Christmas is one of the most significant and revered holidays on the planet. On this day, Christians around the world celebrate the birth of the Son of God in human form, the beginning of a new calendar cycle and the renewal of all things. Today this holiday is inextricably linked with gifts, delicious dinner and general fun, which makes it so beloved and long-awaited.
Catholics and Protestants celebrate Christmas on the night of January 24-25, Orthodox - from January 6 to 7. The gap in dates is due to the difference in calendars, Gregorian and Julian, respectively. Christmas traditions are different different peoples. But almost everywhere Christmas is considered a domestic holiday. About where Christmas ceremonies came to us and how to spend Holy holiday, we will tell in this article.
History of the celebration
The advent of Christmas is associated with the birth Christian religion but it also has deep pagan roots. In order to strengthen the people's reverence for church holidays, the first Christians associated them with traditional calendar rites. For example, the customs of giving gifts or decorating a Christmas tree appeared much earlier than all modern religions. The ancient Germanic tribes celebrated Yule, the winter solstice, by hanging fir branches with sacrificial food and ornaments to earn favor with the gods.
Christian Christmas rites grow out of pagan beliefs
The Romans during this period had Saturnalia - a series of holidays in honor of Saturn, the deity of agriculture and fertility. The ancient Slavs celebrated Kolyada. The hero of the myths of the same name embodied the onset of the new year. In honor of Kolyada, our ancestors sang laudatory songs to rich gentlemen, wishing them to reap a generous harvest and maintain prosperity in the house. For this, they were treated to various dishes. The tradition has been preserved in the form of a caroling ceremony.
But back to the Christian interpretation of Christmas! Exact year(and even more so - the specific date) of the birth of Jesus, historians have not yet determined. For the first time, such data are found not in the Bible, but only in the historical chronicles of the 3rd century. Since information about the birth of Christ is abrupt and contradictory, Christmas was timed to coincide with the winter solstice.
In many ancient religions, this day symbolized the birth or resurrection of the gods: Dionysus, the patron saint of winemaking in Greece, the ruler underworld Osiris in Egypt, the sun deity Mithras in Rome... Initially, the birth and baptism of Jesus was celebrated on this day, and the double holiday was called Epiphany. Over time, two separate celebrations emerged.
Christian traditions
In Orthodoxy, the holiday is preceded by the Advent fast. Two weeks before Christmas Eve are dedicated to the memory of the forefathers and fathers - relatives of Jesus and the righteous Old Testament. Five play an important role last days before Christmas. This time is called prefeast and involves the reading of special prayers during worship.
The rich traditions of the Nativity of Christ will not let you get bored! Christmas Eve is called Christmas Eve. In Russian, the name comes from the word "sochivo". It means soaked grains of wheat - the prototype of the well-known kutya. In Ukraine, the holiday is called Svyatvechir, that is, a holy evening. Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas Eve on January 6, Catholics on December 24.
In all denominations, this day is dedicated to preparing for the feast. In Orthodoxy, there is a custom to abstain from food until the first star, associated with the biblical story of the Star of Bethlehem. According to legend, the luminary showed the shepherds the way to the newborn Savior. After the meal is over, it is customary to attend a church service.
Folk Christmas customs
Christmas is associated with many rituals. Festive traditions were inherited from our ancestors, as an interweaving of Christian and pagan rites. They are still preserved in the villages, where they are passed down from generation to generation, almost unchanged over time. Perhaps many of them are familiar to you from the stories of grandmothers or the works of Gogol.
Christmas Eve was and still is a time of mercy. Rich people share food with the poor and the sick, help the needy. On Christmas Eve, our ancestors arranged a general cleaning. All household utensils were supposed to be washed and cleaned to a shine. On this day, the people themselves washed and put on beautiful new clothes, which in those days was done infrequently.
