Honey, Apple and Nut Spas: when is it celebrated in 2026
Три Спаси у 2026 році/ Фото з відкритих джерел
In August, Ukrainians traditionally celebrate three Saviors — Honey, Apple, and Nut. These holidays combine Christian traditions with folk customs and symbolize gratitude for the harvest. After the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church switched to the new Julian calendar, their dates were moved 13 days earlier.
When is the Feast of the Savior celebrated in 2026?
According to the New Julian calendar, in 2026 the holidays fall on the following dates:
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- August 1 – Honey Savior (Makovia);
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- August 6 – Yabluchny Spas (Transfiguration of the Lord);
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- August 16 – Walnut, or Bread Savior.
Meanwhile, those who follow the Julian calendar will celebrate these holidays on August 14, 19, and 29, respectively.
Honey Savior: the beginning of the Assumption Lent
The First Saviour, or Maccabees, opens the cycle of August holidays. In the church calendar, this day commemorates the memory of the holy martyrs Maccabees, and also begins the Assumption Fast.
According to an ancient tradition, newly harvested honey, poppy seeds, water, and bouquets of wild herbs and flowers are brought to the temple for consecration. The people believe that consecrated honey brings prosperity, and the poppy is a symbol of protection for the home and family.
Yabluchny Spas: Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord
The Second Savior is celebrated on August 6. On this day, Orthodox Christians celebrate the Transfiguration of the Lord, one of the twelve greatest church holidays.
Apples, grapes, pears, plums and other fruits of the new harvest are traditionally brought to church. After the consecration, families gather at the festive table, giving thanks for the bountiful harvest. Also associated with folk traditions is the belief that it is advisable to taste apples of the new harvest only after Apple Savior.
The Nutcracker concludes the cycle of holidays
The last Spas in 2026 falls on August 16. It is also called Bread or Linen Spas.
The holiday symbolizes the end of the harvest and the beginning of the nut harvest. On this day, housewives bake bread from the new harvest, and believers consecrate the bread, nuts, and ears of corn in the temple.
What are they advised not to do on Easter Sunday?
The Church does not establish any special prohibitions on these days, but folk traditions recommend refraining from quarrels, insults, and unkind actions. It is also considered a good deed to help those in need, to devote time to prayer, and to family.
On Medovy Spas, believers who adhere to church traditions also begin the Assumption Fast.
It is worth noting that the change in the dates of holidays is not related to the change in the church celebrations themselves, but to the transition of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church to the new Julian calendar. As a result, most fixed holidays are now celebrated 13 days earlier than according to the Julian calendar.