March 1 is the Holiday of the arrival of spring: how spring was celebrated in Russia

The first day of spring is a long—awaited event for people all over the world, which has been given special importance since ancient times. In many cultures, the onset of this season was associated with the renewal and rebirth of nature, the beginning of a new cycle of life. Read about how the arrival of spring was celebrated in Russia and how it is greeted in other countries in the Izvestia article.

The beginning of spring holiday in 2025 — as celebrated in Russia

In Russia, March 1 was called Yarilina Day in honor of the Slavic god of the sun and fertility Yarilo. According to legend, on this day he plunges a solar pitchfork with red-hot teeth into the ground, which is why it begins to "glow", that is, to warm up. Until the end of the 15th century, this date was also celebrated as the beginning of a new calendar year.

The arrival of spring has always been celebrated on a grand scale. People believed that if the solar deity showed favor, rich crops would be harvested from the fields, and women would give birth to healthy children. Therefore, on March 1, they postponed hard work and organized noisy festivities with songs and dances glorifying Yarilo.

Young people lit bonfires on the hills, around which there were dances. Girls and boys looked at each other in search of a soulmate. There was a belief that a couple who met on a holiday would form a strong and loving family. The first day of spring was considered favorable for wedding celebrations.

Abnormal weather awaits Russians in spring 2025: forecast by month, for Easter and May

Forecasters have determined the dates of the arrival of the heat wave

On Yaril's day, pregnant women were taken outside so that the sun would give them strength. Expectant mothers also collected snow, and then washed with meltwater so that the birth would be successful. A similar ritual was performed by the midwives.

The snowfall on the night before Yarilina Day was considered a good sign. If there were snowdrifts in the morning, the women sent their children to clear the path from the porch to the well. It was believed that in this way it was possible to protect a child from diseases and various troubles.

The first day of spring was not Yarila's only holiday of the year. The sun god was also honored on July 1. This day was called the peak of summer, as after it the hottest time began.

Spring Arrival Holiday — what can and cannot be done

In Russia, it was believed that certain rules should be followed on the first day of spring. So, on this day, they tried once again not to trample the snow and not throw garbage on it, so as not to incur the wrath of Yarila. On a holiday, it was customary to put the house in order, but the water left after mopping and washing was not poured outside. It was believed that wealth could be "thrown out" along with dirt. Also, on the day of the arrival of spring, small money was not counted or lent to avoid poverty.

Cutting trees was considered a terrible sin on Yaril's day. Anyone who broke this rule would have all kinds of misfortunes. The needlewomen did not touch sewing and knitting that day, as they believed that the product would deteriorate or quickly become unusable.

On the first day of spring in Russia, it was customary to ask for forgiveness from those with whom quarrels arose before the holiday. At the same time, on March 1, it was forbidden to swear, swear and offend loved ones. The punishment for this could be illness and failure.

The day of the beginning of spring in 2025 — what are the signs

Various weather signs were also associated with Yarilina Day in Russia. So, on this day, people were watching the clouds. If they were rushing across the sky at high speed, the weather was going to be warm and sunny in the near future. If the sun was shining brightly on the holiday, they were preparing for the cold weather. The snowfall promised a rich harvest, and the warm wind promised a wet summer. The flood on the first day of spring meant that there would be a lot of rodents and insects in the new season.

The weather was also determined by the behavior of animals. If the dogs started lying in the snow, they expected a strong wind, and the birds' anxiety indicated an imminent cold snap.

How the spring festival is celebrated in other countries

In ancient times, the holiday of "Gukanne Viasna" was celebrated on the territory of Belarus, that is, the summoning of spring to the earth. It originated in pre-Christian times and was associated with the cult of plants. To attract warmth and drive away winter, girls in villages climbed to the highest places and sang special spring songs until late at night. At that time, the young men were burning old, unnecessary things in large bonfires. Then the youth united for festive round dances. It was also customary to swing on a swing on this day. The guys swung by twos, demonstrating their agility and strength. It was believed that the higher you could fly, the better flax and cereals would grow.

In India, since ancient times, the arrival of spring has been celebrated with the Holi festival of colors. It is held the day after the first full moon of spring and lasts for three days. At this time, Indians dance, sing songs and throw colored powder at each other. Another tradition of the celebration is the burning of an effigy of Holika, symbolizing the victory of good over evil.

In honor of the arrival of spring, Bulgarians give each other martenitsa — amulets made of red and white threads, to which coins are sometimes tied. They are worn on the belt or on the body for several days. They are often removed only after encountering the first spring bird or snake. After that, martenitsy are hung on fruit trees, thrown into the river or thrown onto the roof of a house. The herders hide the amulet under a stone, and the next day they take it out for divination. It is believed that if insects stick to the threads, a person will be lucky in raising livestock.

In some areas of Japan, hanami, the cherry blossom festival, is already being celebrated in early March. At this time, residents of the Land of the Rising Sun come to the parks to enjoy the view of flowering trees and petals circling in the air. For the Japanese, this is an excuse to spend time in nature in pleasant company and take a break from the frenzied pace of modern life.

Earlier, Izvestia shared the most popular fortune-telling on Shrovetide.