The baptism of the Lord (Epiphany) is one of the main Christian holidays. The church on this day recalls the evangelical event on the Jordan River - the baptism of John the Forerunner of Jesus Christ. Every year from 18 to 19 January in Russia Holy Baptism is celebrated, the signs and traditions of which exist to this day.
People's Signs of Epiphany
Baptism is a great holiday, which is celebrated on a grand scale throughout the country. People consecrate reservoirs and bathe in the ice-hole , believing that such "healing" water will relieve all ills. Epiphany is preceded by the Holy Week, when it is customary to speculate on fate, the future and listen to nature, and also to carouse. The sequence of "non-Christian actions" ends on a day of strict fasting and Epiphany evening. Rites, traditions and signs for Christmas Eve and Baptism have existed for many years, but many have not lost their relevance.
How to correctly recruit Epiphany water - signs
The main signs for the Baptism of the Lord are associated with the consecrated water, which it is accepted to store carefully (the liquid does not spoil for a long time) and to drink on an empty stomach during the whole year. With its help, you can heal wounds, sprinkle the dwelling and expel the spirits. Access to the vessels with holy water in the temples is open for several days, and it can be dialed at any time. For those who decided to take water directly from the tap, this can be done from 18 to 19 January. The time is from 00.10 to 01.30. It is advisable before that to pray and choose for filling the capacity purchased in the church shop. With regard to water, some prohibitions are also introduced:
- do not score more than necessary;
- Do not swear when you bring holy water into the house;
- Do not dilute ordinary water consecrated.
Sleep on Epiphany is a sign
Since ancient times, various signs and traditions have been associated with Epiphany. According to the ancient belief at midnight, the heavens open and miracles happen, the desire, conceived at that instant, will necessarily come true. All dreams on January 19 are considered prophetic and conceal special messages of fate. Sometimes they are specially "booked": before going to bed thinking about what they wanted to see, they set themselves up for a certain problem, the solution of which is supposed to be seen. Without the "settings", dreams of Baptism usually reveal the secrets of the family, and the sleeper receives clear instructions for the future.
Signs of Baptism for Love
Although the church and forbade, on a holy night it was decided to guess. The girls sought suitors and tried to look into the future, received predictions from a wide variety of subjects and paid close attention to the signs associated with Baptism. They related to love affairs.
- If any of the girls who are going to divination, suddenly cry, waiting for her to part.
- According to popular beliefs, the one who is on the holiday will be happy, will be happy in the family life .
- During the immersion in the hole, the girls tried to jump after the men - it promised good luck in love.
- If the wife of her husband baptizes three times with snow, the year will live in peace.
- In order not to quarrel with your loved ones, you need to go out together at the intersection at midnight and kiss three times.
Signs of baptism for an unmarried girl
Russian folk characters in Epiphany night argued that this date is favorable for accomplishments. Often the girlish appearances were arranged for the Epiphany. On the square came mothers with daughters dressed in the best outfits, and the grooms looked closely at the brides. It was decided to carefully choose a girl, for this purpose mothers of suitors were invited. They examined and probed every girl, they paid special attention to their hands - they must be warm. There were signs and customs for Epiphany, which you can practice today.
- In the evening of January 18, young people, both girls and boys, go out into the street, where they ask the name of the first opposite opposite sex. So they will call them sucheno (narrowed).
- Dreaming of marriage girls on Epiphany notices. When they leave the house in the morning, they look to see who is going to meet them: if the man is to fulfill his dreams. If a woman, a child or an elderly person - there is no wedding yet.
Baptism - signs and superstitions for luck
In Russia, there were many beliefs and customs that they tried to adhere to not tempt fate and lure luck. There were no exceptions and omens in Baptism:
- To leave in festive footwear behind a threshold promised illnesses.
- To save the house from Satan, over the windows and doors mistresses drew crosses.
