IN Christian churches The holiday is celebrated with solemn services. Part of them is an all-night vigil, when the clergy glorify Christ. This holiday among Orthodox Christians is the second most important after Easter. On this day, it is customary for Christians to say, turning to each other: “Christ was born!”, “Let us glorify him!”
The 40-day fast of Christmas (Korochun) ends the day before. Believers break their fast and participate in 12-day festivities. Everyday celebrations are accompanied by fortune-telling, caroling, and performances by mummers. Christmas Eve ends the Christmas fast, so the rules of fasting apply to it: you cannot eat meat, eggs, or dairy products. If Christmas Eve falls on Saturday or Sunday, then you can drink a little wine. Contrary to some statements, you can drink water.
On Christmastide, you cannot get married, hunt, or kill animals. Folk beliefs on January 7 prohibit sewing, washing, putting on old clothes, washing, sweeping up trash, and telling fortunes (you can tell fortunes on the other days of Christmastide). A woman should not be allowed to be the first guest.
In Russia, the main non-church Christmas ritual remains caroling. This tradition dates back to pagan times, when during Christmastide they tried to please the gods, who, being satisfied, would help throughout the year both in the field and in the hut. Caroling includes singing holiday songs (carols), dressing up as animals: bull, bear, goose, goat, etc. Caroling was accompanied by fortune telling and puppet shows. The Church disapproves of caroling, considering it a relic of paganism and superstition.
Nativity
(celebration traditions)
Day Nativity of Christ Since ancient times, the Church has ranked it among the great twelve feasts. The Gospel depicts this greatest, most joyful and wonderful event in this way: “ I proclaim to you , - says the Angel to the Bethlehem shepherds, - great joy that will be for all people: for today a Savior has been born to you in the city of David, who is Christ the Lord; and here is a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly a large army of heaven appeared with the Angel, praising God and crying: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. !»
On this day, a great event took place for the entire Christian world - the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem (Jesus in Hebrew means “salvation”). All Christians are convinced that Jesus Christ was sent by God to earth to atone for sins and save humanity. The Old Testament prophets predicted the place and time of birth of the Savior of the world - 5508 from the creation of the world. So, January 7 (December 25, old style) is the birthday of the Son of God on earth. From this day the countdown begins. According to the legend of the Gospel, the mother of Jesus Christ Mary and her husband Joseph lived in Nazareth, and came to Bethlehem, fulfilling the order of the ruler Augustus to appear for the entire population for the census. Since so many people had gathered for the census of the Roman Empire, Mary and Joseph could not find a place to stay for the night, so they had to seek shelter in a small cave where shepherds usually hid due to bad weather. There Mary gave birth to the Son of God. Then an angel descended from heaven and told the shepherds, who were awake at that moment, that God had been born. The shepherds were the first to come to worship the baby. Shined in the sky Star of Bethlehem. Focusing on her, three wise men (magi) came to the cave with Mary and Jesus Christ and brought gifts to God: gold, incense and myrrh. Gold symbolized royal power, incense - the will of God, myrrh - the fate of the prophet. By the way, it was from those ancient times that the tradition came to make the Star of Bethlehem and decorate the New Year tree with it.
The tradition of celebrating this event as a holiday appeared much later. One of the first mentions of the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ dates back to the fourth century. Based on historical data, scientists have concluded that Jesus was not born in winter time, and the date December 25 was chosen due to the fact that, starting from this moment, daylight hours increase. Among the pagans, this day was called the holiday “Birth of the Invincible Sun”, and after the adoption of Christianity in Rome it became the birthday of Christ - “Birth of the Sun of Truth”. There are also several other theories, each of which explains in its own way the choice of this particular day to celebrate the birth of the son of God.
