A special holiday on July 1 is Yaril's Day, the Top of summer: history, traditions, omens

Every year on July 1, Orthodox believers honor the memory of the Great Martyrs Leontius, Hypatius and Theodulus, who suffered for the Christian faith in the first century. In the national calendar, the date is known as Yarilin Day, or the Crown of Summer. In 2026, the holiday falls on a Wednesday. Read about its history, traditions, signs and strict prohibitions in the Izvestia article.

What is the church holiday on July 1st?

Leontius lived in the 1st century and served as a military commander in the Roman forces in the Phoenician city of Tripoli. He was a Greek by birth, but a Christian by faith. For his bravery, prudence and mercy, he earned the respect of the townspeople. Many followed his example and believed in Jesus, abandoning pagan cults.

At this time, Senator Adrian was appointed governor of Phoenicia. He was given the authority to persecute those who refused to sacrifice to pagan gods. Hearing that Leontius openly professes Christ and influences the townspeople, he sent Tribune Hypatius to Tripoli with a detachment of soldiers.

On the way, Hypatius fell seriously ill. The life says that an angel appeared to him in a dream and told him to call Jesus three times, in whom Leontius believed. The tribune told his soldiers about this, and together they uttered a prayer call. After that, the patient was healed. The incident shocked his friend Theodulus so much that he convinced Hypatius to immediately go to the city and find Leontius.

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An unknown man met the travelers at the entrance to Tripoli, invited them into the house and received them as guests. Later, Hypatius and Theodulus realized that Leontius himself was in front of them. They asked him to instruct them in the Christian faith and were baptized. According to legend, during prayer, a bright cloud appeared over the converts and a blessed rain fell.

When Adrian arrived in Tripoli and found out about the incident, he ordered all three of them to be brought to him. Leontius, Hypatius, and Theodulus were required to renounce their faith in Christ and sacrifice to pagan deities. All three refused, for which they were sentenced to severe torture and then executed.

Traditions of the national holiday Yariilin day on July 1

In Russia, the day of veneration of the Great Martyrs coincided with an important milestone of the agricultural year. On July 1, peasants celebrated Yaril's Day or the Top of Summer. Yarila appeared to them as a solar deity associated with agriculture, cattle breeding, love and procreation. He represented the spring-summer natural force that makes the earth bear fruit.

Yarilo was one of the most vivid images of Slavic culture. His ancestors associated his name with the word "yar", which meant hot, strong, full of vital energy. He was approached with requests for healthy livestock, a successful marriage, the birth of children and a rich harvest. In the legends, he was most often depicted as a young, handsome young man on a white horse with blond, golden hair. In one hand he held a bunch of ears of corn, in the other — a club, from the blows of which the sky resounded with thunder. Grass began to grow thickly where Yaril's horse trod, and grain began to fill the bread.

Special fertility rites were held in the villages on the holiday. To do this, the peasants chose a handsome boy or girl, put him on a horse and led him first through the village and then around the fields. Such a detour was supposed to "wake up" the land, protect crops and help future crops.

In Russia, the top of summer was celebrated very widely. Large fairs were held in towns and villages, where the ancestors looked after household goods — the day was considered successful for bold plans and large purchases. Yarilina's games were a special entertainment — competitions of young men, fist fights, games of strength, dexterity and endurance. For the boys, it was an opportunity to show themselves in front of the whole community, especially in front of unmarried girls. A strong, brave, and efficient young man, he was considered a good employee, a fiance, and a future master.

On the morning of July 1, the girls tried to get up early and wash before the sun dried the grass. According to legend, she had a special power on Yarila, helped to preserve beauty and attract suitors. It was also used to wipe sick and weak people. The ancestors believed that it could alleviate illness, strengthen eyesight, and even restore it to the blind.

On this day, the peasants mowed hay, dried grass and stuffed mattresses and mattresses with it. Such a bed represented well-being, health and success in business. And the healers went to get medicinal herbs. It was believed that the plants harvested on this day were filled with a special "summer power".

The ancestors believed that at noon the sun slows down for a moment, and "gaps" open in the world through which you can see what is usually hidden. To look "over the edge", they took strong birch branches, braided them into a kind of braid and walked to the high bank of the river. Through such "braids" they looked at the water, hoping to see a deceased relative or a person from whom they had not heard for a long time. And the unmarried girls wove wreaths and let them go with the flow. If the wreath floated smoothly and far away, they expected quick love, if it washed ashore or drowned, they did not expect changes in their personal lives and a wedding in the coming year.

In the evening, bonfires were lit in clearings, by rivers or on the outskirts of villages, samovars were set up, tea was brewed on herbs, they sang and danced until dark. The louder and more cheerful such gatherings were, the more hopes were pinned on the coming year. Laughter, songs and fire were supposed to support the solar force, scare away evil spirits and misfortunes, and attract prosperity.

As a treat, the housewives baked loaves, tortillas, pies or any other round pastry. This shape resembled the sun, and the food itself was perceived as a sign of prosperity and hope for a successful year.

Yaril's day was associated with renewal, so it was considered a good sign to reconcile on a holiday for those who had been at odds for a long time. The person who first took a step towards reconciliation, according to beliefs, opened the way to prosperity, his household affairs were easier, and the house became quieter.

What not to do on Yaril's Day, The Top of Summer

In Russia, Yarilina's day was associated with many prohibitions, the main of which were considered to be isolation and a bad mood. The ancestors considered the Top of summer to be a period of solar power, fertility and general fun, when one should not complain about fate and refuse to communicate. According to legend, those who met him alone, sad or annoyed risked alienating luck, prosperity and the good will of their loved ones for a whole year.

What else you can't do on July 1st:

• complaining about life, talking about troubles — the problems voiced out loud will increase;
• Gossiping and slandering — bad words can come back to a person through quarrels;
• bragging about beauty, strength, or success — excessive pride can attract envious people and "knock down" luck.;
• quarreling with relatives and neighbors — the conflict threatens a protracted feud;
• to be lazy — idleness will turn into a loss of wealth;
• Throwing away bread and round loaves is such disrespect for solar symbols that it can bring misfortune.

Folk signs for July 1

On Yaril's day, the peasants carefully observed nature in order to determine by signs what the summer would be like, whether to expect droughts, thunderstorms and a rich harvest.

• lots of dew in the morning — for a good harvest of millet and a generous summer;
• the fog is spreading in the morning — the day will be hot;
• Dust is rising over the roads — a thunderstorm may start soon;
• the moon at night on Yaril's day with a greenish tint leads to drought;
• rainbow in the sky in the evening — the weather will improve in the coming days;
• Spiders are actively weaving their webs — dry and fine days will linger for a long time.;
• Frogs jump along the shore and croak loudly — for the rains;
• Crows are circling high in the sky — for a change of weather and inclement weather.

Earlier, Izvestia listed nuts for consecration on the Walnut Savior.