Day of Fyodor Tiron and Maremyana Kikimora
March 2, Sunday
Saint Theodore Tiron was an early Christian martyr who lived in the 4th century. He served in the Roman army and was subjected to a painful execution for refusing to renounce his faith. His veneration in Rus' was associated with the protection of the home and hearth, as well as the expulsion of evil spirits.
Maremyana Kikimora is an image from Slavic folklore associated with the spirits of the house. Kikimora was imagined as a female creature living in the house and bringing either benefit or harm to its inhabitants. According to popular belief, if the mistress of the house did not keep things in order, Kikimora would start to misbehave: throw things around, make noise, and even "mess" with the owners.
Traditions and rituals
House cleaning. On this day, it was customary to do a general cleaning to drive out evil spirits and appease the spirits of the house. People believed that this would attract good luck and order for the whole year.
Appeal to Kikimora. In some regions, housewives left small treats for Kikimora or recited spells to pacify her and enlist her support.
Amulets and protection. To protect the house from evil spirits, various amulets were hung, often with an image of St. Theodore. This could be a consecrated cross or an icon placed in a prominent place.
Expulsion of evil spirits. It was believed that on this day, a bathhouse had special power. People believed that hot steam helped drive out evil forces from the house, so many went to the bathhouse and performed cleansing rituals.