If the rooks fly straight to their old nests, then the spring will be warm, friendly, the hollow water will run away at once. "The rooks have arrived - in a month the snow will come down.
If wild ducks arrived fat, the spring will be cold and long. Birds build their nests on the sunny side - by the cold summer. If hares molt for a long time in spring, wait for the cold weather to continue.
Geese fly high - there will be a lot of water, low - little. Early flight of bees - to the red spring. If in the spring a lot of cobwebs fly, the summer will be hot. When many mice appear in the spring, this portends a hungry year.
The rooks sat in the nests - in three weeks they go out for sowing. If the bees sit on a cherry blossom, cherries will be born, if not, there will be no cherries.
In the spring they catch beetles and note: if they have more embryos on their front legs, then in summer they should be sown earlier, and that sowing will be better; if in the middle, then it should sow in the middle season, and if on the back, then late sowing will be more profitable.
in) Flora
If the birch is downy forward - wait for a dry summer, if the maple is forward - wet.
If in spring the birch leaves in front of the alder, the summer will be dry, if the alder is ahead, it will be wet.
The bark, crackling in abundance in the spring on birches and other trees, predicts long, good and dry weather for the future.
If the dandelion blooms in early spring, the summer will be short.
Short term weather forecast
a) weather events
Crimson dawns - to the winds.
Month horns down - to warmth, the horns of the moon are bright and steep - to frost.
If the clouds are floating fast and high - a sure sign: good weather. If the clouds move quickly in one direction, it will be hot.
If cloud caps are visible in the morning or afternoon, and stratocumulus clouds appear in the evening, then thunderstorms can be expected.
Visible movement of clouds against the wind is a sure sign of the onset of bad weather.
From the north, cumulus clouds - to the wind, from the west - to bad weather, high - to the wind. Clouds are rare - it will be clear and cold, blue - to heat and rain. By noon clouds will appear - to the bucket, from the west - to bad weather.
Clouds appear in lumps - the rain will not last long; the clouds seem flat - the rain will drag on for a long time.
Whitish clouds over the water, quickly disappearing at sunrise - to clear weather.
The clouds ran together in one heap - to be bad weather.
The clouds are falling - to be bad weather.
If in cloudy weather in the evening the cloudiness decreases, the wind subsides, visibility improves - to frost.
In the morning, the fog rises, forming clouds - to rain, and if it falls to the ground - to dry weather.
The water flows, foaming - soon it will rain.
Bubbles on the water - to the rain.
Smoke rocker - to heat.
Before the onset of wet weather, leather things become flexible and soft, salt becomes wet, tobacco becomes damp.
b) Fauna
Birds sit on the ground - to the heat, sit on the lower branches of trees - to the wind.
The birds fell silent - wait for the thunder.
Crows bathe - to bad weather.
Crows bathe in early spring - to heat.
Crows will start playing on the fly - wait for the buckets.
Rooks are playing - the weather will be good.
The cuckoo cuckoos strongly and often in the spring - the heat is just around the corner.
The swallows have arrived - soon the thunder will rumble.
The seagull flew in - soon the ice will go.
If you meet a white hare in the spring, then the snow will definitely fall again.
March
Frequent fogs in March portend a rainy summer. Early arrival of rooks and larks - to a warm spring. If a woodpecker knocks in March, then spring will be late. The edges of the circle around the tree are steep, so the spring will be steep, the canopies will be long.
If water does not flow in March, grass does not grow in April.
On March 17, the Orthodox Church venerates Saints Gerasim of Vologda and Gerasim of Jordan. The latter was assisted in his labors by a lion, who, after the death of the saint, died on his grave. In the folk calendar, the date was called Gerasim the Grachevnik.
The church holiday in honor of St. Gerasim coincided with the arrival of the rooks - one of the first signs of the onset of spring. The people said:
I saw a rook - meet spring.
Rook on the mountain - spring in the yard.
Gerasim the rooker leads the rooks.
The rook is the first spring bird.
Rook pecked winter.
March 17: traditions and customs of the day
March has already gained full strength, and is rolling faster and faster into summer. It's time for the rooks to return home. After all, if a rook arrived, then a real spring had come, and what it would be like was judged by the behavior of these migratory birds.
