June 14 is a special holiday Ustinov Day: folk signs
Every year on June 14, the Orthodox Church honors the memory of St. Justin the Philosopher and his disciples, who suffered for their faith in the second half of the second century, as well as Justin of Rome, who shared their fate a century later. In 2025, the celebration falls on a Saturday. In the national calendar, Ustinov Day fell on this date. Read about the traditions and prohibitions associated with this holiday in the Izvestia article.
What is the holiday on June 14th?
Justin the Philosopher was born at the beginning of the second century in the ancient Jewish city of Samaria. Since childhood, he was distinguished by a clear mind and a desire for knowledge. In search of the truth, the future saint began to study various areas of philosophy, but he could not find the answers that his soul craved.
When Justin turned 30, he met an elder who initiated him into the Christian faith. Realizing that this was the truth he was looking for, the philosopher was baptized and went to preach in the cities of the Roman Empire.
Around 155, when Emperor Anthony Pius began the persecution of Christians, Justin obtained an audience with the ruler and gave him an "Apology", a work in defense of innocently convicted believers. Subsequently, the saint wrote several more treatises in which he consistently defended faith in Christ, refuting the arguments of pagans and heretics. He also opened a college where he taught Christian philosophy.
In 166, Justin and several of his students were arrested and brought to trial by the Roman prefect. All of them resolutely professed to be Christians and refused to sacrifice to idols, for which they were tortured and beheaded.
Traditions of the feast as Ustinov Day
In Russia, the feast of St. Justin the Philosopher was called Ustinov Day, or Ustin-lingonberry lips. The unusual name is not associated with sour berries at all, but with the tradition of watching the dawn. At dawn, the villagers guessed by the color of the sky: if it turned red, they expected a good harvest of rye.
On Ustinov day, people went to collect medicinal herbs. It was believed that they gained special power on the holiday. At the same time, the experts did not pull out the plants by the roots so that after a while they would sprout again.
Saint Justin was considered the patron saint of married couples, so on his holiday, the spouses tried to be affectionate and patient with each other. The wives asked their husbands for forgiveness, and the men forgave them so as not to anger the higher powers.
Unmarried girls performed a ritual on Ustinov Day to get rid of unwanted suitors. To do this, they tore off a willow twig and stuck it into the ground between their footprint and the footprints of a young man.
Ustinov Day in 2025 — what can and cannot be done
In Russia, many superstitions and prohibitions were associated with Ustinov Day. During the holiday, the owners did not build new fences and did not start repairing existing fences. It was believed that ignoring this rule could lead to a house fire.
Unmarried girls tried not to leave the house on the day of the celebration, so as not to lose their chances of a happy marriage. New acquaintances were also avoided during the holiday, especially if the person was eloquent and friendly. According to beliefs, such people could easily deceive and betray.
On Ustinov day, the spouses were forbidden to quarrel and sort things out. People believed that even a small conflict could destroy the strongest relationships. And those who lied to others or slandered during the holiday were in for illnesses and troubles.
Folk signs of June 14th
On Ustinov's day, people were closely watching for various signs. If the wind was blowing from the northwest, they were preparing for a wet summer. A large number of ants and gadflies flying high above the ground indicated the approach of fine days. A bright, clear sunrise promised a rich harvest of rye, and the morning rain promised an abundance of flax.
Earlier, Izvestia told how the national holiday Yeremey-bobovnik was celebrated in Russia and what signs were associated with it.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
