Christmastide two weeks of winter holidays are named, from Christmas Eve on January 6 to Epiphany, celebrated on January 19. Fortune-telling at Christmas is rightfully considered the most truthful. Christmastide roots fortune-telling go back to the times of pagan Russia. It was fortune-telling during the winter solstice (and this is the Christmas time) that was given special importance in pagan times. It was believed that it was on these days that the otherworldly forces were most active, and the boundaries between the worlds were thinner, which contributed to a more truthful result of New Year's, Christmas and Yuletide fortune-telling.

With the advent of Christianity to Russia, Christmas divination not only survived, but also acquired more mystical meaning, and although the church tried to fight superstition and fortune-telling, they were carefully passed down from generation to generation, and have survived to this day in a slightly altered form.

Having decided to guess at Christmas, remember that the result of fortune-telling may not meet your expectations, so is it worth spoiling the holidays ...

A huge variety of ways of Christmas fortune-telling in Russia were invented, but the main theme of all Christmas fortune-telling is fortune-telling on the betrothed ( groom). This is understandable, because in ancient times, the fate of a girl entirely depended on how well she came out. get married.

Fortune telling (with a felt boot) on the "side" in which you will marry

This is the most famous and widespread form of divination. The girls alternately throw their felt boots over their backs onto the road and, in the direction of the toe of the fallen felt boot, they recognize the side in which they will get married.

Divination with mirrors

This fortune-telling is well-known from literature and is now popular with brave girls.

Mirrors in the old days were attributed magical properties... The custom of covering mirrors when there is a deceased in the house also reflects this attitude of our ancestors to the magic of mirrors.

Fortune telling is carried out in an empty and quiet room. There should be no one and no sounds. A fortuneteller should let her hair down and fully concentrate. She should sit in the dark near two opposite mirrors. The picture of Novikov shows this position of the girl. At midnight, the girl lights two candles placed on the sides of the mirrors, and says: "My betrothed, costumed, show yourself to me" and begins to peer into the gallery of reflections, hoping to see her groom. You can sit in front of the mirrors for a long time, but you can see your betrothed immediately.

Divination in a new home

You can guess only in the house where you spend the night for the first time. Only then is divination considered correct. Before going to bed, you should cross yourself three times and go to bed with the words: "I am sleeping in a new place, dream about the groom to the bride." The man you dream about will be your fiancé.

Fortune telling on straw

Fortune telling is most interesting when there are many people present. Exactly at midnight, gather in one room, light a candle and start guessing. To find out the name of your betrothed, put straw, knocked into a lump, on the table, put a frying pan on this lump, put a stone in the frying pan and pour some water. Then each of the girls should slowly pull on a straw and the name of the betrothed should be heard from the sounds produced by the stone when it vibrates in the pan. During fortune-telling, the room should be absolute silence.

Fortune telling (with burning a thread) on the speed and order of getting married

Simple and visual fortune telling, which is popular in our time. It consists in the fact that the girls cut the threads of the same length (it is better to take thicker threads) and set them on fire at the same time. The threads must be held by one end, the other is lowered down and must be set on fire. Whoever's thread burns out in front, he will be the first to be married. The sequence of burning threads in the hands of girls will show the sequence of their marriage. If someone's thread went out immediately or the thread burned out less than half, then this girl will not get married.

Fortune telling (with a ring or needle) on the sex of the unborn child

Certain actions are performed with a ring or a needle: the ring is lowered into a glass of water, a woolen cloth is pierced with a needle, then, suspended by a thread or thread, is slowly lowered near the hand of the one who is being guessed at. If the object (ring, needle) begins to make circular movements, a girl will be born (less often - a boy), if pendulum-like - a boy (less often - a girl), if the object does not move, there will be no children.

Divination (with a choice of subject) on the "quality" of life

Objects are hidden in a bag, cup or felt boot, then the girls choose their felt boot or bag. The choice of the subject symbolizes life in the coming year: ash - a bad life, sugar - a sweet life, a ring - getting married, an onion - to tears, a glass - drunkenness, Golden ring- a rich life, etc., you can invent and refine fortune-telling with your own options.

Fortune-telling with a cock for the betrothed

Several plates or bowls are taken, grain is poured into one plate (or money is put), water is poured into the other, a mirror is placed next to it, sometimes a chicken is brought. A rooster approaching the mirror symbolizes the beauty and tenderness of the future groom, who has approached grain or money - his wealth, to water - a tendency to drunkenness, if a rooster approaches a hen, then the groom will be a "womanizer".