Traditional Christmas nativity scene with wooden figurines In Ukraine, it was believed that on Christmas the souls of deceased relatives come to the house. In memory of this, a sheaf of wheat, rye or oats was placed in an honorable corner of the house. He was tied with a ribbon and called "didukh". After all, in the past, grandfathers were called not only the parents of the mother or father, but also all deceased ancestors. The table was also covered with hay. A handful of grain and garlic cloves were placed under the tablecloth - one at each corner. The holiday itself was held in the family circle.
Guests were rarely allowed into the house, but if the visit could not be avoided, the visitor was honored on a grand scale. It was believed that before dinner, an outside woman should not enter the dwelling, as she could bring trouble. Travelers and single people were often invited to the table. There was an opinion that under their modest guise the Savior himself could hide. The rest of the dinner was taken outside. Our ancestors believed that if you treat predators on a festive evening, they will not harm the household during the year.
Christmas dinner
As the first star rises, the head of the family lights a candle and says a prayer. After that, the meal begins. Dinner on Christmas Eve (January 6) consists of twelve Lenten courses. First of all, everyone should taste kuti - porridge made from grain steamed in water and flavored with honey, nuts and dried fruits. Also, one cannot do without a compote of dried fruits (pears, apples or plums), which is called var or uzvar.
Traditional Christmas Eve dishes are mushroom borscht, cabbage soup with vegetable oil and millet, boiled peas, dumplings, pancakes, cereals, lenten pies and so on. A place of honor is occupied by fish dishes - this product is abstained from during most of the fast. But the real feast of the stomach begins the next day.
Fragrant kutya with honey and dried fruits - the main Christmas dish On January 7, the long Christmas fast ends, which means that meat and dairy products can be served at the table. Among the Slavs, these are mainly pork dishes: homemade sausage, aspic, roast with porridge, boiled pork, kutya with lard. traditional dish all over the world are roast goose or turkey with spices and fruits.
As for sweets, there are no classic recipe Christmas desserts. Therefore, we are happy to adopt foreign customs. Since the Middle Ages, Christmas in Europe has been associated with the flavors of gingerbread. Often these cookies are baked in the form of holiday attributes, animals and men, decorated with sugar icing.
Christmas traditions
Christmas is the first day of Christmas. Twelve days between Kolyada and Epiphany are considered the time of festivities. One of the most fun Christmas rituals is caroling. From ancient times, there is a tradition to dress up in costumes of animals or mythical characters and go from house to house, singing songs. If in pagan times this carnival was accompanied by riots and roar, today it has acquired a religious character.
Young people sing carols in which they glorify the birth of Jesus and wish the owner of the house wealth and happiness. For their efforts carolers receive a nominal fee. In some regions, mummers arrange performances based on biblical stories - the so-called nativity scene. With them they carry a decorated star on a pole, which symbolizes the guiding Star of Bethlehem. In the past, the rite of caroling was widespread in many regions of Russia, almost throughout the territory of Belarus and Ukraine.
Christmas divination - a chance for unmarried girls to learn about the future During Christmas time, our ancestors indulged in a long-awaited rest. They participated in festivities and paid visits to their relatives, while the youth were actively engaged in matchmaking and fortune-telling. Indeed, among the people this time was considered mystical and fateful. Girls. Moreover, many of the tricks of our great-grandmothers are well known to us.
For example, the name of the betrothed was guessed in this way. At midnight January 6 unmarried girl she left the house and asked the first person she met what his name was. The named name will be borne by her husband. They also guessed with the help of a boot. On Christmas Eve, the girl threw her shoes into the street and looked where the toe of her boot was pointing. From this side it was necessary to wait for the betrothed.
How is Christmas celebrated around the world?
In almost every Christian country, there are original customs and signature Christmas dishes. Majority Western countries profess Catholicism. Christmas in this denomination is preceded by Advent - a four-week fast. At this time, preparations for the celebrations are going on. full swing and the holiday spirit is in the air. Let's see how Christmas is celebrated in different parts of the world.
It is with Christmas that the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe is associated. - Great Britain. Residents of rural areas of Foggy Albion light a lot of lights on Christmas Eve and call the holiday "the night of candles." Dwellings are decorated with sprigs of evergreens: mistletoe, ivy, holly. A couple colliding under a wreath of mistletoe must kiss. The British approach the gala dinner with their usual thoroughness. There is always a baked pork head, Christmas bread and, of course, the legendary pudding on the table.