On the day of Gerasim the rooker, they baked bread in the form of rooks. This ritual was supposed not only to hasten the arrival of the first spring bird, but also emphasized the connection of the rook with field work and bread.
There was also a rather interesting ban for this day. The peasants did not put on new bast shoes for Gerasim. It was believed that the one who disobeyed would have his neck creaking all day.
According to folk beliefs, spring not only brings the long-awaited warmth, but also cleanses and renews nature, drove away the evil spirits that triumphed during the long and harsh winter.
What evil spirits are cast out on March 17, the day of Gerasim the rooker?
The day of Gerasim the rooker was considered the only time in the year when it was possible to expel kikimora from the house: “ Gerasim not only drives rooks to Russia, but also drives kikimora from Holy Russia". It was said that by this time she was especially obedient and meek, and in the house where she settled, she had already done so much that the owners were looking forward to the day of Gerasim the rooker with great impatience, hoping for his support and help.
In the mythology of the Eastern Slavs, kikimora, or shishimora, is an evil domestic spirit, a small invisible woman, possibly the wife of a brownie, who lives behind the stove. There were many versions of where this spirit came from: from a swamp, from a forest, or even from somewhere else. In appearance, the kikimora was very skinny and awkward, she was so short that she was once again afraid to leave the house so that she would not be blown away by the wind.
Unlike a brownie, the presence of a kikimora in a dwelling is not necessary, and even completely undesirable, because it is capricious and capricious, often causing all sorts of minor troubles (for example, it can break a pot, throw bulbs from the underground, beat dishes, pluck chickens, etc. ). Most of all, the kikimora loves to misbehave with yarn: either he will confuse or tangle the threads, or he will set fire to the tow. True, the housewives themselves are to blame for this: the kikimora will never touch the tow, spinning wheel, spindle, if at the end of the work the spinner crossed itself and crossed the needlework left for the night.
Kikimora in a sense helps to maintain cleanliness and order in the house. Sometimes she even helps good housewives (at night she lulls small children, helps the dough to rise well, unnoticed by the household washes the pots, etc.). But she does not like sloths and sluts and harms them in every possible way. Sometimes the kikimora's pranks are not motivated by anything, then they try to expel her from the house.
According to legend, the kikimora disturbed small children, harassed domestic animals, and the sounds of her spinning in the house promised trouble. It was believed that she was able to survive from the house of her masters and was especially hostile towards men.
Sometimes the kikimora left the house to live in a chicken coop or a sheepfold. From that day on, neither chickens nor sheep knew peace. Some of them ran around the village without tails, from others she tore out the wool in tufts - into yarn. The peasants, noticing that the rooster lacked feathers in the once luxurious tail, hung the chicken god from the perch - an amulet stone with a hole in the middle. Sometimes, instead of a pebble, they used an old bast shoe or the neck of a broken bottle. After the appearance of the amulet in the chicken coop, the kikimora stopped torturing the chickens, finding another occupation for herself.
According to the old people, a proven remedy in the fight against kikimora was camel hair, which was placed under the hearth. However, the conspiracy that our ancestors read that day was considered the most effective:
“Oh, you are a goy, brownie kikimora, leave my house as soon as possible, otherwise they will tear you up with red-hot rods, burn you with fire and fill you with black tar. My words are strong and sculpted from now on and forever. Amen".
March 17: signs and beliefs
- If the rooks have arrived, then in a month the snow will come down.
- Rooks frolic - to good weather.
- If birds fly to old nests, spring will be friendly.
- Rooks hover in flocks over nests, worry - to changeable weather.
- The rooks are crying for the rain.
- Whoever meets the first rooks in the morning will be lucky.
- If the rooks who have arrived together set about repairing old nests, in a few days there will be good and warm weather.
- Dreams from March 16 to March 17 will be fulfilled in twelve days.
Video: March 17 - Gerasim Grachevnik
Rook. Features
Rook is a representative of the crow family. This is a fairly large bird, reaching a length of 45 cm with a body weight of up to 500 grams. Its plumage has a characteristic black color with a bluish tint. But if you look at the photo, a rook is easy to distinguish from a crow in a number of ways. The main difference of this bird is a thinner, straight, light-colored beak at the base. However, calling him white is still a mistake. It is not the beak that turns white from constant picking, it is the front parts of the bird's head that are exposed from feathers. In addition, unlike the crow, the rook has a more elongated body and narrowed wings.
