Signs for April 18: open the windows, don't clean, and eat sweets.

      April 18 in the folk calendar is the day of Fedul the Windy. In Russia, it was believed that open windows blow away diseases and evil spirits, while sweet treats at the table attract joy.

      Fedul the Windy: the history of the holiday

      On April 18, Orthodox Christians remember the martyrs — deacon Agafopod and reader Theodul. In 303, they died for their faith. This date in the folk calendar is called Fedul the Windy. It was believed that on this day, the spring wind finally drives away winter.

      Weather signs for April 18

      Our ancestors closely observed nature and left us clues:

      Warm day, but cold night

      Stable good weather will set in

      Swallows are not seen in the sky

      Prolonged cold

      Warm rain

      Rich harvest this year

      The lapwing cries

      The arrival of fine days

      Abundance of birch sap

      Rainy summer

      Birds build nests on the sunny side of the forest

      Cold June, July, and August

      What can be done on April 18

      The main tradition of the day is to throw open the windows wide. People said: "Whoever opens the window before Fedul has pleased the weather." It was believed that fresh wind blows away diseases and evil spirits from the house. If a bird flew in through the open window, it was chased away, and then the floor was washed and the rooms sprinkled with holy water.

      Farmers inspected the ravines. If snow remained at the bottom the size of "a cow," it was time to start plowing. Shepherds walked around the herd, whispering spells against diseases and hanging amulets around the animals' necks. Women would fumigate the barns with dry herbs.

      On April 18, people tried to prepare something from last year's supplies: porridge from old grains or soup with dried vegetables. This symbolized gratitude for the old harvest and a request for a new one. Leftover food was given to birds and animals.

      What should not be done on April 18

      There were also plenty of prohibitions on this day:

      Do not clean — you might sweep away luck from your home.

      Do not throw out garbage through the windows — you will invite trouble.

      Walk only with the wind — moving against the wind attracts misfortunes.

      Do not fish from a boat — the vessel may capsize due to bad weather.

      Do not start new ventures or sign papers — everything is doomed to fail.

      Do not make oaths and promises — it will be impossible to keep them.

      Do not start a meal with something sharp or sour — it ignites anger. It is better to serve something sweet so that the day turns out joyful.

      April 18 is a day of wind, purity, and gratitude. Open the windows, treat your loved ones to something sweet, and avoid new beginnings. Folk wisdom, tested over the centuries, advises: meet this day correctly — and luck will not pass you by.

      Photo by the author

      Yulia Kazamarova