On February 3, the church calendar commemorates Saint Simeon the God-Receiver and Anna the Prophetess, who witnessed the bringing of the infant Jesus to the Jerusalem Temple. Simeon, having received a prophecy that he would not die until he saw the Messiah, met the little Christ and recognized him as the Savior. Anna, who was a prophetess and served with fasting and prayer, also witnessed the special nature of this event. On this day, Christians pray to the saints for the protection of children and spiritual enlightenment, writes IZ.
Traditionally, it was believed that on this day it was necessary to avoid conflicts and quarrels, not to lend money, and not to wear black clothes so as not to invite trouble. Folk signs helped predict the weather: if the forest was noisy, they expected warming, and if a crackling sound was heard, frost was approaching. Birds chirping loudly heralded the imminent arrival of spring.
Today, Vasyl, Volodymyr, Ivan, Mykhailo, Mykola, Pavlo, Roman, Semen, Timofiy and Anna celebrate their name days. People born on February 3 have turquoise as their amulet – a stone that brings harmony and happiness. This day marks memorable events, including the first congress of Ukrainian nationalists in 1929 and the establishment of diplomatic relations between Ukraine and Turkey in 1992.
In addition to the religious holiday, February 3 is celebrated as International Golden Retriever Day, dedicated to one of the most popular dog breeds. This day is also the World Day against Profanity, which calls for cultural communication. Another date is World Free Love Day, which reminds us of the importance of personal choices in relationships and tolerance for different models of relationships.
Recall that we previously wrote about church events, traditions, and prohibitions on February 2