- To eliminate the discord in the family, at night it was necessary to collect water, leave it at the threshold in an open form, and in the morning wipe it with home shoes. After that, the water poured into a latrine.
- Coming under the baptismal snowfall expected good luck in business.
- The holiday was not allowed to throw out trash so as not to lose family happiness together with it.
Signs on Epiphany January 19 for prosperity
A special place in the old days was occupied by Epiphany signs connected with the increase of material condition, wealth, good or bad harvest. A look into the future was helped by pets:
- barking dogs promised lots of game in the woods and material well-being;
- it was decided to feed the chickens on the holiday, so that in spring they did not spoil the harvest, and it was a success.
Bad signs and traditions on Epiphany were not recommended to give money on loan on the eve of the holiday - this foreshadowed a great need in the future. Noting the future prosperity, on Christmas Eve it was customary to boil porridge as a symbol of wealth and family happiness. If the dish was successful, the year promises to be happy, and if not - the family is waiting for trouble. Different additives in the dish have a special meaning:
- raisins add to the abundance;
- honey - to sweet life;
- Nuts - to solve domestic problems;
- poppy - for the expulsion of evil spirits.
Funeral for Epiphany - signs and superstitions
If to be born in the Epiphany is considered a rare fortune - such a person is automatically consecrated by the Lord and is successful in business - then to go to another world on big church holidays is an ungrateful business. Epiphany signs and beliefs do not recommend burial of the dead on this day. However, there are no civil and religious prohibitions on this account, if necessary, priests can conduct the rite not at church, but at home.
Weather on Epiphany
Our ancestors loved and knew how to observe the weather: to observe the sun, the wind and precipitation. And even in the modern world, when everything can be explained by the "Hydrometcenter", the weather signs for Epiphany on January 19 are not without logic:
- windy and frosty weather promises a bad harvest;
- a strong south wind blew - summer will turn out to be rainy;
- the weather on January 18 corresponds to the weather for the carnival and the beginning of the next winter.
Signs on Epiphany night say the following:
- if the sky is clear, the stars are visible - peas, berries and nuts will appear in the summer;
- A clear month says that there will be flood in the spring;
- bright stars portend early spring and dry summer.
Epiphany snow - signs
According to the baptismal belief, snow is endowed with miraculous power on a par with water. It was decided to collect it, and for this case in the house even there was a special pitcher. The snow was stored in the cellar, using only when it was required to put a man on his feet. Melt water helped to calm the cramps and headache. Some ancient signs for the Epiphany of the Lord are associated with snow, which foreshadowed a rich harvest:
- snowfall on the holiday promises an abundance of cereals;
- on the trees there is little snow - to the abundance of berries in summer;
- little snow on the branches - there will be a lot of honey;
- snow falls in flakes - the earth will be especially generous.
Warmth at Epiphany - signs
January 19 is the first day of Epiphany, the harshest and coldest time of the year. It lasts until next month. Only according to the beliefs the frosts are really very severe, and sometimes there are strong warming. Such a rare phenomenon as a thaw in the Epiphany prophesies terrible phenomena in society: wars, revolutions. What signs of baptism come true, and which are not - can not be predicted. However, sometimes reconciliations of weather prove the veracity of popular judgments.
Sun on Epiphany - signs
The middle of January is the time of cold weather, and good weather is immediately noticed, so the weather signs on Epiphany pay attention to the sun. It was believed that after the Epiphany, the colds are on the decline, and the sun turns to spring. According to the legend, if the festive morning of January 19 turned out to be clear and sunny - to be hot in the summer. The main thing is that the weather should remain as cold as winter, as the heat for this holiday portends misfortunes and illnesses.
One of the main Christian and folk festivals was and remains Baptism, whose signs and traditions are observed regardless of beliefs. People happily dive with an ice-hole, bring holy water into the house, guess at the condemned and watch with interest the natural phenomena. Some beliefs and customs are a thing of the past, but most are known and continue to occupy people's minds.