Nativity of Christ is one of the most important holidays for all Christians (after Easter), since on this day the Virgin Mary gave birth to Jesus Christ. In Orthodoxy, it is one of the so-called Lord's twelve feasts.

What date is Christmas

There are many signs and customs associated with Christmas - they were given special attention. It was believed that as Christmas passed, so the year would be.

As you know, for Catholics and Orthodox Christians, the date differs due to the peculiarities of the calendar (which is why we also have the old New Year's holiday, which is not celebrated anywhere else in the world). Christmas is celebrated on January 7th. Greek Catholics also celebrate Christmas together with Orthodox Christians.

Note that initially, from the end of the 2nd to the 4th century, Christmas was celebrated on January 6, after the Baptism of the Savior, but later it was postponed to December 25 due to the fact that it was on this day that pagans in the Roman Empire celebrated the Birth of the Invincible Sun, that is, the day of winter solstice.

Christmas story

According to the Old Testament prophets, Christ was born in the city of Bethlehem in 5508 from the creation of the world.

The main and initial purpose of establishing the holiday is to remember and glorify the event of the appearance in the flesh of the Son of God. The Orthodox Church also established the solemn feast of the Baptism of the Lord and called it the Epiphany, inspiring the idea that on this day Christ did not become God for the first time, but only revealed Himself as God, presenting himself as the One of the Trinity, the Son of God.

The holiday became a contrast to the rituals of the pagans. They also adopted the pagan custom of decorating trees. And also this holiday is accompanied by services and solemn chants. In the 4th century, the Equal-to-the-Apostles Empress Helen built a temple on the site of the Bethlehem cave, glorified by the birth of Christ.

Christmas Eve

The evening before Christmas or Christmas Eve (Holy evening) has its own sacred meaning. On this day, a strict fast should be observed with complete abstinence from food until the first star, which symbolizes the Christmas star that announced the birth of the infant Christ to the Magi. On this day, first of all, it is customary for everyone to eat kutya, necessarily at least a small spoon.

Christmas traditions and rituals

Since, like most holidays, Christmas has taken over the traditions of paganism, then among the traditions we meet elements of the pre-Christian era. In the old days, it was customary to sprinkle the table with hay and keep it there until the Generous Evening - this symbolized a good harvest. Later it came to symbolize that Jesus was born in a stable.

Lay a tablecloth on top, and in the center of the table put a dish with kutya and other dishes, of which there should be 12 according to the number of the apostles. The food was plentiful, with meat dishes: pancakes, pies, pickles and dried berries, fried sausage, etc.

At midnight, everyone exchanged gifts, congratulated each other and made wishes. Christmas divination was common among girls. It was believed that on Christmas, the sky opens up to the earth, and the powers of heaven fulfill all that was conceived. All wishes made for Christmas must be kind.

At Christmas, it is customary to light more candles, lights, fireplace - if any. Candles attract warmth and wealth to your home. If you have pets, then at Christmas you need to feed them abundantly - then the whole year will be satisfying and financially successful.

One, a special candle must be lit for deceased relatives - then they will help you attract good luck and prosperity in the coming year.

Christmas is a great time to shop, big and small. Buying something good for Christmas is a great omen and a sign that the purchase will serve you faithfully.

From Christmas until Epiphany, throughout all the days of Christmas, certain prohibitions are in effect, which are due to the idea of ​​a holiday going back centuries as a stop of time, a kind of temporary pause during which one cannot engage in productive work and all that is associated with birth, an undertaking, development. Therefore, a significant part of the prohibitions concerns crafts related to spinning, sewing, knitting, weaving, weaving, that is, everything related to thread (rope). The thread is a symbol of life and destiny.

At Christmas, you can't do cleaning and all sorts of housekeeping business. This day was created for peace and joy. Better yet, if you don't clean until January 14th (the next day of the old New Year). All garbage collected on January 14 should be taken outside and scattered in the wind, or burned. According to the signs, after that no evil spirits will bother you for a whole year.

You can't swear on a holy day. He who swears takes away the hope of salvation from his ancestors.

There is a widespread belief associated with the arrival of the first guest. If you are inviting guests for Christmas, see who will be the first to enter your home. If a woman walks in first, the women in your family will be sick all year long.

