Tomorrow we celebrate Saint Martin’s Day: this holiday reveals the future, but this is what you should not do

Photo: AP / Darko Vojinovic

King Milutin’s son and Tsar Dušan’s father were blinded by their father’s order. When he became blind, according to legend, Saint Nicholas appeared to him in the temple of Ovče polje and showed him his eyes, saying: Stefan, do not be afraid, here are your eyes on my palm, in due time I will bring them back silent.

He spent five years in Constantinople as a prisoner in the Svedržitelj monastery, and with his wisdom, feat, meekness, piety, patience and benevolence, Stefan won not only all the monks but also all of Constantinople. After five years, Saint Nicholas called him again to say: I have come to fulfill my promise.

After that, legend has it, Stefan saw and built the Dečani temple in honor of this saint, one of the wonderful works of Byzantine art and one of the most famous monuments of ancient Serbian piety.

The Holy King Stephen, along with Saint Sava and Saint Prince Lazar, forms a triad of “holiness, nobility and self-sacrifice” given by the Serbian people. He lived his earthly life as a martyr and died as a martyr in 1336, receiving a crown of immortal glory from the Almighty, whom he served faithfully.

The Day of the Holy Martyr Stefan de Decani is a black letter in the calendar of the Serbian Orthodox Church. It is a day of alliance for all those who suffer from eye diseases.

There is a saying among the people: “Santa Mrata, snow for the door”, which marked the beginning of winter, the cold and snowy time of the year. In the people, especially in eastern Serbia, there are interesting customs associated with this holiday that, according to ethnologists, originate in pagan times.

One by one, on the day of St. Martin, the ancient Slavs celebrated the cult of the wolf, which is at the same time a powerful opponent and protector of demons.

Thus, the belief arose that on November 24, Santa Mrata summons all the wolves and determines how many sheep the host can eat that winter, so that they do not cause too much harm to anyone.

Today is the end of the Wolf Days period, which began on Đurđić.

These days nothing is given away outside the home, wool is not spun and nothing is washed. Tailors and shoemakers rest, and women do not make crafts. Older people believe that if Mratindan falls into foggy weather, winter will be changeable. In case of a clear day, the winter will be icy and angry.

On this day the feast of the Holy Martyr Mina is also celebrated.