them.

Rowan was considered an excellent remedy against diseases and evil spirits; an infusion of it was used to cure colds. Rowan was also credited with miraculous properties. They believed that a simple ritual helps with insomnia: you need to take a rowan branch and draw a circle around you with it.

Since the mountain ash was considered a means of expelling evil spirits, all the windows in the house were decorated with bunches of it before the onset of winter. From mountain ash they also made tinctures and liqueurs, beloved by the people. To do this, it was necessary to collect berries after the first frosts, carefully sort them out, put them in a bottle, pour vodka over them and put them in a dark place for two to three months.

Shake the bottle every three or four days. The mountain ash was also used to judge what the next months would be like. The abundance of berries foreshadowed a damp autumn and a harsh winter.

The autumnal equinox is the name of the astronomical phenomenon in which every year in September the day is equal to the night.

In 2018, the autumnal equinox in GMT (UT) will occur on September 23 at 01:54, and in Tbilisi time on September 23 at 05:54.

What happens on the autumn equinox

It is worth noting that in reality the day today, both north and south of the equator, will last longer than the night. This is due to the fact that the sun's rays are refracted in the Earth's atmosphere, and during sunrise and sunset, the solar disk for the observer is somewhat "raised" above the horizon, which makes it seem that the morning comes a little earlier, and the evening - a little later. This phenomenon is called "atmospheric refraction", and if it were not for it, day and night would indeed be light and dark times of the day would be equally long.

By the way, in the Northern Hemisphere, astronomical autumn and winter together last five days less than spring and summer, and in the Southern Hemisphere, on the contrary, five days longer. This is due to the fact that the Earth during this period passes through a part of its orbit closer to the Sun, which is why it moves somewhat faster. At the same time, contrary to a common misconception, the change of seasons itself is not associated with a change in the distance to the Sun (which becomes minimal at the height of winter in the Northern Hemisphere), but with the fact that the Earth's axis of rotation has an inclination to the plane of the Earth's orbit.

The autumnal equinox is of interest not only from an astronomical but also from a cultural point of view, since many folk traditions It was taken into account that during this period the night becomes longer than the day.

Customs, traditions

Since ancient times, four sacred holidays have been solemnly celebrated, including the autumnal equinox, to which the people attached mystical significance.

People believed that the connection between the dead and the living was especially strong on this day.

In those distant times, they lived according to the natural calendar, according to which New Year began with the onset of the autumn equinox. During this period, people thanked the gods for the harvest and prosperity and honored the dead by decorating their graves.

The Slavs celebrated the New Year in September - the holiday symbolized the beginning of a new life cycle. The traditions of this holiday go back to ancient times. In those distant times, the Slavs, after the harvest, arranged brides, weddings and festive festivities.

Slavs in September, according to tradition, celebrated several holidays. The first - Osenins (giving away Ovsen), celebrated at the beginning of autumn. By Slavic mythology Ovsen is a deity who was responsible for the change of seasons. On the holiday, people thanked the Spirits and Nature for all the gifts, including the harvest.

On the day of the autumn equinox, the ancient Slavs had the seventh month of the year - Veresen (Tausen, Radogoshch). It was dedicated to Veles - the god of the three worlds (Rule, Reveal, Navi) or "three sides of being."

According to tradition, the ancient Slavs celebrated the holiday for two weeks - seven days before and seven days after the autumn equinox. They drank during the festive feasts honey drink suryu. The drink was infused with freshly picked hops.

The most popular, among the delicacies on the festive table, was pastries. According to the ancient Slavic tradition, pies with cabbage brought wealth, with meat - they helped in a career, and with lingonberries - in love.

After the autumn equinox in Ancient Rus' they escorted the goddess Zhiva to the heavenly kingdom - Svarga, thanking her for the donated harvest. According to ancient tradition, the kingdom of heaven was closed for the winter.

tradition, the kingdom of heaven was closed for the winter.

The opening of Svarga in pagan times, according to tradition, was celebrated on the spring equinox, which falls on March 21. The spring equinox coincided with the last day of the festive week on Komoyeditsa (Shrovetide).

The ancient Slavic holiday Velesen, after the adoption of Christianity, the church replaced the Christmas holiday Holy Mother of God Orthodox Christians celebrate it on September 21st.

holiday rituals
In Rus', in the old days, they performed various rituals to attract happiness and good luck, as well as to improve their financial situation. Some of these rituals have survived to this day.

For example, wealth was attracted by such a ceremony - they baked round-shaped pies with cabbage or apples. Improvements in financial condition were expected in the near future if the dough rose quickly and the cake itself did not burn.

Another rite helped to complete the unfavorable period in life - for this, they burned all the old things in the yard, after a general cleaning in the house.

During the autumn equinox, as was believed in the old days, water had a special power. Therefore, in the evening, the girls necessarily performed the ritual of washing. And the old people and children needed to swim in order to maintain their health.

The people believed that love energy was especially strong on the day of the autumn equinox, so during this period they performed a marriage ceremony and established relationships with their soulmate.

Marriable girls performed various rituals: some put a second pillow on the bed, saying “my soulmate, come”, others burned walnut branches on a saucer with thoughts of imminent marriage, and scattered the ashes in the evening on the street.

