July 11 is a special Russian holiday, Nettle Conspiracy: what to do on this day, folk signs

According to the national calendar, the Nettle Spell is celebrated on July 11. The day falls at the end of Peter's Fast and is considered the last when nettles retain their beneficial properties. In 2025, the date falls on a Friday. Izvestia tells us how the holiday was celebrated in the old days and what signs are associated with it.

The history of the Nettle Conspiracy holiday

The holiday has its roots in the pagan past of the Eastern Slavs. Back then, our ancestors endowed trees, stones, water, and plants with mystical properties. In ancient legends, there are many references to nettle as a medicinal and magical plant. It was believed that she would get rid of hunger, and give beauty, and ward off the unclean.

Usually, nettles began to be harvested in late May or early June, while they were young and rich in useful substances. The nettle spell served as a sign that it was useless to pluck the plant after that day, as it loses its healing properties and also becomes prickly.

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Traditions and rules of one of the easiest fasts in Orthodoxy

With the adoption of Christianity, the holiday began to be celebrated on the eve of St. Peter's Day. At this time, St. Peter's Fast ends, which serves as preparation for a major church holiday for believers — the day of remembrance of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. Therefore, in a number of regions, the celebration is known as the Eve of St. Peter's Day, the End of St. Peter's Fast, or Nettle Plots.

What to do for Nettle Plot in 2025

On the day when the Nettle Harvest was celebrated, the peasants got up at dawn and hurried to the forest for fresh nettles. On a holiday, it was collected with bare hands without fear of getting burned, because according to popular beliefs, such an action brings health: it is believed that it relieves joint pain for a long time and strengthens the body.

After returning home, people knitted brooms from nettles, which they used to sweep the floors, clearing the house of everything bad and negative. Nettle bunches were also hung in grain sheds, stables, and other outbuildings to protect crops and livestock. Brooms from this plant were steamed in a bath or simply whipped each other to expel evil forces and spoilage. In the evening, bonfires were made from dried grass, songs were sung, dances were performed and the holiday was celebrated cheerfully and fervently.

Dishes made from fresh nettles were prepared for the nettle plot: borscht, cabbage soup or chowder. The people said: "The stinging nettle will be born, but it will boil in soup," meaning that the spicy herb turns into a tasty and healthy dish. The housewives also made supplies for the winter: dried nettles, salted them like cabbage, or spun them from cloth fibers. Bags, coolies, or even clothes were sewn from this material.

Girls and women used nettles not only in cooking, but also in cosmetics: they made decoctions for washing and washing their hair. Nettle products stimulated hair growth and helped with problematic skin. Herbalists and healers appreciated this plant for its medicinal properties.: It has been used for kidney diseases, anemia, polyarthritis, bleeding, and gout.

Nettle spell: what can and cannot be done

The holiday of the Eastern Slavs has many prohibitions that came from paganism. For example, weddings were not celebrated in Nettle Conspiracy, as they believed that such a marriage would be unhappy. Children under one year old were not allowed to have their hair cut, otherwise they could get sick. It was not recommended to get a haircut for adults either. This way it was possible to shorten not only the hair, but also the years of life.

Other prohibitions include quarrels with loved ones, especially between spouses. If you quarrel in a Nettle plot, then disagreements in the family will persist for a long time. In addition, you can not go to bed early and stay alone. On the eve of St. Peter's Day, I had fun in the villages almost until the morning. Those who spent the holiday at home risked spending the whole year alone.

It's also worth paying attention to your dreams. They may turn out to be prophetic. For a good night's sleep, a sprig of nettle was often placed under the pillow. It was believed that she gives a sound and restful sleep.

Folk signs of July 11

The main signs of a Nettle spell are mainly related to the weather. So, if you don't hear a cuckoo on a holiday, then winter will be early and snowy. The magpie stays close to home — to the rain. Sparrows are fighting, leading to a drought. And if there is water in the well, it leads to inclement weather.

The day before, Samson Senognoi was celebrated in Russia. Izvestia told about the history, traditions and prohibitions of this day.