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A special Russian holiday on June 26 is Akulina Buckwheat: history, traditions, omens

Akulina Buckwheat National Holiday will be celebrated in Russia on June 26
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Photo: Global Look Press/Sergey Lantyukhov
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Every year on June 26, Orthodox believers remember the Holy Martyr Aquilina, who suffered for her faith during the reign of Emperor Diocletian. In the folk tradition, the holiday was called Akulina Buckwheat, as the sowing of buckwheat began on this day. In 2025, the date falls on Thursday. Read about its history, traditions, customs and folk signs in the Izvestia article.

Akulina Buckwheat National Holiday – 2025: the history of the holiday

According to the hagiography, the Holy Martyr Aquilina of Antioch was born in the 3rd century in the Phoenician Bible. The girl's parents raised her in the Christian faith.

Despite her young age, she showed spiritual firmness and fearlessness — during the persecution of Christians under Emperor Diocletian, 12-year-old Aquilina openly professed her faith and sought to convert pagan peers to it. This brought her to the attention of the authorities.

A young Christian woman appeared before the viceroy of Emperor Diocletian. Despite the persuasions and pressure, she remained steadfast in her faith. For refusing to renounce Christ, the girl was tortured, which, according to legend, ended in death.

Aquilina's body was abandoned outside the city, but at night an angel appeared to her, healed her, and called her to return to her tormentors. The next morning, the girl appeared before the ruler again, safe and sound. This shocked all the witnesses, but she was sentenced to death again.

Christians buried Aquilina's body with honors, and later her relics were transferred to Constantinople, where a temple was built in honor of the saint. Her feat inspired believers and became a symbol of spiritual purity and strength.

Traditions of the national holiday celebrated in Russia on June 26

In the Russian tradition, the saint was named Akulina. The ancestors associated the holiday with the beginning of the sowing of buckwheat, which fell precisely at the end of June. This is how the second name, rooted in the national calendar, was born — Akulina Buckwheat.

Buckwheat was considered a crop that could save a village from starvation in winter, but was quite "fastidious" during the growing season. Therefore, its sowing was approached with special attention.

In the morning, it was customary to go to church, where believers asked Saint Akulina to help in healing diseases, in raising children, and also to protect the family from need. Then the peasants went out into the field to sow buckwheat, previously consecrated in the temple. The work continued strictly until noon, with prayer and inner concentration. It was believed that work begun with a blessing and kind thoughts would give the best result.

On this day, women prepared buckwheat pancakes, symbolizing future satiety and abundance, as well as casserole and porridge made from last year's cereals. During the cooking, the housewives said: "Buckwheat porridge is our mother, and rye bread is our father."

Food should be lavished on travelers and beggars. It was believed that kind words of gratitude from travelers would bring a rich harvest and prosperity to the house.

The home environment on Akulina was supposed to be peaceful, since, according to beliefs, any negative could "pollute" an important day for the land and the future harvest.

On June 26, the peasants held special "fertility rites": they climbed to the hills, greeted the dawn, read prayers, and thanked for the warmth and light. In this way, man's connection with the natural cycle and God's order was strengthened, which was perceived as a guarantee of well-being.

What not to do on the holiday of Akulina Buckwheat

In Russia, there was a categorical ban on swearing, swearing and empty chatter. According to popular beliefs, the word on this day had a special power and uttered in anger could harm the future harvest.

On June 26, it was forbidden to drink milk, it was not used in cooking. People believed that on this day it loses its beneficial properties and can cause harm, so it was called shark.

It was not recommended to start new cases on the holiday, especially lawsuits and financial disputes. On this day, no deals were made, no loans were taken or lent. Violation of these prohibitions promised long-term difficulties in household and family life. It was also forbidden to pick up other people's money, especially at intersections — the ancestors believed that this would bring hardship.

Physical labor was allowed in the morning. After lunch, the peasants left work and moved on to quiet rest and spiritual reflection.

It was considered a bad omen to refuse alms on a holiday, generosity promised financial stability, while avarice promised poverty. Also, on this day, one should not openly demonstrate joy, excessive fun could attract trouble.

In addition, Akulina Buckwheat fell on the so—called Rusal week, a period of activity of the dark forces, which was considered dangerous, full of unexplained phenomena. Therefore, it was necessary to postpone hiking in the forest, especially alone, and it is better not to leave the house at all unless necessary.

Folk signs for June 26

The weather on Akulina Day served as an important guideline for the peasants. A clear morning heralded a hot and dry summer, and thick dew meant a bountiful harvest. Strong winds or thunder clouds were interpreted as a sign of the need to hurry up with field work.

The ancestors also watched the birds. If the swallows were flying low, they were waiting for rain. If they rose high, it promised prolonged heat.

Earlier, Izvestia told about the traditions and signs of the special Peter the Great holiday.

Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»

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