Folk signs for January 5th: what can and cannot be done
In Russia, every January day was not just a date, but a landmark in a large annual circle, which had its own signs, prohibitions and customs. According to them, people tuned in to the future, judged the future harvest, weather, luck in business and peace in the family, strengthened faith in the future and in their own strength. Izvestia tells us what beliefs are associated with January 5 and what church holidays are celebrated on this day.
Folk signs for January 5, 2026
In the national calendar, Fedul Day was celebrated on January 5, a time when special attention was paid to pets. The stables and poultry houses were thoroughly cleaned, and the poultry and cattle were fed more abundantly than usual. The housewives baked bran cakes for them and fed them to the last crumb. The ancestors believed that caring for animals drives away evil forces and attracts helper angels to the house.
Fedula Day was considered a milestone before Christmas. By this time, they were trying to finish all the preparations for the holiday. The women baked sweet "protective" cookies in the shape of domestic birds, sheep and cows for the upcoming Christmas holidays, wrapped them in a towel and put them in the bins — such a "sealed" stock was perceived as a talisman against evil spirits and a pledge of well-being in the house.
Other signs of the day:
- strong wind in clear weather leads to a good harvest;
- The cat is huddled on the stove — severe frosts are coming soon;
- chickens are rushing, horses are worried — for a long snowstorm;
- snowfall in calm weather leads to a rich grain harvest;
- Stormy winds and snowstorms — July will be wet and dank.
What not to do on January 5th
On Fedula Day, strict prohibitions were in effect in Russia, primarily related to pets. It was believed that violating these rules could be a disaster for the household and household. Cattle should not be offended (rudeness could turn into family grief). It was also forbidden to use sharp objects near the barn, so as not to injure the animal and bring misfortune to the house.
What else you can't do on January 5th:
- shorten clothes — along with the hem, you can "shorten" your own life.;
- sewing, especially for girls who violate the law, risks being left without suitors for a long time.;
- telling your plans, even to your loved ones, may not come true.
What is the church holiday on January 5th?
On January 5, Orthodox believers honor the memory of the ten holy martyrs of Crete — Theodulus, Satornin, Euporus, Gelasius, Eunicianus, Zoticus, Pompius, Agathopus, Basilides and Evarest. They were executed in the 3rd century during the persecution of Christians unleashed by the Roman Emperor Decius.
The martyrs were captured in different towns on the island, and each of them openly professed faith in Christ, resolutely rejecting the worship of pagan idols. For thirty days, they were tortured in an attempt to force them to recant, but according to church tradition, they endured the tortures with fortitude and glorified God to the end. Before their execution, the saints prayed not for themselves, but for their tormentors, asking the Lord to enlighten them with the light of true faith.
Prayers for January 5th
Troparion to the Holy Martyrs Theodulus, Satorninus, Euporus, Gelasius, Eunicianus, Zoticus, Pompius, Agathopus, Basilides and Evarest of Crete
"Thy martyrs, O Lord, have received incorruptible crowns in their sufferings from Thee, our God, for Thou hast possessed Thy fortress, and hast overthrown the tormentors, and crushed the demons of feeble insolence. Through those prayers, save our souls."
Kontakion to the Holy Martyrs Theodulus, Satorninus, Euporus, Gelasius, Eunicianus, Zoticus, Pompius, Agathopus, Basilides and Evarest of Crete
"The day of the resurrection of the martyrs is an honest suffering that dawns on us in the nativity scene of the newborn: Give birth to him without seed."
Earlier, Izvestia reported on the signs of the Nastasya Day national holiday.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
