How to appease evil spirits, signs for anglers
Friday, April 16, in the national calendar has two names at once – “Nikita Vodopol” and “A watery treat”. On this day, it was customary to appease the evil spirits living in the water and their “owner” – the water one. Violation of the rules on this day threatened to fail on fishing, hunger and even the prospect of becoming a drowned man. What was supposed to be done on April 16?
On April 16, believers remember the abbot of the monastery of Midikia, Nikita the Confessor. This saint, who lived in the 8th-9th centuries, became famous for his virtues, ascetic life and sincere faith. Meanwhile, the Russian people put a different meaning on the day of the memory of St. Nikita.
The fact is that by April 16, rapid melting of snow began, there was an active ice drift on the rivers, and floods began. They could bring a lot of trouble with them – when the river overflowed the banks, it destroyed all living things in its path. That is why, by the middle of the month, the peasants made predictions about how much the water would spill. This was done on the basis of the behavior of animals and birds. For example, it was believed that the sandpiper would never nest at the level of a river flood. Will not dig a tunnel and a burrow below the spill line and a mole.
However, April 16 was special for our ancestors for another reason. Most of the settlements were located on the banks of water bodies. And on this day, according to popular beliefs, the “master” of the depths – the water one – woke up from hibernation. In the early days of his awakening, he was especially angry. So that he did not harm people, he needed to be appeased.
What was supposed to be done on April 16:
– boil porridge (always with milk), bake fresh bread or collect chicken offal, then put the “treat” in a bag and go to the nearest reservoir at noon. Everything cooked had to be shaken out into the water. In Russia, it was believed that in this way they “feed” the water. At the same time, the old-timers assured: even if the owner of the reservoir does not eat the gifts brought, they will be useful to all residents of the underwater kingdom;
– make a fire on the shore, start a round dance around it, accompanied by songs of praise for the water one;
– break the reeds standing near the shore, bring it into the house, set fire to and fumigate the hut with smoke (this rite, it was believed in Russia, protected the inhabitants of the house from the fate of a drowned man);
– to fishermen – pour oil into the river at the rising of the moon and ask for good luck in your business.
The waterman, according to popular belief, was in charge of both fish and waters. The future of the people depended on how much he would be supportive of the inhabitants of the villages and villages standing by the water surface, the old-timers assured. Fishermen especially tried to please the aquatic.
Three days before Nikita Vodopol, those who were engaged in fishing bought the worst horse from the gypsies without bargaining, fed it, on the eve of April 16, coated it with honey, woven ribbons into the mane, and drowned it in the river in the morning. It was considered a very bad sign if the waterman rejected the gift. Subsequently, this foreshadowed a bad catch and hunger.
The birthday on April 16 marks:
Nikita.