Folk signs for August 18: what can and cannot be done
In Russia, omens were given special importance. They judged the harvest, the weather for the coming days and even months, and predicted fate. Therefore, every day of the national calendar was full of rituals and superstitions. Izvestia tells about the signs and church holidays on August 18.
Folk signs for August 18, 2025
In Russia, on August 18, Evstigneus the Breadbasket Day, or Lukov Day, was celebrated. The holiday was associated with the harvest of grain (gita) and the beginning of sowing winter crops. On this day, the peasants went out into the field and conjured the harvest, asking Mother Earth to protect the crops from evil spirits and frosts.
While working in the field, they were looking for a stem with several ears. It was considered a special success to find a stalk with 12 ears (the "bread queen"). It was left until spring, and then the grains were used for the first sowing to achieve a good harvest.
On Evstignei, peasant families necessarily baked barley bread from the first ground. For lunch, they ate raw onions with bread, salt and kvass — they believed that it strengthens health and refreshes the face. Bundles of onions were also hung in the house to purify the air.
Evstigney Zhitnik was given attention to various signs. Here are some of them:
- What is the weather like on August 18? December will be the same;
- If you hear a long and loud echo in the evening, you can expect warm and sunny weather.;
- If the echo is muffled, it will rain.;
- earthworms crawl out of the ground — to the rain;
- clouds are low over the forest — there will be a lot of mushrooms;
- sheep and goats shake their heads — to bad weather;
- the water in the river is foaming — it will rain in a day; the water is clear and transparent — ready for rain.
What not to do on August 18
The national holiday Evstigney Zhitnik falls on the Dormition fast. At this time, believers are not allowed to eat food of animal origin: meat, fish, eggs and dairy products. It is also worth refraining from noisy social events, feasts and conflicts.
What else can not be done on August 18
- Singing and eating in the field leads to crop failure;
- Leaving pots, pans or pots of food open is a risk of attracting evil spirits and diseases.;
- Drinking raw eggs can hide evil spirits in them.;
- Going out after midnight can lead to evil spirits.;
- conduct important negotiations and make deals — to deceive;
- starting new businesses won't bring success.;
- talking while working leads to unforeseen difficulties;
- sharing secrets, complaining about life — there will be more problems.
What is the church holiday on August 18?
On August 18, the Orthodox Church honors the memory of the martyr Eusignius of Antioch, who lived in the III century. For 60 years he served in the Roman army, catching the reign of several emperors at once. (Diocletian, Maximian, Constantius Chlorus, etc.). He saw a shining cross in the sky, foreshadowing the victory of Constantine the Great, talked with the martyr Basiliscus and composed a description of his feat. In his old age, Eusignius left the service, devoting himself to prayer and fasting. During the reign of Julian the Apostate, who wanted to restore paganism in the Roman Empire, the saint was executed.
Also, on August 18, the pre—feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord is celebrated - the time of spiritual preparation for the two-hundredth feast of the Transfiguration, or the Apple Savior. On this day, prayers dedicated to the upcoming celebration begin to be read. Believers prepare apples, grapes and other fruits for consecration at the festive liturgy.
Prayers for August 18
On August 18, Orthodox believers pray to Eusignius of Antioch, asking him for protection from enemies, strengthening of faith and guidance on the righteous path. Also on this day, you can read the kontakion and akathist of the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord.
Prayer to Saint Eusignius of Antioch
"Holy Martyr Yevsigny! Look down from the heavenly palace on those who require your help and do not reject our petitions, but, as our eternal benefactor and intercessor, pray to Christ God, that He, who loves mankind and has much mercy, may preserve us from every cruel situation: from cowardice, flood, fire, sword, invasion of foreigners and internecine warfare. May He not condemn us sinners according to our iniquity, and may we not turn the good things bestowed upon us by the All-merciful God to evil, but to the glory of His holy name and to the glorification of your mighty intercession. Through your prayers, may the Lord grant us peace of mind, abstinence from harmful passions and from all defilement, and may He strengthen throughout the world His One Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, which He has acquired through His honest Blood. Pray diligently, holy martyr, may Christ God bless the empire, may He establish in His most holy Orthodox Church the living spirit of righteous faith and piety, may all its members, pure from superstition and superstition, worship Him in spirit and truth and diligently take care of the observance of His commandments, may we all live in peace and piety in the present Let us enter and attain a blessed eternal life in heaven, through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom befits all glory, honor, and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen to that."
Troparion of the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord
"We foresee the transfiguration of Christ, we believe in light and triumph before the feast, and we cry out: it is the day of Divine joy: the Lord ascends Mount Tabor, to embrace the beauty of His Divinity."
Kontakion of the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord
"Through the divine transfiguration today, the whole human nature shines forth divinely, calling out in joy: Christ is transformed, saving the whole."
Earlier, Izvestia told about the traditions and signs of the national holiday Stepan Hayloft.
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