Christmas is one of the main Christian holidays, established in honor of the birth in the flesh (incarnation) of Jesus Christ.
1:752 1:757The Roman Catholic Church and most Protestant churches celebrate Christmas according to the Gregorian calendar - on the night of December 24-25.
1:1024 1:1029For the Orthodox, this event is celebrated a little later, and everyone is interested in why. The fact is that Catholics, as well as most Protestants, use the Gregorian calendar for church holidays. It is more traditional, but Orthodox believers prefer not to deviate from traditions. In fact, no one knows how to correctly calculate church holidays, because there are no exact dates in sacred texts.
That is why there was such a division - Catholics celebrate Christmas on December 25, and Orthodox on January 7. But for those and for others, this holiday has the same meaning - on this day Jesus Christ was born. This is not only a bright holiday of joy, but also a day of sorrow for the Virgin Mary, who knew that trials after this event would need to be endured with courage. On this day, all over the world, believers pray in the hope of a miracle, because once this miracle happened, when the baby Jesus was born to Mary as a result of an immaculate conception.
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As for all Christians, the main holiday - the "feast of holidays", "the celebration of celebrations" - for Catholics is Easter. Christmas tells us about “the beginning of our salvation”, gives us hope. In order to fully experience Christmas, they begin to prepare for it in advance.
2:987 2:992Christmas is preceded by Advent
It begins four weeks before Christmas and is designed to prepare believers for a deeper experience of this holiday.
2:1300 2:1305At the altars in the churches is installed wreath, in which four candles.
2:1452Every Sunday of this period, one candle is lit, thus clearly showing how many weeks are left until Christmas.
2:1693The wreath - round in shape symbolizes eternity, and its green color - hope, like the branches of the Christmas tree.
2:208In many countries it is customary to decorate entrance doors with such wreaths in the pre-Christmas period as a sign that Christ is expected in this house. In Russia, in recent years, Advent wreaths have been sold in flower shops under the name "New Year's decorations." Unfortunately, the deep Christian meaning of this decoration remains hidden from many.
2:836 2:841During Advent, believers participate in spiritual exercises and special pre-Christmas services, trying to do works of mercy.
2:1105 2:1110During the four weeks of Advent, it is necessary to prepare for confession, to participate with a pure heart in Christmas services and receive Communion.
2:1393 2:1398Children, too, are preparing to welcome the Christ Child in their own way. In many countries, it is customary for children, in anticipation of the holiday, to do feasible good deeds, for which they receive in the family bundle of straw or small paper heart. Before Christmas, children hang these hearts on a Christmas tree, and put straw in a manger.
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Manger or nativity scene
3:553A manger in the narrow sense of the word is a feeder for cattle, where the Mother of God laid the newborn Baby Jesus. Manger in the broad sense, or in the Russian tradition - den, they call the image of the cave (nativity scene in Church Slavonic and means cave), where the shepherds drove cattle at night, and where, as the Gospel tells, Christ was born.
3:1186 3:1191In the Western tradition, a manger or nativity scene is a scene depicting Christmas, and consisting of volumetric figures, the number of which can be very different. Only unchanged here figures of the Christ Child in a manger, the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph. The rest of the participants in the Christmas event - the shepherds, the animals that were in the cave that gave shelter to Joseph and Mary, the angels singing "Glory to God in the highest" - all this depends on the imagination and skill of the author.
3:2031 3:4The device of the Christmas manger is a tradition laid down by St. Francis of Assisi, who in 1223 in the village of Greccio set up a manger in a cave on the mountainside. They also brought an ox and a donkey there - animals that, according to legend, warmed the newborn Baby with their breath. St. Thomas of Celano, biographer of St. Francis says that when the saint bent over the figurine depicting Jesus lying in the manger, it came to life for a few seconds.
3:777 3:782And in our time, in many Catholic families, preparing for Christmas, parents and children begin to build a manger and make figurines that will then decorate the house. Holding exhibitions of mangers has also become a tradition in many countries, allowing us to visualize the moment of the birth of the Bethlehem Baby, experiencing the joy of His coming into the world. And of course, since the time of St. Francis, Christmas mangers have been placed in most of the Catholic churches of the world.
