According to the folk calendar - Avdotya Malinovka, Borage, Senognoika

Avdotya Malinovka, Ogurechnitsa, Senognoika is an annual holiday of the folk calendar, which is celebrated on August 17 On this day, Orthodox Christians commemorate Saint Eudokia, whose name, according to Russian tradition, sounds like Avdotya This saint lived in the 4th century Also on this day the 7 youths from Ephesus are mentioned Another name for the holiday is Senognoika, due to the fact that it was from this day that “blind” rains began to fall, spoiling the hay that had already been mown and lying in the fields The main tradition associated with the holiday is the raspberry harvest (hence its name) It was on this day that the peasants began to collect sweet berries All the village people, young and old, not burdened with work in the field, went together to the forest to stock up on raspberries That same evening, a special ritual delicacy was prepared for dinner in peasant houses - a rich sweet pie with raspberry filling, which was cut into large slices and distributed to each family member All the remaining berries were used for homemade preparations - they were used to make jams and liqueurs, and also dried them to treat colds in winter Some folk sayings are associated with the weather on the day of Avdotya celebration One of them says: “Avdotya the Cucumber will bring 7 rains” By this day, the peasants tried to collect and hide all the hay in piles to prevent it from getting wet and spoiling Avdotya was also called the “Cucumber Girl” for a reason - it was believed that the last tasty cucumbers could be eaten only until August 17, and after that they become crooked, turn yellow, acquire bitterness and lose their flavor There are many folk signs associated with the holiday of Avdotya Malinovka Our ancestors sincerely believed that if we fervently prayed to the youths from Ephesus on this day, the children would be calm, and the adults would lose their insomnia It was also believed that on August 17, you should under no circumstances borrow money from someone, or lend it yourself, otherwise you will soon go around the world with a bag On the day of Avdotya Malinovka, peasants watched how birds and animals behaved If rooks swarmed in the field all day, and by evening they rushed south in whole flocks, it means that the weather promised to be good - dry and warm People also believed that the weather on that day could tell what November would be like If Avdotya Malinovka pleased with a sunny and beautiful day, then the last month of autumn will be fine, without heavy rains Cloudy weather on this holiday foreshadowed a rainy and cold mid-autumn for the peasants A thunderstorm that day was a good omen - it promised growth of the harvest, but heavy dew threatened the flax harvest