A special holiday on January 21 is Yemelyany Perezimniki: history, traditions, omens
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- A special holiday on January 21 is Yemelyany Perezimniki: history, traditions, omens
In the national calendar of the Slavs, January 21 is known as Yemelyany Perezimniki. This holiday, dedicated to the church memory of St. Emilian of Cyzicus, completed a series of winter Yuletide and marked a turn from winter to spring. In 2026, the date falls on Wednesday. Izvestia tells about the customs, signs and prohibitions of this day.
What is the church holiday on January 21st?
On January 21, the Orthodox Church commemorates St. Emilian, Bishop of Cyzicus, who lived in the 9th century. His life fell during a difficult period of iconoclasm under Leo V the Armenian. Having ascended the throne in 813, the emperor resumed the persecution of the worshippers of holy icons, demanding that the clergy completely abandon them.
Emilian, among other archpastors who defended the shrines, was summoned to the palace. He firmly stated that matters of faith should be resolved not in the palace, but in the church by its spiritual pastors. For his position, the saint was defrocked and exiled to prison. In exile, he continued to profess the truth and strengthen believers, despite difficult conditions. The saint died in exile, remaining true to his beliefs.
The Church honors Emilian of Cyzicus as a confessor, that is, a man who suffered for his faith, but did not accept martyrdom. His memory is celebrated twice a year — on January 21 and August 21. On these days, believers remember the spiritual feat of the pastor and pray for the strengthening of faith, guidance on the right path, and spiritual perseverance during times of trial.
Yemelyany Perezimniki: traditions of the national holiday on January 21
Among the people, St. Emilian's memorial day was known as Yemelyan's Day, Yemelyany Perezimniki or Yemelyan Winter. This day was considered an important milestone, which ended the winter holidays and gave a start to active preparations for spring. There was a ban on any work until noon. It was allowed to take up household chores only after noon. "Before lunch, Kolyada," the people said, emphasizing the main feature of the daily routine.
In some regions, for example in Belarus, there was a tradition of seeing off the Kolyada. A ceremonial sheaf preserved from Christmas Eve was solemnly carried to the tallest tree in the area. Last year's sheaf was burned, accompanied by songs and round dances. This ritual symbolized the renewal of nature and the hope of fertility in the new agricultural year.
It was a special custom to invite a godfather and a godfather into the house. The guests were not supposed to come empty—handed and present their godson with a small gift - a new towel and a bar of soap. They were used when bathing a child for the first time, reading special spells for the baby's health and protection from the evil eye.
In the evening, families and neighbors gathered for large gatherings, during which they told various stories — fairy tales, epics and tall tales. This custom gave rise to the famous saying "Meli, Emelya, your week." The most eloquent storyteller was encouraged with kind words. Such a pastime not only brightened up a long winter evening, but also contributed to the transfer of experience and traditions from the elders to the younger ones, strengthening community ties.
Special importance was attached to the dreams seen on the night of Yemelyan. They were considered prophetic, capable of giving an answer to a pressing question. In order not to forget the message, immediately after waking up, it was necessary to say aloud in detail everything that had been dreamed, and then try to correctly interpret the dream.
What not to do on January 21 in Yemelyany Perezimniki
For our ancestors, Yemelyanov Day was filled not only with customs, but also with certain prohibitions based on superstitions. People believed that wrong actions could attract failure, loneliness or illness for the whole year. They were especially afraid to start the day with a conflict, as it was believed that this would set a negative tone for the whole day. It was also forbidden to waste supplies and money thoughtlessly, which could lead to starvation or hardship.
What else can not be done on January 21:
- start work before lunch, otherwise the whole year will be hectic and there will be a lot to do.;
- Spending a day alone is how the whole year will go.;
- looking in the mirror for a long time could lead to loss of health and beauty;
- Nepotists coming to visit without a gift for their godson leads to a breakdown in the relationship and the child's illness;
- Going on the road in a snowstorm can be dangerous.
Folk signs for January 21
Observing natural phenomena, our ancestors tried to predict the weather for spring and summer. This was important for planning future agricultural work. So, according to observations, if severe frosts arrived on January 21, then spring will be late. A southerly wind foreshadowed a rainy summer with frequent thunderstorms.
Other signs of the day:
- fogged windows in the house — for a rapid warming;
- A clear starry sky and a particularly bright moon lead to severe frosts.;
- snowfall on a holiday — for a rainy summer;
- a clear, sunny day leads to a hot and dry August.
Earlier, Izvestia told about the traditions and signs of the national holiday of Zosima Pchelnik.
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