Christmas rules also applied to clothes: at Christmas, they have long adhered to another tradition: to put on only new clothes. Not clean, washed, but new, not yet worn. And don't sit down at the Christmas table in black. Our ancestors believed that in the new year such people will fail in business.

It is not recommended for Christmas and guessing - in order to ask the higher powers what awaits you in the future, there will be a lot of time: it is best to do this on the so-called Christmastide - from January 8 to Epiphany, it is not for nothing that fortune-telling of this time is called - Christmastide.

You cannot drink water at Christmas, so remove all mineral water from the table. There is coffee, tea and other great drinks. To be honest, this omen is a little strange, but it's better not to drink water than to suffer for the whole year for something incomprehensible.

On January 7, they go to visit relatives, as well as carol. On the morning of January 7, the whole family or several representatives go to church for Eid Prayer, and returning from church, people joyfully greet: - "Christ was born!" They are answered - "Praise him!" Beginning on the evening of January 6, the Christos (Christmas carols) walked with the "Star of Bethlehem". A large star made of gilded paper was fixed on a stick, decorated with a lantern, paper garlands, sometimes with an icon of the Nativity, the Savior or the Mother of God, then singing Christmas carols with this star go around the surrounding houses.

In some places, figurines of animals from wheat dough were baked for the holiday - cows, lambs, goats, cockerels and chickens and shepherd men.

In some regions, the table is decorated with a didukh, a sheaf of wheat or oats of a special shape: with four legs and a large number of knots, symbolizing prosperity for the next year.

The Seven Blessings of Christmas

The number seven is considered sacred. There is a belief that the one who has done the seven blessings on Orthodox Christmas will live happily all year and even has the right to ask the angels for the fulfillment of the most cherished desire. On this day, it is customary to give seven alms for the sake of happiness in the coming year. Usually these are 7 identical coins, which should be given to the one who arouses sincere sympathy in the soul, accompanying the alms with a silent prayer. You can also give seven helpful gifts. As a rule, these were towels, when giving them away, the giver must utter the words: “I donate towels, I’ll wait to die, I’ll correct evil with good, fortunately I’ll direct my family (my family)”.

Ritual

For Christmas, many different rituals have long been carried out, but so that you are not at all accused of obscurantism, make the most cute and not tied to magic. For example, starting from January 7, for forty (!) Days (this period is called peace - our ancestors believed that at this time angels help people in all matters), every morning, waking up, make a new wish - imagine how many good things will come in into your life!

Signs and superstitions

At Christmas, folk omens and superstitions acquire special strength, as if nature itself and each object are trying to tell us something: how to live, what to fear. Here are just a few of them.

A sign of prosperity. If you lose an item at Christmas, it means that you may face losses next year. But if you find a thing and even some kind of jewelry, then money is already rushing to you in full sail!

A sign for good luck. If you accidentally poured tea or coffee at the Christmas table (this does not apply to alcoholic drinks), then this is good news and great success for all your undertakings.

See nature on Christmas Eve (January 7-19). If the sky is most often strewn with stars, or it often snows, or there is a lot of frost on the trees, the year will be rich, satisfying, and profitable. If it snows on Christmas day itself, this is a very good omen and promises a good year.

If a young month flaunts in the sky on Christmas, the year will be extremely unlucky financially.

The most monetary sign of Christmas is a tradition. A coin is baked into a pie - and whoever gets a piece with a coin will have a lot of money luck in the New Year.

Let the coin end up in your piece of Christmas cake!

Prayers for Christmas

Exaltation of the Nativity of Christ

We magnify Ty,
Life-giving Christ,
for our sake now the flesh of the born
from Brideless
and the Most Pure Virgin Mary.

Troparion to the Nativity of Christ

Thy Christmas, Christ our God,
the ascent of the world and the light of reason:
it serves the stars,
I learn from the star,
Bow to you, the Sun of Truth,
and lead you from the height of the East:
Lord, glory to Thee.

Kontakion, voice 3rd

Virgo today gives birth to the Most Substantial,
and the earth brings the nativity scene to the Unapproachable;
Angels with shepherds praise
the women travel with the star;
for the sake of us born Otrocha is young, the eternal God.

