A special national holiday on November 25 is Ivan the Merciful: history, traditions, omens

In the national calendar, the day of November 25 is known as Ivan the Merciful or Ivan the Snow. The holiday is dedicated to the church veneration of one of the most beloved saints among the people, St. John the Merciful. It marked the end of the autumn wedding season and reminded of the importance of mercy and compassion for one's neighbor. In 2025, the date falls on a Tuesday. Izvestia tells about the main customs, signs and prohibitions of this day.

What is the church holiday on November 25th?

St. John the Merciful lived in Alexandria at the turn of the sixth and seventh centuries. He came from a noble and influential family. His father was the governor of the island of Cyprus, which opened up great opportunities for the young man. By the will of his parents, he married, but, having been widowed early, he chose the path of serving God for himself.

John began to lead an ascetic lifestyle, caring for the poor. His spiritual exploits gained him fame, and when the Patriarch of Alexandria died, Emperor Heraclius and all the clergy begged the saint to take the patriarchal throne.

As soon as he became patriarch, John counted all the beggars in Alexandria. The saint gave all these unfortunate people daily free food and listened to all their requests. He also visited hospitals, helping the sick. This is why John was called the Merciful.

Shortly before his death, Saint John left the pulpit due to illness and retired to Cyprus. On the way, he had a vision that foreshadowed his imminent departure. Arriving in Cyprus, the saint departed in peace to the Lord. The church annually commemorates him on November 25 (November 12, Old style).

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Traditions of the national holiday Ivan the Merciful on November 25

In the national calendar, the memorial day of the Patriarch of Alexandria was considered the last day of the autumn wedding season. The Slavs had the next opportunity for weddings only with the end of winter — on Shrovetide or on Krasnaya Gorka.

The key theme of the day was mercy, understood not only as a spiritual quality, but also as a practical action. In some regions, there was a saying: "For Ivan the Merciful, even a penny is mercy." People tried to do good deeds, give alms to the poor, and help their neighbors.

There was also a custom to pray to Saint John for a happy and merciful fate for the children and to give each other gifts. It was believed that a gift presented on this day would bring good luck and serve its owner for a long time.

What not to do on November 25 on the day of Ivan the Merciful

On the day of Ivan the Merciful, there were a number of strict prohibitions based on both veneration of the saint and superstitions designed to protect against misfortune. They were especially afraid of quarrels, scandals and bad thoughts, as it was believed that the negativity shown on this day could bring trouble for the whole next year. It was also strictly forbidden to refuse help. Refusing to give alms was regarded as disrespectful to the saint's memory.

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The main prohibitions:

• Thinking about bad things, quarreling and getting angry can ruin family relationships for a long time.;
• leave windows and doors open — happiness and well-being can "leave" the house through them.;
• moving to a new house — problems and troubles await in a new place;
• to set off on a long journey — the traveler could face troubles and dangers on the way;
• Buying shoes meant bad luck in their personal lives, and for girls it meant long loneliness.

Folk signs for November 25

The holiday got its second name — Ivan the Snow — not by chance. The weather that day was used to judge the nature of the entire upcoming winter. Nature observations were the only way for our ancestors to make a forecast for winter, so they were treated with great attention. For example, if there was frost on the morning of November 25, it foreshadowed the same frosty evening. Heavy snowfall or rain promised warm weather until early December.

Other signs of the day:

• clouds are floating against the wind — it's going to snow soon;
• low clouds — for cold weather and frosts;
• The fire in the stove burns especially brightly in dry and cold weather.;
• The coals in the furnace are quickly covered with ash, leading to warming;
• Sparrows gather in flocks and make noise — to a strong wind.

Earlier, Izvestia reported on the Matryona Zimnyaya national holiday.

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