The ancient meaning of each day of March affairs. The name of the Old Slavonic months of the year. Pagan and Slavic holidays in May

1st of January- If the night of the first of January is starry, then there will be a large harvest of berries in the summer. What is the first day of January, such is the first day of summer.
January 6- Christmas Eve. Frosts are coming. Winter frolics not in the forest, but on our nose. Clear day - to a good harvest. If the paths are black - harvest for buckwheat. The starry sky - the berry year is waiting and the offspring is great for cattle. The day arrived at the chicken foot.
January 7- Nativity. Snowdrifts are high stuffed - for a good year. If there is a thaw, spring will be early and warm. From 7 to 14 January. Christmas time. Logs for log cabins were prepared ahead of time in the forests in order to take them to the estates through the snow.
January 8- Babi holiday, a holiday of cereals. On the feast of cereals, everyone walks with a spoon - a full scoop will not disperse the family. Carpentry, play musical instruments.
January 12- Anisya winter. Guest, guest, come to the threshold. Before the guest on the table - and mushrooms, and pickles, and a brew from the oven on the table swords.
13th of January- Vasiliev evening. Generosity. Gardeners at midnight shake off the snow from the apple trees - for the harvest. If at night the wind blows from the south - the year will be hot and prosperous, from the west - to an abundance of milk and fish, from the east - wait for the fruit harvest.
January 14- New Year. Vasiliev day. Basil the Great. Winter in the middle. If there is fog - to the harvest.
January 15- Sylvester. Chicken feast. The children are given roosters made of clay. January drives a blizzard seven miles away.
January 18- Epiphany Christmas Eve - hungry evening. A full month - to a big spill. They collect snow for whitening canvases, for a bath.
January 19- Baptism. Epiphany frosts. At night, the sky opens (clears). If there is a snowstorm, then revenge on her in three months. People call this day Epiphany. If the day is warm, the bread will be dark, that is, thick; cold, clear - dry summer ahead; cloudy and snowy - expect a bountiful harvest. Epiphany under a full month - be big water. Dogs bark a lot - there will be a lot of game and animals.
January 21- Emelyan Zimny. "Emelyan, wind up a snowstorm." Blizzard winter for custom. They judge the nature of winter finally. If it blows from the south, it will promise a thunderous summer.
January 23- Grigory Letoukazatel. If frost on trees, haystacks and stacks - to a wet and cold summer.
January 24- Fedoseevo is warm. If it's warm, know it's early spring.
The 25th of January- Tatyana's Day. The sun will peep through - to the early arrival of birds, snow - rainy summer.
28 January- Peter-Paul added a day. If there is wind, the year will be wet.
January 29- Peter is half-feed, which means that half of the winter food has been eaten by domestic animals.
January 30- Anton is wintery. Perezimnik - will reassure, warm, and then deceive - everything will be pulled together by frost. Don't trust the warm weather in winter.
January 31- Athanasius Lomonos. Afanasiev frosts. Clematis freezes the nose. Crows fly and circle in flocks - to frost. Frost does not like to joke. "It's no wonder that Athanasius the clematis freezes his nose, but wait for Timofey the half-winter (February 4) - Timothy's frosts."

1st of February- Makariev day. If drops - believe in early spring. What is the weather on the first day, so is the whole of February.
February 2- Efim. "A blizzard on Yefimiy - the whole Shrovetide week is blizzard." "On Efimiya at noon the sun will be early spring." A blizzard will screech - it will blizzard all week.
February 4- Timothy Poluzimnik. The crawl has passed. Timofeevsky frosts. Knocks down the horn of winter. It's time not to doze - plows get along, carts correct. On this day, beekeepers inspect bees in omshaniki. They listen: the bees are buzzing barely audibly - they endure the winter easily; a restless buzz speaks of the trouble of the bee colony.
February 6- Xenia (Aksinya). Aksinya Poluzimnitsa, Polukhlebnitsa, Spring indicator. Winter break. "The semi-winter in half - but does not evenly divide the winter; by spring it is harder for the peasant." "Half a stock in the bin: half of the old bread is eaten, half of the term is left until the new harvest." "What is Aksinya - such is spring." If the bucket - spring is red.
February 10- Efrem Sirin. Efremov day. "Ephraim the wind blower brought the wind - to a damp, cold year." The wind will confuse the weather - to be a wet year.
The 14th of February- Starfall - quiet spring. The sky is starry at night - by late spring.
February, 15- Candlemas - winter met with spring and summer. Sretensky frosts. If the sun peeps through, then the first meeting of winter with spring has taken place, and if it does not glimpse, expect further frosts. In the morning snow - for the harvest of early bread, at noon - medium, in the evening - late. On the Candlemas of drops - in the spring dozhzhok. At the Candlemas of drops - a crop of wheat.
February 16- Simeon and Anna. Popularly known as "Pochinki". Inspect and repair summer harness. No wonder it is said: "Prepare the cart in winter, and the sleigh in summer." On this day, straw is boiled: "Straw has arrived in the yard, start repairs." "A dashing brownie, horses drive in at night." In disgust of evil, they tie a whip around the neck of the horses and onuch: then the brownie does not dare to touch the horse, imagining that the owner himself is sitting on it.
February 17- Nikola Studeny. A rare year in Russia this day is without frost. "A mountain of snow will pile up on the cold Nikolai." "Nikola Studeny is cold in the cold." "If only with Cyril and Athanasius to survive Blasius." Time for animal weddings. The foxes strike a dance, they coax each other.
18th of Febuary- Agafya Korovyatnitsa. Martyr Agafya was revered among the peasants as the patroness of livestock. "On Agafya, cow death walks through the villages." According to legend, in order not to let her into the yard and protect the cows from death, the peasants clean the barns with old tar-soaked bast shoes, from which cow death flees without looking back.
February 19- Vukol Calf. "Beetles calve on St. Vukol (the so-called cows and calves born in the month of February)". "Wukols will come - all the bugs will calve." They took care of the successful outcome of the spring calving of cows. Frosts promise a stormy spring, dry and hot summer.
February 21- Zechariah Serpovidets. They take out and inspect the sickles. The colder the last week of February, the warmer it is in March. "Sickles look at Zacharias the Sickle-Seer for the summer." Zacharias the Sickle-Seer is prayed by the women of the reaper. On this day sickles are taken out and sprinkled with baptismal water.
February 23- Prokhor. Prokhor and Vlas; no sooner spring with us. "About another time, the frost will burn on Blasius to tears."
24 February- Vlasiy. Vlasev frosts. Vlasiy will spill oil on the roads - it's time for winter to clean her legs, she knows the way, followed by Prokhor. Frost began to sing - the sledge track froze.

March 1- First day of spring, newbie. If from the first days spring is riotous, not shy - it will deceive, there is nothing to believe.
the 5th of March- Leo of Catania. It was not customary to look at the shooting stars on the Lion of Catania. Snow melts for the first time in spring.
March, 6- Timothy Vesnovey blows warmly, warms the old people. Sap flow begins in maples and birches. "Timofey Vesnovey - it's already warm at the door." "Spring warmly welcomes."
9th of March- The day of Ivan. Finding (finding the head of John the Baptist). Bird sweating, finding nests. A bird curls its nest, and a migratory bird flies from warm places. If it’s a day in the snow, then in April it’s snow, and if it’s a goal, then in April it’s that. "It's time for the magpies to get out into the forest, and for the black grouse to sing."
March 12- Prokop Perezimnik destroys the road, and got stuck in a snowdrift. At the water, the nose is sharp - it makes its way everywhere. "The winter prokop (November 25) will dig the road, and the winter Prokop will destroy the road."
March 13- Vasily the Confessor, Vasily Kapelnik, Vasily Teply. Long droppers (icicles) - long flax. If it rains, be a good fly. They watch how the circles around the tree are melting - the edges are steep, the spring will be so steep, the canopies - the spring is drawn out. "On Basil the Warm sun in circles - to the harvest." "If it rains, be wet in the summer."
March 14th- Evdokia Plyushchikha. The name is given from the state of the snow: when it melts, it flattens. Another name is Evdokia Zamochi Podol. If a chicken gets drunk on Evdokia, then on Yegoriev's Day (May 6) a sheep will eat grass. March 14 was always considered a "solid" summer indicator: what is the day, such is the summer. Spring is called on Evdakei: "Spring is red, what did you bring us - a red little fly."
March 15th- Fedot Vetronos. Peasants are afraid of strong winds and snow. "A skid on Fedot - the cattle will go for demolition." "A skid (wind, blizzard) on Fedot - you will carry all the hay (there will be no grass for a long time)." "Fedot is evil - do not be with the grass."
March 17- Gerasim Grachevnik. "The rooker drove the rooks." "Rook brought spring." "A rook on a mountain - so is spring in the yard." Gerasim Grachevnik leads the rook to Russia. If the rook has arrived, in a month the snow will come down. If the rooks fly straight to their old nests, then the spring will be friendly, the water will run away all at once.
March 18- Konon Gardener. It was recommended that this day soak the seeds of cabbage and tomatoes for sowing - in closed greenhouses. Greenhouses were updated and prepared: "Konon called to the garden." "On Konon Gradar, start digging ridges in the garden." They noted: "If it's clear on Konon, the summer will not be a hailstorm."
March 22- Forty forty. The second meeting of spring. Day of mass arrival - "forty magpies" - birds. If it's warm - forty days will be warm, if it's cold - wait for forty cold matinees.
March 30- Alexey Teply. Alexey - water from the mountains. Stormy snowmelt. If it is warm, then the spring will be warm.

April 1- Daria Dirty Holes. Daria Poplavikha - the snow is melting. "The ice-holes are muddying on Daria." With Daria, the canvases are whitewashed. "Steli krosna on frosts". They noted: "If spring water flows to the Darya with noise, there are good herbs, and when it is quiet, bad grass grows."
April 7- Annunciation. Spring overcame winter. Third meeting of spring. If wind, frost and fog - by the harvest year. If there is snow on the roofs, it will be in the field in another month. The first mushrooms grow on a hillock - to summer rains, settled in a hollow - to land. If the Annunciation is cold, expect forty frosts in the morning. Badgers and raccoons come out of their burrows, hedgehogs out of rotten stumps, forest ants out of heaps.
April 9- Matryona Nastovnitsa. The last snowy crust is coming down. They hurried to bring into the yard the remnants of hay and straw, which had been in haystacks since summer. Arrival of lapwings - nastovnits (that's what lapwings are called in the Kostroma province). The lapwing flew in - brought water on its tail. The lapwing calls in the evening - to clear weather. Arrival of oatmeal. "Oatmeal sang:" Leave the sleigh, take the cart "". Under the threshold of a ford - a crossing on the street. "The pike breaks the ice with its tail." "Matryona half-reptiles". Select half of the turnip for planting seeds.
April 12th- The average time for the start of woodcock traction. If the draft suddenly stops - wait for a cold snap or snow soon.
14th of April- Mary of Egypt. Marya Light the Snow. The ice breaks hard - it's dangerous to walk. If the ice comes off suddenly - the year will be easy, good. The ice on the river will disappear or remain on the shore - the year will be difficult. "On Mary of Egypt, the snow melted behind the deck (and under the bush)."
April 15- Titus Icebreaker. Polycarp. Spring spills water in the river. "The mother river has gone on a spree." "If hollow water spills from Marya onto Polikarpov, then we must wait for big grasses and early mowing." The intensive lekking of capercaillie begins.
April 16- Nikita Vodopol. Rivers are spilling. The merman wakes up from hibernation. Fishermen on the Oka say: "If the ice does not go that day, then the fishing will be bad."
April 18th- Fedulov day. Fyodor Vetrenitsa. April pouted his lips - the greenhouse blew. The crickets wake up.
The 21st of April- Rodion and Ruth. Rodion Turn out the shafts. First field trip. If the meeting is red of the sun with a good month - a clear day and a good summer, and if it is thin - bad weather and a bad summer.
April 24- Anton (Antip) Polovod. "The antitype of water dissolved." Guess about the bread by the antipov water. If the waters do not break, then the spring is late and the summer will be bad. "Antip without water - bins without grain."
25th of April- Vasily Pariysky. The earth is floating. "Antip pours water on the floodplains, Vasily gives a couple." "On Vasily and the earth will be worn out, like an old woman in a bathhouse." Hunters claim that this is the last day when the bear leaves the den, where he slept all winter. Later that day, he does not lie in the den. They say about hares: "Hare, hare, jump out of the bush." Hares run during the day. "The hare is gray, has seen troubles."
26 April- The bumblebees made noise.
April 27- Martin Lisogon. According to the signs of hunters, this is the day when foxes move from old to new holes. It is believed that for the first three days and three nights of their housewarming they are both blind and deaf. "Foxes dig between stumps, run at people." "Martyn's chicken blindness attacks foxes." On this day, they notice that the raven bathes his children and releases them to a separate family home.
April 28- Pud. "On the Holy Pud, get the bees out of the bush." Expose bees from omshaniki for flight.
April 29- Irina (Arina). "Irina - snatch the shores, tear the shores." "Do not resist the shore against Irinina water." "Irina - play ravines." They noted: "If the ravines start to play and freeze again - wait for the interference on the harvest." Alder sags in color. Irina-hotbed: this cabbage in the hotbeds.
April 30- Zosim Solovetsky, Zosima Pchelnik. Protector of beekeepers. To this day, as well as to the day of St. Puda, an exhibition of bees is timed: "Arrange the hives on the bee-keeper for Zosima the Beekeeper." They judged the future harvest of buckwheat: "A little loss in bees (according to the exhibition of omshanika) - by the harvest of buckwheat, and vice versa, a lot of loss - buckwheat will not be born."

