January 21 - Emeliany Perezimniki: history, traditions, omens

Every year on January 21, Orthodox believers honor the memory of the Monk Bishop Emilian of Kiziki, who lived in the IX century. In the folk calendar, the holiday is called "Emelian Perezimniki" and marks the turn to spring. In 2025, the date falls on Tuesday. About its history, traditions and omens read in the material "Izvestia".

Emelian Perezimniki - 2025: the history of the holiday

Saint Emilian, Bishop of Kizic, whose memory is honored on this day, lived in the IX century in Byzantium during the reign of the iconoclastic emperor Leo the Armenian. The saint converted many pagans to Christianity.

One day Emelianus and other bishops were summoned to the emperor. The ruler demanded that they publicly renounce the veneration of holy icons. To what the saint objected that the question of iconoclasm should be decided in the church, not in the palace.

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For his disobedience the governor ordered him to be exiled and tortured. The bishop died from tortures, but remained faithful to Christianity.

Traditions and customs of January 21: what you can and can not do in Emeliany Perezimniki

In the folk calendar, Emelian's day completed the series of holidays. On this day the people said: "Before lunch Kolyada" and finally said goodbye to Svyatki. Therefore, it was not customary to work until noon. Peasants went to the temple, prayed to St. Emilian for help in family matters, as well as in the upbringing of children. In the second half of the day, they took up household chores that had been postponed, taking an inventory of firewood and food supplies.

Emelian Perezimniki was a continuation of the holiday Ivan Brazhnik, which in Russia was celebrated on January 20. Both days bore the nickname Perezimnik, which meant the turning of winter to spring.

On Ivan the Rattlesnake, women traditionally drank wine, and in Emelianiny Perezimki it was customary to serve hot drinks to young men who were married by their parents out of love. People believed that a newly married couple should get drunk to keep their marriage from scandals.

The holiday was considered a family holiday, it united relatives. On this day there was a tradition to gather in large companies and tell interesting, long stories. At the same time it was said: "Meli, Yemelya, your week".

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People also called the day "Emelian Kumishny", because on January 21 it was customary to treat kuma and kuma (godfather and mother). This, according to omens, promised health to godchildren.

The kum and kuma who came to visit had to bring a bar of soap and a towel as a gift. They should have been used at the first bathing of the child, wishing the baby health and reading a special incantation.

On Emelian it was forbidden to quarrel with the household, to be lazy and put things off for later. It was believed that this will attract bad luck for the whole year.

Folk omens on Emeliany Perezimniki January 21

On Emeliany Perezimniki people observed nature. It was believed that from this date zama turns to spring, but often the day was called "Emelyan nakruti blizzard", as the holiday often raged blizzards.

On this day they noted the direction of the wind. If it was blowing from the south, they should have expected a summer rich in thunderstorms, while from the north - a soon cold snap. A strong frost on the holiday heralded a late but warm spring, and a clear sky - a hot summer and a rich harvest.

Earlier "Izvestia" told about the traditions and omens of Ivanov Day.