What holiday do believers celebrate today, the prohibitions of the day and who has a name day.

On January 7, according to the new church calendar, Orthodox Christians celebrate the Council of John the Baptist. We talk about the traditions of the day, its folk signs, as well as what is celebrated in the church on January 7 according to the old style in the material.

January 7, 2024 – what church holiday is today according to the new and old calendar

On January 7 (January 20, old style), the day after the Epiphany, the day of remembrance of John the Baptist (or the Baptist) is celebrated – the Cathedral of John the Baptist. John was the same man who prophesied the coming of the Son of God before the Birth of Christ, baptized the Savior in the waters of the Jordan and witnessed the appearance of the Holy Trinity on the day of Baptism.

John was born into the family of an elderly couple – Zechariah and Elizabeth. The archangel Gabriel informed Zechariah about his birth, and when he doubted, he became mute right up to the moment when it was necessary to name his son. About John the angel said: “Many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great before the Lord…”

John was born six months earlier than Jesus; during the massacre of the infants, his mother hid him in the desert – that’s how they survived. John spent his first 30 years in the desert – far from people, sins, and weaknesses. He wore simple, rough clothes made of camel hair, ate wild honey and locusts (locusts or, in another version, carob fruits). At about the age of 28, John began to preach and spoke about the imminent coming of the Messiah.

In the waters of the Jordan River, John baptized many Jews and Jesus himself. After this, the Baptist continued to preach, but was later captured and imprisoned by order of the ruler Herod Antipas. John denounced him for the fact that the king had taken his brother’s wife and violated Jewish laws. The king’s wife asked for John’s head as a gift, and although the king himself did not want this, he fulfilled the request. The Forerunner was executed, and his head was brought to the girl on a platter. Later the chapter was lost three times, but was found. The saint’s body was buried, and Jesus was informed of his death.

“Forerunner” means “one who flows before”, “pioneer”. So John was nicknamed because he was born before Christ and preached about His coming.

Holiday January 7th according to the old style – Nativity. Previously, we told you what you can and cannot do on the church holiday on December 25th.

What do the signs say for January 7?

The signs of the day are used to judge the weather in the near future and the harvest:

• the weather is dry – the summer will also be dry;
• the cold has begun and lasts for a week – immediately after it there will be a thaw;
• In the morning there is frost on the trees – there will be a grain harvest.

In the folk calendar, January 7th is the holiday of Ivan Brazhnik, Winter Wedding Party, Perezimnik. It is generally accepted that John the Baptist brings the first news of spring.

What not to do on January 7

There are a number of prohibitions on this holiday. What not to do today:

• refuse help;
• use foul language, be rude, swear;
• collect gossip.

According to popular wisdom, you should not lend or borrow or count small money on this day – you may find yourself broke, and also accept gifts from strangers. At the same time, you shouldn’t refuse your family’s requests either.

What can you do on January 7

On this day it is good to go to church – “Cathedral” means a meeting of believers to perform divine services in honor of John the Baptist. If this is not possible, then pray at home. They ask John the Baptist for help in difficult matters and healing from serious illnesses, childless spouses turn to the saint with prayer so that God would send them children, women ask to guide unfaithful husbands on the true path.

People nicknamed the holiday Ivan the Hawk Moth – according to tradition, on the first day after Epiphany you need to “wash down evil” with blessed Epiphany water. This ritual, according to legend, energizes health for the whole year. It is also customary to gather at a common table with relatives, friends and neighbors.

January 7 – name day today

Name days today according to the church calendar are celebrated by Afanasy, Vasily, Ivan.

Previously, we published the Orthodox calendar for January 2024 with holidays according to the new style.