Great Christian holiday Baptism January 19: history, customs, traditions and rites. Water lighting, baptismal bathing in an ice hole, fortune telling and signs for baptism

About the festival of baptism of the Lord.

The content of the article

After the New Year, there are still a lot of holidays. Among which the baptism of the Lord is a great Orthodox holiday. Let's learn more about its origins and essence.

Baptism - the Great Orthodox holiday January 19: the essence and history of the holiday

The baptism of the Lord is the gospel event that is marked by the baptism of Jesus in Jordan. According to the stories from the Gospel during baptism, the Holy Spirit came to the Lord, he seemed a pigeon and at the same time the voice of his father was heard from heaven.

In the historical church, this holiday was equal to the date of the Epiphany - January 6. But there are certain clarifications:

Romo-Catholics equate this day with giving the Epiphany and celebrate the holiday on January 13.
The Orthodox Church, which adheres to the Julian calendar, celebrates on January 6. According to the Gregorian calendar - January 19.

According to the stories of the Gospel, after Jesus accepted baptism, he went to retire to the desert. There, he prayed earnestly and prepared for the execution of an important mission, for which he came to Earth.

40 days of the Lord was tempted by the devil, these days he had not eaten and prayed. Since the Lord was a led by the Holy Spirit, but was able to cope with temptations, the prayer ordered strength to him.

Baptism

The exact place of the baptism of Jesus is unknown, since during this time the Jordan River changed the channel and now this place has passed to land. The water consecrated on this day is considered truly healing and it can be stored for a whole year.

If you consecrated a little water, then even a drop of consecrated water added to a bucket with running water makes it healing. In addition to the fact that on this day the consecration of water takes place, not only in churches, but also in reservoirs, baptismal bathing is also very popular.

In order to sanctify water in the pond, the hole is cut down - Jordan. It is there that after consecration, people are washed.

According to signs, such bathing bring health for the whole year. In addition, it is noted that after such ice bathing, no one was ill with a cold, influenza or bronchitis. On this day, the water is truly healing.

Earlier, only those who guessed for the holiday, as well as mummers, swimming in the hole. This was done to cleanse sin. But now swimming has become how popular, especially among men, that every year more and more people from small to great join the Epiphany bathing.

Epiphany bathing in an ice hole

Epiphany bathing is a long tradition that gives the strength of physical, spiritual and spiritual. Modern bathing has changed a bit. If earlier only fortune -telling and mummers came to bathing for washing from sins, now it has become a symbol of spiritual saturation and healing.

There are no rules for washing and bathing in the hole. You just need to plunge into the ice hole 3 times, cross and say: “In the name of the father, both the son, and the Holy Spirit!”

If you confidently decided, then feel free to go to the hole. But still let's figure out a little what is happening with the human body with such a bathing:

When you plunge headlong into very cold water, the central nervous system is awakened, the body is healed.
Positive stress occurs from the influence of low temperature: inflammation, pain, swelling go away.
The body temperature during contact with water rises to 40 s, after which viruses and microbes die in the body.
But nevertheless, it is during walrusning that the body will heal, but when bathing in an ice hole once a year, the body experiences very severe stress.

Sprinking of water

We offer to get acquainted with the rules of bathing in the hole on the great festival of baptism:

Pierce yourself only in specially equipped places under the supervision of rescuers.
Check in advance where there will be mass bathing. The media are informed about them on the eve of the holiday.
Do charging before bathing to warm up the body.
Take a hole in rubber slippers so as not to lose sensitivity from the cold and not fall on ice.
Make sure that the stairs on which you will go down is stable and is well fortified.
Gently plunge with your head. First plunge around your neck, and then try to plunge completely. If you felt a spasm of the vessels of the head, then no longer plunge with your head.
You are not in ice water more than 1 min. So as not to lead to hypothermia.
Gently leave the hole. Hold on to the handrails tightly, ask to serve a dry towel to wipe your hands.
After you come out from the hole, actively break through the towel, dress in warm and dry clothes. You can also drink hot fruit or berry tea.

Bathing

Contraindications for bathing in the hole are:

ENT PROVENING
Cardiovascular diseases
Diseases of the central nervous system
Vision problems
Lung diseases
Gastrointestinal diseases
Venereal diseases

Prepare with you for bathing in the hole:

Warm towel and clothes
A swimsuit (optional, you can swim in linen, but then take a kit of dry linen).
Slippers and warm socks

Sprinking of water, its properties

From a long time, Epiphany water is considered holy and healing. That is why on January 18-19, hundreds of thousands of Orthodox go with water to the temple for consecration.

But still around this phenomenon there are many disputes. One part of the people claim that the sacred and healing water becomes only after consecration in the temple, while others argue that on this day any water is healing.

According to the ministers of the temple, Khreshchenskaya water is really healing. It is used for diseases - applied to sore spots. In addition, it can be stored until next year.

Water is consecrated on a holiday

The clergy claims that the water and healing becomes the water that was consecrated in the temple, and not any, as part of the people says. It is enough to consecrate a small jar and dilute at home in a larger amount of water - all such water will become healing.

Scientific studies confirm that on this day all the water becomes healing. And all due to the fact that on this day water on the whole earth changes properties. It is on this day that strong stream particles affect the Earth, responding to which the composition of water also changes.

Scientists have confirmed that such changes can be given from 18.00 on January 18 to 14.00 the next day. Scientists also do not exclude that water changes the structure after prayer and dipping the cross.

