International holidays - International Bath Day

“Long live the fragrant soap, / And the fluffy towel, / And the tooth powder, / And the thick comb!” - sang the hygiene procedures of KI Chukovsky in "Moidodyr" In addition to cleanliness of the body, taking a bath or visiting a sauna gives the body a feeling of lightness, and the soul - peace and relaxation Our ancestors knew about the healing power of hot steam and contrasting temperature changes Thus, the Orthodox saint and healer Agapit of Pechersk healed people not only with the power of prayer, but also with the means of traditional medicine As one of the means of treatment, the reverend father recommended visiting the steam room On June 14, International Bath Day is celebrated in memory of Agapit of Pechersk The unofficial status does not in any way detract from the importance of the holiday It is celebrated both by those who like to steam under the aromas of herbs and the slaps of brooms, and by bathhouse attendants The steam room not only treats colds and rheumatism, but also heals the nervous system, relaxes muscles and cleanses the skin The bathhouse is used to prevent immunity, since temperature changes contribute to the effective hardening of the body The first huts with a vat of hot stones installed inside appeared in the 5th century among residents of the Northern Black Sea region The ancient Slavs considered the bathhouse a sacred building It was not for nothing that after her visit they said: “How he was born again” Our ancestors, unlike the inhabitants of Medieval Europe, never forgot about the culture of ablution, revering fire, water and the hearth since pagan times When epidemics of cholera, plague and dysentery, the “disease of dirty hands,” raged in France, Spain, Italy and other countries, bathhouse culture flourished in Russia The daughter of Yaroslav the Wise, Anna, who married Henry I, wrote to her father: “Why did I anger you so much, and why do you hate me so much that you sent me to this dirty France, where I can’t even really wash myself?!” According to the chronicles of the X-XIII centuries Baths among the Eastern Slavs were widespread These structures were affectionately called soap houses, vlaznys and movnitsa They were always visited before important events and church rituals - weddings, baptisms, communion, etc It was believed that a bannik (analogous to a brownie) lived in a log structure with a fireplace, on the coals of which water was poured It was customary to appease a naked old man, covered with broom leaves, by treating him to bread and salt In Soviet times, when traditional medicine was not in honor, and signs were considered ancient superstitions, the baths were not closed They were considered not only an excellent place for leisure activities, but also medical and preventive institutions The famous Sanduny, opened under Catherine II in 1808, did not stop working even after the revolution of 197 A unique bath and health complex located in Moscow, today, like 200 years ago, offers steaming and washing procedures with birch and oak wreaths Since ancient times, the bathhouse was heated in white and black In the first case, a pipe was installed in a room with a stove and coals, through which smoke from the coals was removed The black bath didn't have it Carbon monoxide rose from the stove and circulated throughout the room Therefore, after kindling for 3-4 hours and warming up the room, it was ventilated, and the firebrands and ash were taken outside Such a bathhouse, heated black, absorbed heat well, which concentrated at the feet and did not rise to the ceiling For Russian people, visiting a steam room was elevated to a cult and was considered a kind of ritual, the same for rich and poor, adults and children To a tired traveler and random guest, the owner of the house first of all offered to visit the bathhouse, and then taste the treat and stay overnight Bathing in the steam room was carried out every day, and it was mandatory before visiting church or when suffering from any ailment: from a cold to joint disease Foreigners who visited Russia in ancient times noted the habit of local residents to wash for a long time and often According to foreign travelers, it was impossible to find a single city or village that did not have baths Such love for her is not without practical meaning, because thanks to this the Russian people are strong in spirit and physically healthy We honor the traditions and customs of our ancestors, which is why we celebrate International Bath Day every year