Emperor Aurelian introduced the official cult of the Invincible Sun, establishing the sun god as the main deity of the empire. On a silver-plated bronze coin of Roman mintage (274-275) Aurelian wearing his sunburst crown
Jerusalem, Russian, Ukrainian, Georgian, Serbian Orthodox Churches, as well as the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, celebrate the Feast of Christmas on January 7 according to the new style (which corresponds to December 25 according to the old Julian calendar, which these Churches adhere to). This holiday comes to people on a frosty night at the hour of the midnight temple service in the glow of candles, in the light of the stars and the loud singing of the choir. The sounds of children's voices praising God, like an angelic voice, fill the Universe with triumph. Heaven and earth glorify the Nativity of Christ. Peace reigns on earth, at least for a short time, and hearts are filled with good will. Within the pre-celebration and post-celebration period, the Feast of the Nativity of Christ lasts twelve days. On the last day before the holiday, the eve of the Nativity of Christ (Christmas Eve) is celebrated, indicating the special importance of the upcoming celebration, for eve of the Nativity occurs only before the most important holidays. In the Orthodox Church, in the evening hours, called the Royal Hours, are celebrated, because for a long time kings were present at this service, worshiping the newborn King of kings. According to a tradition dating back to pagan times, on Christmas Eve it is forbidden to eat food until the first star. That is why the celebration of the Nativity of Christ begins with the rising of the evening dawn, which, according to legend, announced to the whole world about the time of the birth of the Son of God. The very day of the Nativity of Christ in the flesh, as the most important and solemn. On this day, according to the voice of the Church, " all kinds of joy are filled. The angels in heaven rejoice, and men rejoice: all creation plays for the sake of the Savior of the Lord born in Bethlehem: as all flattery of idols ends and Christ reigns forever ".
Christmas - the great day of the entire Christian world - has long been accompanied by colorful folk customs. In many countries, as in Russia, it was considered one of the main family holidays. The Nativity of Christ merged with the ancient Slavic rite - Christmastide. Over time, Christmas rituals turned into Christmas rituals. Christmas Orthodox family I waited all year, the preparation for it was thorough. For six weeks before Christmas we fasted and ate fish. Who is richer - beluga, sturgeon, pike perch; who is poorer - herring, catfish, bream. In Russia there was a lot of any kind of fish. But at Christmas everyone ate pork.
In Ukrainian culture, Christmas begins to be celebrated on January 6th, Holy evening. The evening meal marks the end of the strict forty-day pre-Christmas fast. It is customary for the whole family to gather at the table immediately after the appearance of the first star in the sky, which symbolizes the Star of Bethlehem, which notified the shepherds about the birth of Jesus. There must be twelve dishes on the table - in honor of the twelve apostles. The main dish on the Lenten table is kutya, which is wheat or rice porridge mixed with poppy seeds, raisins, honey and nuts, as well as uzvar, a compote made from dried fruits. On the seventh, people only visit relatives and sing carols.
Evening meal on Holy Eve, January 6th.
There must be twelve dishes on the table - in honor of the twelve apostles
In Russia, Christmas Eve comes on the sixth day before Christmas; its name comes from the special food that is traditionally eaten on this day. Sochivo consists of boiled wheat and honey. After the first star rises, everyone sits down at a table set with twelve Lenten dishes and dine in solemn silence. For the Russian people, one of the most fun periods of the year is Christmastide, during which mass celebrations, games take place, songs are sung, everyone has fun and jokes. Also at this time, young girls make fortunes; it is believed that it is at Christmas that one can most accurately predict their future.
In most countries of the Christian world (Catholic, Protestant and some Orthodox churches), Christmas is celebrated on December 25 in accordance with the new Gregorian calendar. The religious celebration begins on the night of December twenty-fourth to twenty-fifth with midnight mass. Despite the extreme similarity in the celebration of Christmas in Europe and America, the features different cultures and peoples complement it with their unique colors. For example, many Americans, whose ancestors moved to America from Poland, still keep their traditions. Before Christmas on December 24, they spread hay on the floor and under the tablecloth. This should remind them of the inn, stable and manger where Jesus was born. Strict fasting on this day until the first star. In the evening, as soon as the first star rises, the traditional Polish pre-Christmas dinner begins. Beetroot soup, a variety of fish, cabbage, mushrooms and “sweet meat” (not real meat, but a sweet made from honey and poppy seeds) are traditional dishes for such a holiday. True, meat dishes can only be eaten on Christmas Day itself – December 25th.
