Holidays of the Slavs - Vodopol (Vodyanoy’s name day)

On April 16, the Eastern Slavs celebrate the name day of Vodyanoy. People call this day Nikita Vodopol or the Awakening of the owner of the waters. This holiday is even a very old custom, which appeared in Rus' during the times of dual faith. Vodopol is often called Pereplut, the name day of Vodyanoy or Nikita Vodopol, but the meaning does not change - on April 16, which falls on April 3 according to the ancient calendar, people welcomed the awakening of Vodyanoy, mermaids and other aquatic inhabitants from their winter sleep. Along with the onset of spring days and the blossoming of nature, the owner of the waters wakes up from a long hibernation. Over the long frosty months, Vodyanoy became very weak and hungry. Having woken up, grandfather immediately wants to try something tasty, after which he goes to explore his endless kingdom. On this day, at exactly 12 o'clock at night, fishermen came to the shore to feed and oil Vodyany. There was a belief that the fishermen treated him by drowning his horse. Especially for this ritual, the frailest and weakest horse was purchased from the gypsies. After people feed Vodyany, he calms down, begins to lure large fish from other rivers, protects fishermen from storms and flooding, and does not damage the nets. According to some sources, people treated Vodyanoy by pouring oil into the pond. Around this time, the wait for the arrival of ice drift and flooding began. In this regard, a folk sign arose - when bringing gifts, fishermen noted: “If ice drift does not begin on this day, then the fish catch will be poor for the whole year.” Currently, Vodyanoy is a character in many paintings and children's fairy tales. In Slavic mythology he is called the ruler of the water kingdom. He grazes herds of fish at the bottom of lakes and rivers, and guides mermaids and other sea creatures. In fact, Vodyanoy has a good-natured disposition, but occasionally he likes to play pranks and invite an onlooker to visit him as entertainment. He also commands the drowned. In many sources, Vodyanoy is presented as a naked, plump, puffy grandfather, with bulging eyes and a fish tail. He is covered in mud, has a long beard, and a bushy green mustache. Could be shrouded in a large fish, a child or a horse. Usually lives in pools, the favorite habitat is a water mill. The merman can destroy dams, for this reason it is necessary to appease him by sacrificing some large animal, most often a horse. The Vodyans living in the springs were especially powerful, since this type of reservoir, according to ancient legends, was formed by a lightning strike from the strongest and most powerful god Perun. According to most historical sources, such keys were called “rattlers.”