Saint Yuri (George) the Serpent Fighter is one of the most famous figures in Christianity. On icons, he is traditionally depicted as a courageous new moon riding a white horse and piercing a snake with a spear. This image is symbolic and means the victory of the saint over the ancient serpent – the devil.

Yuri’s holiday: history

The saint was born into a wealthy and wealthy family that firmly believed in Christ. Lived in Beirut. As an adult, he went to serve in the army, where he soon received the rank of governor and senior commander. At his post, he sees how the pagan king hates Christians. Due to persecution and unfair treatment of brothers in Christ, Yuri tries to protect the innocent. He calls himself a Christian and waits for the royal court to begin over him.

At the trial, Yuri makes a strong speech in defense of Christians and Christianity, but she does not convince the king. The ruler himself does not want to lose a good and experienced warrior, and therefore persuades him to renounce his faith and go over to the side of paganism. Persuasion does not help and the king turns to torture. However, the saint endures them courageously, and an angel descending from heaven heals his wounds. When the tsar saw that Yuri’s Christian spirit could not be broken, he ordered that his husband’s head be cut off. It happened in 303 in Nicodemia.

St. Yuri (George) is often called the Winner for the spiritual victory over the ruler. Warriors, cattle breeders and farmers treat this saint with special respect. He is considered their patron. Yuri is also called the protector of livestock, in particular, cows.

How Yury’s Day is celebrated in different regions of Ukraine: traditions

In different regions of Ukraine, Yuriy’s holiday has different names: Jura, Yuriy, St. George’s day. Traditions also differ. The following was considered the most popular: in the morning before cattle pasture, she was fed with flowers “Yurochka” so that the animal would give a lot of milk. They drove the cows to pastures only after sunrise, “so that the witch could not harm.” Also be sure to pray to St. Yuri for the health of livestock.

It was believed that Spring Yuri, as this day was also called, has the keys to summer, with which he opens the door, letting warmth into the world. It was after this that the rapid growth of grasses and greenery began. They said “Yuri unlocks the earth.” And these days, swallows flew in from warm lands, so old people often said: “The swallow has arrived, soon the thunder will rumble.”

On Yuri’s day, it was forbidden to knit and even hold wool products in hands. Otherwise, the wolves in the herd will gnaw through all the sheep. Also, you can’t swear or shout loudly so that you don’t kill with thunder.

In some villages in Transcarpathia, young people traditionally doused themselves with water and painted houses with birch brooms.

Folk omens

• Warm dew on Yuri’s day – summer will come soon.
• If it rains heavily, a lot of grass will grow.
• The growing moon and a strong wind driving the clouds means this weather will continue for a long time.
• On Yuriy’s holiday, mosquitoes gather in flocks – wait for warming.
• If there is dew, a good harvest of millet, and snow or frost on the trees – to a good harvest of buckwheat, but rain portends a bad harvest.
• The morning of May 6 is clear and calm – early sowing will be successful. If at first the weather was bad, but then it improved, then late crops will be good.
• The night of May 7 is warm – bread will ripen by the first frosts.
• On Yuri’s day, a south wind blows – expect a good harvest. And the north wind means fast frosts.