Workers to take a break on August 16; no cleaning to be performed
August 16th holds significant folk and religious importance in Slavic and Orthodox Christian traditions. Known as Isaak's Day, Isaiah's Raspberry Bush, and Anthony's Whirlwind Day, this day is a unique blend of spiritual observance, community customs, and weather omens.
The day marks the Orthodox Church's Memorial Day of St. Anthony the Roman, a wonderworker and founder figure celebrated in Novgorod who emphasizes spiritual purification. It coincides with the start of the Dormition Fast, a strict fasting period requiring abstention from meat, dairy, fish, and eggs.
In folk traditions, August 16th is a day of caution, with specific prohibitions designed to protect fortune and well-being. For instance, it is believed that cleaning or dusting the house on this day sweeps away luck and causes financial loss. Laziness and quarrels are thought to bring misfortune and loss of well-being. Helping those in need is encouraged, while starting new projects is discouraged due to the risk of failure.
The names Isaak's Day and Isaiah's Raspberry Bush suggest folklore elements tied to nature and saints, though detailed explanations for these specific nicknames were not found. Anthony's Whirlwind Day likely references volatility in weather or natural phenomena associated with St. Anthony, carrying warnings or omens about wind or storms in folk belief.
August 16th is also a day that is said to determine the weather on December 19th. Persistent rain on this day is believed to lead to an abundance of rowan berries. Horses sniffing the air on August 16th is a sign of incoming rain. A warm southerly wind on this day indicates a mild winter, while if it is windy with gusts, it is predicted to be a very snowy winter.
Interestingly, cherries, which begin to ripen on August 16th, are considered one of the most valuable medicinal plants. They possess choleretic properties, strengthen the body, and reduce inflammation. Raspberries are also abundant on this day in forests, gardens, and orchards.
While the 16th of August is not extensively covered in the mainstream or widely known Western folk calendar, its significance is woven through religious fasting, community customs, and weather or fortune omens in Slavic and Orthodox Christian traditions. It is a day of spiritual observance and folk caution, balancing prayer and fasting with prohibitions designed to protect fortune and well-being.
[1] Source: Folklore and Folklife: An Encyclopedia of Beliefs, Customs, Tales, Music, and Art, edited by Linda Dégh and Paul Barber.
On August 16th, it's customary to be cautious regarding home affairs due to beliefs that cleaning or dusting the house on this day can lead to financial loss. Additionally, this day is packed with home-and-garden significance as raspberries become abundant, and cherries, considered a medicinal plant, begin to ripen.