The 1 of May- Kozma. The alder blossomed - this buckwheat. The flowering of violets and the flowering of bred willow indicate the beginning of the sowing of radishes and carrots, onions, dill and parsley. According to custom, before sowing, they go out in the morning to votive students to soak the seeds and, in the hope of a future harvest, throw copper money into the bottom of the students. Others consider it more decent to moisten the seeds with river water during the three morning dawns. In this case, secrecy is an important thing: otherwise the harvest will be poor. If the beginning of May is warm, it will be cold at the end, and vice versa.
May 2- Ivan the Old Cave. Take out the canvases in the field. They ask mother spring to give a good harvest of rye.
May 4th- Bird cherry bloomed early - it will be a warm summer. The earlier it begins to bloom, the hotter the summer will be.
5 May- Warm May equips spring (begins). It will freeze at night, so forty matinees will still fall on bread, forty morning frosts for the whole summer, while the bread is in the field.
the 6th of May- Egory Veshny. Feast of the shepherds - they drive the herd into the field. On Egorievsk week arrival of swallows.
May 7- Evseev day. From this day there are 12 more frosts.
May 8- Mark's day. Arrival of songbirds in flocks. "If it's a clear day for Mark, there will be a good harvest of spring crops."
May 11- Maxim's day. Warm wind brings health. On Maxim, patients begin to be soldered with birch sap.
may 13- James the Apostle. "A warm evening for James the Apostle and a starry night - for a windy summer (terrible and warm), for a harvest." Clear sunrise - windy summer.
May 14- Yeremey Harness. The laziest plow is the one in the field. Bad weather on this day promises a harsh and cold future winter. "Yeremey - understand about the crops." "If this day is fine, then the harvesting of bread is fine."
May 15- Boris and Gleb Sowers. Boris and Gleb are sowing bread. Day of Athanasius. Nightingale day - the nightingales begin to sing. The nightingale sang thoroughly - spring began to wane, and summer - to profit.
16th of May- Mavra Green Shchi, Mavra thrush. Look for nettles in green cabbage soup. Peasant food becomes more abundant. Cows add milk. "And it's easy for the hostess, if there's milk on the table." Spruce shoots start to grow.
May 18- Irina Rassadnitsa. Cucumbers and cabbage seedlings are planted, saying: "Don't be shinny - be pot-bellied; don't be empty - be tight; don't be red - be tasty; don't be old - be young; don't be small - be great!" On Arina, thin grass is out of the field: mowing, meadows are burned from last year's grass.
May 19- Job Goroshnik. Job the Cucumber. Cucumbers are planted by watering them with pond water.
May 21st- Ivan the Theologian, Arseniy Pshenichnik. "Drive a mare to Ivan the Theologian and plow under the wheat." "On Arsenyev's day - sow wheat." They noted: "A day with rain - the mushroom will go in shelves."
22nd of May- Nikola Veshny, Nikola Teply. One of the most revered holidays in Russia. Nikola the Wonderworker is the protector and patron of the Russian people. "There is no champion for the peasant - against Nikola." "Nikola saves the sea, Nikola lifts the peasant's cart." Both Nikolas - both Winter (December 19) and Spring - set the weather. "Nikola Veshny - with warmth, Nikolai Zimny ​​- with frost." "Nikola would come - but it will be warm." Herbal day. A chicken will get drunk on Evdokia, a cow will eat grass on Nikola.
May 24- Mokey Wet. This day is considered an indicator of the weather for the whole summer. If it is wet, then the whole summer is wet, and vice versa. "If it's a crimson sunrise, and during the day it rains, a wet and thunderous summer will come."
May 25- Day of Epifan. If there is a morning in a red caftan on Epifan, then the summer will be dry, fire.
26 of May- Lukerya Komarnica. Mosquitoes appear along with a warm wind, according to legend, before autumn, mosquitoes are carried away by winds to warm seas and in the spring they are brought back to Russia. The collection of medicinal herbs begins.
May 27- Sidor Cucumber. All sivers (colds) will go to Sidor. On Sidor siverko (north wind), and all summer is like this.
May 28- Pahomy is warm, Pahom Bokogrey. "Pahom came - it smelled of warmth." Pakhoma is warm - warm all summer. Late sowing of oats and wheat. Oats start growing. "On Pachomius Travnik and the wasteland is green."
May 31- Fedot Ovsyanik. Seven virgins (Alexandra, Tekusa, Claudia, Faina, Euphrasia, Matrona, Julia). "Fedot came - the land for his kind." "Seven virgins sow flax." The onset of heat. The last oak leaf will unroll. If the top of the head with an edge on Fedot on an oak tree, you will measure the oats with a tub.

2 June- Falaley Borage. Plant cucumbers on Leontius and Falaley. A lot of cones on fir trees - for the harvest of cucumbers.
June 3- Olena (Elena) Lenoseyka. Finish sowing hvlebov - sow flax and hemp. The mountain ash blooms well - for the flax harvest. If there is bad weather on Olena, then autumn will be rainy.
June 4- Basilisk - nightingale day. They didn’t sow, didn’t plow - they waited out this day so that the fields would not become clogged, cornflowers would not be born.
June 7- The day of Ivan. Since Ivanov's day, honey (harmful) dews have gone. Herbs and roots (medicinal) are placed under Ivan's dew.
June 11th- Theodosius Kolosyanitsa. The ear is blooming, pouring.
June 14- Ustin and Khariton. Red morning on Ustina - red filling of rye. Cloudy morning on Ustina - to the harvest of spring crops. Ustin pulls up hemp, and Khariton pulls flax.
June 16- Luka Vetrenik. On Lukyan, on the eve of Mitrofan (June 17), do not go to bed early, but take a closer look at where the wind is blowing from. South wind - spring harvest, north-west - to damp summer, east - to diseases (will bring contagious diseases). Wind from sunrise - to the craze. In the evening, under Mitrofan, they “call out” to the wind and ask him to shed blessed, timely rains: “Blow warm, you pour, wind-sail, on mother rye, on yarovina-spring, on the field, on the meadows of rain life-giving, for the time being, but for a little while.
June 18- Dorotheus. On Dorotheus, the direction of the winds is noted, with the same signs as on the evening under Mitrofan.
June 19- Hilarion. From this day, the weeding of flax, millet and bread usually begins. They say: "Illarion came - bad grass out of the field."
June 20- Fedot. Saint Fedot gives warmth - gold leads to rye. Saint Fedot will lead to the rain - to a skinny filling (ears).
21st of June- Fyodor Summer, Fyodor Stratilat, Fyodor Kolodeznik. "A swarm of wells on Theodore Stratilat". "Stratilatus is rich in thunderstorms." It's time for summer thunderstorms. "Fyodor Stratilat is rich in threats: thunder in the morning is not good: a peasant with hay will not be removed, the hay will rot." "Stratilate dews are prophetic: great dews for good flax and great hemp." "If there is heavy dew on Stratilatus, the summer, even if it is dry, will give a good harvest."
22nd of June- Cyril End of Spring Beginning of Summer. The longest day, the shortest night. "Since Kirillin's day - what the sun gives, then the peasant has in the barn."
June 25- Peter Athos, Peter Turn. From Peter the Athos the sun is for the winter, and the summer is for the heat. "The sun shortens its course, and the month goes to profit." The last cabbage and cucumbers are planted.
June 26- Akulina Buckwheat. "This buckwheat is either a week before Akulina, or a week later." From that time on, a huge number of horseflies and gadflies appear, from which the cattle suffer greatly and sometimes run like crazy, tail held high, waving it away from the annoying and bloodthirsty insects that besiege it. "Akulina - turn up your tails": from Akulina and until mid-July, cattle are furious from the heat and gadflies.
June 29- Tikhon's Day. The sun is getting quieter. The bird bell is silent. End of late spring sowing.
30 June- Manuel. "On Manuel the sun stagnates (slows at its zenith)." This popular belief is confirmed by the data of astronomers: indeed, by this time the earth slows down the speed of movement around the Sun. "Everything went up." "If there are frequent lightning in June, there will be a good harvest."

