It is interesting that many traditions of Epiphany Christmas Eve are associated precisely with folk beliefs. As for religious rites, in the evening it is necessary to go to the temple for a service. On Epiphany Christmas Eve, after the service, you can draw holy water home. It has the same power as the water, which will be baptized the very next day - on Baptism itself.

Special religious traditions

One of the important religious traditions of the evening of Christmas Eve on Epiphany is that it is already possible to plunge into the hole. After the service, the priest blesses the water, and it acquires healing power. It is believed that such water can spiritual and bodily.

But here we must understand that it is necessary to plunge into the hole with great power of faith, with prayer. Sometimes swimming in the ice-hole turns into mass festivities and people swim and have fun. This process is associated with repentance and faith, but not with fun.

Folk customs on Christmas Eve

Until now, folk traditions of Christmas Eve before Epiphany are strong in many regions of the country. For example, older family members traditionally collected snow from haystacks. Grandmothers did this to bleach the canvas. It was believed that this snow could make linen snow-white.

Young girls also collected snow from haystacks, but they did it for a completely different purpose. Girls collected snow to whiten their skin and become even more beautiful. It was believed that the snow on Epiphany (and this is the same water) can make the girl very attractive. Also in the villages, Epiphany snow was thrown into logs. It was believed that even in old and dry wells, such snow would help save water for another year.

Snow collected on Epiphany Eve has always been considered healing. They were taken to treat various ailments. On the night of Epiphany, a thicket of snow must be placed on the table and sentenced so that at midnight the water sways. If this happens, it means that the heavens have opened up: you can pray and make a wish so that it will come true.

What to eat on Christmas Eve

Many believers who are just beginning to join religious traditions are concerned about the question of what to eat on Epiphany Eve. As on any Orthodox Christmas Eve, there must be a special porridge sochivo on the table. Traditionally, for the evening before Epiphany, it is made on the basis of wheat with the addition of honey and raisins.

Since Christmas Eve is the time before a big holiday. Then for dinner that evening the church established a certain post. Sochivo must be served on the table, as well as lean food without fish, meat, eggs and dairy products. But each believer can determine the measure of fasting for himself individually. The most important thing is that it be within the power of a person.

About baptismal water

An important feature that cannot be done on Epiphany Christmas Eve is to be disrespectful to. On Christmas Eve, right after evening liturgy, a great consecration of water is carried out. Water is the main symbol of the holiday, and many rituals are associated with it. Why water? Because, when accepting the sacrament of baptism, Jesus Christ descended into the waters of the Jordan River. Holes that are made in rivers, lakes and ponds next to temples on this holiday are called "Jordan".

Water will also be consecrated on the very day of Epiphany - January 19th. But, the consecration of water on Christmas Eve on January 18 and on Epiphany on January 19 is no different from each other. Water will have the same power and healing properties. When a person brings consecrated water home from the temple, then you need to walk around the apartment with it and sprinkle the corners of your home. You also need to drink water every day, a few small spoons on an empty stomach, after prayer.
It is believed that in this way a believer can strengthen his health.

Needless to say, the meal on Baptism itself begins precisely with the use of consecrated water. This may be new water or water that has been preserved from last year. Their healing properties she doesn't lose. Epiphany water should not be drunk by women during menstruation.

The most important tradition Epiphany Christmas Eve is, of course, the blessing of water. It is believed that baptismal water has great healing power. You can just drip a few drops of this water into plain water to get all the beneficial properties. Holy water does not spoil, therefore, it does not need to be stored in the refrigerator. It is best to store Epiphany water next to the icons in the red corner.

The name "Christmas Eve" was given because of the traditional sweet porridge - "sochivo", which is necessarily eaten on the eve of the holiday, only after the service.

Porridge is made from wheat, barley or rice with the addition of honey, poppy seeds, dried fruits and nuts. The grain symbolized the resurrected life, and honey - the sweetness of the future blissful life.

Christmas Eve

Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas Eve on January 6th. This is the final day of the forty-day Advent fast, which is set for people to purify themselves through repentance, prayer, and fasting, and with with a pure heart celebrated the feast of the Nativity of Christ.

The canon for celebrating Christmas was finally formed in the 4th century. In modern liturgical practice, on the eve of the feast, the Royal Hours are read in the temple, Old Testament prophecies and events related to the birth of Jesus Christ are recalled.

