June 15 — national holiday of the Green Loach: history, traditions, omens
Every year on June 15, Orthodox believers in Russia honor the memory of St. Nicephorus the Confessor, Patriarch of Constantinople. This day is popularly called the Green Loach. In the old days, the celebration took place during the Green Week, which was full of rituals related to fertility and protection from evil spirits. In 2025, the holiday falls on a Sunday. Read about the history, traditions and signs of this date in the Izvestia article.
The Green Loach on June 15 — the history of the holiday
Saint Nikephoros, called the Confessor, was born in Constantinople in the second half of the eighth century. His religious education took place in an atmosphere of deep faith that prevailed in the family. His parents, the pious spouses Theodore and Evdokia, raised their son in the Christian faith from an early age. His father, who suffered for his loyalty to Orthodoxy under the iconoclast emperor Constantine Copronymos, became an example of confessing for the young Nikephoros. The mother followed her husband into exile, where she shared his fate, and after his death returned to the capital and devoted the rest of her life to monastic service.
Nikephoros received a very thorough secular education, but the Holy Scriptures remained the subject of his interest. He diligently studied spiritual literature, developing his own theological worldview. Due to his high morals and devotion to church canons, he was brought close to the court and received the post of royal adviser during the reign of Emperor Leo IV. Even while in power, Nikifor invariably maintained strictness in his personal life and demonstrated uncompromising adherence to Orthodox beliefs.
After the death of Leo IV, during the reign of his son Constantine VI and the regency of Saint Irene, Nikephoros became an active participant in theological discussions. In 787, he represented the imperial government at the VII Ecumenical Council in Nicaea, where he expressed a decisive position in defense of the veneration of icons. His deep knowledge of dogma and sincere desire to defend the truth made him a significant figure in the process of condemning iconoclastic heresy.
Traditions of the folk festival of the Green Loach
The history of the holiday dates back to the deep pre-Christian past of the Slavs. In June, when nature was in full bloom, our ancestors worshiped the forces of the earth, asking for a bountiful harvest and family well-being. Later, these ideas were combined with the Orthodox veneration of St. Nikephoros. The image of the saint as a symbol of perseverance and spiritual purity organically fit into the traditions of the national holiday, giving them a new meaning.
The very name "Green Vine" is associated with the plant from which the girls wove wreaths, embodying a connection with nature and hope for a happy fate. The ancestors believed that on this day, the invisible connection of a person with the outside world is especially strongly manifested, and greenery is not only an ornament, but also a protection from harm.
The holiday began long before dawn, windows and doors were opened in houses to let in fresh, "clean" air. The housewives mopped the floors, dusted, and did any work related to cleaning the space. On the holiday, houses were decorated with birch branches, symbolizing renewal and fertility. The housewives baked special loaves, which they placed on the windowsill. It was believed that in this way you can lure luck, wealth and joy into the house.
Festive processions were gathering in the streets. People sang songs in honor of the young families who got married during the year. There was a special tradition: the newlyweds treated all the passers—by they met, adults — with wine, children - with sweets. In the evening, youth festivities were held in the villages. The girls were dancing round dances, making wishes. The guys competed in strength and agility. A woven wreath could be given to a young man, it meant a declaration of sympathy.
What not to do on the holiday of the Green Vine
There are many strict prohibitions associated with the holiday. The ancestors believed that one should not go to the cemetery on the Green Vine. According to legend, at this time the boundary between the worlds is especially thin and otherworldly forces can enter the house. For the same reason, it was forbidden to indulge in sadness or mourn the dead.
On this day, it is undesirable to take out the garbage from the house, because with it you can "take out" health, luck and financial well-being. Any metal objects, even buttons or jewelry, were avoided in clothing. According to beliefs, this material could "weigh down" fate, bring upon a person trials that only those with "iron nerves" and unshakeable fortitude can pass.
It was not recommended to swim in rivers and lakes, wash, rinse clothes, or even just go close to the water. According to popular belief, mermaids and mermaids were especially dangerous on this day, and swimming in natural reservoirs could turn into a tragedy. In the old days, it was believed that on a holiday, evil spirits could drag even an innocent person under water.
Also, on June 15, it was forbidden to do hard work, quarrel, and offend animals. Special attention was paid to words. It was believed that any wish expressed aloud could be fulfilled, especially if it was evil.
Folk signs for June 15th
On this day, the ancestors carefully observed nature, drawing conclusions about the upcoming weather. Omens and observations have been formed over decades and passed down from generation to generation as part of folk wisdom. The peasants believed that the morning dew on June 15 promised a good harvest of wheat, flax and oats.
Nightingales singing at night — for clear weather. Wind at night — it's going to rain soon. Fog at dawn promises an abundance of mushrooms, and warm rain promises a rich and peaceful year.
Earlier, Izvestia reported on the history and traditions of the special Russian holiday of Feodosiya Kolosyanitsa.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
