25 April: key traditions and strict taboos of the day

UNIAN reports on the history of the holiday, the main prohibitions and folk traditions.

The saint’s story: author of the Gospel and disciple of Peter

Saint Mark was born in Jerusalem and was one of the closest companions of the apostles Peter and Paul. According to tradition, it was in his mother’s house that the first Christians gathered after the Ascension of the Lord. Mark became the author of one of the four canonical Gospels, in which he described the earthly life of Jesus Christ in detail. Later, he founded a Christian school in Alexandria, where he was martyred for his faith. Today, the saint’s relics rest in the famous St Mark’s Basilica in Venice.

Mark the Keyholder: master of spring moisture

In the folk calendar, the apostle was given the nickname ‘Keyholder’. Our ancestors believed that Mark held the keys to heaven: he could both hold back the rain and send beneficial moisture to the fields. That is why people today turn to the saint with prayers for a bountiful harvest and protection from drought.

Grandfather’s Saturday: the end of the Week of the Resurrection

Today’s Saturday marks the end of the memorial cycle following Easter. Traditionally, believers visit cemeteries, tend to the graves of their loved ones and remember the departed during a memorial supper. It is believed that this day is a time of spiritual connection between generations.

Main prohibitions: why is idling forbidden?

According to centuries-old traditions, there are strict restrictions on 25 April:

1. It is forbidden to be idle: Housewives are advised not to spend the day in idleness, otherwise this may lead to financial hardship for the whole year.

2. Do not build fences: Any work on fences on Mark’s Day promises a dry and barren summer.

3. Do not leave buckets empty: This is considered a bad omen, leading to a ‘shortfall’ in the family budget.

4. Avoid conflicts: Intervening in other people’s arguments today may bring discord into your own home.

Folk omens for 25 April:

• If it rains, expect a bountiful grain harvest and prosperity on the farm.

• The cuckoo has begun to sing — a warning that the frosts will not return.

• A clear sky and a warm evening — a sign of a good wheat harvest.

• A high rainbow — a sign of a long period of sunny and warm weather.

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