According to the new style on August 14 they celebrate the day of seven saints- martyrs Makoveis, or, as they say among people, “Makovei”. On this day they sanctify water, flowers andpoppy-seeds in all churches. After sanctification they put sanctified flowers and poppy-seeds on icons and keep all this till spring. In spring they plant the seeds in orchards. On Blagoveschenie young girls plait flowers into their braids.

On that day “shuliki” used to be a ritual dish. They are cooked the following way: they bake flat dry shortbread, break it into small pieces, put it into a pan and fill the pan with honey and poppy-seeds. This dish is very delicious. Children especially love it.

They tell that in ancient times it was a custom among Cossacks on “Makovei’ to come to the bank of a river, where they sanctify water. All men were to wear Cossack uniforms. It is a pity that this wonderful tradition has not been preserved.

The holiday “Makovei” is also called among people as “The First Spas” or “Spas on Water”. Those who had fever swam in a river because the water was healing on that day.