Customs for the baptism of the Lord and what to do. How to correctly collect Epiphany water

home

CCTV

Customs for the baptism of the Lord and what to do. How to correctly collect Epiphany water - signs

Once in 2019, Christians who profess Orthodox faith, celebrate the great holiday of Epiphany. It is also called the Epiphany, since, according to legend, during the baptism of the Son of God, everyone who was present at the sacrament heard the voice of God, accepted the baptism of his Son, and the manifestation of the spirit of God took place in the form of a white dove.

Baptism has been celebrated since apostolic times. According to the surviving documentary evidence of Clement of Alexandria, before the feast of Epiphany, believers performed the ritual of a night vigil.

The significance of the holiday is that, according to the Gospel, on this day the baptism of thirty-year-old Jesus Christ took place in the waters of the Jordan.

This happened on January 6th according to the old style and January 19th according to the new style. There are special folk signs for Epiphany 2019, which good Orthodox Christians noticed a long time ago. Some of them promise happiness in the house, others - ruin and illness. It is important to keep a close eye on them for possible upcoming events.

Today, in 2019, thanks to the study of ancient sources, it has become known exactly how the rite of baptism of Jesus Christ took place. At that time, Saint John the Baptist accepted the responsibility to baptize worldly people in order for their sins to be forgiven. The Savior was a man, so the duty of Jesus Christ was to accept this baptism and convert to Christianity in front of people, thereby setting a positive example.

Obedience to the new rite made Jesus Christ even more authoritative in the eyes of his disciples. The Son of the Lord started new faith, and traditions of the sacrament of baptism. Its meaning is that a person undergoes a second birth as a different hypostasis - a child of God, life in Christ.

The ritual provides for the need for three times immersion in water, which is a symbol of the death of Christ, and the emergence from the waters is his resurrection. On January 19, 2019, it is believed that water acquires special healing properties, which persist throughout the year.

The Feast of Epiphany marks the end of Christmastide. Despite the fact that according to Christian canons, folk superstitions have no force, but there are many signs for the Baptism of the Lord. Many beliefs come from the most pagan times.

Severe weather - to be harvest

Folk traditions mean celebrating the holiday of Epiphany from January 18 to 19, 2019. It is called Epiphany Christmas Eve. All household members sit at one table and eat lenten dishes. The main dish on this day is “weeping kutia”.

There are the following folk superstitions that operate on this holiday:

Everyone hopes for severe weather on this day. If the frost at Epiphany is more severe than at Christmas, expect a good harvest;
But if the day on Epiphany is clear and too frosty, then expect dry weather in the summer;
A strong flood in the spring was expected if the water in the ice hole managed to reach the edges and splashes out onto the ice; the full moon also foreshadowed this;
Snow that will fly in large flakes portends an excellent harvest;
If a thaw occurs on this holiday, then the rest of the winter will also be warm, and this same sign also portends that harvested the bread will be darker than usual;
Heavy snowfalls and cloudy outside? This means the summer will be good;
People especially watched the color of the clouds at noon - if they turned blue, then there was no need to worry about the amount of harvest;
A blizzard on Epiphany foretells that similar weather is expected before the beginning of spring;
Your grandparents will probably still remember a couple of superstitions that they remember from childhood. Each village had its own beliefs, which people tried to strictly follow in order to find out what the year had in store for them.

Lying is not good

There are special folk superstitions that indicate what should not be done on a holiday. For example:

It is believed that one should not cut one’s hair on holy holidays, so as not to cut one’s hair off. It is also not recommended to do manicures or pedicures either with your own hands or with others. To avoid any negative consequences- make it a rule on Epiphany not to touch scissors at all;
Never handle sewing or knitting tools. Not only will the work not be successful, but you can also confuse your fate. Set aside any sewing, knitting, embroidery, etc. the next day. On sacred holidays nothing can be done;
It is recommended to either swim in the pond or have time to take a shower before dawn, and don’t even think about taking a bath. The water should be untouched. In the evening you need to wash yourself again only in the shower;
Anyone who lies on the day of Epiphany will be punished with ulcers on the tongue, sore throat and other diseases of the oral cavity;
And if you decide to use foul language and quarrel with someone, then this promises trouble at home and at work;
On the night of January 18, 2019 and until noon the next day, under no circumstances should marital intimacy be allowed, otherwise a break in the relationship may occur;
Also, you should not borrow money, since you will not only be in debt all year, but also pay off the debt - doubly.