Americans with Hungarian roots pay great attention church service and singing on Christmas evening and day. Perhaps more than any other Americans, no matter where their ancestors came from. In the evening, they gather in their yards around decorated Christmas trees and wait for the first star to appear. After this, richly seasoned food is prepared: rolls with walnuts and poppy seeds, dumplings with honey and poppy seeds, biscuits with cumin, sesame and anise.
In the southern United States, Christmas is celebrated especially noisily: with fireworks and salutes. Early settlers used this to greet their neighbors. It was also believed that evil spirits were driven out in this way.
A completely different tradition in cold Alaska. On Christmas night, groups of boys and girls with lanterns in their hands carry from house to house a large cardboard star decorated with pieces of colored paper. The next day, the children dress up as King Herod's retinue and try to kill the baby Jesus, thus dramatizing the events of two thousand years ago.
The traditions of celebrating Christmas in Ukraine are extremely strong and colorful. In some regions of Ukraine there is a tradition of decorating the table Didukh, a sheaf of wheat or oats of a special shape: with four legs and a large number of knots, symbolizing prosperity in next year. As in the old days, for Christmas, many people cover the floor in village huts with fresh hay and the table with straw, on which they then lay a tablecloth and place treats. All this reminds us that the Savior was born not in royal palaces, but in a sheep stable and was laid in a manger on straw. On the morning of January 7, the whole family or several representatives go to church for holiday prayer, and returning from church, people joyfully greet: “Christ is born!” They are answered - “Praise him!” Starting from the evening of January 6, they go everywhere Christoslavs (carolers) With " Star of Bethlehem" A large star made of gilded paper was attached to a stick, decorated with a lantern, paper garlands, sometimes an icon of the Nativity, the Savior or the Mother of God, then with this star singing Christmas carols go around the surrounding houses. Such visits are called caroling.
Carolers
An ancient Christmas custom in Ukraine was (and often remains) walking with nativity scene. Nativity scene was a small box depicting the cave where, according to legend, Christ was born. This box was a miniature puppet theater in which folk craftsmen performed entire performances on the theme of Christmas. In the 19th century, it became fashionable in many city houses to make a small home nativity scene for children. It was placed under the Christmas tree. Dolls were skillfully made from paper, cotton wool, wax, and dressed in brocade and silk caftans. There were Eastern wise men and angels who praised, but the center of the composition was inevitably Mary and Joseph, bending over the manger with the Divine Child. In the western and southern regions of Ukraine, such a nativity scene was often installed in a church. Recently, the tradition of building a nativity scene under the Christmas tree has begun to be revived; dolls for it can even be purchased in the store.
Nativity scene
Mummers also went to caroling - they acted out Christmas stories, as well as other Christian stories that enjoyed constant success among the people. These usually included the Goat, Herod, Shepherds, Kings, Jews and even Death. Death is generally an extravagant character. At night, when you see it, you can get scared. Everyone has masks and you will never know whether you know someone underneath them or not. But you should be especially careful with Jews, otherwise they will scam you out of all your money. Moving from house to house with the news of the Bethlehem shepherds, the mummers glorified the coming into the world of the Savior, who showed the only path to true happiness - through love for others, opening the doors of mercy and compassion.
Participants in theatrical Christmas nativity scenes and carols
Despite the peculiarities of Christmas celebration traditions different nations, at the present time, almost all of them are united by certain common symbols. These include the tradition of giving gifts at Christmas, and the obligatory character of the holiday - Santa Claus (we have Father Frost), and a Christmas tree decorated with toys and garlands. Almost everywhere at Christmas, festive wreaths and bells are hung, and Christmas candles are lit. In that Holy holiday all people glorify Christ, greet each other: “Christ is born!”, and send Christmas cards to family and friends.
