The baptism of the Lord (Holy Manifestation)

The feast of Epiphany ends with the Christmas holidays, which last from 7 to 19 January. According to the biblical story, Christ was baptized in the waters of the Jordan River, and this gave the second, popular, name of the holiday. On the eve of January 18, the whole family, as before Christmas, gathers at the table. To the table are served only lean meals and prepared hungry, or poor kutya. It is difficult to explain why it is so called, perhaps because you cannot eat anything all day before Baptism, since it is a harsh fast. The Hungry Koutya has an interesting ritual, which has the name “Expulsion of the Kutya”. Its essence is that you need to take the pot where the kutya was boiled and break it against the gate, while saying: “Get out, kutya, out of the trap!” In some regions of Ukraine, mainly in the West, this day was generous.

In churches, water is consecrated, which is gaining special strength and healing. Epiphany water heals wounds, it helps to turn away any disaster. Coming home in the morning after the night church service, you need to sprinkle every corner of your home with holy water, then your house will be order and peace.

On the night of Baptism, animals can speak human language, but you do not need to listen to their conversations - as a rule, this does not bode well.

On the day of Epiphany, the whole community usually gathered near lakes or rivers where church services took place. They happen, of course, and now, but that color, that brilliance and mystical mystery, unfortunately, lost. This happens because, probably, the climate on our mother planet has significantly warmed and there are no winters. Now it is hard to imagine that the entire church remanent for watersheds, in particular the royal gates, were made of ice. Children were especially happy with this day, because there were so many interesting events waiting for them. One of them is the release of pigeons. These birds symbolize holidays that end and must be released.

It is unfortunate, but it is the Baptism that ends a number of Christmas and New Year holidays, because it is time to work.