On Christmas Eve it is customary to abstain from food until the appearance of the first star. The custom of fasting "until the first star" is associated with the legend of the appearance of the Star of Bethlehem, announcing the birth of Christ.

According to the Gospel of Matthew, the star informed the magi about the birth of the king of the Jews. Seeing her, the Eastern sages came to bow to the infant Christ and brought him rich gifts.

With the advent of the first star, you can sit down at the table and wish each other all the best and kind. Sochivo began to eat after the performance of the Christmas carol "Magi travel with a star." Traditionally, all family members should take part in the meal.

Lenten are put on the table festive dishes. On Christmas Eve it is not yet allowed to eat meat, dairy products and eggs, but the dishes should be tasty, nutritious and varied.

On Christmas Eve, according to the rules of Orthodoxy, one should go to the Divine service in the church, pray, stand the service. After the all-night service and the end of the fast, meat treats are also served.

Traditions and rituals

Christmas, and, accordingly, Christmas Eve is one of the most ancient holidays, with which many traditions, rituals and signs are associated.

The Orthodox table, according to folk traditions, must be laid with 12 dishes - according to the number of apostles, and in honor of the manger in which, according to legend, the Savior was born, it was customary to put a bunch of hay.

In addition to sochiv, pancakes, ham, jelly, lamb with porridge, jellied fish, stuffed turkey, piglet, boiled pork, meatloaf, stuffed chicken baked in the oven, pies, homemade sausage, gingerbread should be served on the table. Also on the table must be a variety of drinks.

The evening is best spent in family circle with close friends. talk for festive table follows only about good deeds.

Christmas Eve is the eve of great joy and the mental attitude should be appropriate. It is advisable to forget all old grievances, sorrows, and ask for forgiveness from those whom you have offended.

carols

Christmas Eve in Rus' was also called Kolyada - in honor of ancient tradition on this day go from house to house singing "carols" - Christmas carols. Boys and girls dressed up in frightening outfits, animal costumes, put on masks and walked through the village with songs and dances.

© photo: Sputnik / Andrey Alexandrov

That night, "carols" were sung at every house - songs with which young people congratulated the inhabitants. The owners of the houses, in turn, were obliged to give sweets to carolers in order to attract good luck in the new year.

On Christmas night, candles and a fireplace should be lit. According to legend, it is at this time that the power of all the elements is activated and the fire is able to attract the rest of the forces of nature to your home, fill it positive energy and strength.

So do not forget to buy candles, if there is a fireplace, light it up and enjoy the warmth and comfort this beautiful evening in the circle of family and friends.

© Sputnik / Alexander Imedashvili

By folk tradition, on the night before Christmas and during all Christmas time - up to Epiphany (January 19) it was customary to guess. It was believed that at Christmas time, while Jesus was not yet baptized, the evil spirit openly walks the earth, but, unlike the rest of the time, tries not to harm, but to help people.

And although Orthodoxy never approved of fortune-telling and other flirting with evil spirits, girls still continue to torture fate on holy days.

by the most the right time for fortune-telling, the night before Christmas from January 6 to 7, Old New Year from 13 to 14 January and Epiphany evening from 18 to 19 January.

Signs

On Christmas Eve, be sure to look at the sky. It is a good omen to see a shooting star. It is believed that a wish made on the night before Christmas comes true.

© photo: Sputnik / Vladimir Astapkovich

The people believed that if you cook festive dishes and you constantly drop something from the food, then next year you will have a rich harvest. And if a strong snowstorm rises on Christmas night, then spring will be early.

Never greet Christmas in clothes dark colors, because you can’t be sad on such a bright and cheerful holiday

If you stumble on Christmas Eve, be careful, you may receive bad news.

The dreams that you will see during all the holidays will be prophetic, so try to remember them and correctly understand what fate predicts for you.

What Not to Do

In Rus', it was believed that since Christmas is associated with birth, everything that is associated with death or with sharp objects promises misfortune. It was also believed that chores around the house could overshadow the solemnity and bring trouble to the house.

Therefore, on these days, men were not allowed to go hunting and slaughter cattle, and women and girls were forbidden to sew, use knives, as well as do cleaning and other activities. homework. Especially not worth sweeping the floor.

In the old days, people believed that the Christmas cake should not be cut before the holiday, because the use sharp objects, including a knife, could lead to injury and disease.

