Makar

In Christian tradition, the name Makar comes from the Greek word "makarios," which means "blessed" or "happy." In the Bible, there is the expression "blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven" (Matthew 5:3), and this refers to a state of bliss or happiness. In the Orthodox Church, the name Makar is associated with monks and saints who lived a pious and righteous life.

In Slavic culture, the name Makar has a more prosaic meaning and is more associated with peasant or folk representations. "Makar" also means "poppy-like." In ancient Russian literature, the name Makar was used as a common noun denoting a simple, uneducated person, although in many cases it is also perceived as a name.

In Bulgarian culture, the name Makar refers to a Bulgarian folk hero who taught people native wisdom and returned to life after death. In Ukrainian culture, the name Makar is quite commonly used as a shortened form of the name Nikolai.

However, in the folk beliefs of Russians, Ukrainians, and Belarusians, there was a superstition — work done on the day of the name Makar would not be counted. At this time, and in frost, one should also not "freeze" — people avoided being frozen in the great cold of Makar.