On April 15, during Lazarus Saturday, it’s time to sow peas for a bountiful harvest. On April 23, St. George’s Day, the nightingale begins to sing, and it will continue until the barley ripens. If someone hears the cuckoo for the first time while carrying money, they’ll have financial stability throughout the year. To ensure this, after the Bright Holiday (Easter), they tie a coin into their shirt so they’ll always have money on hand.
Plant onions and garlic before the frogs start croaking. Ancient belief holds that the earth does not fully open during the first thunder, which is said to occur before the prophet Elijah rides across the sky in his chariot. If the first thunder comes from the west, it promises a good grain harvest. If you lean against a tree, a gate, or something similar during the first thunder, your back won’t hurt. Girls who hear the first thunder rush to the river to wash their faces and apply something red to keep their beauty and attract wealth. House spirits, or domovoi, live in homes and can be mischievous or benevolent and have a significant influence on the household. Treat them with respect—and don’t speak about them at night. If a domovoi does not take a liking to the owner or a family member, it can cause trouble: making noise in the attic, disturbing children, scaring adults, and preventing the hosts from sleeping.