Fortune telling on matches

Two matches are inserted on the sides of the matchbox and set on fire. If the burnt heads are facing each other, then the "hidden" guy and girl will be together. If the heads of the matches are looking in different directions or have fallen off, then no.

Divination (by barking dogs) about the age of the groom

At midnight, take a knife, go out into the street, go to a snowdrift and start cutting the snow with a knife, saying: "Damn, damn, don't be silent, damn, damn, tell me what kind of husband I get, will you have to laugh or cry?"

Having uttered the words of the spell, shut up and listen carefully to the barking of dogs.

• If there is an angry, sharp barking, it means that future husband will be stern and sullen;
• hoarse barking promises an old groom;
• shrill barking - the groom will have a bad character;
• sonorous barking - young;
• if the dogs bark merrily and barkingly, then the husband will be caught cheerful and kind;
• it is very bad if during the fortune-telling you hear a dog's howl. This suggests that the marriage will be short-lived and the young wife will become a widow very quickly.
  

Divination "Well"

To carry out this fortune-telling, you need a well. If a girl lives in a village and has a well with a locked roof, then this is ideal. If you do not have such a well, then you should make a symbolic well. To do this, you can use matches, toothpicks, and other sticks. It's easy to build a well. Make a square out of the sticks, placing the sticks on top of each other and so make several rows. Take a thimble, pour some water into it and place it next to the well. In villages, girls can pour water into a bucket and place it near a real well. Lock the real well with a real key, made from sticks, "lock" with any key, making an appropriate movement with your hand, and put the key under your pillow. Going to bed, say: "The betrothed-mummer, come to my well to drink some water, ask me for the key." Your betrothed will come to you in a dream to drink water from your well.

Fortune telling about the fate of the shadows

This type of fortune telling, due to its simplicity and clarity, is very common in the modern girlish environment. The girl sets fire to a sheet of paper crumpled by her hand, and then examines the shadow of the burning paper on the wall - this is the first stage of fortune-telling, even at this stage, quite clear images may appear.

Everyone takes a blank sheet of paper, crumples it, places it on a platter or large flat plate, and sets it on fire. When the sheet burns out or almost burns out, with the help of a candle it is displayed on the wall - this is the second and main stage. Carefully examining the shadows, they try to find out their future in the images of the shadows.

Fortune telling with a ring to evoke the image of the future groom

Take an ordinary glass with smooth walls, a flat bottom and no pattern, pour 3/4 of the volume of water into it and carefully lower it to the middle of the bottom wedding ring... The ring must be pre-washed in running water so that it does not carry the information of its owner. Looking intently at the very center of the ring, saying the words: "My betrothed, mummer come to me", you can see the betrothed. To see it, it may take a long time to look into the ring.

Fortune-telling with inducing a dream about the betrothed

We write the name of the young man on a piece of paper, put it on a small mirror and under the pillow, or put three bay leaves under the pillow. On one they write - "Ananias", on the other - "Azarius" and on the third - "Misael" and say the incantation: "From Monday to Tuesday I look at the windowsill, who dreams of me, let me dream in my dream."

Guessing on the night from Monday to Tuesday. A sprig of spruce is taken, placed at the head of the bed at night. At the same time, they say: "I go to bed on Monday, I put a fir-tree in my head, dream of the one who thinks about me." Whoever dreams, he loves you.

Fortune telling on the night from Thursday to Friday. Going to bed, they say: "Thursday with Wednesday, Tuesday with Monday, Sunday with Saturday. Friday alone and I, young, alone. I am lying on the Zion mountains, three angels in their heads: one sees. The other will say, the third destiny will indicate. "

Girls wonder if they go to bed where they didn’t have to before. Front sleep they say: "In a new place, dream groom to the bride. "In a dream see your fiancé.

Card reading

Before going to bed, put it under the pillow four kings and they say: "Who is my betrothed, who is my disguised, that I will dream in a dream." If you dream of a king of spades, the groom will be an old man and jealous, the king of hearts means young and rich, the cross - wait for matchmakers from a military man or a businessman, and a tambourine from the desired one.

Divination by relatives

They go to look out the windows of neighbors during dinner. If they see the heads of those sitting at the table, they portend that future relatives will all be alive; if they do not see the heads, then misfortune must happen to the relatives.

Fortune telling on wax

Melt the wax in a mug, pour the milk into a saucer and place it on the doorstep of your apartment or house. Say the following words: "Brownie, my master, come under the threshold to drink milk, eat wax." With the last words, pour the melted wax into the milk. Now watch carefully what is happening.