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Christmas Eve
4:543On Christmas Eve - December 24 comes Christmas Eve. In Eastern Europe, on this day, families decorate Christmas trees and set up nurseries.
4:779 4:784Those of the family members who have not yet had time to start confessions, go to church, which is usually open from early morning.
4:994 4:999A festive Christmas Eve dinner is being prepared, traditionally consisting of Lenten dishes. In the center of the table is placed a dish with consecrated unleavened bread - Christmas wafers (not to be confused with the sacrament, when believers eat the bread that has become the Body of Christ).
4:1456 4:1461Before dinner begins, the head of the family reads aloud from the Gospel of Luke about the birth of Jesus Christ. Then all those present take the wafers from the dish and share them with each other, wishing each other peace and good. After that, the Christmas Eve dinner begins. After dinner, the whole family goes to the liturgy (mass).
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If we talk about Catholic Christmas traditions, then we can say that an unchanging, common tradition for all Catholics on this day is the obligatory presence at the liturgy.
4:346According to the Roman tradition established in the first centuries of Christianity, there are three festive liturgies on the very day of Christmas - a mass at night, a mass at dawn and a mass in the afternoon.
4:626 4:631Thus, Christmas is celebrated three times:
4:718as the eternal birth of the Word from God the Father (at night),
4:813the birth of God the Son from the Virgin (at dawn)
4:880the birth of God in a believing soul (in the afternoon).
4:949 4:954In addition, Mass is celebrated on Christmas Eve on Christmas Eve.. At the beginning of the first of the Christmas masses, a procession is made to the manger, a kind of Christmas mystery, during which the priest carries and puts the figurine of the Infant Christ into the manger and consecrates them. This helps believers to feel like they are participants in the Event that took place on Christmas night, to realize more fully that Christ came into the world to save each of us. The presence at the Christmas Mass is the dominant feature of the Catholic Christmas tradition and the main event of the holiday.
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The rest - the whole order of a home holiday - decorating the house, caroling, special holiday dishes - each country has its own.
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Christmas traditions from different countries
5:835Christmas table dishes are different in each country and sometimes even in every locality. Somewhere it's a goose, somewhere a carp, somewhere Christmas muffins or donuts with pink jam.
5:1158 5:1163Not being a confession of any one people, Catholicism incorporates different customs of different peoples and different cultural traditions giving them a new Christian meaning.
5:1484 5:1489So ancient Germanic Christmas tree decorating custom gradually spread throughout Europe, and then throughout the world, reminds us today of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, having tasted the fruits of which people fell into original sin, and of the tree of the cross, on which the atoning sacrifice of Christ took place.
5:2027Green branches of a Christmas tree talk about the hope that the Coming of Christ brings into the world.
5:143 5:148The celebration of Christmas lasts eight days - from December 25 to January 1 - forming the Octave of Christmas.
5:350 5:459 5:608 5:694On Sunday, falling on one of the days from December 26 to December 31, or December 30, if Sunday does not fall on these days in a given year, the feast of the Holy Family is celebrated: the Infant Jesus, Mary and Joseph.
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Christmas time continues after the end of the Octave until the Feast of the Epiphany , which in the Roman Catholic calendar is celebrated on the first Sunday after Epiphany (January 6). During the whole Christmas time, the clergy at the liturgy are dressed in robes of white, festive color.
6:541 6:546Most residents of Italy and the Vatican for Christmas dinner, they serve roast and Christmas cake panettone, similar to Easter, or "airy" cake from Verona, called pandoro. At Christmas, in these states they give each other torroncino - delicacies similar to nougat and grillage.
6:1088 6:1093In Germany there are traditional regional types of Christmas pastries - Nuremberg gingerbread, Aachen curly gingerbread, Christmas cake from Dresden, cinnamon stars.
