Folk signs for January 28: what can and cannot be done
In Russia, signs and beliefs were given special importance. They were used to determine when to sow and harvest, when to prepare for winter, get married and go on a trip. Every day of the national calendar was full of rituals and superstitions. Izvestia tells about the signs for January 28 and the church holidays that fall on this date.
Folk signs for January 28, 2026
In the national calendar, January 28 is called Pavlov Day, or Sorcerers' Day. It was believed that from this date, daylight began to increase noticeably. However, it was too early to relax. The ancestors believed that wizards and witches who did not want to give in to the light were particularly active on the holiday.
The main ceremony of the day was the baking of "coastal" wheat loaves or "sunny" pies. While the dough was coming up, prayers were read to St. Paul, asking for protection for the family from the evil eye and diseases. Then the pastries were consecrated in the temple, and upon return they were distributed to each household member as a symbol of unity and common protection.
Fear of evil spirits gave rise to many protective rituals. Before leaving the house, they knocked on the doorjamb three times and spat over their left shoulder, and after sunset they carefully closed the doors, propping them from the inside with aspen stakes. They also tried to appease the brownie by leaving him a treat in a secluded corner by the stove — porridge or a piece of pie.
On St. Paul's Day, the ancestors paid special attention to various omens. If the stars were clearly visible in the sky at night, they were preparing for severe frosts. The dim stars, on the other hand, promised a thaw.
Other signs of the day
- strong wind — for a rainy year;
- snowfall — winter will drag on;
- A clear, windless and sunny day leads to early spring and dry summer.;
- chickadees are screaming loudly next to houses — to an imminent blizzard and cold snap;
- sparrows hide under roofs — to increase frosts;
- crows fly low and croak — for a thaw or a sudden change in the weather;
- the stems of the ice patterns on the windows are leaning down — there will be a good harvest.;
- Clouds are moving in from the north, leading to a cold snap.
What not to do on January 28th
Pavlov's Day was considered one of the most dangerous of the year, so it was associated with a strict number of prohibitions designed to protect against the evil eye and spoilage. During the holiday, we tried not to stay alone for long. According to beliefs, such a person could become an easy prey for evil spirits.
What else can't be done on January 28th
- Leaving home hungry leads to illnesses and failures;
- Wearing torn or dirty clothes attracts negativity.;
- quarreling with loved ones and being rude to people can prolong the conflict.;
- pregnant women should leave home for a long time so that unkind people cannot jinx the future mother and child.;
- Accepting gifts from strangers and picking up objects from the ground — there is a risk of damage.;
- If you don't need to go into the woods, you can get lost.;
- Bragging about plans and successes can scare off luck.;
- Envy leads to failures;
- Being absent—minded means that things lost on this day, according to beliefs, will not return.
What is the church holiday on January 28th?
On January 28, the Orthodox Church honors the memory of St. Paul of Thebes, who lived in the III–IV centuries. He was born in Egypt, in the Thebaid. Left an orphan, the saint was harassed by a mercenary relative because of his inheritance. During the persecution of Christians under Emperor Decius, the guardian decided to hand over the young man to the authorities so that he could be executed for his faith in Christ. Upon learning about this, Pavel retired to the desert and settled in a cave near the mountain, where he lived in complete solitude for 91 years. All this time he lived on dates and bread, which the raven brought him.
Nothing was known about the hermit's deeds for a long time. Shortly before his death, God revealed to St. Anthony the Great the place where the elder asceticized. Anthony, who considered himself a perfect hermit, discovered Paul's cave and received a lesson in humility from him. St. Paul told the guest about his imminent death and bequeathed to bury him. He passed away during prayer in 341 at the age of 113. According to legend, his holy soul ascended to God surrounded by angels and prophets. Two lions helped dig a grave, where Anthony buried one of the first desert dwellers.
St. Paul of Thebes did not found monasteries, but his feat inspired countless followers. In the 12th century, his relics were transferred to Constantinople, and later to Venice and Hungary. Part of the saint's head is located in Rome.
Prayer for January 28th
Orthodox believers pray to St. Paul of Thebes on January 28. The saint is asked to protect the home and family from diseases, spoilage and disasters. They also turn to him for help in strengthening faith and finding peace of mind.
Prayer to St. Paul of Thebes
"O holy head, Venerable Father, Most Blessed Abba Paul, do not forget your poor to the end, but always remember us in holy and auspicious prayers to God: remember your flock, which you have saved yourself, and do not forget to visit your children. Pray for us, holy Father, for your spiritual children, for you have Boldness to the Heavenly King: do not be silent for us to the Lord, and do not despise us who honor you with faith and love: remember us unworthy at the Throne of the Almighty, and do not stop praying for us to Christ God, for you have been given the grace to pray for us. We don't think you're dead.: For though you have passed away from us in body, but you are still alive after death, do not depart from us in spirit, preserving us from the arrows of the enemy and all the charms of demons and the machinations of the devil, our good shepherd. For even though your relics of cancer are always visible before our eyes, your holy soul, with angelic hosts, fleshless faces, and heavenly powers, stands at the throne of the Almighty, rejoicing worthily, leading you to truly live after death, we fall down and pray to you: pray for us to Almighty God, O Lord. For the benefit of our souls, and grant us time for repentance, so that we may safely pass from earth to heaven, and may we be delivered from bitter ordeals, demons of the air, and eternal torment, and may we be heiresses of the heavenly Kingdom with all the righteous who have pleased our Lord Jesus Christ from the beginning.: To Him belongs all glory, honor, and worship, together with His Beginningless Father, and with His All-holy, Good, and Life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen to that."
Earlier, Izvestia reported on the signs of the national holiday Nina's Day.
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