A special national holiday on March 5 is Lev Katysh: history, traditions, omens

Every year on March 5, Orthodox believers honor the memory of St. Leo of Catana, bishop who lived on the island of Sicily in the 8th century. In the national calendar, the date was named Lev Katysh, or simply Katysh. In 2026, it falls on a Thursday. Read about its history, traditions, signs and strict prohibitions in the Izvestia article.

What is the church holiday on March 5th?

Saint Leo of Catana was born at the beginning of the 8th century in the Ravenna region into a family of noble and pious parents. He was distinguished by strict morals, a clear mind, carefully studied the Holy Scriptures and from his youth chose spiritual service for himself.

After the death of Bishop Savin, Lev was elevated to the see of Katan. His contemporaries knew him as a man of gentle disposition and strict faith. He helped the poor, supported widows and orphans, received pilgrims, and sent aid from church funds to those in need. According to the Scriptures, for his purity and mercy, he received the gift to heal diseases, cast out demons, and perform miracles.

His ministry came at a time when the influence of the magician Iliodor increased in Katana. According to legend, he was born into a Christian family and was baptized, but later rejected the faith and engaged in sorcery. The authorities tried to bring the troublemaker to justice, but each time he escaped punishment. Bishop Leo unsuccessfully urged him to give up witchcraft and repent.

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One day, during a festive divine service, Iliodor entered the temple and began to conjure. Some of those present lost their composure, people were shouting, laughing, and hysterical. Leo stopped praying, came out of the altar, threw his belt over the magus and led him to the town square, where a bonfire was lit.

According to legend, the bishop entered the fire with the magician and held him until he died. He himself remained unharmed thanks to the "dew of the Holy Spirit", which protected him — the flame did not even scorch the saint's vestments. After that, Leo returned to the temple to complete the service.

The bishop died at a very old age. The life mentioned a case when a woman suffering from severe bleeding touched his bedside after his death and received healing. Leo's body was buried in the church of St. Luke the Martyr.

Traditions of the national holiday Lev Katysh on March 5

In Russia, March 5 was called Lev Katysh or simply Katysh. On this day, the villages organized the last sledding in the snow before it finally melts. The entertainment was a kind of winter send-off and was of a ritual nature.

Young people went out on the slides with sleds, staged noisy games. "A ball is a lump in the side," the ancestors said, emphasizing that skating should be active and fun. There was a belief that the further the sledge went, the longer the happy streak in life would be. The one whose tobogganing turned out to be the longest was considered the most successful.

On the holiday, the housewives baked ceremonial pastries — round tortillas and buns, which were called kokuri. If the date did not coincide with Lent, the dough was made with cow's oil. Their shape symbolized the sun and the approach of spring. Pastries were served to the table, the family and guests were treated, so that "everything would go to happiness."

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On Forgiveness Sunday, quarrels and abusive words were considered undesirable.

On March 5, the peasants held a special ritual related to the future harvest. They took the coals from the blacksmith and poured them on the edge of the field. This ceremony symbolized the union of land and tools, the key to a successful agricultural season.

What not to do on the Lev Katysh holiday

In the folk tradition, there were a number of prohibitions on the Left side of the Katysh, the observance of which helped the ancestors not to "scare off" luck in the first days of spring. The holiday in Russia was perceived as the time of the end of the winter cycle, and not as the start of serious endeavors. Therefore, on March 5, it was forbidden to start new business. According to beliefs, everything planned will either be delayed or will not lead to the desired result.

What else you can't do on March 5th:

• Cutting hair for children under the age of seven is believed to weaken a child's health.;
• Wearing old, worn—out shoes means that poverty "enters" the house with it, and getting rid of it is a step towards renewal.;
• Looking at shooting stars is a sight that can "attract" troubles and disturbing events.;
• quarreling and raising your voice — conflicts on this day promise a protracted rift in the family.;
• to be lazy — passivity can "freeze" luck for a long time.

Folk signs for March 5th

On Leva Katysh, the villages were closely observing nature to determine what kind of weather to expect in the coming weeks, as well as whether the year would be fertile.

• The wind has changed direction, leading to a short—term warming;
• birds fly in flocks and dive sharply down towards the snowfall;
• Birds are swimming in the snow — by the thaw;
• warming on this day means that the cold weather will return soon.;
• snow has fallen and does not melt — to crop failure;
• snow and rain — by the spring flood;
• early spring leads to an unstable and difficult year.

Earlier, Izvestia reported on the signs and strict prohibitions of the special Oatmeal holiday.