Thekla Zarevnica: Church holiday October 7, 2026, signs, traditions and prohibitions

Who is Saint Thekla

Fekla lived in the first century in the city of Iconia (the territory of modern Turkey). She was born into a rich pagan family and at the age of eighteen was engaged to a noble youth. However, after the preaching of the Apostle Paul, the girl decided to devote herself to God and refused marriage.

The groom complained to the governor, and the apostle Paul was imprisoned. Thekla secretly infiltrated him, bribing the guard with jewelry, and spent three days listening to the instructions. For this, she was sentenced to be burned at the stake. But, according to legend, suddenly came a rainstorm with hail and extinguished the flames.

Later, Thekla, together with Paul, went to Antioch, where she was again persecuted: she was released to wild beasts, but they did not touch the saint. According to legend, she died at the age of 90, having lived in the last years in a cave near Seleucia.

Traditions and what to do

The main tradition of the day is to light a fire. Peasants drowned ovens, began to dry and thresh bread in ovine. “Feukla is a jealous woman: the fire lights, winter is coming,” they said.

On this day it was customary to spin and weave. Saint Thekla was revered as the patroness of the spit, so women sat down at the spinning wheel to appease the saint and get luck in needlework for the whole year.

The hostess baked cakes with porridge and treated the neighbors with them. It was believed that the more pies you give out, the more wealth will come into the house.

Notes on October 7

If snow falls on Thekla, winter will be early and cold.

A warm day, towards late spring.

Wind from the north to frost, from the south to heat.

If the leaves from the birch have not fallen yet, the snow will fall late.

Thunder on this day - for snowless winter.

A lot of cones on spruce - to a good harvest next year.

What can't you do

To light a fire in the house before sunset - it was believed that this brings trouble.

Rejecting charity is poverty.

Fighting and swearing, especially with loved ones.

Cleaning the house after sunset - you can wipe out luck.

Giving money in debt leads to financial losses.

People's wisdom

“On Thekla light the fire in the oven – meet the winter” – said in Russia. “Tekla Zarevnica: the day decreases, the night arrives,” the old people added, noting that the nights are getting longer.