Spiritual development, Religion
Feast of the Epiphany: signs and rituals. Rituals on the Epiphany Eve
One of the most significant days in the Orthodox tradition is the feast of the Epiphany. The signs and rituals, fortune-telling, held on this day, are considered especially true. Predicting their fate on the night of January 19, rural and urban residents have more than one century. And the very history of Baptism goes back to ancient times. To date, this holiday is recognized by all without exception Christianity. Celebrate it and Catholics, and Orthodox, and Protestants.
Epiphany
The Christian Epiphany is a holiday, which Jesus Christ himself laid down. At the age of 30, he came to the Jordan River in order to wash away his sins. At that time in Judea there was such a custom. John the Baptist at first refused to conduct a rite over Jesus himself, considering himself unworthy of this. However, the Son of God insisted on the fulfillment of the tradition. Since then, according to his example, the custom of baptizing with water was adopted by many peoples.
The holiday is called the Epiphany because when Jesus left the water after baptism, the heavens opened up and the voice of God was heard: "You, my beloved Son! In you is my Blessing. " Then the Holy Spirit came to Jesus in the form of a dove. Thus, on this day, all three hypostases of God appeared before the people: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
In different denominations the Epiphany is celebrated on different days. It is believed that Jesus Christ was baptized on January 6. The Catholic Church, however, celebrates the Epiphany on January 13. Orthodox celebrate Epiphany January 19 - according to the Julian calendar. According to the old style, this is January 6. Eastern Christian churches hold ceremonial services on the 6th according to the new style.
In general, the holiday is actually very significant - the Baptism of the Lord. People's signs, rituals of predictions, held on January 19 - all this, of course, no more than the echoes of old pagan beliefs. They were not approved by Christian clerics, but they were never considered a special sin among the people.
Religious holiday
But first, let's find out how the Baptism of the Lord is officially celebrated. Traditions and rituals left over from pagan times are certainly interesting. But we'll talk about them later. Yet at the moment most Russians profess the Christian Orthodox faith.
Since the time of the baptism of Rus, the Epiphany was made to be preceded by a one-day fast. That is, January 18 is not allowed to eat fast food. Traditionally, on the festive table, collected on the eve of the Epiphany, put a "hungry" kutya. In the church at this time the liturgy is served, which ends with the first great blessing of water. By 12 o'clock in the morning the believers gather in the church for the festive service. The latter lasts usually until the morning.
Then begins the procession. All the faithful, led by the priests, go to the nearest pond with a column. Preliminary in the ice of this pond or lake is cut a hole in the form of a cross, called in honor of the events of the New Testament "Jordan". Here the priest privately consecrates water, and then holds a festive moleben. Further, the willing believers are plunged into the ice-hole, traditionally, three times.
Epiphany water can be recruited in the church. Knowingly it is consecrated in advance. Sometimes water is collected and straight from the hole. But more often on a pond, near to "Jordan" simply establish vats with more pure. Even tap water is considered holy and healing on the Feast of Epiphany. Epiphany (signs predicting different events on January 19, are also often associated with water) - the day when all the lakes and rivers become sanctified. Of course, they purified themselves from the negativity of Baptism and the wells. Epiphany water can be treated with diseases of family members or, if necessary, domestic animals. In addition, it sprinkled the dwelling and outbuildings to remove all negativity. Its holy baptismal water retains its properties for a year, and sometimes longer.
Folk ceremonies
Of course, celebrated not only in the church, but at home this holiday - the Baptism of the Lord. The signs and rituals, held on January 19, could be very different. On this day they recognized the name of the betrothed, their destiny for the whole year ahead, etc. Of course, the Christian church did not approve of such rituals. That is why the one who was engaged in fortune-telling on the eve of Epiphany should have swim in the ice hole to wash away the sin of communion with evil spirits. During fortune-telling, which was nothing more than an echo of ancient pagan beliefs, village and city residents were obliged to take off their own cross, and also untied all the knots on clothes. Next, we'll look at how some of these ancient rituals were performed in more detail.
How did you learn the name and place of residence of your future husband?
On what could the God-manifestation be celebrated in the Lord? Conspiracies, signs, rites - they existed just a huge amount. However, traditionally the eve of the Epiphany was still considered a holiday of young people. And guess at this time girls and boys mostly on future husbands or wives. In order to find out the name of the spouse, for example, they went out the gate and asked the first person they met, what his name was.
