A special national holiday on November 9 is the Vow of Paraskeva: history, traditions, omens

In the Orthodox tradition, November 9 is the eve of the memorial day of the Great Martyr Paraskeva Friday, one of the most revered saints in Russia. This day was popularly called the Paraskeva Vow, or the Vow Day. On the holiday, it was customary to make vows (vows) that had to be fulfilled. In 2025, the date falls on a Sunday. Izvestia tells about the customs, signs and prohibitions of the national celebration.

What is the church holiday on November 9th?

Saint Paraskeva was born in the 3rd century in the Asia Minor city of Iconium into a pious family. Her parents treated the day of the Lord's sufferings, Friday, with special trepidation, and it was in his honor that they named their daughter Paraskeva, which means "Friday" in Greek.

Orphaned at a young age, Paraskeva chose the path of service to God, taking a vow of celibacy. She actively carried the word of God to the pagans, converting them to the Christian faith. During the era of persecution of Christians under Emperor Diocletian, Paraskeva was subjected to severe torture, rejecting the demand to sacrifice to idols.

Legend has it that the Lord granted her healing from her wounds. However, this did not save her from certain death. Paraskeva was executed by beheading with a sword. Subsequently, many healings took place at her holy relics.

The official church veneration of the Great Martyr takes place once a year on November 10. On the eve of the All—night vigil is held in churches and temples, and on the holiday itself there is a Divine Liturgy, during which the akathists of St. Paraskeva are read. At the same time, in the folk tradition, every Friday throughout the year is considered a day when believers can turn to her with prayer.

In Russia, the image of Saint Paraskeva was organically combined with the features of the Slavic goddess Mokosha, who was considered the patroness of women, fertility and home comfort. The saint was revered by the people as a protector and helper in all women's labors, especially in spinning and weaving. She was approached with requests for well-being in the family, the gift of health and protection from adversity.

Important traditions and customs on Orthodox Paraskeva Friday

Traditions of the feast of the Promise on Paraskeva

One of the ancient traditions of the holiday is to make voluntary promises to fulfill some good deed. In Russia, it was believed that St. Paraskeva Friday especially favours those who make and fulfill such vows on this day, and as a reward for their diligence, they can fulfill any request or long-held dream.

The vows could be very different. For example, women promised to weave a veil for the venerated icon of the Most Holy Theotokos in one day. Such work, performed with prayer, was considered pleasing to God and Saint Paraskeva.

Wealthy people undertook obligations to donate funds for the construction of a temple or monastery, to install a cross of worship, to purchase new icons for the church or to make a contribution to its improvement.

If trouble came to the house, there was a special custom: it was necessary to make a vow to do some kind of work, usually heavy. It should be done in complete silence, and the next morning go to church and pray to Saint Paraskeva for intercession and help. It was believed that such a rite helps to avert misfortune.

What not to do on Paraskeva Day

By tradition, the entire day should be spent in pious labors, prayer and abstinence, preparing to celebrate the day of Paraskeva Friday. In the old days, strict prohibitions were also followed on the eve of the holiday. Our ancestors believed that violating these rules could get them into trouble and deprive them of hope for the saint's help. They were especially afraid of not fulfilling their promises, as this was considered a grave sin.

Introduction to the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary: how to prepare for the holiday

What else can't be done on November 9th:

• quarreling, swearing and conflict — negative energy can settle in the house for a long time and lead to diseases.;
• to lend money, the funds will not be returned, and the borrower may face financial difficulties.;
• Having too much fun and laughing out loud — according to beliefs, excessive joy can soon be replaced by tears and sadness.;
• drink alcohol and overeat — it is recommended to spend the day in abstinence, and serve the simplest food on the table.

Folk signs for November 9th

The vow for Paraskeva is also considered an important date for making forecasts for the coming winter. Observing natural phenomena, the peasants tried to predict what the weather would be like in the coming months. For example, if frost appeared in the morning, it foreshadowed the imminent frosts. If the night was quiet and unclouded, then frosts were expected the next morning.

Other signs of the day:

• a circle around the moon will lead to worse weather: storms, strong winds, or snowfall;
• The wind often changes direction — precipitation is coming soon;
• wet weather has set in — winter will be warm;
• the weather has warmed up sharply after the cold weather — the real frosts are still ahead;
• there is a lot of snow on Paraskeva by early spring.

Earlier, Izvestia reported on the traditions of the Svetets national holiday.