How Christmas was celebrated in Russia. Natasha's personal diary ...
Christmas Eve - Christmas Eve - was modestly celebrated both in the palaces of Russian emperors and in the huts of peasants. But the next day, the fun and fun began - Christmastide. Many people mistakenly attribute all kinds of fortune-telling and mummers to the traditions of celebrating Christmas. Indeed, there were those who wondered, dressed up as bears, pigs and various evil spirits, frightened children and girls. For greater persuasiveness, scary masks were made from various materials. But these traditions are pagan relics
... The Church has always opposed such phenomena, which have nothing in common with Christianity.
Praise is a true Christmas tradition. On the feast of the Nativity of Christ, when the message for the liturgy was heard, the patriarch himself, with all his spiritual synclite, came to glorify Christ and congratulate the sovereign in his chambers; from there everyone went with a cross and holy water to the queen and other members of the royal family. As for the origin of the rite of glorification, it can be assumed that it refers to the deep antiquity of the Christian; Its beginning can be seen in those congratulations that at one time were brought to Emperor Constantine the Great by his singers, singing at the same time a kontakion to the Nativity of Christ: "The Virgin Today is the Most Substantial Gives Birth." The tradition of glorification was very widespread among the people. Young people, children went from house to house or stayed under the windows and praised the born Christ, and also wished the owners good and prosperity in songs and jokes. The hosts presented the participants of such concerts - congratulations with refreshments, competing in generosity and hospitality. It was considered bad form to refuse to treat the slaves, and the artists even took big sacks with them - tote bags for collecting sweet trophies.
In the 16th century, the nativity scene became an integral part of the glorification. This is how the puppet theater was called in the old days, showing the story of the birth of Jesus Christ. By the law of the den, it was forbidden to show dolls to the Mother of God and the Divine Infant, they were always replaced with an icon. But the magi, shepherds and other characters worshiping the newborn Jesus could be portrayed both with the help of dolls and with the help of actors.
The meeting of the celebration of Christmas is preceded by Christmas Eve - the last day before the twelveth holiday. Those who fast on this day were supposed to eat juicy - barley or wheat grains cooked with the addition of honey. Already in the morning of Christmas Eve, believers began to prepare for the holiday: they washed the floors, cleaned the house, after which they themselves went to the bathhouse. With the onset of the evening meal, the strict Filippovsky fast ended.
All the relatives gathered at the table were waiting for the first star to appear in the sky - this tradition was inspired by the story of Christmas with the Star of Bethlehem, which announced the birth of the Messiah to the world.
It is very interesting how Christmas was celebrated in the old days. On Christmas Eve, the hostesses began to prepare ritual dishes, of which there should be exactly 12 on the table - so that there would be enough for all the apostles. To commemorate the dead, kutia was prepared - wheat porridge seasoned with linseed oil and honey. A plate of kutya was placed under the icons, under the first hay - this was supposed to resemble the first cradle of Jesus. They also made a broth (uzvar) - a compote of dried fruits and berries, which was dedicated to the birth of a baby. The Christmas table should be varied and satisfying, so they certainly baked pies, pancakes and pies. With the end of a long fast, meat dishes returned to the table: sausages, hams, ham. A roasted pig or goose was welcome.
Straw was laid on the table under the tablecloth. At first, a candle and a plate with kutya were put on it, then a straw was pulled out from under the tablecloth, on which they wondered - if a long one comes across, then the bread harvest will be good, and otherwise wait for a crop failure. Already on Christmas Eve it was impossible to work (except for household cleaning).
Describing how Christmas was celebrated in Russia, one cannot fail to mention one of the brightest and most interesting traditions - caroling. Initially, this tradition was pagan, one of the types of sun worship. But over the next centuries, Christianity erased practically all pagan traditions from the people's memory, or built them into the system of its own rituals. In the villages, young people dressed in sheepskin coats turned inside out and with painted faces began to walk home, near which they joyfully proclaimed that the Savior was born, played simple performances, sang Christmas songs, wished the owners well-being and health, and after that the owners presented the carolers with some sweets , sausage, loaf or even money. It was believed that after the sun went down on Christmas week, evil spirits crawl out into the light of day and begin to do all sorts of dirty tricks to people. And the mummers wandering between the houses were supposed to show this evil spirits that the way here was forbidden.
The godchildren on the eve of Christmas wore kutya to their godparents, sang Christmas songs to them, for which they were also honored with gifts. This was in common, as Christmas was celebrated in the north of Russia, as well as in Belarus and Little Russia.
Shrovetide in Russia. From the history of Maslenitsa in Russia
Maslenitsa (until the 16th century - the pagan Komoeditsa, according to the old pre-revolutionary spelling they wrote "Maslyanitsa") is one of the oldest holidays of the religion of the Druids (Magi).
Shrovetide history
First, Komoeditsa is a great ancient Slavic pagan 2-week holiday of the solemn meeting of Spring and the beginning of the Old Slavic New Year on the Day of the vernal equinox. This day marked the transition to spring agricultural work. The celebration of Komoeditsa began a week before the vernal equinox and lasted a week after.
In 988, the Varangian conquerors (Prince Vladimir of Rurikovich), in order to strengthen their at that time strongly shaken power over the heavily oppressed conquered tribes, with fire, sword and great blood forced the Slavs under their control to abandon their primordial gods, symbolizing the ancient Slavic ancestors, and to accept faith in the God of a foreign people.
