December 24: Feast of Saint Euphrosyne, omens and traditions of the Holy Evening.

According to ТСН: Tomorrow in the Orthodox calendar marks the day of remembrance of Saint Euphrosyne the Martyr. Saint Euphrosyne was born in Rome to a noble family. Her father, Philip, was the governor of the emperor in Egypt and lived with his family in Alexandria. Euphrosyne received an excellent education, was intelligent, beautiful, and kind.

From an early age, Euphrosyne rejected marriage proposals as she sought to preserve her purity for God. After reading a letter from the Apostle Paul, she became captivated by the Christian faith, although she kept this secret from her parents.

To fully dedicate herself to Christ, young Euphrosyne secretly left home at the age of 16. She disguised herself in men's clothing, took with her two servants, Protas and Yakinf, who became her spiritual companions, and set off to a men's monastery.

In the monastery, she received holy Baptism (according to some chronicles, from Bishop Elij or Ely/Helena) and took the name Euphrosyne. Here, the saint developed her life of prayer, asceticism, and service to others, gaining the respect of the brotherhood.

After baptism, Euphrosyne received the gift of spiritual healing and the gift of preaching. She helped the sick and needy, and her evangelistic activities saved many by converting them to the faith of Christ.

Once, a pregnant woman named Melantia, whom Euphrosyne healed, began to consider the saint a man. When Euphrosyne rejected her with a pure heart, Melantia accused her of a crime.

The saint was brought to trial before the prefect, who turned out to be her father Philip. To prove her innocence, Euphrosyne revealed her female identity and that she was his daughter. This led to her father's and her entire family's conversion to the Christian faith.

After his conversion, Philip accepted Christianity and became a bishop, but he soon died for his faith during new persecutions against Christians. The saint Euphrosyne, along with Protas and Yakinf, was sent to Rome, where she bravely defended her faith during further persecutions.

The saint went through many sufferings and trials for Christ but did not betray her faith. According to tradition, based on church legends, she completed her life by martyrdom by sword around the middle of the 3rd century.

Omens

• If it snows on December 24, this promises a generous harvest in the summer.

• Calm weather without wind is a sign of a peaceful winter, free from storms.

• Cloudy or gloomy sky indicates a windy and rainy spring.

Restrictions for tomorrow

On December 24, the Christmas fast of 2024 ends. For those who have observed it, this day involves abstaining from food, only water is allowed. The festive dinner begins after the first Christmas star appears in the sky. According to folk customs, one should not appear at the festive table in black clothing.

Traditions for tomorrow

The evening before Christmas traditionally gathers the family at the festive table. The table is covered with a white tablecloth, and hay is placed underneath — a sign of the manger where Christ was born. There are always 12 lean dishes on the table, among which kutia symbolizes the hostess, and uzvar symbolizes the host. It is believed that each dish should be tasted to avoid hunger in the coming year. A special custom is to share the festive meal and the warmth of the holiday with the lonely.