A special holiday on November 22 is Matryona Zimnyaya: history, traditions, omens

Every year on November 22, the Orthodox Church honors the memory of St. Matrona of Constantinople. In 2025, the celebration falls on a Saturday. In the national calendar, the holiday was named Matryona Zimnyaya. Read about its history, traditions and signs in the Izvestia article.

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The Venerable Matrona was born in the 5th century in the city of Pamphylia Perga, located in Asia Minor. She was married off to a wealthy man named Dometian. After the birth of their daughter, the couple moved to Constantinople. There, the 25-year-old Matrona often went to church, fervently praying for her sins.

In the church, Matrona met two pious elders, Eugenia and Susanna, who devoted themselves to an ascetic life from a young age. Imitating their exploits, she began to gravitate more and more towards the monastic life, but faced condemnation from her husband. Not knowing what to do, she prayed to the Lord.

Soon Matrona had a dream in which she was running away from her husband and hid in a crowd of monks. The saint took this vision as a divine instruction to enter a monastery. She cut her hair, changed into men's clothes, and was accepted into the monastery of St. Vassian under the name of Babila.

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Matrona worked hard and soon earned the respect of the brethren. However, after some time, Abbot Vassian and the abbot of the neighboring monastery had a vision that revealed that Monk Babila was actually a woman. The saint was called to account, but her thoughts were pure, so instead of punishment she was sent to a convent in the city of Emesa. Matrona spent several years there, and then became abbess.

The fame of Matrona's virtues and healing gift spread widely outside the monastery walls. The news about the ascetic reached Dometian. Upon learning that her husband was looking for her, the saint secretly left the monastery and went to Jerusalem, then to Sinai, and then to Berit, where she settled in an abandoned pagan temple. Soon other pious women began to gather around her, forming a new monastery.

After her husband's death, Matrona returned to Constantinople and founded a new convent there. She lived there until a very old age and died peacefully around 492.

Traditions of the Matryona Winter national holiday on November 22

In Russia, Matrona of Constantinople's memorial day was called Matryona Zimnyaya. The people said: "With Matryona Winter, winter gets back on its feet, and frosts arrive from the iron mountains." Frosts were already setting in most regions by November 22, and people were wearing sheepskin coats and felt boots prepared in advance.

Before the holiday, the housewives sorted through things. What didn't fit anymore or hadn't been worn for more than three years was given to those in need. The clothes were previously washed so as not to give away their luck and well-being along with it.

It was also customary to brew herbs and roots harvested in late summer and autumn for Matryona. Some of the plants were used to make medicinal infusions, and the rest were sorted and carefully stored.

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At the end of November, the villages were actively preparing for the Christmas fast (from November 28 to January 6). The housewives made kvass and baked lean bread for future breadcrumbs. Supplies were being checked in the cellars: vegetables, pickles, and mousetraps were being set up.

What not to do on Matryona Zimnyaya Day on November 22

Matryona's ancestors adhered to certain prohibitions in order not to bring trouble upon themselves and their loved ones. During the holiday, idle conversations were avoided, fearing that this would lead to discord in the family.

What else can not be done on November 22

• Holding a grudge against loved ones can lead to illness.;
• plan important meetings — they will go to no avail;
• Cutting your hair and nails can waste your vital energy.;
• cleaning the house leads to loss of well—being;
• Drinking alcohol is believed to be a risk for a drunk person to get lost and freeze on this day.

Folk signs on November 22

On Madder Winter Day, the ancestors paid attention to various signs. Here are some of them:

• frost on trees leads to severe frosts;
• rain — to a rich wheat harvest;
• snow — by rainy May;
• Geese walk on ice — it will get warmer soon;
• a dream seen on the night of Matryona may come true at noon the next day.

Earlier, Izvestia reported on the traditions and signs of the Pavel Ledostav national holiday.