Frost, isolated snowfalls for upcoming religious holiday in Moldova

Chisinau, 18 January /MOLDPRES/ – The misty weather, variable and isolated sky, snow – melting forecast the meteorologists for upcoming days, during which old Orthodox Christians celebrate the Baptism of the Lord, named by people, Epiphany.

According to the SHS’s information and media communication service, Saturday, 19 January, when one of the most celebrated Christendom celebrations is marked throughout Moldova, the thermal values ​​are expected between + 01ºC and – 04ºC, during the day, and 01ºC – 06ºC below zero , in the night. There are sometimes expected snowfalls in the north and the centre of Moldova, and the sunny weather in the south.

The night to Sunday will be noticeably chilly, with nocturnal thermal maximums reaching up to – 10ºC and – 12 ºC, although the day the mercury will show positive values ​​up to 01 – 02ºC. The coldest, however, is expected to be Monday, 21 January, when 0ºC to – 05ºC, during the day, and 04ºC – 09ºC of cold, at night. Also, for Monday, across Moldova, it is forecast snow. It will also be cold on Tuesday, 22 January, but on Wednesday the weather will warm slightly, in winter conditions.

The popular calendar has many signs for the day of the Baptism of the Lord. "The great concern of peasant is for the house, the field and for the ages of weather," say the folklorists. All this connects them to time, it regulates them for wealth and joy, or for poverty and sadness. If it rains in time, then it is abundant, no doubt. A frost at the right time is a sign of too much over the year. It is said that until the Epiphany is hearse weather, and from now on the crack is cold and the winter is reducing. But to crack the frost, it must be the frost of the Epiphany – the coldest day. Any unfulfilled order brings about changes in order of things and even of nature. Thus, it is said that if on Epiphany it drops fromthe roofs, then the winter will be long and heavy. If the weather at Epiphany is soft it is said that people have to be weak over the year. Even worse – rain or thaw on Epiphany it looks like very expensive for the year," say several sources.

Old Orthodox Christians celebrate January Baptism or Epiphany. This is the time when the Saviour was baptised by John in the waters of the Jordan at the age of 30. With Epiphany, followed by Saint John the Baptist, there ends the cycle of traditional winter holidays. Throughout the specific ritual of this religious event, on this day, there are sanctified the great waters and the environment is being purified of the evil forces.