Date according to the old style: May 10. On this day, Simon the Zealot (the Cananean) — one of Jesus Christ's disciples — is commemorated. According to tradition, he preached in Judea, Egypt, and Libya. There is also information that Apostle Simon visited Britain. Simon the Cananean was martyred on the Black Sea coast in the Caucasus. The day of Saint Simon's commemoration in the popular calendar coincided with an older holiday — the name day of Mother Damp Earth. Russian people looked at the earth with great reverence — as the nurturer of all humanity. On the name day, they treated it with the utmost respect. Peasants did not take up the plow or harrow, nor did they drive stakes into the ground or dig holes to avoid disturbing its peace. However, walking barefoot on the earth was very much welcomed — it was said that the earth could share its strength with a person. At the same time, Simon's day was considered in Russia the best time for treasure hunting and for collecting medicinal plants, including roots. To have the proper healing power, they needed to be collected skillfully — at a certain time, following various rituals. Specifically, before going to gather herbs, a person had to wash thoroughly and put on clean underwear. Some particularly valuable herbs were to be picked not with bare hands but through cloths and towels. It was also necessary to ask Mother Damp Earth for a blessing. On Simon's day, special attention was paid to brooms. There was a belief: if a fresh broom placed near a child's cradle wilted quickly, the child was threatened with illness. In this case, urgent preventive measures were needed. A broom hung on the doorpost could fall on a person who came into the house with bad intentions. Name days on this day: Vasily (Basil), Kirill (Cyril), Simon, Taisia