3 July- On Methodius the feast of the sparrow hawks. "If a net and midges are rushing over the winter crops, there will be a catch of quails." Spider day, weather indicator. The downpour is strong - it will shed forty days.
July 6- Agrafena swimsuit: the beginning of bathing. On the eve (and on the night) of Ivan Kupala, medicinal roots and herbs are collected. On this day, even old people bathe in rivers, wash and bathe in baths, while using various medicinal and fragrant herbs for healing from diseases, collected on the same day (or the day before). It is believed that the herbs and roots collected in the evening and on the night of Ivan Kupala have great healing power. There was a legend about the fern flower, which allegedly opens only once a year, on the night before Ivan Kupala, for only a few moments. Whoever finds this flower will discover many secrets, he will become a seer, he will be rich.
July 7- John the Baptist, Ivan Kupala. They bathe in water and dew, dance around a tree, burn fires, jump over fires. Haymaking begins before the grass is inseminated. Strong dew on Ivan - to the harvest of cucumbers. According to ancient belief, Ivan Kupala personifies the flowering of the forces of nature. This is a celebration of water and sun worship. Since ancient times, it was customary to kindle ritual bonfires on the banks of rivers or lakes on the night of Ivan Kupala. They threw wreaths over the fires, jumped. They led round dances. The fires lit on Midsummer Night were considered miraculous. Fire for bonfires was obtained by rubbing wood against wood and was called living, forest, medicinal. "On Midsummer's Day, the sun plays at sunrise." "A starry night on Ivan - there will be a lot of mushrooms." "If the rain cries, then in five days the sun will laugh." "Ivanovo rains are better than a golden mountain." "Before Ivan, children, ask God for rain, and after Ivan, I myself will ask (that is, frequent rains will begin)."
July 9- Tikhvinskaya, Day of the Icon of the Tikhvin Mother of God. David of Thessalonica, David Strawberry. Berries ripen on Tikhvinskaya. Strawberries call girls to the forest. "A bee flies to Tikhvinskaya for honey collection."
July 10- Samson Hospitable, Samson Senognoy. Rain on Samson - seven weeks of rain. "On Samson, hay is green - black porridge (buckwheat); black hay - white porridge (wheat)."
July, 12- Day of Peter and Paul. The day is waning, the heat is coming. The cuckoo ceases to crow, and the nightingale ceases to sing. The height of summer. Petrov's day is a holiday of the sun. The people said "Peter-Paul turned up the heat." The peasants go out at dawn to watch the sun play. On St. Peter's Day, they wash themselves from three springs. "From Peter's day - red summer, green mowing." Peter is the patron of the fields. It's fair day. The "Peter's festivities" begin - with songs, round dances, swings. From Peter's Day, suffering begins.
the 14 th of July- Kuzma and Demyan. The height of haymaking. Gardens are being weeded.
July 17th- Andrey Naliva. Ozimi in bulk, buckwheat at the shoot. In the middle of summer, yellow leaves appear on the trees - by early autumn and winter. "On Andrey, father-oats have grown to half." "Oats are in a caftan, but there is no shirt on buckskin." They noted: "What is Andrey Naliva - such is Kalinnik (August 11)."
July 18- Athanasius of Athos. If the month plays on the shoot - to the harvest of bread.
July 20- Avdotya Senognoyka. It rains, the hay spoils.
21 July- Kazanskaya, Day of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God. Procopius the Harvester. If the blueberry ripens, then the rye also ripens. Start harvesting rye. Zazhinki, knitted a zazhinochny sheaf.
July 22- The whole family try the first cucumbers.
July 25- Proclus the Weeper. On Proclus the field was wet with dew. Great and healing dews (especially for eye diseases).
July 28th- Day of Kirik and Ulita. According to the folk calendar, this day is considered the middle of summer. "The sun shines redder on Vladimir the Red Sun." "Sulita is coming - someday she will be..." Women celebrated the day of "Mother Julitta", honoring her as their intercessor.
July 29- Athenogenian day. The birds are quiet. Summer has passed its sultry age. This day is of great importance for the beginning of the harvest: "The first spike of Finogey, the last Ilya (August 2) on the beard." "Finogey will come with warmth and light, you will get away ahead of time with the reaping; Finogey with rain - heaps, bread will sprout in a sheaf." "On Finogei, pray to the sun - ask God for a bucket." The nights are getting cold.

August 1- Makrinin day. Macrides. Watch autumn in Macrids. Macrida is wet - and autumn is wet, dry - and autumn too. Summer work ends, autumn work begins. "Macrida equips autumn, and Anna (August 7) ​​- winter." Makrida Day is considered important for the coming year as well. "If it rains on Macrina, rye will be born next year."
August 2- Elijah the Prophet. Ilyin's day. On Ilya before lunch, summer, after lunch, autumn. They note: if it is dry on Ilyin’s day, then it will be dry for six weeks, if it rains on that day, it will go for six weeks. Stop swimming in the river. From Ilyin's day there is a turn to autumn, although summer with its heat will still stand for a long time. Haymaking ends, harvest begins.
August 2- Mary Magdalene. "If there is strong dew on Marya, flax will be gray and braids." "They take out flower bulbs on Mary." This day has another name - Maria Yagodnitsa: black and red currants, blueberries are harvested in the forests.
August 6- Boris and Gleb Summer. "Boris and Gleb - the bread is ripe."
August 7- Anna Kholodnitsa, winter indicator. If the matinee is cold and the winter is cold. What is the weather before noon, such is winter until December, what is the weather in the afternoon, such is winter after December.
August 9- Panteleimon the Healer. Panteleimon Zazhnivny, pre-autumn collection of medicinal herbs. Nikola Kochansky - forks curl into a head of cabbage.
11th August- Kalinnik. Peasants in the northern provinces say: "Bring, Lord, Kalinnik with a haze (fog), and not with frost." Gloomy foggy times are unfavorable for bees. The beekeepers notice: "There is no way for a bee to go in the hassle."
12th of August- Day of Strength and Siluyan. The best time for sowing winter crops - rye, sown on Silu and Siluyan, will be born strongly. "Holy Strength will add strength to the peasant." "The powerless hero lives on the Force (from hearty food, new bread)."
August 13- Evdokim. Evdokim's conspiracy before the Dormition Fast, about which the people say: "The Dormition Fast is not hungry." At this time, there is a lot of everything: new bread, vegetables, fruits, berries.
August 14- First Spas. The first farewell of summer. Honey Spas - break (cut) honeycombs. Roses are blooming, good dews are falling. The departure to the warm regions of swallows and swifts begins. "At the first Spas and a beggar will try a physician." "Swallows fly off at three Spas (August 14, 19 and 29)". "The first Spas Honey, the second Apple, the third Spazhinka."
August 15- Stepan Senoval. By this time in the meadows there was an aftermath - "second hay". They start mowing: "And an increase in hay." "Otava - autumn hay, summer hay will save." "What is Stepan Hayloft, such is September." According to the days of August 15-19, the weather for September-January was determined.
August 16- Isaac and Anton Vikhrovey. What is Whirlwind, such is October. If the wind is with whirlwinds, expect a snowy winter. It will swirl from all sides - there will be a furious winter with thick snow on the houses. "What is Isaac, such is Nicholas the Winter (December 19)".
August 17- Evdokia. Avdotya Malinovka. Avdotya Cucumber. The forest raspberry ripens. The last pick of cucumbers. Avdotya Senognoyka - rains destroy hay. "Seven youths bring seven rains."
August 19- Transformation. Second Savior. Great peasant holiday. Apple Spas - mass ripening of apples. Osenins - a meeting of autumn. A dry day portends a dry autumn, a wet one portends a wet one, and a clear one portends a harsh winter. "What is the day on the second Spas, such is the Protection (October 14)".
August 21- Myron Vetrogon. There are strong winds on this day. "Winds-carriers drove the dust across the wide world, sobbed through the red summer." "What is Myron Vetrogon, such is January."
August 23- Lawrence Day. The waters freeze. At noon they look at the water in rivers and lakes: if it is quiet, then autumn will be quiet, and winter - without blizzards and evil snowstorms. If there is a strong heat or heavy rains, then it will be so long - all autumn.
August 27- Micah. The average time of the beginning of leaf fall. If the cranes fly, then by mid-October it will be frosty, but if not, then winter will come later. Known for its winds, the strength of which is used to judge the upcoming weather. "Mikheev's day with the Indian summer storm-wind echoes." "Micah with a storm - to a rainy September." "The quiet winds blow on Micah - to the bucket autumn."
August 28- Assumption, an important holiday of the end of summer - the beginning of autumn. The peasants dedicated this holiday to the end of the harvest and the meeting of autumn. The day of seeing off the summer and the end of the harvest - dozhinki. End of Dormition Fast. "See the Assumption, meet autumn."
August 29- Third Spas. Backs. Bread day - the first loaf of new bread was baked. After the third Savior, the last swallows fly away. "The third Spas is good - it will be in the winter."
August 31- Day of Frol and Lavr, patrons of horses. The beginning of autumn matinees, frosts also occur. If you don’t drop out before Frol, frols will be born (flowers). We looked at the roots of wormwood: if the roots are thick, the year will be fruitful. "On Frol and Lavra horse festival." "I begged Frol and Lavr - expect good for the horses." Last date for winter sowing. Evening "sit-ins" (women's work in huts by fire) begin.

September 1- Day of Andrey Stratilat and Thekla. Stratilat - warmer: a noticeable warming, the wind-warmer is dressed in a web - bows after the bygone summer. Oats ripen: "The day of Stratilates has come, the oats have reached (ripened)."
September 3- Agathon Ogumennik. "On Agathon, the goblin comes out of the forest into the field, runs through the villages and villages, scatters sheaves on the threshing floor." On the night of Agathon, the peasants guarded the threshing floor in sheepskin coats inside out, with a poker in their hands, so that not a single goblin would dare to approach the fence.
September 5- Loop Lingonberry. On St. Lupus, oats are peeling with frost. First frosts. Lingonberries and cranberries ripen, flax and oats ripen. They noted: "If the lingonberries are ripe, then the oats have come." "If you don't gather oats, you will swallow tears." "If there is no matinee, then in September it will not freeze."
6 September- Eutyches. This day should be quiet, windless, otherwise the flaxseed will be sprinkled: "Well, if Eutychius is quiet, otherwise you will not keep the flaxseed in the vine."
September 7- Titus Leaffall grows the last mushroom. "Mushrooms are mushrooms, and threshing is behind the stoves." Therefore, on this day they say: "Titus, go thresh."
8 September- Natalya Ovsyanitsa and Andrian. Autumn Peter-Pavel Fieldfare. The day is dedicated to the mountain ash - the mountain ash is the birthday girl. Collected mountain ash and viburnum. They noted: "A large harvest of mountain ash - to frost." Day of national commemoration of the soldiers who fell in the Battle of Borodino (1812).
10 September- Anna the Prophetess and Savva of Pskov, Anna Skirdnitsa and Savva Skirdnik. At this time, the sheaves are being taken out, the bread is stacked in troughs, stacks, they are in a hurry to remove it before the onset of the September bad weather.
11 September- Ivan Postny. Ivan Proletny. Ivan the Forerunner. Ivan Lenten - autumn pockmarked godfather. If the cranes went to Kyiv (south) - early winter. "Ivan the Lenten has come, he has taken away the red summer." "A man does not go out into the field without a caftan from lean Ivan." "From Ivan Post, a man meets autumn, a woman begins her Indian summer."
September 13- Cyprian (Kuprian). Harvesting carrots, beets, digging potatoes. "Every root is in its season." "The hostess is with a cow, and the girls are with a carrot." "Viburnum whip hung copper." “On Kupriyanov’s day, the cranes gather in the swamp to hold an agreement on which way to fly to warm waters.” The often coming day of September 14 no longer finds them in our area; stretched out in a chain in the blue sky, they fly away to the south, saying goodbye to the Russian land with a characteristic guttural cry that spreads far in the clear autumn air.
September 14- Simeon Pilot. Beginning of Indian summer. If the first day of Indian summer is clear, then Indian summer will be warm. Indian summer is dry - autumn is wet.
September 17- Vasilisa. "Baba Vasilisa, in a hurry with flax." The woman's work is in full swing.
September 19- Michaelmas day. Cooling - Mikhailovsky frosts.
September 20- Luka. The onion trade begins.
September 21- Nativity of the Virgin. Among the people - the Lesser Most Pure (Big Most Pure - Assumption, August 28). Apas day. Osenins. The second meeting of autumn. Every summer is over. Bees are harvested, onions are harvested.
23 September- Peter and Paul. "There are two Peter and Paul in Russia - big and small, summer and autumn." Autumn Peter-Paul - fieldfare. At this time, after the first frosts, the mountain ash becomes sweeter and they begin to collect it for food. Gathering mountain ash, leave on each tree part of the berries for birds.
September 24- Fedora Soak Tails. "Autumn Fyodors tuck in the hem" (from dirt). Autumn equinox. "In Fedora, summer ends, autumn begins." "Not every summer will reach Fedora." "Two Fedoras a year - autumn and winter, one with mud, and the other with cold." It starts to rain and sleet.
September 25- Autonomous. Animal life stops, autumn comes into its own. According to legend, snakes from this day move from fields to forests.
September 26- Cornelius. "Since Cornelius, the root in the earth does not grow, but freezes." Start harvesting root crops. "Wait for the exaltation - tear the turnip."
September 27- Exaltation. The caftan with the fur coat will move, the last cart from the field, the birds will fly away, and the cold will come. All animals and insects lay down for the winter, including the bear lies in the den. At this time, one of the most important autumn works begins - cutting cabbage and harvesting it for the winter.
September 28- Nikita Gusyatnik. Geese fly - they drag the winter on their tail, they carry snow on their nose. "The goose raises its paw - to a cold, stands on one leg - to frost, rinses in the water - to warmth, hides its nose under the wing - to early winter."
September 30th- Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia. Girls' holiday. Name days of many girls and women.