Material prepared on the basis of open sources

The evening before Christmas, for each of us, is usually kutia and carols, as well as a quiet family dinner. There are several names for this holiday - Christmas Eve, Christmas Eve, Holy Evening, Rich Evening, Rich Kutia, Viliya. Were getting ready for winter holidays long before their arrival. The hostesses cooked delicious dinner and cleaned the house, and most importantly observed strict post, which ended on January 6 at 12 am. However, these are not the only traditions that accompanied this day, so let's dive into history and figure out what is the difference between modern Christmas Eve and Holy Evening before.

Meaning of Christmas Eve

As you know, there are two Christmas Eve - one Catholic, which is celebrated on December 24, and the other Orthodox and celebrate it on January 6. But both of them are a symbol of enhanced preparation for one of important holidays in the year - Christmas.

The custom of celebrating Christmas Eve, according to legend, appeared based on the story of the Star of Bethlehem. A few days before the birth of Christ, the Magi appeared to the most bright Star, such a sign appears only when a king is born. Therefore, they decided to go on a journey to present gifts to Christ.

But this is not the only meaning of the holiday, because basically all holidays have pagan roots. Holy evening was no exception, and many traditions have nothing to do with Christianity, this includes Christmas divination. So, according to legend, even in the pre-Christian period, our ancestors celebrated the Korochuna holiday on this day, or, in other words, the day of greeting the sun. According to other sources, the eve of the birth of Kol Svarog was celebrated on this day. It was on Holy Evening, as they used to believe, that the Earth endowed people, plants, animals, in general, all living things, with energy, which subsequently can help not only preserve the crop, but also increase it, and it protects animals from diseases and contributes to a good offspring.

Church Traditions for Christmas Eve

As we have already mentioned, the winter holidays were preceded by a strict fast, which ended with the appearance of the first star on January 6th. On Christmas Eve, the whole family ate festive kutya all day long.

In the evening, a divine service is held with the reading of the gospel, the story of the Magi, prayers, and a liturgy. However, if Christmas Eve falls on Saturday or Sunday, then the main part of the service is held on Friday evening, and the liturgy is already on Christmas Eve itself.
If, for some reason, it was not possible to get to the temple before, then it was allowed on this holiday just to read prayers with the family and proceed to the festive dinner. At the same time, it was important to put on all the newest things on Holy Evening, but if there was not enough money for a new one, then they simply put on clean ones. This tradition served as a symbol of cleansing from sins and the onset of something new.

Slavic traditions on Christmas Eve

Holy evening in Slavic tradition It was solemnly celebrated, the whole family usually gathered for this, and the hostess of the house cleaned the house and prepared a rich dinner before the arrival of the guests. Be sure to lay a clean white, or rather a new tablecloth, under which they put a little hay.

Christmas Didukh

Separately, it is worth noting about the decoration of the table. For this, a festive candle was necessarily placed on the table as a symbol of the first star, as well as the Christmas Didukh. Simply put, a sheaf of hay was placed in a vase and solemnly brought into the house by the whole family and placed in the middle of the table. Moreover, Didukh was prepared since the summer. For this, the first sheaf of wheat or bread was left unthreshed. In some villages, they separated from the last sheaf. He was bandaged and left until Christmas Eve, after which he was given the most honorable place on the table - in the middle.

The introduction of Didukh began with the fact that the head of the family took him in one hand, and in the other there was a sheaf of hay. Behind him was the eldest son, who had a sheaf of hay in two hands. Even in the yard, the head of the family would say: “Let the hay run, let it feed the cattle. Let it be soft for darlings, let it be soft for the Holy Child and the cattle in the hay! At the same time, together with his son, scattering a sheaf of hay. And at the entrance to the house, the father shouted: “Christmas time is coming!”, The son answered: “Christmas time has come!”, And the mother continued: “We honor and ask didukh and you to look into the house!”

Didukh was not cleaned up until the very Generous Evening, after which it was burned, throwing old things or clothes in which a family member suffered an illness. Thus, our ancestors were cleansed of negative energy of the past year.

Festive table for Christmas Eve

The main dish for Holy evening was kutya or as it was also called sochivo, kolivo. It was usually prepared from boiled wheat, barley with the addition of honey. Sometimes housewives also cooked sochivo with rice. The meal began with kutya.