• If you see a frozen cross, some diseases await you in the new year.
• If the cross only appears, then in the coming year your financial affairs will not go too well, and in your personal life troubles will prevail, but not too serious.
• If it blooms with a flower, get married, get married or find a loved one.
• If a beast appears, be careful: some kind of enemy will appear.
• If the wax flows in strips, roads and crossings are ahead of you.
• Lies with asterisks - expect good luck in the service, in your studies.
• If a human figure forms, you will find a friend.
• House - soon acquiring a new farm; for a girl, this is primarily due to her marriage.
• The shapeless ruins are a misfortune in the near future.
• A pit, a small cave or a grotto is the most undesirable figure, since it symbolizes the burial place and predicts a serious illness or a close death .
• Trees - they can be interpreted in different ways: the branches of a tree directed upwards promise quick joy, drooping ones - sadness, longing and boredom.
• A ring or candle unambiguously predicts an imminent wedding.
• A pancake that has settled to the bottom, on the contrary, promises a long girlhood.
  

On bulbs

Take a few bulbs and label each one. These bulbs are planted in the ground: whose first sprout will sprout, that girl will marry ahead of others.

Around the ring

3/4 of water is poured into an ordinary glass glass with a flat bottom, without any drawings, and the wedding ring is carefully lowered into the middle of the bottom. Then they look through the water into the middle of the ring, where the image of the constricted should appear.

Throw the ring to the floor. If it rolls to the door, it means that the girl will soon get married, and the man is on a business trip. Can be interpreted as leaving home.

Hail from passers-by

Go outside at midnight and ask the name of the first person you meet. This is how your betrothed will be called, this is how he will be handsome and rich.

Eavesdropping

Climb under the window of your neighbors and, naturally, listen. If they have a showdown with smashing dishes, you can expect a "fun" year. If the house is quiet - and your year will be harmonious. Depending on what is happening in the neighbors' house at the time of eavesdropping, and you will have the coming year.

Divination by wood chips

Pour water into a basin. Attach along the edges of the pelvis strips of paper on which events are written, for example, a wedding, a trip, receiving money, new job etc. (if there is only one fortuneteller), or the names of all those present who want to know their future. In the second case, one event is thought of, in particular, a wedding, an acquaintance with a future spouse, etc.

You need to take a dry chip, better than a deciduous tree, and fix on it the stub of a candle that burned in the house where the fortune-telling takes place. Light a candle and push the "boat" to the middle of the pelvis. From there, the chip should float to one of the notes by itself. To which the note will float, then the event will happen. If the chip rolls over or sinks, then the event you have envisioned will not happen next year.

Fortune telling on the egg

Take a fresh egg, poke a small hole in it and carefully pour the contents into a glass of water. When the squirrel curls up, according to the shape it has taken, you need to guess your future. The type of church means a wedding, a ring means an engagement, a cube means a coffin, a ship means a business trip (for a man) or the return of a husband from a business trip (for a woman). If the squirrel sank to the bottom, there will be a fire in the house.

Fortune telling in the logs

It is necessary to go back to the woodpile and select a log by touch. If it is even, smooth, without knots, the spouse will be caught with an ideal character:

• the log is thick and heavy - the husband will be wealthy,
• a lot of knots - a lot will be born in the family children,
• a crooked log - the husband will be scythe and lame or evil,
• an even log, with a smooth thin bark - a handsome and young husband,
• thick rough bark - ugly husband,
• the bark on the log is peeled in places or is completely absent - the husband is poor,
• cracked log - the husband will be caught old, pockmarked, with a physical disability,
• a big log - a strong, strong husband,
• knotty log - the family will be big: each knot is a future child.

Fortune telling with a cat

Make a wish, call your cat. If she crosses the threshold of the room with her left paw, the wish will come true. If right - not destined.

Fortune telling by the book

Best to take the book spiritual content, you can, for example, "the Bible", without opening it, guess the page and line number above or below, then open it and read in the hidden place. They interpret what they read in accordance with what interests the fortuneteller most of all.

About Christmastide, carols, fortune-telling ...

It's time for miracles - Christmas Eve, Christmastide,
mummers' walks in the night
and the singing of festive carols,
wickets, sweets, rolls ... **

And the interpretation of dawn dreams,
and gatherings by candlelight,
and midnight fortune telling
on maps, wax, mirrors ...