Find out more about the New Year and Christmas holidays:
One of the most significant events for Christians is the birth of Jesus. Even to this day, this holiday is given great importance in more than 100 countries around the world and is celebrated every year. If you are wondering what date Christmas Day will be in 2017, why this date is so significant, how it is customary to celebrate this holiday, as well as many other features of this day, then you will be interested in this article.
When is Christmas celebrated in Russia?
(for Catholics – December 25 who celebrate according to the old style). As already mentioned, this day is celebrated by many Orthodox countries and in most of them Christmas is considered a public holiday.
Christmas is a holiday that was established in honor of the birth of Jesus, who was born in a small town called Bethlehem. Jesus is the Son of God who was born magically from the Virgin Mary. Despite his divinity, there was no wealth or great honor in his life, and he himself was not a noble person.
If we talk about the features of the celebration, then it is worth saying that this holiday is the end of the Nativity Fast, which lasts 40 days or, as it is called, the Holy Pentecost. On the eve of this holiday, all Orthodox believers observe strict fasting, and at night from 6 to 7 January in all Orthodox churches and in churches they perform Christmas services, at which prayers are said. After Christmas, the holy days (Svyatki) begin. They last 12 days and All this time the Nativity of Christ is celebrated .
One more important feature celebration is . It is customary to perform it on Christmas Eve. Christmas Eve is evidence that this holiday is of very great significance and importance, since Vespers are done only before the most important Orthodox holidays.
Now you know when Christmas is celebrated in the Russian Federation, what the history of this holiday is, as well as how many days and how it is customary to celebrate it. Prepare pork dishes for this holiday, cook porridge, bake pies and kulebyaki, because after the evening the table should be rich and generous.
Christmas is one of the most important holidays, when Christians around the world joyfully celebrate the birth of the Savior in Bethlehem. Christmas is celebrated all over the world, only the dates vary. It always surprised me Why Orthodox Christmas lags behind the Catholic one by as much as 13 days: Catholics celebrate Christmas on December 25, and Orthodox on January 7.
By the way, in 2101, Christmas, which the Russian Orthodox Church traditionally celebrates according to the Julian calendar, will actually have to be celebrated a day later. Well, what about the post? It turns out that New Year's Eve, which, by the way, we celebrate according to the Gregorian calendar, falls during Lent.
While Catholics break their fast on Christmas Day, New Year's Eve they boldly set generous tables, we frantically gorge ourselves on New Year's table, and then we continue to fast further. Is this right?
"So simple!" will explain to you why December 25 is not a “Catholic” Christmas, but just Christmas! And why is it not at all sinful for a parishioner of the Orthodox Church to celebrate the Nativity of Christ 13 days earlier?
When is Christmas celebrated
So why do Christians around the world celebrate Christmas at different times? The thing is that it’s not so much the date of the holiday that differs, but Julian and Gregorian calendars, according to which believers celebrate religious holidays.
Christians who celebrate Christmas on December 25 follow the Gregorian calendar. The rest also celebrate Christmas on December 25, but according to the Julian calendar, which corresponds to January 7 according to the modern Gregorian calendar.
The Julian calendar was introduced in 45 BC. e Julius Caesar. According to this calendar, the year begins on the first of January and has 365 days in a normal year, and every four years there is a so-called leap year, in which another day is added - February 29. However, astronomers from Alexandria were not very accurate: every 128 years an extra day accumulates, and this is not taken into account.
Therefore, in 1582, by decision of Pope Gregory XIII, the Julian calendar was changed to a more accurate one and called the Gregorian calendar. The rejection of the Julian calendar first affected Catholic countries, and then Orthodox ones.
The Gregorian calendar came to Russia under Soviet rule. However, the Orthodox Church made such a decision didn't approve and continued its activities according to the Julian calendar.
It is interesting that, together with the Russian Orthodox Church, on the night of January 6-7, the Feast of the Nativity of Christ is celebrated by the Georgian, Jerusalem and Serbian Orthodox Churches.
The Athos Monastery, which is under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, also remained to function according to the old style. Ukrainians celebrate Christmas twice this year: December 25 and January 7.
