Ilin Day: History of the Feast and Traditions
The prophet Elijah is one of those holy people,which are revered in different religions. There are even traces of Ilya's presence in pagan religions, Judaism, Islam. In the article we'll talk about Il'in's day. The history of the holiday is vague. It is associated with different myths.
Beliefs
After Ilin's day, you can not swim in theopen water. It is believed that the prophet comes to stagnate water. There is a version that Ilya in the water urinates. Regardless of the reason, after the second August you can not swim. This is due to the fact that there can be trouble.
history of the holiday
The story of the holiday Ilyin Day began a very long time, even before the birth of Christ. According to legend, Ilya is a great prophet from the Old Testament. He was born ninety years before Christ.
When Ilya was born, his father, Sovak,There was a vision that the men conversed with the child and fed him with fire. From a young age the prophet lived in the desert, in strict fasting and prayer. After he was called to serve to King Ahab, who worshiped Baal. The Lord sent Ilia to the king and told me to say that if his people do not turn to the true God, then his kingdom will suffer a famine. The king did not listen, there was a famine in the country, a severe drought came.
During the famine, Ilya spent a year in the desert. Birds wore food to him. Then he came to the widow of Sarepta. After three years of wandering, the prophet returned to the kingdom of Israel and again tried to convey to the king that all the misfortunes of the wrong faith. To prove his case, he offered to make altars: one was for Baal, and the second was for the true God. If the fire comes down on the altar of Baal, then it is a true God, if not, it's just an idol.
First, the altar of Baal was made. People stabbed a bull, the priests prayed, asking to send fire from heaven. Despite all the pleading, no fire was sent.
In the evening of the same day, Ilya made his ownthe altar, laid the wood, watered them with water and began to pray. The fire that came down from heaven burned both the wood and the sacrifice. The stones burned with fire, the waters evaporated. The people saw a miracle and glorified the real God, believing again in him.
For his affairs, the earthly Ilya was taken to the sky alive,fiery chariot. This miracle was seen by the prophet Elisha. Then, in the Transfiguration of the Lord, he appeared with Moses and appeared before Christ. They conducted conversations on Mount Tabor. The tradition of the church says that the prophet Elijah is the Forerunner of the terrible Second Advent of the Savior to the earth. He will be on earth in a mortal body.
Reverence
The story of the holiday Ilin Day shows severityand at the same time generosity. The prophet was highly esteemed among all the Saints. He always favored believers, the righteous, and was harsh with sinners. He fulfills the human and God's laws.
Ilya is considered the lord of lightning. Since the adoption of Christianity, the prophet was portrayed as a god of thunder. Many find this resembles the image of Perun, revered by the ancient Slavs.
You can not swim
Many are interested in trying to find the day in the history of the holiday of Ilyin, why not swim. There are several reasons for this.
On the second of August, on the Ilin day, it was forbidden to swim in the open waters. It used to be believed that it could cause great trouble and cause severe health damage. Often people drowned in this holiday.
There are several different versions, why notbathe. One of them says that the prophet has cooled the water. When the saint went to heaven, one of the horses dropped a horseshoe into the water, making it cold. To this day, people say, "Ilya the Prophet is troubled by water." This saying is connected with the fall of the horseshoe into the water.
Another version says that from this day beginsbloom the water. It is believed that during the flowering of water bodies, the water gets an unpleasant, rotten smell. On the surface of lakes and rivers, mud appears. All this can harm the health.
Some people in ancient times believed that on the night ofOn the second of August the evil spirits gather near the ponds: devils, mermaids, water. From this day on, they begin to run on the water, drowning everyone who climbs into the water to swim.
Traditions
The history of the holiday Ilin Day has its own traditions. The Prophet was respected, because he controls the forces that help the peasant work, live comfortably. Therefore, it was decided to celebrate the second of August, and not to work.
They say that Ilyin's day does not go without thunderstorms, but only sinners hear them. The one who saw the lightning and heard the thunder, hid in the houses, shutting the shutters and doors. Everyone was afraid of Ilya's anger.
Traditions and history of the holiday Ilyin is veryare interesting. In the villages they believed that if it rained, it was the blessing of the prophet. It was believed that this moisture has healing power. Women who washed this water, became more beautiful, attractive.
Signs
In the history of the feast Ilyin, the day of the omens was of no small importance. What are they talking about?
- From the second of August nights become dark.
- Ilyin does not get a finger out of the sky by the sky, and afterwards - anyone can lure the rain.
- If a fire occurs on Ilyin, then, before stewing, it is necessary to pour the milk into the fire and only then it can be extinguished. If this is not done, then the flame will spread throughout the village.
- You can not consider a shock.
- It is impossible to work, since Ilya will choose well-being.
Despite the prohibitions, on August 2 it is possible to carry out certain types of work. It is allowed to look after bees.
The history of the holiday Ilin Day for Childrensays that it was decided to prepare wax for candles. It is believed that the wax harvested on the second of August has special properties. Candles, cooked on the Ilin day, are kept in the house all year round and lit on special occasions. This is due to their ability to protect against the bad.
According to legends, it was impossible to stand under the trees that day. Such superstition is associated with the possibility of lightning striking a tree. Also, you can not stand at crossroads, where the evil spirits are.
The most important thing that you can not do on August 2 is to swear and abuse alcohol. To spend a day is necessary with an open heart, kind thoughts.
For the celebration on the eve of the second August, it was customary to bake a ritual cookie, rites were held to protect the house from water, lightning. Did rituals to protect yourself from the evil eye, diseases.
The prophet Ilya is portrayed as being harsh and at the same timegenerous. In his submission are lightning, rain, thunder. With them, on the ground comes the fertility, well-being of those who worked for a whole year. For the labors of the righteous, he will be rewarded.
