Folk signs for December 31: what can and cannot be done

Our ancestors were attentive to signs and beliefs, and on December 31 they attached special importance, considering New Year's Eve to be a time of special power that sets the tone for the coming 12 months: what will winter be like, whether to expect a bountiful harvest, whether there will be harmony in the house and whether new beginnings will be successful. The date was perceived as a threshold between the past and the future, when every word and deed has a special weight. Izvestia tells about the signs, prohibitions, recommendations and church holidays that fall on it.

Folk signs for December 31, 2025

In Russia, on December 31, Orthodox Christians honored the memory of Saint Modest, who was considered the patron saint of domestic animals and rural labor, hence the name of the holiday — "Modest's Day", "Cattle Guard" or "New Year".

According to beliefs, on the last day of the outgoing year, it was necessary to part with everything superfluous in order to "make room" for good luck and changes for the better. "December ends the old year, opens the way for a new one," the ancestors said. Broken, unusable things were taken out before lunch, so that "the garbage would go away with the old year." Clothes and shoes that could still be useful to someone were given to neighbors or those in need. It was believed that such generosity would ensure prosperity in the coming year.

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Other signs of the day:

• A clear frosty day leads to a snowy winter and a rich grain harvest.;
• the snow is soft and sticky, leading to thaws and "porridge" on the roads in January;
• smoke from the chimney spreads over the ground — to prolonged frosts;
• smoke rises in a column — to the rapid warming;
• there is a lot of frost on the trees — for a wet and moody January;
• the stars are bright and seem to be close to the harvest year for berries and mushrooms;
• the wind increases in the evening, leading to snowstorms after the New Year;
• dogs bark outside, and cats hide closer to the stove — to the change of weather and inclement weather in the first days of January.

What not to do on December 31

In Russia, the last day of the outgoing year was considered the "threshold" to a new life, a period of special vulnerability. On December 31, evil spirits became more active in the popular imagination, trying to "cling" to human weaknesses: anger, greed, envy. Therefore, in order to avoid misfortunes and diseases, the ancestors observed a number of strict prohibitions.

Housing and household should not be left unattended on this day. According to beliefs, if on the last day of the year the house is open to anyone who enters with bad intentions or bad intentions, then the whole next year will be full of worries. If it was necessary to leave, the ancestors crossed the doors, sometimes they put a small slice of bread or a pinch of salt outside the threshold — "for protection."

What else you can't do on December 31:

• to swear and sort things out — the discord will "linger" for a whole year;
• taking out the trash in the evening — you can "throw out" luck and prosperity from the house.;
• Leaving the table empty until midnight is an empty year.;
• cleaning and doing laundry late at night — there is a risk of losing happiness and luck for a whole year.;
• to lend money or large things to someone, you can "give away" your well-being.;
• Pick up money and jewelry you find on the street — you can buy other people's troubles or illnesses with them.;
• Celebrating the New Year in old or sloppy clothes is like a New Year's outfit, and the next 12 months will pass in this status and mood.

What is the church holiday on December 31

On December 31, the Orthodox Church commemorates St. Modest, Patriarch of Jerusalem. He was born into a pious Christian family in the 7th century, in the city of Sebaste of Cappadocia in Asia Minor. From a young age, he chose the path of monasticism for himself and, as soon as he reached adulthood, took vows, fully devoting himself to the service of God.

Eventually, for his zealous and wise service, Modest was appointed rector of the monastery of St. Theodosius the Great in Palestine. It was during this period that the difficult events of the war with the Persian king Khosrau occurred: tens of thousands of Christians were killed — according to legend, about 90 thousand people, many temples and monasteries were destroyed.

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Patriarch Zachariah of Jerusalem, along with a large number of believers and the Holy Cross, was captured, and Modest was assigned to temporarily lead the Jerusalem Church in the rank of locum tenens of the patriarchal see.

Relying on the support of Patriarch John the Merciful of Alexandria, the Monk Modest set about restoring the ruined shrines, including the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. He was subsequently confirmed by the Patriarch of Jerusalem. The saint fulfilled his duty until a very old age and departed to the Lord in 634, having reached, according to legend, the age of 97.

Prayers for December 31

Prayer to St. Modest, Patriarch of Jerusalem

O most honorable and sacred head and full of the grace of the Holy Spirit, dwelling of the Savior with the Father, great bishop, our warm intercessor, to Saint Modeste, standing at the Throne of all Kings and enjoying the light of the consubstantial Trinity and cherubic angels, proclaiming the trisagion hymn, and having great and unexplored boldness towards the all-merciful Master, pray for the salvation of the flock of Christ by the people, Confirm the well-being of the holy churches: bishops, adorn the monks with the splendor of sanctification, strengthen the monks for the feat of the good current, preserve the reigning city and all cities and countries with goodness, and keep the holy immaculate faith, pacify the whole world through your intercession, deliver us from gladness and destruction, and preserve us from the attacks of foreigners, comfort the old, guide the young, and mad Be wise, have mercy on widows, intercede for orphans, raise up infants, bring back captives, free those who are weak and pray to you from all misfortunes and troubles through your intercession: pray for us to the All-merciful and Loving Christ our God, that on the day of His Terrible Coming He may deliver us from our suffering, and grant us the joys of the saints to share with all the saints forever centuries. Amen.

Earlier, Izvestia reported on the signs of the national holiday Ageyev Day.