A special national holiday on April 14 is Marya — empty cabbage soup: history, traditions, omens

Every year on April 14, the Orthodox Church honors the memory of St. Mary of Egypt, whose image believers associate with repentance, spiritual transformation and the power of faith. In the national calendar, the holiday was named "Marya — empty cabbage soup." In 2026, it falls on a Tuesday. Read about its history, traditions, signs and strict prohibitions in the Izvestia article.

Marya — empty cabbage soup: the history of the holiday

Maria was born in Egypt in the 5th century into a pious family, but at the age of 12 she ran away from home to Alexandria, where she led a dissolute lifestyle for many years. According to church tradition, during one of the holidays, she decided to join a group of pilgrims heading to Jerusalem to worship the Life-giving Cross of the Lord.

When the crowd entered the Church of the Resurrection of Christ, Mary tried several times to cross the threshold, but each time as if an invisible force stopped her. She realized that her own sins were keeping her out of the sanctuary. Looking up at the icon of the Mother of God and kneeling down, the woman turned to the Blessed Virgin Mary with a prayer for help and promised to completely change her life. After that, she was able to enter and worship the Life-giving Cross.

After the worship, Mary heard an inner call to go beyond Jordan. She left Jerusalem, reached the church of John the Baptist by the river, prayed, received communion, and crossed to the other side. From that moment on, her new life began.

According to her life, Mary spent the next 47 years in the Jordanian desert in complete solitude. The first years were especially difficult. She had not only to endure hunger, thirst, heat, and cold, but also to struggle with her own passions and cravings for her former life. Gradually, the harsh feat, prayer and repentance changed her.

Her life became known thanks to Elder Zosima. During Lent, he retreated to the desert and there he saw a thin, sun-blackened hermit woman in a decayed robe who possessed the gift of foresight. The reverend knew that he was a priest and called him by name, although she had never seen him before.

Maria asked Zosima to throw her a piece of clothing to cover herself, and then told her story. That's how the saint found out who was in front of him. A year later, at the request of the hermit, the elder again came to the Jordan and brought her the Holy Gifts. After another 12 months, he went to the desert again and found her dead. Next to it was an inscription with her name and a request to bury the body.

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Traditions of the feast of Mary — empty cabbage soup, celebrated on April 14

In Russia, by mid-April, the snow was melting, streams were running through ravines, rivers were flooding, and the earth was finally coming out of its winter torpor. Therefore, the day of the memory of St. Mary of Egypt had several expressive names at once, associated with seasonal changes in nature: Mary — the moon, Spread the fire, Mary — light the snow, Play the ravines.

However, the most popular is Marya — empty cabbage soup. By this time, the farm was often running out of fresh and sauerkraut, and instead of the usual thick, rich cabbage soup, housewives cooked stew on nettles and wild sorrel. The dish was considered a symbol of the coming spring, when nature began to feed a person after a long winter.

In the morning, the faithful went to the temple for service, lit candles and prayed to St. Mary of Egypt. The saint was considered the patroness of penitent sinners, and her name was also associated with women's fate, domestic well-being and family happiness. The ancestors believed that the saint helps strengthen relationships, protects against serious mistakes, guides on the path of correction and gives strength to start life anew.

She was approached with requests for family peace, getting rid of resentments and spiritual purification, especially if there were disagreements or difficulties in the house. In some regions, it was customary to place 12 bows near the icon of the saint. It was believed that such a rite helps a person to realize their actions and find inner peace.

The peasants also believed that a brownie wakes up on April 14. Treats were always left for the spirit of the dwelling in order to evoke his favor. Otherwise, he could start "bullying", creating an atmosphere of anxiety and irritation in the house. Special attention was also paid to the order in the house: the housewives cleaned the house, carefully cleaned the thresholds, washed the doors and door handles. It was believed that if you left the entrance dirty, luck and prosperity would bypass the dwelling.

Even on this day, which, according to the old style, fell on April 1, it was necessary to laugh a lot and make fun of each other. Unmarried girls especially liked this custom. According to beliefs, the more people you manage to spend, the easier it will be to manage your future husband.

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What not to do on Marya's holiday — empty cabbage soup in 2026

Our ancestors believed that April 14 requires special care, not only in business, but also in relationships with loved ones. Therefore, Marya — empty cabbage soup was associated with a number of restrictions that helped protect the family from troubles and preserve peace. So, on a holiday, you shouldn't swear and argue. According to beliefs, a quarrel that began on that day could spoil the peace in the house for a long time, and evil words could lead to insults and worries. We tried to spend the day calmly, without irritation and mutual reproaches, even in small things.

What else is forbidden to do on April 14th:

• to arrange a lavish feast and overeat — excess in food contradicts the atmosphere of the holiday, the violator will be "punished" in the form of trouble.;
• cooking flour dishes — such a meal can cause weakness, malaise and general loss of strength.;
• over—salting food - excess salt is considered a harbinger of tears, resentment and quarrels with the household;
• cutting bread with a knife — bread should be broken with your hands, this custom helps to keep peace and harmony in the house.;
• to part with a loved one even for a short time — according to beliefs, even a short separation on April 14 can lead to a cooling of feelings, misunderstanding and a protracted quarrel;
• For unmarried girls, entering the house without closing the door behind them can leave the house calm, good name and female happiness, which will negatively affect future family life.;
• chasing away or killing a spider if it weaves a web at the front door is a risk of scaring off luck, because for the ancestors it was a happy sign.

Folk signs for April 14th

On Marya — pustye shchi, farmers carefully observed nature to determine what kind of weather to expect in the coming days, as well as whether the year would be fruitful.

• streams run along the forest edges — for the harvest summer;
• There is still ice on the rivers — the year promises to be difficult and hectic.;
• short thunder on April 14 — warm and sunny weather is coming soon, if the thunder is booming and resembles an animal roar — to bad weather;
• There are no stars in the sky at night — it will get warmer soon;
• rain leads to an abundance of mushrooms in summer.

Earlier, Izvestia reported on the signs and strict prohibitions of the special feast of Hypatius the Wonderworker.