The last ... the magic is sung,
they are more mysterious, ancient,
their tenacious gaze keeps secrets
births, lives and deaths.

In the depths of the world through the looking glass,
beyond the fine line of silver
lives, according to Christmas tales,
visions ghostly game.

A story about the past and future
hides a magic glass,
and about the cherished day
it knows the whole truth ...

But on this Christmas night
when the candle drops a glare,
do not rush with an urgent desire,
look at your dear, wonderful face.

You can see in the mirror
the great mystery of the image,
because the world is fragile ... abode -
your radiant eyes.

They keep all the revelations
and all the heritage of the soul,
graceful weaving of fate
and the chastity of dreams.

They ... nourish visions ...
I dare to guess
that mirrors only reflect
what they give them to reflect.

And therefore, with a pure desire
and a heart full of warmth
share with them the power of thought,
create the path of your destiny.

Let it penetrate your windows
christmas magic light,
let the mirrors guess you
love, wealth, long years.

Date of publication: 03.01.2015

From January 6 to January 19, Christmastide began in Russia - a favorite Christian holiday when people get together and go to visit each other, or receive guests. January 6 - Christmas Eve, it was imperative to observe the fast, you can start eating only when the first star appears in the sky. For this event, it was imperative to put on everything clean, since "you cannot come to the feast in old clothes."

There is also such a sign that on the night of January 6-7, deceased relatives come, so you must definitely remember them and put an extra device on the table, pour a glass and put a bread. In the church, you can light a candle for the repose.

Also during Christmas time, many girls gathered in the bathhouse, steamed, put on new shirts, loosened their braids and began to guess, since fortune-telling for Christmas is the most truthful, because on this night otherworldly forces leave their homes and come to people's homes, thereby contributed to the truthful answers of Christmas and Yuletide fortune-telling. They are varied and very interesting.

But most often Christmas fortune-telling in Russia was associated with the search for a betrothed-mummer, because the happy fate of the girl depended on a successful marriage, therefore, lovely young ladies were invented different ways to find out what the future groom will look like and what kind of character he will be.

Divination with a mirror

This fortune-telling has been written about more than once in various literary works, therefore it is the most common, but at the same time not all girls dared to use the magic of the mirror, to this way only bold predictions resorted to, since it is carried out alone, by candlelight and in silence. It is necessary to put two mirrors opposite each other, put two candles on the sides of the mirrors and say the words: "The betrothed-mummer, come and show yourself." Then you should look into the "corridor" in the mirror, through which the groom should come. It could take a long time, or you could see it right away. Only, most importantly, do not overlook. By the way, there is also a belief that evil spirits could appear in the mirror and touch the girl's face, after which she lost her beauty every day.

Fortune telling with shoes

The girls who decided to tell fortunes had to take each of their boots and put them from the beginning of the room to the threshold one after the other, initially drawing lots, whose boot would follow whose. To do this, one was blindfolded and brought to her by a boot, and she said, the first, the second, etc. It is important whose boot will be the first on the doorstep - she will be the first among fortune-tellers to marry.

Fortune telling

Each girl must bring an egg and mark it in some way, then each one puts the egg in the basket that was placed at the entrance. Then one of the girls, preferably the youngest, is placed by the basket, blindfolded, so that she takes turns pulling the eggs. So you can find out which of the girls will get married first - whose egg will be the first to be pulled out of the basket.

Divination by the rings

It is very important to know what kind of groom will be caught with material point vision. To do this, you need to bring different rings, which are put in a container with grain or some kind of porridge, then each fortuneteller comes up and pulls out a ring. After that, the ring must be returned back and mixed in the grain.

• Gold is a rich man.
• With a pebble - solid and rich.
• Silver is of average income.
• Wire - poor.
• Pewter - Poor but hardworking.
• From a lace - a beggar and lazy.

Fortune telling by subjects

You need to take several items - an onion, an egg, a ring, sugar, salt, pepper, coins, a paper bill, a candy, a petal. Put them under identical cups, which to mix. Then the girl comes up and chooses any. Whatever object is there, that is what the groom will be.

• Onion - will be evil, the girl will cry a lot of tears.
• The egg will only love itself.
• Ring - with money and wealth.
• Sugar - sugar speech will speak, but not only his beloved.
• Salt - it will be hard to live with because of his character.
• Pepper is a jealous groom.
• Coins - will be stingy.
• Paper bill- wasteful.
• Candy - a fun life with him.
• Petal - will love you.

