Orekhovy Spas 2026: what date, traditions and what must be done

In the last month of summer 2026, the Orthodox believers of Russia will celebrate a triple holiday that completes the series of Saviours, the Walnut Feast, which marks the end of the harvest and embodies the centuries—old wisdom of folk traditions. All the details are in the Izvestia article.

Date of the Walnut Savior in 2026

Orekhovy Spas, also known as the Third Spas, has a fixed date and is celebrated annually on August 29. This day comes the day after the great church feast of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary and ends the two-week Dormition fast. In 2026, it falls on a Saturday, which will allow many believers to devote time to festive worship services and family traditions.

The holiday got its name among the people due to the beginning of the harvest of ripe hazelnuts. However, its ecclesiastical name is the Transfer from Edessa to Constantinople of the Uncreated Image of Jesus Christ (the Savior Uncreated). This event, which took place in 944, laid the foundation for the veneration of the first Christian icon, which is the main spiritual content of the day.

Church traditions and worship services on Orekhovy Spas

Solemn liturgies dedicated to the Savior Not Made with Hands will be held in Orthodox churches on August 29. Believers tend to attend the service in order to honor the memory of the miraculous finding of the image, which, according to legend, cured King Abgar of leprosy. This image became the prototype of all subsequent Christian icons.

After the service, it is customary to consecrate new crops of nuts, bread and grain. Unlike the two previous Saviours, Honey and Apple, not only fruits are consecrated on Walnut, but also ears of wheat, symbolizing the end of the harvest. The consecrated products are reverently brought home, where they become part of the festive meal.

Folk customs and rituals on the Walnut Savior

The national calendar organically combined Christian beliefs with ancient agrarian rituals, creating a unique layer of traditions associated with the Nut Savior. Many signs of this day were aimed at attracting family well-being and protecting the home.

Special importance was attached to the harvesting of nuts, since it was believed that a plentiful harvest endowed these fruits with special power. Nut harvesting turned into a real family ritual, during which the older generation passed on to the younger the knowledge about determining the maturity of fruits and how to store them properly.

Charity was an important tradition — the consecrated nuts were necessarily shared with those in need, and the first few harvested fruits were eaten, while making a cherished wish. The custom of creating and then consecrating amulets made of walnut wood, which were attributed protective properties, became widespread.

Bath rituals occupied a special place in ritual practice — specially bound brooms made of walnut branches were consecrated and used in the bath, believing in their exceptional healing power. According to popular beliefs, such a broom could literally "knock out" diseases and bad thoughts from a person. These medicinal brooms were harvested for the future for the whole next year, as they were credited with the ability to protect the home from the evil eye and evil spirits.

Festive table and gastronomic traditions at Orekhovy Spas

The festive meal after the Dormition Fast was varied, but it had its own peculiarities. The main products on the table were nuts, fresh bread made from new harvest flour and mushrooms. Nuts were used not only as an independent delicacy, but also as an important ingredient for many dishes.

The housewives baked pies and bread with nut filling, added them to salads, sauces and main dishes. A mandatory attribute was a freshly baked loaf, which was broken by hand and divided among all family members. Mushrooms, also consecrated in the church, were stewed, salted and served as the main lenten treat.

Nut-based drinks were also popular. They prepared nut milk and tinctures on partitions, which were considered medicinal. The feast was not so much riotous as reverent, emphasizing the importance of the farmer's work and the generosity of nature.

Symbolic meaning and modern perception

In modern Russia, the Nut Savior remains relevant, combining a religious worldview with an interest in national roots. For believers, this is primarily a day of veneration of one of the main shrines of Christianity — the Image of the Savior, not made with Hands. It is a time for prayer, reflection and spiritual renewal on the eve of the new season.

For the secular part of society, the holiday has become a symbol of folk wisdom, ecology and connection with nature. Fairs and festivals dedicated to the nut industry are held in many regions of the country. They demonstrate the continuity of generations and the importance of respect for traditions that have shaped the way of life and worldview of the people for centuries.

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