on yurya , for the first time after winter, cattle were driven out to pasture, so this day was associated large number of ritual actions to preserve the household. to protect domestic animals, the owners performed various magical actions and uttered special words, which, according to the beliefs of the belarusians, were supposed to protect... the moat, horses, and other livestock from death, dashing eyes, and predatory animals. yuri's day marked the real beginning of spring. among the people, saint yuri was called god's keykeeper, the patron saint of domestic animals in rural fields. there was a belief that it was he who had the keys with which he closed winter and opened spring, blessing everything around. the shepherds knew especially many ritual actions for yuri, and... at that time they were recognized as one of the most important people in the village; they rightfully consider the day of may 6th to be their professional holiday. there was an unspoken rule in folk culture: not a single shepherd would take a new animal after yuri, otherwise the entire herd would suffer from wolf attack