Divination by bow

The girl must plant an onion in a glass of water on the night of January 6-7. If it sprouts before January 19, then she will meet her soul mate this year, if not, then, alas, it is not destiny for her to be loved.

Fortune telling by cards

Although at Christmas the girls were afraid to take cards for fortune-telling, as it was believed that they were from evil spirits, but still there were brave young ladies. They took a deck of cards and chose 4 kings, for each guessing which of the guys would be who. Then they turned the kings face down, and under them they put the cards in 4 piles of 9, depending on which set the set would be - 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, jack, queen and ace. Whoever comes out first is the one who loves.

Fortune telling by the cat

There was also such a fortune-telling. The girl went out of the gate and looked for a cat nearby. If he was, then this year she will meet her soul mate. If not, accordingly, she is not destined to meet her fiancé.

It is important what color the cat is. If white - the husband will be blond, if black, then brunette, if gray or striped - brown-haired, if red - red-haired. Often the eyes also matched the groom's eyes.

Fortune telling by the weather

In addition to fortune telling about the groom, there were also predictions of the future. So, if it snows at night from 6 to 7 January or from 18 to 19 January - expect wealth and a decent life, if it rains - tears and troubles, if frost on the trees - a pleasant surprise, if it's dry and windy - news, if the weather is calm - a quiet course of life.

Fortune telling by a thread braid

You need to weave a braid from different threads - red, blue, green, white, black, gray, yellow, brown and pink. Then the girl closes her eyes, whirls around herself three times, approaches the braid and pulls any thread without looking. She will be the answer to what will happen to her next year.

• Red - the year will be full of love and romantic dates. Most likely, the girl will meet her soul mate.
• Blue is the home year. Will you make repairs in your apartment or buy real estate that you have dreamed of for a long time.
• Green is the year of health and sports. You will change your diet and lifestyle - swimming pool, gym and more. This will have a good effect on your appearance and well-being.
• White - a good time promises you the future - calmness and peace in the soul and with the environment. You will be kind and happy.
• Black - some kind of trouble awaits you next year. She can dramatically change your life for the worse.
• Gray - fatigue and dissatisfaction with what is happening will be your big problem next year.
• Yellow - a life filled with positive.
• Brown - some kind of sadness will oppress you for the whole next year.
• Pink - a platonic relationship awaits you next year.

Divination by birds

Very good and truthful fortune-telling by birds. It is necessary on any night, from January 6 to January 19, to go to bed alone and mentally ask the question: "What lies ahead of me"? As soon as you wake up, look out the window

• if a crow or jackdaw is sitting on a branch, then sad news awaits you;
• if sparrows - someone will come to visit;
• if the titmouse is good news;
• if doves are messengers of goodness and peace;
• if a bullfinch - some kind of joy.

Fortune telling by the clock

You need to ask about your future at midnight, January 6-7, and go to bed. During January 7, watch the clock, it is good if the same numbers appear on the dial.

• 00:00 - disappointment in your loved one awaits you in the future.
• 01:01 - you should start to improve yourself, then in the future you will be able to realize your old dream.
• 02:02 - when will you stop being pleasing to everyone, but not to yourself. To change the future, love yourself.
• 03:03 - a hard time comes for your family - quarrels and scandals.
• 04:04 - you better not take risks this year, as it will be unjustified, and you will seriously harm yourself.
• 05:05 - your loneliness is only good for you - you can achieve a lot without relying on others.
• 06:06 - a scandalous incident will happen in your life, after which it will change dramatically, but for the better.
• 07:07 - a constant lie on your part can cause a quarrel with many close people, change - everything will still be stable well.
• 08:08 - you owe a lot, it's time to return, otherwise everything will turn against you.
• 09:09 - you should finally start giving, not taking, because selfish people do not like.
• 10:10 - a great pastime awaits you next year, as they say, dreams come true.
• 11:11 - soon everything will change for the better, you just have to wait out the black bar.
• 12:12 - the past will remind of itself with pleasant events in the future.
• 13:13 - a quarrel with a loved one awaits you this year, but you can fix everything.
• 14:14 - soon, very soon you will realize that you have lost a lot when you abandoned family traditions.
• 15:15 - a love triangle will suddenly be drawn in your life.
• 16:16 - luck and joy await you ahead.
• 17:17 - your friend can ruin the holiday for which you have been preparing for a long time.
• 18:18 - fortune is on your side.
• 19:19 - financial difficulties will also affect relationships with friends.
• 20:20 - have you ever thought that our life is like a boomerang? It's time to think.
• 21:21 - danger and adventure await you.
• 22:22 - death loved one will deal a huge blow to you and your well-being.
• 23:23 - the birth of a child.

