Ukrainians celebrate Epiphany today: traditions and what not to do
6 January 00:05
Today, on January 6, Christians celebrate one of the greatest church holidays, the Baptism of the Lord, which is also popularly called Epiphany. This date completes the Christmas cycle. On this day, water is blessed, which is considered the main symbol of the holiday and has healing properties. Komersant ukrainskyi tells more about the holiday, its traditions and prohibitions.
The history of the holiday
The Bible says that Jesus Christ, having reached the age of 30, was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. When he came ashore, he heard the voice of God the Father from heaven, who called Jesus his Son. And the Holy Spirit descended on him in the form of a dove.
That is why this holiday is also called Theophany. Believers believe that it is the Baptism of the Lord that attests to the mystery of the Holy Trinity. Because it was on this day that God appeared in three incarnations: God the Father in the voice, the Son of God in the flesh, and the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove.
Traditions and Epiphany
On this day, believers bless water, which is the main symbol of the holiday. Christians believe that the blessed water on Epiphany has healing properties and can cure diseases. That is why it is stored all year round and does not spoil.
According to ancient traditions, the blessing of water was carried out in the open air on the banks of rivers, lakes, or streams.
After the priest blesses the water at the Jordan, they take it home, give it to their families to drink, and sprinkle it on their homes. Christians keep this water for a whole year.
In addition, before Epiphany, people would carve a large cross out of ice and place it near an ice hole, which they would later dive into. They believed that in this way they were cleansed of sins and charged with health for the whole year.
Folk signs:
The ancestors believed that the weather on this day would determine the whole next year:
- If the weather is clear but frosty on this day, the summer will be hot and dry.
- Snowfall promises a bountiful harvest for the whole year.
- A snowstorm on Epiphany means a blizzard in April.
- If you see frost on a tree and clouds in the sky, it means a fertile year.
- A warm day promises a lot of bread.
- If the day was sunny and warm, this weather will last for several more weeks.
What not to do:
According to the beliefs of our ancestors, on this day you can’t do laundry, conduct any divination, or cry.
Thus, people believed that whoever sheds tears on this holiday will cry the next year.
It is also forbidden to do physical labor on this day.
It is also said that it is better not to quarrel or swear on Epiphany.
