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Saint Dumitru or Dimitrie is celebrated every year, on October 26. Among the most beautiful customs observed on the eve of Saint Dumitru are the living fires.
On October 25, at night, the “Fire of Sâmedru” is celebrated, the custom of the people to light fires in courtyards or on hills, over which children jump to be healthy, and young people jump to get married, writes calendarulortodox. ro. There is a belief that people who jump on flames will be healthy all year round and will be safe from problems and diseases.
Upon returning from church, widows share gifts for the souls of the dead (boiled wheat, ritual rolls, butter, cheese, milk, walnuts, prunes) singing songs and prayers for the forgiveness of the deceased.
We must not forget an important aspect, namely that today, October 26, the dead are also mentioned and cages and spirals in the shape of a cross are given as alms.
To see what the coming winter will be like, shepherds often put their fur on the grass in the middle of the sheep, hoping to see which sheep will sit on it. If you put a black sheep, the winter will be good, if you put a white sheep, the winter will be hard.
What are the customs of San Dumitru?
Another custom that people learned about the weather from was walking the sheep in the morning at Saint Dumitru. If a white sheep woke up for the first time and went south, the winter would be harsh, and if a black sheep woke up and went north, the winter would be light.
In Bucovina, the people who will plant garlic after Sanmedru will only suffer damage next year. In the Oltenia region, people believe that only if you respect all the traditions of this holiday will you be truly protected from trouble and danger. The people of the country used to strictly observe these superstitions to protect their animals from wolves.
Also on this day, the mane of young horses is cut to make it grow beautiful.
Don’t comb your hair with Saint Dumitru!
However, St. Dumitru should not use the comb. Otherwise, it will cause trouble and danger.
According to popular belief, San Dumitru is the day when all accounts (rentals, loans) are settled, which were made six months ago.
Also, in San Dumitru, the servants bargain for various things and the pens are damaged.
In Sâmedru, it is said of the elders that the dead turn into idiots, werewolves, the undead and, coming out of the earth, torment the living.