- Germany. During the winter holidays, the squares of German cities turn into real medieval fairs. An eerie procession of devils with soot-smeared faces and horned masks passes through the streets of Munich. On holidays, you can’t do without gingerbread and fragrant mulled wine. And for Christmas dinner, they traditionally serve roast goose with prunes and apples.
- France. There are two main Christmas characters here. Good-natured Per Noel brings gifts to obedient children, and Per Fuetard is responsible for punishment with rods. The gala dinner includes the Bouches de Noel chocolate cake. The name of this dessert is translated as "Christmas log", which is quite consistent with its appearance. The free-spirited French often spend Christmas with friends.
- Czech Republic. The inhabitants of this country cannot imagine a holiday without fried carp with potato salad. In addition, on Christmas Eve, the inhabitants of Prague go to the banks of the Vltava River and buy this fish from street vendors - but they always let it go back to swimming. At Christmas, Czechs bake delicious gingerbread cookies with the whole family. And on December 26, on the day of St. Stephen, it is customary to drive negligent men away from home.
- Iceland. The inhabitants of this northern country do not believe in St. Nicholas, but in the inhabitants of the local forests - thirteen good-natured half-trolls. Starting from December 12, every morning they fill the shoes left on the windowsills with pleasant surprises for children.
How to celebrate Christmas, everyone decides for himself. In the CIS countries, this holiday falls on a long weekend, so you can do everything: attend a service in the church, and please homemade delicacies, and have fun at folk festivals. And, of course, enjoy every minute of the magical winter holidays!
Catholics celebrate Christmas a little earlier than Orthodox believers. The great event is annually celebrated at the end of December.
For catholic church Christmas is the main religious holiday. Every year on December 25, Catholics remember the amazing story of this event, decorate their homes and give their loved ones Christmas gifts. Despite the fact that each church celebrates this day in accordance with its faith, nevertheless, some traditions are similar.
Catholic Christmas in 2017
Every year, Catholic Christmas falls on December 25, and Orthodox Christmas falls on January 7. Why is the same holiday celebrated on different days? Since 1582, many countries of the world began to calculate time following the Gregorian calendar, which is why most religious events among Catholics and Orthodox believers do not coincide. Orthodox Church calculates events according to the Julian calendar, where Christmas falls exactly on January 7th.
The difference in the dates of the celebration of Christmas did not affect the significance of the holiday. On this day, believers celebrate the birth of the Great Infant, who became the Savior of all mankind. His appearance in the world was a real miracle. The Lord chose the Virgin Mary as the Mother of Jesus Christ, and sent an angel to inform her of this news. Her husband Joseph at first did not believe in this and threatened to annul the marriage. However, the messenger of God explained to him that this child is the blessing of the King of Heaven, and Joseph needs to raise and love him as his own son. Even before the birth, the couple went to Bethlehem with the hope of settling in a hotel, but they did not succeed. Mary and Joseph were forced to camp in the barn. The first to see the Son of God were the shepherds. The star that shone in Bethlehem also led three wise men there, who brought gold, frankincense and myrrh as a gift to the child. Herod, having learned about the appearance of the Divine Infant, decided to kill all the children under two years old, but Jesus Christ was able to avoid death. An angel appeared to Joseph and warned him of the evil intentions of the king, and they, together with the child and Mary, went to Egypt, where they lived until the death of Herod.
How Catholics Celebrate Christmas
Christmas is one of the twelfth holidays and is one of the non-transitory. For both Catholics and Orthodox believers, the date of Christmas is unchanged. Despite the common history of the holiday, the traditions of this day are still different.
Advent is a kind of preparation for the Nativity of Christ. People purify their body and soul and prepare to meet the Great Infant with dignity. For Catholics, this period is called Advent, and it lasts four weeks.