You are free to choose whether to believe in omens or not. The main thing to remember is that you cannot do bad things not only on church holidays, but also on any other day of 2019 and any other day.

On January 19, the Orthodox Church celebrates the great twelfth holiday - Epiphany and Epiphany (Vodokreshchi). On this day, the Orthodox people remember the Baptism of Jesus Christ by John the Baptist in the Jordan. The holiday received its second name - Epiphany - due to the fact that at the baptism of the Savior, “the appearance of three persons of the Divine took place: the Father from heaven testified with a voice about the baptized Son, and the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus in the form of a dove, thereby confirming the words of the Father.”

The people called the holiday Vodokreschi. The name appeared because of the main baptismal rites - blessing of water, or baptism with water.

In the folk calendar, Epiphany was one of the most important holidays from the beginning of the year. From this day on, Christmastide ended, and people's contact with the other world was interrupted. In this regard, the main part of baptismal rites was of a cleansing nature. We prepared for Epiphany the day before: we washed the huts and carefully swept away the rubbish, in which, according to our ancestors, an imp could hide. According to legend, in the morning before the blessing of water, all the little devils must drown in the water. In the evening, if possible, all people went to church for a service, at the end of which the great blessing of water was performed. The peasants considered it a celebration of special importance.

Upon returning from service, people performed cleansing rituals, the whole family drank holy water, sprinkled it on their cattle, house and outbuildings. At Epiphany, snow was collected, and the resulting water was poured into a jug and saved in case of illness. It is believed that this water heals cramps, dizziness, and numbness in the legs. If you sprinkle snow Epiphany water on a canvas, it will whiten it in a way that neither ash nor the sun can do. Epiphany snow was also added to the feed of horses so that they would not get sick, and it was given to chickens so that they would start laying eggs earlier.

According to popular belief, the heavens open on the night before Christmas. According to legend, this happens at the moment when the Savior enters the river. A sign of this event is the agitation of water in a glass or cup, which most often occurs at midnight. Having waited for this sign, you need to quickly go outside. If a person is lucky enough to see the “open heavens,” then he can ask the Lord for whatever his heart desires.

Baptism: rituals and signs for January 19

The main celebration holiday the blessing of water and the “walk to the Jordan” appeared. To do this, on one of the reservoirs earlier designated place made an ice hole - Jordan. The whole day of Epiphany for Christians was full of special meaning. They took part in the ceremony procession and receiving holy water. After the prayer service, they bathed in the river to cleanse themselves of sins and be cured of illnesses. Those who dressed up for Christmastide swam in the ice hole to wash off the “demonic mask” from themselves.

The ice hole and the place near it are considered sacred. A stick was stuck into the hole so that pigeons and bees would breed. Cattle were driven to the Jordan, which the priests sprinkled with water blessed in the river.

After mass, the owners laid out unthreshed sheaves in the yard different cultures, bread and rye cakes broken into pieces, left for Epiphany from the holidays of the New Year and the Nativity of Christ. The cattle were released from the barns to the food that had been laid out, and while they were eating, they were sprinkled with water brought from the ice hole. At the same time, the owner who sprinkled the animals put on a fur coat with the fur facing out.

The use of New Year's and Christmas bread, as well as an inside-out fur coat, in the ritual is associated with the idea of offspring: fur and ritual food in the traditional consciousness were endowed with producing powers. Feeding various types of unthreshed bread was carried out so that the livestock would be well-fed all year.

