Signs of the baptism of the Lord. The holiday of baptism and special signs for baptism

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

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.

© photo: Sputnik / Yuri Kaver

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 the Great Blessing of Water is celebrated annually 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.

© photo: Sputnik / Alexander Kryazhev

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 transfers beneficial properties to it, so Epiphany 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 Epiphany ended with Christmastide, which was a period “without the cross” according to popular belief, since Jesus Christ, who was born recently, had 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 - they put the house in perfect order, 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 the youth 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.

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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, if it’s a child or an elderly person, they won’t meet their loved one in the near future.

Signs

In the old days, people used Epiphany signs, including those related to the weather, 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 branches on the trees are bent by snow, there will be a good harvest, 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.

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

And rain or very strong winds on Epiphany 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 an 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

Epiphany is a big holiday that does not change its date from year to year. When a child is born, it is customary to baptize him. There is a sign that if you do not baptize a child, then no one will protect him. But if the child is baptized, then the Angels immediately begin to protect him. Epiphany is the day when Jesus Christ was baptized. That’s why there are different signs on January 19th.

There are many different signs for Baptism. They are different for every nation. People believe in these signs and try to fulfill them so that the family can have prosperity and peace. But not all signs correspond to reality, so you should be careful about excessive faith in signs.

Folk signs for Epiphany, signs that are related to the weather

There is such a sign that at the Blessing of Water you can get rid of any disease. It has long been customary to make an ice hole in lakes or rivers. There, the clergy blessed the water in the ice hole and the area around the ice hole, read prayers, thereby making this place healing. It has long been believed that whoever swims in this ice hole will get rid of many diseases and receive a blessing for a happy life.

But not everyone will risk going into icy water under such frost, although many claim that on this day the water is warmer than ever. There is such a sign that if you stick a stick into an ice hole, bees and pigeons will breed well. But opinions about this sign differ. Those who keep pigeons believe that if you take good care of them, they will breed well even without a stick.

Folk signs for Epiphany, other signs that people believe in

If there is a full moon on the night of the Great Holiday, then there is a sign that the snow will melt for a very long time and the streets will all be flooded with water. And if there is a new moon on Epiphany, then the weather will be the same as the previous three days ago. If there was snow and frost, then there will be snow and frost until the end of the month. And if it suddenly snowed on Epiphany, then it was a miracle on Epiphany. Because all water helps against diseases.

People collected this snow and placed it in their homes to melt, and later they took it to the cellar and kept it until it was needed. If a person suddenly had a convulsion or became paralyzed, it was believed that this water would always help heal. Many other signs are also associated with snow.

If on Epiphany the snow piles up against the fence, then people can expect a high harvest only if the snow does not fall close to the fence. If there is a small gap between the fence and the snow, then the harvest will be magnificent. But if it lies close to the fence, then you may not expect a harvest.

Folk signs for Epiphany related to livestock

If suddenly the stars shine very brightly on Epiphany, then the sheep will breed well, and there will be a lot of berries in the forest. But if it’s cloudy, this won’t happen. If you feed Epiphany snow to horses or other livestock, they will become stronger. If you add it to chicken feed, they will hatch earlier. But this only happens if animals eat it.

If dogs bark a lot on Epiphany, then there will be many animals in the forest. This sign is especially important for hunters; if they hear a dog barking, they begin to prepare their guns in winter.

The Feast of Epiphany is celebrated annually on January 19th. Signs and traditions, collected by many generations, have reached our times and are still popular to this day.

One of the most revered holidays among Orthodox Christians is Epiphany. The signs that were noticed on this day helped to predict subsequent events. The main Epiphany tradition remains swimming in an ice hole. On the night of January 18-19, believers plunge into cross-shaped consecrated holes to symbolically repeat the washing of Christ in the Jordan River. Water on this day acquires healing properties and relieves physical and spiritual ailments. Therefore, believers take Epiphany water with them and store it throughout the year.

Traditions and signs for Epiphany

Orthodox Christians celebrate the holiday with their families at the festive table. During fasting, a diet is followed, so you should refrain from eating meat and alcohol. According to tradition, the first to taste food is the one who last swam in the ice hole.

On Epiphany, housewives sprinkle their home with holy water, thereby driving out evil spirits and attracting grace into the home. On this day, quarrels and conflicts are excluded. Families visit each other with songs and carols.

