May 15 — Boris and Gleb the Sowers: customs, folk signs and beliefs

On May 15, the Orthodox Church honors the memory of the Holy Princes, the Passion-bearers Boris and Gleb. This is the first Orthodox holiday established in Russia at the beginning of the 12th century. In the old days, saints were considered the patrons of crops, so in the folk tradition the celebration was called Boris and Gleb the Sowers. In 2025, the date falls on Thursday. Izvestia tells us what customs and signs are associated with this day.

What is the holiday on May 15th?

Princes Boris and Gleb were the youngest sons of the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir of Kiev (Vladimir I, the Red Sun) and his wife, the Byzantine Princess Anna. They were born shortly before the Baptism of Rus by their father and were raised in the spirit of the Christian faith. At holy baptism, Boris was named Roman, and Gleb was named David.

During the lifetime of Prince Vladimir, Boris received Rostov as his inheritance, and Gleb received Murom. By governing their principalities, they showed wisdom and foresight, contributing to the establishment of the Orthodox faith. The ruler's eldest son (according to another version, the nephew—stepson) was completely different Svyatopolk, Prince of Turov. Chroniclers describe him as a treacherous and power-hungry man who saw his brothers as rivals for the Kiev throne.

A number of researchers believe that Vladimir intended to transfer the right to reign to Boris. But after the death of the prince in 1015, no direct instructions remained. As a result, an internecine struggle began, during which Boris and Gleb were killed by their elder brother Svyatopolk. For what he had done, he was nicknamed the Cursed One.

Upon learning of the incident, Prince Yaroslav of Novgorod (Yaroslav the Wise), the son of Prince Vladimir and Princess Rogneda of Polotsk, went to war against Svyatopolk. Svyatopolk's army was defeated, and he himself was seriously wounded. After being confirmed on the Kievan throne, Yaroslav found the remains of the brothers and moved them to a specially built temple.

In 1072, Princes Boris and Gleb were canonized at the Council of Constantinople, becoming the first Russian saints. The chronicles are full of stories about the miracles of healing that took place at their tomb. Therefore, in Russia they were still revered as miracle workers.

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Boris and Gleb Sowers in 2025: traditions and prohibitions

The saints were popularly considered the patrons of crops and were nicknamed the Sowers. At that time, pumpkins, zucchini and cucumbers began to be sown in the villages, and they also continued to sow fields, saying "Boris and Gleb sow bread." On the holiday, the peasants visited the church to pray to the saints. They prayed not only for well-being and prosperity, but also for a good harvest.

In addition, the celebration has another name — Barysh-day. Its origin is due to the fact that since ancient times, St. Boris was considered his patron saint by merchants. Merchants organized wide fairs on this day, hoping for a lot of revenue. In the evening, feasts were always held for the poor. To refuse alms or treats was considered a great sin and promised losses in the future.

In general, our ancestors believed that Boris and Gleb promised success in any business. However, there were also a number of prohibitions that they tried not to ignore, so as not to scare off luck. Idleness and idleness were especially condemned. According to beliefs, those who shirk work on a holiday will spend the whole year in hard work and worries.

It was a bad omen to sweep the litter from the center of the hut to the exit, this promised financial losses. To ensure that there was always prosperity in the family, money was counted before sunrise and hidden in parts in different places. At the same time, it was forbidden to count money after sunset because of the risk of losing all accumulated funds. Boris and Gleb should also have stopped making rash purchases.

Folk signs for May 15th

Usually in May, nightingale trills could be heard everywhere. In Russia, nightingales were revered along with swallows, storks, larks and other birds symbolizing a bright beginning. They listened to the birds on a festive day. No wonder it was also called Nightingale Day or Whistlers.

According to observations, if nightingales sing loudly on May 15, it means that summer is just around the corner. If you can't hear the nightingale all night, you can expect thunderstorms and heavy rain. Continuous night trills, on the contrary, promise that the day will be sunny. And if the nightingale sings before the cuckoo, wait for good news.

In addition, Nightingale Day is considered favorable for declarations of love, matchmaking and marriage. Our ancestors believed that lovers whose hearts joined on a holiday would live happily ever after.

Earlier in May, Yeremey Zapryagalnik was celebrated. Izvestia talked about the traditions and signs of this holiday.