December 20th is a reason for joy for most Romanians, it is the feast dedicated to St. Ignatius Theophorus and is known in the people under the name of Ignate pigs.
It is said that in the evening before Ignat, the pigs dream that they will be cut off. That's why they do not get fatten, they do not put any meat on them and they do not eat because they dream of death.
The Traditions of the Day of Ignat:
When pigs are cut, it is not good for the wicked ones to stand because it is said that the pig dies with great weight and the meat will be strong and will boil hard. Some old people say that after the pig has been cut, parted and washed, it is good to put a blanket on it and a child to cover it. This will bring a year without illness and full of wealth and health. It is good when the pig is cut, people say the words: Ignat, Ignat / Pig swollen, and before slaughter to say: God help, eat it healthy. These words were meant to forgive the willful killing of the animal, both the saint who patronized the day of cutting and God.
In the Teleorman area, another habit says that on the forehead of the children it is good to mark the cross with the blood of the animal sacrificed at Ignat, to be full of health and red in the cheeks in the coming year.
On the eve of Ignat, they boil wheat from which all the members of the family eat, and what remains to give the birds the next day at dawn, this custom is made for the good life and affairs. On the eve, take a pumpkin, cut its tail and keep it. It is said to be good for sweet bubble medicine in children.
In some places black pig fat is used in spells. Also, those who suspected that they would be strigoi were the black pig fat. On the eve of Ignat, the witches walk around to take the house, and the housewives spread my millet and wheat in front of the house.
Those who helped the pig, receive the pigs' pig, from which is the boiled tuna.
source:traditii-obiceiuri-ziua-de-ignat