It is believed that a marriage proposal on January 19 is the key to a long and happy family life. The agreement between the parents of the bride and groom was blessed in heaven. On this joyful day, the mothers of the bride and groom asked to reward the couple with healthy and strong offspring and sewed symbolic vests for future grandchildren. Babies born were baptized in these clothes.

According to legends, snow on Epiphany also has healing properties. Housewives used it to clean white bed linen, and young girls washed themselves with snow - it was believed that this would add beauty and attractiveness. Now the Epiphany snow is collected and taken into the house. Children are also washed with it so that they grow up healthy and strong.

Our ancestors also monitored the weather. It was an accurate indicator of how the year would go. The abundance of snow, as well as a clear and bright sky, foreshadowed a rich harvest of grain. Frost on the trees promised a large number of mushrooms, berries and nuts in the summer. If there was little snow, they prepared for a dry summer. The polyphonic barking of dogs was considered a lucky sign - it foreshadowed an abundance of game in the lands.

A traditional activity for Epiphany was also ridding one’s home of negative energy. The house was ventilated, and salt was scattered in the corners, which served as an insurmountable barrier to evil spirits. Church candles helped to charge the house with positive energy and attract prosperity. They were lit in every room and the fire was carefully monitored - an even and clean light meant that there was harmony and peace in the house, and the crackling, fuming and blinking of a candle light meant that the house was unclean.

It is believed that people who receive the sacrament of baptism on this day become lucky and carry a piece of God's grace within them.

The signs collected by our ancestors are still relevant to this day and are used by contemporaries. Pray for your loved ones and wish them a righteous and happy life. Use every day to become better and don't forget to push the buttons and

19.01.2017 02:05

Every year the Orthodox Christian world celebrates one of the most important holidays - the Epiphany. In that...

Baptism is popularly called Epiphany and is celebrated annually on January 19; in 2018, this date falls on Friday. In Russia, this event is not considered a non-working day, although it is an official holiday.

The ancient and revered holiday of the Epiphany by all Christians is becoming one of the most anticipated events in the entire church year. Everyone who has ever heard of the Orthodox faith knows about this holiday, which is why it is not surprising that even in the modern world people continue to adhere to the strict canons of celebrating this wonderful day.

Epiphany 2018: History of the holiday

This church holiday has been celebrated exactly since Jesus Christ was baptized by John the Baptist in the waters of the Jordan River more than 2000 years ago. It is believed that after baptism itself, the holy spirit descended from heaven in the form of a white dove. Everyone heard the voice of God, which said: “You are My Beloved Son; I am well pleased with you!” Starting from this day, Jesus began his earthly mission, which ended, as everyone knows, with the resurrection, which became the progenitor of the Easter holiday. After baptism, Jesus Christ went into the desert, where he stayed for 40 days and nights, preparing himself to fulfill his sacred duty.

Epiphany 2018: Holiday traditions. Do's and Don'ts

Over time, the holiday of the Epiphany has acquired a huge number of traditions that are sacredly revered by people to this day. Perhaps the most significant of them is the ritual of swimming in an ice hole, the features of which should be known to everyone who wants to perform this action. Before swimming, a hole is cut in the ice, which is usually called the Jordan in honor of the river in which Jesus was baptized. The priest dips the crucifix into the water and reads a prayer, thereby consecrating this place for further ritual. You should plunge headlong three times, after which it is customary to read a prayer and get out of the water. It would seem, why expose your body to such stress on days when the Russian winter is especially fierce? However, swimming in an ice hole on Epiphany is an ancient and wise tradition. It is believed that it is on this day that the water in natural springs acquires special properties: after bathing in such water, not only diseases, ailments, evil eyes, but also sins, of which many could have accumulated by this moment, are washed away...

1. People with diseases of the heart, nervous and vascular systems, as well as pregnant women and children should not enter the water. This is especially true for the latter, because in childhood the process of thermoregulation has not yet been formed, which makes the child’s body at risk of serious complications.
2. You cannot swim while intoxicated - because it is life-threatening!
3. You can have a hearty meal before diving, but don’t overeat, and drink hot tea after.

If you adhere to all the rules, then this procedure for the Baptism of the Lord will definitely have a beneficial effect on your well-being: both physically and spiritually.

Epiphany 2018: Tradition of collecting Epiphany water

Of course, not everyone will be able to plunge into the ice hole on January 19, 2018, but at the same time, each of us will be able to collect holy Epiphany water for ourselves, and we will tell you how, where and when is best to collect Epiphany water.