6:1435 6:1440In many European countries on the festive table there is traditionally a sweet Christmas log - a biscuit roll, richly decorated with cream, icing and chocolate.
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Lighted candles are one of the main symbols of Christmas. The oscillating flame of a candle reminds believers of the gospel words: "The light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not comprehend Him"
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Maybe because Christmas shows us Christ in the form of a small child, surrounded by the Holy Family, this the holiday is usually celebrated with family and warmed by special warmth and mutual love.
7:1206 7:1211“This night is bright as day, and sweet for both people and animals. The people gather and rejoice with hitherto unseen joy, welcoming an extraordinary mystery. The grove fills with voices, and the grandiose rocks echo the celebratory choirs. The brothers sing, giving due praise to God, and it seems that the whole night responds with jubilation” - this is how Thomas from Celano, already mentioned above, describes Christmas night. Almost 800 years have passed since the night he describes, but even today's Christians are well aware of that joy, that jubilation that even today fills our hearts, awaiting the Savior with love and trepidation.
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One of the main holidays of the entire Christian world is celebrated in dozens of countries, but not on the same day.
Catholics and several local Orthodox churches celebrate Christmas on December 25th. Armenian Apostolic Church - January 6th. On January 7, in addition to the Russian Orthodox Church, Orthodox Christians from Jerusalem, Georgia, Serbia, Poland, as well as the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and Old Believers celebrate Christmas.
late calendar
When the Christian world had not yet had time to split, Christmas was celebrated on December 25th. The first mention of the fact that it was on this day that believers celebrated this particular holiday dates back to the 300s. Then the whole world lived according to the Julian calendar. It was better than the previous chronology system, but still remained not entirely accurate.
Because of these inaccuracies, once every 128 years, one day was accumulated nowhere. Over the centuries, the difference between the calendar year and the astronomical year has increased more and more. Easter began to be celebrated too early and fell on different days of the week. Looking at it all, the Pope GregoryXIII decided it was time for a change.
In 1582, Europe switched to the Gregorian calendar. Since then, the Catholic Church has been using the Gregorian calendar, while the Russian Orthodox Church has been using the Julian calendar. Over time, other countries of the world began to switch to the Gregorian calendar, including those in which part of the population considers themselves to be Orthodox.
Russia held out to the last. Until 1917, our country lived according to the Julian calendar, and therefore we celebrated Christmas at the same time as the rest of the Christian world - on December 25th. After the revolution, Russia switched to a "progressive" calendar. By that time, the gap between the calendars had already reached 13 days.
The Russian Orthodox Church refused to switch to the Gregorian calendar, despite strong pressure from the secular world. And it was no longer a matter of astronomy. In Orthodoxy, it is believed that the Gregorian calendar distorts the sequence of events described in the Bible, which is why Easter is celebrated at the wrong time. Therefore, the Orthodox Church continued to live and determine the dates of the holidays according to the Julian calendar. And Christmas in Russia, which switched to a new calendar, began to be celebrated 13 days later than in most of the Christian world - on December 25 in the old style, but on January 7 in the new style.
The history of the split
Despite the difference of almost two weeks, both Catholics and Orthodox celebrate, in fact, the same holiday, and believe, if you do not go into details, in almost the same thing. But there is no unity in the Christian world, and there has been none for a very, very long time.
Officially, the date of the split of the Christian Church into the Catholic with the center in Rome and the Orthodox with the center in Constantinople is considered to be 1054. But the roots of this event go even deeper.
The biggest religious dispute between representatives of the two opposing sides is the difference in the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. Western church fathers believe that the Holy Spirit proceeds from both the Father and the Son. Eastern - that only from the Father. At the same time, everyone, of course, believes that his point of view is absolutely correct, and the opponent is mistaken.
But there are many other reasons for the schism, not all of which have to do with religion. There were political and cultural reasons for this. Rome and Constantinople lived too differently and interacted little.