October 1- Irina (Arina) Crane flight. If the cranes fly, then there will be frost on the cover (October 14), but if not, then winter will come later. The crane will not leave - there will be no frost until another month, until November the second.
2 October- Day of Zosima and Savvaty, protectors of bees. They put the hives in the omshannik. Put the hive in the cellar - rule the honey holiday.
October 3- Evstafiy (Astafiy) Windmill. Pre-winter threshold. On Astafya note the wind: north to the cold; southern to warmth; western to phlegm; east - to the bucket. If a web flies long with fog today, it will indicate a long autumn, snow will not fall soon.
The 4th of October- The weather of this day will last four weeks unchanged. It is clear with a sharp northeast wind - for a cold winter.
October 7th- Fekla zarevnitsy (glow from autumn lights - dry grass is burned out). They start threshing bread in the morning. The stove is heated in a barn for drying sheaves. The last day of the collection of the king of mushrooms - boletus. From Thekla Zarevnitsa, the days quickly run away, the nights darken, and the dawns turn crimson. "The day runs away like a horse." A lot of acorns on oak - for a warm winter and a fertile (bread) summer.
October 8- Day of Sergius of Radonezh. They chop cabbage for Sergius. If the first snow falls on Sergius, then winter will set in on St. Michael's Day (November 21). The first snow fell on wet ground - it will remain, on dry ground it will soon disappear. If the weather is good, then she will stand for three whole weeks.
October 10- Savvaty Solovetsky. Savvaty the Beekeeper, Savvaty the Beekeeper. The cleaning of beehives in omshaniki is coming to an end.
October 11- Day of Ilya Muromets. The epic hero is revered as a people's protector.
October 12- Maremyan's sadness, woven from the fog (damp fogs - troubles - hang).
October 13- Gregory. On Gregory, the peasants renovated their beds, burned old straw from pillows and mattresses, stuffed them with new ones.
October 14- Cover. First winter. On this day, the agricultural year ended. Collection of the last fruits. The flight of cranes to cover - for an early, cold winter. What is the cover, such is the winter. A leaf from oak and birch fell cleanly - by an easy year, no - by a severe winter. He did not cover the cover, he will not cover even Christmas. With variable wind and winter, be fickle. The last collection of mushrooms and mushrooms. Weddings began with the Intercession.
17 October- Hierofey (Yerofey's day). From Yerofey and winter puts on a fur coat. On Yerofey, goblin disappears: they break trees, chase animals and fail. Peasants do not go to the forest - the goblin is furious.
October 18- Haritin's day. Women begin to weave canvases. Weaving skill among the people was valued on a par with agricultural. About a skilled housewife they respectfully said: "I spun and wove, dressed the whole house."
October 19- Denis Pozimsky. The day lagged behind the night - the felt boot stumbled over the stump. Denis pulled the day down.
The 20th of October- Sergiy Zimny. "Sergius begins the winter." "If it snows before the trees have shed their leaves, it will soon melt."
October 21- Pelagia and Tryphon. "From Tryphon, Pelageya is getting colder." "Tryphon mends his fur coat, Pelageya sews mittens."
22 of October- Yakov Drovopilec. It's time to harvest firewood for the winter.
October 23- Evlampy Zimoukatel. On Eulampius, the horns of the month point to the side where the winds come from. If the horns of the month are at midnight (to the north) - there will be a quick and severe winter, the snow will fall on dry land; if at noon (to the south) - don’t wait for an early winter, there will be mud and slush, until the Kazan (November 4) autumn will not wash with snow, will not dress up in a white caftan.
27th October- Paraskevia Friday, Parascovias dirty, powders. Dirty is never dry. If the mud is great, the horse's hoof is flooded with water, then the fallen snow immediately sets the winter path. There was another name for this day - Paraskeva Trepalnitsa (flax flutter).
October 31- Day Hosea Autumn. End of the summer journey. The cart wheel with the axle (axle) is parted before spring.

Nov. 1- Seeing autumn, meeting winter.
November 4- Day of Our Lady of Kazan. Kazan Babia Intercessor (one of the main women's holidays). The first real winter, the transition from autumn to winter. It's not winter yet, but it's not autumn either. It happens that it rains in the morning, and in the evening it snows in snowdrifts. “Whoever marries in Kazanskaya will be happy”, “The frost is not great in Kazanskaya, but it doesn’t order to stand”, “Women said that in the old years a man froze on the stove in Kazanskaya”.
November 5- Jacob (Jacob). Snow pellets or hail portend that on Matrenin's Day (November 22), winter will rise to its feet.
November 8- Day of Demetrius of Thessalonica. According to ancient tradition, the Saturday before this holiday is the day of remembrance, it was established by Dmitry Donskoy for the soldiers who fell on the Kulikovo field. "Parents are alive - honor, dead - remember." A sign of this day: if Dmitry gets warmer, and the whole mother winter will be with wet warmings. "If Dmitriev's day is with snow, then Easter is with snow", "Dmitry in the snow - late spring."
10th of November- Paraskeva Pyatnitsa - Babia Intercessor. Paraskeva Lnyanitsa. On this day, they begin to crush and ruffle flax, prepare it for sale. The entire week this day falls on is Friday Week. Paraskeviia Pyatnitsa, on the one hand, coincided with and even overshadowed the Christian Mother of God, and on the other, she inherited and bequeathed Makosh (Mokosh), the most ancient goddess of Slavic paganism: the goddess of spinning, the patroness of earthly happiness. First winter day. Houses were inspected and insulated, cattle were placed in winter stalls.
11th of November- Avramy Ovchar and Anastasia Ovechnitsa. Anastasia is considered the protector of sheep, and Avramius is the patron saint of shepherds who celebrate their holiday on this day. It is customary to treat shepherds on this day because the sheep were saved in the summer.
November 12- Day of Zenobia and Zenovia. Sinichkin day. "Feed the birds in the winter, they will serve you in the spring." Adults and children made bird feeders. The first mass appearance of tits near the houses is a sign of the approaching big cold weather.
November 14- Day of Kuzma and Demyan. The beginning of winter, the first frosts, Kozma - Demyan with a bridge, Nikola (December 19) with a nail. Kozma will shackle, and Mikhailo will unshackle. Do not chain the river to winter until today.
15th of November- Akindin and Pigasius. There was drying of bread in barns and its threshing.
November 19- Pavel the Confessor and Varlaam Khutynsky - Freezes. Frost and blizzard hugged, swore eternal love. Ice appears on many rivers. Snow on this day - for a snowy winter, good for winter crops. "If the ice on the river becomes heaps, then the bread will be heaps, but smoothly - so the bread will be smooth."
November 21- Archangel Michael. Mikhailo builds bridges. Thaws: Mikhailovsky, Vvedensky, Mikhailovsky muds. If there is frost, expect big snows, and if the day begins with fog, it will be warmer. If the path breaks, do not wait for the path until December 19th.
November 22- Matryona winter. Mother's Day. From this day on, winter is on its feet, frosts are coming. November bridges bridges, winter forges frosts. If the goose comes out on the ice, it will still float on the water. "On Matryona, frost on the trees - to frost", "If there is fog on Matryona - to a thaw."
November 24- Fyodor Cools the earth. It's cold from Studit, every day is worse. The colds are right, it's not okay without them. "On the stove and near hot cabbage soup, you won't catch a cold on Studite's day." They noted: "If this day is damp or snowy, there will be thaws until the Introduction (December 4)."
November 25- John the Merciful. They noted: "If it rains on Ivan the Merciful, then, again, there will be thaws until the Introduction (December 4)."
November 26- John Chrysostom. Any chill stops in growth. On Zlatoust the whole field is empty.
November 27- Philip. "Hoarfrost on Philip - for the harvest of oats, rain - wheat", "A crow crows on Philip - for a thaw", "If cloudy days and frost on the trees are frequent during Filippovka, then wait for a good harvest of bread; bright Filippovka without frost portends a bad harvest ".
November 28- Guryev day. They noted: "If snow falls on Guria, then he will lie until the flood."
29th of November- Matthew the Apostle. Matthew day. "The earth is on Matvey", "Winter is sweating on Matvey". There are thaws. "If violent winds blow on Matvey - there will be blizzards-blizzards until St. Nicholas of Winter (December 19)."

December 1- Day of Plato and Roman. Winter indicator, what day will happen, such is winter. "Plato and Roman show winter to us."
December 4- Introduction. "Introduction - the gates of winter." "Introduction - thick ice" (frosty). "Introduction breaks ice" (thaw).
December 7- Katerina sannitsa. They opened a cab, celebrated a walk. Katerinsky festivities, fortune-telling, the first sleigh rides, were going on a long journey with goods.
9th December- Yuriev day. Yuri Kholodny. The old term for the transition of peasants from one master to another, prohibited by the conciliar code of 1649. "Here's to you, grandmother, and St. George's Day!", "There are two St. George's in Russia - one Yury is cold (winter), the other is hungry (spring)."
12 December- Paramon Winter indicator. If the valleys are covered with snow, then the blizzard will blow for another seven days.
December 13th- Day of St. Andrew the First-Called. They listen to the water (calm water - a good winter; noisy - frosts, storms, snowstorms).
December 17- Barbarian day. The most severe frosts, winter bridges bridges.
December 19th- Nikola winter. It's time for the Nikolsky frosts. Two Nikolas: one with grass, the other with frost. How much Nikola Winter will give snow, how much Nikola Spring will give herbs.
December 22- Anna Winter. Winter is finally set. If the snow rolls down to the hedge - a bad summer, and if there is a gap - a fruitful one.
December 25- Spiridon Solstice. The sun - for the summer, winter - for the frost. The bear in the den turns over on the other side. According to the weather of the first 12 days following the day of Spiridon, the weather of each of the 12 months of the coming year is judged. If the sun is bright, radiant, the New Year will be frosty, clear, and if it is gloomy and there is frost on the trees, it will be warm and cloudy. After the Solstice, at least for a sparrow's lope, let the day come.
December 29th- Ageev day. On Haggai, frost is warm Christmas time (January 7), if it is frosty, then it will stand until baptism (January 19). "Haggay sows frost."

Old Russian names of this month - pollen, snowman, aquarius, caddisfly, berezozol(i.e. evil for birch trees: at that time sweet birch sap, sap were harvested). The word "April" came either from "aprecus" (warmed by the sun), or from "aperire" (to open) - there is no consensus on this matter.

APRIL SIGNS

April- light the snow, play the ravines.

April he does not like the lazy, he loves the agile.

April with water - May with grass.

In April, the earth dies.

The sun is rolling in the summer.

Thunder in early April - to a dry summer.

If the April rain starts with large drops, it will soon stop.

In April, the wind is from the southwest - the weather will worsen for a long time.

Wet April is good arable land.

April hoots and blows, promises warmth to the women, and the peasant looks - something will happen?

Abundant sap flow from birch - by a rainy summer.

April 1

Day of Daria the Prolubnitsa, the memory of the martyrs Chrysanthus and Darius. They believed: on the one who gets very dirty on this day, an unpaid debt hangs. Ice melts on the rivers, mud forms at the holes, the water turns yellow:

Daria - clog the hole.

