A special national holiday on December 14 is Naumov Day: history, traditions, omens

On December 14, the Orthodox Church commemorates the prophet Nahum, one of the 12 minor prophets of the Old Testament, who is revered as the patron saint of all those whose activities are related to science, education and intellectual work. In the national calendar, the holiday is known as the Day of Naum the Literate, or Naum's Day. In 2025, it falls on a Sunday. Read about the traditions and signs associated with it in the Izvestia article.

What is the church holiday on December 14th?

The Holy Prophet Nahum is one of the significant, though little—known, figures of the Old Testament. He is one of the 12 so-called minor prophets.

He was born in the 7th century BC in the village of Elkosh, located in Galilee. His name means "consolation" in translation, and for believers it has become a symbol of wisdom, prudence, and the desire for enlightenment.

Nahum's main legacy is the book of prophecies, in which he predicted the fall of the mighty Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian empire, a city that embodied imperial power and idolatry. His words echoed the warning previously uttered by the prophet Jonah.

After Jonah's words, the Ninevites repented and temporarily changed their way of life, but a generation later they returned to their vices, and the prediction, once delayed by the grace of God, was fully realized. Nahum's prophecy describes the story of the Assyrian king Sennacherib, who threatened Jerusalem but was defeated.

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But the Jews, freed from the siege, still lived in fear of the possible return of the enemy. It was then that the prophet Nahum predicted the final destruction of Nineveh, the destruction of its walls by torrents of water and the plundering of the riches of the city. These images became symbols of retribution for the spiritual and moral degradation of the great power.

The book of the Prophet Nahum is not only a religious text, but also a powerful literary work. It ends with a solemn statement that the world will be freed from the cruel oppressor and every nation that suffered from the oppression of Assyria will be happy about it.

Saint Naum has been especially revered in Russia since the 17th century, the period of the rapid spread of church books and the formation of the educational system at monasteries. Gradually, his name became firmly associated with guidance, reason, spiritual development, and scientific activity. He was considered the patron saint of all those who seek knowledge: schoolchildren, students, scientists, writers, mentors and preachers.

Traditions of the Naum Gramotnik national holiday on December 14th

Naumov Day in popular culture was a kind of "Teacher's Day" long before the appearance of such a holiday in the official calendar. On December 14, teachers were honored in villages and villages — they were invited to visit, treated, and presented with lenten treats, thus paying tribute to their work.

Since the morning of December 14, Orthodox families have been going to church. Naumov Day was considered a particularly favorable time to address personal requests and spiritual aspirations to the holy prophet. They prayed to him for help in difficult life situations, for support in learning, for wisdom and prudence.

Children occupied a special place in prayers. Those who had a hard time studying sincerely wished for help from above — they believed that the holy prophet would certainly contribute to the comprehension of sciences. The people on this occasion condemned: "When Nahum comes, he will bring it to mind," and also, "The Prophet Nahum sharpens the mind."

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In Russia, this day was associated with the beginning of children's education. The autumn work was coming to an end by this time, and peasant families were sending their sons and daughters to schools in churches and monasteries. It was believed that the studies started on the day of the Literacy Day would be successful, and the knowledge would be solid.

The ancestors had a special rite of "attunement to the mind." The child was symbolically lightly whipped three times, sentencing: "Naum instructs the mind." The gesture was not a punishment, but a ritual act marking the transition to a new stage of life — learning.

What not to do on the Naumov Day holiday on December 14th

Today, there were a number of restrictions related not only to popular beliefs, but also to the church charter. Since December 14th fell during the strict Christmas fast, the holiday was held quietly and at home, without noisy festivities and excesses. The housewives served a lenten table, excluding meat, eggs and dairy products, and the faithful were expected to show restraint, moderation and focus on the spiritual side of the day.

What else is forbidden to do on December 14th:

• Boasting about good grades can attract the attention of envious people and cause a series of failures.;
• reading books while eating — as a result, knowledge will not be absorbed, there is a risk of simply "swallowing" them with food.;
• to be lazy and idle — according to beliefs, idleness "takes away" the mind.

Folk signs for December 14th

On this day, the peasants closely monitored nature and the weather in order to make a forecast for the winter.:

• snow flakes — for blizzard and cold winter;
• a small snowball leads to prolonged frosts;
• strong wind leads to a sharp cold snap;
• clear, dry weather — the winter months will be warm.

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