A special holiday on November 17 is Yerema — stay at home: history, traditions, omens

Every year on November 17, the Orthodox Church honors the memory of the Holy Martyrs Nicander and Hermaeus of Mir. In 2025, the celebration falls on a Monday. In the folk tradition, it was called "Yerema — stay at home." The ancestors believed that on this day you can meet with various evil spirits. Read about the signs, traditions and prohibitions of the national holiday in the Izvestia article.

What is the church holiday on November 17th?

The Holy Martyrs Nicander and Jerome were disciples and companions of the Holy Apostle Titus, a follower of the first-born Apostle Paul. They took holy orders from their mentor: Nikander became bishop of the World, and Jerome became a presbyter. They actively preached and converted many pagans to the Christian faith.

For their activities, the saints were arrested and taken to the mayor of Livania. Neither persuasion nor threats from the authorities forced them to renounce Christ. After refusing to sacrifice to the pagan gods, Livanius ordered the martyrs to be severely tortured. But no matter how much the executioners tried, Nikander and Yeremey, strengthened by faith in the Lord, remained adamant.

Eventually, the torturers pierced the heads and hearts of the saints with nails and dumped their bodies into a pit, covering them with earth.

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Traditions of the national holiday Yerema — stay at home on November 17th

In Russia, the day of commemoration of the holy martyrs was called Yeremin's Day, or Yerema — stay at home. The unusual name of the holiday is associated with folk superstitions. It was believed that evil spirits walked the earth on November 17, so you should not go out once again.

Our ancestors believed that encountering otherworldly beings could lead to illness, poverty, family discord, and other misfortunes. At the same time, different spirits could be found in different places: in the field of a field worker guarding the land, or a landowner guarding the boundaries of land plots. At the intersections of the roads, a urchin lay in wait, capable of sending diseases, and with the onset of darkness, witches and warlocks became more active.

In the old days, it was widely believed that evil spirits were trying to break into the house and steal hot coals from the stove. To prevent this, people constantly monitored the hearth and refused neighbors' requests to share the fire. To protect the home, crosses were painted over the entrance doors and under the windows, mountain ash branches were placed on the window sills, and horseshoes were hung above the door.

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Since it was dangerous to go outside, Yeremin's day was devoted to household chores and raising children. The women taught their daughters how to weave, sew, and knit, while the men tested hunting and fishing gear, passing on the secrets of craftsmanship to their sons.

What not to do on November 17th on Yeremin's day

The main prohibition of the holiday is reflected in its name "Yerema — stay at home." The ancestors tried not to leave the threshold unless absolutely necessary. If they did have to go out, they tried to avoid communicating with outsiders and not answer questions. As a talisman, they took with them a handful of cranberries, which were attributed magical properties.

What else can't be done on November 17th:

• lending money leads to financial problems and illnesses;
• Starting new businesses will end in failure;
• to receive guests and go to visit — to quarrels in the family;
• to set up a date, to have a wedding — a marriage concluded on that day was considered short-lived;
• men who drink go out of the house — they can be driven crazy by evil spirits.

Folk signs for November 17th

On Yeremin's day, the ancestors paid attention to various signs in order to understand what the weather would be like in the near future and how the winter would pass. If the clouds looked like sea waves on a holiday, they knew that bad weather was coming soon. There were other signs, too:

• evening dawn with a green tint — for clear days;
• The blackened forest in the distance is for a thaw;
• There are a lot of mice outside — the winter will be cold;
• The chickens are cleaning their feathers — it's going to snow soon.

Earlier, Izvestia reported on the signs and traditions of the Akindin and Pigasy national holiday.