Surely you have at least once heard about the day of Avdotya, the haymak, which falls on the month of July. They used to say that if it rains on this memorable day, then most likely for a long time, and this is very harmful for the growing crop.
On July 7, according to the old style, on the new - July 20, the memory of St. Euphrosyne is celebrated, in the world - Avdotya (Evdokia), who was the daughter of Dmitry Suzdal Dmitry Konstantinovich. Avdotya married Prince of Moscow - Grand Duke Dmitry Donskoy, and their successful union became the key to peace between Suzdal and Moscow.
Princess Evdokia was distinguished by piety. Sergius of Radonezh, who baptized one of the sons of Avdotya and Dmitry, as well as Moscow Metropolitan Alexy, had a great influence on her. The ruler became known to the people because she built several churches on Russian soil and the Ascension convent in the Kremlin.
In secret from all, Avdotya observed strict fasting and wore chains under the magnificent princely clothes. And after raising five children, she decided to devote herself completely to serving God. She took monastic vows and took the name Euphrosyne. Already the former Princess Avdotya spent the last years of her life in prayer.
Avdotya was called Senognoyka only because it rains almost always on her name day, which interferes with hay. Indeed, because of the high humidity, uncleaned hay begins to rot right in the meadows. Therefore, they tried to collect it as soon as possible in stacks, the peasants said this: "The clouds are not so terrible if you rake the hay in heaps."
On July 7, the harvest began in the fields, where they went with songs and carried sickles wrapped in towels. The first cut sheaf was tied with a brought towel, and only then it was carried to the church, where it was consecrated. Then they put a sheaf in the front corner of the house, and after dinner or lunch they drove them out of the hut. This sheaf was kept in every house until the fall, and on October 14 (the day of the Protection of the Virgin) they treated them with sheep, cows, horses and goats so that they would better eat the food prepared for the winter.