Decorating the house with fir branches wreaths with candles is another Catholic Christmas tradition. The round shape of the wreath symbolizes eternal life, the green color is the embodiment of life, the fire is the light that illuminates the whole world on Christmas Day.
Figurines of the Virgin Mary and the Infant Christ are installed in houses and churches. It can also be Christmas decorations, installations and just paintings.
On Christmas Day, Catholic believers attend Mass, a Christmas church service. During it, the priest puts the figure in the form of the Child of God into the manger and consecrates it. At this moment, people can feel like participants in this Great event.
Christmas treats are different in every country. In England and America, it is customary to serve turkey, in Spain - pork, and in Latvia - fish. There must be plenty of dishes so that guests leave full and satisfied.
For Orthodox believers, Christmas will come only on January 7th. However, even before it comes, you can find out what awaits you in 2018. Christmas fortune-telling is much stronger and more truthful than usual, because it is on this day that we can achieve unity with the Higher powers.
Christmas is one of the main holidays in Christianity. On this day, believers celebrate the birth of the son of God Jesus Christ by the Virgin Mary (Our Lady). In Orthodoxy, Christmas is the second most important holiday after Easter. The Nativity of Christ in Orthodoxy refers to the twelfth (twelve most important) master's (in honor of Jesus Christ) non-passing (always celebrated on the same day) holidays. Christmas is preceded by a strict forty-day Advent fast.
History of the Feast of the Nativity
The history of the events of the Nativity of Christ is reflected in the Gospels of Luke And Matthew. All Christian denominations interpret Christmas events in the same way.
It was in ancient rome under the emperor August. Virgin Mary and her husband Joseph They were supposed to take part in the mandatory census for all inhabitants of the Roman Empire. Joseph and Mary were descendants of the king David, who was a native of Bethlehem, therefore, according to the rules approved by Augustus, the holy family was ordered to go to this city to participate in the census.
The city turned out to be overcrowded with guests and pilgrims, and Mary, who was already on demolitions, could not find a place in the hotel. And then the child began to ask to go outside, and the young mother had to give birth in a cave adapted for a barn in which cattle were sheltered from the weather. Childbirth, as you know, went well, even despite the absence of a midwife.
The newborn Jesus was the first to come to bow to the shepherds, informed of the joyful event by an angel. And after the shepherds, the magi came, who found the treasured cave by the bright star that lit up in the sky and showed them the way. The Magi brought gifts to Jesus - gold, frankincense and myrrh, symbolizing the royal status of the divine baby.
On the eighth day after his birth, according to Jewish tradition, Jesus was circumcised, and on the fortieth day a sacrifice was made in his honor in the Jerusalem temple.
Having learned about the birth of Jesus, and having learned that the baby will become the Messiah (Savior), the king of Judea Herod decided to destroy it. In order not to be mistaken, Herod ordered that all babies under the age of two be killed. However, the virgin Mary and Joseph managed to save the child: an angel of God warned them of the impending massacre, and they fled to Egypt, where they remained until the death of Herod.
Christmas in Russia
In Rus', Christmas has been celebrated since the end of the 10th century, the holiday came along with Christianity, which was introduced by Prince Vladimir. The celebration of Christmas was originally held according to Byzantine traditions.
The Europeanization of Christmas took place at the end of the 17th - beginning of the 18th centuries, when the first crib theaters were brought from Poland to Russia, in which puppet shows about the birth of Jesus were played. And then the Germans, of whom there have been a great many in Russia since the time of Peter the Great, spread their tradition of decorating the Christmas tree for Christmas. And at the beginning of the 20th century, Russia also had its own Santa Claus - the Christmas Father Frost.
After the revolution, Christmas underwent the most severe, as they would say now, upgrade, but, unlike other church holidays, nevertheless survived, albeit in an atheistic version.
After 13 years of bans, the tradition of New Year trees and Santa Clauses was revived in the USSR. Grandfather Frost found a granddaughter - a completely pagan Snow Maiden, and indeed the holiday became defiantly anti-religious: a five-pointed star replaced the Christmas star on the tree, and even with portraits Lenin-Stalin in the middle, Christmas decorations have also become ideologically consistent. Later, the top of the Christmas tree began to be decorated with a more neutral silver pike.