The Slavic population that survived the massive bloody clashes and protests was baptized in the most cruel way (all, including small children, the Varangian squads were driven into rivers for baptism with spears, and the rivers, as the chronicler says, “were red with blood”). Images of Slavic gods were burned, temples and sanctuaries (temples) were destroyed. In the baptism of the Slavs, there was not even a hint of reverent Christian holiness - just another atrocious act of the Vikings (Varangians) who were distinguished by their special cruelty.
During baptism, many Slavs were killed, and some fled to the North, to lands not subject to the Varangians. As a result of the genocide carried out during the Christianization, the Slavic population of Rus decreased from approximately 12 million to 3 million people (the data of the all-Russian population censuses from 980 and 999 unambiguously testify to this horrendous decline in population). Later, those who fled to the North were also baptized, but they never had slavery ("serfdom").
The enslaved Slavs forever lost their roots and spiritual connection with their ancient ancestors. After the adoption of Christianity in Russia, the Magi fought for the independence of the Slavs and became participants in many uprisings against the oppressive Varangians (Vikings), supported the opposition forces to the Kiev prince.
The last "real" Magi are mentioned in the XIII-XIV centuries. in Novgorod and Pskov. By this time, paganism in Russia was practically eliminated. Together with the Magi, their ancient runic writing and their knowledge disappeared. Almost all runic records, including historical chronicles, were destroyed by Christians. The original written history of the Slavs until the 8th century has become unknown. Archaeologists occasionally find only scattered fragments of inscriptions on the stones of destroyed pagan temples and on shards of pottery. Later, under the name "Magi" in Russia, only all sorts of folk medicine men, heretics and newly appeared warlocks were understood.
After the adoption of Christianity in Russia, the ancient pagan Slavic holiday of Komoeditsa - the great holiday of the Holy Spring, which comes on the Day of the Spring Equinox (March 20 or 21) - fell on the time of the Orthodox Great Lent, when all sorts of merry festivities and games were forbidden by the Church, or even punished. After a long struggle of churchmen with the pagan Slavic holiday, it was included in Orthodox holidays under the name "cheese (meat-eating) week", preceding the 7 weeks of Great Lent.
Thus, the holiday moved closer to the beginning of the year and lost its connection with the astronomical event - the Day of the Vernal Equinox, the day of the arrival of the Holy Pagan Spring.
This broke his sacred connection with the previously traditional Slavic religion of the Magi (close to the Druids), in which it is the days of the winter (the longest night of the year) and summer (the longest day of the year) solstice and spring (the day lengthens and becomes equal to the night) and autumn (the day is shortened and becomes equal to the night) equinox were the greatest and most sacred holidays.
Among the people, the holiday transformed into a church way was called Maslenitsa and continued to be celebrated with the same pagan scope, but on other dates tied to the day of Orthodox Easter (the beginning of Maslenitsa 8 weeks before Easter, then there is a 7-week Lent before Easter).
At the beginning of the 18th century, the lover of feasts and holidays, Peter I, who was well acquainted with the cheerful European Maslenitsa customs, introduced in Russia with his tsarist regulations the obligatory universal celebration of the Maslenitsa folk festival in the traditional European manner. Shrovetide has turned into a secular holiday, accompanied by endless fun games, roller coasters, competitions with prizes. Actually, from the time of Peter the Great, our current folk Maslenitsa appeared with the funky carnival processions of mummers, entertainment, booths, endless jokes and festivities organized by the authorities.
The Nativity of Christ is one of the great holidays of Christianity and belongs to the twelve.
The Christmas service charter was finally formed in the 4th century. So, for example, if the eve of the holiday is attended on a Sunday, the first rule of Theophylact of Alexandria is used to celebrate this holiday. On the eve of the holiday, instead of the usual hours, the so-called Royal Hours are read, various Old Testament prophecies and events related to the Nativity of Christ are recalled.
In the afternoon, the liturgy of Basil the Great takes place, in the case when the evening meal does not take place on Saturday or Sunday, when the liturgy of St. John Chrysostom is celebrated, at the usual time. The All-Night Vigil begins with the Great Feast-Party, where spiritual joy over the Nativity of Christ sounds with the prophetic song "As God is with us."
In the 5th century Anatoly, Patriarch of Constantinople, and in the 7th century Sophonius and Andrew of Jerusalem, in the 8th century John Damascene, Kozma, Bishop of Mayum, as well as Herman, Patriarch of Constantinople, wrote church hymns for the feast of the Nativity of Christ, which the current church uses. Also at the service is performed the kontakion "Virgin this Day ..." written by the Reverend Roman the Sweet Singer.
In order to adequately prepare for the feast of Christ's Nativity, the Church has established a preparation time - the Nativity Fast, which lasts from November 28 to January 6 and involves not only abstinence in food. During the fast, Christians try to spend their time piously, moving away from idleness and paying special attention to prayer and work.
In Russia, the birth of Christ began to be celebrated back in the 10th century. Christmas Eve is Christmas Eve. On this day, the Liturgy is combined with the Vespers, which marks the beginning of the next day, because the church day begins in the evening. Consequently, after the solemn Liturgy (January 6) and Vespers connected with it, the time of the first day of Christmas comes, but fasting has not yet been canceled. In the meal, a special pre-Christmas meal is offered - "sokivo". It was this that gave the name to Christmas Eve - Christmas Eve. In Russia, "Sochivom" was the name given to cereal grains cooked with honey: wheat, barley or rice. In addition, a brew (compote) of fruits was prepared.
