June 20 is the original Fedot Urozhodnik holiday: omens, superstitions, prohibitions
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- June 20 is the original Fedot Urozhodnik holiday: omens, superstitions, prohibitions
On June 20, the Orthodox Church honors the memory of the holy Martyr Theodotus of Ancyra, who lived in the III century. He was popularly considered the patron saint of the harvest and called the holiday Fedot the Harvest. In 2025, the date falls on a Friday. Izvestia tells us how the saint became famous and how in the old days they celebrated a holiday in his honor.
What is the holiday today, June 20th, in Russia?
The Holy martyr was born in the city of Ankir in Asia Minor (Ankara in modern Turkey). As a teenager, he came to believe in Christ, and later became a preacher. Listening to his speeches, many pagans renounced idolatry, were baptized and converted to Christianity.
During the persecution of Christians under Emperor Diocletian, the saint gave refuge to fugitives, saving them from certain death, and at night he buried believers who were tortured in prisons. One day, Theodotus had a vision that he should find seven holy virgins who had suffered for their faith and found peace at the bottom of the lake. When Theodotus found himself on the shore, a violent storm suddenly began and the water parted. At the bottom, he found the bodies of the martyrs, which he then buried according to Christian custom.
News of Theodotus' deeds reached the governor of the city. By his order, the righteous man was captured and placed in prison, where he was subjected to numerous tortures. Seeing the saint's inflexibility, he was sentenced to death by beheading. It happened in 303 on June 20 (June 7, Old style). In the church calendar, this day is celebrated as the Memorial Day of Theodotus of Ancyra and the seven virgin martyrs. The church also honors Saint Fedot Ovsyanik on May 31.
Folk signs of June 20
For farmers, it was time to sow rye on the holiday. The peasants spent the whole day in the field, hoping for a good harvest. Therefore, the saint was often called Fedot the Harvest by the people.
If it was a hot day on Fedotov's day, our ancestors went to the lake or river. It was believed that it was safe to swim on the holiday, since the bathers were protected by Saint Theodotus. According to popular belief, he cut off the hair of mermaids with a sickle so that they would not frighten adults and children.
The housewives were doing a lot of laundry at that time. The laundry was specially saved up to be washed on Fedotov's day. In the old days, it was believed that the more laundry you washed, the more prosperity and well-being would come to the house.
Special attention was paid to weather signs. A warm, clear day on Fedota foreshadowed a rich harvest. If the sun's rays darken, it leads to a severe thunderstorm. Bees settled on the walls of the hive — to the heat. Rain, which promised no drought, was considered a good sign. People used to say about this: "Our happiness is rain and bad weather," "Fedot gives warmth — he pours gold into rye."
Fedot Urozhodnik in 2025: what can and cannot be done
There were also a number of prohibitions on this day, which they tried not to violate in order not to incur misfortune. For example, on Fedotov's day, it is strictly forbidden to swear and complain about your fate. The punishment for those who stumble can be various troubles and illnesses. It is not recommended to wear silver jewelry, so as not to lose energy, and also to lend or borrow money — to financial difficulties.
Other prohibitions include bathing with your hair down. The peasants believed that Theodotus could confuse a girl with a mermaid and cut off her braids. She was supposed to spend the day working in the field or garden. According to beliefs, all the work on the land carried out on this date will bear good fruit.
Earlier, Izvestia reported on the traditions and signs of the Larion Propolnik national holiday.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
