Serbs celebrate Djurdjic tomorrow, you must strictly respect these customs at the big party.

Đurđić, Photo: Wikipedia

On November 16, the Orthodox Church and the faithful celebrate Djurdjic, a holiday that marks the transfer of the relics of Saint George (George) from Nicomedia, where he died during the reign of Emperor Diocletian, to the Palestinian Lida.

Before he died, St. George asked his servant to take his body to Palestine after his death, where he had a large property that he distributed to the poor. In his honor, a magnificent temple was built in Lida, to which the relics of the saint were transferred.

Numerous miracles happened in that place, and there are even more believers who claim that after St. George’s prayers, he appeared to them in dreams, after which their prayers were answered. One such miracle is the one that happened to Stefan Nemanja, who, after the saint miraculously saved him, built the church and the Monastery of the Columns of St. George.

Saint George was a Roman soldier in the Emperor Diocletian’s guard, then a tribune, and then a duke and advisor to the emperor. After the emperor began the great persecution of Christians, Georgije distributed his treasures to the poor, and he himself admitted that he was a Christian.

For that, he was tortured for days, and the saint, despite his swords, burned, and poisonous drinks, remained alive. In the end, his head was decapitated and the day of his death is celebrated as Saint George’s Day, on May 6.

As a saint and a soldier, Saint George is celebrated as the protector of numerous cities and states, as well as the army.

Some special customs are related to the days following Đurđica. The period from Đurđica to Mratindan is called Mratinci or days of the wolf because St. Mrata (celebrated on November 24 according to the Gregorian calendar) is the protector of wolves. According to ancient customs, nothing is given outside the home during mratinci, no wool is spun and nothing is washed. Tailors and shoemakers rest, and women do not make crafts.

This week also offers a “weather forecast”. It is believed that if the days in it are misty, the winter will be changeable, and if it is clear, the winter will be harsh and with many frosts.