As on Epiphany Eve, so on the day of Epiphany after the blessing of water, a ritual of cleansing of houses and households was carried out. buildings to drive out the Yuletide evil spirits from everywhere. Blessed water was used for this. Young people on horseback rode through the courtyards, hitting all the nooks and crannies with whips and brooms, screaming and squealing, reciting a special spell.

From January 19 and throughout the week, it was forbidden to rinse clothes on the river. According to popular belief, devilry, going into the water after Christmas, can grab the linen and get out.

The candle, which was brought along with holy water from the service on Epiphany Eve, was carefully preserved. It was lit during a thunderstorm to prevent fire. She was credited with protective powers against evil spirits. On the day of the first cattle drive, a piece of this candle was attached to horses under the mane or under the bangs, and to cows - between the horns. It was believed that this would help protect cattle from goblin and water spirits.

People believed that a child baptized in Epiphany would become a very happy person. And those who dreamed of becoming rich and successful, or of acquiring an invisibility cap, performed a special ritual on Epiphany. It was necessary to dress in everything new and, during the Epiphany blessing of water, bury oneself in a haystack that had been mowed with a completely new scythe on the night of Ivan Kupala (July 6 to 7). Such hay must be collected with a new rake and carried on a new stretcher. While the person is in the heap, the evil one will begin to lure him out of there with various promises. You should go out after the devil gives you the invisibility cap, otherwise he may stab the person with a pitchfork.

Immediately after Epiphany, the meat-eating began - it was time for weddings. Therefore, the “Choice of Bride” ritual was popular on the day of Epiphany. On this day, young people dressed up in best outfits. The girls wore several shirts with embroidered hems, whitened and blushed. A sundress was worn over the shirts, and on it were 3-4 aprons with abundant embroidery. A sheepskin coat trimmed with marl fur was thrown over the clothes. On the occasion of the “Choice of Brides” ritual, boys and girls from neighboring villages, planning to start a family in the new year, came to the larger local centers for the blessing of water and the festive service.

They began to look after brides in the church during the service, at the blessing of the water, when the girls stood on a hill above the river, and the boys stood below. The viewing itself took place after lunch. The girls stood in one or several rows near the ice hole or near the church fence, and the guys walked between them.

In addition to the boys, the “brides” were also examined by their parents. They assessed not only the girl’s external qualities (beauty, height, plumpness), but also her ability to weave, spin, sew, lace and embroider, which was revealed when viewing the outfits she was wearing. Attention was also paid to the health of future brides. In addition to external data, the criterion for good health was warm hands: the boys' mothers took the girls by the hands, who remained without gloves during the show (about 2-3 hours). If a girl's hands were cold, then she was considered sick and unsuitable for marriage.

Signs for Epiphany (January 19)

If there is a snowstorm on Epiphany, then expect a snowstorm at the end of April.
Cold and clear weather means a dry summer; snowy and cloudy - to a good harvest.
Cloudy skies, heavy frost and falling snow foretell a fertile year.
A clear day means a bad harvest.
At noon, blue clouds mean harvest.
Strong whirlwinds rise at Epiphany - a good swarm of bees.
If the day is warm, the bread will be thick.
Starry night - for the harvest of peas and berries. This is also a sign that the sheep will lamb well this year.
A full month means high water in the spring.
If the day is sunny and warm, then the good weather will continue for several more weeks.
If it rains, it will rain until the end of the month.
If snow piles up against the fence, the summer will be bad. If there is a gap, then it is fruitful.
Dogs bark a lot - there will be plenty of game.
The day is good for fortune telling.

A person born on January 19 will live a long and happy life. He should wear jade.

Video: signs for the Epiphany (January 19)

The feast of the Epiphany is also called Epiphany, since it appeared to the world for the first time Holy Trinity It was on this day that God the Father proclaimed the Son from heaven, the Son received Baptism in the Jordan River, and the Holy Spirit descended on the Son in the form of a dove.