The difference in the culture and mentality of the Western and Eastern worlds, multiplied by the lack of dialogue, increasingly separated the two centers of the Christian world from each other. Fuels were added to the fire by political differences and the struggle for power. All this led to the fact that at the beginning of the second millennium, the representatives of the two disputing parties quarreled completely and anathematized each other. In 1054, no one could have imagined that all this would drag on for so long.
Difference in tradition
Divided, the two Christian churches began to strengthen and multiply differences and discrepancies, turning a small crack between the Western and Eastern worlds into a huge abyss.
In addition to different approaches to the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, Catholics and Orthodox argue about many other things. The Pope of Rome is infallible and can never make mistakes in anything, the patriarch in Orthodoxy does not have such privileges. The Catholic Church believes that conception Virgin Mary was immaculate, the Orthodox do not think so. The Catholics have Purgatory, the Orthodox don't.
In the Catholic Church, all the clergy must be unmarried, the Orthodox have clergy-monks, but there are also married ones. Catholics are categorically against any contraception, the Orthodox look at contraception less strictly. Divorces are forbidden to Catholics, while Orthodox allow them under certain circumstances.
Over the centuries of schism, different approaches to how to be baptized, pray, sit or stand in church, take communion, what to wear to church, and so on and so forth, have only become even stronger. Therefore, now, although the churches have taken a step towards reconciliation, the idea of a united Christian world seems to few people realistic.
By the way : Catholics do not adhere to such a strict fast before Christmas as the Orthodox. Catholic Christmas is more like the New Year in Russia - the whole family decorates the Christmas tree, gathers at the festive table and gives gifts to each other. The main Christmas dish for many Catholics is a whole roasted turkey or goose.
This is a holiday that we all love, uniting peoples and countries, called Christmas. Catholic Christmas is traditionally celebrated on the night of December 24-25. This is customary in America and Africa, in many European and Eastern countries.
Why are there two dates for Christmas?
Everyone knows that there are two dates for the celebration of Christmas - this is on the night of December 24-25 and on the night of January 6-7, when Orthodox Christians celebrate.
The main difference is due to confusion in the calendars of the chronology - Julian and Gregorian.
When Catholic Christmas is celebrated, the date corresponds to the setting of the Roman Church after the victory of Constantine the Great (320 or 353 AD). Since then, Christians began to celebrate Christmas on December 25, with the exception of a few eastern temples, which set a different date - January 6.
Orthodox Christmas is celebrated from 6 to 7 because this date was set according to the Julian calendar, according to which there was one more day in February. For many years, namely for every 128, this "extra" day forced the entire chronology to shift, which is why the feast of Easter began to come much earlier than expected. It was then that it was decided to replace the Julian calendar with the Gregorian one in order to correct the situation. Thus, from the end of the 16th century, the whole world began to use the new calendar, while Russia continued to use the Julian until the 20th century, despite the prohibition of the church. Later there were attempts to introduce a new calendar, but they were rejected, and Orthodox Christmas was never celebrated at the same time as Catholic Christmas. The date of the last one remained the same - December 25, but everyone is already used to it.
Dishes for Catholic Christmas
Let's move on to even more interesting details of the celebration of such a wonderful holiday as Catholic Christmas. Consider what is customary to cook and serve on the table on this day.
It is worth noting that in each country you can find its own zest. For example, in the UK, the main dishes for Catholic Christmas are turkey baked in gooseberry sauce and Christmas pudding (which, by the way, is poured over with rum and set on fire before serving).
In France, the turkey is served with white wine sauce, while in the United States, it is served with cranberry.
Austria and Hungary differ in that Catholic Christmas dishes do not include poultry. The reason for this is the belief that happiness will fly away this evening if it is on the table.
In Poland, at least 12 dishes are usually served on Catholic Christmas, traditionally these are: kutia, borscht or mushroom soup, zucchini rolls, pies with cabbage or mushrooms, herring and baked carp, as well as sweet plum and poppy pies or rolls, the famous gingerbread, uzvar (dried fruit compote), etc.
Germany is also famous for its sweets at Christmas - various types of cookies and gingerbread, cinnamon muffins.
