January 7 is a bright holiday - Christmas. And then Christmastide begins (January 7-19). Since ancient times, this time was considered magical and magical. It was on these days that they tried to find out the whole truth about their fate, the fate of loved ones, about the betrothed and even about the imminent death. And fortune-telling could help in this.
The most successful days for fortune-telling were January 13 (Vasilyev's Day) and January 18 (Epiphany Christmas Eve). There was a belief that these days all evil spirits penetrated the earth, but there was no harm from it. But she could help in predicting the future.
The most popular Christmas and Epiphany divinations
On the indicated days, young girls tried to find out what the future husband would be called, and at least for a moment to see what kind of destiny was destined for them. Therefore, the most popular ritual was fortune-telling in the mirror, where you could see the face of your chosen one.
To find out about our future, we went to listen under the windows. At midnight it was necessary to go outside, find a house where they were still awake, stand under the window and listen. And from the conversation he heard, one could find out about her husband, and about her mother-in-law, and about future children.
They also listened to the sounds at the door of the church. At midnight they approached a locked gate or door. If bells were ringing, he predicted a quick marriage. If an incomprehensible knock was heard, then soon death may come to the house.
Divination on bread was also popular. The whole family gathered at the table, and each put a piece of bread in a bowl of water. Secret words were spoken so that the water predicted what to expect for the family in the near future. And the next morning we watched the result. If some piece of bread drowned in water or swam to the side - wait for trouble, and, possibly, the nearest death. If all the pieces come together, then happy days will come in the family and prosperity will come.
Fortune telling on thimbles predicted how long someone close would live. Water was poured into the thimbles, they thought of the name of the one about whom this object would tell. They put thimbles in different corners in the windows, and in the morning they looked. If there is less water in a thimble, it means that he does not have so long to live.
