The main signs for the Ascension of the Lord are named, so as not to lose luck.

On the 40th day after Easter, Orthodox Christians celebrate one of the twelve great feasts, the Ascension of the Lord. In 2026, it falls on May 21st. In the folk tradition, the holiday was given special importance, people were attentive to the signs associated with this day. Izvestia tells about the main signs for health, weather and luck.

Omens for health and luck

The morning dew on Ascension was considered curative. On the holiday, the healers advised walking barefoot on the grass before sunrise to "take the power of the earth for the whole year." At the same time, prayer for health for oneself and loved ones was an important condition of the ritual. It was believed that dew acquired properties similar to holy water, and it was even used to wash bedridden patients in the hope of alleviating suffering.

Another sign concerned baking. In the central regions of Russia, special "ladders" of lean dough were baked with seven rungs symbolizing the steps to paradise. Family members ate these pastries in the morning on an empty stomach, saying: "So that health goes uphill, like a stairway to heaven." If the "ladder" was successful and did not burn, it promised the absence of diseases in the family until the next Easter cycle.

Good luck signs

On the feast of the Ascension, the ancestors paid special attention to the nightingales. Meeting this bird was considered a good sign. So, a person who hears a nightingale singing, according to beliefs, will be lucky all year round. At the same time, it was strictly forbidden to harm birds — this could lead to troubles and losses.

The girls, who wanted to attract the groom and family happiness, wove wreaths of the first wildflowers, enchanted them and hung them on birch branches. If the wind did not tear off the wreath after three days, it meant that happiness was just around the corner.

Signs of wish fulfillment

In Russia, it was believed that the heavens "open" on Ascension day, so prayers said on the holiday are especially effective, and any request addressed to God will surely be fulfilled. Therefore, many people made wishes on the holiday. However, there was an important condition — the desire should not be selfish or aimed at harming another person.

In Russia, it was believed that until the Trinity, the souls of the deceased roam among the living, and on Ascension they return to the fields. Therefore, to make the wish come true faster, the villages tried to respect their ancestors: during meals they were given a separate plate and sincerely asked invisible guests for intercession. And in order not to anger the souls of the dead, there was a strict ban on loud talking and shouting after lunch.

Weather signs

The weather on Ascension served as a guide for the entire summer and autumn. Rain on this day was considered both a bad and a good sign. On the one hand, he promised a poor grain harvest, on the other, he promised an abundance of mushrooms in the forests by August. A clear and hot day, on the contrary, promised a good harvest of cereals and fruits.

The red sunset on Ascension predicted a windy and dry summer with forest fires, and an abundance of mosquitoes in the evening — windy days.

If the ground was still wet in the evening after the morning dew, it was considered the ideal time to plant late beets and carrots. The humidity ensured that the root vegetables would grow sweet and even.