Amazing "fishy" Christmas
Italian Americans have their own amazing menu based on seafood. This festival is called The Vigil. In total, there should be at least 7 dishes on the table. They may consist of Baccalà (salted cod), anchovies, blue whiting, lobster, sardines, smelt, eel, squid, octopus, shrimp, mussels and other shellfish. And each of these seafood should be on the table. These can be both main courses, appetizers and salads, baked or fried fish, sauces, etc. A celebration is not complete without a bottle of good wine.
"Fish" Christmas is also loved in Spain and Norway.
Catholic Christmas: Traditions
On the eve of this holiday - Christmas Eve - it is pleasant to eat lean food: cereals, honey, nuts, and so on. According to the traditions of Christianity, fasting ends with the appearance of the first star in the sky.
This holiday is characterized by special symbols and rituals:
Here are some customs that are accepted around the world on Christmas Day. These traditions wander from country to country. Somewhere they appeared earlier, somewhere later. But today these customs are clear to any Catholic.
Catholic Christmas in Europe
Most Europeans celebrate the Catholic Christmas. Therefore, all the traditions described above in Europe are observed by many, and the festive menu contains approximately the same list of dishes. As we found out, there are some differences in the celebration of Christmas in each country. However, the worldwide love for this holiday unites nations, and traditions are passed from country to country, enriching the culture.
Catholicism is characteristic of most European countries. Of course, there are other religions, but Catholicism prevails. Therefore, on December 25, all people gather in the circle of their relatives and friends at a festive dinner, talk and rejoice at the Nativity of Christ.
Postcards for Catholic Christmas
Well, the most pleasant symbols of this holiday are gifts for Catholic Christmas. Postcards are one of the most popular greetings. Children around the world are looking forward to the Christmas holiday, because on this day they receive their long-awaited gifts that Santa Claus brings them.
Who brings joy to the house?
Tellingly, in different countries this cheerful grandfather, who brings the greatest joy to children, is called differently. In America and Great Britain it is Santa Claus, as well as in some other countries. In Russia and Ukraine, this is Santa Claus. In Germany, he is called Nikolaus, in Latin America there is also his own name - Papa Noel.
On this day, adults and children enjoy gifts, but it is also customary to send postcards. In these messages, people wish each other happiness and health, love, prosperity and wealth, success and good luck in business.
If a person from America or Western Europe read the name of this blog, he would be surprised: how could it be different? Do people celebrate Christmas on other dates? But it turns out that it is, and I personally know a couple of them :).
Today there is a lot of controversy about when and how to celebrate this holiday, and even such terms as Catholic Christmas and Orthodox Christmas roam among the people.
Let's figure out what's what and look a little into history.
The fact is that all this fuss with different dates for celebrating Christmas is due to different calendars, according to which calculations are carried out.
The most used calendar for many centuries in Western Europe was the Julian calendar, which was introduced by Julius Caesar in 46 BC. This calendar had 365 days a year and added one more day every four years. The calendar began on Monday, and every seventh day was considered a holiday. The accuracy of the Julian calendar compared to the tropical year was not great: every 128 years, one extra day accumulated. For example, Christmas, which always coincided with the winter solstice, began to shift towards spring. The same thing happened with Easter.
In many temples, according to the idea of the creators, on the day of the spring equinox, the rays of the sun had to fall into a certain place. For example, in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, this is a mosaic. But over time, not only astronomers, but also the clergy, led by the Pope, could make sure that Easter was shifting and no longer fell into its original place. After much discussion of this problem, Pope Gregory XIII issued a decree to switch to a new calendar (which was named after him). The Gregorian calendar was different in that it had a new rule for calculating the leap year.
By order of Pope Gregory XIII, October 4, 1582 was declared October 15 of the same year. The new Gregorian calendar shifted the current date by 10 days and immediately corrected all accumulated errors. (Today, the difference between the two calendars is already 13 days, and in a couple of centuries, Christmas would have shifted to spring altogether).