After the collapse of the USSR, Orthodox Christmas returned to Russia, becoming a day off and peacefully coexisting with the secular Soviet New Year.
Christmas divination and carols
In addition to church customs of celebrating Christmas, there are folk traditions with pre-Christian roots. In particular, lovers of antiquity still love to carol at Christmas: mummers in costumes and masks enter houses on Christmas night and sing praises to Christ or good wishes-carols to the owners, receiving food and money as a reward.
Here are some examples of Christmas carols:
***
carol, carol,
Christmas Eve!
Good aunt,
The pie is sweet
Don't cut, don't break
Give it quickly.
***
Today an angel descended on us
And he sang: "Christ is born!"
We came to glorify Christ
And congratulate you on the holiday.
***
Don't give me cheesecakes -
You'll get it on top!
Don't give me a pie -
I'll take the cow by the horns.
***
carol, carol
Open up the gate
Get out the chests
Give patches.
Though the ruble
At least a penny
Let's not leave home like this!
Give us some candy
Or maybe a coin.
Don't regret anything
Christmas is coming!
From Christmas to Epiphany (January 19), Christmas time comes, when young girls love to tell fortunes about their betrothed. It is believed that during the holy week, while Christ has not yet been baptized, evil spirits walk the earth and try not to do much harm. Therefore, at this time, you can turn to her for advice and help in heart and other matters. This case is not encouraged by the church, but it is not too condemned either.
Christmas omens
- If in the first three days of Christmas time on the branches of frost - to good harvest of bread.
- If there is a thaw at Christmas, spring will be late and unfriendly.
- At Christmas, the day is warm - dark bread will be born.
- On Christmas night there are a lot of stars in the sky - in the summer there will also be a lot of berries in the forest.
How and when Christmas is celebrated in 2017, the 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 from ours, Catholics celebrate this holiday on the night of December 24-25, according to the Gregorian calendar. According to our own calendar (Julian), the Serbian, Jerusalem and Georgian Orthodox churches, and a number of other Greek Catholic and Protestant churches celebrate Christmas. On the night of January 6th to 7th, the Christmas Divine Liturgy begins in all Orthodox churches and temples, which is usually witnessed by millions of believers. January 6 - Christmas Eve, Christmas Eve holiday January 7, 2017 - Christmas great holiday, fixed date Celebrating Christmas Around the world, Christmas is considered a family holiday when all family members gather together at the same table. We are not so committed to this custom, so on this holiday all friends and relatives are invited to the house. On Christmas night, the doors opened wide and any passer-by was invited to the festive table, even if it was a homeless beggar, because an old belief said that Jesus Christ himself could be hiding under the guise of a homeless person. Christmas Eve 2017 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, 2016 - the eve of the Nativity of Christ, the eve. The name "Christmas Eve" comes from "sochivo" - a traditional ritual dish that is prepared on Christmas Day. This is a lean porridge made from cereals 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 cook kutya 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 can’t take 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 everything bright and good. The festive table must be covered with 12 dishes. In addition to sochi, dishes such as pancakes, ham, jelly, lamb with porridge, jellied fish, stuffed turkey, piglet, duck or goose with apples, boiled pork, meatloaf, stuffed chicken baked in the oven, pies, homemade sausage, gingerbread, and other dishes. Christmas Traditions Traditionally, 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, having been born, Jesus lay. 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 Christmas festive table must have been covered with a snow-white tablecloth, and many adhere to this tradition today. There is no specific prescription for table setting, but it is important that the Christmas table be decorated very solemnly and abound in the number of dishes. There is a tradition that came to us from antiquity. In order for the new year to be successful, you need to take bread crumbs or various seeds to the birds on the eve of Christmas or on Christmas night itself. With the advent of Christmas, Christmas time begins, which continues until Epiphany Christmas Eve, and includes the feasts of Basil the Great and the Eve of Epiphany. During this period, people visit and congratulate relatives and friends, walk, have fun, girls guess. From antiquity to the present day, the tradition of caroling has been preserved. Caroling guests must open the doors and treat them with sweets or give money. Also at Christmas, fortune-telling begins, of which there are a great many. Girls usually guess, mainly in the hope of finding out whether they will get married next year or remain “in the girls”. Gift for Christmas 2017 For Christmas, as well as for New Year It is customary to give gifts. It used to be that a Christmas present should be handmade, 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 bought. The presented angel must be hung in the room and it will definitely give happiness, luck and success to its owner in the new year. Also on the table there must be a variety of drinks, depending on the preferences of the owners.
