Every year, on the eve of the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, another significant religious holiday is celebrated – the Epiphany Eve.
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SubscribeThis celebration takes place on January 5 and shares many traditions with the Baptism. We decided to share more about this so that you know what rituals are observed on Epiphany Eve.
Epiphany Eve 2025: Traditions of the Holiday
The most important tradition on Epiphany Eve is fasting, as it is a Holy Evening. Additionally, on January 5, it is essential to clean the house since this cannot be done on the day of the Baptism, and it is forbidden to welcome the holiday in a dirty home.
Moreover, people make it a point to visit the church to bless the water. This can also be done on the day of the Baptism, but the earlier, the better. After this, people would sprinkle all the corners of their rooms to protect themselves from evil spirits.
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Epiphany Eve 2025: Festive Table
An important aspect of Epiphany Eve is the festive table. As mentioned, a strict fast is observed on January 5. Some believe it is better to completely refrain from food, but few actually do so. Notably, the table should have an odd number of dishes, typically 7 or 9.
With the appearance of the first star, the fast ends, and the whole family gathers at the festive table, where kutya must be present. However, the meal should begin not with kutya, but with a glass of blessed water. It is advisable to avoid alcoholic beverages on Epiphany Eve altogether. The kutya for the holiday should be simple and preferably made from rice. People usually bake cookies in the shape of crosses on this day as well.
Epiphany Eve 2025: Rituals of the Holiday
Beliefs state that January 5 is the last day of the year when caroling is permitted. After Epiphany Eve, this is forbidden. Additionally, it is no longer allowed to tell fortunes after the holiday, as you won't learn anything truthful. Fortunetelling on the Baptism takes place from the night of January 5 to 6, almost in the same way as on Christmas and Malanka, although the church does not endorse such rituals.