The big book of Slavic fortune-telling and predictions Dikmar Yan

When and how they wondered in Russia

When and how they wondered in Russia

Divination in Russia was actively practiced on Christmastide, from Christmas to Epiphany. Divination rites were also carried out on other holidays of winter and late autumn (on Introduction, Paraskeva Friday, the day of the Martyr Mercury and St. Catherine, Nicholas of the winter, etc.). Long dark evenings and impenetrable nights were considered best time for contacts with spirits - helpers in fortune-telling.

They also made fortunes in the spring-summer period - on the Annunciation, Ascension, Nicholas and Yegory Veshnikh, on Trinity, Spirits Day, on Ivan Kupala and on Peter's Day. Unlike Christmastide ones, spring-summer fortune-telling was often included in certain rituals (for example, associated with field work, baking bread, etc.).

The attributes that were used for divination in different time of the year. In winter (for example, on Christmastide), these could be wardrobe items (scarves, shoes, etc.), jewelry, kitchen utensils, household items (towels, tablecloths, cutlery, mirrors, candles), female labor tools (spinning wheels, spindles, whorls ), etc. In the summer, they used mainly plants - flowers and herbs, wreaths, tree branches, brooms, etc. Everyday objects turned into magical intermediaries between the fortuneteller and otherworldly forces. And if the connection of plants with the world of spirits is understandable (they are rooted in the earth), then clothes, jewelry and household items performed their role as a result of endowing them with a special symbolic meaning (grain - harvest, wealth; ash - disease; earth - death; ring - marriage; a dish with objects - a container of human destinies). In different localities, the same signs could be interpreted in different ways.

For example, such fortune telling was very popular. The girls gathered together, and each of them poured a handful of grain on the floor. Then a rooster was brought into the hut and they looked to which of the heaps he would approach. It was believed that the lucky woman, whose grain the rooster began to peck first, would be the first to marry.

Other pets were also used for fortune telling. For example, a girl went to a barn and, blindfolded, caught one of the sheep. If the sheep turned out to be white, this predicted a blond groom. The black sheep promised a brunet groom. On other occasions, a chicken, cat, or dog was released into the yard. If the animal went to the gate, the girl could count on the arrival of matchmakers, but if it sat down or stamped on the spot, it was not worth expecting a wedding this year.

Divination rituals differed in the way they predicted fate and were divided into two groups - fortune-telling-interpretation and fortune-telling-witchcraft. The first were based on omens that did not depend on people (the behavior of birds, the location of the stars in the sky, the first snowfall, etc.). In this case, the person was just an observer. Fortune-telling of the second group consisted of magical manipulations performed with the help of representatives the other world... Participation in fortune-telling-witchcraft required more active actions from a person, as well as adherence to special rules to protect oneself from danger.

Regardless of which category fortune-telling belonged to, in order for it to be successful, a person had to create conditions under which the ritual would be performed at the right time and in the right place. Therefore, divination was timed to certain days, and during the day a special time was chosen, which was considered the moment of the greatest activity of the spirits. That time was midnight and noon, which best suited the concept of a border, crossing.

A place was chosen in space, which was a communication channel between the world of people and the world of spirits. In the house, it could be a window, a stove, a mirror, a threshold, and outside the house - a gate, a garden, a fence, a well, a bathhouse, a barn, etc. But the most dangerous places were considered remote not only from the house, but also from the village - for example, outskirts, church, cemetery, forest, field, river.

For fortune-telling to be successful, a person had to approach his natural state. To do this, it was necessary to remove jewelry, a belt, a piece of clothing, and sometimes completely undress. Losing her hair, the girl seemed to draw closer to those on whose help she was counting - kikimors, bannitsa, mermaids, goblin.

Divination also required unusual behavior. Looking in the mirror, they tried not to blink in order to see a prophetic dream, went to bed in clothes. Some movements did the opposite: they did not spin as usual, but from left to right, the thread was threaded into the needle, turning it upside down, and went backwards. Before the beginning of the fortune-telling, they read prayers “on the contrary” (“God has no power,” “Do not bless Christ,” etc.).

The most important topics for the fortune-telling of the Russian peasants were the harvest, prosperity, the well-being of the family and the entire village community, as well as the fate of the individual. During fortune-telling, people tried to find out what was important to them - marriage, the number of children, the time of death.

