Folk signs for September 24: what can and cannot be done

In Russia, omens have been given special importance since ancient times. They were used to judge the weather, when to sow and harvest, and what to expect in the future. Therefore, every day of the national calendar was full of rituals and superstitions. Izvestia tells about the popular signs of Wednesday, September 24, and which church holidays are celebrated on this day.

Folk signs for September 24, 2025

In Russia, Feodor's evenings were celebrated on September 24, another name is Cabbage Evenings. The main tradition of the holiday was women's gatherings, during which women gathered in the same house. Together they spun, patched clothes, exchanged stories, and harvested cabbages for the winter. The men were doing household chores, preparing firewood and barns for the winter.

Even on this day, there was a tradition to help the family of the priest of the local church. Parishioners gathered gifts from the whole village and brought them to the priest's house. Usually it was vegetables from the garden, pickles and pies. Also on the holiday, they helped my mother to make winter supplies, clean the house and put things in order in the yard. This custom was called "autumn".

Weather signs were given great importance on Fedorin's day. They were used to judge the weather in the coming days and in the autumn-winter season. So, if there was fog on the ground in the morning, then they knew that autumn would be wet and protracted. And if it got colder in the evening, they were preparing for a long and harsh winter.

Other signs of the day:

• dew fell in the morning — for a clear and warm day;
• the wind changes direction — to changeable weather;
• Geese are screaming loudly — for a cold snap soon,
• The spider's web flies low over the ground, leading to prolonged rains.;
• The stars are shining brightly in the sky, ready for frost at night;
• It started raining — sunny days won't come soon;
• a lot of mushrooms appeared in the forest — for the snowy winter;
• if bees are still flying in the fields, winter will be late.

What not to do on September 24th

According to popular beliefs, on Feodor's evenings you can not pick up any objects from the ground, especially at intersections and on the threshold of the house, otherwise you can "pick up" someone else's trouble. Broken dishes are considered a bad omen. Dishes were handled with extreme care, as a broken plate or cup portended disagreements and quarrels in the family.

Prayer for the coming day: a morning rule in the Orthodox tradition

What is it, how to read it, and why is it needed

What else can't be done on September 24th:

• Preening married women can cause jealousy and discord.;
• Washing your hair is believed to "wash off" your memory and forget something important.;
• Starting new businesses without completing old ones is a high risk of failure.;
• make large purchases — things will wear out quickly or turn out to be useless;
• talking nonsense and gossiping — the day required silence, concentration and inner peace;
• frying potatoes for newlyweds leads to misunderstandings between spouses.

What is the church holiday on September 24th?

On September 24, the Orthodox Church honors the memory of St. Theodora of Alexandria, a Christian ascetic and nun who lived in Egypt at the end of the fifth century. She was married to a wealthy Alexandrian, but after leaving her family, she entered a monastery, devoting her life to the service of God.

For eight years, Theodora carried out heavy obediences, hiding her real origin and name. She was expelled from the monastery on false charges and was able to return to the monastery only seven years later. Soon, Theodora discovered the gift of miracle—working - thanks to her prayers, water reappeared in the dried-up well.

On the same date, the faithful remember St. Silouan of Athos. The saint was born in 1866 in the Tambov province into a peasant family. In his youth, he went to the Holy Mount Athos and entered the monastery of the Holy Great Martyr Panteleimon, and later took monastic vows under the name Silouan.

Through his ascetic life, the monk set an example of meekness, humility, and love for others. In 1998, the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Constantinople canonized the blessed elder. Later, the name of St. Silouan of Athos was entered into the calendar of the Russian Orthodox Church.

The most powerful birthday prayer: meaning and rules of reading

History and practical recommendations for reading a prayer on a birthday

Prayers on September 24

Theodora of Alexandria is asked for help in the fight against sinful passions, in household needs and family matters. It is believed that the saint helps to overcome various difficulties, so you can pray to her in other life situations. They pray to St. Silouan of Athos for the strengthening of faith, the gift of humility, and for help in monastic work.

Prayer to Theodora of Alexandria

Troparion, glas 8

"It is known in you, Mother, that you were saved in your image: for having taken up the cross, you followed Christ, and taught what you did, for you despise the flesh, for you are passing away, and you are diligent about things more immortal for the soul: so that your spirit may rejoice with the Angels, Venerable Theodoro."

Kontakion, glas 2

"Having exhausted your body with fasts, through the watchful prayers of the Creator you implored for your sins, that you might receive perfect forgiveness: and you accepted abandonment, showing the way of repentance."

Prayer to Silouan of Athos

"O faithful servant of God, Venerable Father Silouan, of the holy Mount Athos <...> we now kneel with emotion in our hearts and cry out to you: bring our prayer to the All-merciful God and ask for everything that benefits our souls and bodies: just faith, innumerable hope, unfeigned love, courage in temptation, patience in suffering and pain, prosperity in piety, zeal in prayer; accept our humble supplication, warm us with the breath of your love, enlighten us with the light of your grace, and be an intercessor for us to the Lord, pour out your prayer to Him, that he may calm the storm of our passions and our cold hearts with the fire of his Divine love. May He vouchsafe us to offer Him warm repentance with tears, but to bear the labors and sorrows of this life patiently, meekly and with thanksgiving, and at the hour of our departure from earthly life, may He plunge the abyss of our sins into the sea of His mercy and have mercy on us for the sake of His ineffable love for the human race and may He vouchsafe us to enjoy Him in the Kingdom of Heaven. Through divine love, together with you and all the saints, forever and ever. Amen to that."

Earlier, Izvestia told what Saints Peter and Paul of Nicaea were praying about.