Folk signs for August 1: what can and cannot be done

In Russia, signs and beliefs were given special importance. They were used to determine when to sow and harvest, when to prepare for winter, get married and go on a trip. Every day of the national calendar was full of rituals and superstitions. Izvestia tells about the signs for August 1 and the church holidays that fall on this date.

Folk signs for August 1, 2026

The first day of August in the national calendar is known as Makrin's Day, or Mokriny. The name is associated with the memory of St. Macrina of Cappadocia, whom the Russian Orthodox Church commemorates on August 1 in the new style, or July 19 in the old style. In the peasant tradition, this day was perceived as one of the boundaries between summer and the approaching autumn: they tried to determine the nature of the following months and the future harvest by the weather.

Rain was given special importance. People used to say, "Makrina is wet, and autumn is wet," meaning that precipitation on August 1 was considered a harbinger of wet autumn weather. At the same time, the rain itself was perceived as a favorable sign for farmers. There was a belief that precipitation on Makrin's day promised a good rye harvest for the next year.

If the beginning of August turned out to be dry, there was a special rite of causing rain — "mokriny". A girl born on August 1st was chosen for him. She was dressed up in festive clothes and given the ears of corn gathered in the fields, which were then taken to a pond and lowered into the water. Thus, the peasants symbolically asked for the necessary precipitation for the harvest. In some versions of the tradition, the girl who participated in the ceremony was called Mokrina.

There were other signs associated with Makrina's day. The dry and clear weather promised a long Indian summer, and the abundance of acorns promised a warm winter. People used to say: "Makrina equips autumn, and Anna equips winter." By this time, part of the summer work was completed and the collection of mushrooms, including horseradish, began. Folk signs were based on observations of nature and today represent primarily a historical and cultural tradition.

What not to do on August 1st

Several popular restrictions were associated with Makrina's Day, a significant part of which relate specifically to beliefs and have nothing to do with church regulations. In particular, on this day they tried to avoid quarrels, swearing and protracted conflicts. On the contrary, the quarrelers were advised to reconcile.

Special rules existed around the rain-making rite. If the weather was dry on August 1, a girl born on Makrina's day could participate in the "mockeries". However, if it was already raining, according to popular belief, she should not leave the house: it was believed that otherwise the precipitation could become too heavy and harm the harvest.

The housewives tried to put the house in order and clean the floors, linking the cleanliness of the house with family well-being. These ideas also belong to the folklore tradition and are not the requirements of the Orthodox Church.

Do not take folk prohibitions as religious rules. The Orthodox tradition does not set any special restrictions on work, cleaning, needlework, cooking, or other daily activities on August 1. Therefore, statements common in modern calendars about the prohibition of hard work, financial transactions, travel, or any specific household activities should be considered critically if they are not supported by historical sources.

What is the church holiday on August 1st?

In the Orthodox calendar, August 1 falls on several memorable events at once. On this day, the Russian Orthodox Church celebrates the finding of the relics of St. Seraphim of Sarov, and also honors the memory of St. Makrina, St. George, Prince Roman of Ryazan, St. Paisius of the Caves and other saints.

One of the central events of the day for the Russian Church is the commemoration of the finding of the relics of St. Seraphim of Sarov. His glorification took place in 1903, and the celebrations associated with the saint later became one of the most significant in the church life of Russia. St. Seraphim of Sarov is revered as one of the most famous Russian saints.

The popular name of Makrina's day, in turn, is associated with the memory of St. Makrina. She was born in Cappadocia at the beginning of the fourth century and was the elder sister of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory of Nyssa. Makrina grew up in a Christian family, and her mother, Saint Emilia, was responsible for her upbringing and education. According to her life, the girl studied the Holy Scriptures and psalms, and after the death of her fiance, she decided not to marry and devote her life to God.

Later, Makrina, along with her mother, chose an ascetic life. A women's community was formed around them, the members of which devoted themselves to prayer and work. Macrina also had a significant influence on her brothers, who later became prominent figures in the early Church. The monk died in 380.

It was the name of the saint that eventually received a special interpretation in popular culture. In the folk tradition, Makrina's name was brought closer to the word "wet", and the day of her memory was called Mokriny. The church's veneration of the saint gradually intertwined with the peasant calendar and seasonal observations of the weather.