There is a day in the folk calendar with a name that sounds like a nickname of a lively man. Sidor Bokogrey. It is celebrated on May 27 (May 14 according to the old style). On this day, the Orthodox Church honors St. Isidore (Sidor) of Chios, while the people keep an eye on the winds and the sun. Why Bokogrey? Because from this day, according to omens, the sun begins to bake the sides. Summer takes its turn. Let's figure out who Sidor is, what he pleased the peasants with, and what traditions are associated with him.

Who is St. Sidor

Isidore of Chios lived in the 3rd century on the Greek island of Chios. He was a Roman soldier. During the reign of Emperor Decius (who persecuted Christians), he was captured, tortured, but did not renounce his faith. He was beheaded in 251. His body was thrown into a well, but the Christians buried it secretly. Later, his relics were transferred to a church, and they were glorified by miracles.

In Russia, the saint was named Sidor. The name was popular — simple, peasant. Sidor was considered the patron of gardens, especially cabbage. People prayed to him for a good harvest, protection from pests. Moreover, Sidor is the patron of travelers. On the day of his memory, the peasants began to sow flax and hemp.

The second name — Bokogrey. Because from May 27, the sun was not only warming the top of the head, but also the sides. It was time to take off warm clothes. The peasants said: “On Sidor, all the north winds (northern winds) go away.” From this day, they looked forward to stable warmth.

Folk omens on Sidor Bokogrey

The main omen: as Sidor is, so is the summer. If it is clear and warm on May 27, there will be a good harvest. If it is cold and rainy, the summer will be wet and unproductive. If the wind blows from the north, expect a cold snap in June. A southern wind — to a hot summer.

The second omen: cherries bloom on Sidor. Those who managed to freeze them — misfortune. But lilacs and rowan begin to bloom. Judged by the blooming of rowan: if the color is dense, there will be a lot of berries, which means a cold winter.

The third omen: pikes hide in the deeps on this day, and catfish start to bite. Fishermen said: “Sidor — the fish goes deep.” But if you're lucky, you can catch a big perch.

The fourth: birds quiet down. Nightingales sing until Sidor, and then fall silent until the next spring. In fact, nightingales sing all summer, but the omen is beautiful.

The fifth: on Sidor, you cannot throw out garbage and lend money — luck will leave the house. You can only plant and grow.

What the peasants did on this day

The main work is sowing. They sowed flax and hemp. Flax — for shirts, hemp — for ropes and oil. Before sowing, they prayed to Sidor: “Uncle Sidor, grow good flax, fibrous.” After sowing — lunch on the field. They ate porridge, washed it down with kvass. They did not work after sunset — they were afraid that the plants would get sick.

The second thing to do is to hill potatoes. By May 27, the potatoes in the middle latitudes have already sprouted. They were hilled manually with rakes. The third — weeding. Weeds grow quickly after Sidor, do not miss.

The fourth — planting cabbage seedlings in the open ground. “Sidor commands to plant cabbage.” They did not know the lunar calendar at that time, but believed: if you plant on this day, the heads will be tight. The fifth — tidying up the house. They washed the windows, cleaned the stove, shook the mats. They prepared for summer.

The sixth — fortune-telling. Girls went to the crossroads, closed their eyes, and listened to where the wind was coming from. From the north — the groom will be stern, from the south — kind and rich.

Sidor Bokogrey in proverbs and sayings

“Sidor Bokogrey — all the bad weather has gone.” “On Sidor, and the north and the south (north and south) — choose, which year will be.” “Sidor looks at the sky — warmth for bread.” “Sidor came — untied the distaff.” This is about flax being sown, and soon it will be time to spin. “Without Sidor, don't plant cabbage.”

“Sidor's day — as it is, so is the first mowing.” That is, the weather on Sidor determines the weather on the hay harvest (June). “On Sidor, the wind blows from noon — to a good crop of oats.” “Sidor with rain — mushrooms will go in the forest.”

And there are humorous ones: “Who didn't sow on Sidor, is a fool.” Or “Sidor, Sidor, is it true that you are Bokogrey? Otherwise who else.” Folk humor.

What you cannot do on May 27

According to folk beliefs, on the day of Sidor, you cannot: swear and curse — especially during sowing. If you quarrel, the harvest will wither. You cannot wash clothes — you can “wash away” luck. You cannot sweep the floor — you will sweep away health along with the dirt.

You cannot lend money — the money will not return. You cannot fish after sunset — the catch will be bad. You cannot leave the windows open at night — evil spirits may get in. You cannot cut down trees — you will bring misfortune to the forest.

You cannot offend cats and dogs — Sidor is their patron. You cannot be lazy — “who lies on Sidor, his bread will not grow.”

These prohibitions seem funny to a modern person. But for a peasant, they were the law.

Sidor Bokogrey in cities: how to celebrate today

The traditions are still alive in the villages. Old women bake pies with cabbage, go to the cemetery — to remember Sidor (as a saint). In some villages, folk festivals are held: they dance around the maypole, sing folk songs about Sidor.

In cities, interest is reviving. Ethnographic museums organize master classes: we sow flax, weave wreaths, bake larks. In social networks, the flashmob #SidorBokogrey — people post photos of the sun, fields, cabbage.

Farmers traditionally honor agronomists and gardeners on this day. They hold competitions for the fastest planting of seedlings.

Young people have revived fortune-telling: girls go out on the balcony with their eyes closed and listen to the wind. They determine the character of the future husband. They joke, of course, but it's fun.

Natural laws: does the folk calendar work

Meteorologists are skeptical. But long-term observations show that on May 27, stable warmth often comes to the middle latitudes. This is due to atmospheric circulation. By the end of May, the anticyclone comes from the southwest, driving away the cold.

According to meteorological stations' data for 100 years, in 65% of cases, the temperature was 2-3 degrees higher on May 27 than the day before. Not a miracle, but a trend. The omen “as Sidor is, so is the summer” works weakly. But the peasants wanted to believe.

The omen about the blooming of rowan works: abundant blooming — to a cold winter. This has been proven by biologists: if rowan feels that summer is cool, it lays many buds for reproduction, in case some of the fruits do not ripen.

Sidor Bokogrey in literature and art

Writers of the countryside (Bелов, Абрамов, Шукшин) mention Sidor Bokogrey as a symbol of the beginning of real summer. “Sidor Bokogrey came — thank you, sun, said Grandpa Kuzma and took off his sweater.” In Solzhenitsyn's “Matryonin Dvor,” the heroine remembers Sidor before planting potatoes.

In painting: the painting “Sidor Bokogrey” by a hobbyist from Vologda depicts an old man in a white shirt, warming his sides in the sun. Landscape painters love to paint nature on May 27 — bright, green, blooming.

In music: the song “Sidor Bokogrey” by the band “Ivan Kupala” (folk rock). The text is based on folk sayings.

How to celebrate Sidor Bokogrey in 2026

May 27, 2026 — Wednesday. For those who work, it's not a holiday. But you can celebrate. In the morning — open the window, expose your sides to the sun. Plant cabbage seedlings on the balcony (yes, it's already possible in May). Bake a pie with cabbage — traditional. Invite neighbors for tea.

In the afternoon — have a sandwich with greens outside (a symbol of the harvest). Look at the sky — if it's clear, make a wish. In the evening — fortune-tell with the wind. If it's southern — to happiness.

You can read the omens and be amazed at how much we have lost from our connection with nature. Sidor Bokogrey is not just a day in the calendar. It is an opportunity to stop, feel the warmth, and thank the earth for life.

And don't forget to turn off your phone. The sun is waiting.

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