Troparion to the forefeast

Get ready, Bethlehem,
open yourself to all, Eden,
show off, Euphrafo,
like the tree of the belly in the nativity scene from the Virgin:
paradise bo Onoya the womb appears mental,
there is also a Divine Garden,
from worthless yadshe, we will live,
not like Adam will die.
Christ is born before the fallen one to raise up the image.

Forefeast (Eve), voice 4:

Sometimes you wrote with Elder Joseph,
as from the seed of David, in Bethlehem Miriam,
Vulgarous seedless Birth.
Nasta is the time of Christmas,
and there is no place for a dwelling place,
but, like a red chamber, the nativity scene showed itself to the Tsarina.
Christ is born before the fallen resurrect image.

One of the greatest holidays in the Christian world is the day of the birth of the Son of God, the baby Jesus. What is the difference between the Orthodox and Catholic traditions? Where did the custom of decorating a Christmas tree come from? How is Christmas celebrated in different countries? All this will be discussed in this article.

Christmas story

The story of the celebration of Christmas begins with the birth of little Jesus in the Palestinian city of Bethlehem.

Julius Caesar's successor, Emperor Augustus, ordered a general population census in his state, which then included Palestine. The Jews in those days had the custom of keeping records of houses and families, each of which belonged to a certain city. Therefore, the Virgin Mary, together with her husband, Elder Joseph, were forced to leave the Galilean city of Nazareth. They had to go to Bethlehem, the city of the family of David, to which they both belonged, in order to add their names to the list of Caesar's subjects.

In connection with the census order, all hotels in the city were full. The pregnant Mary, together with Joseph, managed to find a lodging for the night in a limestone cave, where the shepherds usually drove their cattle. In this place, on a cold winter night, little Jesus was born. In the absence of a cradle, the Blessed Virgin wrapped her son in swaddling clothes and put him in a nursery - a cattle feeder.

The first to know about the birth of the Son of God were the shepherds who guarded the flock nearby. An Angel appeared to them and solemnly announced the birth of the Savior of the World. The agitated shepherds hurried to Bethlehem and found a cave in which Joseph and Mary spent the night with the baby.

At the same time, the wise men (sages), who had long awaited his birth, were in a hurry from the east to meet the Savior. A bright star that suddenly lit up in the sky showed them the way. Having bowed down to the newborn Son of God, the Magi presented him with symbolic gifts. The whole world rejoiced at the long-awaited birth of the Savior.

Catholic and Orthodox Christmas: traditions of celebration

History has not preserved information about the exact date of birth of Jesus Christ. In ancient times, the first Christians considered the date of the celebration of Christmas to be January 6 (19). They believed that the Son of God, the redeemer of human sins, was to be born on the same day as the first sinner on Earth - Adam.

Later, in the 4th century, by decree of the Roman emperor Constantine, Christmas was ordered to be celebrated on December 25th. This confirmed the assumption that the Son of God was conceived on the day of March 25th. In addition, on this day, the Romans once celebrated the pagan festival of the Sun, which is now personified by Jesus.

The difference in the views of the Orthodox and Catholic Churches on the date of the celebration of Christmas arose as a result of the introduction into use at the end of the 16th century. new style. The Catholic and Protestant churches have chosen a different path, declaring December 25 as the day of Christmas according to the new calendar. This is how the discrepancy between the traditions of Catholics and Orthodox was fixed, which still exists.

Orthodox Christmas traditions: Nativity Fast

In those days, there was a tradition to decorate the spruce with shiny trifles, figures made of colored paper, coins and even waffles. By the 17th century, in Germany and Scandinavia, tree decoration had become an invariable rite, symbolizing the celebration of Christmas.

In Russia, this custom arose thanks to Peter the Great, who ordered his subjects to decorate their houses on Christmastide days with spruce and pine branches. And in the 1830s, the first whole trees appeared in the houses of St. Petersburg Germans. Gradually, this tradition was taken up by the indigenous people of the country with a wide scale inherent in the Russian. They began to install ate everywhere, including on squares and city streets. In the minds of people, they have become firmly associated with the Christmas holiday.

Christmas and New Year in Russia

In 1916, the celebration of Christmas in Russia was officially banned. There was a war with Germany, and the Holy Synod considered the Christmas tree "the enemy's idea."

