July 16 - Stozhary, Folk Calendar
Mokiy and Mark Stozhary
On this day, haystacks were erected. They used stakes called stozhars, hence the day's second name.
This day was considered unlucky in Rus', so it was advised not to start any new projects and generally exercise extreme caution in everything. Poppy harvesting was also common.
Its seeds are used in cooking and medicine, and in ancient times, amulets were made with the seeds. For example, poppy seeds were sprinkled in the shoes of newlyweds to prevent harm.
In ancient times, people tried to avoid lending money on Poppy Day, as it was believed the debtor would not repay.