Church holiday on 25 May 2026: key prohibitions and traditions of the day

On 25 May according to the New Julian calendar, Orthodox Christians commemorate John the Baptist, or John the Forerunner.

On this day, the third discovery of his holy head is commemorated.

John the Forerunner is regarded as the prophet who announced the coming of the Saviour and later baptised Jesus Christ in the waters of the Jordan.

According to church tradition, after the martyrdom of Saint John during the persecution of Christians, his head was buried separately from his body.

The relic was subsequently lost. In the 9th century, according to legend, after prayer, the location of the relic was revealed to Patriarch Ignatius.

After this, the head of John the Baptist was found and taken to Constantinople, now Istanbul.

Today, part of this relic is kept on Mount Athos in Greece.

What is the feast day according to the Old Style

According to the Julian calendar, 25 May commemorates Saint Epiphanius, Bishop of Cyprus.

In folk tradition, the date according to the new calendar has several names – Ivan’s Day, Ivan-Honey Dew or simply Honey Dew.

What do people pray to John the Baptist for?

On this day, believers turn to John the Baptist in prayer.

They ask the saint for help with headaches and other ailments related to the head.

It is also believed that John the Baptist helps those who wish to break bad habits.

What does Honey Dew mean

The name ‘Honey Dew’ is linked to a natural phenomenon – a sticky, sweet coating on grasses and plants.

In ancient times, it was called ‘honey dew’.

This coating is caused by the activity of insect pests, particularly aphids, scale insects and leafhoppers.

People believed that honeydew could harm crops, livestock and even human health.

Therefore, on the morning of this day, they inspected their vegetable gardens, covered the beds and tried to protect the future harvest.

Livestock were not let out to pasture until the dew had completely dried.

Children were also forbidden from running barefoot on the grass.

What you can do on 25 May

Ordinary morning dew was viewed differently.

It was believed to have healing powers.

It was believed that walking on dewy grass at dawn meant strengthening one’s health, preserving one’s beauty and cleansing oneself of illness.

According to folk beliefs, on St. John’s Day it is auspicious to wear light-coloured or white clothing.

Such clothing was seen as a symbol of purification, health and positive change.

This was particularly true for sick people: there was a belief that a white shirt could help speed up recovery.

On this day, medicinal herbs are also gathered and seasonal work in the vegetable garden continues.

Main prohibitions of the day

As with other church holidays, on 25 May, quarrels, rudeness, anger, envy and insults are frowned upon.

One must not refuse to help those in need.

According to folk beliefs, such actions can rob a person of peace of mind and well-being.

On St. John’s Day, people also tried to avoid heavy work.

It was not advisable to handle sharp objects – axes, knives and saws.

It was better to postpone a thorough clean-up so as not to ‘sweep’ good luck and prosperity out of the house.

Particular attention was paid to clothing.

Black and dark-coloured items were considered undesirable on this day: it was believed that this could lead to a summer spent in gloom.

Also, on 25 May, people did not visit the cemetery, as there are specific days set aside for commemorating the deceased.

Folk omens for 25 May

Many weather omens were associated with this day.

A red dawn foretold a hot and dry summer.

A cloudy morning meant there would be plenty of rain in the summer.

Heavy dew in the morning indicated a clear, warm and sunny day.

Dry grass at dawn could mean rain after lunch.

Thunder on this day was considered a sign of a prolonged downpour.

The loud croaking of frogs was associated with warm weather.

If the day was hot, a rainy autumn was expected.

One of the most striking signs of the day concerned the rowan tree: if it was covered in thick blossoms by this time, the year would yield a bountiful harvest.

Name Day on 25 May

Ivan and Innokenty celebrate their name day on 25 May.

In ancient times, it was believed that people born on the day of Ivan-Medviani Rosy possessed a special inner strength, knew how to appreciate life, and understood how to preserve happiness, harmony, and inner balance for many years to come.

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