Signs on September 23, 2018

The weather, according to signs, will be the same all autumn as it was on the autumn equinox.

The upcoming winter was judged by the rowan harvest - the more berries in the clusters, the colder the winter would be.

According to signs, autumn will be long, and winter will come late if there are a lot of cobwebs on the day of the autumnal equinox.

If the cranes are in a hurry to fly away, this is a clear sign that a harsh winter is coming.

According to signs, winter will come soon if the willow leaves begin to fall off.

A poorly laid table for the autumn equinox is a sign indicating that much will be missed in the coming year.

It was considered a good omen to visit their parents, so the children tried to visit their father's house in the morning.

Finding a “stone of luck” on the autumn equinox is a symbol of change for the better, a good omen. Therefore, people, on the way home, carefully looked under their feet, so as not to miss their happiness.

By the way, an inner feeling helped to find a stone that became a talisman. So, be careful and don't miss your luck!

Today is September 23 (September 10 old style). Folk signs, proverbs and sayings, today: Peter and Pavel Ryabinniki.

Peter and Pavel Ryabinniki. They prepared mountain ash for the future, for compotes and making healing kvass - it is a faithful assistant against twigs and evil spirits. Rowan infusion was considered a good anti-inflammatory remedy for winter colds. The people believed that if a malicious spirit torments you, it doesn’t give you sleep, it comes to your chest and chokes you, you need to take a rowan branch, outline the space around you - and evil spirits will perish, as it never was. And therefore, windows for the winter were decorated with rowan clusters from all wickedness.

In Rus', there are two Peter - Paul - big and small, summer and autumn. Autumn Peter - Pavel - fieldfare. At this time, after the first frosts, the mountain ash becomes sweeter and they begin to collect it for food. Gathering mountain ash, leave on each tree part of the berries for birds. Few mountain ash - dry autumn, and a lot - harsh winter.

Peter and Paul.
Weak fur in game is a sign of a mild winter.
Many hares - for the harsh winter.
The hare did not shed cleanly, but as if in spots - for a dirty winter.
The old stump is damp - to the rain.
The cork in an empty barrel began to be pulled out tightly - to bad weather.
The sky seems high - to the bucket.

Notes in September.

Thunder in September portends a warm autumn.
Until the cherry leaf has fallen, no matter how much snow falls, the thaw will drive it away.
If the cranes fly high, slowly and "talk" - it will be a good autumn.
A lot of nettnik for Indian summer - to a clear autumn and cold winter.
The web spreads over the plants - to heat.
Autumn shade net - for clear weather, for a bucket.
A lot of acorns in September on oak - for a fierce winter.
If there are a lot of acorns on the oaks this month, then expect a lot of snow before Christmas.
Frequent and strong fogs that occur in September, especially without wind, cause various diseases to people of poor health.

Russian folk omens and superstitions

The thief steals - leaves the walls, and the fire devours everything.
A rumble in the pipe - the soul of the deceased has come (west).
Porridge from the pot will come out of the oven - for worse, into the oven - for good.
Soap in the bosom saves from spoilage.
Do not step on the net and do not spit: the fish will not be caught.
After killing the snake, you need to hang it on an aspen.
Damn, damn, play, but give it back again (when something is lost, they bandage the devil’s beard: they curl the leg of the table with a handkerchief).

September 23 - Peter and Pavel, fieldfare, name day of mountain ash. On this date, the memory of Saints Peter and Paul, Bishops of Nicaea, is honored. According to popular beliefs, on this day, after the first frosts, the mountain ash becomes sweet, and it can already be harvested.

When collecting mountain ash, it was necessary to leave some berries for birds on each tree. People believed that small birds are the souls of deceased relatives, and they must certainly be treated.

On this day, housewives prepared special kvass from mountain ash, which was considered an anti-inflammatory and antipyretic agent that relieves all autumn and winter colds. According to popular beliefs, from this day the sun falls asleep and can no longer protect people, and therefore they attack the human race of ailments and diseases.

September 23 - folk signs and superstitions

• The sky on September 23 seems high - to the bucket.
• If there are a lot of mountain ash in the forest, the autumn is rainy, if there are few, it is dry.
• A lot of berries on a mountain ash portends a harsh winter.
• Weak fur in game is a sign of a mild winter.
• Many hares - for the harsh winter.
• The hare did not shed cleanly, but as if in spots - for a dirty winter.
• The old stump dampened on September 23 - to the rain.
• The cork in an empty barrel began to be pulled out tightly - to bad weather.
• Rowan, harvested on September 23, protects against colds and treats headaches.
• Rowan becomes the sweetest of the year. The traditional drink on this day was rowan kvass - very tasty and healthy.
• A sprig of mountain ash, put on the table on September 23, brings happiness to the house.
• Start something on this day - to a happy ending.
• Those who go on the road today can be calm: nothing will happen to them on the way!
• On September 23, the voice of the heart (intuition) is especially sharpened in people: what he says is right!
• Those born on this day will live long. They will be industrious and patient. In order for everything to be good in their life, they must wear a sapphire as a talisman.