Therefore, in 1582, Italy, France, Portugal, part of Ukraine and Belarus (the lands that were part of the Commonwealth) switched to the new Gregorian calendar. After that, all the Protestant countries of Northern Europe gradually began to switch to the new calendar.
Not without curiosities, of course. For example, in Belgium and Holland, January 1, 1583 came immediately after December 21, 1582, because of which the entire population was left without Christmas that year ...
It is clear that not all people liked the changes, as many protested against the "innovations", but it is interesting to note that it was the Church of that time (both Catholic and Protestant) that became the engine of progress.
When in the 16th century countries massively switched to a more accurate Gregorian calendar, Russia chose to remain living according to its Byzantine calendar, which was very similar to the Julian one. The only difference between them was that in the Byzantine calendar the New Year began on March 1, and the calculation was carried out from the Creation of the World. 5508 BC was considered the starting point of the Byzantine calendar. For example, the Russian Tsar Peter I was born in 7189 according to the calendar that was used at that time in Russia.
In the jubilee year 7000 from the creation of Adam, (1492 AD), the Russian Tsar Ivan III moved the beginning of the New Year from March to September to equalize with the Byzantine Empire.
Russia switched to the Julian calendar only in 1700 by the personal decree of Peter I. With the transition to the Julian calendar, the New Year was moved from September 1 (although this date remained for the academic year) to January 1. The difference between them was 5509 years, and the chronology began to be conducted from the Nativity of Christ.
Despite the introduction of the new Julian calendar in Russia, Russia still had a 12 day discrepancy with Europe because Europe was already using the more accurate Gregorian calendar at that time.
Just imagine how the people who traded with Europe lived then! It was a terrible mess in 12 days.
Only in 1918, wanting to correct all inconsistencies with neighboring Europe, by order of the Council of People's Commissars, the Soviet Union switched to the Gregorian calendar, shifting the dates forward by 13 days. So, in 1918, January 31 was immediately followed by February 14. And now, it would seem, finally, all the mistakes were corrected, but that was not the case ... The Russian Orthodox Church refused to switch to the new Gregorian calendar ...
It seems to be a small problem, but because of this, the population continued to celebrate the great Christian holidays according to the Julian calendar (old style), and live and celebrate their birthdays and other holidays according to the new Gregorian calendar. So there were two Christmases, two New Years (one generally has a cool name: the old New Year) and two Easters ... And the main paradox in all this is that the New Year turned out before Christmas. After all, according to the Gregorian calendar, Christmas is December 25 (the day Jesus was born), and New Year is January 1 (the day Jesus was brought to the temple and given His name). And according to the Julian calendar, Christmas is on January 7, and New Year is on January 14. Therefore, to celebrate the New Year on December 31, and Christmas on January 7, is at least illogical ...
The fact that the Orthodox Church refused to switch to the new calendar is their business, but one thing surprises me why the Protestant churches of western Ukraine and Belarus remained to celebrate Christmas and Easter in the old style. After all, in 1582 it was the Church that stood at the helm of progress ...
Christmas for Western Christians
Christmas is one of the most important Christian holidays and a public holiday in more than 100 countries around the world.
Together with the Catholics, Christmas is celebrated on the night of December 25 by Protestants: Lutherans, Anglicans, part of the Methodists, Baptists and Pentecostals, as well as 11 out of 15 local Orthodox churches in the world that use the New Julian calendar, which so far (until 2800) coincides with the Gregorian.
Russian, Jerusalem, Serbian, Georgian Orthodox churches, Athos monasteries, as well as Eastern Rite Catholics and some Protestants living according to the Julian calendar, will celebrate Christmas on January 7th.
The Armenian Apostolic Church, which lives according to its own calendar, celebrates Christmas on the night of January 6th.
December 25, the day of increasing sunlight, was celebrated as the birthday of Zeus - in Greece, Mithras - among the Persians.
The celebration of the Nativity of Christ on December 25 has its origins in ancient Mithraic customs. It was the date of the feast in Rome, chosen by the Roman emperor Aurelian in 274 AD, the birthday of the invincible sun - natalis solis invicti, which after the winter solstice again began to increase its light. Shortly before 336 AD the church in Rome established the celebration of the Nativity of Christ on this date. Cm. .