For the Christmas festive table, Russian housewives prepared traditional dishes: fried pig with horseradish, baked chicken, jellies and sausages, honey cakes. We talked from Lent on January 7th, after the solemn Christmas service in the church. Then there were holy evenings - Christmastide, which lasted from January 7th to 19th.
On Christmastide people went to their homes with chants. In the villages, Svyatki was celebrated by the whole world, moving from hut to hut, but in cities, Christmas festivities were famous for their scale. Common people had fun in the squares where booths, merry-go-rounds, markets, and teahouses were set up. The merchants rode in troikas.
It was also a good tradition for Christmas and Easter to visit the sick, to give generous alms to the prisoners from their table. Christians shared their Christmas joy with the poor and the poor, remembering that Christ did not come to earth to the royal palaces, but to a simple manger. And the poor shepherds greeted Him first.
When is Christmas in Orthodoxy?
Russian, Jerusalem, Serbian, Georgian Orthodox churches and Athos, Polish, as well as Eastern Catholic churches celebrate December 25 in the Julian calendar (so-called "old style"), which corresponds to January 7 of the modern Gregorian calendar.
The Day of the Holy Trinity is one of the most important holidays for every Orthodox believer. It is filled with deep sacred meaning: the events of the Gospel history, remembered on this day, played an important role in the formation of the Christian religion.
The Trinity is a passing holiday: it is celebrated annually on the fiftieth day after the Bright Resurrection of Christ, which is why this event is also called Pentecost. At this time, the prophecy of Christ, which he gave to his disciples before Ascension to heaven, was fulfilled.
The history and meaning of the feast of the Holy Trinity
According to the New Testament, before ascent to Heaven, Christ repeatedly appeared to the apostles, instructing them in order to prepare for the descent of the Holy Spirit on them. This happened ten days after the Ascension. The apostles, who are in the room where their last meal with the Savior, the Last Supper, was taking place, suddenly heard an inexplicable noise from heaven, like the sound of the wind. The sound filled the whole room, and then fire was revealed to them: it split into separate tongues of flame, and each of the apostles perceived it. From that moment on, the Savior's disciples were able to speak in all the languages of the world in order to carry the light of Christian teaching to all nations. For this reason, the day of the Holy Trinity is also revered as the day of the foundation of the church.
In honor of the descent of the Holy Spirit, the holiday received such a name: this event marked the trinity of God. The three hypostases of the Holy Trinity - God the Father, God the Son and the Holy Spirit - exist in unity, creating the world and sanctifying it with Divine grace.
The holiday was established at the end of the fourth century after the adoption of the doctrine of the Divine Trinity. In Russia, the celebration was approved three centuries after Epiphany. Over time, the Day of the Holy Trinity has become one of the most beloved and revered holidays among the people: in addition to church institutions, many folk traditions and customs have appeared, which have become an integral part of this day.
Celebration of the Trinity
On the day of the Holy Trinity, a solemn festive divine service is held in churches, which is distinguished by its extraordinary splendor and beauty. According to the canon, priests conduct services in green robes: this shade symbolizes the life-giving, creative power of the Holy Trinity. For the same reason, birch branches are considered one of the main symbols of the holiday - they are traditionally decorated with temples and houses - and freshly cut grass, which is used to line the floor in churches. It was believed that a bunch of branches used as church decoration could become an excellent talisman and protect a house from adversity, so they were often taken with them and kept throughout the year.
It was believed that herbs on the day of the Holy Trinity are endowed with special power, therefore they were engaged in the collection of medicinal plants at that time. There was even a custom to drop tears on a bunch of grass, lighting a candle in honor of the holiday - so that summer does not bring drought, and the soil is fertile and pleases with its gifts.
On the day of the Holy Trinity, it is customary to pray for the forgiveness of sins, as well as for the salvation of the souls of all the departed, including those who have died an unnatural death. Prayers are read during the church service, and the believers accompany them with bows to the ground, which are allowed again after the end of the series of Easter services. If it is not possible to visit the temple, you can pray at home in front of the icon: on the day of the Holy Trinity, any sincere words will certainly be heard.
Having correctly met this important holiday for all Christians, you can change your life for the better. May your every day be filled with joy. We wish you well-being and strong faith, and do not forget to press the buttons and
When is Christmas celebrated from 6 to 7?
When is Christmas celebrated? Nativity of Christ is one of the main Christian holidays, established in honor of the birth in the flesh (incarnation) of Jesus Christ. Celebrated on the night of December 24-25 - by Catholics. On the night of January 6-7 - with the Orthodox.
Christmas in Russia, as celebrated. How was Christmas celebrated in Russia?
The Nativity of Christ is one of the main annual Christian holidays. Traditions and customs to celebrate this great day are passed down from generation to generation and are an integral part of the distinctive culture of each country. Christmas in Russia began to be celebrated in the 10th century. The day and night before Christmas, Christmas Eve, was celebrated modestly and calmly, and the following days were cheerful and perky in Russian.
On Christmas Eve, it was necessary to properly prepare for the holiday. In the early morning, the villagers went to fetch water, which on that day became healing: they washed themselves with it and kneaded dough for Christmas bread on it. In the morning, the hostess began to light the stove. Before Christmas it was done in a special way. According to the customs of our ancestors, fire was produced by striking a spark, and the flint and stone were lying under the images for 12 days before. The hostess baptized herself three times and, turning to the rising sun, cut out a fire, set fire to a rod from it, and only after that she melted the stove, in which there were 12 specially selected logs.
