In our age of computer technology, we have moved away from nature, have ceased to understand it. Our ancestors lived differently. They believed that every tree has a soul, that wood goblin and kikimors live in forests, and water bodies and mermaids live in reservoirs. People asked these entities for help, appeased them so that they would not interfere with growing a rich harvest, fishing, and hunting.
Now this behavior of ancestors looks naive, but it has a deep meaning. Think for yourself, you can't just take from nature. She definitely needs to give something in return.
In addition, our grandfathers and great-grandfathers were able to notice various signs and accurately associate them with future events. It was a kind of weather forecast that was never wrong.
16 april
On this day and now, Orthodox Christians honor the memory of the Monk Nikita the Confessor. The people called April 16 differently: Nikitin's Day, Water Treatment, Vodopol, Nikita - an icebreaker. There is a logical explanation for this.
Our ancestors attached particular importance to the middle of spring. In many regions of Russia during this period ice drift began on the rivers. People believed that a water body lives in every body of water. In winter, he slept at the bottom, and on April 16 he woke up. The owner of rivers and lakes began to break the ice in order to get to the surface and take a breath of clean air.
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Sometimes he swore a lot. Then people heard crackling, grinding and other sounds. Of course, they were created by breaking ice floes, but our ancestors believed that the angry master of reservoirs was making such noise. He was angry because he really wanted to eat, because the whole winter he had no poppy dewdrops in his mouth. So they hurried to feed him and calm him down. Otherwise, the king of the river could leave the fishermen without a catch and send other misfortunes.
With tobacco and old bast shoes
There were several rituals that took place on April 16. During one of them, nets were set on the river. The best fish was selected from the first catch. To it was added a loaf of bread, a pinch of salt, some tobacco and a shot of vodka. All these treats were thrown into the river and said: "Take, grandfather water, our gifts and tobacco, and give us some fish."
An old boot or bast shoe was also thrown into the water. At the same time they said: “Damn! Take sandals, drive the fish."
With a horse
This ceremony was distinguished by some cruelty. However, in ancient times, the gods and higher powers were often sacrificed. Such were the morals then. In Russia, fishermen bought an old horse in advance with the money of the artel. You had to pay for it as much money as the seller asked. Bargaining was prohibited. The animal was fed.
On the eve of Vodopol's day, red ribbons were woven into the horse's mane. The body of the animal was smeared with salted honey. Then the mare was brought to the river, her legs were tied, and two millstones were put on her neck. Exactly at midnight on April 16, the horse was drowned. If the river was still covered with ice, it was simply lowered into the hole.
If the water was already open, the fishermen got into the boat, swam away from the shore and pulled the animal along with them. The oldest fisherman remained on the shore. He listened to the sounds and tried to interpret them. He also indicated when the horse can be drowned. If this happened quickly, then the merman accepted the gift. Then the happy fishermen went to celebrate.
But it also happened that the horse fought for a long time for its life. In this case, our ancestors believed that the water man did not like the gift. People were afraid that the owner of the river would go to another body of water and take all the fish with him.
When the horse was hiding under water, butter (vegetable or ghee) was poured into the river. At the same time, they said: “Here's a housewarming gift for you, grandfather water. Love and favor our family."
With a cow
On April 16, another ceremony was performed. The women baked rye bread. It was consecrated in the church, and at noon was put on the horns of cows. People believed that after that the animals would give a lot of milk.
Signs
On Nikitin's day, our ancestors carefully watched the weather. There were such signs:
- The water has risen above the holes of the moles - in the near future there will be a real flood.
- There is no ice drift on the river - you will not see good fishing.
- Mother-and-stepmother blossomed - expect some trouble at night.
- Rain on April 16 by late and rainy spring.
- There is a lot of birch sap by the rainy summer.
- Prolonged peals of thunder for bad weather for several days to come.
- If a thunderstorm is observed on April 16, and thunder is thundering for a long time and not very sharply, then the bad weather will last for several more days.
- The wind blows from the south towards the spring crops, and from the north towards the rain.
Now no one believes in water. Of course, he is not treated. However, you can take a closer look at the signs. They preserve folk wisdom, which does not allow the invisible thread that connects us to our distant ancestors to break.
Elena Kerra