Traditional folk signs on November 1 for Dmitrievskaya parents' Saturday

Dmitrievskaya Parental Saturday in 2025 falls on November 1. On this day, believers remember their deceased relatives, offer prayers for them, and perform acts of mercy. The day connects the living and the deceased in a single spiritual space, reminding of the continuous thread between generations. Details can be found in the Izvestia article.

What does Dmitrievskaya Parental Saturday mean?

Dmitrievskaya Saturday is a special day in the Orthodox calendar dedicated to the prayerful commemoration of the deceased. The Church calls such dates parental Saturdays, as they serve as a time of spiritual communion with those who have left earthly life. Prayer, good deeds and memories help the souls of the dead to find peace, and the living to feel the communion of eternity.

The holiday is named after the holy Great Martyr Dmitry Solunsky, whose memory also falls on these days. The origins of the tradition go back to the era of Ancient Russia: according to legend, soldiers who died on the battlefield were originally commemorated on this day. Over time, the commemoration spread to all deceased Christians.

Believers visit churches where memorial services and funeral liturgies are held, candles are lit and notes with the names of the deceased are served. Special importance is attached to prayers for those who have not been baptized or whose names have been forgotten. This is how the Church reminds us: not a single soul should be forgotten.

When is Dmitrievskaya Saturday celebrated in 2025

In 2025, Dmitrievskaya Parental Saturday will fall on November 1. Traditionally, this day always falls on a Saturday, the time when the Church remembers the dead. Preparations for the holiday begin in advance: believers clean graves, order services, and make lists of names for commemoration.

Dmitrievskaya Saturday retains a special solemnity in rural churches. The priests celebrate the liturgy, read the akathists to the Great Martyr Dmitry, and after the service the faithful go to the cemeteries. There, personal prayers are offered in silence, candles are lit, and people thank the deceased for their lives and the memory left to their descendants.

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The main traditions of Dmitrievsky Parents' Saturday

Visiting cemeteries and praying for the dead remain the main tradition. The graves are being cleaned, last year's foliage is being removed, fresh flowers and lamps are being brought. This rite symbolizes the light and warmth of memory, which, according to the Orthodox faith, help the souls of the deceased to find peace.

At home, families gather for a memorial meal. There are lean dishes on the table: kutia, pancakes, buckwheat with honey, pies, dried fruit compote. The meal is not considered a holiday in the secular sense, but serves as a sign of gratitude and spiritual communion with the ancestors.

Almsgiving occupies a special place. Believers distribute bread, sweets, money or food to those in need. It is believed that kindness done in memory of the deceased helps their souls and purifies the heart of the living.

Folk signs and beliefs on Dmitrievskaya Saturday

Along with church traditions, St. Dmitrievsky Sabbath in popular culture is surrounded by many beliefs and traditions reflecting the peasant view of life and death. This day in Russia was considered the boundary between autumn and winter, the time when nature freezes, and the souls of the ancestors are especially close to the world of the living.

According to popular beliefs, on the night of Dmitrievskaya Saturday it is forbidden to make noise, swear and start quarrels. It was believed that this disturbed the deceased. The women tried not to wash or spin. Men avoided hunting and chopping firewood, so as not to anger the spirits of their ancestors.

It was customary to light a candle or lamp in the house and put bread by the window. An extra spoon was placed on the table, inviting the deceased to share the family meal. It was believed that if a bird appeared in the yard that day and did not fly away, the year would be safe, and if a strong wind blew, the winter would be snowy.

These customs have been preserved in many regions of Russia as a tribute to the memory of their ancestors. Even if people do not observe them literally, the very spirit of Dmitrievsky Saturday remains the same — a day of honoring ancestral memory and awareness of the continuity of life.