Heralds of Spring
Rooks are migratory birds that come to us from southern countries with the first warmth. The people said: “The rook on the mountain - so is spring in the yard», « I saw a rook - meet spring". From time immemorial, they were considered the messengers of spring. When the rooks arrive, the most amazing time of the year begins. The rays of the sun begin to warm the earth, everything around is awakening. In early March, as soon as the first thawed patches appear, flocks of these birds begin to walk through the fields and clearings in search of last year's crumbled seeds, young grass shoots, worms and bugs. Despite the fact that when the rooks arrive, it is still quite cold, these birds easily adapt to temperature fluctuations. Moreover, more and more birds prefer not to fly to warm countries for the winter, but while away the harsh winter time near human habitation, where it is easier to find food.
Nesting
When rooks arrive, the first thing they devote their time to is building or restoring their nests. These birds nest in colonies, arranging entire settlements. To build a fairly large nest, reaching about 70 cm in diameter and up to 65 cm deep, the male and female use old branches. Inside, everything is lined with dry grass, straw, feathers. Often rook nests are a multi-tiered building. Already in the third decade of March, the female lays from three to 6 eggs, and after 18-22 days, the cries of hungry chicks are announced around the district. The parents feed the offspring together. By the end of May, the chicks “take wings” and leave the nest.
Helpers of farmers
Rooks in history and culture
These birds are very popular in England. Legends and legends are dedicated to them. According to one of them, a rook that settled on the territory of the estate is an excellent omen. On the contrary, if the family of these birds leaves the nest they have chosen earlier, this threatens with troubles for the family of the owner of the estate. Under pain of punishment, it was forbidden to kill rooks. One of the most famous paintings by Alexei Sarasov "The Rooks Have Arrived" was appreciated by Pavel Tretyakov and immediately bought out by the collector. To this day, this creation is exhibited in the Tretyakov Gallery and delights art lovers.
We inherited a huge variety of different signs and superstitions from our ancestors. Some of them are connected with the natural world: herbs and flowers, trees and shrubs, the behavior of insects and birds. The latter are indispensable heroes of more than half of folk tales, myths and legends.
Feathered neighbors have long lived next to humans. With their habits and voices, they told the peasants what spring or summer to expect, whether there would be a snowy and frosty winter, whether it was time to sow and harvest. In addition, birds have always been considered messengers of the dead, liaison between our world and the other world. Rooks possess all these abilities to the full, but their “narrow specialization” is meteorological forecasts.
- In honor of the rooks, one of the spring days is even named March 17. He is called "Gerasim the rooker", since, with the correct alignment of events, it is on this day that feathered soothsayers are supposed to appear in their native lands. Being late portends a protracted and cold spring, and early arrival means a lean year at all.
- When rooks appear, it is worth observing their behavior. If they immediately begin to repair old nests or build new ones, then one should be wary of a friendly melting of snow and a large flood.
- The location of the rook's dwelling is also important. If the birds settle on the top of the crown, then the summer will be hot. Have you noticed that smart builders are working on the lower branches? You can not hope for a fine season, because weather forecasters with beaks have already smelled cold and rain.
- Upon the arrival of winged soothsayers, our ancestors determined the time of sowing grain. It was supposed to start exactly three weeks after the first black silhouettes appeared in the sky and the piercing “gra-gra-gra” began to be heard.
- The weather prospects for the coming days can be judged by how the rooks behave in the skies. If they circle and play carelessly for a long time, then the bucket is guaranteed, but the birds reluctantly leaving their nests promise bad weather.
- Our ancestors were especially alarmed by the black "garlands" of bodies tightly pressed against each other, decorating the branches of trees. If, moreover, their beaks are directed downwind, then it is worth getting ready for the revelry of the elements. It is very likely that a heavy downpour will break out soon and a terrible thunderstorm will break out. It is possible that the "heavenly office" has also prepared hail for young crops.
