A special national holiday on May 13 is Yakov Teply: history, traditions, omens

Every year on May 13, Orthodox believers honor the memory of the Apostle James Zebedee, the brother of John the Theologian, one of the 12 closest disciples of Christ. In the national calendar, the date was named "Yakov Teply". In 2026, it falls on a Wednesday. Read about the history, traditions, signs and strict prohibitions of the holiday in the Izvestia article.

What is the church holiday on May 13th?

James Zebedee lived in Galilee in the 1st century and came from a family of fishermen. His father was Zebedee, and his brother was the future evangelist John the Theologian. Before meeting Christ, they were engaged in fishing on Lake Gennesaret, repaired nets, and lived a simple working life. The gospel tells us that Jesus called them while they were working at the boat. James and John left their father and followed the Teacher.

Soon James became one of the closest disciples of Christ. Together with Peter and John, he witnessed events that were not revealed to all the apostles. All three were present at the resurrection of Jairus' daughter, saw the Transfiguration of the Lord on Mount Tabor, and were with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane on the eve of the passion.

After the crucifixion, Resurrection and Ascension of Christ, and then the descent of the Holy Spirit, James preached in Spain and other lands, after which he returned to Jerusalem. The apostle openly taught that Jesus was the Messiah and Savior of the world, argued with the scribes and Pharisees, and denounced their unbelief and hardness of heart.

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According to church tradition, James' sermon is associated with the conversion of the magus Hermogenes to Christ — the Jews hired him, unable to defeat the apostle in a dispute on their own. Hermogenes first sent his disciple Philitus to him, but after a conversation he recognized the truth of the Christian faith and advised the mentor to abandon sorcery.

The angry magus cast a spell on the student. Then Jacob handed the young man his towel and ordered him to recite the words of a psalm about the Lord, who frees the prisoners and lifts up the bent. Philitus freed himself from invisible bonds and was baptized. Soon Hermogenes himself, convinced of the impotence of his charms, burned the magic books and converted to the Christian faith.

Under King Herod Agrippa I, new persecutions of the Church began. In 44, the pagans, dissatisfied with the growth of the Jerusalem Christian community, secured the arrest of Jacob and the subsequent death sentence for him. The apostle listened to the verdict calmly and continued to testify about Christ until the last minute.

Traditions of the Yakov Teply national holiday on May 13

In Russia, the name of the apostle was transformed into a more familiar one — Yakov. The day of veneration of the apostle opened the pre—summer period, hence the name of the holiday - Yakov Teply.

Since May 13, matchmaking and wedding talks have been stopped in the villages. May was considered an unsuccessful month for marriage, hence the famous saying "To get married in May is to spend your whole life worrying." A really stressful economic period was beginning, so the ancestors tried to focus on field work.

In the morning, believers went to the temple and prayed to the Apostle James for strength in faith, protection on the way, and help in matters that required firmness and inner peace.

On the holiday, the housewives put simple dairy dishes on the table — milk, cottage cheese, sour cream, curdled milk. According to beliefs, such a meal restored strength after cold weather and spring fatigue and energized before a difficult season.

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On Yakov Teply, the ancestors, according to an ancient custom, washed or poured water from the March snow, which was stored in barrels in advance. It was believed that it protects against spring diseases, dashing fevers, which "came to light" along with the thaw.

What not to do on Yakov Teply Holiday

Yakov the Warm was associated with a number of prohibitions in Russia, the violation of which, according to beliefs, could lead to illnesses, misfortunes and wrong decisions. So, on May 13, one should not go on a long journey without prayer — the path could turn out to be difficult, unpredictable and unhappy.

What else can not be done on May 13:

• wearing red, pink or orange clothes — bright shades can lead to quarrels with lovers and interfere with personal happiness.;
• For girls to braid their hair, there is a risk of "weaving" illnesses, loneliness and failures into their lives.;
• to make new acquaintances — such friendship or love will be fragile;
• to quarrel, to keep bad thoughts in mind — what is said and conceived on this day returns to the person in double size;
• making serious decisions in your personal life — the changes you started on Yakov Teplyi can turn into disappointment.

Folk signs for May 13

On Yakov Teply, the peasants carefully observed nature in order to determine by signs what the summer would be like, whether to wait for rains or droughts, and whether the year would be fruitful.

• clear sky at dawn — for a sunny summer;
• A warm evening and a quiet starry night will lead to a dry, windy summer and a good harvest.;
• On the night of Yakov, the stars are clearly visible, and a warm wind is blowing from the south — the summer will be warm, stormy and fertile.;
• the sky is clear at sunset — the summer will be sunny, the sunset will be covered with clouds — by rainy summer;
• bird cherry blossoms are in bloom — for a cold snap soon;
• a lot of May bugs have appeared — the summer will be dry.

Earlier, Izvestia reported on the history and traditions of the Semyon Ranopashets national holiday.