There was also a belief that one should not embark on a long journey on September 10. This especially applied to men who were planning to leave their families. It was thought that the journey could bring trouble and separation.

Folk weather omens for September 10

• If the weather on September 10 is warm and dry, the autumn will be long and mild. • If it rains, the autumn is expected to be wet and cold. • If the cranes have already flown south, winter will come early. • If birds gather into large flocks, cold weather is coming soon. • If birch leaves begin to turn yellow from the top, spring will be late. • If leaves fall from the lower branches, an early spring is expected. • If frost appears in the morning, cold weather will soon set in. • If a lot of spiderwebs fly through the air, the autumn will be warm and prolonged.

What to do on September 10

• Finish harvesting the hay — dried fodder was quickly gathered from the field and reliably stacked in haystacks to preserve it for the winter. • Stack hay and straw into haystacks — this was one of the main economic activities of the day. The well-being of livestock in the cold season depended on the quality of the preparations. • Harvest the remaining crops — a dry autumn day was used as efficiently as possible, without postponing field work. • Prepare animal feed — they checked the supplies of hay, straw, and other feed, calculating the amount until spring pasture. • Put the yard and farm buildings in order — before the cold, it was necessary to repair damage and prepare sheds and storage areas. • Prepare food for winter — drying, salting, pickling, and processing the remaining harvest. • Visit the church — the faithful prayed to Saint Anna the Prophetess and Saint Sabbas of Pskov. • Help relatives and neighbors — joint labor was especially important during this period, as preparing for winter required a lot of effort.

What not to do on September 10

• Do not leave the hay out in the open — rain and dampness could spoil the fodder, so it was gathered into haystacks or under a reliable shelter. • Do not be lazy and postpone household chores — it was believed that procrastination in autumn could be very costly in winter. • It is not recommended to go on a long journey — in the people's belief, a trip on this day could end in trouble. • Do not quarrel with relatives — family peace was carefully preserved, especially with the onset of the cold season.