All four Gospels testify to this: “... Jesus came in those days from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John, and when he came out of the water, John immediately saw the heavens opening and the Spirit like a dove descending on Him. And a voice came from heaven : “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Sputnik Georgia asked about the history of the Epiphany holiday and what traditions, customs and signs are associated with it in Orthodoxy.

Epiphany

Christians have been celebrating the Baptism of the Lord Jesus Christ from the prophet John the Baptist in the Jordan River since ancient times.

One of the very first Christian holidays began to be celebrated during the lifetime of the apostles - it is mentioned in the apostolic decrees and rules. Until the 4th century, Epiphany and Christmas were a single holiday called Epiphany.

On Epiphany, in the first centuries of Christianity, converts were baptized - they were called catechumens. As a sign that the Sacrament of Baptism cleanses a person from sin and enlightens him with the Light of Christ, this day was often called the “day of Enlightenment”, “Feast of Lights”, or “holy Lights”. The custom of blessing water in reservoirs existed even then.

The separate celebration of the Nativity of Christ and the Baptism of the Lord was first introduced around 377 in the Church of Constantinople. Later, the custom of celebrating the Nativity of Christ on December 25 spread from Constantinople throughout the Orthodox East.

On Epiphany Eve there is a strict fast, and, in principle, you are not supposed to eat until the water is blessed. This is the first day of fasting, in fact, after Christmas, since before that the church celebrates Christmastide, when there is no fasting.

In some Eastern churches, the ancient combination of holidays remains. For example, Armenians continue to celebrate Christmas and Epiphany on the same day - January 6th.

The meaning of the feast of the Epiphany is explained in liturgical texts as follows: the Lord accepted baptism for the salvation of people, not for His own purification, which He did not need. The modern Sacrament of Baptism gives the grace of God because the water of baptism is sanctified by the Lord.

Traditions

Agiasma or Epiphany water is one of the main shrines in Orthodox churches Every year the Great Blessing of Water is performed on Epiphany and on the eve of the holiday - on Epiphany Christmas Eve.

The tradition of blessing water on the eve of the holiday is believed to date back to the ancient Christian practice of Epiphany after the morning service of Epiphany of the Catechumens.

The Blessing of Water on the feast of the Epiphany is associated with the custom of Christians of the Jerusalem Church to march to the Jordan, to the traditional place of the baptism of Jesus Christ, on the day of Epiphany.

The special healing properties of holy water, which replenish the mental and physical strength of a person who receives it with faith, were noticed in the ancient Church.

And today, after a special prayer service, during which the healing grace of the Holy Spirit is invoked on the water, according to tradition, believers in the church drink Epiphany water, wash their faces with it, fill their bottles with agiasma and take them home.

The supply of holy water, which should be kept in the home of every Christian, is replenished by believers once a year. A special property of agiasma is that when added in small quantities even to ordinary water it conveys beneficial properties to it too, so baptismal water can be diluted with plain water in case of its shortage.

Customs and rituals

The traditions and rituals of this holiday go back to ancient times. The holiday of the Epiphany of the Lord ended with Christmastide, which was a period “without a cross” according to popular belief, since Jesus Christ, who was born recently, has not yet been baptized.

On this day, the “terrible evenings” also ended, during which otherworldly forces walked freely in the human world. On Epiphany Eve it was believed that this evil spirit became especially dangerous. Accordingly, many rituals and traditions in the old days were carried out with the goal of cleansing themselves of evil spirits and closing the boundaries between the living and the dead.

People prepared for the feast of the Epiphany very carefully - perfect order They cleaned the house, swept and washed the floors, because they believed that the devils could hide in the rubbish.

They fumigated with incense smoke, sprinkled with holy water and drew crosses with chalk in all places where evil spirits could hide - corners, windows, doors, cellar, oven, outbuildings and gates.

People sat down at the festive table with prayer when the first star lit up in the sky. On Epiphany Christmas Eve, the dinner, which consisted of Lenten dishes, had its own name - “hungry kutia”.

