A special holiday on December 23 is Mina Day: history, traditions, omens

Every year on December 23, the Orthodox Church honors the memory of the martyrs Mina, Hermogenes and Evgraf of Alexandria. In 2025, the celebration falls on a Tuesday. In the national calendar, the holiday was named Mina Day. Read about its history, traditions and signs in the Izvestia article.

What is the church holiday on December 23rd?

Saint Mina lived in the IV century. According to legend, he was sent by Emperor Maximin to Alexandria to suppress Christian riots. However, instead, Mina began to openly preach faith in Christ. Thanks to his eloquence, he convinced many pagans to abandon the worship of idols.

Upon learning of this, Emperor Maximin sent Eparch Hermogenes to Alexandria. He was tasked with judging Mina and purging the city of Christians. Hermogenes, although a pagan, was distinguished by piety. He was amazed by the saint's steadfastness and long-suffering during the tortures, as well as his miraculous healing. After that, the eparch himself came to believe in Christ.

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Then Emperor Maximin himself arrived in Alexandria. He was personally present at the tortures of Saints Mina and Hermogenes. However, neither the amazing fortitude of the martyrs nor the miracles revealed by God in those days softened the ruler. The emperor personally executed Yevgraf, Mina's secretary, and ordered the martyrs themselves to be beheaded.

The relics of Mina and Hermogenes were thrown into the sea in an iron box. After their miraculous finding, they were transferred to Constantinople.

Traditions of the national holiday Mina Day on December 23rd

In Russia, the martyr Mina was revered as a healer of eye diseases, so the holiday in his honor was called Mina — bright eyes, Mina Eye Socket, or simply Mina Day. Prayers were addressed to the saint for the healing of eye ailments. They also believed that he was able to remove the spiritual veil from his eyes, teach him to distinguish good from evil.

This belief had a natural, calendar basis. From the Day of the Mine, daylight began to gradually increase. Although the increase is still unnoticeable, the ancestors knew that the turn to the light had already begun. "Since the Holy Mine, the darkness has passed us by," people said about this.

In families where young children grew up, rituals were held on December 23 to protect them from the midnight sun. That's what the ancestors called evil spirits that send nightmares to kids. It was believed that it was because of their tricks that children could not sleep for a long time and were moody.

What not to do on December 23rd

The Orthodox Church does not impose strict restrictions on the day of remembrance of the martyrs of Mina, but believers should remember that the holiday falls on Christmas Fast. Those who follow it should not eat meat, fish, eggs and dairy products. One should also refrain from secular entertainment and idleness, because fasting is a time of spiritual work and repentance.

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In Russia, various prohibitions were associated with the Day of the Mine. On the holiday, unmarried girls were exempt from cooking — it was believed that their cooking could cause trouble. According to legend, anyone who eats the treats they have prepared risks spending the whole year alone.

What else can not be done on December 23

• putting on someone else's glasses leads to deception on the part of loved ones;
• cheating and exaggerating lead to problems in your personal life and financial sphere;
• Gossiping and slander is unfortunate;
• Going to bed after midnight leads to nightmares;
• to be completely alone — a year will pass in sadness;
• being greedy and saving on purchases leads to long—term lack of money;
• Looking at fire can lead to blurred vision.;
• to look a person in the eye, giving alms leads to poverty;
• drinking from someone else's dishes — a person will start doing bad things.;
• raising your voice and shouting leads to discord in the family.

Folk signs for December 23rd

Observations of the weather and natural phenomena on the Day of the Mine were considered particularly accurate. They predicted the nature of winter and next summer.

• clear sky without clouds — a cold snap is coming.;
• The moon is reddish — the wind will increase;
• the wind blows the snow away — for a dry summer;
• clear sky and bright stars at night — to severe frosts;
• The stars seem very small — it's going to snow soon;
• magpies near housing or under the roof — it will get colder in the near future.

Earlier, Izvestia told about the traditions and signs of the national holiday Anna Dark.