January 6 - Veles Day, Blessing of Water, Vodokres, Winter Turitsy - the day when the Navi Gates (open during the Veles Christmastide) are closed, and the world of Revelation acquires its usual orderliness.
The blessing of water ends the Christmastide, which lasts from the day of the winter solstice to January 6.
The name of the Holiday Vodokres (Kres * Water) - literally means the Revitalization of Water.
The day when all the Waters of Mother Earth are sanctified by the sacred fire of the newborn Sun. The negative information that the water has collected over the year is reset to zero - and the water again becomes pristine, pure, healing …
A spark of Heavenly Fire (Kres) from the Svarog Forge falls into the waters of the Earth, endowing them with magical properties.
They also believe that at this time Veles the Prophetic God sends people to health - blesses all the Earth's waters, so that everyone who washed in them on this day heals from all kinds of ailments.
There was a belief: if on the night of Blessing of Water (January 6) you come to the river and cut an ice-hole, the water boils. On this day, water in natural reservoirs changes its properties, becomes healing. And then it returns to its normal state.
Promotional video:
On this holiday in Russia there was a custom to swim in an ice-hole, despite the frost. Bathing in such water gives a person vigor, health, a powerful surge of vitality. According to tradition, the Slavs brought water home and sprinkled it on the house, yard, relatives, pets, gave the sick to drink, healed their wounds. At this time, direct contact with the Queen-Voditsa is very important.
The Rite of Blessing of Water - a piece of Svarog iron is heated on fire, it is solemnly, with appropriate glorifications, lowered into water, which, according to popular beliefs, acquires a special Power on this day - it becomes "can and powerful", healing, purifying the body and soul.
After the completion of the rite of Blessing of Water, all those gathered wash with water or bathe in ice holes in order to wash off "all the pains and sorrows." Those who took part in the ritual okrut (dressed in the guise of natives of Navi) on Kolyada and during the Veles Christmastide - wash off the remnants of the Navi enchantments that connected them with the world of the Dead.
According to popular beliefs, the water consecrated at Vodokres is considered pure - sacred, and you should not wash or rinse linen in it for 12 days. If you sprinkle the courtyard and the house with water sworn on Vodokres, all the evil spirits will bypass them.
Coal from the Sacred Fire, kindled on the Temple on this day, as well as from the fire in which ritual iron was poured, is stored for a year, revered as a miraculous amulet against fire and lightning.
To warn their house against fire, on Vodokres the owners - the eldest in their Family man and woman - go around the house, holding a bowl of water in their hands, while they say the words: Veles and Makosh are with me, Carry a spell with water; If there is a fire, they will start to put out the fire: Don't burn - once! Don't burn - two! Don't burn - three! Saying these words, they sprinkle water on the house three times, after which they complete the conspiracy: the Spirits of the Ancestors stand - they keep the House from fire! My word is strong and stucco! Goy!
The people believe that it is impossible to take water out of the house on this day - together with it you can endure cleanliness. There is a legend that about this time, Chernobog himself, having turned into a Beggar Wanderer, goes from house to house and asks people for water. Whoever brings out a ladle to Him - together with water will give Him his Share …
Winter Turits - Celebrated on January 6
Under one version, they are dedicated to Veles in the guise of a tour - one of the oldest animals revered among the Slavs with magical powers. The tour embodies the union of Veles and Perun for the glory and prosperity of the Slavic clan.
According to another version, they are dedicated to Tur, the son of Veles and Mokosha, the patron saint of merrymaking, fun, fortune telling, dancing, exuberance and passion. On this day, they guess for the whole next year, since the holiday closes the winter Christmastide.
The 12th day of Christmastide corresponds to the 12th month of the year. Fortune-telling takes place in the evening, with the onset of darkness. In general, the numbers 6 and 12 are dedicated to Veles, Mokoshi - the number 5. Therefore, they also guess on January 5 (5.01). Snow is collected to bleach canvas (Mokosh is the patroness of weaving and needlework). Snow collected that evening, thrown into a well (Mokosh is the patroness of holy wells and springs), can save water for the whole year.
From January 1 to January 6, Veles' Days or Scary Vorozhnye Nights are celebrated - the second part of the Great Veles Christmastide, which begins with Moroka (Frost) Day and ends with Turitsy. Among the people, these six days are marked by rampant evil spirits. The first half of the Christmas time was devoted to the future harvest and fortune-telling about marriage, and the second was associated with cattle and animals. Veles could act in the form of a bear - the "forest king", and in the form of a bull-round - a representative of horned wealth. On Veles Christmastide, they baked ceremonial cookies in the form of domestic animals ("cows", "roes", "bagels", "horns"), dressed in animal skins and masks, danced in sheepskin coats turned inside out (so that the evil spirits would not recognize).
Slavic "Winter Turitsy" is the oldest rite of youthful initiation into men, when a young man had to show his hunting abilities, military courage and overwhelm his first large animal.
On this day, demands are brought not only to Veles, but also to Chernobog. Near the idol Chernobog is generously poured intoxicated drinks and honey. No less generously oozing from the wounds and blood, for today soldiers fraternize as befits real men.
Indispensable dishes of the day - sochivo (bread grains soaked in water and flavored with honey), kutia and broth.
The day is good for making and lighting amulets and runic tablets for divination.
In the evening, they dress up as bears, put on fur coats inside out, fool around and have fun, and at night the girls wonder about marriage.
On the night of January 6-7, people can safely turn to any gods and powers for help, they can guess, spell fortune, etc. At night, all mirrors and other surfaces reflecting the world of phenomena become magical.
On January 19, Vodosvet is celebrated. Do not confuse with Vodokres. On this day, the Water becomes LIGHT, after which it retains its healing properties for a long time. According to custom, it is customary to swim in the ice hole.
An analogue of the ancient Slavic Blessing of Water / Vodokres is the Christian holiday of Epiphany (January 18-19). Literally, Epiphany (Greek) - immersion in water.
From January 18 to January 19, Christians appointed the Baptism of the Lord, which is marked by such a natural phenomenon as the "Great consecration of water." It is believed that on this day water acquires special properties favorable for the preservation of the mental and physical health of people. Any Christian holiday in its natural basis contains the original cosmic phenomena, long noticed by our ancestors and used from time immemorial to harmonize their lives.