Catholics celebrate Christmas a little earlier than Orthodox believers. The great event is annually celebrated at the end of December.
For the Catholic Church, Christmas is the main religious holiday. Every year on December 25, Catholics remember the amazing story of this event, decorate their homes and give their loved ones Christmas gifts. Despite the fact that each church celebrates this day in accordance with its faith, nevertheless, some traditions are similar.
Catholic Christmas in 2017
Every year, Catholic Christmas falls on December 25, and Orthodox Christmas falls on January 7. Why is the same holiday celebrated on different days? Since 1582, many countries of the world began to calculate time following the Gregorian calendar, which is why most religious events among Catholics and Orthodox believers do not coincide. The Orthodox Church calculates events according to the Julian calendar, where Christmas falls on January 7th.
The difference in the dates of the celebration of Christmas did not affect the significance of the holiday. On this day, believers celebrate the birth of the Great Infant, who became the Savior of all mankind. His appearance in the world was a real miracle. The Lord chose the Virgin Mary as the Mother of Jesus Christ, and sent an angel to inform her of this news. Her husband Joseph at first did not believe in this and threatened to annul the marriage. However, the messenger of God explained to him that this child is the blessing of the King of Heaven, and Joseph needs to raise and love him as his own son. Even before the birth, the couple went to Bethlehem with the hope of settling in a hotel, but they did not succeed. Mary and Joseph were forced to camp in the barn. The first to see the Son of God were the shepherds. The star that shone in Bethlehem also led three wise men there, who brought gold, frankincense and myrrh as a gift to the child. Herod, having learned about the appearance of the Divine Infant, decided to kill all the children under two years old, but Jesus Christ was able to avoid death. An angel appeared to Joseph and warned him of the evil intentions of the king, and they, together with the child and Mary, went to Egypt, where they lived until the death of Herod.
How Catholics Celebrate Christmas
Christmas is one of the twelfth holidays and is one of the non-transitory. For both Catholics and Orthodox believers, the date of Christmas is unchanged. Despite the common history of the holiday, the traditions of this day are still different.
Advent is a kind of preparation for the Nativity of Christ. People purify their body and soul and prepare to meet the Great Infant with dignity. For Catholics, this period is called Advent, and it lasts four weeks.
Decorating the house with fir branches wreaths with candles is another Catholic Christmas tradition. The round shape of the wreath symbolizes eternal life, the green color is the embodiment of life, the fire is the light that illuminates the whole world on Christmas Day.
Figurines of the Virgin Mary and the Infant Christ are installed in houses and churches. It can also be Christmas decorations, installations and just paintings.
On Christmas Day, Catholic believers attend Mass, a Christmas church service. During it, the priest puts the figure in the form of the Child of God into the manger and consecrates it. At this moment, people can feel like participants in this Great event.
Christmas treats are different in every country. In England and America, it is customary to serve turkey, in Spain - pork, and in Latvia - fish. There must be plenty of dishes so that guests leave full and satisfied.
For Orthodox believers, Christmas will come only on January 7th. However, even before it comes, you can find out what awaits you in 2018. Christmas fortune-telling is much stronger and more truthful than usual, because it is on this day that we can achieve unity with the Higher powers. The site site team wishes you happiness and success, and don't forget to press the buttons and
22.12.2017 05:58
One of the main church holidays, called the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, has a rich history and many traditions, ...
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