A special holiday on January 8 is Midwives' Day: history, traditions, prohibitions

Midwives' Day, or Babi Kashi, is celebrated annually on January 8. It is one of the most ancient women's holidays in Russia. Its traditions date back to pagan times, but after the baptism of the country, it organically merged with the Christian celebration — the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In 2026, it falls on Thursday. About the meaning of the date, traditions and prohibitions — in the material of Izvestia.

What is the church holiday on January 8th?

On January 8, the Orthodox Church celebrates the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary, one of the oldest holidays dedicated to the glorification of the Virgin Mary and the saints who were next to her: Joseph the Betrothed, St. James, the brother of the Lord, and King David, the earthly ancestor of Christ. The holiday symbolizes gratitude to the Mother of God for the birth of the Savior and is celebrated together with the national Day of Midwives, which strengthens the holiday's connection with mother and children.

In Russia, the Cathedral of the Most Holy Theotokos was considered a holiday of midwives and women in labor, and in the popular consciousness it was inextricably linked with the image of the Mother of God as the Heavenly Intercessor of mothers and Babies. On this day, special divine services and prayer services were held in Orthodox churches in front of the icons of the Blessed Virgin Mary "Help in Childbirth" and "Blessed Womb", to which prayers were addressed for a successful birth, the health of children and the preservation of the family.

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Midwives Day traditions on January 8th

In Russia, midwives were especially respected. It was believed that the health of the newborn and the well-being of the family depended on their experience and care. In addition, a strong spiritual and kinship bond is established between the midwife and the child she has adopted, which persists throughout her life. Therefore, the midwife occupied an honorable place in the key events of this man's fate — at the christening, wedding, at the departure for military service, taking an active part in rituals and family celebrations.

In a number of Russian provinces, on Women's Day, women who had given birth to children over the past year, together with their midwives, went to church for a thanksgiving prayer service. After the service, each woman in labor invited her grandmother to her house and treated her to specially cooked millet porridge, which eventually became fixed in the name of the holiday — "Babi porridge".

In other areas, the tradition was different: parents with children themselves came to visit the midwife and brought her gifts — money, shawls, treats, sometimes vodka and sweets. In response, the hostess treated the guests to porridge, believing that such a ceremony promotes rapid growth and good health of babies.

Also on January 8, women visited temples, prayed for the health of their children, an easy pregnancy and a safe birth. In some regions, it was customary to consecrate bread or porridge and divide it among family members.

What not to do on January 8th

In folk tradition, a number of prohibitions were associated with Midwives' Day, aimed at preserving family well-being and protecting motherhood and childhood. It was believed that hard work should not be done on this day, especially for pregnant women, so as not to harm the unborn child.

What else can not be done on January 8th:

— work leads to health problems;
— to deny wishes to pregnant women — the child will be born sick;
— it is unfortunate to invite guests into the house with a newborn;
— recalculate money — lose all your savings;
— to be sad and cry, you will spend a whole year like this.

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Folk signs for January 8th

Midwives' Day remains a symbol of respect for motherhood, caring for children and remembering the traditions that have united folk and church ideas about family and life for centuries. The people have long had weather and household signs associated with this day. They were used for forecasts for the coming year and harvest. It was believed that a snowstorm or blizzard on January 8 heralded a cold summer, and clear and frosty weather meant a good harvest.

Other signs of the day:

— sticky snow — for an early thaw;
— red sky after sunset — for severe frosts;
— a lavishly set table is the key to prosperity in the house;
— a fun feast is for family well—being.

Earlier, Izvestia reported on the history, traditions and signs of the national holiday of St. Nicholas the Winter.