It should be noted that the consecration of water in churches occurs both on January 18, Epiphany Eve (after the Divine Liturgy), and on the feast of the Epiphany itself. On these two days you can collect Epiphany holy water, and there is no difference when you collect it in the temple - January 18 or 19. If you decide to draw water from the tap, then, accordingly, the best period for this will be the period of time from 00:10 to 01:30, which falls on the night of January 18th to 19th, and the water You can also dial later, throughout the 19th (before 24:00).

It is forbidden to quarrel and do bad things when holy water is in your hands.

Epiphany 2018: Signs

This holiday has many signs, both regarding everyday life and nature:

It is bad luck to dilute consecrated water;

Starting from Christmas Eve, it is not recommended to lend money. Otherwise, the culprit may lack money for a year;

You cannot perceive a holiday only as entertainment to plunge into an ice hole;

A good omen for Epiphany is the completion of some task;

Any agreement on this day necessarily ends in success;

Nature at Epiphany also says a lot:

Heavy snowfall and dark clouds on Epiphany foretell a rich harvest in the fall;

Barking dogs at night is good news;

A cross painted on the doors can protect the house from evil spirits;

During the holidays, nothing can be taken out of the house, otherwise there will be material losses.

Epiphany is considered one of the main Christian holidays. Thousands of believers celebrate it annually on January 19th. On this day, Orthodox Christians take a bath in the Epiphany ice hole, which, according to legend, helps improve health and gives spiritual and physical strength. There are other baptismal traditions and signs that were collected by previous generations and have survived to this day. On this day you can find out your destiny and make a wish that will definitely come true.

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Folk signs and superstitions for the Epiphany of the Lord

On January 19 (January 6, old style), Orthodox Christians celebrate one of the twelve main church holidays - Epiphany. This day is also called the Feast of the Epiphany, because at the Baptism of Jesus Christ in the waters of the Jordan, the Most Holy Trinity appeared to the world: “God the Father spoke from heaven about the Son, the Son was baptized by the holy Forerunner of the Lord John, and the Holy Spirit descended on the Son in the form of a dove.”



Despite the fact that, according to church canons, popular beliefs do not matter, there are many superstitions associated with the holiday of Epiphany. Some of them remain from the times of pre-Christian Rus'.



Signs about the weather

Among the Epiphany signs related to the weather, by which the state of the harvest or the coming year was judged, there are the following:

• If the frost at Epiphany is harsher than at Christmas, then you can expect a good harvest of bread.
• A clear and frosty day on the holiday foreshadowed a dry summer.
• It’s cloudy and snowing outside, which means that summer, on the contrary, will be blessed.
• If on Epiphany holidays the snow falls side by side against the fence, then the crops will rot and you can’t expect a harvest. But if there is even a small gap between the hedge and the snowdrift, then the year will be fertile.
• A snowstorm on Epiphany Day promised bad weather until Maslenitsa.
• If the snow flies in large flakes, it means a good harvest is expected. And the blue clouds at noon on January 19 also spoke about this.
• There is little snow on Epiphany - in the summer there will be practically no mushrooms and berries.
• If it was snowing in the morning on January 19, early buckwheat will ripen; snow fell at noon, which means that buckwheat will not ripen early, but not too late. It is considered a bad omen when it snows in the evening - buckwheat will be late.
• If the housewife goes to fetch water and snow begins to fall at this time, it means that the year will be fruitful.
• Frost on the trees promised a large number of berries, mushrooms and nuts in the summer.
• If there is a thaw at Epiphany, then the weather in winter is expected to be warm. It also foreshadowed that the harvested grain would darken.
• When water from the ice hole splashes onto the ice during the full moon, this indicates that there will be a strong flood in the spring.
• If Epiphany occurred on a new moon, then you need to check the weather for the next three days. A clear day foretells sunny and frosty weather for the rest of the month. If snow falls, there will be snowfalls until February. And if it rains, then the weather will be rainy until January ends.
• Many stars in the sky indicated that the forest would produce a lot of red berries.
• In the Tula province it was believed that if the stars shine brightly on Epiphany evening, this predicts the fertility of the lambs. Therefore they said: “Bright stars will give birth to white stars.”



