November 1 – seeing off the canopy

November 1 in the folk calendar is Ivanov’s day or Seeing off autumn. On this day, winter weather usually began in Russia – sub-zero temperatures set and it snowed.

Also, November 1 (according to the old style – October 19) was popularly called Grooms Day. Our ancestors on this day especially looked after the horses – it was believed that the brownie could scare them very much, and also confuse their manes so that you would not unravel them later. To appease the brownie, a pot of porridge or a piece of bread was left for him in the yard or in the stable.

On this day, it was necessary to feed not only the brownie, but also the birds – they believed that the more birds pecked at the grains and crumbs poured in the yard, the more luck would come to the house. And if there are magpies among the feathered guests, then the brownie will not harm the owners all winter.

Even on Midsummer’s Day, it was customary to cook chicken dishes. Usually it was rich chicken soup and large layered pies – kurniki.

In the evening, you can make a wish, and in order for it to come true, you need to put an apple under your pillow at night and eat it in the morning.

Among the prohibitions on Ivan’s Day, the main ones were: you can’t wash and dry linen on the street – otherwise you will attract troubles into the house; you cannot refuse to help those who ask – you yourself can become impoverished; you can’t force horses to work – otherwise it will be hard to survive the winter; you can’t drive away an owl that has flown to the house – to trouble.

Also, after sunset on this day, they were afraid to leave the house – they believed that evil spirits might meet.

Natural signs on November 1 are as follows:

– if it snows, spring will be late and cold.

– if the day is warm – spring will come early;

– if it is damp and slushy outside – real winter will not come for another 4 weeks;

– if snow falls and high humidity – there will be a lot of snowdrops in spring;

– if a magpie jumps near the house – wait for the news.

A dream that occurred on the night of November 1 may indicate how your business is going. And in a dream you can see a person to whom you are indebted. And it’s not just about money – perhaps someone helped you earlier with advice or deed, and now he himself is waiting for help from you.

Alena Bodrienko.

Photo by Pelagia Tikhonova / Moskva Agency