Today, the actual difference between the old and new calendar is 13 days, and it is constantly increasing! If in the 18th century the difference between calendars was only 11 days, then in the 23rd century it will be as much as 15.
By the way, if those who remain to follow the Julian calendar do not switch to the modern Gregorian calendar, then a century later our descendants will celebrate Christmas according to the old style on January 8, and two centuries later - on January 9!
How and when Christmas Eve is celebrated, 2019 date, date of the holiday, what Christmas traditions exist, what date is Christmas Eve, and what gifts are given.
Almost all over the world, Christmas is celebrated differently than in Russia; Catholics celebrate this holiday on the night of December 24-25, according to the Gregorian calendar.
According to our calendar (Julian), the holiday of Christmas is celebrated by the Serbian, Jerusalem and Georgian Orthodox churches, and a number of other Greek Catholic and Protestant churches.
On the night of January 6th to 7th, the Christmas service begins in all Orthodox churches and temples in Russia, which is usually witnessed by millions of believers.
Christmas celebration
All over the world Christmas is considered family holiday when all family members gather together at one table. In Russia, they are not so committed to this custom, so on this holiday all friends and relatives are invited to the house.
In Rus', on Christmas night, the doors were opened wide and any passerby was invited to the festive table, even if it was a homeless beggar, because an ancient belief said that Jesus Christ himself could be hiding under the guise of a homeless person.
Christmas Eve 2019
The day before Christmas is called Christmas Eve, which is the final day of the forty-day strict Advent fast. Christmas Eve is celebrated on January 6, 2018 - the Eve of the Nativity of Christ.
The name “Christmas Eve” comes from “sochivo” - a traditional ritual dish that is prepared on Christmas. This is a lean cereal porridge with honey and nuts. There are hundreds of variations in the preparation of this dish, some of which have come to us since ancient times. Read here how best to prepare kutia from rice and raisins with nuts and honey.
In memory of the star of Bethlehem, which announced to the Magi about the birth of the Savior, on Christmas Eve you cannot eat any food until the first star appears. With the appearance of the first star, you can sit down at the table and wish each other all the bright and good.
The festive table must be set with 12 dishes. In addition to sochiv, the table should be served with such dishes as pancakes, ham, jelly, lamb with porridge, jellied fish, stuffed turkey, pig, duck or goose with apples, boiled pork, meatloaf, stuffed chicken baked in the oven, pies, homemade sausage , gingerbread, and other dishes.
There must also be a variety of drinks on the table, depending on the preferences of the owners.
Traditionally, in Rus', the decoration of the festive table was fresh hay, which was brought into the house and laid out on the table and was a symbol of the manger in which Jesus lay when he was born.
Now, due to the difficulty of finding hay in the city, sometimes a Christmas nativity scene is sometimes placed in the center of the festive table.
In the old days, the Christmas holiday table had to be covered with a snow-white tablecloth, and many adhere to this tradition today. There is no specific requirement for table setting, but it is important that the Christmas table be decorated very solemnly and replete with the number of dishes.
There is such a tradition that came to us from ancient times. In order for the New Year to be successful, you need to bring crumbs of bread or various seeds to the birds on the eve of Christmas or on Christmas night itself.
With the onset of Christmas, Christmastide begins, which continues until Epiphany Eve, and includes the holidays of St. Basil the Great and Epiphany Eve.
During this period, people visit and congratulate their relatives and friends, walk, have fun, girls tell fortunes.
From antiquity to the present day, the tradition of caroling has been preserved. Carolers must open the doors and treat them with sweets or give them money.
Fortune telling also begins on Christmas, of which there are a great many. Girls usually make fortunes, mainly in the hope of finding out whether they will get married next year or remain “girls.”
Gift for Christmas 2019
At Christmas, as well as at New Year, it is customary to give gifts. It used to be that a Christmas gift had to be made with one's own hands, but now it can also be a purchased gift.
It is very symbolic on this holiday to give each other figures of angels, made independently or purchased. The gifted angel should be hung in the room and it will definitely give happiness, luck and success to its owner in the New Year.