On this fire, 12 lenten dishes were prepared, among which were obligatory uzvar - a drink made from dried fruits and honey and kutia - porridge made from wheat and barley. Kutia with honey was called "sochivom", hence the "Christmas Eve" originated. By the way, the ash from the Christmas fire was used in various magical rites. At first, adults treated pets to kutia and uzvar, while children made sounds that resemble their voices, so that nothing bad happens to them in the new year.
At home, it was imperative to build a symbol of the harvest - a kind of altar from a sheaf of rye and peasant tools. Bringing a sheaf into the house, the owner took off his hat and greeted the hostess, as if he had seen her for the first time: "God grant, health!" And the hostess had to answer: “God help! What are you talking about? " Here the man said: "Zlato, so that we live richly all year," he stopped in the middle of the hut, was baptized and wished the family happiness, health and longevity. After that, the sheaf was placed under the icons, tied up with an iron chain, and a plow share and a clamp were placed next to it. The hostess took out a clean white tablecloth and covered the whole structure with it.
Our distant relatives did not forget about the rite of health promotion. The head of the family threw straw on the floor, threw hay on the table, and made a small sheaf of hay, which he put under the table. On top of the mop was a crock in which incense was smoked. Iron tools were laid out around him. All those present had to touch them in turn with their bare feet, so that their health was as strong as iron.
And in order to scare away evil spirits, the couple went around the house and yard with freshly baked bread, honey and poppy seeds. Poppy seeds were scattered in the barn, and garlic was placed in all corners.
In the evening, a large bonfire was lit in the courtyard so that deceased relatives in the next world would also be warm. The household members stood near the fire in deep silence, remembering the departed and praying for them.
Then a child up to seven years old, whose soul was considered innocent and sinless, put three baked rolls, a pinch of salt on the hay lying on the table, and put a large wax candle. Only after all these rituals could it be served. Everyone was smartly dressed, and now that everything in the house is tidied up and ready for the holiday, it remains only to wait for the first star to appear in the frosty night sky. Soon, when the sonorous voices of children announced the appearance of a star, supper could begin.
The first to sit at the table was the father, followed by the mother, and the children by seniority. The owner, taking a spoonful of kutya, read a prayer for the deceased relatives. It was believed that their souls on this day fly to earth and see everything. Therefore, plates with refreshments were also set up especially for them. During dinner, no one except the hostess was allowed to get up, and they had to talk quietly and calmly.
At the end of their song, the carollers who go to praise Christ congratulate the owners on the approach of the holiday and wish all the best. The hospitable hosts immediately bring out some treats to the singers, in whom one person walks with a bag on purpose. So carollers, accompanied by noisy children, traveled throughout the village.
With the first ring of the bell in the morning, everyone hurried to the church for the festive divine service. After matins, the youth arranged dashing skiing and sleigh rides from the mountains, accompanied by cheerful laughter and songs.
Now the festive table abounded with all sorts of goodies: traditionally they cooked jelly, suckling pig, fried chicken, pork head with horseradish, sausage and honey cakes.
From the second day of the holiday, in the evenings, new entertainments began - processions of mummers. Many people, dressed in clothes turned inside out, wearing masks, sang songs and danced not only in villages, but also in city squares.
Even on Christmas, they liked to arrange various parties, conversations, went to visit each other, and, of course, they could not do without fortune-telling.
Merry Christmas to you!
The Nativity of Christ is not only signs and customs that have survived since Old Slavonic times, but also symbols, because few people know why it is customary to decorate a Christmas tree for Christmas and give gifts.
The main attribute of the holiday is, of course, the Christmas tree, however, such a tradition was not born immediately. The Germans were the first to decorate the Christmas tree. According to legends, the burgher reformer Martin Luther once walked down the street on Christmas Eve and admired the starry sky. There were so many stars in the sky that it seemed to Luther that little lights were stuck in the treetops.
He returned home and decorated a small Christmas tree with candles and apples, and erected the Star of Bethlehem on the top. But, and in Russia they began to decorate the Christmas tree in 1699 by decree of Peter I. Also, the tsar issued a decree on the transition to a new countdown, which began from the date of birth of Christ.
The Feast of the Nativity of Christ was one of the most beloved in Russia, as it marked an important period. On the one hand, the Nativity Fast was over, on the other, the Great Fast was outlined. And the time itself, when all the work on the household died down, assumed a distraction from pressing concerns and a joyful meeting of the birth of the Savior. What traditions of celebrating the Nativity of Christ existed in Russia?
In the countryside
The peasants developed their own special customs of celebrating the Nativity of Christ, which differed from urban traditions. So, the eve of the holiday - Christmas Eve - was held in strict fasting. They started eating only with the rise of the first star on the night of January 6-7. At the same time, the meal itself was performed in a special way. On Christmas Eve, before sunset, the whole family stood for prayer. At the end of it, the owner of the house took a lighted wax candle and attached it to one of the loaves lying on the table. Then an armful of straw and hay was brought from the yard, which covered the front "red" (with icons) corner of the house. An unmilled sheaf of rye and kutia (porridge diluted with honey) was also placed under the icons. After that, the whole family sat down at the table.
