Baptism translated from the Greek language means "immersion in water." All peoples adhere to this holiday. In the Church, Baptism is considered one of the main holidays. What? It takes place on January 19, when people set the tables, go swimming in the hole in the ice or doused with water. It is believed that the time of the Baptism on the night of January 18-19 is the time when the sacred water flows from the tap. We offer you a closer look at this significant holiday.
What is the Baptism of the Lord
On this day, many Christians, not only from Russia, but from all over the world, recall what the holiday came from. Let's remember - Baptism, what is it? On January 19, John the Baptist (Baptist) in the river Jordan christened Jesus Christ.
It is from this holiday that the New Year begins according to old traditions.
Today, Epiphany Day is celebrated on the night of January 18-19. People celebrate it almost the same as Easter. They prepare a delicious dinner, go to church in the morning and sanctify water, and not only. Some people like to consecrate various products, such as sausage, cheese and kutya.
Many people like to go to the ice hole in the morning of January 19, where they bathe. There is an opinion that even if the street is cold, it’s still not cold to plunge. Some are afraid to swim, they think that you can catch a cold, because the temperature is below zero.
In order to absolve sins on the feast of Baptism, it is advisable to fast for a day. That is, do not eat meat and fatty dishes. It is necessary to give preference to lean food.
Features for the Baptismal service
The priest and all the ministers of the church are dressed in white robes that day. In baptism, what is water? It gives strong energy to a person and cleanses him of sins. However, only if you follow all the rules.
The very first feature on the day of Baptism is the blessing of water.
Even if she is from the tap, nothing will happen to her. Holy water will not deteriorate for a very long time. It is often used to heal a person, the evil eye, cleansing, etc.
Service in the church begins in the evening on January 18. The next day, the priest also holds a service. All comers who want to purify themselves and sanctify the water in the church usually go to worship first. After the service has passed (2-3 hours), people can take holy water in the church or wait for the priest to consecrate it himself.
On the day of the Epiphany, you cannot quarrel and curse. It is advisable to read as many prayers as possible from January 18-19. If you do not know them, then just turn to God. He cannot be asked in prayers for money and glory. After all, this is a non-financial God. Ask him not to get sick so that you can earn money for your needs. You will see, if you speak from a pure heart, he will give you health.
Nutrition before Baptism
On the eve, that is, January 18, you need to adhere to a light diet. Be sure to eat kutia on this day, which is prepared from cereals, honey and raisins. Some add nuts and sugar to it.
Of course, it’s not only kutia that you need to eat at Baptism. What is tasty and interesting is still possible? Probably nothing. On this day, try to exclude pork, eggs, fish and dairy products.
Try to make soup on January 18th without frying vegetables. Put potatoes, carrots and onions (all raw) in the water. There is very little salt. One day you can sit on such a lean soup. In addition to the first dish, make porridge (buckwheat, wheat or rice). They will even heal you for this day. After all, as you know, cereals are very useful for the human body.
But on January 19, arrange a holiday. You can cook chicken in the oven, various salads, meatballs and much more.
Baptismal Traditions
Any church holiday is intertwined with folk traditions. Baptism in Russia was given special significance. The girls stopped guessing and trying their fate. They began to go to church, pray and stand in the service.
Girls believed that holy divination was a sin. Therefore, they knew that after visiting the church they were cleansed.
Today, all the people are preparing for the holiday in advance. People make menus, buy groceries and cook a varied meal. They do not change long traditions and also come to church for purification. As in Russia, so now the father blesses the water twice. The first in the church itself is in the font, and the second in the bathing pond.
If a person for some reason could not come to church, he is cleansed by bathing in the hole. However, remember that this tradition is optional. There is a risk, so you need to beware. If you have a sick heart, weak vessels of the brain, or chronic bronchitis, then it is better to avoid swimming in the cold.
In Russia it was forbidden to wash clothes on the day of Baptism not only at home, but also in the river, since the water is considered holy.
Where to bathe at Epiphany
Many citizens wonder at Baptism, where to bathe? The choice is very large. You can swim in any place where there are special equipped places. For this, there must be special steps, from where it is easy for a person to go down. There may also be tables where a person can put their clothes. In special places on the day of Baptism, rescuers are on duty. After all, anything can be. They help in unforeseen situations. In these places you can go through the whole rite of bathing.