The feast of the Nativity of Christ has five days of forefeast (from December 20 to 24) and six days of afterfeast.
On the eve or feast day (December 24) a particularly strict fast is observed, called Christmas Eve, since on this day juicy is eaten - wheat or barley grains boiled with honey.
Christmas Eve- the main event in Christian Catholic families. According to an ancient custom dating back to the rites of the First Church, a fast dinner is eaten on Christmas Eve. The meal is religious in nature, it is very solemn. Just before the start of the feast, they read an excerpt from the Gospel of St. Luke about the Nativity of Christ and make a common family prayer. The entire ritual of the Christmas Eve meal is led by the father of the family. The most important event of the supper is the breaking of the hosts (Christmas bread). Traditionally, it is started by the father or the eldest in the family. Then everyone shares the loaves among themselves as a sign of love and mutual goodwill. At the same time, they wish each other happiness and God's blessings. The custom of leaving an unoccupied seat at the Christmas table is widespread and well-known. If anyone comes to the house on Christmas Eve, he will be received as a brother. This custom is a sign of memory of close and dear people who cannot celebrate the holiday with their families on this day.
An unoccupied place also symbolizes a deceased family member, or all deceased relatives. Some families retain the custom of placing hay under a white tablecloth on the table at which the Christmas Eve meal is served. It recalls the poverty of the Bethlehem cave and the Mother of God, who laid the Newborn God-Infant Christ for hay in a manger.
According to tradition, the Christmas Eve fast ends with the appearance of the first evening star in the sky. On the eve of the holiday, Old Testament prophecies and events related to the Nativity of the Savior are remembered.
At the Christmas table, a certain order of serving dishes is observed. Boiled wheat (kutia) is served first, which resembles the abundance in paradise, in which Adam and Eve lived. The next dish is oatmeal jelly, which, with its gray color and special taste, symbolizes the Old Testament, the time when everything was gray, gloomy, boring from the consequences of sin. Kissel is poured with honey water as a sign that Christ brought hope, which made everything joyful, as if sweet. The next fish dish is a symbol of the announcement of Christ. After that, sweet cranberry jelly is served, which reminds that the Blood of Christ destroyed the bitterness of sin. At the end, seven varieties of sweet food are served (cookies, buns, various sweet flour products), which recalls the seven holy sacraments.
Christmas services are performed three times: at midnight, at dawn and during the day, which symbolizes the Nativity of Christ in the bosom of God the Father, in the womb of the Mother of God and in the soul of every Christian.
In the 13th century, during the time of St. Francis of Assisi, a custom appeared in temples for worship of mangers, in which the figure of the Infant Jesus is placed. Over time, mangers began to be set up before Christmas not only in churches, but also in homes. Home santons - models in glazed boxes depict a grotto, and baby Jesus lies in a manger. Next to him is the Mother of God, Joseph, an angel, shepherds who came to worship, as well as animals - a bull, a donkey. Entire scenes from folk life are also depicted: for example, peasants in folk costumes are placed next to the holy family.
In all Catholic churches and chapels, Christmas trees are being set up, dens with mangers are being equipped, in which, before the beginning of the evening service on December 24, the figures of the baby Jesus are solemnly laid.
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary (on Malaya Gruzinskaya Street)
In Moscow, the center of celebrations is the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary (on Malaya Gruzinskaya Street). A festive service is held there: first, the Mass of the Eve of the Nativity of Christ in Russian (beginning at 19.00 Moscow time), then in Polish (beginning at 21.00 Moscow time), and then again in Russian (beginning at 23.00 Moscow time). From midnight to five o'clock on December 25, the Christmas All-Night Vigil is celebrated in the Cathedral.
