June 16 — Lukyan Vetryak: folk customs and omens

According to the national calendar, Lukyan Windmill is celebrated on June 16. In the old days, it was customary to observe the wind on a holiday in order to predict the upcoming events of summer and autumn. In 2025, the celebration falls on a Monday. Izvestia tells us about the customs and signs associated with this day.

Lukyan Vetryak on June 16 — the history of the holiday

The history of the celebration is inextricably linked with two early Christian saints with similar names — Lucillian of Nicomedia and Lucian of Belgium. The church honors their memory on the same day in the middle of June.

Lucian of Belgium was born in Rome in the 1st century. He came from a noble family and was given the name Luka at birth. The young man was brilliantly educated, trained in Roman and Greek. After meeting the Apostle Peter, Luke was baptized and took a new name — Lucian.

Later, the saint was ordained bishop by Pope Clement and sent to preach in the West. Like many other Christians of the time, he was executed for refusing to renounce his faith and sacrifice to pagan gods. According to legend, Lucian was beheaded, but he got up, took his head and went to his burial place. After that, many pagans came to believe in Christ.

Lucillian of Byzantium lived in the 3rd century during the reign of the Roman Emperor Aurelian. He was a pagan priest and was highly respected by his tribesmen. In his old age, Lukillian realized the falsity of the pagan religion, was baptized and began to preach. This provoked the anger of the local Jews. According to their denunciation, he was first thrown into prison, and then into a red-hot furnace. However, it suddenly started raining, and the flames died down. Then the righteous man was sent to Byzantium and executed, nailed to a cross.

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As noted by Lukyan Vetryak in Russia

The day of the saints' memory was popularly known as Lukyan Vetryak, or the Windbreaker. This name is due to the fact that in the old days the wind served as the main predictor of future events. By looking at which way the wind was blowing, farmers were trying to determine what they were preparing for in the current season.

These signs were extremely important for the peasants, since their well-being, as well as the future harvest, directly depended on the weather conditions. According to observations, a warm southerly wind promised rapid growth of spring crops: oats, wheat, barley and buckwheat, and therefore a well—fed year.

The northeast predicted rainy and cloudy weather, which could lead to soaking of crops and certain difficulties during haymaking. The east wind was considered the worst omen. It was associated with the arrival of drought, heat, as well as various ailments that could affect the health of people and livestock.

However, more often positive changes in life were associated with the wind. In the old days, it was customary to dry clothes in the wind on the roof of a windmill and ventilate the dwelling well in order to clear them of negative energy and "erode" all the bad things. Also on this day, a place was chosen for the future well. The water found on the holiday was considered especially pure and healing.

Lukyan Vetryak — 2025: what can and cannot be done

According to popular beliefs, today you should not count money on the street. Otherwise, financial well-being will blow away like the wind. For the same reason, you should not share your dreams and plans with anyone, as they will not come true.

According to another superstition, on Lukyan's day one should not go against the wind and expose one's face to the wind, especially if it is sharp. People used to say that you could "pick up sores" that way. It is forbidden to swear, swear and "waste words" — everything said on this day can be immediately picked up by gossips.

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Traditions and rules of one of the easiest fasts in Orthodoxy

Since St. Peter's Fast begins on June 16, believers are instructed to eat only lean food, abstain from alcohol and idle pastime. This period is intended for peace of mind and preparation for the great Orthodox holiday — Peter and Paul Day, which will be celebrated on July 12.

Folk signs for June 16

On Lukyanovo Day, there were a number of other signs among the people. So, a thunderstorm in Lukyan foreshadowed a bad haymaking, and torrential rain — an abundance of mushrooms. It was also believed in the old days that if a whirlwind rises from the earth and rises into the sky, then fine days will come soon.

Earlier, Izvestia reported on the traditions of the national holiday of the Green Loach.