Based on the theme of fortune-telling, the composition of the participants in the ceremony was determined. Fortune telling could be single, family, group or collective, in which the entire village community often participated. Girls who dreamed of marriage most often resorted to single. Much more rare occurrence the guy was guessing about his future. Divination by dreams also belonged to the solitary.

Family fortune-telling was done by members of the same family. They wondered about the harvest, prosperity, well-being of their economy. On Christmastide days, many families performed fortune-telling rituals to find out the fate of each household in the new year.

Group fortune-telling was combined according to age or sex and age principle. In the Russian week, for example, companies of marriageable girls took part in them. During Christmas divination, boys often joined the girls. Often, an experienced elderly woman took part in the girl's fortune-telling rites, who led them and monitored the observance of the rules. And in some regions of Russia, only old people, chosen for this purpose by a community gathering, participated in fortune-telling for the harvest.

An example of collective rituals is sub-dish fortune-telling, in which the entire village community could participate.

Many divinations were based on the use of the senses (one or more). To listen at the crossroads, at the door of the church, under other people's windows, you had to strain your ears. Fortune-telling on a mirror or at an ice-hole required mobilization of vision. And the sense of touch was used in fortune telling about the betrothed in the bathhouse or barn, when the girl with fear and hope awaited the touch of an unclean hand to the naked body.

Some fortune-telling, on the contrary, required the abandonment of the usual perception of reality with the help of the senses. Wondering about marriage, the girls put a pot or bread dough on their heads and walked blindly to the gate.

Many fortune-telling rituals for the future or the betrothed are based on counting - feeding a chicken with a grain of grain, counting the steps of stairs or planks in a fence while pronouncing the words "old man, widower, well done" or "ssek, sack" (rich or poor).

Divination "even or odd" was widespread (for example, when counting straws in a bundle), which made it possible to determine whether a girl would get married or she would have to wait until next year. To find out the number of members of your future family or the number of unborn children, we counted the numerous reflections of the month in the mirror, knots in a log, pits and bumps in the water frozen in a glass.

There were many fortune-telling, during which it was necessary to determine whether the state changed or survived, the position of objects left overnight. We observed whether the braid, woven of ears of corn in the field, had wilted, whether the wreath “curled” on the birch withered, whether the flowers inserted into the gaps between the logs of the hut had dried up, the weight of the loaf of bread placed under the images had increased or remained the same.

Of great importance in many fortune-telling rituals was everything that came first - the name of the first person they met when divining on the betrothed, the first log of wood that came across, by which the character of the future husband was determined, the object to which the rooster first approached (ring, coal, grain ) during fortune telling.

Many Russian fortune-telling was based on the ancient Slavic tradition of drawing lots, which made it possible to know your fate, to predict the future. It is to this category that subtle fortune-telling, popular in Russia, belongs.

Whatever kind of fortune-telling belongs, it excludes such a concept as chance. Any accident that is considered such in everyday life takes on a different meaning in a divination ritual. However, for this, all the conditions for the ceremony must be met: the time and place, the necessary requirements and rules. Otherwise, the results of fortune-telling will turn out to be incorrect.

Fortune teller's advice

In some fortune-telling based on witchcraft, all sorts of prohibitions apply: you cannot laugh or talk; when leaving, one should not look back; you cannot move or, conversely, stop. Most of the prohibitions are associated with the fear of falling under the power of evil spirits during the performance of the ritual. To avoid this danger, it is very important to complete the ceremony in accordance with all the rules: to run away, to cross, to knock the mirror on the table or cover it with a handkerchief, to fool around, to unfold, etc. Such actions allow you to break off the connection with otherworldly spirits. An important rule of divination is an odd number of participants. If an even number of fortunetellers participate in the ritual, the result of fortune-telling will be unsuccessful or, even worse, misfortune may happen to the fortunetellers.

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Christmastide can be safely called the most beloved Christian holiday in Russia. They are celebrated from January 6th to 19th. It was believed that it was at this time that the souls of the dead and evil spirits appeared on earth. Therefore, these January days are the best time to look into the future. These actions have never been approved by the Church. Nevertheless, in Russia, young girls every year tried to find out their fate with the help of Christmas fortune-telling. When deciding to tell fortunes, remember that the result may not be exactly what you are hoping for.

Fortune telling

Divination with a bow.

On January 6, the girl put onions in a bowl of water. If the onion sprouted before January 19, the girl will soon be married, if not, then it is not destiny.

Fortune telling with a cat.

