Folk signs for June 4: what can and cannot be done

Omens and beliefs are an important part of traditional Russian culture. In the old days, they were used to judge the weather, when to start sowing, prepare for a change of season, or arrange weddings — almost every day of the national calendar was accompanied by special rituals and superstitions. Izvestia tells about popular signs for June 4 and what church holidays are celebrated on this day.

Folk signs for June 4, 2026

In Russia, Basilisk Day was celebrated on June 4, dedicated to the memory of the holy martyr Basilisk. The consonance of the saint's name with the name of the mythical creature, the basilisk, gave rise to many popular beliefs, which is why the date was considered unusual and even alarming.

The peasants carefully observed the weather, the behavior of birds and insects, trying to predict what the summer and the future harvest would be like. Despite the height of field work, on June 4, they tried not to plow the land and not to plant crops. It was believed that what was sown on Basilisk Day would not bring a good harvest, and the fields could become overgrown with weeds — wormwood, cornflowers and cornflowers.

At the same time, household chores were not prohibited. The women cleaned up the house, got rid of unnecessary things and checked the household. According to popular beliefs, a Basilisk could have appeared from an unusual egg laid by an old rooster and hatched by a toad. To protect the house, livestock and crops from evil spirits, the housewives inspected the chicken coops, looked for suspicious eggs and boiled them hard-boiled.

In some regions, the holiday was also called Cornflower Day, as cornflowers began to bloom at that time. On June 4, the girls collected flowers, wove wreaths from them, dried them and kept them as a talisman. In some regions, wreaths of birch branches and wildflowers were floated on the water. If the wreath stayed on the surface for a long time and did not sink, it was considered a good sign and promised well-being.

Other signs of the day:

— fog and lots of dew — for a rich harvest;

— you can hear birds singing — the weather will be good;

— there are a lot of gadflies — for the abundant harvest of cucumbers;

— rain before lunch leads to a large number of mushrooms and berries in the forests.

What not to do on June 4th

Basilisk Day was considered a difficult and even dangerous date in the national calendar. The ancestors believed that any rash action on June 4 could cause trouble, harm the farm or deprive the future harvest.

The main prohibition of the day was considered to be working in the fields and in the garden. On this day, they tried not to plow the land, not to sow rye, and not to plant. In addition, on Basilisk Day, it was not recommended to start important things, move or go on a long journey. It was believed that all the initiatives would be unsuccessful, and the effort and time spent would not bring the desired result.

What else can't be done on June 4th:

— whistling in the house or on the street leads to money losses and a meeting with scammers;

— wives cut their husbands' hair — according to beliefs, this could bring illness on the spouse;

— girls stay at home all day — it was believed that it promises loneliness;

— offending or catching birds, especially nightingales, is a source of unhappiness and family troubles;

— wearing black clothes leads to unpleasant events and bad news.

What is the church holiday on June 4th?

On June 4, the Orthodox Church honors the memory of the Holy Martyr Basilisk, who suffered for the Christian faith in the late third and early fourth centuries during the persecution under Emperor Galerius. Basiliscus was the nephew of the martyr Theodore Tyron and the brother of the martyrs Eutropius and Cleonicus, who also accepted death for their faith.

After the execution of his companions, Basilisk continued to preach Christianity, for which he was imprisoned. According to legend, during his imprisonment, Jesus Christ appeared to him and strengthened him in his faith. Later, the martyr was sent to the court of the ruler of the region of Pontus and Cappadocia. He was required to sacrifice to pagan gods, but the Basilisk refused, for which he was tortured and executed around 308 in the city of Komany. In the Orthodox tradition, the Basilisk is revered as an example of fortitude, courage, and fidelity to Christian beliefs.

Also on June 4, the church honors the memory of the Great Martyr John Vladimir of Serbia, the Righteous James of Borovichi, the holy fathers of the Second Ecumenical Council and other saints.

Prayers on June 4th

To the Martyr Basilisk Komansky

Troparion, glas 4

"Thy martyr, O Lord, the Basilisk, in his suffering, has received an incorruptible crown from Thee, our God: for thou hast thy strength, overthrow the tormentors, and crush the demons of feeble insolence. Save our souls through your prayers."

Kontakion, glas 8

"Thou didst appear strong and courageous in suffering, and in miracles didst predestinate, revealing the name of Christ, and didst put the tormentor to shame. We venerate you, Basilisk, ever calling, all-honorable: hail, bright goodness of the martyrs."

Prayer to the Righteous James Borovichi, the Wonderworker of Novgorod

"O holy, great, righteous, and most glorious wonderworker, the God-blessed James, the servant of Christ, who was wonderfully glorified in heaven and on earth by the Lord, who gave us healing and intercession, we fall down to you with faith, love, and reverence, and we pray from the depths of our souls: help us, who have greatly angered our Lord and Creator, and ask for all our help. what is needed for a temporary life and eternal salvation: fruitfulness of the earth, health of the air, health of souls and bodies, prosperity in repentance and piety, strengthening of the Orthodox faith, shaming of superstition, eradication of unbelief and fulfillment of every good petition of ours to God. Hear, O servant of God, every Christian soul who prayerfully calls upon you in sorrow and distress, hasten to help, ease sorrows, heal illnesses, and appear as a speedy intercessor for those who demand your intercession. Above all, at the hour of our death, do not hesitate to come to our aid and beseech the Lord to grant us a peaceful, serene end to our lives, partaking of the Holy Mysteries of Christ and filled with hope, so that with the hope of salvation we may safely pass through the terrible path of aerial ordeals and uncomplainingly reach the desired kingdom, which the Lord has prepared for those who love Him. Holy one of God! Hear us and do not despise our supplication, but make us partners in eternal bliss, so that together with you, through the saved mercy of Christ our Saviour, we may sing and glorify Him with the Father and the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen to that."

Earlier, Izvestia reported on the signs and prohibitions of the national holiday Venison Day.