A special national holiday on November 14 — Kuzminki autumn: customs and omens

According to the national calendar, the Kuzminki Autumn festival is celebrated on November 14. In the old days, on this day, the last weddings were played out in the villages and they were preparing for the onset of cold weather. In 2025, the celebration falls on a Friday. Izvestia tells about the history, traditions, strict prohibitions and signs of this day.

What is the church holiday on November 14th?

The popular name of the holiday, Kuzminki (or Kuzma and Demyan), comes from the names of revered Saints Cosmas and Damian, whose memorial day is celebrated on November 14 (November 1 in the old style). They lived in Asia Minor in the III–IV centuries and were each other's brothers.

Having received the gift of healing from God, Kosma and Damian devoted their lives to helping people. They treated all the sufferers without charging a fee. But they demanded only one reward — faith in Christ, by whose power they healed diseases. For their selfless service, they were nicknamed "the silverless ones."

The activity of the saints attracted the attention of the Roman authorities. After their arrest, the brothers bravely endured torture and gained their freedom. The healers died around the year 284. According to legend, their former mentor, also a healer, envied their fame. Under the pretext of collecting medicinal herbs, he took them to the mountains and killed them, and threw their bodies into the river.

Popularly, saints' memorial day was called "Kuzminki autumn", or Chicken name day, which is associated with the custom of giving chickens and using them as a symbol of the holiday.

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Kuzminki Autumn holiday traditions

In Russia, this day was considered an important boundary between autumn and winter, which is reflected in the sayings: "Kuzma-Demyan — forges ice on the ground and on the waters," "Kuzma-Demyan shackles — not to be shackled until the red spring," "Kosma shackles, and Mikhailo (Archangel Michael, who is honored on November 21. — Ed.) will unleash it."

One of the ancient traditions of the holiday was the custom of giving "humble chickens", when peasant serfs presented such birds to their mistresses as a sign of respect. These chickens were not slaughtered, and their eggs were later considered curative.

Chicken dishes were also prepared for the festive table. Noodles in chicken broth and chicken coop pies took the center stage during family meals. Fried or baked chickens, shredded with cabbage or apples, were also served.

In addition, Kuzminki autumn accounted for the end of the wedding season. On this day, the last weddings were played out. After the wedding, it was not performed and resumed only after Shrovetide. The newlyweds were often given icons with images of Cosmas and Damian, who were revered as patrons of the family and artisans. They were often portrayed as blacksmiths forging family happiness.

In some regions, the "Kuzma-Demyan funeral" ceremony was also held, which symbolized the final farewell to autumn. The youth made a scarecrow, dressed him up in men's clothes, and then "married" one of the girls. At the end of the ceremony, the effigy was burned. This action represented the departure of the old, obsolete season and the hope for the rebirth of nature.

What not to do in Kuzminki autumn

There were also many prohibitions associated with the holiday, based on folk superstitions. Our ancestors believed that violating these rules could lead to poverty, illness, and family strife. They were especially afraid of actions that could "desecrate" the holiday and anger Kuzma and Demyan. For example, it was forbidden to refuse alms. It was believed that anyone who passed by someone in need might soon find himself in poverty.

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What else can't be done on November 14th:

• quarreling and swearing — conflicts on this day, especially between spouses and relatives, can lead to a long rift in the family.;

• Looking into the eyes while giving alms is believed to be a way to take on other people's misfortunes.;

• pouring the water out after bathing the baby on the street was supposed to promise the child a restless sleep and frequent crying at night.;

• to make rash purchases — the ancestors believed that such a thing would "drain" monetary energy and would not bring joy.;

• chasing a cat out of the house — this animal was considered a link to the other world, affectionate treatment with it could attract good luck to the house.

Folk signs for November 14th

Kuzminki autumn was an important day for making weather forecasts for the upcoming winter. If there was a thaw on Kuzma and Demyan, it foreshadowed a mild, warm winter. If the day was frosty, they expected a cold snap soon.

Other signs of the day:

• There are still leaves on the trees — the winter will be harsh and long.;
• There's mud and slush on the roads — the real frosts won't hit until the end of January.;
• snow has fallen — there will be a big flood in spring;
• the rivers have started to freeze — next year will be fruitful.
• if a cat meows on the night of Kuzminki, it will be a joyful event in the house.

Earlier, Izvestia reported on the national holiday of Avramiy Ovchar and Anastasia Ovechnitsa.

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