What is the first of April - such is the first of October.

Notes for this day:

The water is noisy - there will be good herbs.

From that day on, the housewives began to whiten the canvases woven over the winter, and the healers were supposed to “wash out the spoilage”.

April 2

Photinia Samaritan Day. She was prayed for with a fever. On this day, you can’t go anywhere: the failure that happens on the road will haunt you until next spring.

April 3

Catanic. The end of winter fun kids. Water begins to wake up. They cajoled him with a goose, and on that day they themselves did not eat the bird either wild or domestic - they were afraid to incur the wrath of the water. Offended by people, he will harm the water all summer, and besides, he tells the goblin and foresters to do the same. In that

day all bright spirits pray for universal consent and peace and invite people to join them.

April, 4

Day of Vasily-solar, dropper, named in honor of the holy martyr Basil, presbyter of Ancyra. If on this day at sunrise red circles are visible in the sky, then the year promises fertility.

On Basil the Warm the sun rises in circles - to the harvest of bread.

April 5

St. Nikon's Day. It's time to carry manure into the field:

Without mother earth, do not expect bread from mother earth.

He brought manure into the field - a cartload of bread from the field.

The finch is flying.

Sign of the day:

Cobwebs in the fields and in the garden - a lot of interference with a good harvest.

On this day, houses passed with fire - from damage and the evil eye.

April 6

Day of Zechariah the Faster and Jacob, the eve of the Annunciation.

If the night is warm on Zakharia, then the spring will be friendly.

To attract good luck, drive away troubles, to improve health on this day, you need to feed all the birds abundantly, both domestic and wild - they are messengers of God. The toughest post.

On the eve of the Annunciation, peas were sown.

April 7

The third meeting of spring, coinciding with the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary- a holiday in honor of the Archangel Gabriel bringing the good news to the Virgin Mary about the birth of the Savior. The sun “plays” on this day - in the early morning it shimmers with all the colors of the rainbow. The Annunciation is "God's greatest feast". The Holy Scripture says that the Holy Spirit appeared to Mary in the form of a dove. This legend is associated with the custom of releasing birds into the wild in early spring, on the feast of the Annunciation.

Annunciation - release of birds.

In the morning, the townspeople bought from bird catchers to release them immediately:

Titmouse sisters,

Tap dance aunts,

red-throated snowmen,

Goldfinches, well done,

Sparrow thieves,

Fly at will

You live in freedom

Bring spring to us soon.

Flying up with a joyful chirping, the birds, as it were, carried the hopes of people to heaven. Eggs received from chickens on the Day of the Annunciation were thrown away or buried - otherwise they would bring grief and illness to the house.

This day is a big holiday. Therefore, work is a sin:

On the Annunciation, the bird does not build a nest, the girl does not weave braids.

A cuckoo without a nest for curling it for the Annunciation.

At the Annunciation, they don’t look at the harsh yarn, they don’t sit under the smoke.

Who spins, weaves, sews and knits - knots his life.

Sin and swear:

Who swears - digs a hole for himself.

Many signs are associated with this day:

What is the Annunciation, such is the holy Pascha.

On the Annunciation, spring overcame winter.

Spring before the Annunciation - a lot of frost ahead.

If the snow falls on the Annunciation, there will be no oats.

Rain on the Annunciation - rye will be born.

On the Annunciation, frost is a harvest for milk mushrooms, hot springs and cucumbers.

On the Annunciation it is a sunny day - the wheat is harvested.

Wet Annunciation - mushroom summer. On the Annunciation, a thunderstorm - to a warm summer, to the harvest of nuts.

If the wind is cold, it will be a cold summer, and if the wind is warm, south, then the summer will be warm.

From the Annunciation, the bear rises from the snowdrift.

Forty frosts left from the Annunciation.

If the night on the Annunciation is warm, then spring will be friendly.

On the Annunciation it is clear that there will be fires. On the Annunciation it is starry - chickens will rush well.

Swallows flew in - a warm spring, but no - cold.

This day is considered suitable for successful undertakings. Elderly women burned salt in the oven, which became healing and helped with various diseases, and baked pastries (buns) from bread dough with it to heal livestock. Annunciation ash was kept for cabbage and other garden plants - when they deteriorated, they were sprinkled with this ash. Rubbish was not thrown out of the house until the next day, "so that happiness does not flow away." The crumbs from the table were given to "domestic" insects, mice, rats, birds - so that there would be no loss in the house. They tried to eat very carefully: how many crumbs, so many losses. New clothes were not worn that day - this is damage to health and property. Everywhere they cleaned and fumigated houses and yards, driving away the unclean and unhealthy. On the night before the holiday, they did not put out the fire in the huts - “so that flax would be born better”; in some places they jumped through the fire, "to cleanse themselves and warn against the evil eye."

April 8

Cathedral of the Archangel Gabriel, the day of Gavri-il-Blagovest. Strict post.

Whoever reveres the Archangel Gabriel, he reveals Divine secrets to him.

Gabriel - scoop up your boots, wet the soles.

It is believed that being born on Gabriel is a great bad luck. On this day, the work does not go for the future, and the fun does not go well. They were waiting for the bird cherry to turn green: this means that it is time to plant early potatoes.

Notes for this day:

Drops - to a warm spring.

Whoever tumbles on the ground three times on this day will be healthy all year and is not subject to damage and the evil eye.

Thunder - for a happy year and a good harvest.

April 9

Day of Matryona-teacher, half-reptile, named after the martyr Matrona of Thessalonica. On the morning crust, the remains of hay from the haystacks were brought to the yard, since the last snow had melted by noon. The rivers are about to open up:

On Matryona, the pike breaks the ice with its tail.

Gola Matryona is terrible for everyone, covered with lubok - for everyone.

Under the threshold of a ford, and on the street there is a crossing.

On this day, the peasants selected turnip seeds suitable for sowing. For a long time, turnips and cabbages were the main food of the peasants, and on this day they selected vegetables suitable for seeds, putting them in a separate, inviolable half, hence the name - half-turnip. There are many fairy tales, riddles and jokes about these vegetable crops. Here is the game "Turnip". Children sit on one chair on each other's knees, clasping their hands in front of the one sitting. The driver asks:

— Knock-knock at the gate?

The turnip answers:

- Who the hell did you get?

- My grandmother fell from the stove, hurt her shoulders, groans, sighs, wants turnips. Can you break a turnip?

Turnip: Tear, but not with the root.

The leader pulls ahead of the person sitting.

Turnip: Your arms are weak, your legs are thin.

The former "turnip" stands behind the driver, helps to pull the next one, etc.

On this day, they were waiting for the arrival of lapwings.

The lapwing calls in the evening - to clear weather.

The lapwing flies low - to prolonged dry weather.

Peasant women put a candle in front of the image of St. Matrona, who condemns negligent housewives and patronizes the bleaching of new-woven canvases and linen yarn - the most important process in weaving.

April 10th

Coltsfoot.

The coltsfoot flower warms the earth.

April 11

Cyril Day. Time to listen to birches, drink birch sap - "birch". They soldered the sick to them, cleansed the blood, expelled "illness" from the stomach.

April 12th

Day of John the Ladder. It was customary to bake a short flight of stairs to give a future ascent to heaven. On this day, the "wall" is especially rampant - a strange creature that leans on the sleeping person and crushes him so that it is impossible to move or say a word. At this time, according to legend, the wall is looking for a mate. On this day, the brownie is fed with porridge so that he is a good helper to the owners. Gather the grass Adam's head.

April 13

Day of Hypatius, healer of the Caves.

Women prayed to him for infertility, nursing, mothers - for more milk. This day was also called "Fire".

14th of April

Mary's Day, named in memory of St. Mary of Egypt. The beginning of the flood.

Marya starts flooding.

If the spill is on Marya, then there will be a lot of grass.

If the ice melts quickly, the year will be easy, good; if the ice sank, the year will be difficult, it will bring a lot of troubles and grief.

On Marya, the snow melted under the bush.

By this day, a supply of sauerkraut was coming out:

Marya - empty cabbage soup.

There was another explanation for this name. Mary was considered the patroness of repentant harlots and fornicators, as well as a judge at the Last Judgment of those who did not repent, therefore in many places it was considered a sin to eat anything other than empty cabbage soup on this day.

In the old days, it was believed that on this day (April 1, according to the old style), the brownie wakes up, and therefore you need to deceive each other. The girls especially tried, since it was believed that the more people they deceive, the less grooms will lead them by the nose.

If you don’t lie on the first of April, when else will you find time?

On this day, for good luck, you need to update all the bedspreads, tablecloths, curtains and towels in the house.

April 15

Day of Titus the icebreaker, Polikarpov day.

Named in honor of St. Titus and the martyr Polycarp. Ice drift begins.

Farewell, ice

For the whole year

For all the fly

For the whole winter!

Chrychinka-chrychinka, say -

Bow to the blue sailor!

The ice breaks hard - it's dangerous to walk.

On this day, we watched the birds: dergachi scream - for a fruitful summer, quail screams - for a good harvest and juicy grass. In the forests, capercaillie go to the current.

April 16

Day of Nikita Waterfall, named in honor of the Monk Nikita the Confessor, hegumen of the monastery of Midikia. The rivers overflow, the water finally wakes up from hibernation. To appease him, the men drowned the worthless horse.

If the ice does not go that day, then fishing will be the worst.

April 17

Joseph's Day a. The cricket begins to sing, the crane gives its first voice. It is believed that if the cricket screams - it's time to plow under the rye.

Put aside the tricks, take on the arable land.

Alder blossoms. An infusion of her cones was used to treat the stomach and throat.

April 18th

Day of Fedul Warm.

Commemoration of the Martyrs Agathopod the Deacon, Theodulus the Reader and others like them. It's time to put winter frames out of the windows in order to drive sickness and grief out of the house, and begin to regularly ventilate the home.

Fedul is a warm windmill.

Fedul came - a warm wind blew, opened the windows, heated the hut without firewood.

On Fedul, dissolve the window.

If bad weather happened on Fedul, they said this:

Fedul pursed his lips.

On Fedula, crickets wake up, ladybugs come to life.

Ladybug,

Fly up smartly.

Bring us from the sky:

Bread replacement,

Mushroom change

berries growth,

Radish long tail

April 19

Eutychius Day, named after Saint Eutychius.

Eutychius is a quiet day.

On Eutychius, the day is quiet - to the harvest of early spring crops.

Water makes a noise - towards a thunderous summer, moans - to moan all year, mutters in a human voice - to great profit and goodness, whistles - the worst thing: a water man shrinks from the world.

If the day happened to be windy, the peasants grieve: "the ear will knock down."

20 April

Day of the martyr Akulina.

If it rains on Akulina, viburnum will be good and spring will be bad.

Frost and sun are good bread and buckwheat; rain - a lot of viburnum.

The 21st of April

Rodion Day, named after the apostle Herodion. Rodion-icebreaker, icebreaker, roaring waters.

Rodion - roaring waves.

Rodion brought water - put a plow, plow under the oats.

Spring waters and the king will not take away.

According to popular beliefs, on this day the red sun meets the bright moon. If the day was bright, fine, the meeting was considered good and foreshadowed family happiness, and if it was cloudy, they said that the sun met the moon unkindly, and quarrels and separations were expected.

On Rodion, the meeting of the sun with the month: good - a clear day and a good summer, thin - bad weather and a bad summer.

Sunny - hot summer, cloudy - summer is the same.

On Rodion, a ceremony was held to honor the young - "vyunina". The youth gathered under the windows of young families formed in the past year (the newlyweds were called "weed and weed"). Boys and girls banged on the porch with a stick and called out to the young, performing special vine songs. They contained wishes for every blessing and, of course, requests to reward the praisers:

You get up, well done

Get ready, you bastard.