These ceremonies had a double meaning. On the one hand, elements of the pagan past of the Slavs remained in them - straw, hay, etc., symbolized the awakening of the creative forces of nature, the beginning of a new life cycle after a long winter. On the other hand, a Christian meaning was also laid: straw and hay were a symbol of the manger (cattle feeders), in which the Savior was after birth, and when placed in the "red" corner, they resembled the cave of the Nativity.
After a night meal, everyone went out for a walk, and carols began. The caroling consisted in the fact that young boys and girls, and sometimes children, gathered in groups and, moving from one courtyard to another, sang small songs under the windows in honor of the Nativity of the Savior. According to custom, the owner of the house invited young people to his place or, at least, gave money, bread, sweets, and alcohol to those who were older.
The peasants tried to celebrate the holiday itself in the church at the service. However, after the festive service, a real revelry began. As Russian ethnographers note, they drank a lot in the villages on the feast of the Nativity of Christ. It happened that the only ones who could stand on their feet after partying were small children and adolescents. And yet the young people continued to sing carols and praise the birth of the Savior. The men of honor, as a rule, sang the troparion of the holiday, and at the end they added a small chant-saying. One of them sounded like this:
Blessed Virgin Mary
She gave birth to Jesus Christ.
I put it in a manger,
The star shone brightly
She showed the way to three kings -
Three kings came
They brought gifts to God,
They fell on their knees
Christ was called ...
In the town
In cities, the feast of the Nativity of Christ was a time when a person left the usual routine of his life. Most of the townspeople in honor of the holiday performed deeds of mercy and charity. The tone in this, as a rule, was set by the king and his entourage.
So, for example, on the eve of the celebration of Christmas, the king traditionally visited almshouses and prisons, where he distributed generous alms and fed the disadvantaged from his own hands.
On the holiday itself, in addition to participating in the festive temple service, it was customary to invite the clergy to their home to perform a prayer service. Upon its completion, the king, and following his example, the entire court, arranged a charitable meal for the poor and homeless, at which he again gave out alms. There is evidence that for the performance of works of mercy, the king raised his subordinates, as was done for the service. In general, Christmas Eve and the holiday itself were a time of feasting, not work.
According to custom, on these two days it was not allowed to judge and work in orders; merchants were forbidden to sit in their shops at least three hours before the start of the festive services. The Orthodox Church also called on believers these days to leave all everyday worries.
Unfortunately, festive folk traditions were not always decent. Ordinary townspeople believed that in honor of such a great holiday, and even after fasting, one could break the fast with alcohol. It got to the point that on these days whole crowds of people gathered around drinking houses, taverns and kruzhechny yards. On this occasion, the Russian historian Nikolai Ivanovich Kostomarov cites a saying that was common among the townspeople and characterized their attitude to the holiday: "He who is happy with the holiday is drunk to the brink."
However, it is important to note that the Russian Orthodox Church has always resisted such revelry and called for a pious celebration of Christmas - for processions of the cross, prayers, praises, and spiritual joy. As an admonition for unrestrained revelry, priests imposed penances (church punishments) on people, and also excommunicated people from participating in the Sacrament of the Eucharist for a long time. Thus, it was the Church that tried to protect a person from his addictions, recalling the main meaning of Christmas celebrations - the coming into the world of the Savior Jesus Christ.
Prepared by: Sergey Milov
Unlike most Christian countries, in Russia Christmas is celebrated not on December 25, but on January 7. This is due to the fact that, in contrast to the state, which switched to the Gregorian calendar back in 1918, the church continues to adhere to the Julian calendar, which lags behind the generally accepted Gregorian by 13 days. According to the church calendar, December 25 just falls on January 7.
Together with Russia, Christmas is celebrated on January 7 in the countries included in the zone of canonical influence of the Russian Orthodox Church - Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, as well as the Russian population of the near and far abroad. In addition, at the same time, Christmas is celebrated by two other Orthodox churches - Georgian and Serbian, as well as some groups of believers in other Orthodox countries - Greece, Bulgaria and Romania. And the Armenian Apostolic Church, according to tradition, will celebrate Christmas simultaneously with the baptism - on January 19.
In turn, the official church organizations of Greece, Bulgaria and Romania, like most Orthodox believers in these countries, celebrate Christmas together with Western Christians - Catholics and Protestants - on December 25.
Note that Christmas practically merged with the pagan holiday Christmastide, celebrated back in the days when our distant ancestors were pagans. Many Christmastide rituals have become an integral part of the celebration of Christmas in Russia. Under Soviet rule, during the reign of official atheism, almost all the traditions associated with the celebration of the Nativity of Christ were lost. Thank God, it is not irrevocable, and below we will try to restore the picture of how the Russian people celebrated the coming of the Savior to our world.
We waited a long time for Christmas, preparations for it were
very scrupulous and thorough. In the old days, they prepared for the holiday ahead of time: they carried out a general cleaning in the house, set up and decorated the Christmas tree, made preparations for the festive table.
Christmas was preceded by a four-week strict fast, ending on the eve of the holiday - Christmas Eve, on which people usually abstained from food until late in the evening, "until the first star." The dinner on Christmas Eve was as lean as possible. They ate only fish and vegetables. Fortunately, there were a lot of fish in Russia - beluga, sturgeon, pike perch, navaga, herring, catfish, bream ...
The real feast with meat dishes began at Christmas - after attending the night festive service at the church.
The Christmas table was decorated in a special way: a little hay or straw was usually placed under the tablecloth (a memory of the manger of little Jesus), and under the table - some iron object, on which everyone at the table should put their feet in turn in order to maintain health during the coming years (iron symbolizes health and strength).
