May 3 — Calling the ancestors: history, traditions and signs of the national holiday

Every year on May 3, Orthodox believers honor the memory of St. Theodore Trichina ("the hair-wearing one"), a strict fasterer and miracle worker. In the national calendar, the holiday is called the Calling of the ancestors. In 2025, it falls on a Saturday. Read about the history, traditions, prohibitions and signs of this date in the Izvestia article.

Calling the ancestors – 2025: the history of the holiday

Venerable Theodore Trikhina, revered in the Orthodox tradition as an example of extreme asceticism and spiritual strength, came from a wealthy family living in Constantinople. Exact information about the time of his birth has not been preserved, according to available assumptions, this is the period between the IV and IX centuries.

The future saint was not attracted by worldly luxury and vanity. He received a brilliant education, but in his youth he voluntarily gave up comfort and went to one of the remote monasteries in Thrace to devote himself to monastic life.

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In 2025, the day falls on April 29th.

Choosing the path of extreme self-denial, he wore coarse, spiky camel's hair clothes, which is why he received his nickname Trichina, which means "hair-wearing." The monastery in which he lived was later associated with this name.

The monk's feat was not limited to external asceticism, even during his lifetime he became famous for the gift of miracle-working and healing the sick and infirm.

After the death of Theodore, fragrant myrrh flowed from his relics, which were attributed healing properties. According to legend, believers used it to get rid of physical and spiritual ailments.

Traditions of celebrating the day of Calling the ancestors on May 3

In the traditional culture of Ancient Russia, May 3 was a special day known as the Calling of the Ancestors. According to legend, it was at this time that the veil between reality, where people live, and reality, the abode of souls, became thinner, allowing the deceased to return to their homes for a while, where they are remembered.

This ancient custom, which has its roots in the pre—Christian era, was eventually reflected in the Orthodox tradition and began to partly overlap with Radonitsa, the day of church commemoration.

It was believed that the souls of the dead could not always find their way to their loved ones on their own, especially if their memory was fading. That is why it was decided to go to cemeteries on this day and not just remember, but loudly call out to the departed ancestors so that they could hear. The ritual was accompanied by special lamentations, emotional monologues, and requests addressed to the deceased.: "Get up, wake up, look at your children, look out at us orphans from your houses and amuse us with a kind word!"

The duty to perform this rite traditionally fell on the shoulders of elderly women, keepers of oral traditions and rituals.

If a trip to the burial sites of the ancestors was impossible, the ceremony was performed at home. Candles were lit in front of the icons, and the words of the invitation were pronounced from the threshold — it was through him, as it was believed, that the soul could enter the house.

On this day, generous tables were set, hot dishes were prepared (according to beliefs, souls do not eat food, but steam coming from it), as well as jelly and kutya, the invariable drinks of memorial dinners.

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Every detail of the meal had a symbolic meaning. It started with three spoonfuls of jelly as a tribute to those who left. The crossbars between the legs of the tables and chairs should be left free. It was believed that the deceased could sit in these invisible places. An empty chair was left behind the main place at the table for the eldest soul of the family.

It was supposed to take the guests from the other world until midnight. It was believed that the soul, having wandered through its native places, should return back. A light gust of wind was perceived as a sign: the guest left, taking with him the warmth of the meeting.

What not to do on May 3rd

A number of prohibitions were in effect on the day of Calling the ancestors. For example, it was not customary to work until lunch, the ancestors believed that household chores could distract from communication with the family.

It was allowed to refuse an addition at the table, but it was forbidden to ask for it or offer it. In Russia, they believed that this was a bad omen, supposedly promising diseases. Weddings, weddings and other holidays were considered unacceptable: according to beliefs, fun on this day could turn into misfortune for the whole family.

On May 3, they tried not to drink strong alcohol at the commemoration, as it could bring trouble not only to the living, but also to disturb the peace of the dead. Also on this day, it was forbidden to refuse alms and any other help, as this threatened the loss of prosperity and well-being.

Folk signs on the day of Calling the ancestors on May 3

On May 3, the peasants carefully observed nature, trying to figure out in its clues whether the year would be fertile.

Thus, the abundance of cones on the fir trees promised a rich harvest of wheat, and on the pines — rye. If the first spring thunder sounded loud and powerful, one could hope for a fertile season.

It was important for the beekeepers what the whole month of May would be like. If the last month of spring is cold, you don't have to wait for a lot of honey. And if there are three heavy rains during this period, the next three years will be abundant.

Earlier, Izvestia reported on folk signs and prohibitions on Radonitsa.