“I’ll go out into the yard, wash myself with water, pray”: how Epiphany is celebrated in new regions of Russia

In the coming 2024, the DPR will celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord without public festivities and traditional holiday bathing. Only ceremonial services will be held in churches of the Republic. The reason for the ban on mass events on one of the important holidays for Christians was the shelling of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which did not subside even for a day. That is why the Donetsk authorities previously refused to install a New Year’s tree in the city center. And the heads of municipal districts appealed to Donetsk residents not to swim this year, warning that places for Epiphany bathing would not be equipped in local reservoirs.

The Donetsk diocese even noted that Orthodox Christians do not need to participate in the folk pastime of dipping into an ice hole. For true believers, it is enough to visit temples where the blessing of water takes place. It is better for adults and children to be sprinkled with blessed water, but not to dive into the ice font.

However, some Donetsk residents still plan to swim in an ice hole for Epiphany – in small reservoirs in rear cities, without officialdom, having cut out an ice hole themselves. “Last year, when swimming was also cancelled, we went to Torez,” Anna, a resident of Donetsk, told MK. “This year we also plan to take a dip with the whole family.” Anna has been hardening herself since she was a teenager, and she taught her children to do the same. The woman noted that she does not understand those parents who plunge their children into ice water without preparation. “It’s not even a matter of faith, but in common sense,” says Anna.

Another resident of Donetsk, Valery, who lives in one of the most shelled areas of the city, this year refused the annual traditional bathing for Epiphany. The man planned to go to another region, but the weather interfered. “Relatives live in Krasnodar,” says Valery. “I wanted to visit them with my family.” There he would dive into the hole. But with weather like this year, we won’t risk going out. There is frost in the morning, frost in the evening, there are many accidents on the highways. I’ll go out into the yard for Epiphany, wash myself with water, and pray. Let’s hope things get better next year.”

“What a swim! To catch an infection?!”

The tradition of swimming in an ice hole on the occasion of the Epiphany is one of the oldest Russian traditions. Despite the fact that the ritual itself is closely related to the biblical story – the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River – it itself is not a church rite, but a folk tradition.

In post-Soviet times, dipping into an ice hole on the night of January 18-19, i.e. on Epiphany Eve, became widespread, whereas before the revolution, believers first went to church services, and after the service, the religious procession headed to the nearest reservoir, where the rite of blessing of water took place. And only after that the believers plunged into the ice hole. Now many people believe that after a dip in the Jordan, sins are washed away. However, according to Archpriest Maxim Pervozvansky, this is a misconception. And such a ritual with such meaning is not in the church charter.

But be that as it may, the folk tradition exists. Residents of two new regions, Kherson and Zaporozhye regions, told MK how they plan to spend the coming night and the day following it.

“I’m working on Epiphany, so I won’t go to church. I didn’t plan to swim – it’s cold. Let’s go visit for a feast and have a glass of wine with friends,” said Svetlana from Melitopol. The woman was supported by Igor, a resident of the village of Konstantinovka: “What swimming! To catch an infection? No. Maybe I’ll go to church, but I didn’t plan anything at all.”

But students of Melitopol State University, natives of the village of Vasilyevka Anna and Sergey, do not know how to get to the swimming places, since this information is not available anywhere. “We’ll take a dip in the bath at home,” the girl laughs. “Well, you can go to the pool with the group,” Sergei suggested to her in response.

Energodar resident Nikolai said that he would not go swimming himself, but passed on the announcement from the local administration website to his friends. “I saw the ad and sent it to my friends. Maybe it will be useful to someone,” the man noted.

At the same time, as it turned out, many residents do not even know how to get to the reservoirs to plunge into the font. The administrations of Zaporozhye settlements announced that transportation of people to the springs would be organized, but did not provide detailed information about such trips.

In turn, a survey on one of the social networks showed that almost half of people (44%) will simply work on this day. Another 16% – to rest.

In the Kherson region the situation with Epiphany bathing is approximately the same. Entrepreneur from Genichesk Evgeniy Zhilko said that he is not going anywhere, because they simply do not have an ice hole. On the contrary, Kalanchak resident Anna was very surprised by the question: “Epiphany bathing? I have never gone to such events.”

Irina from Novotroitsky also doesn’t really plan anything: “My husband once went swimming under the iron bridge, but now he doesn’t go.” Another resident of Kherson, temporarily under Ukrainian control, said he would gather with friends at a private house, where they would take a dip in the pool and then plan to sit around the table.

The results of a survey in another online community showed a slightly different picture. Almost 40% of those who voted will wash themselves at home and say a prayer, 19% of respondents will attend church, and 24% of respondents will work.