The whole family gathers at the festive table, just like before Christmas - in the old days it was believed that if all generations of the same family gathered together, then the large family would live the entire next year in the same composition, and, most importantly, in health.

Kutia and uzvar were always served on the festive table, as well as fish, dumplings, pancakes, vegetables and baked goods. According to tradition, after dinner, to ensure a good year for bread, all the spoons were put into one bowl, which was covered with bread.

To find out their future, people listened to the cattle on the night of Epiphany, because they believed that on Epiphany Eve, domestic animals acquired the ability to speak human language.

Epiphany Christmas Eve was also the last day on which Christmas fortune-telling was carried out - on this night young people held their last gatherings with fortune-telling, games and songs.

According to tradition, girls wondered about their betrothed, about the future - on this night the same rituals are suitable for fortune-telling as on Christmas Eve before Christmas and the Old New Year.

Other traditions and customs

On the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord, in the morning we went to church, where after mass they blessed the water with the Great Rite. The blessing of water is carried out in the same manner both on the eve and on the day of the holiday, so the water blessed on these days is no different.

Then the whole family had a meal - on the festive table, according to tradition, 12 different dishes were served - porridge generously flavored with butter, jellied meat, baked pork, sausage, pancakes and so on. By the way, in some places in Rus' they prepared “square” pancakes so that “there would be money in the house.”

After the meal, the whole family together thanked the Almighty for the bread present on the table, and went to “let go” of the Christmas holidays - they released a white dove from the cage.

Sputnik

During all the holidays before the Epiphany, women tried not to go for water, as this was considered a purely male job, and did not rinse their clothes in the river, because they believed that devils were sitting there and they could cling to them.

At the Epiphany of the Lord, women always put viburnum or coral in a vessel with holy water and washed themselves so that their cheeks were rosy.

On Epiphany, the girls also tried to find out their fate - from the very morning of the holiday they went out onto the road and waited for a passerby. If a healthy, economical man passed first, it meant that they would soon meet their soul mate. Well, what if a child or old man- they will not meet their loved one in the near future.

Signs

In the old days people Epiphany signs, including those related to the weather, they tried to find out what the coming year would bring them and what harvest awaited them.

A snowstorm on Epiphany means there will be a harvest. If the snow bends the branches on the trees, there will be good harvest, the bees will swarm well. Little snow on the tree branches indicated that there would be few mushrooms and berries in the summer.

The snowstorm also indicated that it would be cold on Maslenitsa, and strong southern winds predicted a stormy summer.

The old people predicted the fertility of the lambs if the stars sparkled and burned on Epiphany evening.

The starry sky on Epiphany night is a sure sign that spring will be early, and summer and autumn will be very warm and rainy.

Spring can begin with heavy floods and river floods if the Epiphany coincides with the full moon.

A calm year without any unpleasant shocks is predicted by calm weather and clear skies on the feast of the Epiphany. This sign indicates that you can safely start something new - build a house, open your own business or start a family. Accordingly, all carefully considered decisions will bring only positive results.

Heavy snow cover or snowfall is good sign, which indicated that no terrible epidemics or diseases were expected until the next Epiphany.

Is it raining or very strong wind on the Epiphany of the Lord, indicated that the coming year would be very turbulent both politically and economically.

On the night of Epiphany, a silver bowl was placed on the table, filled with water. At exactly midnight, the water should ripple, and whatever wish you have time to shout over the bowl at that moment will come true.

The girls collected Epiphany snow and ice in the open field, which they used to wipe their faces so that it would be white and ruddy.

The material was prepared based on open sources

The tradition of collecting water on this day is no less popular. Parishioners come to the night liturgy, undergo confession and baptism in the church courtyard. It is customary to take it home and sprinkle the house. This allows you to attract grace into your home and get rid of all misfortunes. According to tradition, in baptism all family members must be given water to drink. You cannot quarrel, make scandals or swear on this day, otherwise luck will bypass the family this year.

Attention!

Previously, it was recommended to give Epiphany water to cattle so that they would bear fruit better and bring more profit, but the temple does not approve of such actions.

