Folk signs for September 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, have weddings and go on a trip. Every day of the national calendar was full of rituals and superstitions. Izvestia tells about the signs for September 1 and the church holidays that fall on this date.

Folk signs for September 1, 2026

In Russia, on September 1, Beetroot Day was celebrated. On this holiday, the first harvest of beetroot was harvested — one of the most important vegetable crops for peasants. "The birthday girl is beetroot," the ancestors said. The housewives cooked borscht, botwini, salads and other dishes from beetroot.

Beetroot was valued not only for its nutritional, but also for its healing properties. The fruits harvested on September 1 were considered medicinal: they were added to medicinal potions or applied to sore spots, believing that in this way they could relieve inflammation and alleviate suffering.

Unmarried girls on this day were guessing at their betrothed. To do this, nuts were poured on the table: in which direction they would roll, the groom would come from there. They also paid attention to the dreams they had on the night of Thekla. According to legend, they could be prophetic, but if what they saw did not come true within a week, it made no sense to wait any longer.

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Much attention was paid to weather signs that helped determine what winter would be like. If the cranes had already flown south by the holiday, they were waiting for the early arrival of the cold weather, and if the grass had not yet turned yellow on September 1, they were preparing for a warm winter.

Other signs of the day

• south wind — to a good harvest of oats;
• the fog is spreading on the ground — the winter will be long and snowy;
• the month is "horns" up — to good weather, "horns" down — to bad weather;
• golden or pink sunset — for warm and clear days.

What not to do on September 1st

Beetroot in Russia was associated with various superstitions and prohibitions, the violation of which, according to beliefs, could lead to illnesses and failures. On the holiday, they tried to get up early and avoid laziness — they believed that this could lead to prolonged lack of money. Also, on this day, they did not walk barefoot on the grass, fearing diseases.

What else can't be done on September 1st

• Sharing your plans with outsiders may not come true.;
• complaining about fate will cause a lot more trouble.;
• repairing clothes, shoes, and furniture leads to setbacks and monetary losses;
• staring at fire for a long time leads to blurred vision and eye diseases;
• to enter into conflicts, raise your voice, and make trouble — it will be difficult to reconcile.;
• plan how to spend the money — the investment will be unsuccessful.

What is the church holiday on September 1st?

On September 1, the Orthodox Church honors the memory of the Holy Martyrs Timothy, Agapius and Thekla, who suffered for their faith in the fourth century during the persecution of Christians in the Palestinian city of Caesarea in Gaza. All of them were captured and subjected to severe tortures: Timothy was burned, and Thekla and Agapius were given to wild beasts. Despite their suffering, their faith remained unshakeable.

September 1 also marks the Day of the Donskoy Icon of the Mother of God, one of the most revered miraculous icons in Russia. It was written by Theophanes the Greek. The image got its name due to the fact that on the day of the Battle of Kulikovo in 1380 it was among the Russian army, and after the victory it was donated by the Don Cossacks to Grand Duke Dimitri Donskoy, who moved it to Moscow.

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The celebration commemorates the miraculous rescue of Moscow from the Tatar army in 1591. During the reign of Grand Duke Feodor Ioannovich, the Tatar Khan Murat Giray announced the beginning of a campaign against the Moscow Principality. When the enemy army came very close to the city, the prince led his men into battle. He took the Don Icon of the Mother of God with him. It is believed that it was the heavenly protection of the Virgin Mary that helped to put the invaders to flight. In gratitude for this miracle, the Donskoy Monastery was founded on the site of the battle in 1592.

Prayers on September 1st

Orthodox believers pray in front of the Don Icon of the Mother of God on September 1. Before the icon, they ask for the protection of the Fatherland from enemies, power on the battlefield, healing from wounds and various ailments, strengthening the spirit and faith in the Lord.

Prayer in front of the Don Icon of the Mother of God

"O Most Holy Lady, Virgin Mother of God, our good and speedy Intercessor! We sing praises to You, all of you, grateful for Your wonderful deeds. We praise from the ancient years Your inalienable intercession for the city of Moscow and our country, always miraculously manifested by Your Don: the armies of strangers turn to flight, the gradi and vesi are preserved unharmed, and people are delivered from fierce death. The weeping eyes are dried up, the lamentations of the faithful are silenced, and weeping is transformed into general joy.

Grant us, too, O Most Pure Theotokos, consolation in adversity, a rebirth of hope, an image of courage, a source of mercy, and inexhaustible patience in sorrowful situations. Give to those who are strangers according to their petition and need: bring up infants, keep the young chaste and teach the fear of God, encourage the discouraged and support the weak old age. Visit us in pain and sorrow, O evil one, soften our hearts, strengthen our brotherly love, and fill us all with peace and love. Reconcile, Mother of Mercy, those who are at enmity and justify those who are slandered. Destroy our vices, that our sins may not rise before the Judgment of all, that the righteous wrath of God may not overtake us.

Through Your prayers, protect us with Your all-powerful protection from the invasions of the enemy, from gladness, destruction, fire, sword and all other ill-suffering. Through Your prayers, we hope to receive forgiveness and forgiveness of sins from the Most High God, and reconciliation with God. Pray grant us the Kingdom of heaven and, at the end of our lives, stand at the right hand of the Throne of God, where You, O All-holy Virgin, stand before the Holy Trinity in eternal glory.Deign us also, from the faces of the Angels and saints, to glorify there the Most Honorable Name of Thy Son, with His Beginningless Father and His All-holy, Good and Life-giving Spirit, forever and ever. Amen to that."

Earlier, Izvestia told about the signs and traditions of the national holiday Florov Day.