Other beliefs

In addition to superstitions associated with weather phenomena, signs for Epiphany can be supplemented with the following:

1. 1. Dreams on the eve of a holiday are considered prophetic, and predictions are considered the most accurate. For fortune telling on this night, the same rituals are used as for Christmas and Christmas fortune telling.
2. 2. On Epiphany night the heavens open, so whatever you pray for, everything will come true.
3. 3. If dogs are flooded at Epiphany, it means money. It also foreshadowed that there would be a lot of game in the forest.
4. 4. You must come to Epiphany services, and not come on foot.
5. 5. If you baptize a child on January 19, then John the Baptist himself will be present at the ceremony, and if you buy a cross, then the guardian angel will rejoice. People who received the sacrament of baptism on this holiday are lucky and happy in life and carry a piece of God's grace within them.
6. 6. Anyone born on Christmastide must definitely swim in the ice hole. If it is not nearby, then you can take a shower, because on Epiphany all the water has healing powers.

What can't you do on holiday?

There are also special folk superstitions that suggest what should not be done at the Baptism of Christ:

• On the eve of Epiphany and on the holiday itself, you cannot give bread, matches and money from home, so that good luck and happiness do not go away with them.
• You should not borrow money, otherwise the whole year will pass in debt, and you will have to repay it twice.
• On January 18, after sunset, they do not cut an unopened loaf of bread, otherwise their grandchildren will live in poverty and need in old age.
• On the day of Epiphany, you should not cry, otherwise the whole year will pass in tears.
• Also, during the holiday there is no need to praise or scold anyone.
• Anyone who lies on the day of the Epiphany will suffer from sore throat and other diseases of the oral cavity.
• You cannot use foul language or quarrel with anyone, this will bring trouble.
• You should not remember deceased relatives on January 18 and 19, so as not to invite death.
• On the holiday itself and for a week after it, it is considered a sin to rinse clothes in the Epiphany ice hole, since the water in it is holy.
• You cannot leave shoes outside the door on Epiphany night, this will lead to illness.
• On Epiphany, it is not recommended to cut your hair so as not to cut off your destiny, as well as to do manicures and pedicures.
• Sewing and knitting tools should not be used. The work will not be successful, and your life can be confused.
• On the night of January 18 and until noon on January 19, marital intimacy should not be allowed, otherwise a break in the relationship may occur.

Customs and traditions to be followed on January 19

Orthodox Christians celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord with their families at a modest festive table. During fasting, you can only indulge in lenten dishes, so you should refrain from eating meat and alcoholic beverages. The main treat on this bright day is “weeping kutia” made from rice, honey and raisins (sochivo).

According to folk tradition, the first to try the dish is the one who last plunged into the ice hole. Families, according to ancient rituals, visit each other, carol and sing songs. The holiday usually ends with the ritual of releasing doves. There are many other folk customs associated with this bright day.

Exorcism from a home

Epiphany begins on the evening of January 18, when all believers celebrate Epiphany Eve. It is the “Epiphany evening” that is considered a time of rampant evil spirits, when spirits leave their watery havens and try to take refuge in their homes. It was customary to draw a cross with chalk or charcoal on the front door, window frames, and above the stove openings as protection against evil entering the house.

The tradition of drawing crosses on the lids of buckets and jugs of water and kvass, as well as crossing the mouth while yawning, has the same meaning. These actions prevent the possibility of disease and evil spirits entering the human body.

On Epiphany night, the werewolf “Fire Serpent” could appear to girls in the form of a beautiful young man. His love was considered incurable. “If you don’t love, you will love; without praising, you will praise,” the older young girls warned about his appearance.

Fire serpent in the form of a young man

If the house was not protected by the cross in time and unclean spirits entered it, then it is possible to get rid of them as follows:

1. 1. A knot is found in the floor of the home; it does not have to protrude above the floor level, but can simply be outlined on the surface of the parquet board.
2. 2. Use your right ring finger to trace the knot into a triangle.
3. 3. Then they stand on it with their left foot and say: “Christ has risen, and not you, demon. Amen."

On Epiphany you can rid your home of negativity. The living space needs to be ventilated, and salt should be sprinkled in the corners to remove evil spirits. It is necessary to light church candles in each room; they will help saturate the house with positive energy and attract grace. Smooth and clear light from them means that a blessed environment reigns in the house, but crackling, fuming and blinking - not everything is good in the home.