Orthodox Christians always celebrate this holiday with their families. Traditionally, not only the hostess, but also all participants in the festive lunch or dinner should set the table. According to tradition, the first to eat is the one who plunged into the hole last. The table should be festive but modest; there should be no meat or poultry on it. The church recommends eliminating alcoholic beverages.

The origins of the main signs of the holiday

Signs for Epiphany on January 19 tell you what you can do and what you cannot do, so you need to listen to them carefully. Christians have always treated issues of family, everyday life, future harvest, and prosperity with trepidation, because the main signs are connected precisely with this. Other signs are closely intertwined with Christian customs and traditional rituals.

According to popular belief, on this day the “opening of the heavens” occurs, so truly amazing events can happen. If you pay attention to certain omens, you can really predict your fate. The girls tell fortunes about their betrothed that night. The Church does not accept such actions and condemns occult rituals of this nature.

Family ties, marriage, engagement and wedding

Beloved believers in the Lord treat the registration of marriage not only as a change in marital status, but also as a sacrament, therefore they focus on the signs and superstitions associated with the action. According to the sign regarding Epiphany, an engagement or wedding on such a day promises the newlyweds a long and joyful life without squabbles or betrayals.

The parents of the newlyweds had to sew traditional clothes for their future grandchildren on such a day. It was worn by the child immediately after birth and baptized in it. Many believing couples try to register their marriage on holy holidays; it is believed that then it will be fixed in heaven.

Birth

A child born on January 18-19 will live a long and worry-free life. Failures and difficulties will pass him by, and the Lord will always be there, leading by the hand. Those born on this day always have pure thoughts and good actions. If you are lucky enough to meet such a person, you should be happy; he is a wise advisor and simply a responsible comrade.

Attention!

Parishioners expecting the birth of a child in the first month of winter always hope that the baby will be born on January 18-19.

There is also a sign associated with the rite of Baptism. If he spends it on this day, he will have righteous thoughts. There is also a connection with a sign for this day, foreshadowing trouble. If the cut hair, along with the wax, drowns in the font, disaster will happen.

Weather

People who live in villages or have their own gardens believe in omens related to weather conditions. Such omens help to get a good harvest. On the Holy Day, attention is paid to the following manifestations:

the weather is clear and frosty - drought in summer;
cloudy and cold - promises a good harvest;
the night from January 18 to 19 is starry - dry weather, a good harvest of cereals and berries;
snow - a rich harvest of all crops;
sunny, warm day - all crops will produce poorly;
south wind – summer thunderstorms.

Prosperity

The sign says that if a person is hit by a strong snowstorm on the way to Epiphany, he will experience prosperity, large monetary profits and material success throughout the year. The strong barking of dogs on the night of January 18 has the same meaning. Often magical rituals to attract money is carried out on this particular date, but Orthodoxy says that this way you can lose God’s help.

List of prohibitions

Epiphany - Great Orthodox holiday, to which parishioners rejoice and celebrate it as magnificently as Christmas, Easter and Ascension. There are many traditions, signs and sacraments associated with this date; there is a certain list of prohibitions:

Sp-force-hide ( display: none;).sp-form ( display: block; background: #ffffff; padding: 15px; width: 600px; max-width: 100%; border-radius: 8px; -moz-border -radius: 8px; -webkit-border-radius: 8px; border-color: #dddddd; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif;). sp-form input ( display: inline-block; opacity: 1; visibility: visible;).sp-form .sp-form-fields-wrapper ( margin: 0 auto; width: 570px;).sp-form .sp- form-control ( background: #ffffff; border-color: #cccccc; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; font-size: 15px; padding-left: 8.75px; padding-right: 8.75px; border- radius: 4px; -moz-border-radius: 4px; -webkit-border-radius: 4px; height: 35px; width: 100%;).sp-form .sp-field label ( color: #444444; font-size : 13px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;).sp-form .sp-button ( border-radius: 4px; -moz-border-radius: 4px; -webkit-border-radius: 4px; background -color: #0089bf; color: #ffffff; width: auto; font-weight: bold;).sp-form .sp-button-container ( text-align: left;)

On January 19, Orthodox Christians celebrate one of the most ancient church holidays- Baptism of the Lord, or Holy Epiphany. What kind of holiday is this and what interesting traditions and signs are associated with it, read in our regular “Question and Answer” section.