After the first star appeared in the sky, the whole family gathered at the table. On the holiday, pets and guests were treated to all kinds of snacks, meat and fish, aspic and jelly. And, of course, it was difficult to imagine a Christmas meal without a baked goose with apples. Fried bird is a decoration of the Christmas table. Chicken is served cold, goose or duck - hot. They ate chicken with pickles, tomatoes and herbs, hot poultry with fried potatoes. Salads of cucumbers, tomatoes, cabbage, fresh and pickled cucumbers, pickled apples and lingonberries are served separately. At Christmas, pies and pies were baked in every home, which were also treated to those who came to "carol". Carols are funny songs that glorified the birth of Christ, but after the glorification of the Savior, their content became quite ordinary, festive in a secular manner.
At the table they ate, drank, wished each other happiness, wished each other Merry Christmas, and then handed out gifts, bringing great joy to the children. The next day, everyone received guests and went to visit themselves.
HOW THE OLD CHRISTMAS BEEN FIRED
One of the main Christian holidays - Nativity of Christ - Orthodox Church
celebrates January 7th. In Russia, Christmas began to be celebrated after the introduction of Christianity - in the 10th century.
It happened at a time when the ancient Slavs celebrated their winter holiday for many days - kolyada.
Christmas was preceded by a 40-day Filippov post. On the eve of the holiday, all Orthodox Christians celebrated Christmas Eve. Before the first star appeared in the sky, it was impossible to eat. The evening meal began with ceremonial porridge - kutia. It was boiled from peeled barley, wheat, rice or other cereals and seasoned with honey, raisins and juices - poppy, hemp, almond, or another seed juice called milk. On Christmas Eve, such porridge was placed on a table covered with straw, and on top with a tablecloth. They took out a straw and wondered. It will turn out to be long - a good harvest of flax will be born, and short - there will be a poor harvest. That evening they tied the legs of the table so that the cattle would not run. The girls gathered outside the outskirts and threw handfuls of snow against the wind. If the snow fell sonorously, it foreshadowed a young handsome groom, if inaudibly and crookedly - to be behind a deaf or old man.
On Christmas day itself, they usually baked large rolls, perepechki (small rye balls), dough figurines depicting small cows, bulls, sheep and other animals, and sent them as a gift to relatives and friends. The main treats on the festive table were pork and Christmas goose with apples.
Two nights on Christmastide were devoted to fortune-telling: the first - on Vasilyev's day (from 13 to 14 January), the second - on Epiphany (from 18 to 19 January).
For Christmastide, "cleansing" rituals are characteristic: fumigation and sprinkling of water on peasant buildings, throwing out garbage, church consecration of water in reservoirs to expel evil spirits from there, etc.
Fortune telling
Christmas divination
A special type of fortune-telling was the Yule fortune-telling, which was with (with on ). The most favorable time for fortune telling among the Eastern Slavs was considered , and - critical, borderline periods, the most dangerous, when especially strong (winter Christmas) ... In Ukraine, fortune-telling is most often done on Christmas night, in Siberia, in (under ). Unlike fortune-telling in other calendar periods, fortune-telling on Christmastide is of an independent nature: they are isolated from other rituals performed during these periods. .
Carols
Kolyada - the ancient god of merry feasts, that his name is formed from the word "kolo" (circle), that carols may have something to do with witchcraft. In ancient times, his name was always mentioned next to the Roof, they were called small creators, in contrast to the great creators - Rod and Svarog. The name of this Russian god is known to everyone. From Christmas Eve to Veles' day, mummers went from house to house and sang special songs - carols. He was born 8500 years ago (that is, in the 7th millennium BC) to save humanity from spiritual degeneration. Gathering 60 high priests of different nations, Kolyada began to teach the forgotten Vedic knowledge.
Kolyada - popular name for Christmas , holiday , and from Christmas to ... The main meaning is the Slavic ritual realities of Christmas. The integral attributes of the holiday were (using skins, horns and masks), , , presenting carols, youth ,
Kolyada among the Eastern Slavs
Kolyada in Slavic mythology is the embodiment of the New Year's cycle. One of the most characteristic features of Christmastide (as well as ) is dressing up, dressing sheepskin coats with wool up, wearing animal masks and noisy carnival dances in houses and on the streets. Dress up as a bear, horse, bull, goat, goose, crane .
This is how it happened, for example, in the Vologda province: “... mummers burst into a packed hut. There is also a gray-haired old man with a tuft of tow instead of a beard, with a batog in his hands; gypsies with the invariable belonging of their craft - a whip; a gypsy woman with a stuffed child in her hands; beggars, girls boys, boys girls. This whole crowd screams, laughs, dances. Here the gray-haired old man begins his story. The gypsy starts talking about horses. The gypsy begins to guess the fate of the girls. Beggars beg for alms " ... The dances of the mummers differed from those pair or collective dances that were performed at the holidays. Following the mummers, boys and girls portrayed "strange movements", "jumping and prancing", "amazing and subtle movements of the legs", "all kinds of wobbling, twisting and somersaults." Everything was accompanied by ringing, noise, crashing, crackling, clanking of stove dampers, iron buckets, spoons, sticks, pans, etc. Christmas entertainment was full of eroticism, sexual symbolism, as well as appropriate gestures and obscene language, which in ordinary times was categorically prohibited by the moral code .
