Every year on March 8, the Orthodox Church honors the memory of the holy martyr Polycarp – Polycarp Daywho was a disciple of the apostle John and the bishop of Smyrna.

Saint Polycarp lived in Asia Minor (the city of Smyrna) and became an orphan at an early age, led an ascetic lifestyle and helped people. During the reign of Marcus Aurelius, Polycarp was brought to trial for spreading the Christian faith. The saint did not betray the Lord, so he was executed by being burned alive.

Traditions and omens on Polycarp Day

• Among the people, on March 8, the girls were upset because they had not been married yet, because if the wedding is not played by that day, we have to wait for the beginning of summer. It is in Polycarp Day young women performed rites with the aim of bewitching the condemned.
• There is such an omen for March 8: we put a straw on the surface of the snow – if it falls through, all the snow will melt in a month.