August 14 — Honey Savior: rules and prohibitions, mystical spells and omens

Honey Savior is celebrated annually in the last month of summer. This is a national Christian holiday, when it is customary to honor beekeepers and consecrate honey from a new harvest. The holiday has a fixed date. It is celebrated annually on August 14th. In 2025, the celebration falls on a Thursday. Izvestia tells us about the customs and signs associated with the first August Savior.

The Honeymoon in 2025 is celebrated on August 14.

Honey Savior was named because towards the end of summer, the honeycombs are full of honey and bees no longer fill the hives. The second part of the title, the Savior, serves as a reminder to believers about the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ, and the firmness of faith in him. At the same time, there is no such holiday in the church calendar. On August 14, churches celebrate the Feast of the All-Merciful Savior and the Most Holy Theotokos.

Meanwhile, the national holiday is firmly connected with church traditions. Both Christian and pagan motives are closely intertwined in it, including the custom of dedicating gifts to higher powers in gratitude for the harvest sent.

With the spread of Christianity, the first honey was brought to the church. It was possible to eat it only after consecration. Various dishes were prepared from the delicacy and served as a treat. It was believed that everyone should taste honey on the holiday. The people said: "At first glance, I was saved by a beggar and I'm glad for the honey."

In addition to Honey, two more saviours are celebrated in August — Apple (it is believed that apples of the new harvest cannot be put on the table before it) and Walnut. They will be celebrated on the 19th and 29th.

What can I do on my Honeymoon

Traditionally, on the holiday, believers attend church services and light honey. Since ancient times, it has been customary to keep some of the honey for oneself, present some to the clergy, and distribute some to the poor and the poor.

You can bring not only honey to the church, but also poppies and medicinal herbs collected in the garden or field. In addition, on August 14, a small consecration of water is performed in churches, which begins after the divine service.

After the service, it is customary to gather at a large table, starting the meal with a spoonful of honey. The main dishes served on the table are pies with poppy seeds and honey, honey cakes, tea with herbs and honey, as well as mead.

As on other big holidays, it is important to think about cleansing the soul and take care of those who need help. In the old days, lenten cookies were baked on Honey Spas. It was seasoned with honey and poppy seeds and distributed to the poor.

What is strictly forbidden to do on a Honeymoon

When preparing for the feast, it is important to remember that the two—week Dormition Fast begins with Honey Saviour (it will last from August 14 to 27), timed to coincide with one of the main dates of the church calendar - the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary (celebrated on August 28).

The Dormition Fast is often compared to the Great Fast in its severity. During this time, meat, fish, eggs, and dairy products should not be eaten. Fish is allowed only on the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, which in the church calendar falls on August 19th.

Believers should refrain from heavy housework, recreational activities, including weddings and weddings, and physical intimacy. Of all the labors, collecting honey and helping those in need are the most encouraged.

You should also avoid quarrels and scandals, malicious thoughts, backbiting and discussing other people in a negative way. Alcohol is strictly prohibited. It is strictly forbidden to harm bees and ruin hives.

True folk signs for the 14th of August, on the Honeymoon

The people attached great importance to weather signs on the Honeymoon. They were used to determine what kind of weather would set in late summer. According to long—term observations, if August 14 turned out to be a hot day, go to the heat. If it's raining, it's going to get cold soon.

The early blooming roses also spoke about the cold snap. If the flowers crumbled, they knew that cold nights were ahead. The rowan tree, ripe for the holiday, foreshadowed a stormy autumn. And the swallows leaving their nests said that summer was coming to an end, giving way to autumn.

Honey Savior 2025: Conspiracies and superstitions

In the villages, on the feast of the Honey Savior, they also made amulets for the whole family and conducted rituals to attract well-being. In almost every house, poppies were prepared — bouquets of poppies, thyme, calendula, oregano, mint and other plants.

The collected herbs were tied with a red ribbon, and then placed on the windowsill or hung from the ceiling. It was believed that such a bouquet protects the family from the evil eye and various troubles of life.

If someone from the household fell ill, a special ceremony was performed against the disease. To do this, the patient was given consecrated honey, after reading a prayer or a special spell for a speedy recovery.

To replenish the reserves of vital energy, the following ritual was performed: during the day, they stood up under the bright sun, exposing a container of honey to the rays. At the same time, the words were spoken: "Honey is coming, and strength is coming. Honey warms me, but my body heals me." Then the honey was put away in a secret place and after three days they ate a teaspoon on an empty stomach.

If there was a rift in the family, our ancestors added a spoonful of honey to the herbal tea, saying: "Honey, melt all the insults and take them away." It was believed that if you served such tea to your spouse or the person with whom the quarrel arose, then it would be much easier to reconcile.

Earlier, Izvestia told what conspiracies and rituals were carried out on the Day of the Summer Solstice.