Church and folk customs are harmoniously intertwined in the celebration of Christmas. Well known in Catholic countries custom of caroling - walking around the houses of children and youth with songs and good wishes. In return, carolers receive gifts: sausage, roasted chestnuts, fruits, eggs, pies, sweets. Avaricious owners are ridiculed and threatened with troubles. The processions involve various masks dressed in animal skins, this action is accompanied by noisy fun. This custom was repeatedly condemned by church authorities as pagan, and gradually they began to go with carols only to relatives, neighbors and close friends.
The tradition of lighting a ritual fire in the hearth - the "Christmas log" - testifies to the remnants of the pagan cult of the sun in Christmas time. The log was solemnly, observing various ceremonies, brought into the house, set on fire, while praying and carving a cross on it (an attempt to reconcile the pagan rite with the Christian religion). They sprinkled the log with grain, poured honey, wine and oil on it, put pieces of food on it, addressed it as a living being, and raised glasses of wine in his honor.
During the celebration of Christmas, a custom was established to break "Christmas bread" - special unleavened wafers consecrated in churches during Advent - and eat it both before the festive meal and during greetings and congratulations to each other on the holiday.
A characteristic element of the Christmas holiday is the custom to install a decorated spruce tree in houses. This pagan tradition originated among the Germanic peoples, in whose ritual spruce was a symbol of life and fertility. Spruce also symbolizes the tree of paradise. With the spread of Christianity among the peoples of Central and Northern Europe, the spruce decorated with multi-colored balls acquires a new symbolism: they began to install it in houses on December 24, as a symbol of the tree of paradise with abundant fruits.
Santa Claus
In the city of Patara there lived a rich man who had three beautiful daughters. This rich man went bankrupt and decided to force his daughters to commit fornication in order to get money for food. At this time, Nicholas (see Nikolai Ugodnik) passed by the rich man’s house and read his thoughts, since there was so much bitterness and hopelessness in his father’s soul that it was simply impossible not to feel it. Remembering why his beloved died, Nikolai, in order to save the girls from dishonor, crept up to their house at night and quietly threw a bundle of gold through the window. The girls' father, waking up in the morning, was incredibly happy with such happiness and married his daughters with the money received. Thanks to this story, the custom arose to make gifts for the New Year and Christmas. Saint Nicholas (translated into Dutch as Santa Claus) must quietly enter the house and leave a bundle with a gift under the tree until no one sees him. And since that time, Nikolai Ugodnik began to be revered as the patron saint of children.
Initially, it was on his behalf that gifts were given to children in Europe on the day of veneration of the saint according to the church calendar - December 6th. However, during the Reformation, which opposed the veneration of saints, in Germany and neighboring countries, St. Nicholas was replaced as a person presenting gifts with the baby Christ, and the day for presenting gifts was moved from December 6 to the period of Christmas fairs, that is, to December 24. During the Counter-Reformation in Europe, the character of St. Nicholas again began to give gifts to children, but this began to happen at the end of December at Christmas. But, for example, in the Netherlands, where the name of St. Nicholas is pronounced as Sinterklaas; on his behalf, children are given gifts either on December 5, or at Christmas, or on both holidays.
It was thanks to the Dutch colonists who founded the settlement of New Amsterdam in the 1650s, now known as the city of New York, that the image of St. Nicholas came to the North American continent. At the same time, it should be noted that the English Puritans, who also explored North America, did not celebrate Christmas.
In 1809, The History of New York by the American writer Washington Irving was published, in which he spoke about the Dutch times of the city, mentioning the custom of honoring St. Nicholas in New Amsterdam.
In the development of the story of Irving in 1823, Clement Clark Moore published the poem "The Night Before Christmas, or the Visit of St. Nicholas", in which he spoke about a certain character who gives gifts to children - Santa Claus. This very popular poem was republished in 1844. As the American history channel, the History Channel, in the 2000s documentary program Legends of Santa, stated: “Thanks to the pen of Clement Moore, St. Nicholas turned into Santa Claus” and “By 1840, almost all Americans knew who Santa was -Klaus. This funny old man was given to us by Clement Moore." In the same poem, eight of Santa's classic nine reindeer are mentioned for the first time.