In many districts of the Belgorod and Voronezh regions, after caroling, children (carolers) were usually seated on the doorstep of the house, forced to "cackle" - "so that the chickens would fly better."
The star on the pole is an integral part of the celebration. But this star, perhaps, appeared later - after instead of honoring Kolyada, the celebration of the Nativity of Christ was introduced as a symbol that announced the birth .
The carols were welcomed everywhere, this was a guarantee that the next year will be successful. There are many dedications in carols, intended separately for the owner, for the hostess, for the children.
Christmas carols came
On linden sleds.
The sleighs broke
The shirts are smeared
And the carols were lost ...
The pig escaped from Maxim,
Yes, she ruined the carriage,
And you boy
Don't walk, don't walk
And collect carols, collect ...
Carols are also reflected in sayings. "It cracks on carols at night, and flattens during the day." "Christmas carols came - pancakes and pancakes." "Carols are the master's order."
Don't blow, don't blow, blizzard.
Kolyada!
Do not wind up the tracks
Kolyada!
I'm going to my mother, I look at the wreaths.
Kolyada.
I’ll go from my mother, I’ll develop a wreath.
Kolyada!
The flower will fall, the tear will float.
Kolyada!
And where there is a wreath, there is a stream.
Kolyada!
Among Belarusians and Ukrainians, and to a lesser extent among Russians, sometimes carol singers showed puppet shows
The carol was born!
Who serves the pie -
Tom is the yard of the belly,
More small cattle
You wouldn't know the numbers!
And who does not give either
penny -
Let's fill up the loopholes
Who does not give a cake -
Fill up the windows
Who does not give a pie -
Let's bring the cow by the horns,
Who will not give bread -
Let's take grandfather away
Who will not give ham -
So we split the cast irons!
Christmas is a bright and kind family holiday, for which the closest people gather. Celebrating Christmas at the festive table is noisy and fun. On this holiday, everyone gives each other gifts and believes in magic. However, not all of the Christmas customs laid down in antiquity have survived to this day. On the eve of Christmas on Christmas Eve, it was supposed to fast, on Christmas to arrange a rich feast, and on the day after Christmas to celebrate Christmastide with songs, round dances, and games. During the Christmas festivities, they had fun from the heart, rode down the hills, dressed up with various evil spirits, frightened children and girls ...
The religious meaning of the holiday has become important for today's Russians. During the Christmas holidays, Orthodox people visit the church, where Christmas services are held.
Since 1991, the day of the Nativity of Christ has been declared a day off. On Christmas Eve, a solemn divine service from the Cathedral of Christ the Savior is broadcast on federal Russian television channels.
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Once upon a time, Christmas in Russia was celebrated on December 25, just like Christmas is celebrated before the New Year in today's Europe. They waited impatiently for the holiday and prepared for it in advance: they put things in order in the houses, decorated the Christmas trees, prepared various holiday treats. At the beginning of the 19th century, Christmas bazaars were opened in cities and villages of Russia, where you could choose a green beauty, buy Christmas tree decorations and Christmas gifts. The Christmas tree was decorated with children's toys, candles and sweets, which were then distributed to the children. These features of the celebration have become part of Russian traditions.
The change in the time of the celebration of Christmas was due to the fact that at the beginning of the 20th century our church refused to switch to the Gregorian calendar, as a result of which there was a temporary discrepancy between the celebration of Christmas among Christians and Catholics (Christians celebrate Christmas 13 days later than Catholics). Orthodox churches (Russian, Georgian, Serbian, Bulgarian ...) use the Julian calendar, where December 25 corresponds to January 7 in the Gregorian calendar.
The exact date of the appearance of the first Christmas tree in Russia is not known. Literary sources say that the custom of putting up a Christmas tree was brought to Russia by the future wife of Nicholas I (1796 - 1855), the Prussian princess Charlotte. There is an assumption that the first Christmas tree was set up for Christmas by the Germans living in St. Petersburg in the 40s of the 19th century. Consequently, the first tree was a Christmas attribute.
According to the third version, the tradition of decorating the New Year tree came to Russia from the Peter the Great era.
By the end of the 19th century, the tree became the main decoration of the winter holidays.
There was also a time when decorating Christmas trees was banned in Russia. Due to the war with Germany in 1916, the Christmas tree was banned by the Holy Synod. The Bolsheviks who came to power also showed disdain for the Christmas tree as an alien undertaking. During the years of Soviet power, many traditions of celebrating Orthodox Christmas were lost.
The tradition of decorating a Christmas tree returned to Russia in 1935. The tree has changed from a Christmas attribute to a New Year's one. People began to decorate the Christmas tree in the Soviet style with a five-pointed star at the top.
The tradition of decorating the Christmas tree with a seven-pointed star, symbolizing, according to the Gospel, the star that led the Magi to the newly born baby Christ, is a thing of the past.
With the change of eras, the attitude towards Christmas traditions has changed. With the advent of Soviet power, the New Year holiday became significant, the tradition of celebrating Christmas was forgotten.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, New Year remained a traditional family holiday.
Only Orthodox believers celebrated Christmas.
Today Christmas is one of the main Christian holidays (the second most important holiday after). It is celebrated according to the old Julian calendar on January 7th.
Christmas was preceded by a forty-day strict fast (from November 28th to January 6th), during which practically all food was abstained. Meat, eggs, lard and dairy products were excluded from the diet. Food lovers sometimes broke the main fast, saying “fasting is not a bridge, you can go around”, but on the eve of Christmas, as a rule, they observed moderation in food.
