Representation of water-related rituals in modern Spanish prose

The article analyzes examples of the inclusion of descrip-tions of ancient beliefs and rituals related to water in the modern Spanish prose. These traditions are particularly noticeable in the Northern regions of Spain, especially in Galicia, the Basque Country and Cantabria. It is believed that it is in this part of Spain that the ideas of the ancient inhabitants of the Iberian Peninsula are layered with Celtic and Gothic beliefs, as well as Christian traditions. The element of water relates, first of all, to the idea of purification from negative influence and transformation. Rituals associ-ated with water can change a person's life, fill it, help cope with many prob-lems, but can awaken secret feelings and emotions. Water magic turns out to be associated with cruelty and murder, a violent transition to the other world. The secrecy and ritual attract authors of detective novels and magi-cal genres. On the other hand, the inclusion of such elements in a literary work helps to show the identity and originality of the region, promote local names, not only place names, but also dialect names of objects, all this at-tracts the reader with its uniqueness, and, more broadly, provides attention to the history and culture of not only Spain as a whole, but also its indi-vidual regions.