Guessing with a cock allowed to find out if a girl would marry this year or not. The future bride needed to wait until everyone in the house fell asleep. Then she quietly brought the cock into the house and put it opposite the table. If the bird turned around and ran back to the street, it meant that there would be no wedding this year. If the cock went to the table, it was a very good sign. Wants could be expected soon.
In order to find out exactly where they come from, it was necessary to get out of the outskirts, take off their boots and throw it in front of them. There, where his toe pointed out, and the groom lived. You could also go to the crossroads, behind the village, and wait for the dog to bark. If this sound was heard nearby, then the groom should have been from the same village or from the neighboring village.
Divination by well-being
Whether a person is rich or is expected to face financial problems in the coming year is also something that could easily be ascertained at the Baptism of the Lord. Epiphany Eve, rituals for which were sometimes held by older people, was observed in a rather dark and indefinite time. After all, the old year has already left, but the new one was just beginning. Therefore, the rituals of welfare predictions on this day were also very popular and were conducted quite often. Recognized what awaits the family this year - poverty or wealth - in a fairly simple way. To do this, scattered the seeds on the floor and launched into the house of the cock. The more he squirmed, the better. If the bird ran back to the street without touching a single grain, this was a foretell of serious problems and needs.
Fortune Tellers
In the Epiphany of the Lord, rituals, traditions, and people's signs took on special significance. This day was actually very energetically very strong. For example, on the Epiphany, among other things, you could find out what awaits the family or a particular person in the coming year. For this, there were also various rituals. For example, it was possible to predict fate with the help of a cat. He was taken out into the street and waited for him to enter the house. At that moment they watched which paw he would bring over the threshold of the first. If left, then all family members in the coming year will be happy.
City Divination
Of course, in a large village it is difficult to find, for example, a carp or a cock. Therefore, the townspeople guessed a little differently. For example, on the night of January 19, you could roll up a newspaper and set it on fire. On the shadows falling on the wall and predicting the future. To find out if the desire is fulfilled, it was also possible to cut out two squares of white paper and paint one of them in black. On the morning of January 19, the sheets were thrown out the window and looked at which one would fall first. If black - the desire does not come true.
Contemporary Divination
Nowadays, city dwellers can tell fortunes and a little differently. For example, go outside at night or in the evening, when it gets dark, and turning to your own home with your back, mentally ask the question of interest. Then you need to face the tall building and count the glowing windows. An even number will mean a positive answer, an odd number will mean a negative answer.
Very interesting is also the method of fortune telling on banknotes. In order to find out whether the wish is fulfilled or not, it is necessary to take the purse in the right hand, and to get the first banknote from it left. A dozen, a hundred or a thousand means a positive answer, five hundred is negative.
Signs of Epiphany
To find out the future in the Epiphany was possible and simply by observing the surrounding reality. Next, let's see what kinds of celebrations exist on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. And rituals of divination, and rituals with spells required the performance of some, often complex, actions. By the same signs it was possible to find out your destiny much easier. So, for example, the barking of dogs heard at Epiphany was a very good omen, which meant wealth next year.
It was also a good sign to get to the Epiphany under heavy snow. It meant health and well-being. Epiphany snow, like a driver, was happy with the holy and healing. He was collected from the roofs for fortune-telling and rituals, as well as simply for the treatment of illnesses and getting rid of the negative. It was believed that thawed baptismal water - a very good means of curing skin diseases and joints.
Other signs
Well, we have explained with some detail how to celebrate Baptism. Rituals, signs and fortune-telling, held on this day, of course, are unusually interesting. However, the Epiphany on the surrounding situation could determine not only their future or the fate of their loved ones. According to various signs on this day, our ancestors predicted also simply the weather for a year.
It was considered, for example, that if Baptism fell on a full moon, one should expect a heavy flood of rivers. Bright stars in the sky promised a dry summer, early spring and a warm lingering autumn. If Baptism coincided with the full moon, in the near future expected very severe frosts. Also in such years, summer was often cold, and spring - late and slushy.
Perhaps, the signs and rites that many people take on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord can in fact help to know the future. Believing or not believing in such things is a private matter for everyone. However, in any case, such rituals and traditions, of course, are unusually interesting, including as part of the history of our country.
Similar articles
Trending Now