A special national holiday on November 18 is Jonah's Day: history, traditions, omens

On November 18, the Orthodox Church honors the memory of St. Jonah, Archbishop of Novgorod, who lived in the 15th century. In the national calendar, the holiday was named Ion Day. Traditionally, it was associated with maiden fortune-telling and marriage rituals. In 2025, the celebration falls on a Tuesday. Izvestia tells about the customs, signs and prohibitions of this day.

What is the church holiday on November 18?

St. Jonah, John in the world, became famous for organizing orphanages for orphans and lonely widows, as well as healing from various diseases. Orphaned at an early age, he was raised by a pious Novgorod widow, which may have predetermined his special care for orphans and widows in the future.

One day, Blessed Mikhail Klopsky, meeting John on the street, predicted that he would become Archbishop of Novgorod. In his youth, John took vows in the Autun desert under the name of Jonah, winning the love of the parishioners. After the death of Saint Euthymius in 1458, the Novgorodians elected him archbishop.

During his ministry, Jonah gained great respect not only in Novgorod, but also in Moscow, contributing to the preservation of peaceful relations between the two centers. He actively supported the revival of church antiquity, inviting famous scribes to compile the lives of Novgorod saints.

The saint played a special role in the formation of the Solovetsky Monastery. Jonah provided great help and assistance to the establishment of the monastery, giving the entire Solovetsky Island into the possession of the monastery.

At the Makaryevsky Cathedral in 1549, Jonah was canonized as an all-Russian saint. The archbishop's biography tells of many miraculous healings that took place at his tomb.

Traditions of the national holiday Jonah's Day on November 18

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

The national consciousness combined the memory of St. Jonah's good deeds with the attainment of family happiness. The central place on this day was occupied by rituals to attract a betrothed. At dawn, the girls went out into the courtyard and scattered small coins, saying: "I'm scattering small change, I'm inviting suitors to my house. There are a lot of coins on the ground, there will be no shortage of suitors for me."

It was believed that this rite, like the alms given by the saint during his lifetime, attracts good luck in his personal life. In the evenings, fortune-telling was held in the villages. Marriageable girls sat by the window and whispered: "The betrothed is in disguise, drive past the window." If a cart passed by soon, it promised a rich groom. The silence and the absence of passers-by, on the contrary, indicated the modest wealth of the future spouse.

There was also a more complex "drying" ritual. To do this, they took a bath broom with bare rods, pulled out one of them and put it on the threshold. When the lover stepped over him, the twig had to be hidden in a dry, warm place. The rapid drying of the twig symbolized reciprocal strong feelings.

Also, following the example of the saint, on this day they helped the needy, orphans and widows. The neighbors were helped with household chores, they could fix something in the house or chop firewood for future use.

What not to do on November 18 on Ionic Day

To protect themselves and their family from misfortune, our ancestors strictly observed a number of prohibitions based on superstition. For example, on a holiday it was strictly forbidden to raise your voice and quarrel, as it was believed that noise and swearing could "summon" evil spirits into the house.

Orthodox holidays in December 2025: the full Church calendar

What else can not be done on November 18:

• make large purchases — there was a belief that the purchased items would quickly break or get lost;
• to make important decisions — it was believed that any undertaking on this day would be unsuccessful;
• to raise money from the ground — such a find promised not enrichment, but, on the contrary, serious financial losses in the future.;
• Leaving the house untidy attracted negative energy and disrupted harmony in the family.;
• to refuse alms and help those in need — a manifestation of greed on the day of a saint known for his mercy, was considered a great sin and could bring poverty.

Folk signs for November 18

In some regions, Jonah's day was considered the beginning of winter and was an important date in the national weather calendar. Observations of natural phenomena allowed our ancestors to make accurate forecasts for the entire winter. Special attention was paid to the snow cover: if the snow fell unevenly, in mounds, this foreshadowed a good rye harvest next year.

Other signs of the day:

• hoarfrost on trees — for prolonged winter and late spring;
• snowfall has begun — the winter will be frosty and snowy.
• fog in the morning leads to a rapid warming;
• Clouds are moving low and fast, leading to frost;
• The trees haven't shed their leaves yet — winter will come late and it will be mild.;
• to find someone else's broom under the threshold — to the evil eye or damage, such a broom was burned, and the ashes were buried under a dry tree.

Earlier, Izvestia told about the national holiday Yeremenday, which is associated with the saying: "Yerema — stay at home."

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