Come out on the porch

Show me you face.

How will you give us

We will praise you

Hello young

With his young wife!

How many stumps in the forest

So many sons for you

How many bumps in the forest -

So many daughters!

young lady,

Give us eggs!

Don't give eggs

Let's take the young man

Lock it in the barn

Let's broom the door

Let's roll the mortar

And we won't let go!

Young people went out on the porch with refreshments. Satisfied praisers thanked them and, leaving, wished happiness, prosperity, prosperity, and then went to the parents of the newlyweds to glorify the elders (these songs were called "kings"):

King, Queen -

Bread crust!

The king is rye,

Korolushechka - oatmeal!

And we are onions,

Two trousers -

Submit, do not refuse!

April 22

Day of Eupsychia. Elderly women curse the dark spirits, facing east.

April 23

Day of Terenty Marevny.

If the red sun rises on Terenty in a misty haze, it will be a year of grain.

On this day, the mysterious people of Lukomorye come to life until November 24 - assistants to treasure hunters. Those who are going to look for treasures should appease the spirits with offerings.

April 24

Day of Antipas-vodogon, waterfowl. Holy Martyr Antip was revered in Russia as a healer of various human diseases. They prayed to him for a toothache, and they were treated like this: they took a small coin and kept it for some time on a sick tooth. In some areas, the first trip to the field was timed to coincide with this day.

Who is lazy with a plow, the whole year is bad for him.

Do not look for treasure, but plow the land - and you will find it.

The rivers did not open - a very bad summer.

25th of April

Basil's Day of Pariah, or Steamer. The bear comes out of the den.

On Basil of Pariah, spring soars the earth.

26 April

Day of the martyr Thomais of Egypt.

She was prayed for deliverance from prodigal passion.

April 27

Day of Martyn the fox. Commemoration of Saint Martin the Confessor, Pope of Rome. Foxes move to new holes, and crows to new nests. Crow's holiday (crows were fed bread crumbs).

Martin is attacked by fox-blindness.

April 28

Puda Bee Day, named after the apostle Puda. Last day of removal of bees. If you skip it, then there will either be no honey at all, or there will be very little.

On St. Pud, take out the hives from under the bushel. Whoever has honey and butter has a holiday. By this time, the buds of viburnum and mountain ash are blooming, from which healing infusions are prepared.

April 29

Day of Irina the nursery. The memory of the martyrs Agapia, Irina and Cheonia. It's time to plow, sow cabbage and cucumbers for seedlings, cut crowns and whiten the trunks of fruit trees.

On the day of Irina the nursery, this cabbage is in the nursery. Snowdrops bloom in the forests, spring waters “make noise in spring”.

Irina - snatch the shore.

Do not resist the shore against Irinina water.

April 30

Day of Zosima the beekeeper. The memory of the Reverend Zosima, hegumen of Solovetsky. On this day, the villagers took the beehives to the apiaries. Having placed them, they put a table in the middle of the apiary, covered it with a clean tablecloth, put out bread and salt, a shard with heat-coals, epiphany water and a candle left over from Easter matins. Then, praying to Zosima, they went around the apiaries with a lit candle, sprinkled the beehives with consecrated water. At the gate, through which the beehives were brought into the apiary, a stake was driven in and said:

Fly, my bee, to all four directions for yellow waxes, for sweet honeys, bring honey to your hives...

Opening the entrances, they said:

As the ocean-sea from all rivers and channels gathers and becomes strong, as the hollow water is hefty and strong, it breaks the forest and snatches the banks, rushes through islands and bushes, floods green meadows and swamps, so would I, God's servant, have a bee in the apiary was strong and hefty, carried honey from all four sides, from meadows, from swamps, black mud, from an open field, from dark meadows and from the blue sea and from every color, would have children for herself, let go of strong swarms, would work she wouldn’t go to people herself, and wouldn’t let someone else in to her, she defended herself from all four sides.

The peasant did not start any work without sayings, jokes, signs, appeals or spells. So on this day:

Yara bees,

honey carriers,

Fly to the meadow

Sit on a flower

Collect honey!

bees,

Grey, small

scarlet wings,

pointed noses,

Themselves colorful.

They go into the field

They hum, they hum

From the field they go

They carry honey.

Notes for this day:

On which bread the bee flew, that one will be good for grain.

If the bees sit on a cherry blossom, then the cherries will be born, and if not, there will be no cherries. Swallows are flying.

Night of May 1- Walpurgis Night, the ball of dark forces. You should spend the eve of this night as calmly as possible so as not to attract their attention to yourself.

Before the introduction of European calendars, Russia used its own system of chronology. A summer or a year consisted of 9 calendar months, consisting of an average of 40 days (odd or full months had 41 days each, and even or incomplete months had 40 days), and each week had not 7 days as it is now, but 9 and they were called like this: Monday, Tuesday, Treteynik, Chetverik, Friday, Six, Seven, Oct and Week. Oddly enough, all the days, except perhaps Treteynik and Week, are well known to all of us and we still use them, naming the days of the week.

What do these names mean?

Again, everything is simple and nothing muddy as others write:

Monday - after the Week (day after the week),
Tuesday is the second day
Treteynik - the third day,
Thursday is the fourth day
Friday is the fifth day
Sixth - sixth day,
Seven is the seventh day
Oct - the eighth day (in Polish 8 - eight, and we have eight),
Week - do not do (a day when nothing is done).

The churchmen, having conquered Russia, altered the calendar and threw out two days from the week. The third day became AVERAGE - WEDNESDAY, and the WEEK became SUNDAY - neither to the seventh day - WEEK, nor to the WEEK, it has nothing to do, and the sixth day SIX was replaced by the Hebrew word Sabbath - SATURDAY, which they mean the last day of the week or the seventh day creations!

Quoting the Bible, we find the following meaning of the word SATURDAY - the Sabbath was given by God after the sixth day when man was created: “And on the seventh day God finished His works that He did, and rested on the seventh day from all His works that He did. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it, for in it he rested from all his works, which God created and made” (Genesis 2:2-3).
For Jews, Saturday is indeed a holy day. On this day they do not work and they are forbidden to touch money. On Saturday they rest.

We rest on a WEEK - a day when nothing is done (this word has remained in the Ukrainian language to this day, and the word RESURRECTION, which has an obvious church character, has been imposed on the Russian language).

But the baptists of Russia found a way out of this situation, they came up with Slavic names for the Julian calendar and instead of numbers in Latin, they received Slavic names for the month:
Birch - the time of burning trees cut down in winter, mainly birch, for coal. It was also called "Dry", according to the time of drying of the cut down forest or the drying of the earth.

Flowering is the month of flowering.
Traven is the month of herb growth.
Worm - from fruits and berries, which, ripening in June, are distinguished by a special reddishness (scarlet, scarlet, red). In the southern areas, the time of redness of the cherry.
Lipen is the month of linden blossom.
Serpen - from the word "sickle". Harvest time.
Veresen - otherwise called Velesen - the month of the god Veles.
Leaf fall - the time of yellowing and the beginning of falling leaves.
Breast - from the word "pile" - a frozen rut on the road.
Studen - icy (cold). Speaks for itself.
Sechen - from the word "cut" - to cut wood. Usually, the felling of forests for the preparation of new sown areas and its harvesting for construction was carried out in winter. The month was also called "Prosinets", after the appearance of a blue sky after a long cloud cover.
Fierce is the month of snowstorms and frosts.

Your attention is invited to several options for the reconstruction of the Slavic calendar, comparison and order of months in different Slavic languages, as well as a detailed explanation of the origin and meaning of the names of each of the months of the year. It should also be noted that the true Slavic calendar was solar; it was based on 4 seasons (seasons), in each of which the solstice holiday (rotation, solstice, equinox) was celebrated. With the advent of Christianity in Russia, they began to use the lunar calendar, which is based on the period of changing the phases of the moon, as a result of which a certain "demolition" of dates by 13 days has formed by now (new style). The dates of the Slavic pagan holidays (many of which have been replaced with Christian names over time) are considered according to the old true style and "lag behind" the new calendar by 13 days.

Modern name of the month	I option	II option	III option	IV option	VI option
January	Sechen	Chill	Prosinets	Prosinets	Xichen
February	lute	lute	lute	Sechen	Snezhen, Bokogrey
March	Berezozol	berezen	dropper	dry	Zymobor, Protalnik
April	Pollen	Kveten	Pollen	Berezozol	Brezen, Snegogon
May	Traven	Traven	Traven	Traven	herbal
June	Cresen	Worm	colorful	Cresen	Izok, Kresnik
July	Lipen	Lipen	Groznik	Worm	Lipets, Stradnik
August	Serpen	Serpen	Zarev	Serpen, Zarev	Zornichnik, Zhniven
September	Veresen	Veresen	Howler	Ryuen	Ruen, Frowning
October	leaf fall	jaundice	leaf fall	Leaf fall, Pazdernik	Gryaznik, wedding
November	Breast	leaf fall	Breast	Breast	chest
December	Chill	Breast	Chill	Jelly	Studny

Table 1. Variants of the names of the Slavic months.

Origin of the names of the months

The Romans originally had a lunar year of 10 months, beginning in March and ending in December; which is indicated, by the way, by the names of the months. So, for example, the name of the last month - December comes from the Latin "deka" (deca), which means the tenth. However, soon, according to legend - under Tsar Numa Pompilius or Tarquinius I (Tarquinius the Ancient) - the Romans switched to a lunar year of 12 months containing 355 days. To bring it into line with the solar year, an extra month (mensis intercalarius) was added from time to time already under Numa. But still, the civil year, with holidays calculated for certain seasons, did not at all converge with the natural year. The calendar was finally put in order by Julius Caesar in 46 BC: he introduced a solar year of 365 days with the insertion of one day in every 4th year (we have this day - February 29); and set the beginning of the year from January. The calendar and yearly cycle was named after the great Roman general and statesman Julian.

Months were designated by the same names as now. The first six months are named after the Italic gods (with the exception of February, named after a Roman holiday), July and August were called Quintilis (fifth) and Sextilis (sixth) until the time of Emperor Augustus, they received the names Julius and Augustus in honor of Julius Caesar and Augustus . Thus, the names of the months were as follows: Januarius, Februarius, Martius, Aprilis, Majus, Junius, Quintilis (Julius), Sexlilis (Augustus), September (from Latin "septem" - seven, seventh), October (from Latin "okto "- eight, eighth), November (from Latin "novem" - nine, ninth) and, finally, December (tenth). In each of these months, the Romans counted the same number of days as it is considered at the present time. All the names of the months are adjectives in which the word "mensis" (month) is either implied or added. Calendae was called the first day of every month.

In Russia, the word "calendar" has been known only since the end of the 17th century. Emperor Peter I introduced it. Prior to that, it was called the "message". But whatever you call it, the goals remain the same - fixing dates and measuring time intervals. The calendar gives us the opportunity to record events in their chronological order, serves to highlight special days (dates) in the calendar - holidays, and for many other purposes. Meanwhile, the old names of the months among Ukrainians, Belarusians and Poles are still in use!

January so named because it was dedicated by the ancient Romans to Janus, the god of Peace. In our country, in the old days, it was called "Prosinets", as it is believed, from the blue of the sky beginning to appear at this time, radiance, from intensification, with the addition of day and sunlight. On January 21, by the way, the Prosinets holiday is celebrated. Take a closer look at the January sky and you will understand that it fully justifies its name. The Little Russian (Ukrainian) name for January "section" (sichen, sіchen) indicates either the turning point of winter, which, according to popular belief, occurs precisely in January, the splitting of winter into two halves, or crackling, severe frosts. Some of the researchers single out the root "blue" in the word "blue", believing that such a name was given to January for the early coming twilight - with "blue". Some scientists associated the name with an old folk custom to go to "Svyatki" from house to house and ask for a treat. In Russia, the month of January was originally the eleventh in a row, for March was considered the first, when the year began to be reckoned from September, then January became the fifth; and, finally, since 1700, since the time of the change made in our chronology by Peter the Great, this month has become the first.