With the formation of the Soviet Union, people were again allowed to set up and decorate Christmas trees. However, the religious significance of Christmas shifted into the background, and its rituals and attributes were gradually absorbed by the New Year, which turned into a secular family holiday. The seven-pointed star of Bethlehem at the top of the spruce was replaced by a five-pointed Soviet star. The day off on Christmas day has been canceled.

After the collapse of the USSR, there were no major changes. The most significant winter holiday in the post-Soviet space is still New Year. Christmas began to be widely celebrated relatively recently, mainly by Orthodox believers living in these countries. Nevertheless, on Christmas night, solemn divine services are held in the temples, which are broadcast live on television, and the holiday has also been returned to the status of a day off.

Christmas holiday in the USA

In the United States of America, the tradition of celebrating Christmas began to take root rather late - from the 18th century. Puritans, Protestants and Baptists, who made up the largest and most influential part of the settlers in the New World, have long resisted its celebration, even imposing fines and penalties for it at the legislative level.

The first American Christmas tree was planted in front of the White House only in 1891. And four years later, December 25 was recognized as a national holiday and declared a day off.

Catholic Christmas Celebration Customs: Home Decorating

In the USA, it is customary to festively decorate not only Christmas trees for Christmas, but also at home. Along the windows and under the roofs, illuminations are hung, sparkling with all the colors of the rainbow. The trees and bushes in the garden are also decorated with garlands.

In front of the front doors, the owners of the house usually display glowing figures of animals or snowmen. And on the door itself it is hung from spruce branches and cones intertwined with ribbons, supplemented with beads, bells and flowers. These wreaths are also used to decorate the interior of the house. Evergreen needles - the personification of the triumph over death - symbolizes happiness and prosperity.

The customs of celebrating Catholic Christmas: family evening

It is customary for a large family to gather at their parents' house for the celebration of the Nativity of Christ. Before the start of the gala dinner, the head of the family usually reads a prayer. Then each one eats a slice of the consecrated bread and drinks a sip of red wine.

After that, you can start your meal. The traditional dishes prepared to celebrate Christmas differ from country to country and region to region. So, in the USA, bean and cabbage soup, homemade sausages, fish, and potato pie are necessarily served on the table. The British and Scots for this day will certainly stuff a turkey, prepare a pie with meat. In Germany, goose is traditionally cooked and mulled wine is brewed.

Practices for Celebrating Catholic Christmas: Gifts and Hymns

After a lavish and hearty holiday dinner, everyone usually starts presenting each other with gifts. And the little ones prepare "Christmas socks" which they hang by the fireplace: in the morning Santa Claus will certainly leave a surprise there for them. Often, children leave treats under the tree for Santa Claus and his reindeer so that they will not be hungry at Christmas either.

Celebrating the Nativity of Christ in small American towns has also retained another pleasant tradition. On Christmas morning, people visit each other and sing old songs dedicated to this holiday. Children dressed as angels sing Christmas carols, glorify God and the birth of the baby Jesus Christ.

Christmas, as well as New Year, are the most anticipated and joyful holidays not only for Russians, but for the entire planet. This is the logical conclusion of a certain stage of life, summing up the results and, of course, the expectation of a new, unknown and, undoubtedly, better. Perhaps this is the favorite holiday of children. They already guess that Santa Claus does not exist, but they still continue to believe in him. The traditions and customs of Christmas in Russia are quite interesting and varied, let's talk about them in more detail.

Preparing for Christmas in Russia

On November 28, 2014, the Christmas fast begins - a kind of preparation for the Great Celebration. At this time, it is recommended to refrain from heavy, fatty foods, drinking. However, the ministers of the church support this in every possible way; only those who are able to fast should fast. If there is no complete self-confidence or the absence of eggs and meat causes a negative reaction, if there is a feeling of irritability and resentment towards the whole world, it is better to consult with your doctor or confessor before starting the fast. As one of the ways, you can try to fast only on Wednesdays and Fridays, and if everything works out, proceed to the next step.

Also, one of the traditions of Christmas in Russia is general cleaning: they wash the curtains, wipe the dust from hard-to-reach places, sweep the dirt out of the corners, thus, cleaning the house before the arrival of a new and bright one. In the old days, there was plenty of work for the male half as well: fix the cart, sleds, patch up the roof. Today, men can easily repair a dripping faucet or glue the fallen off tiles in the bathroom, and if this is not possible, call a plumber.

