June 3 — Olenin (Elenin) day: what not to do, omens on a special Russian holiday
On June 3, the Church honors the memory of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Tsarina Elena of Constantinople. In the national calendar, this day is known as Elenin, or Olenin. There are other names for the holiday — Alyona Day or Elena-Flax day, which is associated with the beginning of flax sowing among the Slavs. In 2025, the date falls on a Tuesday. Read about the history and traditions of the national celebration in the Izvestia article.
What is the holiday today, June 3rd
Saint Helena was born in the 3rd century in a small village near Constantinople. Her parents ran a cozy inn, which was once visited by Emperor Constantius Chlorus, who happened to be in these parts. The emperor's gaze fell on the young girl Elena, and since then he could not forget about her. Soon after, she became his wife.
Around 272, the royal couple had a son, the future Emperor Constantine the Great. Since childhood, his mother raised him in the spirit of piety and love of God. When Constantine ascended the throne, Elena had a significant influence on his reign. It was under him that the persecution of Christians was stopped, and Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire.
In adulthood, Elena had a vision according to which she should go to Jerusalem to search for holy places and relics hidden by impious pagans. Following this divine instruction, she began excavations on Mount Golgotha. As a result, the Holy Sepulchre, the Life-giving Cross and other shrines of Christianity were found.
By her order, temples began to be erected in places connected with the earthly life of the Savior. Among them is the first church near the cave where Jesus Christ was buried. Elena died in 327 shortly after returning to Constantinople. For her great services to the church and faith, she was awarded the title of equal-to-the-Apostles.
In Russia, the veneration of St. Helena of Constantinople began in the first centuries after the adoption of Christianity in the country. Temples dedicated to her and Saint Constantine were built in the cities. During the holidays, the girls prayed to the saint for well-being and protection of fate, and the sick and elderly turned to her for healing and help.
Olenin (Elenin) Day in 2024 — traditions and omens
Depending on the region in Russia, the holiday in honor of St. Helena was called in different ways: Alyonin or Olenin Day, and sometimes it was called Elena-Flax or Olena-Flax. This is due to the fact that flax was sown in the villages at the beginning of the summer season. In the old days they used to say: "Sow flax on the Deer", or "Sow flax on the Deer — there will be long flax", which reflected the importance of this time for rural work.
The ancestors believed that flax has magical properties. It was believed that he was able to ward off evil spirits and give strength to people. Therefore, linen thread and fabric from it served as a kind of amulets. In Russia, the bed of newlyweds was covered with linen, newborns were wrapped in linen, and wounds were bandaged with linen thread — it was believed that this way they would heal faster.
During the sowing season, special rituals were performed to make the flax grow well. On this day, girls and women did not weave braids or cover their heads with any jewelry. In the old days, it was believed that if the curls were touched by Alena-Flax, they would become as long and soft as flax.
Folk signs of June 3
Much attention was paid to weather signs on this day. According to legend, the heat wave on June 3 leads to drought and crop failure. The stuffiness promises a cloudy summer. And there is a lot of color on the mountain ash — a rich harvest of flax. It was considered a good omen to see a rainbow in the sky. It foreshadowed a successful year.
Olenin (Elenin) Day in 2025: what can and cannot be done
On Christmas Day, it is not recommended to wear dark and black clothes, so as not to attract trouble. For the same reason, if you follow folk superstitions, you can not clean the house and dust the lamps. Also, on June 3, you should not go to the forest or to the lake.
It is forbidden to swear, swear and quarrel on the holiday. All kinds of fortune-telling are also prohibited. Our ancestors believed that fortune-telling on a church holiday would only bring troubles, and fate would not be kind to a person who wanted to know it.
Earlier, Izvestia reported on the history, traditions and prohibitions of the Fedor Zhitnik national holiday.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
