What not to do on August 8th, on Yermolaev Day

      August 8, 2026 — the day when Orthodox Christians honor the memory of the holy martyr Hermolaus of Nicomedia, and several unusual holidays are celebrated around the world.

      Orthodox Holiday

      On August 8, the Orthodox Church commemorates the holy martyr Hermolaus of Nicomedia and his companions Ermilus and Hermocrates. According to tradition, these three priests miraculously escaped when, in the early 4th century, 20,000 Christians were burned at the order of Emperor Maximilian. They hid but continued to preach the faith, for which they were later captured and executed. On this day, the holy martyr Paraskeva of Rome and the holy Moses of Ugrian, of the Caves, are also honored.

      Day Traditions

      In the folk calendar, August 8 is known as Hermolaus Day, which was also called Maryev Day due to the morning mists ("marev"). Peasants would say, "Hermolaus has come — gather the bread," hurrying to finish harvesting the remaining crop. From this day, the early apple harvest began, but it was strictly forbidden to eat them until the Apple Savior. The first picked fruit was to be hidden — it was believed that this would preserve happiness and prosperity in the home. From this day, the early apple harvest began. Special significance was given to medicinal herbs: it was believed that on August 8 "the autumn mists go over the herbs, giving healing power to the herbs." Healers would go to the fields and forests after noon, when the dew had dried, to gather medicinal plants for winter.

      A good omen was the attention of a cat to its owners. If a cat rubbed against one's legs or lay down nearby — it foretold wealth and prosperity for the whole year.

      What Not to Do

      On Hermolaus Day, there were many prohibitions. Women were advised not to take a needle and thread in hand, nor to go out into the field — it was believed that this could deprive them of feminine happiness. Men, on the contrary, were to finish all started household tasks to avoid quarrels in the family. It was strictly forbidden to eat poultry meat, as well as to hunt and fish — this could bring misfortune and ruin domestic birds. It was not allowed to lend out tools, otherwise one could "give away" health and luck along with them. Baking bread from last year's flour was also not recommended, to avoid "bringing back" old problems into the house. Quarreling and swearing were also prohibited, to avoid attracting family discord.

      Weather Signs

      Ancestors closely observed nature on August 8. A cold morning foretold an early and harsh winter. If the cuckoo called in the morning — a late and warm autumn was expected. An abundance of acorns on an oak foretold a rich harvest. Ancestors closely observed nature on August 8. Annoying flies or frogs jumping along the shore foretold rain. Swallows and swifts flying over the water also indicated worsening weather. If by this day the linden trees turned yellow — autumn was expected to arrive early.

      Unusual Holidays Around the World

      In addition to folk traditions, August 8 is celebrated around the world with several original unofficial holidays. The International Day of Infinity — an idea proposed by American philosopher Jean-Pierre Ady Fenyo in 1987 to celebrate freedom of thought, art, and science. The date August 8 was chosen not by chance: the symbol of infinity (∞) resembles an inverted eight, and the numbers 08.08 are perfect for this philosophical day. The Day "Happiness Exists!" — a holiday celebrated since 1999 that encourages people to acknowledge that they had a happy day. The World Cat Day — on this day, fluffy pets are honored worldwide. Interestingly, a folk sign connects cats with prosperity specifically on August 8, so the date unites the traditions of different cultures.

      Nailya Akbirova

      

      

      

      

      

      

      

      

      

      

      

      

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       Photo: Created by AI (Microsoft Copilot)

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