A special national holiday on May 30 is Evdokia Svistunya: history, traditions, omens
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- A special national holiday on May 30 is Evdokia Svistunya: history, traditions, omens
Every year on May 30, Orthodox believers honor the memory of St. Euphrosyne of Moscow, Grand Duchess Evdokia, wife of Dmitry Donskoy, one of the most revered women of Ancient Russia. In the national calendar, the date was named Evdokia Svistunya. In 2026, the holiday falls on a Saturday. Read about its history, traditions, signs and strict prohibitions in the Izvestia article.
What is the church holiday on May 30th?
Grand Duchess Evdokia was born in 1353 in the family of Prince Dmitry Konstantinovich of Suzdal and Princess Anna. The childhood of the future saint fell on a period of princely feuds and civil strife.
On January 18, 1366, with the blessing of Metropolitan Alexy of Moscow, Evdokia became the wife of Grand Duke Dmitry Ivanovich of Moscow, the future Dmitry Donskoy. This marriage was of national importance, as it strengthened the alliance of Moscow and Suzdal in difficult times for the Russian lands.
In the early years of this marriage, Moscow was hit by several disasters — pestilence raged in the city, and then a large fire broke out. Evdokia immediately proved herself to be a defender of the suffering, helped widows, orphans, victims of the fire, gave alms, supported the destitute.
In 1368, the Lithuanian Prince Algirdas besieged Moscow. The Kremlin held out, but the city was burning again, and the Moscow land was devastated. Evdokia prayed for the salvation of the principality and helped the victims as much as she could. In the early 1370s, when Dmitry Ivanovich had to go to the Horde because of a dispute over the grand duchy with Prince Mikhail Alexandrovich of Tver, the princess prayed with the people for his safe return.
The spiritual mentors of the grand ducal family were St. Alexy, St. Sergius of Radonezh, and St. Theodore, abbot of the Moscow Simonov Monastery, a disciple of Sergius. St. Sergius baptized the eight children of Dmitry and Evdokia.
In 1380, when Dmitry opposed Mamai, Evdokia shared his feat with prayer and works of mercy. After the victory on Kulikovo Field, she built the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Moscow Kremlin, which was later painted by Feofan the Greek and Simeon Cherny.
Two years later, Russia experienced a new shock — the invasion of Khan Tokhtamysh. Dmitry left to raise an army, and Evdokia and her children were forced to leave Moscow and almost captured. The city was taken and burned. After the ruin, the princely family was again faced with the need to hold the grand duchy, and in 1383, Evdokia's eldest son Vasily was sent to the Horde, where he remained a hostage for two years.
On May 19, 1389, Dmitry Donskoy died before reaching the age of 40. Before his death, he handed over the throne to his son Vasily and bequeathed him to obey his mother. Evdokia did not fight for political influence. After her husband's death, she began to lead a hidden ascetic life, wearing a hair shirt and heavy chains under expensive princely clothes, fasting strictly, but not flaunting it.
When ill-wishers began to spread rumors around Moscow that tarnished her honor, one of the sons decided to question his mother. Then Evdokia revealed part of her secret to the children — they saw a body exhausted by fasting under the princely robes. The sons asked for forgiveness and wanted to punish the slanderers, but the princess forbade revenge.
At the end of the 14th century, Evdokia began to establish the Voznesensky Convent at the Frolovsky Gate in the Kremlin. It was in this place that she saw off and met Dmitry Donskoy after the Battle of Kulikovo. At the same time, the princess built temples and monasteries in Pereyaslavl-Zalessky.
In 1395, when Tamerlane's troops approached the Russian borders, Evdokia again became one of the spiritual pillars of Moscow. On her advice, the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God was brought from Vladimir to the city. In church tradition, this event is associated with the miraculous deliverance of Russia — Tamerlane turned his troops back.
In 1407, after seeing the Archangel Michael, Evdokia decided to take monastic vows. The miracle of the blind man's healing is connected with her departure to the Voznesenskaya monastery. According to legend, he regained his sight by touching the hem of her clothes. On the same day, several dozen more people were cured of various diseases.
In her tonsure, the princess received the name Euphrosyne. Three days after this event, she laid the stone church of the Ascension of Christ, where she had previously determined the place of her burial. On July 7, 1407, the Monk Euphrosyne died at the age of 54. Later, according to church tradition, healings took place at her tomb.
Traditions of the national holiday Evdokia Svistunya on May 30
In Russia, the day of veneration of St. Euphrosyne fell at the end of May, when the spring field work was nearing completion, and the weather often changed due to harsh winds. Their whistling gave the day its popular name — Evdokia the Whistler.
After the May rains, the earth had time to soak up moisture, so the peasants were planting vegetables and taking care of the beds on Evdokia Svistunya. Seedlings of tomatoes and peppers were transferred to the garden, potatoes were planted or checked, the soil was loosened, the boundaries were adjusted, and weeds were removed.
In the popular imagination, Evdokia was an active housewife who knew how to combine family care, mercy and inner strictness, so women did not sit idle on the holiday, put the house and garden in order.
Potato dishes were always prepared for Evdokia. It was baked, fried, and added to pies, fritters, and casseroles. It was believed that the more such treats there were on the table, the better this vegetable would be born, and the calmer and more satisfying the year would be for the family. Leftovers were not thrown away, they were given to livestock and poultry so that prosperity would not leave the yard.
What not to do on Evdokia Svistunya holiday
In Russia, Evdokia the Whistler was considered an alarming day that required caution. He was associated with a number of prohibitions, the observance of which was supposed to protect the house from losses. So, on May 30, it was forbidden to eat cereal dishes. The ancestors preferred potatoes, and they tried not to cook porridge, so as not to bring trouble to the farm and the future harvest.
What else you can't do on May 30:
- Making new acquaintances can lead to major troubles.;
- drinking alcohol — an intoxicated person is especially vulnerable to deception and bad influence;
- to leave far from home — the road on this day can turn into misfortunes and monetary losses.;
- Making hasty decisions is an ill—considered act that threatens financial problems.;
- Walking into the woods or fields is unnecessary — during this period, snakes crawl out to bask and can sting.;
- make noise and have fun, especially for those who are engaged in planting — the crop may die.;
- Trying on parental wedding rings promises personal troubles for girls.;
- braid tight braids — you can "tie" your way to a happy marriage.
Folk signs for May 30th
On Evdokia Whistler, the peasants carefully observed nature, especially the wind, birds and animals. The ancestors believed that May 30 shows exactly what kind of summer it will be — warm or cool, dry or rainy.
- north wind — the summer will be cold, south wind — hot weeks ahead;
- A cold day in Evdokia — hail and sudden cold snaps are possible in summer;
- It's raining on the growing moon — summer may turn out to be wet;
- A woodpecker knocks on a clear day — it's going to rain soon;
- A raven caws over the house — for a cold snap;
- Dry weather on May 30 — autumn may come early;
- rowan, lilac and apple trees are in bloom — there will be a good bite.;
- pigs dig the damp earth — for a rainy summer.
Earlier, Izvestia reported on the signs and strict prohibitions of a special Fedor Zhitnik holiday.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
