A special national holiday on March 22 is the Day of the Lark: history, traditions, omens

Every year on March 22, Orthodox believers honor the memory of 40 Sebaste martyrs, soldiers who became famous for their fortitude and loyalty to Christianity. In the national calendar, the date is known as the Day of the Lark, or Magpie. It is associated with the arrival of spring, the arrival of the first birds and the expectation of warmth. In 2026, the holiday falls on a Sunday. Read about its history, traditions, signs and strict prohibitions in the Izvestia article.

What is the church holiday on March 22

After the Edict of Milan in 313, issued by Emperor Constantine the Great, Christians in the Roman Empire gained religious freedom and were given equal rights with pagans. But in the eastern part of the country, Constantine's co-ruler Licinius, preparing for a power struggle, sought to purge the army of Jesus' followers.

In the Armenian city of Sebaste, under the command of the military commander Agricolaus, there was a squad of 40 soldiers. They were all Christians. When they were asked to sacrifice to the pagan gods, they refused.

The authorities imprisoned the soldiers and tried to persuade them by threats and persuasion to renounce their faith. When this did not work, they were promised the emperor's mercy, honors, and favor of authority if they renounced Christ. But the answer remained the same.

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Soon, the dignitary Lysias arrived in Sebaste, who sentenced the Christians to death. According to church tradition, they tried to stone the soldiers, but they did not cause any harm to the martyrs. Then they were remanded in custody.

In winter, in severe frost, the soldiers were driven without clothes into the icy Sevastian lake, where they were left overnight. A sauna was deliberately melted on the shore in order to break their will by the sight of a near rescue. One trembled and wanted to rush to the warmth, but immediately died. Aglaius, the guard, took his place. When he saw the heavenly crowns above the martyrs, he declared himself a Christian and joined the condemned. So there were 40 martyrs again.

After all the tortures, the Christians were sentenced to be burned. The mother of the youngest of them, Meliton, urged her son not to be afraid of suffering and not to retreat. After the execution, the charred remains of the saints were thrown into the water. Three days later, the martyrs appeared in a dream to Blessed Peter, Bishop of Sebaste, and ordered their bodies to be interred. The bishop and his clerics gathered the bones at night and buried them with honor.

Traditions of the national holiday Forty Forty on March 22

In Russia, March 22 was perceived as one of the main frontiers of spring. In the national calendar, the holiday had several names at once — the Day of the Lark, Magpie and Forty Magpies.

By this time, larks were returning from warm countries, followed by other migratory birds. The peasants associated their arrival with the beginning of plowing. "The lark is plowing the sky," "The lark has brought forty birds with him," the ancestors said, considering the bird to be a harbinger of a great seasonal change in nature.

Another name for the holiday — Soroki, Forty Forty — was associated with the church memory of the 40 Sevastian martyrs, who are honored on this day.

The housewives baked special ceremonial pastries for the holiday — "larks". They were made from lean dough on the eve of the holiday or in the early morning of March 22. The birds were modeled with outstretched wings, tufts and raised tails, trying to make the treat look as lively as possible. The eyes were made from poppies, seeds, or dried fruits.

In some regions, "nests", "eggs" or small "chicks" were additionally prepared. With the help of such "larks", home fortune-telling was arranged, for this small objects were hidden in the dough. The ring promised a speedy marriage, the coin promised prosperity, and a piece of cloth tied in a knot promised the birth of a child. This is how festive pastries turned into a family ritual, where at the common table the household simultaneously welcomed spring and tried to look into the near future.

In the morning, the children were given baked "larks", after which they ran outside, picked up the birds on a hill, carried them on twigs decorated with ribbons, and called spring in unison. The calls were repeated many times, the birds were asked to take away the cold winter and bring a warm spring. The kids ran around the village singing and laughing, and ate their treats closer to lunch.

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Not only children, but also adults participated in the rituals. Baked larks were left on windows, trees, and high places so that spring would "see" them and take effect sooner. Sometimes these rituals were accompanied by round dances and street games.

Later, the folk tradition received a Christian interpretation. In the church environment, birds made of dough began to be associated with the Sebaste martyrs. According to one interpretation, larks symbolize the souls of saints rushing to God. Therefore, buns in the shape of birds are baked on this day in some temples.

What not to do on the Lark Day holiday

In Russia, birds were treated with special care on the Day of the Lark. The ancestors believed that larks and other birds bring spring and protect the house from dark forces, so it was forbidden to harm them — it could turn into trouble for humans.

What else you can't do on March 22:

• chasing birds out of the yard is such a bad act that it can attract troubles and setbacks for the entire economic year.;
• ruining nests promises diseases and big troubles.

Folk signs for March 22

On the Day of the Lark, the peasants carefully observed nature in order to determine by signs what spring and summer would be like, whether to expect a rich harvest.

• The larks have already arrived, and the weather will be warm and clear soon.;
• thunderclaps are heard — the year will be lean;
• There is still snow on the fields, for a rich harvest.;
• It was a warm day, with 40 warm days ahead.;
• March 22 is cold — 40 more days of cold weather are expected.

Earlier, Izvestia told when and how Russians celebrate a special holiday, the Spring Solstice.