- Rooks like to settle in whole colonies, occupying several nearby trees at once. If any of them have been ignored by birds, then we can safely say that it will soon collapse, as it is stricken with a disease or becomes a victim of a lightning strike. If such a specimen grows near a building, it is urgent to cut it down, not waiting for the fall of a powerful trunk to harm your property.
- You should be wary if a nearby bird colony suddenly leaves their homes. This behavior of sensitive creatures portends a natural disaster that threatens to soon fall on your area.
- Not only weather predictions are associated with rooks. These serious birds are well "versed" in the material side of life. If they have chosen your yard or nearby trees for permanent residence, then you can no longer hope for wealth. It’s already good if you can just make ends meet and not fall into real poverty. But gloomy “financiers” who periodically visit your site or window sill will attract powerful cash flows to your house.
- Rooks that fly into your garden or yard year after year are a sure sign of family decline. This kind begins to gradually impoverish and degenerate, heirs cease to appear, and marriages become frankly unsuccessful.
- Quite logically, a rook in his mourning attire looks at the cemetery. The people believe that this is the incarnation of the souls of the dead, who left some unfinished business in this world and continue to worry about this. If the bird sits on a specific monument, then the relatives of the deceased must ensure that all the posthumous wishes of the deceased are fulfilled.
- It is not a good sign to see a rook outside your window. On wings, he brought gloomy news, and if he also knocks on glass, then you should prepare for bad changes in life. Moreover, the prediction will be connected precisely with the area of \u200b\u200bactivity that you were thinking about at the time the gloomy oracle appeared. To neutralize the effect of the prophecy, urgently tie a red ribbon or strip of fabric to the window handle.
- A particularly bad omen is a feathered guest in a black "suit" who suddenly appeared in the house: flying in through a window or through a door. His visit unequivocally predicts the sudden death of one of the household members. However, it is possible to minimize the consequences if you allow the bird to leave the house freely, and after it throw a pinch of salt.
AiF.ru explains why rooks are considered the heralds of spring and when they arrive in Russia.
Rooks are a bird of the genus of ravens. This bird species is widespread in Eurasia - from Scandinavia to the east to the Pacific coast. Rooks are omnivorous, but mainly feed on worms and insect larvae, which they find by digging in the ground with their strong beak. Rooks love to follow tractors plowing the land in large flocks. In the northern part of the habitat, rooks are migratory birds, in the southern part they are sedentary.
Where do rooks come from?
Rooks fly away in October to the southwest. Huge shoals of birds move to Turkmenistan, the Caucasus and beyond. Flocks of these birds fly along the Black Sea coast of Transcaucasia, stretching for whole kilometers. During the flight, they feed in corn fields. Some birds fly even further - to Africa, Afghanistan and India.
Now, due to global warming and climate change, more and more birds become sedentary and stay for the winter in large cities of central Russia.
When do the rooks arrive?
It was the rooks in Russia that were always considered the messengers of spring. These migratory birds are the first to return from the south to central Russia. This usually happens in mid-March, closer to the second half of the month. If you believe the folk calendar, the return of the rooks must be expected on March 4 (March 17, according to the old style) - at Gerasim Grachevnik *.
What signs are associated with rooks?
Since ancient times, people have tracked the arrival of rooks and their subsequent behavior, by which it was possible to predict the weather. Folk signs are associated with rooks: “If the rooks sat in the nests, then in three weeks you can go out for sowing”, “If the rooks fly directly to the old nests, there will be a friendly spring: the hollow water will run away all at once”, “The rook flew in - in a month it will snow will do”, “Rooks are playing - to good weather; they curl up with a cry, sit on their nests and fly up again - the weather will change.
If the rooks arrived before March 4, they saw this as a bad omen, foreshadowing a hungry year. To speed up the onset of heat, on the day of St. Gerasimov, birds were baked from rye sour dough - “rooks”.
On this day, there were also prohibitions. The peasants said: "Whoever puts on new bast shoes for Grachevnik, his neck will creak all day."
* Gerasim Grachevnik - March 4 (March 17, according to a new style) in the Russian peasant calendar received the name of Gerasim Grachevnik. The day is named after two Christian saints - Gerasim of Jordan and Gerasim of Vologda. It was believed that it was from this day on that the rooks began to return to their native nests - “Gerasim the rooker drove the rooks”.