Many people plunge into informal places. It is very dangerous. Where there are no lifeguards and a special entrance to the water, this place can be fatal. Therefore, do not take chances. The places of Baptism are no different, they are equipped equally. Therefore, it is not necessary to go somewhere far from your home to plunge into the holy water. If you have a nearby pond for Baptism, you can safely go there. It is advisable to first find out if there are doctors or rescuers there.
If you want to swim on a holy day, go where there are specially designed places and many people. If you don’t know where to go to Epiphany, better ask friends who have tried several options.
Proper Bathing for Baptism
You can plunge into this holiday at any age. Of course, one needs to be prepared for this ritual both physically and mentally. If you are preparing your child for a baptism bath, you first need to temper him during the year. Arrange your baby with a contrast shower and dousing with water. First, the water should be warm, gradually turning into colder.
If you have rheumatism, heart disease, or certain chronic diseases, then you should consult your doctor first. After all, dipping in ice water can cause a person to have a shock state.
If you are allowed to bathe at Baptism, follow these guidelines:
- Bathe only in designated areas.
- Go diving, accompanied by loved ones, it is very dangerous for one to dive.
- Do not drink alcohol or cigarettes before bathing. From them, the vessels narrow, which can cause a shock condition.
- Take warm, replaceable clothing with you.
- To freely approach the water, shoes should be non-slippery and comfortable.
- It’s better not to plunge with your head, because from a sharp narrowing of the vessels, trouble can occur.
- Do not stay in ice water for more than 60 seconds. After all, hypothermia is a very serious test for the body.
- There is no need to plunge where the ice is, it is very dangerous.
- After bathing in ice water, you should rub the body well with a terry blanket or towel to disperse the blood throughout the body, only then dress.
- To avoid hypothermia, drink hot tea immediately after bathing.
The Baptism of the Lord is a holiday that not only cleanses a person, but also renews him spiritually.
Baptismal Signs
From ancient times, they paid attention to the weather and events to determine what will be spring, summer or autumn. Here are some popular signs:
- If this day is clear, but there is frost, there will be little rain in the summer and harvest in the autumn.
- At Baptism, a round full moon - in the spring there will be a spill.
- The night of January 18-19 will be clear and many stars - in the summer a good harvest for berries.
- If there is a plus temperature at Epiphany, summer and autumn will be fruitful.
- South wind January 19 - in summer there will be frequent thunderstorms.
- Dogs bark at Epiphany - the hunting season will be successful.
- Chickens are not fed on this holiday. It is believed that if they are full January 19, in the summer they will spoil the garden.
- If Baptism turned out to be sunny and frosty, the summer will be very hot and dry.
- If the clouds are blue at 12:00 p.m., January 19 - in the fall you will gather a rich harvest from the garden.
- A blizzard on Epiphany means that spring will soon knock on the window.
- If January 19 is a strong whirlwind, honey will be abundant.
- A blizzard on Epiphany suggests that the weather will be the same in Shrovetide.
- You will be healthy for a whole year, if at dawn on January 19 you buy in an ice hole.
All these signs in the people were considered very important. If the weather really indicated that there would be no harvest, then people stocked up for the next year. People over the years have made sure that all signs are true. Many are interested when the Baptism in 2016. This holiday falls from Monday to Tuesday.
Epiphany water and its features
This water is called agiasma. In Greek - "shrine." A long time ago it was considered healing. Until now, people remember her, if someone in the family feels bad, give holy water to drink, wipe their face, hands, feet. It is believed that people are healed. Indeed, it remains a mystery how water can stand for a long time and not deteriorate.
Scientists have investigated ordinary and sacred water. They proved that the second is indeed approaching in density to the sacred river Jordan. Its healing properties are explained by the fact that it is on Holy Days that the Earth’s magnetic field is deviated from the norm and magnetizes all water. Scientists were not able to prove this phenomenon to the end. After all, it is on Church holidays that a miracle happens. So from a scientific point of view, even the water that flows from the tap on Church holidays becomes perfectly clean and retains its special quality for more than a dozen years.