February 10 is a special national holiday — Efremov Day: history, traditions, omens

Orthodox Christians celebrate on February 10 the memorial day of St. Ephraim the Syrian, an outstanding theologian, poet and preacher of the fourth century. In the folk tradition, the holiday is known as Ephraim's Day, or Ephraim the Bake. His traditions were connected with the hearth and the veneration of the guardian spirit of the dwelling - the brownie. In 2026, the date falls on a Tuesday. Izvestia tells about the customs, signs and prohibitions of this day.

What is the church holiday on February 10th?

The Monk Ephraim the Syrian was born in Mesopotamia, in the city of Nisibin (now the territory of modern Turkey) in a Christian family. From a young age, Ephraim showed a deep interest in spiritual life and became a disciple of the famous St. James of Nisibis, who was his mentor in the study of the Holy Scriptures.

The turning point in Ephraim's life was the conquest of Nisibis by the Persians in 363, after which he left his hometown and settled in Edessa, a major cultural and religious center of that time. Here, having chosen the path of solitude, he spent many years of his life in fasting and prayer, engaged in literary work.

He wrote numerous interpretations of the books of the Old and New Testaments. However, his poetic creations brought him worldwide fame. Ephraim is rightfully considered the founder of Christian church poetry. He created a special genre — spiritual hymns intended for singing during divine services. Later they became an integral part of the church's liturgical tradition.

A special place in the saint's work is occupied by soulful penitential prayers. The most famous of them is the "Prayer of Ephraim the Syrian" ("Lord and Master of my life..."), which is read in churches throughout Lent. The monk died around the year 373. In the Orthodox world, including in Russia, he was revered as a teacher of repentance, a model of humility and deep faith.

The main Orthodox holiday in February is Candlemas: important prohibitions and omens

In 2026, the fortieth holiday falls on a Sunday.

Traditions of the national holiday Efremov day on February 10

In the popular consciousness, the day of memory of Ephraim the Syrian is closely intertwined with ancient rituals and beliefs. The central figure in Ephraim's day was the brownie. It was believed that he needed to be cajoled so that he would not be violent and help the family all year round. To do this, a treat was left behind the stove — a pot of delicious porridge, a slice of pie or a bowl of milk. At the same time, they said affectionate words, inviting them to taste the dish.

Hence the name of the holiday Ephraim the Baked Bread. He was also called "Ephraim the cricket intercessor." This is due to the fact that in the old days crickets were considered assistants to the brownie. On Ephraim's Day, insects were strictly forbidden to be driven away or killed. According to beliefs, such actions could anger a brownie.

Another important tradition of the day was the cleansing of the dwelling. After the morning service, the housewives were actively engaged in the house: they carefully swept the litter, especially from under the threshold and from the corners, and washed the floors. The room was also often sprinkled with holy water. It was believed that in this way evil spirits and all the bad things that accumulated over the winter were banished from the dwelling.

Men weren't supposed to do hard work that day. They usually spent their time making minor repairs to household utensils, tools, clothes and shoes, or checking the remaining stocks of grain, hay and feed. The main condition was that it was necessary to work without noise and fuss, so as not to inadvertently disturb the household spirit.

What not to do on February 10 on Ephraim's Day

There were other prohibitions on Ephraim's Day. For example, any cruelty to cats was prohibited. Our ancestors believed that animals, like crickets and spiders, were under the protection of the "owner" of the house. They couldn't be beaten or chased away, so as not to invite trouble.

Ephraim's Day: how today not to attract poverty, prohibitions and omens on February 10

In 2025, the Orthodox and popular holiday falls on a Monday

What else can not be done on February 10:

• quarreling, shouting and swearing in the house — the brownie will begin to frighten the tenants with knocking and noise;
• Leaving clutter, scattered things, or dirty dishes will bring chaos to business and minor setbacks.;
• to be lazy and to indulge in idleness — the day was economic and required diligence;
• doing fortune—telling and divination is considered a purely ecclesiastical day, and such activities are sinful.;
• to start new important business or projects — they risk being unsuccessful.

Folk signs for February 10

During the holiday, the peasants carefully observed the natural phenomena. They were used to make predictions about the weather and the future harvest. So, a strong wind, howling loudly in the chimney, foreshadowed the imminent cold snap and the return of frost. And the snow falling in fluffy flakes is warming soon.

Other signs of the day:

• the dog whines for no apparent reason — expect a snowstorm or blizzard.;
• The forest on the horizon seems darkened by the thaw.;
• A wind from the south leads to a warm and early spring; from the north, to a long winter.;
• hoarfrost on the trees — for a rainy summer;
• bright, cloudless sun at noon — for the harvest year.

Earlier, Izvestia told about the traditions and signs of the national holiday Laurentian Day.

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