A special holiday on September 2 is Samoilov Day: history, traditions, omens
Every year on September 2, the Orthodox Church honors the memory of the Old Testament prophet Samuel, who lived in the XII century BC. In the folk tradition, this day was called Samoilov Day and was dedicated to honoring male breadwinners and defenders. In 2025, the date falls on a Tuesday. Read about the history, unique customs and prohibitions of this day in the Izvestia article.
What is the church holiday on September 2nd?
Samuel holds a special place in the history of the Old Testament. He became the last Israeli judge and one of the greatest prophets of the pre-tsarist era, a spiritual leader who managed to save his people from disaster.
Samuel lived about 1150 years before the Birth of Christ and was the son of Elkanah and Anna, who lived in Ramathaim Tzofim on Mount Ephraim. His birth was the result of many years of prayer by his mother, who was infertile. In a moment of extreme desperation, she went to Shiloh to the tabernacle of the Covenant and promised that she would dedicate her son to God if she had a child.
The high priest Eli, who also served as the judge of Israel, was touched by the woman's sincerity and blessed her, and Anna's prayer was answered: she had a son, whom she named Samuel, which means "asked of God." When the boy was three years old, the vow was fulfilled — he was given to be raised up in Shiloh, in the tabernacle. Under Elijah's guidance, the boy began to comprehend spiritual truths at an early age.
Already in his youth, Samuel showed a prophetic gift. At the age of 12, he received a revelation about the coming punishment of the Elijah family for condoning the sins of his sons. In the future, this prediction came true: the Philistines defeated the Israelites, the sons of the high priest died, and the Ark of the Covenant ended up in the hands of the enemies. The news of the disaster led to the death of Elijah himself and his daughter-in-law, who, dying, said: "The glory has departed from Israel ...".
After these events, Samuel was recognized as the spiritual leader and judge of all of Israel. Under his leadership, the people returned to the faith, and the Ark of the Covenant was returned, and the Philistines retreated.
The Prophet lived a long life fulfilling the mission of a spiritual leader, reformer and judge with the exceptional trust of the people. It is he who is credited with the authorship of the biblical Book of Judges. Before leaving his post, Samuel publicly addressed the Israelis asking if there had been any harassment, abuse or injustice on his part. The answer was silence, a testament to his impeccable reputation.
However, when Samuel handed over judicial powers to his sons, he was confronted with their inappropriate behavior — they turned out to be unworthy successors, prone to bribery. This caused a crisis of confidence among the elders, who, imitating neighboring peoples, demanded the establishment of a monarchy.
The Prophet took this step as a spiritual retreat, replacing God's guidance with human authority. Nevertheless, at the command of the Lord, he anointed first Saul, and then David, the future king, who became a symbol of piety and political wisdom.
Samuel died at an advanced age. His life and work are described in detail in the Holy Scriptures — in the first book of Kings and in the book of Sirach. In 406, his relics were solemnly transferred from Judea to Constantinople, which became a sign of deep reverence in both the Jewish and Christian traditions.
Traditions of Samoilov Day, celebrated on September 2
In the national calendar, the memorial day of the prophet Samuel was named Samoilov Day. The Prophet was revered as the patron saint and protector of men, so the main traditions of the holiday were associated with honoring them. At that time, the last harvest of beets and carrots was being harvested, and the women made sure to set a festive table for their husbands, fathers and brothers.
The main dish was beetroot — this tradition is directly related to the previous memorial day of St. Thekla, which was popularly called Beetroot. The food was complemented by fried mushrooms and potatoes, as well as pies and other pastries with mushroom filling.
Giving gifts was a special tradition. The daughters prepared new shirts for their fathers in advance, and the wives prepared new shirts for their husbands, embroidered with their own hands. It was believed that such a gift, presented on Samoilov Day, would bring a man health and good luck.
There were special rituals for unmarried girls. They were supposed to work in the fields, while trying to bow to the ground as low as possible. It was believed that the most diligent and respectful worker would be blessed with beauty and excellent health by Mother Earth.
What not to do on Samoilov Day
Samoilov Day had a strict set of prohibitions, the roots of which went back to paganism. So, the ancestors believed that evil spirits were especially active on September 2, so you need to be careful, especially with children, not to leave them unattended, as evil spirits can harm them.
What else you can't do on September 2:
- to show disrespect to men, including outsiders, leads to discord in the family.;
- men staying alone can lose their authority and respect in society.;
- to quarrel with family members, to show jealousy, to be offended — the conflict can drag on for a long time or even lead to separation;
- building a house, repairing a fence — there is a risk of attracting thieves by this;
- cut your hair and nails — together with them you can "trim" your own luck and well-being.;
- making business acquaintances is fraught with financial losses.
The last ban did not apply to personal acquaintances of unmarried girls. On the contrary, meeting with a potential groom on September 2 could be the beginning of a strong marriage and a happy family life.
Folk signs of Samoilov day
Like most national holidays, Samoilov Day was rich in weather signs, according to which the ancestors built their forecasts for the coming months.:
- The high-flying cranes heralded a warm and lingering autumn.;
- high cirrus clouds promised clear and mild weather.;
- abundant clusters of mountain ash indicated that the winter would be harsh and frosty, but also predicted a rich harvest of oats next year.
Earlier, Izvestia reported on the history and significance of the feast of the icon of the Mother of God "Vsetsarina".
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