It is scientifically proven that water reacts to words, thoughts, energy. Therefore, it is precisely because of the sincere and festive prayer that it becomes healing.

Can a child be baptized on a feast of baptism?

You can baptize a child any day. There are many fictitious signs regarding the baptism of the child in post or big holidays. But all these are only signs and superstitions, which the Church calls not to believe.

You can also baptize the child on January 19. But it is worth considering the fact that on this day a festive worship is undergoing with the subsequent consecration of water. This process takes a lot of time and all ministers of the church are usually involved in it.

On this day you can baptize a child

Therefore, it is better to specify the church minister about baptism on a festive day in advance. And be merciful if the holy father asks to transfer the baptism the next day. Since baptism is a great annual holiday and requires a lot of time and effort from the clergyman.

Epiphany Eve January 18 - Epiphany evening: traditions, customs, rites

Before the baptism, the Epiphany Christmas Eve is traditionally noted, which is also called the edition.
The main spiritual preparation for the holiday is the post.

On this day before the appearance of the first star, it is customary to eat nothing. Here you can draw a parallel with a similar custom during Christmas.

The meaning of the Christmas Eve is the personification of the power of a person who was able to stand with fasting and prayer and prepare for the great holiday of baptism. In addition, after Christmas and before baptism, holy festivities are held and it is very important to be able to separate a cheerful holiday and find time for prayer and thoughts about God.

On Christmas Eve at night they also bathe in the hole

The Christmas Eve goes from the word "juicy", which is called the dish used on this day. We all know him like Kutia. It is prepared from rice or sprouted wheat, which must be mixed with poppy seeds, nuts and honey.

By tradition, the Orthodox on this day go to the service. During the evening service, the first consecration of water in the new year takes place, which believers after carrying home.
It has long been a bathing at night from January 18 to 19.

M sure to cook with kuta among dishes

Some especially zealous bathes in the hole at night. According to belief, if you swim that night, you will update your soul and gain strength for the next year.

Also, among the customs and traditions of certain places in Russia, you can distinguish a visit to guests. This evening it is customary to visit friends and relatives, bring gifts and have fun.

Fortune -telling for baptism

It has long been accepted on the eve of Baptism to conduct fortune telling, especially girls were fond of. On the morning of January 19, baptismal bathing was held to wash off sin from fortune telling. let's consider common baptisms:

Half of the child - lower the needle on the thread into a glass of water, and then draw a fortuneteller near the hand. If the needle draws circles, wait for the girl, the movement of the pendulum portend the boy to you. If the needle is left without movements, then there will be no child this year.
Collect the friends, it is desirable that the girls are at least 6. Take the ring and eat a velvet strip into it. Ride in turn the ring. Whose ring will stop earlier, it will get married earlier.
Wax girls make a swan and a winch. At night, they are lowered into a glass of water and covered with a white scarf. In the morning they watch how crafts swim - if next to it, then life will be okay, if not - there will be enmity in the family.
Turn the closed candle so that the wax drips on a pre -prepared water in the plate and see what kind of pattern it turns out on the water. Many droplets - wealth, fan - difficulties at work, bunches of grapes - female happiness. We saw the bell - to receive news, the sheet is gossip and betrayal, the apple is good news, the egg is a new life.

The baptism was surely wondered

Find a wooden fence and go along it, saying: "Rich, poor, widower, idle." On what word the strips will end, such a groom and expect.
Girls plant on the bulb in the ground and marry where whose. Next, you need to watch whose bulb will grow faster. That girl will marry the first.
At night, they put cards with four kings under a pillow, think about the wedding. If in a dream you see the King of the Pikovy, then the old jealous will ring you, the king baptizes the military, see the Demill King, so the groom will be welcome. But the worm king portends the girl of a young and rich groom.
Fortune-telling for money-take 3 saucer and ask that one of the relatives hide a coin under the bottom. At that moment, go out or turn away. Now you need to guess where the coin is located. The faster you guess, the richer next year you will be.
The most famous fortune -telling is using a shoe. The girl needs to throw shoes on the street removed from her left leg. By where the sock of the shoes indicates, the groom's house is determined.

Folk signs for baptism

And of course, you can’t do without baptism. Let's look at the most common:

Bathing in the hole eliminates many diseases. In addition, those who bathed, claim that despite even fierce frosts, the water during bathing is very warm and fertile.
If you see the new moon on the holiday, then the weather that was on this day will be until the end of the month.
Snow, which is collected for baptism, cures many diseases. Rather, it is not snow itself. And melt water from him. She was wiped the patient and, according to reviews, she even raised paralyzed to her feet.
Water was also used for washing and bleaching. The housewives argued that this water for white things is better than any whiteness.

The baptism also pay attention to signs

In the village of Khreshchensk Snow, animals are added to food. Such food makes animals stronger and more resilient.
If there are many stars in the sky in the sky, then there will be many berries in the coming year.
If this day is snowing, then the wheat harvest will be good. If the warm weather, then rye is well done, and wheat is bad.

Family traditions for baptism

Holidays from the New Year to Baptism are family. Each family has its own traditions regarding the celebration of baptism.

Some families spend the holiday in the family circle, others in a cheerful and large company. But the main thing that unites most families is a trip to the church and the consecration of water.

After the most active people bathe in the hole. The joint holding of the Epiphany holidays unites people and gives family life of the world, comfort and God's grace.