A special holiday on December 25 is St. Spyridon's Day: history, traditions, omens

Every year on December 25, Orthodox believers remember St. Spyridon of Trimifunt, one of the most revered miracle workers. In folk tradition, this day is known as Spiridon Solstice and is associated with an increase in daylight hours. In 2025, the date falls on Thursday. Read about the history, pagan roots of the holiday, its traditions and prohibitions in the Izvestia article.

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According to legend, Spyridon was born around 270 on the island of Cyprus, in a poor family. In his youth, he was engaged in agriculture and cattle breeding, was married, raised children, lived by the labor of his hands and was particularly responsive. The Old Testament saints David, Jacob, and Abraham were his moral guide, and he tried to combine their meekness, hospitality, and loyalty to God.

Widowed early, he did not withdraw into grief, but continued the path of service. Over time, Spiridon became known among the people as a man of deep faith and wisdom. The inhabitants of the surrounding villages were attracted to him. In adulthood, he was elected bishop of the city of Trimifunt (now the Tremitusa district). But even after receiving a high rank, he wore ordinary clothes, worked in the field, and looked after the household himself.

Church traditions attribute many miracles to the saint both during his lifetime and after his death. There are stories about the resurrection of the dead, deliverance from drought, exorcism, as well as about his help in practical, earthly matters — caring for the poor, getting rid of hunger and debts, and supporting the bankrupt. Therefore, nowadays believers often turn to Spyridon with prayers for material well-being, job search, housing issues, as well as for the health and protection of the family.

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Among the most striking subjects is the story of a mother who brought a dead baby to the bishop and tearfully asked for his return to life. Through the prayer of the saint, the child came to life, but the woman herself fell dead from the shock, and Spyridon had to turn to God again with a prayer — this time for her soul.

Traditions of the national holiday Spiridon Solntsevorot on December 25

In Russia, the memory of St. Spyridon was combined with more ancient ideas about the annual cycle. Even before the baptism, the Slavs observed the course of the Sun and noted that at the end of December, after the 25th, the daylight began to increase. Hence the image of the solstice, a symbolic reversal from a winter night to a future summer.

In Russia, dawn was especially respected on this day. It was believed that the right way to celebrate St. Spyridon's Day was to rise before sunrise, go to a high place in the area and "say hello" to the first rays.

On this day, the housewives tried to pay attention to the house, put things in order, and light a lamp in the red corner. To "support" the light, they used "solar" symbols, baked round ceremonial loaves resembling the shape of the Sun. Such a treat was placed in the center of the table or raised to the window towards dawn. The participants of the holiday believed that along with bread, warmth and prosperity enter the house.

Since St. Spyridon's Day falls on the Christmas Fast (from November 28 to January 6), lean dishes prevailed on the table, and any excesses in food and drink were condemned. In the morning, the faithful went to the temple to pray to the saint for help in everyday matters, prosperity, and he was also asked to grant health to his family and friends.

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Another tradition of Spyridon Solstice was round dances, where the circle itself was understood as a sign of the sun's disk. The young people gathered on the hills and, holding hands, walked "in the sun", singing long-drawn songs. In the villages, a lighted wheel symbolizing the Sun was rolled down the hill. His movement was supposed to "help" the sun to "rise" faster in the annual cycle and bring spring with it.

After sunset, bonfires were lit in the courtyards or at least the lighting in the house was enhanced. The lights were needed not only for warmth, but also as protection from "evil forces." In some villages, it was customary to leave symbolic "guards" in the doorway — an axe or sickle stuck in. Such objects were considered amulets against evil spirits and an unkind person.

There were also rituals of personal well-being. At dawn, before sunrise, the girls washed their faces with snow or melted water, mentally asking for a good husband, children, prosperity and health. The housewives offered water or bread, wishing the family good luck in the new year.

The women fed the chickens buckwheat from their right hand. It was believed that after such a meal, the laying hens would start laying earlier than usual. And the men shook the snow off the apple trees so that the garden would wake up faster and bloom earlier in spring.

What not to do on the feast of Spiridon Day (Spiridon Solstice) on December 25

In Russia, there were many prohibitions and restrictions associated with Spyridon's Day. The ancestors considered this day to be a kind of boundary between light and darkness, when one should be careful in words and deeds so as not to bring trouble.

So, on December 25, it was not necessary to go to the forest unnecessarily. According to beliefs, a bear in a den could wake up from human footsteps, and disturbing an animal on a day when nature was "unfolding" to a new cycle was unfortunate.

What else you can't do on December 25th:

• doing hard physical work, starting large—scale household chores - you can "attract" fatigue and illness for the whole next year.;
• to engage in sewing, knitting and other painstaking needlework — there is a risk of "sewing up" your own luck or "confusing the threads of fate", slowing down successful changes.;
• going hunting and fishing, especially alone, can cause trouble as a punishment for disturbing the balance at the moment of the struggle of darkness and light.;
• going on a long journey without extreme necessity will result in delays, losses and troubles.

Saint Spyridon is revered as an assistant in court disputes and difficult life situations, therefore, on his memorial day it is especially important to preserve purity of speech and honesty. On December 25, it is forbidden to lie, make empty promises, quarrel and argue — lies and squabbles "block" a person's path to the help of the saints and attract failures.

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Folk signs for December 25th

The peasants carefully observed nature on St. Spyridon's Day and tried to predict in small details what the rest of winter would be like, when to expect spring, and whether the year would be fertile.:

• The wind changes direction during the day, leading to full storage bins and a rich harvest.;
• Sparrows are actively dragging down and feathers into their nests — severe frosts are coming soon.;
• bright, shining sun on Spiridon — for a sunny, warm and fertile summer and a clear frosty New Year;
• frost on the trees and an overcast day — for a thaw on New Year's Eve;
• cloudy, mild morning with no wind — spring will be early.

On December 25, they cut off a cherry branch and put it in the water. It was believed that if it bloomed by Christmas, next year would be fruitful. Our ancestors also believed that the 12 days after Spyridon would be the same as the 12 months of the coming year.

Earlier, Izvestia told when and how Russians celebrate a special national holiday, Nikon Day.