Honey Savior Day, also known as Makoviya, is the first of the three August Savior feasts in Ukraine. Since the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church switched to the Revised Julian calendar in 2023, it is celebrated on August 1 (Old Style communities mark it on August 14). On this day people bless honey, poppy seeds, water and special bouquets called makoviichyky. Here you will find short Honey Savior Day wishes, messages for family, heartfelt texts and poems. Wishes for other holidays of the year are in our holiday wishes calendar.
Five days later comes Apple Savior Day, so see our Apple Savior Day wishes. Blessing herbs is also a tradition on Trinity.
Makoviya traditions
Blessing the new season’s honey — hence the name Honey Savior.
Blessing poppies and makoviichyk bouquets, which are then kept at home.
Blessing water — wells used to be consecrated on this day.
Festive dishes with poppy seeds and honey: poppy-seed rolls, varenyky, pies and honey cakes.
Folk symbolism of the plants in a makoviichyk bouquet
Short Honey Savior Day wishes
Happy Honey Savior Day! May your life be as sweet as honey and your home as full as a poppy head.
Happy Makoviya! Peace, prosperity and God’s blessing to your family.
Happy Honey Savior Day! May the blessed poppies protect your home.
Happy Makoviya! Sweet days and a generous harvest.
Happy first Savior feast! Health, warmth and good news.
Heartfelt Honey Savior Day wishes
Happy Honey Savior Day! May this day bring peace and warmth, and may the blessed honey give you strength and health. I wish your home abundance and peace.
Happy Makoviya! May every poppy in the blessed bouquet bring happiness into your home and every spoonful of honey bring joy. Peace and kindness to you and your loved ones.
Happy holiday! May your life be as generous as the August harvest and as sweet as fresh honey. May God protect you and your family.
For family and friends
Mom, happy Honey Savior Day! I remember your poppy-seed rolls and the taste of honey from grandma’s apiary. Thank you for the warmth of home. Health and joy to you.
Grandma, happy Makoviya! May the blessed poppies and honey give you strength and may your grandchildren visit more often.
Friends, happy Honey Savior Day! May every day be sweet and our get-togethers frequent.
Wishes with a blessing
Happy Honey Savior Day! May the Lord bless your home and give you peace of heart and joy in your family.
Happy Makoviya! May the blessed water, honey and poppies bring you health, and may God’s grace be with you every day.
What to write on a holiday card
Happy holiday! May your home always be filled with warmth, peace and joy.
Best wishes! Bright thoughts, good health and people around you worth celebrating with.
May this day bring calm and every day after it a reason to smile.
With warmth and best wishes to you and your family on this holiday!
A small bouquet goes well with a card: flowers turn even a few lines into a special gift.
Greeting loved ones from afar
A video call — agree on a good time so the whole family can talk without rushing.
A voice message — a real voice feels warmer than text, especially for grandparents.
Flower delivery — a bouquet with a card delivered on the holiday morning makes a lovely surprise.
A family video — collect short wishes from all your relatives and send them as one clip.
Honey Savior Day poems
Happy Honey Savior Day to you! May honey sweeten all you do, May blessed poppies bring your way Good fortune, peace and joy each day!
May honey, poppy, water blessed Keep you safe and give you rest, May every home be full of cheer And sweetness last throughout the year!
Flowers for the holiday
People make makoviichyk bouquets themselves from poppies, mint, marigolds, cornflowers and wheat ears. For relatives you cannot visit on the holiday, you can send a bouquet in warm honey or soft lavender tones. Another autumn holiday is Pokrova.
August 1, according to the Revised Julian calendar adopted in 2023 by the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. Old Style communities celebrate on August 14.
What is blessed on Makoviya?
Honey, poppies, water and makoviichyk bouquets made of poppies, mint, marigolds, cornflowers and other plants.
What is a makoviichyk?
A festive bouquet of poppy heads and fragrant herbs that is blessed in church and kept at home as a protective charm.
Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.
Birthday
Hydrangeas