The Christmas preparations also include a trip to the fair (now a regular clothing store is suitable for this purpose). After all, for all family members it is necessary to purchase new clothes. The dishes should also be renewed, since before the commencement of the celebration, according to custom, all cracked and chipped dishes should be thrown away. We must not forget about the smallest sweet tooth. Gifts and sweets were also bought for the kids.

The whole family should take part in preparing for the holiday. “Those who work together before Christmas will live in peace and harmony throughout the next year,” says popular belief. There was work for the younger generation as well. Boys and girls, according to Christmas custom, in addition to helping adults, learned new ones, sewed costumes for the den and made the Star of Bethlehem on a long stick. During the campaign through the courtyards, the honorable mission went to the young man who carried the star, since it was he who was the first to enter the courtyard.

It is strictly forbidden to wash, cook, clean, chop wood and do other hard work. All this should be done in advance, and the holiday itself should remain clean and light, not overshadowed by any worries. Why can't you take out the trash? Because it was believed that in the corners and nooks, where most of the dirt accumulates, the souls of deceased relatives who came to celebrate Christmas with their family gather. After Baptism, they returned to themselves, to heaven - then it was possible to remove and take out the garbage.

Christmas Eve

You can't be late for Christmas Eve, this is the last day of fasting. All family members come to visit in advance and set the table together. According to the Christmas tradition, on this day, they eat sychivo (hence the name Somad, which was later transformed into Christmas Eve). Sochivo is soaked grains of rye, wheat or rice with the addition of fruits and honey, currently called kutya.

You can sit down at the table only after the evening service in churches and the appearance of the first star in the sky, which once alerted the Magi about the birth of Christ the Savior.

A bunch of fresh hay is considered an obligatory decoration of the table, as a memory of the nursery in which the baby was born. The festive table is covered with a white tablecloth and a dozen dishes are placed on it (in accordance with the number of the apostles). On the festive table should only be. The obligatory dishes on this day include baked or boiled fish, compote uzvar (consisting of ripe and dried fruits) and jam (strawberry, raspberry, strawberry, cloudberry).

Soaked wheat grains carry a symbol of the beginning of a new life, ripe fruits and fruits - a sign of the end of life. As for the fish, the name of Jesus Christ is encoded in its Greek name "ichthyos". Thus, Christmas Eve is a kind of ritual for the birth of the Son of God.

One of the funniest Christmas traditions in Russia is the Christmas cake, in which a coin was placed. Whoever gets it will get happiness.

Christmastide

Christmastide starts on January 6 and lasts two weeks. This is one of the most joyful and lively holidays in Russia. At this time, the famous Christmas divination is carried out. Every day is full of its own signs, ceremonies and signs. They pay special attention to dreams, almost all of them are considered prophetic. A dream on the night of Christmas Eve is considered fatal. To remember it, a dream book was placed under the pillow, and a lighted candle was left at the head of the bed.

The number of fortune-telling by which you can find out the name or see your betrothed in a dream has no number at all. This is throwing the left shoe over the threshold, and looking in the mirror, and fortune telling on hair, on rings, on rice, on wax, on coffee grounds, on a chain, etc.

To attract the groom, it was enough to take the damper from the oven, pour bread crumbs on it and feed the rooster. This bird is a symbol of the masculine principle and a new day, and the grains represent fertility and prosperity (and therefore the groom must be strong, and beautiful, and rich).

The rooster, especially if it was black, was actively used in other rituals. For example, they poured grain in the center of the room, put a container with water and a mirror. To what subject the rooster is the first to approach - this will be the future groom. If to the water - a drunkard, if to the grain - rich, and if to the mirror - beautiful.

Weather signs for Christmas

According to folk signs at Christmas, they judge the weather that awaits in the New Year:
- if there is a snowstorm on Christmas Eve - wait for early spring,
- if there is thick frost on the trees in the morning - to a good harvest of bread,
- if Christmas is warm - spring will be cold,
- if it snows on January 7, there will be a bountiful harvest.

The traditions and customs of Christmas in Russia have been formed for many centuries, therefore, if you do not observe them, then at least be treated with respect.