Young girls went out into the street and carefully watched if a cat would appear. If you manage to see it, then the girl will meet her fate this year, if she didn’t see the cat, it means that she’s sitting in girls for a year.

Fortune telling in eggs.

The girls gathered in one hut, each bringing a marked egg with her and putting it in a basket near the door. When all the eggs were in the basket, the youngest of the blindfolded girls pulled out the eggs one at a time. Whose first egg gets, she will be the first to marry.

Divination with mirrors.

Popular fortune telling in Russia, although the girls were afraid to carry it out. Guessing was necessary alone, in complete silence. Two mirrors were placed opposite each other, two candles were placed on the sides. I had to look carefully in the mirror and say three times the words "The betrothed - dressed up, show yourself", you had to peer until the groom showed up. I had to sit for a long time. Also, an unclean person could appear in the mirror, if he touches a girl by the face, she will lose her beauty.

Divination with a ring.

Girls and boys gathered in the hut, each one threw his ring on the floor, where fate would go to go. If on the doorstep - the girl is married, and the guy - on the road.

In Russia, they have roots in the worship of the most ancient pagan gods and are associated with the period of the winter equinox. Christianity has failed to completely supplant ancient religion... Pagan holidays were replaced by Christian ones. However, the customs that have become traditions and folk holidays, are still alive today. One of them is fortune-telling on Christmastide days and nights.

Old Russian holidays on Christmastide

• Christmastide lasts from 6 to 19 January. It was at this time that Nav and Yav met, the undead came to earth.
• January 6-12 - holy evenings - for cheerful fortune-telling.
• January 6 - Turitsy or Vodokres, worship of totem Tur, Veles holiday - Christmas Eve.
• January 7 - Kalady, during which people dressed in costumes of evil spirits, went to visit, sang toasts to the owners, for which they received generous treats. It was believed that if the evil spirits were not fed, then the whole year there would be no rest from it.
• January 8 - Babi Kashi - greeted and welcomed midwives and women in labor, visiting attendants by young women.
• January 13 - Mara Winter - the mistress of the other world enters into full force. Propagation of a brownie, which will take care of the house and economy all year round.
• From 13 to 19 January - terrible evenings - the most favorable period for evil spirits - for dangerous and risky fortune-telling.
• On January 19, the holiday Vodosvet was held - in Christianity, the Baptism of the Lord (Epiphany). Both holidays are associated with ablutions, which changed its structure with water on that day.

How they used to guess on Christmastide in Russia

Obligatory knowledge for those people who decided to tell fortunes should be that not all fortune-telling comes true. Moreover, the fortuneteller himself is often to blame for unfulfilled fortune-telling. After all, any prediction is a consequence in the chain of some actions. An action that falls out of the chain also changes the event, which should be at the end of the chain.

Christmas divination in Russia is the most popular, because at this time the boundaries between this and this world are the thinnest. The girls wondered about their betrothed, but there were other fortune-telling:

• guess the page number, paragraph and line in any fiction book. Read the prediction in the book;
• melt some wax in a spoon and pour it into a bowl of water in one motion. The shape of wax figures in water predicts the future. Rings - to marriage, a house - to well-being, a cat - to envious people, a dog - to devotion;
• take a handful of coffee or beans. The second person, not knowing the amount of grains taken, says different words. The word that falls on the last seed comes true;
• randomly crumple a newspaper or a sheet of paper into a ball, burn it on a plate. Consider the shadow on the wall. What you see is prediction;
• read any prayer. Guess the number and open the Bible by its meaning. With your eyes closed, select a line with your right finger and read it. This is a prediction for 1-2 months ahead;
• going out into the street, ask the first man you meet for his name. This will be the name of the betrothed;
• to determine where the betrothed will come from - throw the left shoe behind the back through the threshold. The toe will show the direction. The same can be done on the road, and throw a felt boot;
• spread bread, salt, mirror, knife, bottle on the table. To blindfold the girl and spin her around you. After that, she must select an item on the table. A knife - the betrothed will be an unrestrained bully, salt - to grumpiness, bread - to wealth, a mirror - to narcissism, a bottle - to drunkenness;
• a girl's jewelry is dipped into a glass of water. The glass is taken out in the cold. After the water freezes, bumps and dimples are counted on the ice surface. The tubercles are boys, the pits are girls.

Predictions for Christmas divination in Russia have a deadline of 1 year and. For people who don't believe in anything, fortune-telling will be an interesting pastime. There are a lot of fortune-telling options, everyone can find something interesting for themselves.