The strictest day of the Christmas fast was on January 6th. They got by with "sochiv" (hungry kutya) boiled wheat (barley steamed in water, rice) with honey. Hence the name - "Christmas Eve". Until the first star (the symbol of the Star of Bethlehem), no other food was served on the table.
Fasting required not only abstinence from food, but also compliance with the rules of conduct. In the opinion of John Chrysostom, "true fasting is removal from evil, curbing the tongue, deferring anger, taming lusts, stopping slander, lies and perjury."
On Christmas Eve, according to custom, they completed all business by lunchtime and went to the bathhouse before dark. After supper we went to the all-night service at the church. We celebrated Christmas in new clothes.
Particular importance was attached to the Christmas table. A new tablecloth was laid on the table, under which a bunch of hay or straw was placed (a symbol of the manger where Jesus Christ was born). According to Russian traditions, the treats consisted of 12 dishes: kutia, jelly, jellied fish, pancakes, boiled pork, side of lamb with porridge, fried pig, goose with Antonov's apples, duck with cabbage, pies, pickles.
The number 12 was considered sacred, as it corresponded to the number of faithful apostles of Christ and the number of Christmastide days. Each dish was supposed to be tasted. An even number of people were present at the festive meal. In the case of an odd number, an extra device was installed.
Kutya was supposed to be washed down with "boiled water" (thick compote or dried fruit jelly).
All guests who entered the house were invited to the Christmas table.
They were especially happy to greet the beggar. They believed that Christ could enter in his image.
In Russia, there was a custom - dressing in fur coats inside out, knocking on houses, singing carols with good wishes to the owners, and glorifying the Lord. It was believed that the year would be successful if on Christmas Eve children came with carols, scattering cereals at the gates or doors of the house. The groats symbolized wealth.
For their work, the carolers received various treats.
On the night before Christmas, the girls wondered. Their fortune-telling was associated with the search for their betrothed. The most common fortune-telling is throwing a felt boot over the fence. The toe of the felt boot should indicate the side where the betrothed lives.
The girls were interested in many things: they will be poor or rich in marriage, their husbands will be greedy or kind, they will marry or remain "in girls."
Why do people believe in Christmas fortune telling, and what is the most magical time of the year? The ancient history of the Slavs explains a lot.
The change from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian one led to a discrepancy between the previous holidays and the current ones, although the meaning of the holidays has not changed.
According to pagan legends, the day of the winter solstice was associated with its own deity - Karachun (god of death). Karachun sent pestilence to cattle, caused serious illnesses.
The arrival of the deity of peace and holiday - Kolyada (December 25) means the triumph of life over death. Kolyada defeats the evil of Karachun, restoring peace and tranquility on earth.
Since ancient times, wives and mothers who want to protect their sons and husbands from the raids of hostile tribes, unmarried girls, peasants who asked for harvest next year have turned to Kolyada for help ...
It is believed that the New Year is the beginning of peace and prosperity.
Christmas time was considered a period of activity for deceased ancestors. The tradition of Christmas divination is associated with the fact that the souls of ancestors these days show responsiveness to the requests of descendants. People believe that the souls of their ancestors will tell them the right path, help them make the right choice.
Fortune-telling is a fun pastime, and you should not believe in them.
On Christmas Eve, put several onions in the water. Male names are attached to the bulbs. They say that the onion that fired the arrows first will indicate the name of the betrothed.
Before going to bed, the girl eats something salty, making a wish: "The betrothed, the disguised, come to me and give me a drink!" The young man who served water in a dream will become her betrothed.
A newspaper or a sheet of paper must be crumpled, without looking to a shapeless mass, put on a flat plate and set on fire.
Carefully bring the burnt newspaper to the wall to see the shadow of the remaining ash. It is believed that the outline of the shadow predicts the future.
On Christmas night, a girl can see her betrothed. She needs to remain alone in the room, light a candle between two mirrors and look into the "corridor of reflections" from where the groom should appear.
Christmas, which coincided with Sunday, foreshadowed a fruitful summer, a good honey harvest, Christmas, which coincided with Monday, a snowy winter and a rainy spring.
Sewing and knitting was prohibited on Christmas Day. Those who dared to violate the ban were threatened with blindness.
It was forbidden to work: wash, wash, spin ...
Christmas was supposed to be celebrated in a new shirt (an old but clean shirt promised a bad harvest)
Hunting for animals and birds from Christmas to Epiphany was prohibited, as it could bring misfortune to the house.
Christmas begins with Christmas, which lasts until Epiphany. According to Christmastide traditions with pre-Christian roots, our ancestors glorified the Sun on Christmastide. Today Christians glorify Christ with solemn songs.
On the Christmas holidays, the hosts invited guests to their place, organized various street festivities.
Many traditions associated with celebrating Christmas have been forgotten. Not all housewives adhere to culinary traditions. Nowadays, it is not customary to observe fasting, dress up, walk around the courtyards with carols, and invite many guests to Christmas.
The main Christmas tradition is alive today - forgiveness, a manifestation of mercy and kindness. We gather in a family circle or in a circle of close people, show hospitality and generosity, forgive old grievances, enjoy life and wish each other happiness and good.
I hope that my article will be useful for those who are concerned about preserving traditions. After all, age-old traditions and customs should become our lifestyle, our way of thinking, the main connecting bridge between generations.