October is the tenth month of the year and was once called “harvest month,” perhaps because it is the month of the grape harvest.
In Stavri, it was called “trugominas” because it was the month of the grape harvest and the harvesting of various agricultural products.
In Matsouka, it was also called “harvest month” because that was when the harvest began, when there were climate conditions. Later, in more recent years, they were destroyed by disease.
The noun trigos and its derivatives are used by almost all Greeks in Pontus.
The verb trýgo is found in Kerasounta Kotyora Trebizonda
In Chaldia there is trýo trýgizo. Everywhere the verb means to harvest a) grapes b) to harvest honey from the hives but it also has a metaphorical meaning i.e. I enjoy, we reap, I exploit someone financially.
In general, during this month, they tried to finish their outdoor work, harvesting fruit and gathering wood, and they did all this while singing songs.
This month, the shepherds and herders brought the flocks down from the pastures, and some took them to the meadows and others to their fields to graze, and they remained there until it snowed.
In October, apart from the grape harvest, they also had to sow seeds to ensure a good harvest.
During this month, they made sure to gather fuel because from October onwards the wind starts to blow and sometimes brings very cold weather.
We all know that snow was falling fast and blocking the passes and roads.
Thus, those who had taken care to harvest various fruits and other necessities in a timely manner were ready for the approaching winter, and for this reason they considered October to be a bountiful month.
On the contrary, those who had not made provisions at that time would certainly go hungry.
By the book “THE FOLKLORE OF PONTOS”
Writer Elsa Galanidou – Balfousia
