Today, Orthodox believers honor the memory of John the Baptist.
Among the people this celebration is called Ivan Kupala.
In Rus', on this day it was customary to leave behind all household chores and worries and immerse oneself in the celebration of this holiday.
It was believed that various miracles could happen at night on a given day.
The great prophet John the Baptist, who was the Baptist of Jesus Christ, is one of the most revered Christian saints.
This holiday is also called the Nativity of the honest and glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord John.
The saint is the third most important figure in the Christian religion. According to ancient legends, John's mother was a relative of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Her name was Elizabeth.
The Baptist's father was a Jewish priest named Zechariah.
Despite the fact that John was only six months older than Jesus Christ, he predicted the coming of the Savior while still in his mother’s womb.
When John was thirty years old, he baptized the Son of God. After that, he became a wandering prophet who carried the news of the coming of the Divine Essence to Earth.
What you can't do on Ivan Kupala
On this day, many people followed certain rules:
- did not lend any money;
- did not sell any of their own things;
- They didn't give flowers and generally didn't pick plants.
It was on July 7 that it was considered a grave sin to commit ungodly acts, namely, to be sad and to remain alone. Otherwise, according to beliefs, a period of significant deprivation and poverty, as well as failures in personal life, would come.
What can you do on Ivan Kupala
Today it is recommended to start the day with a prayer to the Higher Powers. In particular, it is worth visiting the church.
It is also worth asking the Almighty for help in matters concerning family and harvest.
Earlier we talked about what a morning rainbow means.
