The date of the Beheading of the head of the prophet John the Baptist in the church Orthodox calendar is set to September 11th. On this day, the church charter prescribes strict lean abstinence.
There is an opinion among the people that on the day of the Beheading of the head of the great prophet John, it is unacceptable to eat round or oval vegetables (fruits). Some even believe that all rounded food products are prohibited for eating. Proponents of this belief draw a connection between the murder of John the Baptist by truncating the head and food shaped like a head. Most often, such superstition can be heard from people of the older generation.
The "prohibited" foods primarily include watermelons and other red fruits or vegetables. By itself, a watermelon supposedly resembles a head, and the color indicates blood …
Such superstition is alien to the Orthodox worldview. Moreover, comparing the honest head of the prophet with fruits and vegetables is a sin of blasphemy, an unacceptable idea for an Orthodox person.
A Christian should refrain from sinful amusements, idle talk, foul language and other passions on such a holy day. The church charter does not prohibit eating foods that fit the folklore description. It is unacceptable to consume meat, dairy, fish products - that is, on the day of the Beheading of John the Baptist, the usual strict fast is laid.
Tasting watermelons, other vegetables or fruits is not prohibited by the Church charter. Therefore, on September 11, a Christian should not take into account such blasphemous comparisons and thereby defile the memory of God's great prophet.
