May 19 — Job the Horoshnik: the history and traditions of the national holiday

Every year on May 19, the Orthodox Church remembers the Old Testament righteous Job the Long-suffering, who became an example of sincere faith and perseverance. In 2025, the celebration falls on a Monday. In Russia, the national holiday Job Goroshnik was celebrated on this date. Read the Izvestia article about why they walked through the dew and sowed peas at dusk that day.

What holiday is celebrated on May 19th?

Saint Job was born about 2,000 years before the Birth of Christ in Northern Arabia. According to one version, he was the nephew of the prophet Abraham, the biblical progenitor of the Jewish people.

According to the "Book of Job" of the Old Testament, Job was a pious and respected man. He strictly observed all the divine laws, not allowing sin either in deeds or in thoughts. For this, the Lord rewarded him with various benefits: large herds, wealth, and a close-knit family. The righteous man had a beautiful wife, four sons and three daughters, who often gathered for a common meal in each other's houses.

One day, the devil appeared before God and declared that Job was righteous only because he had everything in his life that one could dream of. If you send misfortunes upon him, he will immediately stop praising the Heavenly Father. Wanting to test Job, the Lord allowed the devil to take away what belongs to the righteous. In a short time, the saint lost all his possessions, and his children died when the roof of the house collapsed. But these troubles did not force him to renounce God.

Then the devil noted that Job retains spiritual purity only because he himself remained unharmed. After that, the Lord allowed Satan to send diseases to the saint, and the righteous man's body was covered with terrible sores. He was forced to go into the desert in order not to spread leprosy among people, but he kept faith in the Creator in his heart.

Three of Job's friends, having learned of his fate, came to him in the desert, calling on him to repent of his sins, as they believed that troubles only befall wicked people. Tired of their attacks, the saint turned to God with a prayer, asking to become a witness of his innocence. When the Lord appeared before him, Job realized how insignificant he was in front of his plans, and repented of his momentary doubt. After that, the Almighty healed him, returned his wealth and herds to him. A few years later, the saint had 10 more children.

According to legend, Job lived for more than 250 years, witnessing the prosperity and well-being of several generations of his descendants. And his steadfastness and unshakable faith in God were a guide and comfort for many believers experiencing life difficulties.

Job Goroshnik in 2025: traditions of the May 19th holiday

In Russia, Job the Horoshnik was celebrated on Job the Long-Suffering Memorial Day. The name of the celebration is due to the fact that by this time the peasants were starting to plant peas. This was done in the evening so that the birds would not notice the seeds and would not peck them. Men were not allowed to sow, as it was believed that only a woman's hand would bring a decent harvest.

On the morning of the holiday, adults and children went outside to walk through the dew. This was how people hoped to improve their health and protect themselves from diseases. Some collected dew with rags and squeezed it into a suitable vessel to be used later for the manufacture of medicines.

What can and cannot be done on the national holiday on May 19th

In Russia, various superstitions were associated with Job the Horoshnik. No new workers were hired on the holiday, fearing that they would be lazy or careless. At the same time, they tried to spend the day doing useful work so as not to lose their health. Lying on your side was considered especially dangerous. According to the beliefs, after that it was possible to get pain all over the body.

Since the dew on Job the Pea was treated with great reverence, it was forbidden to waste it without purpose. Therefore, the villagers tried not to walk on the wet morning grass once again.

Pregnant women did not show affection to other people's babies on the holiday, so as not to disturb their unborn child. It was believed that a mother who disregarded this rule would experience severe pain. Family quarrels and scandals were also avoided on this day, as they believed that the conflict that arose on Job the Horoscope would not be resolved for a long time.

Folk signs on May 19th

On Job Goroshnik, people closely followed the changes in the world around them. The farmers rejoiced at the clear morning with an abundance of dew, as this foreshadowed a good harvest of cucumbers. If there was no dew in the morning, they expected a sudden change in the weather. They also paid attention to viburnum — if catkins appeared on the tree, then it was time to plant beets.

Earlier, Izvestia told how Marya Rassadnitsa Day was celebrated in Russia.