A special national holiday on December 26 is Evstratiev Day: traditions and omens

According to the national calendar, Evstratiev Day, also known as Witches' Gatherings, is celebrated on December 26. The holiday marked the beginning of the addition of daylight after the winter solstice and was considered a period of special activity of evil spirits. In 2025, the date falls on a Friday. Izvestia tells about the customs, signs and prohibitions of this day.

What is the church holiday on December 26th?

The name of the holiday is associated with the name of the early Christian martyr Eustratius of Sebaste, whose memory is celebrated by the Orthodox Church on December 26 (December 13, Old style).

The saint lived at the turn of the III–IV centuries in the city of Sebaste (the territory of modern Turkey) during the reign of Emperor Diocletian, during which Christians were persecuted. Eustratius held the position of adviser and head of the imperial notaries of the city of Satalyon, secretly professing Christianity.

He once attended the trial of the local presbyter Auxentius, who was tortured for refusing to sacrifice to idols. Seeing the steadfastness of the priest, Evstraty could not stand aside and publicly declared himself a Christian, denouncing the cruelty and injustice of the pagans.

For this, Evstraty was put on trial and stripped of all his titles. Like the presbyter, he was forced to renounce the Christian faith, but he remained steadfast in his beliefs. He was also tortured and executed.

However, the example of Eustratius inspired other Christians. Among them were the warrior Orestes, the young man Eugene and the commoner Mardarius, who did not want to hide their faith. Together with Auxentius, they composed the so-called Sebaste Cathedral of the Five Martyrs. Believers honor the memory of the saints on one day, remembering their spiritual feat.

Miracles and help of Nil Stolobensky: what do legends and tradition say about it

Traditions of the national holiday Evstratiev day on December 26

In the popular consciousness, the day of remembrance of the martyrs has been combined with more ancient, pre-Christian beliefs associated with the winter solstice. From December 26, the daylight began to increase gradually, which was reflected in the sayings: "The Martyr Evstrat is glad to see the sun," "A day has been added from Evstrat, albeit at a sparrow's leap."

However, it was believed that this caused rage among evil spirits, for whom sunlight was harmful. Hence the second name of the holiday — "Witch gatherings". According to legend, on this day, witches and witches gathered for a council to decide how to prolong the power of darkness at this time of the year.

Witches were represented as old women with disheveled gray hair and bony hands, endowing them with the ability to turn into animals or even inanimate objects — a ball, a needle, a haystack. To protect themselves from the machinations of evil spirits, our ancestors conducted special rituals.

Sharp objects were often used for protection, such as an axe or sickle, which were placed on the threshold of the house with the tip up. Sharp steel was considered a powerful barrier to evil spirits. In some regions, candles were placed in the corners and the space was outlined with a sharp knife, reading special spells.

But, since witches could fly not only on brooms, but also on kitchen utensils, as was believed in the old days, women specifically tipped over the handle and turned over the oven flap so that the witch could not find her way back.

What not to do on December 26 on Evstratiev day

Most of all, on Evstratiev day, they feared contact with evil spirits, especially its entry into the house. Therefore, the main prohibitions of the day were related to actions that could attract the attention of evil spirits. For example, there was a belief that anyone who uttered swear words, gossiped and cursed, "a witch would fall from the sky right on his head." It was also forbidden to leave a broom or broom on the porch. It was believed that a witch would steal it, and then a snowstorm would overtake and "sweep away" the sun.

St. Nicholas the Wonderworker's Day: the history and significance of the holiday for believers

What else can not be done on December 26:

• Talking to strangers — evil spirits may be hiding in their guise;
• Allowing street animals into the house is believed to be possessed by a witch.;
• pick up items found on the road — they may be damaged.;
• drying clothes on the street — evil spirits can enter the house through it.;
• pouring water outside after washing leads to illness;
• Riding a white horse on the road was considered to bring big problems to the house.

Folk signs for December 26

Evstratiev Day was also an important date for observing nature. They were used to make forecasts for the winter and future harvest. In the old days, it was believed that whatever the weather was on December 26, it would be like this for the whole of January. So, if the weather was clear and sunny, it was expected that the middle of winter would be warm. And the frost on the trees foreshadowed the cold and snowstorms.

Other signs of the day:

• On the night of Evstratiy, it is clear and starry, leading to a sharp cold snap;
• The sun sets in a big cloud at sunset — there will be a blizzard at night;
• the windows in the house are sweating a lot — by the thaw;
• Magpies are settling in the snow — for a warming soon.

Earlier, Izvestia told about the traditions of the national holiday Anna Dark.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.