January 11 is a terrible day: history, beliefs, prohibitions

In the national calendar, January 11 is a terrible day. It is popularly considered the time when evil spirits gain special power. In 2026, the date falls on a Sunday. Read about the history of the Terrible Day, its traditions, signs and prohibitions in the Izvestia article.

What is the church holiday on January 11th?

This date is the day of remembrance of the tragic death of 14 thousand babies in Bethlehem. According to the Gospel, King Herod, upon learning of the birth of the Messiah, ordered the killing of all male infants under the age of two in order to prevent a threat to his rule. This event, described in the Gospel of Matthew, has become a symbol of cruelty and innocent suffering.

The terrible Day is one of the most tragic and sorrowful in the Christian calendar. However, it gained popularity in folk traditions and myths, which led to the creation of many customs and prohibitions.

Traditions of the Terrible Day on January 11th

On that Terrible Day, people went to church, prayed for the health of their loved ones and commemorated the dead babies. At the same time, the peasants tried once again not to leave the house. In the evening, children were traditionally told good stories to protect them from nightmares and evil spirits.

According to popular belief, evil spirits roamed the streets on this day. It was believed that evil spirits become especially strong at night and can harm people, so people tried not to leave the house after sunset. To protect against evil, a bonfire of wasp stakes was lit in the courtyard, the fire for which was taken from hot coals from the stove.

Mothers performed special rituals on this day and made amulets for their children, which were considered the most powerful. To protect the baby from evil, a fish bone, bread, a coin and a thistle were placed in the cradle. In order for the child to sleep peacefully, an arrow was placed in the boy's bed, and a spindle was placed in the girl's bed. The parents also baptized the child three times and left a knife, an axe and a sickle on the threshold of the room, which, according to legend, served as protection from dark forces.

While the parents were protecting the children, the young people continued the Yuletide festivities. Evil spirits did not prevent them from having gatherings with friends. The girls continued to guess, telling each other stories from life and tall tales.

Generous evening: what is strictly forbidden, mystical items

On this holiday it is customary to have a lavish feast and put on plays

What not to do on the Dreaded Day of January 11th

Also, on the Terrible Day, it was customary to observe strict prohibitions that are aimed at protecting against evil and misfortune. While the church paid attention to the grief of the dead, the people concentrated on warnings about evil forces that could affect luck and well-being. For example, it was forbidden to leave the house after sunset, because it was believed that evil spirits were especially active at night.

What else can't be done on January 11th:

— wishing well leads to a deterioration of well—being;

— starting important things leads to failure;

— leaving children unattended leads to deterioration of their health;

— swearing — to attract trouble;

— complaining about fate leads to loss of luck;

— letting strangers into the house or talking to strangers leads to illnesses.

Folk signs for January 11th

People also followed the list of signs that needed to be observed on that day. For the most part, they were weather-related. So, a snowstorm on a Terrible day predicted a rainy July, and fogged windows promised a thaw.

Other signs for January 11th:

— warm weather — by early spring;

— a northerly wind and a clear sky lead to cold weather;

— starry sky at night — to frosts;

— a clear streak in the sunset sky will improve the weather.

Earlier, Izvestia told about the history, traditions, signs and prohibitions of the holiday of the den Family, or Christmas meat eater.