July 16 — Moki and Mark, Stozhary: what kind of holiday, customs, signs is this?
According to the national calendar, Moki and Mark are celebrated on July 16, Stozhary, established in memory of the holy martyrs brothers Moki and Mark, who suffered for the faith in the III century. Another name for the celebration is Poppy Day, since at that time the peasants began to collect poppies. In 2025, the date falls on Wednesday. Izvestia tells about the traditions, customs and signs of this day.
Moky and Mark, Stozhary — what they celebrate on July 16
The brothers Moki and Mark lived in the Roman Empire during the reign of Emperor Maximian. The ruler continued the persecution of Christians, which began by order of Diocletian in 303. Then a decree was issued ordering the churches to be razed to the ground, and the Holy Scriptures to be burned.
Many believers were imprisoned and subjected to excruciating torture. Mokiy and Mark did not escape this fate either. They were captured and tried to force them to worship pagan idols. Despite the tortures, the brothers refused to carry out the order, for which they were sentenced to death.
As they were being led to execution, a child ran out onto the road, blocking the passage to the guards. Moki and Mark considered what had happened to be God's message and became even more convinced of the correctness of their choice. The martyrs were offered to convert to paganism for the last time to save their lives, but when they refused, both were executed and beheaded with a sword.
The courage and faith of the saints became symbols of perseverance and devotion to Christian ideals. Moki and Mark were revered in Russia. Since it was customary to collect poppies on the day of remembrance of the martyrs, the holiday was called Poppy Day in accordance with the names of the saints. And the nickname Stozhary was fixed in honor of the cluster of heavenly bodies in the constellation of Taurus, which were clearly visible in the middle of July.
In addition, in the old days, stacks were called poles, which were stuck into the ground in the middle of the stack. Such devices were often used in villages when drying hay.
Traditions of the Moki and Mark holiday, Stozhary – 2025
Since ancient times, the holiday has been overgrown with various traditions and omens, many of which live to this day. First of all, they are associated with such a revered plant in Russia as the poppy. Our ancestors believed that the poppy has magical properties and is able to protect against evil spirits, including putting evil spirits to sleep due to its hypnotic qualities.
In some regions, it was customary to sprinkle the courtyard with poppy seeds to protect the farm from the evil eye and spoilage. For the same purpose, poppies were planted near houses and stables, and were also used in rituals, for the preparation of medicinal tinctures and food. The poppy was also used to judge the future harvest. If there are a lot of seeds in the poppy head, the year will be successful.
Great importance was attached to the dreams that occurred on the night of July 16. It was believed that they could talk about what would happen in the very near future. To have prophetic dreams, several poppy seeds were placed under the pillow and special spells were read.
What can and cannot be done on Mokia and Mark
At the same time, Poppy Day was treated with caution, trying not to start anything important on this date. And in general, it was necessary to exercise increased caution in everything in order to avoid trouble.
According to beliefs, any business started on July 16 will not be successful. Therefore, on this day it is not recommended to start new businesses, plan trips and relocations, make large purchases and lend money.
Also, Stozhars are not suitable for transplanting plants. It was believed that they would not grow and wither quickly. Besides, it's a bad day for dates, weddings, and starting a life together. In the old days, it was believed that the feelings of lovers would soon cool down, and the marriage would not be strong.
Even on the holiday, they tried not to leave the house unless absolutely necessary, out of fear of encountering evil spirits and incurring misfortune. At the same time, it was impossible to refuse help to travelers and those in need. Anyone who violated the ban risked getting into a situation that would be difficult to get out of.
Folk signs for July 16
In addition to traditions and prohibitions, Poppy Day is also filled with various omens that can predict the weather and other events. So, if the bucket of the Big Dipper is clearly visible on Mokia and Mark, then this promises good luck to hunters.
A decrease in the water level in rivers and wells warns of impending heat. Fast—moving clouds indicate a strong wind. And the cumulus clouds that appeared in the evening indicate an imminent storm.
They also paid attention to insects. If mosquitoes and midges are circling on July 16, it portends good weather for the coming week. If the spider got out of its hiding place and started weaving a new net, by clear weather. And hidden butterflies and an abundance of snails in the trees lead to heavy rain.
Earlier, Izvestia reported on the traditions and signs of the Bereginya national holiday.
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