February among the Romans it was the last month of the year and was named after Febra, the ancient Italic god, to whom it was dedicated. The indigenous Slavic-Russian names of this month were: "cut" (a name common to it with January) or "snezhen", probably from snowy time or, according to the verb, whip for blizzards, common in this month. In Little Russia, from the 15th century, following the imitation of the Poles, the month of February began to be called "fierce" (or lute), for it is known for its fierce blizzards; the settlers of the northern and middle Russian provinces still call him "bokogrey", because at this time the cattle comes out of the stables and heats their sides in the sun, and the owners themselves warmed their sides by the stove. In modern Ukrainian, Belarusian and Polish languages, this month is still called "fierce".

March. From this month, the Egyptians, Jews, Moors, Persians, ancient Greeks and Romans, as well as, once upon a time, our Slavic ancestors began the year. The name "March" was given to this month by the Romans in honor of Mars, the god of war; it was brought to us from Byzantium. The true Slavic names of this month in the old days in Russia were different: in the north it was called "dry" (little snow) or "dry" from the spring warmth that drains all moisture; in the south - "berezozol", from the action of the spring sun on the birch, which at this time begins to fill with sweet juice and buds. Zimobor - conquering winter, opening the way to spring and summer, a thorn - this month the snow begins to melt, thawed patches appear, drops (hence another name for a dropper). Often the month of March is called the "flying" month, since spring begins with it, the harbinger of summer, and together with the months following it - April and May - makes up the so-called "flying" (which is celebrated on May 7).

April comes from the Latin verb "aperire" - to open, and it indicates, in fact, the opening of spring. The old Russian names of this month were birch (breezen) - by analogy with March; snow-driving - streams run, taking with them the remains of snow, or even pollen, because it is then that the first trees begin to bloom, spring blooms.

May. The Latin name for this month is given in honor of the goddess Mai, as well as many others, it came to us from Byzantium. The old Russian name for this month was herbal, or grass (herbalist), which reflected the processes taking place in nature at that time - a riot of growing herbs. This month was considered the third and last spanning month. This name is known in the Ukrainian language.

June. The name of this month comes from the word "junius", given to him in honor of the goddess Juno by the Romans. In the old days, the original Russian name for this month was izok. Izok was the name given to the grasshopper, of which this month was especially abundant. Another name for this month is a worm, especially common among Little Russians, from a worm or a worm; this is the name of a special kind of dye worms that appear at this time. This month is also called colorful, because nature is born with an indescribable riot of colors of flowering plants. In addition, in ancient times, the month of June was often called kresnik by the people - from the word "kres" (fire).

July comes from the name "julius", given in honor of Gaius Julius Caesar, and, of course, has Roman roots. In our old days, it was called, like June - worm - from fruits and berries that ripen in July, they are distinguished by a special reddishness (scarlet, red). The folk-poetic expression "red summer" can serve as a literal translation of the name of the month, in which attention is drawn to the brightness of the summer sun. Another original Slavic name for July is Lipets (or Linden), which is now used in Polish, Ukrainian and Belarusian as the month of linden blossom. July is also called the "crown of summer", since it is considered the last month of summer (July 20 is celebrated as "Perun's Day", after which, according to popular belief, autumn comes), or even "sufferer" - from the suffering summer work, "threat" - from severe thunderstorms.

August. Like the previous one, this month got its name from the name of the Roman emperor - Augustus. The root ancient Russian names of the month were different. In the north, it was called "glow" - from the radiance of lightning; in the south, "serpen" - from the sickle, which is used to remove bread from the fields. Often this month is given the name "zornichnik", in which it is impossible not to see the changed old name "glow". It will be unnecessary to explain the name "stubble", because in this month the time of reaping in the fields and harvesting came. Some sources interpret the glow as associated with the verb "roar" and denotes the period of the roar of animals during estrus, while others suggest that the name of the month contains an indication of thunder and evening lightning.

September- "sentemvriy", the ninth month of the year, among the Romans was the seventh, which is why it got its name (from the Latin word "septem" - the seventh). In the old days, the original Russian name of the month was "ruyin" - from the roar of autumn winds and animals, especially deer. The old Russian form of the verb "ryuti" (roar) is known, which, when applied to the autumn wind, meant "roar, blow, call." He received the name "frown" due to his weather differences from others - the sky often frowns, it rains, autumn comes in nature. Another name for this month is "spring" due to the fact that heather begins to bloom right now.

October- "octovry", the tenth month of the year; among the Romans, it was the eighth, which is why it got its name (from the Latin "octo" - eight). Among our ancestors, it is known under the name "leaf fall" - from the autumn fall of leaves, or "pazdernik" - from pazderi, bonfires, since this month they begin to crush flax, hemp, and manners. Otherwise - "dirty", from the autumn rains, causing bad weather and dirt, or "wedding" - from weddings, which are celebrated at this time by the peasants.

November. "Noemvriem" (november) we call the eleventh month of the year, but among the Romans it was the ninth, which is why it got its name (nover - nine). In the old days, this month was actually called breast (chest or chest), from piles of frozen earth with snow, since in general in the Old Russian language the winter frozen road was called the chest path. In Dahl's dictionary, the regional word "pile" means "frozen ruts along the road, frozen hummocky mud."

December. "Dekemvriy" (lat. december) is our name for the 12th month of the year; among the Romans, it was the tenth, which is why it got its name (decem - ten). Our ancestors called it "jelly", or "studny" - from the cold and frost, common at that time.

The very word "month" indicates the connection between the allocation of such a chronological segment with the lunar cycles and has pan-European roots. Consequently, the duration of the month ranged from 28 to 31 days; it is not yet possible to specify the number of days by month more accurately.

Modern name	Russian	Ukrainian	Belorussian	Polish	Czech
January	Sechen	Xichen	Studzen	Styczen	Leden
February	lute	Lyuty	Lyuty	Luty	Unor
March	berezen	berezen	Sakavik	Marzec	Brezen
April	Kveten	Kviten	Handsome	Kwiecien	Duben
May	Traven	Traven	Traven	Maj	Kveten
June	Worm	Worm	Cherven	Czerwiec	Cerven
July	Lipen	Lipen	Lipen	Lipiec	Cervenec
August	Serpen	Serpen	Zhniven	Sierpien	srpen
September	Veresen	Veresen	Verasen	Wrzesien	Zari
October	leaf fall	Zhovten	Kastrynchnik	Pazdzernik	Rijen
November	Breast	leaf fall	Listapad	Listopad	Listopad
December	Chill	Breast	Snezhan	Grudzien	Prosinec

Table 2. Comparative names of months in different Slavic languages.

In the "Ostromir Gospel" (XI century) and other ancient written monuments, January corresponded to the name prosinets (since it was getting lighter at that time), February - section (since it was the season for deforestation), March - dry (since in some places the earth was already drying up), April - birch tree, birch tree (names associated with a birch that begins to bloom), May - grass (from the word "grass"), June - izok (grasshopper), July - worm, sickle (from the word "sickle", indicating harvest time), August - glow (from "glow"), September - ryuen (from "roar" and the roar of animals), October - leaf fall, November and December - chest (from the word "pile" - a frozen rut on the road) , sometimes - jelly.

Thus, the Slavs did not have common ideas about the order and name of the months. From the whole mass of names, Proto-Slavic names are revealed, which indicates the unity of the origin of the calendar. The etymology of the names is also not always clear and gives rise to all sorts of disputes and speculations on this topic. The only thing that most reenactors agree on is the connection of names with natural phenomena characteristic of the annual cycle.

April didn’t pick up any names from the ancient Slavs: and handsome, and snowy, and quern, and primrose, and pollen, and steep, and caddis, and Aquarius, and deceiver - the second spring and fourth month of the year. In the modern calendar, this is the second spring and the fourth month of the year - the period of flowering trees and spring flowers. Thanks to the reform of Julius Caesar, April began to have 30 days from 29. It was from April that the nineteen-day cycle intended for the gods began.

The name "April" in the folk calendar of the Slavs was firmly entrenched, and it was borrowed from the ancient Romans. Aprilis (aprilis) - "the month of Aphrodite" they had the 2nd month of the year. The Roman poet Ovid interpreted the assignment of such a name differently. He believed that the name was given from the Latin word "aperire", meaning "Everything is revealed." And this “Everything” meant, first of all, the discovery (awakening) of nature! This natural phenomenon is unique and wonderful. The temperature during this period really increases significantly, stale snow quickly becomes life-giving water for the flora. Everything in a strict sequence before our eyes becomes more grassy and prettier! Primroses, coltsfoot, crocuses, willow, aspen, poplars are blooming. Leaves turn green on willow, alder, lilac, aspen, birch. Feeling the heat, insects crawl out into the sun.

• In April - water, in May - grass, in July - bread.
• 3 April rains will replace thousands of June rains.
• Wet April to mushroom summer.
• April is famous for its water.
• April does not like negligent people, he loves workaholics.
• The earth is watered and wakes up by April streams.
• A spring flower will break through any snow.
• The beginning of April is with snow, and the finish is with greenery.
• In April, keep warm clothes ready.
• Snow unexpectedly fell in April: Granddaughters came for their grandmother in Winter.
• April - my friend calls everyone in the field.
• The beginning of April is black in the fields, but in some places it is white in the forests.
• April is red with leaves, and May with flowers.
• If in April there are streams of water, then in May there is luxurious grass.
• Where in April there is a river from the streams, there, in July, from the rains - a puddle.
• April is full of water, October is rich in beer.
• April soars the earth.
• Don't damage the stoves - there are still April moves ahead.
• April water in the fields - plentiful hay in stacks.
• April is deceptive: 7 weather in 1 day.
• February snow will litter, April water will wash everything away.
• In April - a flower and grass, and in the fall, bread is the head of everything.

Folk calendar of traditions and signs for April

Day of Daria Gryaznaya and Chrysant. Day of awakening.

As soon as the people do not call Daria Dirty: and Daria Poplavikha, and a mud pond, and a probing hole. It was called dirty because the active melting of snow caused a lot of spring waters that eroded not only roads, but also fields and yards. Dirt appeared everywhere, it accumulated on the banks of rivers, around ice holes. In the old days, on this occasion, it was rudely, but accurately expressed, “Daria screwed everything up.” Nevertheless, Daria Dirty deer in the mud is only vicious people with black thoughts. Therefore, the people, seeing a dirty person, perceived him as bad. This day is also marked by the fact that healers on it with spring water “removed” damage and got rid of any ailment. A warm, sunny day was dry and windy by summer. Rain - summer life-giving rains. Stale snow - rotten summer. According to Darya, they predicted the weather for October 1, whitened the canvases.

In ancient times, it was sacredly believed that on April 1, after a long hibernation, the Brownie woke up. Overslept, and therefore dissatisfied, the keeper of the hearth constantly yawned, grumbled, and acted up. Finally waking up, he was naughty and even hooligan. To cheer up and tone the spirit of housing, our ancestors prepared treats for him: porridge, milk, poured wine. And, of course, they tried to cheer him up all day with jokes and practical jokes. Appeasing Brownie on the first of April was forgotten over time, but the tradition of making fun of each other is still relevant today.

Fotini Well Day

According to biblical tradition, the name day on Fotinya is near water from a well and flax.

