Celebration of Evseev Day: Customs, Symbols, Permissible and Prohibited Actions on May 7th
Let's Talk 'Evsey Day'
Wanna know about an ancient Russian tradition with a protect-the-herd vibe? Behold, 'Evsey Day', a folklore date laden with rituals aimed at safeguarding crops and livestock from danger!
This day, marked on May 7th in the old calendar, was a cause for celebration and a symbol of the arrival of warm weather and active farming season. On 'Evsey Day', farmers would finalize their field preparations for the sowing and perform rituals to shield their livestock from diseases and predators. The belief here was that Evsey, a saint hailing from Nicomedia, was a guardian angel for animals, and so farmers would invoke his name for their livestock's wellbeing.
Interestingly, this day held some old-school forecasts for the weather and harvest season - dew-covered mornings signified a bountiful harvest, while rain on 'Evsey Day' pointed towards a productive mushroom season. Cuckoo's songs signaled warmer weather, and an east wind foreshadowed prolonged rain, while a swarm of horseflies hinted at a sizzling summer ahead.
So what did they do on this day?
First things first, prayers for good health for livestock and prosperous harvests! Afterward, animals were taken to pasture, always given a sprinkle of holy water before setting foot on the green grazing lands. Old-school bakers were busy preparing ritual pastries fashioned after animals, which were then fed to livestock to ensure their health or handed out to kids.
The shepherds would also perform a special ritual to repel wolves by circling the field with a torch and a bunch of incantations!
But what were the no-nos on Evsey Day?
It was a big no-no to leave livestock unattended, as the predators were presumed to be particularly active on this day. It was also not wise to engage in arguments or fights, as household misfortunes were foretold. Refusing help to shepherds or anyone looking after livestock was a no-no. Lastly, starting new projects unrelated to farming or animal husbandry was considered ill-advised.
Now, a fun little diversion - a Siberian kayaker's quick interlude!
A kayaker, who embarked on a journey to Novosibirsk, paused only briefly. Care to guess why? Let's explore that story some other time!
PS: 'Evsey Day' seems to be a part of a broader tradition in Russian folklore that links folk holidays to agricultural cycles and animal protection. It may bear similarities to other holidays, such as Maslenitsa, but exact details are still up for grabs! Stay tuned, folks! Keep the curiosity burning! 😎🔥🌻🐄
- On 'Evsey Day', prayers were offered for good health of livestock and prosperous harvests.
- Farmers would take their animals to pasture, sprinkling them with holy water before they set foot on the grazing lands.
- A special ritual was performed by shepherds to repel wolves, involving circling the field with a torch and incantations.
- It was considered ill-advised on Evsey Day to leave livestock unattended, engage in arguments or fights, refuse help to shepherds, or start new projects unrelated to farming or animal husbandry.
