On Epiphany Christmas Eve, people are preparing for a great holiday and this day is associated with many different features, rituals and traditions. There is a list of prohibitions, that is, cases that are strictly prohibited on that day. It is believed that if they are neglected, then one can call upon trouble.
Christmas Eve - what can you do, what not?
Since ancient times, on the eve of Epiphany, people have tried to spend time with their families, preparing for the celebration. Most of the time it is customary to cook lean food for a festive table. It is important to understand what the Epiphany Eve is, what you can not do, and what you can do so as not to bring disaster upon yourself and not anger the Higher Forces.
- On the eve of the celebration, it is customary to prepare an owl, which is a dish of porridge and sweet additives, and it must necessarily be on the table.
- Prior to Baptism, fasting is maintained, and believers can determine its own measure, focusing on one's own health. It is important to consume only lean food, you can not use vegetable oil. There are people who on the day of Christmas Eve, completely refuse to eat and drink.
- For those who are interested in how to behave on the Epiphany Eve, you should know that on this day it is customary to go out into the street with the advent of the first star, looking at the sky and asking the Higher Relief Forces to fulfill their cherished desire.
- It is necessary to recruit sacred water, which has tremendous energy. She should sprinkle her home to get rid of the negative . More water is drunk for health, washed by it and used for other purposes. It can be added to ordinary liquid, and it acquires the properties of a saint.
- It is recommended that you visit the church that day to pray for yourself and your relatives.
In order to understand how to hold the Epiphany Eve, it is necessary to know that it is strictly forbidden to do this day:
- The Church does not approve of noisy parties and festivities on this day, in order to be able to better listen to oneself and become closer to God, it is necessary to behave modestly, fast and read prayers.
- Studying what the Epiphany Eve is and what can not be done on this day, it is important to note that scandals and quarrels are strictly forbidden. It is necessary to keep oneself in hand and restrain not only externally, but also internally.
- It is forbidden to overeat at an evening meal, as gluttony is not welcome. Do not eat meat and fish, so on the table should be only lean dishes.
- Another rule regarding what can not be done on Christmas Eve is to sweep the garbage out of the corners and throw it away. In ancient times it was believed that on this day on the holiday come the souls of dead people who gather in the corners, and after Baptism return to heaven.
Can I work on the Epiphany Eve?
When the church festival comes, many people think about whether it is allowed to engage in physical labor this day. Clergymen assure that on this day it is necessary to abandon the activities that are not mandatory, for example, from working in the garden, building and so on. On Christmas Eve you can not be distracted from the preparation for the celebration and it is important to devote time to rest and prayer.
Can I wash it on Epiphany Eve?
To get accurate information on such issues, it is better to contact clerics who assure that there are no prohibitions on washing, and this applies to all Orthodox holidays. It is worth noting that the Epiphany Eve can be washed, but only need to do this before lunch. If there is a possibility, then it is best to postpone such housework for a while. For baptism, water is an important component, so it is forbidden to wash after two more days.
Is it possible to clean the Epiphany Eve?
On the eve of the great holiday, according to tradition, the whole family should gather for training. Almost the whole day is devoted to preparing a treat that will be served on the table in the evening, so it is recommended to clean it beforehand. For those who are interested, it is possible to clean houses at Epiphany on Christmas Eve, if a lot of dirty dishes or dust accumulated, the answer is clear: cleaning can be carried out, but it is recommended before lunch.
Is it possible to heat the bath in the Epiphany Eve?
In the modern world, the bath is more often regarded as an entertainment option, while a few decades ago, this was the place where people performed hygiene procedures. If a person is guided by this goal, then bathing in the Epiphany Christmas Eve is not forbidden, especially since the believer cleanses the body of dirt and prepares for service. As for pagan traditions, it was believed that the snow on this day is of tremendous power, so it was heated and washed with water in a bath. For women it helped for a long time to remain young and beautiful.
Can anyone guess in the Epiphany Eve?
If you ask such a question to the clergy, then the answer is an unequivocal "no", and it concerns not only this holiday, but other days. The Church believes that magic is from evil, therefore it is forbidden to conduct any rituals. If we turn to pagan traditions, then from ancient times people used different methods of predicting the future. Many people believe that it is not only possible, but it is necessary, to tell fortunes to the Epiphany Christmas Eve, since this is the last day of holy fortune-telling.
There are a lot of different rituals with which you can learn about what to expect in the future, whether it will be possible to meet love, improve your financial situation and so on. It's important to take divination seriously and do everything according to the rules, otherwise you do not need to count on a truthful answer. Another rule - you can not tell anyone about the use of magic and better conduct rites in solitude.
Can I knit on the Epiphany Eve?
In ancient times, needlework was not only a way of entertainment, but also an opportunity to create beautiful things for yourself. In the modern world, objects made by themselves become more popular. Many believe that knitting in the Epiphany Eve is forbidden, because it is a sin. Clergymen say that if this action is necessary, then we can allocate time for it. It is important that handicraft does not interfere with prayer. Another prerequisite is not to devote time to selfish goals, that is, if knitting is earnings, then it is worth noting it for holidays.
Can I embroider in the Epiphany Eve?
All the rules concerning needlework have been described above and they are suitable for those who want to do embroidery or sewing. If all preparations are completed, the temple is visited and prayers are said, then you can do what you want. For those who are interested, whether it is possible to sew on the Epiphany Eve, one can give one more useful advice - during the process it is recommended to read any prayer, for example, "Our Father". Many needlewomen say that during the embroidery on holidays, the thread is often torn or tangled and it should be taken as a sign that it is necessary to stop.
Can I cut my hair on Epiphany Eve?
According to the existing signs, you can not cut hair on all religious holidays. It is forbidden to perform any manipulations with hair, starting with combing and ending with different hairstyles. As to whether it is possible to get a haircut on the Epiphany Eve, the eve of the celebration is considered the ideal time to do a haircut, get rid of negative energy, and prepare for the holiday. It is important to consider that if you cut your hair on the day of Baptism, you can so reduce your life and attract illnesses to yourself.
Can I drink alcohol on Epiphany Eve?
Many church holidays are accompanied by feasts and if cooking is more or less clear, then disputes over whether it is possible to drink alcohol or not often arise. Answering the question about whether it is possible to drink alcohol on Christmas Eve, the clergy say that the supper should be lean and only wine can be served to the table, and the red one will be white, dry or dessert, does not matter.
Finding out what the Epiphany Eve is and what you can not do on this day, it is worth pointing out that any strong drinks are prohibited. It is important not to drink much, so as not to reach the stage of intoxication, because religious holidays are not an occasion for drunkenness, as many believe. You can not break this ban, because it is considered a sin, and double.