What is the meaning of this holiday?

The holiday was established in honor of the baptism of Jesus Christ by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. The sacrament happened when Jesus Christ was 30 years old. According to the parable, at that moment the Holy Spirit descended on Christ in the guise of a dove. After the rite of baptism, the Son of God gave man fallen in sin the opportunity to receive grace. Since then, those who are baptized receive forgiveness of sins and are reborn to a new life.

The holiday begins on January 18, when all Orthodox Christians celebrate Epiphany Eve. The water is blessed at the service. Also on this day, the consecration of wells takes place on the territory of temples, and in the late afternoon - on the river. According to legend, such water cures various ailments, gives strength, and improves health. That is why on Epiphany there is a tradition of plunging into an ice hole.

Is it true that holy water even flows from the tap at Epiphany?

There really is a belief that holy water at Epiphany even flows from the tap. As the press secretary of the Barnaul diocese, Vladimir Matusov, told the portal, this is an erroneous opinion; water itself does not become holy; in any case, even on this holiday, it must be blessed by a priest.

“Sacred water is the water that is consecrated in the church, or the water at the springs, which is also consecrated by the clergy. Traditionally, on January 18, water in churches is consecrated, and on the morning of January 19, they go out to rivers and lakes and consecrate the font. After the consecration ceremony, the water in the source receives healing benefits properties,” said a church representative.

Holy water can heal wounds and illnesses. You need to consecrate every corner of your home with it in order to ensure order and peace in the house in the coming year. It is worth noting that medicinal properties You may lose water if, while collecting or taking it, you quarrel with someone or have bad thoughts. It is believed that on Epiphany you must drink holy water in order to be healthy all year round.

What signs are associated with Baptism?

A huge number of folk signs are associated with Epiphany. Everyone decides for themselves whether to believe in these signs or not. But our ancestors were attentive people and always noticed especially strange coincidences.

For Christmas Eve:

A lot of snow means a lot of bread.
In the morning snow means a good harvest of buckwheat.
Snowstorm - bees will swarm well.
Bright stars - there will be a good offspring of livestock, a lot of peas and berries.

For Epiphany:

In the morning it is cloudy, warm, snow or frost - a grain-bearing year.

Clear, cold - crop failure. Summer is dry.

A lot of dogs bark - a lot of animals, there will be game.

Traditions of Christmas Eve and Epiphany

At Epiphany, mothers baked cross-shaped cookies for breakfast. For each member of the household, the housewife specially marked his cookies. If the cross turns out to be lush, ruddy and well baked, success and prosperity await the one to whom it was placed. If the baked goods are burnt, then the year will be unsuccessful. If the cross turns out to be cracked and uneven, serious problems await this family member. Most often, burnt and failed crosses are not shown to anyone; they are best fed to the birds.

And Epiphany Christmas Eve is usually called Hungry Kutya. On this day, the last meal of the Christmas and New Year holidays is prepared. They called her hungry because from then on until the next day, until the water in the reservoirs was blessed, people did not eat.

The remains of the kutya were given to the chickens, and three spoons of dishes that were on the table on Epiphany Eve were placed in a separate pot for fate. The one who was the last to return home from the river at Epiphany ate from this pot. And therefore, everyone who went to bless the water tried to return home as quickly as possible.

Epiphany frosts in Rus' have been very strong since ancient times. On Epiphany Christmas Eve, before dinner, the owner put on kutya and, looking out the window, invited the frost to taste the treats. At the same time, one must certainly say: “If the frost does not come to my house, let it not come to the harvest.”

Sections