Mark Klyčnik discusses customs, symbols, permitted and prohibited activities on May 8th.
Let's Celebrate Mark the Well-Digger's Day!
In the Russian folk calendar, May 8 is marked by the celebration of Mark the Well-Digger. This holiday honors Saint Mark, who was widely venerated as the patron of springs and water. On this day, folks believed the spring warmth truly takes root.
Mark the Well-Digger's day featured a unique custom of visiting springs and wells to draw powerful healing water. This potent water, used for cleansing, aiding the sick, and protecting homes and farm buildings, had special properties. Peasants took it upon themselves to clean old wells, bless new ones, and offer prayers to Saint Mark for much-needed rain. As a tribute to the water, individuals would bake sun-symbolizing round flatbreads, a part of which they would offer to their nearest water source. Shepherds also practiced a ritual to protect their livestock by sprinkling them with spring water.
Signs of a Bountiful Year Ahead
- Swallows arriving on Mark's day herald a warm and plentiful summer.
- Rain on May 8 is a good omen for grain crops.
- Cherry trees blooming on this day foretell the arrival of warm weather soon.
- A misty morning signals a rainy summer.
- Hearing a cuckoo is a sign of approaching summer weather.
Activities for Mark the Well-Digger's Day
- Draw water from springs and wells for its healing properties.
- Clean and bless your wells.
- Perform rain-summoning rituals.
- Bake ritual bread and share it with those in need.
- Kick off preparations for sowing.
What to Avoid
- Taking water without offering thanks.
- Speaking foul language near water sources.
- Leaving wells uncleaned.
- Refusing help to those who seek water.
- Initiating important tasks without a spiritual offering.
Though not a widely recognized festival, Mark the Well-Digger's day holds significance in Russian folklore and life. It showcases the importance of water and the spiritual connection people have with natural sources. The tradition of round flatbreads, representing the sun, further highlights the cultural significance of food in communal gatherings and festivities.
- This celebration of Mark the Well-Digger provides a significant opportunity to protect our livestock by sprinkling them with water from wells and springs.
- The agricultural lifestyle is often intertwined with the preservation of wells, as their cleanliness and blessings are believed to contribute to a bountiful year ahead for home-and-garden produce.
- On this memorable day, we should remember to celebrate not just the well and its water, but also the celebrated life and legacy of Mark the Well-Digger.
- Our everyday lives in the home-and-garden landscape are enhanced by this time-honored tradition, as the healing properties from the well water have long been part of our wellbeing and protection.
