The Christmas season ends with the Baptism of the Lord. This is a celebration when the 30-year-old Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist in the waters of the Jordan. He justified one of the main church sacraments through which a person is born again in Christ. Since then, those baptized receive the remission of sins and are reborn for a new, spiritual life.
In the carols, three holidays are mentioned: the Nativity of Christ, St. Basil and the Baptism of the Lord. Signs say that on this day you can’t do anything around the house, it is especially forbidden to pick up scissors. Our ancestors strictly adhered to prohibitions and sacredly believed in signs.
history of the holiday
January 19th marks the Baptism of the Lord. The history of the holiday begins with the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River by John the Baptist. During the sacrament of baptism, the Holy Spirit descended from heaven. In honor of the appearance of the Lord in the fullness of the Holy Trinity, the holiday is usually called the Holy Epiphany. God the Father proclaimed words from heaven: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased”, the Son was baptized on earth, the Holy Spirit appeared in the form of a dove. On this day, Jesus Christ began to serve people and preach.
Since then, water has been considered a symbol of purification. A procession is held on the feast, in the Christian churches, on rivers, lakes, they perform the rite of blessing of the water. It is believed that three times plunged into the Jordanian water in the hole, he will not be sick all year.
The magical properties of baptismal water
On January 18 and 19, Christians go to church to pray and draw Jordanian water. It is necessary that there is always sacred water in the house, it is advisable to start every prayer with it. Signs for the Epiphany say that if you wash your children with Jordanian water, they will grow up healthy and happy. They sprinkle it with a house, give it to pets, so that the offspring are good. It improves mood, relieves anxiety, and heals bodily and mental wounds. Girls wash themselves to be beautiful.
A priest walks around the parishioners' houses in order to purify all evil spirits and bless them with the help of prayer and water. It is not good to lock the door in front of him. How to meet the Baptism of the Lord without receiving blessings from him for the family and home? It was believed that such a family would be accompanied by trouble for a whole year.
Swimming in the ice hole
On the morning of January 19, there is a tradition of swimming in the hole, which was cut out in the shape of a cross on the eve of the holiday. The cross itself was set nearby. Sometimes it was decorated with spruce or pine branches. And also watered with beetroot juice, staining red, which symbolized the fire. At Baptism, signs and beliefs say that these days there is a double purification - by fire and water.
Doctors advocate that only healthy people bathe in the hole. You need to do this correctly. You should bring a large towel, replaceable clothes and shoes, a hat.
It is not recommended to take part in baptismal bathing for people prone to the following diseases: obesity, arrhythmias, hypertension, diseases of the respiratory tract, reproductive system. It is forbidden to swim during women's days.
Signs related to the font
There are no strict restrictions and regulations regarding swimming in the Jordanian water. It is right to sink into the water, looking east, and in no case turn your head to the west. According to popular beliefs, the east is the place of God and good, the west is the side of the devil and evil. Dipping into the water facing this side is equivalent to a deal with unclean power.
Women need to dive into the hole in a shirt. Signs for the Epiphany explain this in order to protect oneself from other people's sins, which can be washed away from one and stick to other bodies. Women should be covered with a head, men, on the contrary, without hats.
Having crossed, go into the water on the chest. The triple immersion in water with faith and prayer is considered symbolic. This is done in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. After this, you need to immediately go ashore, rub yourself dry with a towel, get dressed, drink hot tea with honey, brought in a thermos in advance. Strongly contraindicated alcohol.
Epiphany menu
The celebration begins on January 18th. Overtrapure is called the Epiphany Eve. People call it the Hungry or Poor Kutya.
After waiting for the first star, the whole family gathers at the table for dinner, observing strict fasting all day. 12 dishes are served on the table, the main one is kutia (oily). Hence the name of the evening - Epiphany Christmas Eve. This is porridge made from whole wheat, which symbolizes wealth, generosity of the future harvest, unity and prosperity in the family. It is with kutya that the signs for Baptism are connected - January 19. If it turns out delicious, life will be easy and sweet. Burnt porridge indicates trouble this year.
Cooked it with special love and prayer. Symbolic ingredients were added to kutya: honey for a sweet life, poppy, which from ancient times drove away unclean forces, nuts to overcome life's difficulties easily, raisins for abundance in the house. In no case should you throw away kutya, it is better to give it to birds or pets.
