June 27 is a significant national holiday of Yelisey Grechkosey: signs of what not to do

Every year on June 27, the Orthodox Church celebrates the memorial day of the prophet Elisha, who lived in the 9th century before the Birth of Christ. In 2025, the celebration falls on a Friday. In Russia, this holiday was called Elisha Buckwheat. Read about the traditions, signs and prohibitions associated with it in the Izvestia article.

What holiday is celebrated today, June 27

Saint Elisha (Elish) was the son of a wealthy farmer whose possessions were located in the Jordan River Valley. One day, when he was plowing the land, the prophet Elijah approached him and called him to serve the Lord. The young man gave up his possessions, left his father's house and became a devoted disciple of Elijah.

According to legend, Elisha witnessed a miracle that happened at the end of his mentor's life. When it was time for Elijah to leave earth, a chariot of fire descended upon him and took the saint to heaven. Elisha received a prophetic gift and a wonderful cloak of his teacher.

The saint devoted 65 years of his life to prophetic ministry. He saw six kings succeed each other on the Israeli throne, from Ahaz to Joash. Like his teacher, Elisha performed many miracles. He divided the waters of the Jordan River to pass along the bottom, made the water in the Jericho spring drinkable by throwing salt there, and saved soldiers who were dying of thirst in the desert. Through his prayer, the woman who sheltered the prophet was able to give birth to a child. And when the boy died suddenly, the saint was able to resurrect him.

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Elisha died in Samaria, being almost a hundred years old. Miracles were also performed after his death. So, the dead man who was thrown into the cave with the remains of the prophet came to life. In the 4th century A.D., Emperor Julian the Apostate ordered the destruction of the saint's relics, but the faithful managed to smuggle some of them to Alexandria.

Russian traditions of the Yelisey Grechkosey holiday

In Russia, the prophet Elisha was called Elisha Buckwheat, because on his memorial day, peasants sowed late varieties of buckwheat. They did this in clear, dry weather, but immediately after the work was completed, they began to cry out for rain, because moisture is necessary for the growth of a useful crop.

New or received clothes were also consecrated on Elisha Grechkosei. It was believed that the fabric absorbed the energy of the one who wore it, wove it or sold it, therefore, in order to avoid the negative influence of the new thing, it was "cleaned" in the temple.

The Orthodox Church does not impose any special prohibitions on the memorial day of the Prophet Elisha. Fasting on a holiday is also not required. If desired, the believer can visit the temple and pray to the saint or refresh his memory of his life.

In Russia, many superstitions and restrictions were associated with Yelisey Grechkosey. During the holiday, villagers tried not to stay in bed and started work almost immediately after waking up. According to beliefs, anyone who is lazy will incur the wrath of the prophet Elisha.

It was also forbidden to overeat and drink alcohol on this day. People believed that a person who was greedy for treats could become seriously ill, and a drunkard could fall under the influence of evil forces that could easily lead an intoxicated person astray.

Picking buttercups was considered a bad omen for Elisha Buckwheat, as this could lead to illness and misfortune. During the holiday, women combed their hair only with an old comb and dipped it into the water after each contact with their hair. This was done so that there would be no hair left on the comb, because, according to legend, every hair that fell out on the holiday reduced the health of the hostess.

Folk signs of June 27

On Yelisey Grechkosey, people closely watched nature in the hope of predicting what the coming days would be like. If frogs jumped out of reservoirs onto land, they waited for prolonged downpours. Kites soaring high in the sky promised warm and clear weather. And if the ducks stopped quacking, they were preparing for a thunderstorm.

There were also signs unrelated to the weather. So, clouds of mosquitoes in the forests indicated a good harvest of berries, and a large number of midges indicated an abundance of mushrooms. A clear night and a starry sky promised people good news. Dreams on the holiday were considered prophetic, but our ancestors did not discuss them with anyone, fearing that what they saw would not come true.

Earlier, Izvestia told how the national holiday of the Sign of Timothy was celebrated in Russia and what traditions are associated with it.