When is Wet Monday 2024: date, history, and customs of the holiday

The traditions of Wet Monday have come to us since the times of Kievan Rus. People used to celebrate this event for three days in a row, during which they poured water on themselves. Hence the name of the holiday. This was reported by SSPDaily.

When is Wet Monday in 2024?

In 2024, Easter falls on May 5 for Eastern Rite believers, which means that we will celebrate Wet Monday on May 6.

The history of the holiday

In ancient times, people believed that water on the Monday after Easter had healing properties. It was believed to bring happiness, purify the soul, and body. Thus, by pouring water on themselves, people purified themselves and got rid of their sins.

For Ukrainians, Wet Monday is an important holiday. But similar traditions can also be found in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia.

Do's and don'ts on Wet Monday

The traditions of Wet Monday were known in pagan times. Our ancestors used to pour cold water on each other in ancient times, believing that it would ward off various diseases and evil spirits. They also did this to avoid drought. In other words, according to the ancestors, pouring water was supposed to cause the rains that are so necessary in the spring.

After Christianity came to the lands of Kievan Rus, some pagan traditions merged with the new faith. It was also believed that if a guy poured water on an unmarried girl on this day, he would be making her a "marriage proposal". This was often a way of showing sympathy and confessing feelings.

There are also certain prohibitions on Wet Monday. For example, it is forbidden to be sad or think about bad things. Also, one should not return from the festivities of this day dry. It is better to postpone all household chores for later. It is also forbidden to quarrel and swear, drink alcoholic beverages, or sit alone at home.