According to the folk calendar - Efimov's day

According to the folk calendar, Efimov's day is celebrated on February 2 (January 20, old style). Its name originates from the church day of honoring St. Euthymius the Great, famous for his humility and love for the Lord in the 5th century. From his youth, Euthymius devoted himself to the church, became a monk, and earned the position of presbyter. After 30 years, wanting to be alone with God, he secretly left the monastery and went into the desert to indulge in prayers in silence. The Almighty endowed the saint with the ability to heal the sick through prayer, and Euthymius helped those in need. He also founded a monastery on the site of his monastery. On Efimov's Day, engaged couples were in a hurry to get married. This rush was due to the fact that the Great Easter Lent was approaching, during which it was necessary to restrain oneself in food and entertainment. Before Lent, people could set lavish tables with meat dishes and alcoholic drinks, and also order musicians. The month of February itself was considered a snowstorm. Strong blizzards often arose. The people believed that evil spirits, the souls of the dead, or the Devil himself turned into evil blizzards in order to harm humanity. They covered roads with snow and tore roofs off houses. If anyone fell under a snowstorm, he fell ill with an incurable disease. To protect themselves from the whirlwind, they threw a sharpened knife at it. People said that if a baby was born on Efimov’s Day, he might not live to see his gray hairs. Therefore, midwives performed a ritual to protect the child. After giving birth, his umbilical cord was hidden in the hollow of a lonely tree and they were charmed for longevity. A lost mitten, according to legend on Efimov's day, meant the onset of poverty. It was impossible to pick up pennies from the ground, otherwise three years of famine in the family were expected. If someone accidentally cut their hand with a knife, a loved one became infected with the disease. Blizzards on Efimov's Day predicted a cold spring with snow. A sunny day promised a warm spring season. Looking at the cat sharpening its claws on the floor, we waited for the approaching blizzard. The sun peeking out from behind the clouds in the afternoon meant summer with showers, and windy weather promised a wet year.