It was at Photinya the Samaritan that the thirsty Jesus Christ asked Jacob to drink water from the well. And since then, on the Day of Photinya the Well, water has unsurpassed healing properties. In order to be cured of any ailment, including fever, our ancestors washed themselves with well water.

They began to glorify flax from dawn. Beautiful linen things were taken out of the dwelling and hung on fences, linen embroidered towels were attached to birch branches. Unmarried girls danced with long linen towels prepared for the wedding in order to attract worthy suitors.

Rocker. Kirill Katanik

On Kachalnik, after sledging for the last time, their sledges were polished, dried and put away until the next winter season. In the old days, they told the kids: “even if you howl with a roar, even shout with a cry, but after Katanik you won’t get a sled.” It was also believed that both Leo Katanik and Cyril Katanik should not be looked at the heavens: suddenly you will see a shooting star that predicted misfortune. They swung across the arable land and begged for clean grain.

Vasily Solnechny Day (Vasily Warm, Vasily Solnechnik, Vasily Parnik)

That is how many nicknames Vasily Kapelnik has, and all are directly related to the persistent arrival of heat and sunny days. Those who decided to build a new building carefully watched where the streams from the drops flowed. No structures were built on that site. It was believed that in such places “a passage laid near the water into the depths of the earth” would wash the house over time. They guessed at dawn in the sun: it rose, surrounded by red, which means a good harvest. We watched the sky all day: clouds with blue - to a warm rain. They baked rolls that looked like the sun.

Nikon day

On Nikon in the Slavic villages, saying "Underground water, we open the spring to you," they bypass all the sources. Sprinkling bread crumbs, grains, linseed and sunflower seeds, they invite birds to gardens and yards. They bring shine to the whole house and courtyard. On Nikon's day, Spring sent a finch - a messenger.

Day of Zakhar, Jacob.

In the evening, they prayed to Yakov and Zakhar to the patron saints and tried to build bonfires outside the courtyards and in the courtyard of the dwellings in order to glorify the light and drive out the darkness, and with it all evil spirits. It was believed that all evil spirits cannot stand and are afraid even of the name of the saint and quickly leave those places where his memory is deeply revered.

All day long they were seriously preparing for the Annunciation - the great twelfth holiday. We tried to redo all the important and urgent work. On the eve of the celebration, the Orthodox hurried to the evening. In ancient times, there was a sign: if an unmarried girl survives the entire night service in the temple, then she will marry successfully.

In churches, seeds were consecrated for planting.

If the night was not cold, then spring should be early and friendly.

If there was dew, then there will be good millet for the horses, if it rains - a glorious year for livestock. Suddenly - snow - to the harvest of buckwheat; and if frost hit, then the harvest is for millet and oats.

Annunciation.

Any work on the Annunciation was considered a great sin.

In Russia, people jumped over bonfires on this day to inflict protection from the evil eye and damage. Under the Annunciation, in the evening; they fumigated their clothes to protect themselves from evil spells, set straw beds on fire to incinerate all diseases.

Even foolish creatures celebrated a great triumph. In folk beliefs, it is described as follows: “girls do not weave braids, birds do not make a nest.” Many Slavs in the old days were convinced that a bird that overslept Matins on the Annunciation or made a nest was punished and could not fly for several days. On the Annunciation, they bought the birds from captivity from the catchers, and released them, believing that the free bird intercedes with God himself for its liberator. Yes, the holiday itself, that's why it was called the bird holiday.

Grandmothers - old women burned salt in the oven, after which it turned out to be healing and miraculous. When baking "byashki" - lamb buns - to cure livestock, burnt salt was added to the dough.

On the Annunciation, a thunderstorm for a warm summer, for a good collection of nuts.

Damp on the Annunciation - to the mushroom summer.

The sky is sunny and without clouds - by summer with frequent thunderstorms.

What was the weather during the day, such will be established at the end of the month.

The Annunciation is cold, which practically does not happen - by 40 morning frosts.

Gabriel Blagovest (Archangel Gabriel)

Angel Archangel Gabriel, especially close to the mysteries of God, and revered in Christianity, Judaism, and even Islam. The people gave him the name Blagovest (Annunciator), having learned that he announced to the Virgin Mary about the birth of her son of God. But in Little Russia and the southern regions of Russia, they noticed that everything born on this day turns out to be ugly. This has long been said: "What was born on the day of Gabriel is terrible and ugly." And even products from yarn did not go for the future, that's why they stopped spinning on that very day.

The peasants of the southern regions noticed that if by the day of Gabriel the Blagovest the bird cherry turned green, then the ideal time had come for planting early potatoes. The weather on April 8 indicated the weather on October 8.

Holy Matryona, Matryona Nastovitsa, Polurepitsa

Saint Matrena is the patroness of hostesses. On her day, all the housewives asked to bless them for work. It was accepted that all stocks of vegetables, and especially turnips - the staple food of the Slavic peasants, were divided into two parts. Selected fruits were left for planting, the rest - for food. By the cry and by the flight of birds (lapwings) the weather was determined:

if they cry in the evening, it will be clear that they are flying low - a dry period for a long time.

Hilarion

By the day of Illarion it is getting warmer. Even stale snow melts quickly.

In the old days, the Slavs knew that with the flowering of the coltsfoot, the Stepanov wreath, which the whole family wove on August 15, loses its healing power. The wreath was in the red corner of the hut. They resorted to his help when an illness happened to someone. Plants pulled out of the wreath were brewed with boiling water. The dwelling was filled with a life-giving spirit from flowering meadows, inhaling which the patient recovered.

Stepanov's wreath was replaced by coltsfoot leaves, from which the Slavs prepared medicinal drinks. The thunder is long and deaf - to heavy rains. Magpies have chosen the tops of centuries-old trees - to quickly passing cold weather.

Saint Marco.

Massively went to birch groves to collect healthy and vitamin-rich juice

for the sick. Heavy rain promised a good harvest of oats.

John of the Ladder Day

At John of the Ladder, the Domovoy suddenly began to “frantic” and not recognize the tenants of the house. The Slavs did not dare to go out into the yard for fear that the embittered domestic spirit would accidentally harm them. There were many explanations for this one. Some said that the Brownie was changing the old skin, others that a witch was offering him a marriage. But the result of this did not change: the spirit of the house raged for almost a day before the cry of the first rooster. That is why, before sunset, the Slavic people drove all the cattle into the barn and locked it, while they themselves quietly sat in the huts, and were even afraid to approach the windows. To honor John, Russian people baked and consecrated ceremonial cookies in the temple - a short flight of stairs. Ladder cookies were baked to each member of the seven and everyone ate it for health.

Large artiodactyls have a sleepy state during the day, they often and constantly sniff and exhale with noise, constantly lick their lips, drink slowly and little - in the rain.

Women born on April 13 - "Ognishchanki", collected flaming fuel from the furnace and from it in the field they lit a fire that would save the sick. It was necessary to carry through it for the healing of a seriously ill person, as well as for the proper operation of the plow and harrow. In calm weather, the blue sky and transparent clouds - to the rain.

Mary's Day

From the day of Mary, spring water continues. Water spill on April 13 - to an abundance of herbs. On the night of April 13 to April 14 - clear and starry - to the blessed summer. The cattle screams as if cut - to bad weather. Lightning during sunset - to the morning rain. Short and dull peals of thunder - for sunny weather.

Day of Bezkhlebitsa, St. Titus (Icebreaker)

By Bezkhlebitsa, all grain reserves were practically running out or running out. The ancient Slavs switched to bread with kvass. On the day of Titus and Polycarp, they checked the sowing grains and seeds, cleaned the notches. Followed the icebreaker on the reservoirs. If the ice sank, then there was talk of a difficult year. A lot of hollow water spilled - to the wealth of grasses and early mowing. They listened to the birds: the cry of a quail promised a rich harvest of bread. The wedge of cranes stretched to the south - to the frequent and cold winds.

Gafia. Nikita

A hungry, and therefore angry Waterman, woke up on Nikita. Peasant fishermen brought tribute to him at midnight: not to confuse the nets, not to expel the fish, not to frighten the children. Suddenly it is still sunny, and the coltsfoot closed the flowers - to the bad weather at night.

Alder look, Osip's day

On Osip arranged the bride of the alder. Everyone was wondering when it would bloom. We listened to the cricket, watched the bees and wondered if it was time to set up the hives.

Sunrise golden pink - to the beautiful weather.

Fedulov day. Fyodor Vetrenitsa.

Windows were opened wide on Fedula and they were spoken to so that putrefactive winds, evil spirits, and commotion would not remain in the hut. They arranged the ventilation of the dwelling with a draft in order to allow warm winds to enter it. On the outskirts, the audibility of the sound is distinct - to the upcoming windy bad weather. The day is windless and warm, the night is cool, the weather will be good.

Evtikhiy Tikhiy da Yerema Flying

According to the weather on Evtikhiya and Yerema, they judged the harvest of vegetables, spring bread, clover. They noticed: “If it is calm on Eutychius, then the early bread will be abundantly born, and Yerema is windy - it will knock down the ears of bread.” We watched wild ducks. If they are fat, then the coming spring days are unkind and long. If the ducks that have arrived nest almost on the water, then there will be a drought in the summer.

Akulinin's day

On Akulinin's day, feeling the sun and warmth, they wake up and rise to the surface of the reservoirs. In the old days, the village women, in order to dress and appease the water maidens, laid out beautiful dresses and canvases on the shore. Walking on the water and being afraid of meeting with them, they took garlic or a bunch of dry wormwood with them. Heavy rain on Akulina foreshadowed a poor harvest of spring crops, a harvest of viburnum berries. Looked only through the window at heaven. If they were dotted with stars, then they expected a harvest of mushrooms and wild berries. Morning frost, passing with the appearance of the sun, foreshadowed good bread and a lot of buckwheat.

Vadim Klyuchnik

Birthdays on April 21 - sources of water. From everywhere, people hurried to the underground water in order to clean it and open the spring paths. They drank and washed themselves with crystal clear spring water. A short and early twilight with a reddish moon promised a stormy warm day.

Lelnik, Krasnaya Gorka

The Slavs called the Red Hill a hill or hill located on the outskirts of the village. On a hill and in the center of the hill they put a bench, either wooden or sod, on which they asked Lyalya, the most beautiful girl in the village, to sit in the middle.

Gifts were placed on both sides of the bench. On the right was placed a loaf, and on the left - milk, cheeses, oils. The bench was covered with woven wreaths. The girls danced around her with ritual songs. The girl Lyalya put wreaths on everyone's heads.

Sunrise with whitish highlights meant the upcoming dry day.

Terenty Marevny

Terenty Marevny pointed out important signs for the upcoming plowing

If the sun was surrounded by haze (fog) from sunrise and sunset, then the summer should have been grain-bearing, and if without haze what they knew, they would have to plow and sow in a new field. The young spiders that appeared foreshadowed warm days. And if the old spiders sat high in the web, then there could be night frosts.

Antip Polovod

At Antipas, the waters broke. According to antipov waters, they guessed their daily bread. If Antip does not dissolve the water, then there will be no grain in the bins through the late spring, the summer is unfavorable. The morning skies are ruddy and it will be windy and rainy.

Huge clouds formed from small clouds and merged - a heavy downpour was expected.

Vasily Pariysky

On Vasily Pariysky, the land was evaporated. Rain during the day - in the first days of May it is also rainy.

Fomaida, Lungwort, Hare Name Day

The flowering period of the lungwort, and the emergence of bumblebees. Honoring the eared, since on this day the hares and hares have a name day.

Martin Lisogon

On Martyn Lisogon, light clouds float ahead of a huge mass of clouds - to rain with wind, crows bathe in streams and puddles crow and let them go on an independent life-existence.