A special holiday on February 26 is Martin's Day: history, traditions, omens

Every year on February 26, Orthodox believers remember St. Martinianus of Caesarea (Palestine), an ascetic of the IV–V centuries, famous for strict asceticism and struggle against temptations. In the national calendar, the date was called Martynov or Martinianov day. In 2026, the holiday falls on Thursday. Read about its history, traditions and signs in the Izvestia article.

What is the church holiday on February 26th?

The ascetic Martinianus, whose life became an example of strict asceticism and internal discipline, was born in the ancient Jewish city of Caesarea in the IV century. According to church tradition, he chose the path of hermitry in his youth and devoted his life to prayer and spiritual asceticism. At the age of 18, the monk settled in a deserted area near Caesarea, near a mountain known as the "Place of the Ark", and spent about 25 years in silence and prayer.

One of the most famous episodes of Martinian's life was the story of temptation. A city harlot named Zoya tried, at the instigation of others, to refute rumors about the virtues of the ascetic, seduce him and turn him away from the monastic path.

On a stormy night, she came to him disguised as a wanderer and asked for shelter. The saint let her in, but when the guest openly tried to persuade him to sin, he left the cell, lit a fire and stood with his bare feet on the glowing coals, saying to himself: "It's hard for you to endure a temporary fire, how can you endure an eternal one?"

This act amazed Zoya, she repented and, following the instructions of Martinianus, went to Bethlehem, to the monastery of St. Paul, where she spent 12 years in strict labors until her death. After being cured of his burns, the saint moved even further away from people, to a rocky island, where he lived in the open air, eating meager food, which was occasionally brought by a shipbuilder. In gratitude, the hermit wove baskets for him.

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Once, during a violent storm, the wreckage of a crashed ship with a miraculously surviving girl named Photinia washed ashore. Martinian helped her get ashore and left her on the island with a supply of bread and water, knowing that the ship would arrive there again soon. He threw himself into the sea. According to legend, two dolphins carried him ashore. After that, the saint became a pilgrim, abandoning his permanent home.

Fotinia lived on the island for another six years in complete seclusion. Her death was announced by the same shipowner who brought her food. Her body was transported to Caesarea in Palestine and buried with honors.

Around 422, Martinianus arrived in Athens. Sensing the approach of death, he entered the church, lay down on the floor and asked the bishop to bury his body.

Traditions of the national holiday Martin's Day on February 26

In Russia, on February 26, the feast in honor of St. Martinianus was called in different ways - Martinianus Day, Martin's Day, simply Martinianus or Martin. The date fell on the off-season, when household chores gradually shifted from the winter lifestyle to preparing for a new agricultural cycle.

Believers traditionally started the morning of February 26 with a visit to the temple. Saint Martinianus, who was considered a tamer of passions and the patron saint of family well-being, was prayed for the preservation of marriage, deliverance from sinful thoughts and strengthening of faith.

According to legend, the monk was distinguished by his purity and inner concentration, and the faithful tried to imitate him in this. February 26 was supposed to be a lot of work, and the main thing was cleaning. The holiday reminded of the need to restore order not only in the house, but also in one's own actions in order to meet spring with a clear conscience and a calm soul.

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The women did the general cleaning, mopped the floors, sorted things, put the household in order, and got rid of the accumulated trash. The men repaired barns and outbuildings, checked supplies, and prepared for spring work. It was believed that the disorder in the house reflects the turmoil in thoughts, and therefore it is important to "clear" both the space and your own head, not to hold grudges, not to indulge in gloomy reflections.

The ancestors believed that St. Martinianus helped with vision problems. The rite of "calling the stars" was connected with this. After sunset, people went out into the courtyard and, looking at the sky, called the heavenly bodies by their names. It was believed that their light could restore vigilance to the eyes and improve health.

In some villages, on the same night, conspiracies against the evil eye and diseases were read, referring to the stars as witnesses of human requests.

Prohibitions of Martin's Day — what not to do on February 26

On February 26, Russia had a number of strict restrictions, the violation of which, according to beliefs, could bring misfortune to the house. Laziness was considered the main prohibition of Martin's Day. Our ancestors believed that idleness on February 26th could deprive a person of good luck and financial well-being for the whole year.

What else you can't do on February 26th:

• to sort things out — quarrels promise protracted conflicts without the possibility of reconciliation;
• Making hasty decisions is highly likely to turn out to be wrong.;
• making large purchases — big expenses can lead to financial difficulties;
• doing needlework — sewing, knitting, embroidery and spinning, according to beliefs, can cause diseases and vision problems.

Folk signs for February 26

On Martin's Day in February, the peasants observed nature — the weather on February 26th was perceived by them as a landmark for the coming spring and even summer.

• A sunny day leads to a warm and early spring;
• snow is actively melting — spring is coming into its own;
• frost leads to a dry summer;
• cloudy, cold day — spring will be long and rainy;
• The cat sneezes often, leading to a sudden cold snap.;
• Birds are singing loudly, and warmth is just around the corner.

Earlier, Izvestia reported on the signs and strict prohibitions of a special holiday by Alexey Rybnik.