On April 23, the Orthodox Christians celebrate Saint Martyr Gheorghe, a symbol of the leader, the fearless fighter and the martyr who did not betray his faith. The day is marked not only by jobs and prayers, but also by numerous customs, traditions and superstitions.
Saint George is the symbol of good victory over evil. PHOTO Christianordodox
Who was Saint George
Saint George was born in Cappadocia, around 270 AD, in a Christian family. At just 20 years old, he enlisted in the Roman army, where he quickly noticed by bravery, becoming captain in the imperial guard. Despite his rank, Gheorghe never abandoned his Christian faith.
In the year 303, following the edict of Emperor Diocletian of persecution of Christians, Gheorghe refused to give up his faith, although he was promised honors and riches was only 33 years old when he was arrested and subjected to terrible tortures, and eventually he was beheaded. His sacrifice has inspired numerous works of art, being represented by great painters such as Raphael or Rubens, notes Click.
Protector of soldiers and shepherds
Saint George has become a symbol of the struggle against evil and a protector of those who face dangers. In the iconography, he is often depicted on a white horse, piercing a dragon with spear, an emblematic image of good victory.
In the Romanian tradition, Saint George is considered the protector of the soldiers, but also of the shepherds. The night before the holiday, the sheep and stables are protected by rituals: the doors and windows are greased with garlic, the animals are smoked with incense, and at the entrance a rake is placed up to remove the evil spirits.
Traditions and superstitions by Saint George
This day is accompanied by numerous popular habits, kept mainly in the rural area.
* At the gates of the households are placed beech branches, tufts of grass or green furrows. It is said that Saint George connects his horse to the pillar of the gate and lets him graze.
* The stables are adorned with leuștean, to keep the animals of diseases and charms.
* Some go through the smoke of a burning fire to clean up and be protected from diseases.
* In other areas, houses and animals are smoked incense to remove spirits.
* The unmarried girls can dream of the bear if, on the night of April 22 to 23, leave a vessel with spring water and look in it in the morning, provided no one had drinking from the water.
* It is not good to sleep on this day, because it is said that you will be sleepy all year (“sleep of lambs”).
* Whoever sees a fish in the water in the morning of Saint George will be lucky all year.
* If you run before the sunrise, you will be sprint and healthy until the next holiday.
The legend of Saint George and the dragon
The most famous legend about Saint George is that of the battle with the dragon, a story with roots in the 12th century. It is said that a dragon terrorized a city called Selena, from Libya. After the locals exhausted all the flocks of sheep to calm the hunger, the dragon asked for the emperor’s daughter.
A brave young man offered to save the city and the princess and, facing the dragon with a spear, defeated, saving the girl. The emperor offered his daughter’s hand and a half of the kingdom, but the brave has refused, saying he has a more important mission: to defend the church and to help the needy. Before leaving, he told the people only his name: Saint George.
