In the past, in the second half of August, the harvest was the most important thing for people. Farmers hurried to harvest grain, dry cereals, store vegetables, and prepare for autumn.
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It was believed that at this time, one should especially take care of the home and farm, not waste food, and treat respectfully what the earth had given.
Bread was baked from the first harvest, and onions, garlic, and other vegetables were braided into bundles and hung to dry. Such tasks were not only practical – they symbolized preparation for winter and the preservation of family well-being.
What should not be done?
Many different superstitions and prohibitions were associated with this day. For example, an unmarried girl dreaming of a family was supposedly not supposed to eat sea buckthorn on August 18th. It was believed that this could cause her to lose her attractiveness and remain unmarried for a long time.
Married women were advised not to cook anything without asking their husband – it was believed that this could attract disagreements and conflicts into the family.
On this day, families baked bread from the new harvest’s grain. Braids of onions and garlic were hung in homes – it was believed that they purified the air and protected the house.
Money and household well-being
It was believed that to avoid attracting financial difficulties, one should not recount money or unnecessarily jingle coins in one’s pocket after noon on August 18th.
It was believed that dirty, crumpled clothes could also lead to debt. And so that the family would not lack food, one should not throw away food scraps – they were advised to leave them for the next day or give them to animals.
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People also tried not to tell others about their plans – it was thought that too much openness could attract misfortune.
Some superstitions advised against visiting a hairdresser on this day, as a new hairstyle was believed to lead to unexpected life changes.
Another old belief stated that a person who lied on August 18th could soon suffer from their own lie.
Are prophetic dreams dreamt this night?
It was believed that a prophetic dream could be dreamt on the night of August 18th to 19th. People looked for signs and symbols in their dreams, which, they believed, could help them make an important decision or avoid troubles.
Weather signs
In ancient times, the weather on August 18th was also considered an important sign, helping to predict the nature of autumn and winter.
If it rains on August 18th – a rainy September was expected.
If thunder rumbles – it was believed that Indian summer would be short.
If fog begins to roll in – warming was expected.
A red sunset – a sign of approaching cooling.
If the day is hot – autumn was believed to come later than usual.
A hot August 18th was also considered a sign of a mild and snowy winter.
Therefore, on August 18th, one can remember the simple wisdom of the elders: what you tidy up and save at the end of summer, you will enjoy when winter comes.
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