A special holiday on October 28 is Yefimiy Autumnal: history, traditions, omens
Every year on October 28, the Orthodox Church honors the memory of St. Euthymius of New Thessalonica. In 2025, the celebration falls on a Tuesday. In the national calendar, it is called Yefimiy Autumnal. It was believed that from that day on, insects went to winter, and evil spirits tried to enter houses to prevent housewives from taking care of the family. Read about the traditions, signs and prohibitions of the national holiday in the Izvestia article.
What is the church holiday on October 28th?
On October 28, believers remember St. Euthymius the New of Thessalonica. He was born in the 9th century in the city of Ancyra in Galatia. His parents, Epiphanius and Anna, led a virtuous Christian life, and their son was distinguished from childhood by a meek and obedient character. Left without a father at the age of seven, the boy became the main helper and support for his mother.
After completing his military service, Nikita married at his mother's insistence. However, after the birth of his daughter, he secretly left the family to take monastic vows under the name Euphemia. The saint spent the next 15 years in the monastery on Mount Olympus, where he learned from the local elders.
Then the saint moved to the Holy Mount Athos. There he lived for three years in a cave in complete silence, overcoming temptations and difficulties. Then Euthymius spent several more years at a pillar near Thessalonica, where he instructed people who came to him and healed their ailments. For his righteousness and zealous service to God, he was awarded the gift of miracle-working.
By the Lord's command, in 863, the monk founded two monasteries on Mount Perister, which he managed for 14 years, remaining in the rank of deacon. His mother and spouse later took vows in one of these monasteries. The monk died in 898.
Traditions of the national holiday Yefimiy Autumnal on October 28
In Russia, the memorial day of St. Euthymius the New was called Yefimiy Autumnal. From that day, as a rule, a real cold snap began, nature gradually fell asleep, and winter gained strength.
According to popular beliefs, as the nights lengthened, evil spirits awakened, hiding from human sight during the summer. The ancestors believed that on October 28, a kikimora could get into the house — an evil creature capable of tearing fabric, tangling yarn, breaking pots and interfering with housewives in their work. To protect themselves from her tricks, before starting work, the women crossed the loom and prayed to Saint Euphemia.
The women who were engaged in spinning on this day tried to hide the first thread spun on the holiday — it was believed that it could cure any ailment. This thread was kept separately, and when one of the relatives fell ill, the patient's wrist was bandaged with it and left on his arm until full recovery.
It was customary for the whole family to work at Yefimiya. Assignments were given even to the elderly and children. It was necessary to work until sunset, otherwise, according to beliefs, evil spirits could spoil all the results of the day's work.
What not to do on October 28 on the day of Yefimiy Autumnal
According to popular beliefs, the dark forces on Yefim the Autumn especially preyed on women, trying to cause them maximum trouble. Therefore, women were strictly forbidden to go into the forest, because there was a danger of not returning from there.
What else can not be done on October 28:
- washing and ironing clothes leads to diseases;
- Recalculating money can lead to loss of financial well—being.;
- Leaving the house after sunset was considered to be possible to encounter evil spirits at night.;
- Looking at the stars at night is unlucky;
- swearing and slandering — any thoughtless word can have negative consequences;
- to indulge in despondency and regret — it was believed that the brownie could be offended and start to mess with the owners.
Folk signs for October 28
On the day of Euthymius the Autumnal, the ancestors carefully watched nature so as not to miss important signs. So, if snow fell on October 28, they understood that next year would be fruitful. There were other signs, too:
- reddish light around the moon — for inclement weather;
- a cloud over the rising sun — the weather will change soon;
- the cat drinks a lot of water — for bad weather;
- the dog howls and refuses to eat — to frosts and rains;
- clouds framing the sun in the morning — it's going to rain soon.
Earlier, Izvestia told about the traditions and signs of the Paraskeva Gryaznukha holiday.
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Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
