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Summer Nicholas the Wonderworker: when it is celebrated, history, rituals, signs and sayings

At the end of spring in Russia, since ancient times, one of the two folk-Christian holidays associated with the most revered saint in the Christian world has been celebrated - Nikolay Ugodnik, which is also called Nicholas the Wonderworker or Saint Nicholas.

When is the holiday of the summer St. Nicholas the Wonderworker celebrated?

Holiday summer Nicholas the Wonderworker, or, as it is also called, Nikola summer, Nikola spring, or Nicole's Day, noted 22nd of May, which corresponds to May 9 in the old style.

Who is Nicholas the Wonderworker

Saint Nicholas is one of the most revered saints in Christianity. In Russia, he was considered the protector of ordinary people and animals, as well as the patron saint of navigation, trade, agriculture and children. In addition, Saint Nicholas is considered the intercessor of the slandered and innocently condemned.

Nicholas the Wonderworker is commemorated twice. Nikola Summer noted 22nd of May in honor of the transfer in 1087 of the relics of St. Nicholas from the city of Myra in the territory of modern Turkey to the city of Bar in Italy.

The second holiday is the so-called Nikola winter- celebrated December 19th. This is the day of memory of St. Nicholas, which is associated with the end of his earthly life.

According to legend, Nicholas the Wonderworker was born in the 3rd century in the Greek colony of Patara in Asia Minor into a Christian family. From his youth, Nicholas was a zealous Christian and unmercenary, and he was also credited with numerous miracles that he performed with the help of prayer.

Nicholas the Pleasant (he is sometimes even called Nikola Marine) is especially revered by sailors, because, according to legend, the saint knew how to pacify the stormy sea with his prayer and even somehow resurrected a sailor who crashed when falling from the mast.

After his death, Nicholas the Wonderworker was buried in a special shrine in the church of the city of Mira. However, Italian merchants, fearing persecution of Christians and the destruction of relics, stole the reliquary in 1087 and transported it to Italy, where it has since been kept in the crypt of the Basilica of St. Nicholas in the Italian city of Bar.

Nikola Summer - traditions and rituals

Nikola Summer or spring or Nicole's day- this is the day of the Slavic folk calendar, corresponding to the summer Nicholas the Wonderworker, the holiday also falls on May 22.

In Russia, on this day, Nikolai Ugodnik was prayed with requests to save livestock and crops, since it was believed that this saint was very close to God, and, therefore, was responsible for the weather and various elements.

It was customary for owners of horses and other livestock to perform various rituals on Nikola Summer to protect livestock from diseases, predators and other misfortunes.

For example, there were special rites for protection from wolves. The peasants stuck a knife into the table or into the threshold, put iron in the oven or covered the stone with a pot, saying: “My cow, my nurse - sit under the pot from the wolf, and you, the wolf, gnaw your sides.”