Washing with holy water

Many baptismal rituals are inextricably linked with “holy water.” Believers try to stock up on it in churches or from open reservoirs to treat themselves and loved ones from serious illnesses. It is believed that from midnight on January 19, all water has miraculous powers, because it is at this hour that the rite of blessing of water is performed. An ice hole is made on the river in a certain place - the Jordan, and after performing a prayer service they bathe in a cross-shaped ice hole in order to be healed of many diseases and stock up on health for the whole year. This rite symbolizes the washing of Christ in the sacred Jordan River.

According to popular belief, on the night from the 18th to the 19th, Jesus bathes in all bodies of water. To notice how he plunges into the water, you need to come to the river at midnight and stand guard at the ice hole until the water begins to sway.

The Christmas holidays, which last from January 7 to January 19, also end with baptism, during which for a long time people have been making fortunes about the betrothed and the future. Girls trying to find out their fate on the night of the New Year, Christmastide and Epiphany must douse themselves with holy water in order to wash away their sins, since fortune telling has always been considered a conspiracy with evil spirits.

Upon returning from the blessing of water, all family members usually drink several sips of blessed water. Then the owner must take the sacred willow from behind the icon and sprinkle the entire house in order to protect it from harm and the evil eye. Also, when rinsing with water at night, you should say: “Water from the street, water from me.”

They also pour holy water into wells so that evil spirits do not get in there and pollute the water, but you cannot drink from the well until the morning of January 19th. If there are problems in the house, you need to draw water at night, leave it at the doorstep in an open container, and in the morning wipe the shoes of each family member. Then pour it into a latrine with the words: “An evil spirit is underground, a good spirit is on the earth.”

To make your wish come true you need:

• Place a silver bowl on the table on the night of January 19th.
• Pour water into it.
• At exactly midnight the water should ripple.
• Say a wish over the bowl. It will certainly come true.

After the rituals are completed, holy water is placed next to the images and stored throughout the year. It is believed that it should not spoil, and if it is frozen, an image of a cross will appear on the ice.

Epiphany snow

If you melt snow at Epiphany, you can get rid of dizziness, cramps and numbness in your legs. First, they wash the children with melt water, and then they wash themselves and say the following words: “Strong is the faith, strong is the cross, strong is the health.” In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen".

In Rus', it was customary to add Epiphany snow to the feed of horses to increase strength and endurance, and to chickens to lay eggs earlier. Snow collected on Epiphany evening will help save water even in dry wells all year round. Housewives use this snow to make bed linen snow-white and fresh.

To avoid aging for a long time, you need:

• Bring clean Epiphany snow into the house.
• Melt it down.
• Wash with melt water and say a spell.

Young girls have long washed themselves with snow brought from the fields for beauty and attractiveness. They wiped their face with it to make it white and ruddy. And small children were washed with melt water so that they would grow up healthy and strong.

Traditions associated with marriage

In Rus', many baptismal rites were provided for girls who wanted to get married:

1. 1. Unmarried girls sought to be matched on the day of Epiphany so that their family life would be happy. Those who did not have a lover wondered, since after the holiday it was no longer possible to cast a spell.
2. 2. Girls could find out their upcoming fate at Epiphany. Leaving the house, they looked to see who would be the first to meet them: if a handsome man - for marriage, and when they met a child or an old man - there would be no wedding that year.
3. 3. There was a custom that both boys and girls could perform. It was necessary to ask the name of passers-by - for women it was male, for men it was female. According to popular belief, this is how the betrothed or the bride will be called.
4. 4. On a clear Epiphany evening, the girls went to the church and listened: some of them heard either a wedding choir or the sound of a bell, which foreshadowed an imminent marriage, or a funeral service or a dull knock - this seemed to mean trouble and imminent death.
5. 5. There was another tradition - throwing a shoe. The girls went outside the outskirts and threw the shoe off their left foot. In which direction the toe of the shoe pointed - from there the future husband will arrive, and in the same direction for the girl to leave her father's house. If the sock pointed back towards the house, it meant that the girl would not get married soon.
6. 6. Mothers of newlyweds on Epiphany asked to reward the couple with healthy and strong children and sewed baby vests for future grandchildren. Babies who were born later received the sacrament of baptism in these clothes.

Conspiracy for money, well-being

In order to improve their financial situation and to ensure that there is always money in the house, on the eve of Epiphany, everyone in the household needs to count their banknotes. At the same time, spell words should be uttered for money.

On January 19, you should walk around the house and say three times: “The gate is open, the water is illuminated, the cross is on the wall and on me, a knife from enemies in my hand - get out of my life.” This will help you defeat all your enemies next year.