Christmas: traditions, omens and rites

The most magical and spellbound time of the year is Christmas and the several wonderful days after it, known as the Sviatky — the holy season of Christmastide. In this period, all your most cherished dreams come true. Try performing a few rituals for yourself, make a wish at this time, and it will surely be fulfilled.

On the morning of January 7th, wash your face and say three times:

"A Saviour is born, light has poured upon the earth. I too (name) shall be saved through Jesus Christ. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen."

This ritual helps one gain spiritual and physical strength, and also heal from illnesses of every kind.

"O Lord God, Creator and Maker of all things visible and invisible, who hast made times and seasons, bless Thyself the New Year beginning this day, which we count from Thine incarnation for our salvation.

Grant that we may spend this year and many after it in peace and harmony with our neighbours; strengthen and spread the Holy Universal Church, which Thou Thyself didst found in Jerusalem and hallow with the redeeming sacrifice of Thy holy Body and most pure Blood.

Exalt, preserve and glorify our homeland; grant us long life, health, abundance of the fruits of the earth and wholesome air; and me, Thy sinful servant, all my kin and neighbours and all right-believing Christians, as our true supreme Shepherd, guard, protect and establish on the path of salvation, so that, following it after a long and prosperous life in this world, we may reach Thy Heavenly Kingdom and be deemed worthy of eternal bliss with Thy saints. Amen."

If the first guest to visit you at Christmas is a woman, cross yourself and say:

If you fail to say this, the women of your family may be ill all year. On the night of January 6th–7th, young people went carolling — they walked from house to house singing songs in praise of Christ, and wished the householders happiness and a good harvest. In return the hosts brought them gifts, treats and money. In olden times part of the collected money was donated to the church. There is a rite connected with this

You should donate money to the church before Christmas, on January 6th, speaking an incantation over it:

Money will begin appearing out of literally nothing, all by itself. But most importantly, go to church for the Christmas service and read those chapters of the Gospel that tell of Christ's birth.

There are days on which protective charms are made (crafted) for one's kin. Such a charm includes the ancestral ritual cloth.

On January 6th, on the eve of the birth of Jesus Christ, buy a new linen towel and speak an incantation over it for healing from various, including grave, illnesses. If anyone in the family later falls ill, wipe the sick person with this towel, and they will surely recover:

"In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. I charm against 77 ailments, against every pain, against night restlessness, wasting consumption, gnawing cancer, the falling fit, against the hex and the night cramp. Mother of God washed Her Son and wiped Him with a linen towel. Bless my flax too, O God. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Whomever I (name) wipe with this flax, from them I shall wipe away all 77 ailments. Key, lock, tongue. Amen. Amen. Amen."

A ritual for improving one's finances

This magical ritual is performed as soon as Christmas arrives. Buy a small clay pot in advance and make sure every participant in this magical rite has coins in their wallet. At the very bottom of the pot place a note:

"Coin to coin. Money keeps arriving. We give all our coins to the Dog, and the Dog will bring all the money to us. So let it be."

Place a little dog figurine upon this note. Each participant in the ritual silently recites the text of the note and showers the dog with all the coins from their wallet. When the ritual is over, the eldest participant covers the neck of the treasured pot with a green cloth and ties it with a green thread into eight knots, repeating the incantation as each knot is tied. Then drops of water are dripped onto the cloth, one for each member of the family. The magic pot must be kept for the whole year.

At three o'clock in the morning of January 7th–8th, go outside, raise your hands to the sky and say:

"Open, O holy heavens, grant me golden happiness. As many stars as there are upon thee, O heavens, so many happy tears may I (name) shed. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen."

An enchanted brew of three herbs will give you beauty: linden, marigold and chamomile. It is very simple to prepare: add three tablespoons of each herb to three litres of water; you may also add your favourite dried flowers. Boil for a few minutes, then cool to room temperature. Add a tablespoon of honey and a tablespoon of salt to the resulting brew. Bending low over the mixture, repeat three times:

"As fresh, fragrant and pleasant as this water is, so shall I always be young, beautiful and beloved by all. So let it be."

As you pour this brew over yourself, picture yourself enchanting and young. The pouring is done on the morning of January 7th.

Two candles. Red ones for a wish connected with love, green ones for a money wish, and blue ones for a dream to come true.

Light the candles and write your wish on a sheet of paper. Lay a magnet on top, right over the letters, and wrap the magnet in the sheet with your wish, folding it like an envelope. Tie the bundle with a red thread. Carry it in your handbag until the wish comes true. When the wish is fulfilled, unfold the sheet, take out the magnet for next time. Burn the sheet itself and thank the universe for fulfilling the wish.

This protective incantation is read nine times on Christmas night, standing on the threshold, facing into your house or flat. A baptismal cross worn on the body is a must.

"Turn away, O Lord, nine arrows from me. Protect me, O Lord, from water, the noose, fire, judgment, the knife, the thief, slander, from any assailant upon flesh and blood, and from a hex upon the blood. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen."

A Christmas ritual for wishes to come true

On Christmas night, angels fly above the earth and grant wishes — the most cherished ones of all. You need only ask them, as you go to sleep. The wishes must be sincere and come from the heart.

At Christmas, before sleep, make your most secret wish, write it on paper and lay it on the windowsill.

And so the angels know exactly where they are most awaited, place a lit candle on the window or hang a Christmas star.

From January 7th, say your cherished wish aloud each morning as you wake. You may not only speak it but visualise it too. Repeat the ritual daily for 40 days. On the 40th day, feed the birds with crumbs of bread.