Dumplings with potatoes and cabbage, cabbage rolls with millet, fish, mushroom soup, pancakes, and stewed fruit compote from drying were also served on the table.
And on January 19, a rich table is set with various dishes, meat casseroles, sausages, jellied meat, pastries. It is recommended to start a festive meal with prayer and sacred water.
Signs and beliefs related to Baptism
It was believed among the people: how to meet the Baptism of the Lord, so the year will pass. If you hold January 18 in fasting, prayer and obedience, take part in the procession on January 19, swim in the ice hole, cleansed with Jordanian water, then the Lord’s blessing will not leave all year.
At Baptism, signs and beliefs are filled with mystical meaning, associated with otherworldly forces. According to legend, this is a time of rampant demonic power, which is trying to penetrate the house in any image and likeness.
People in every possible way tried to protect themselves from evil spirits. To do this, they painted crosses on the doors and windows with chalk, put a bouquet of last year whole wheat in the house, put garlic cloves on the four corners of the tablecloth, and added poppy seeds to the kutya.
Epiphany "hydrometcenter"
At the Epiphany, signs are associated with natural phenomena and weather conditions:
- If the weather is clear and cold - be a dry summer, and fresh and cloudy prophesies a rich harvest.
- The south wind will bring a thunderous summer.
- What is the weather like January 19, this will be the beginning of next winter.
- The full moon on Epiphany night meant possible spring floods.
- The starry sky predicted a dry summer and an abundant harvest of berries.
- Snow while dipping into the hole predicted a high yield of bread.
Wisdom of the people
People watched what worried them the most. At the Epiphany, signs are associated with life:
- If you drink all the domestic animals with sacred water, they will bring a good offspring.
- On this day, it is not customary to feed chickens - to a poor harvest.
- Three days after Epiphany, one cannot rinse underwear. Water is considered sacred these days and cannot be desecrated with dirty linen.
- If you wash these days, your hands will hurt.
- If there was a fruit tree in the garden that did not give birth, they came to it with sacred water and watered to heal it. It was believed that it would begin to bear fruit.
- The baptism of a child on January 19 promises him a happy life and God's blessing.
Epiphany fortune telling
Is the sign of baptism telling the truth - January 19? Everyone can check for themselves. But since ancient times, the night of January 18-19 (Epiphany party) was considered the most suitable for fortune telling.
To check how rich the year will be, you need to take three plates and a coin. In this fortune-telling, you need an assistant who will put a coin under one of the plates. Guessing from the first time where the money is hidden, predicts a rich, carefree life. If the second time - there will be no big financial problems either. And if you do not guess three times, you will have to sweat to earn a living.
Fortune can have 6 glasses. In each of them it is necessary to put a thing that symbolizes something: sugar is a sweet life, salt is sadness, a coin is wealth, a piece of bread is wealth, a pea is the birth of a child, a ring is marriage. The choice determines the events of the year.
The most mystical and reverent fortune-telling with a mirror and candles. Put dishes with water on the table, on three sides - light candles. Behind the decanter is a mirror, peering into which you can see the future.
At the Epiphany, signs say that girls can see their future husband. To do this, pour ¾ of water into a glass, lower the ring to the bottom, laying it exactly in the center, and carefully peer.
To see the narrowed in a dream, you need to eat something salty in the evening. When going to bed, turn to the future groom: “Narrowed-up, dressed up, bring me some water to drink.” Whoever dreams is destined to live with him.
The road to a happy family life
All fortune-telling is connected with the desire of the girls to marry successfully. Everyone wanted a good groom, a beautiful wedding and a happy life. To get lucky with her husband, the girls tried to adhere to strict fasting.
The guys, having bathed in the hole, having drunk the sacred water, were going to get married. If a couple is planning a wedding for Epiphany, omens predict a happy young life full of joy.
The Lord Himself blesses the young family with sacred water, washing away the sins of their ancestors, for which the young will not have to pay. At Baptism, signs and customs say that this is the most suitable time to start a family life.
Not knowing the newcomer and traditions, the people are not worthy of the future. One of the most revered Christian holidays, which are associated with customs, beliefs and traditions, is the Baptism of the Lord. The history of the holiday begins more than 2 thousand years ago. It contains a tribute of respect and worship to the Holy Trinity, faith in the healing power of the sacred Jordanian water, a secret mystical connection with the other world and the remnants of pagan beliefs. And it depends on each of us to what extent this invaluable national wealth will reach future generations.