And also you will probably be interested to read about.

Nativity
(celebration traditions)

Since 1991, Christmas is again an official holiday in the countries of the former USSR. January 7 is considered an official day off, and the church and the government are doing everything to revive the pre-revolutionary traditions and rituals of celebrating Christmas.

As for the pre-revolutionary traditions, they began to celebrate Christmas in Russia from the time of the baptism of Prince Vladimir at the end of the 10th century. Christmas: The traditions and customs of this holiday have been shaped over the centuries. Considering that Christian communities were still in ancient Kiev, historians believe that the celebration of Christmas may have a more ancient history.

It is interesting! It used to be customary to conclude labor and financial contracts for a year from Christmas to Maslenitsa.

Christmas traditions and customs in Russia are very different, some came from different nations. For example, at the beginning of the 18th century, the tradition of the nativity scene penetrated from Poland into Russia. Special Christmas performances were performed from the stages with the help of puppets. Most often they concerned the birth of Jesus in a cave, the shelter of the baby from King Herod. Later, other plots also began to appear. The tradition of such puppet shows on Christmas Day in the squares of the city continued until the October Revolution of 1917.

By the way, the traditions of celebrating Christmas have not always been associated with the New Year tree. Such a tradition, to put decorated fir trees in the squares of the city and at home, took root in Russia and Ukraine only at the end of the 19th century, and only at the beginning of the 20th century, an analogue of the Western Santa Claus, Father Frost, began to bring gifts for Christmas to Russian children. Snow Maiden, she has nothing to do with Christmas at all. It was invented by Soviet children's writers in the middle of the 20th year, in honor of the New Year's holiday.

After the October Revolution, all the symbols of Christmas, including the theater, the Christmas tree, and gifts were eradicated in the atheistic state. Until 1935, the country did not celebrate the New Year holidays at all. Since 1935, the state has begun to popularize the New Year as the main winter holiday. He draws upon himself both the custom of putting up a Christmas tree and the tradition of showing thematic performances. The Christmas tree, as it was in pre-revolutionary Russia, is today perceived as a New Year tree.

Christmas: traditions and customs are renewed today. The bright holiday, which is celebrated by believers on January 7, takes its legal and official place in a series of winter holidays.

Folk traditions of Christmas

In some areas, especially in villages, the tradition of caroling has been preserved on the eve of Christmas. On the night before Christmas, the mummers carry a traditional dish to their homes - and offer the owners of the house to taste it; the mummers also sing Christmas songs, for which the owners must give the mummers food or money.

Christmas is the beginning of Christmas time - every day after the holiday has its own religious significance, including this time for honoring the dead. Christmastide continues until January 19 - Epiphany. This time from January 7 to January 19 is an excellent time for fortune-telling and performing various ritual sacraments. Most often, young girls gathered together to make fortunes. By the way, this process is perfectly described in Nikolai Gogol's story "The Night on the Eve of Christmas". The young girls wanted to know when they got married, what their husband and new family would be like. It is for this reason that most of the Christmas fortune-telling has this theme.

On the territory of ancient Russia, it was believed that if a woman enters the house first on Christmas, this means that next year all the women in the family will be sick. Also, for Christmas, they had to take a bath, clean the house, put on clean clothes. On January 6, one could only drink water and not eat anything until the first star appeared in the sky.

At the Christmas table, at which it was customary for the whole family to gather, it was imperative to put traditional dishes. Jellied meat with horseradish belonged to them. Also, a variety of pork dishes: fried pig, stuffed pork head, aspic. There should be a lot of meat dishes on the table on January 7, because a long fast ends at Christmas. It is customary to bake whole poultry or fish; such a dish symbolizes the unity of the family in the new year.

Christmas: today some traditions and customs are forgotten, and some are being revived with a vengeance. We suggest paying attention to the beautiful custom of the first guest. The first guest is the person who lets Christmas into the house. Therefore, it is important that he comes to visit with pure and kind thoughts in order to bring happiness and prosperity to the family. The first guest should have a spruce branch in his hands; he should definitely enter through the front door of an apartment or house. The hosts must give the first guest a gift. And remember that the first guest is a woman - not the best sign for Christmas. So, call a man earlier if possible!

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