Moreover, the sequence of dishes was also strictly executed according to certain rules. So snacks were the first to go. After them, the first thing was usually served, often borscht, mushroom soup or fish soup. By the first, the housewives always prepared pies, ears or flat cakes, they were also called juicy. Dessert was served last. These are rolls with poppy seeds, honey cakes, pies, jelly and so on. Be sure to bake sweet gingerbread for this day.

The second obligatory dish was uzvar, or, more simply, dried fruit compote. Often it was prepared from apples, pears, plums, raisins, cherries and other fruits. At the same time, it should be noted that all dishes were washed down only with uzvar and nothing else.

Separately, it is worth noting 12 dishes that must have been on the table and what they meant:

1. kutya was prepared as a symbol sacrifice and spilled blood
2. peas were considered a sign that after a decline a person is reborn again, like God's spring;
3. cabbage - cabbage is a symbol of simplicity and reliability;
4. borsch - as the hostess tries to cook this dish from simple products, then this is a symbol of the fact that routine work and daily fuss bring up willpower in us. Among other things, it is also a reminder of the cruel order of King Herod to destroy babies;
5. cabbage rolls were prepared as a sign God's love to a person;
6. fish - since ancient times, it was the fish that was a symbol of Christianity and the sacrifice of Christ;
7. dumplings - this dish was a symbol of prosperity that awaits believers in heaven;
8. pancakes - meant the sun. Cooking pancakes on this day rather comes from paganism, but today this dish has become a symbol of the fact that Christ has become a symbol of the new sun, light;
9. porridge - has become a symbol of procreation;
10. pies - a symbol of health and happiness;
11. uzvar is a symbol of the life that God gave us, as well as cleansing from everything bad;
12. donuts are prepared as a reminder of what awaits a person after death - eternal life.

It is worth noting that only these dishes were not necessarily cooked that day, the most important thing is that there are 12 Lenten dishes on the table. In addition to these recipes, the housewives prepared jelly, homemade sausage, pork head, jelly, dishes from mushrooms, meat, and fish.

At the table, they tried to behave with restraint and calmness. At the same time, it was impossible to get up from the table before the end of the meal. Not a single dish was to remain untouched, everyone who sat at the table had to taste at least a spoonful of all the dishes. It was considered a good sign if the table gathers even number people, if not, then the hostess put an additional set of cutlery for the deceased relatives.

Caroling on Christmas Eve

After gala dinner the most interesting part for young people began - festivities, which, in particular, included caroling. For this young boys and the girls gathered near the temple or in another public place. Free unmarried men could join them.

Then they chose the main one who leads the carols - Birch, as well as the treasurer, star, latkovy and so on. Be sure to wear interesting costumes and came up with a little show. IN leading role usually featured a goat as a symbol of prosperity and wealth.

Caroling used to be a little different from how it is done now. Previously, they did not knock and did not enter houses, as is done in modern world. our ancestors used to call the hosts with the words “Kolyada is coming!”. Whoever went out was shown a performance with the singing of carols and folk songs. Wishing the owner all the best for the coming year. After that, carolers were invited to the house and presented with gifts.

Signs for Christmas Eve

• It was a bad sign when they fell asleep in the house, so that this would not happen, the owners, if they lay down on the bed, then in festive clothes, so as not to fall asleep. Wherein older generation and married people tried not to leave the house once again- a bad omen that does not bring anything good.
• It was good luck for a free girl and guy to sneeze during the gala dinner. In this case, the girl will get married next year, and the guy will become a good Cossack. Moreover, if this happens, fathers sometimes gave gifts to their children: for girls - a calf, and for boys - a foal.
• The owners also rejoiced when lonely and restless people came to visit that evening, which meant that in the coming year the family would have happiness, joy and prosperity. Therefore, such guests were generously presented and treated.
• Since on Christmas Eve they prepared for Christmas, they tried to prepare all the food for the holiday even before sunrise. Then, according to beliefs, there will be prosperity and wealth in the family.
• And the snow cover spoke about what the harvest will be in the coming year. So it was believed that the more snow on Christmas Eve, the richer the harvest. If snow fell before January 6, but melted by Christmas Eve, then this indicates that there will be a good harvest of buckwheat. But if there is frost and snowdrifts, then this is for grain production.
• They also kept a close eye on the stars. If, for example, there are a lot of stars in the sky, then in summer there will be a lot of peas. And if there are few stars, then the berries will also not be dense. It was also a bad sign if Milky Way was dim - this is bad weather.
• The hosts tried not to skimp on the table, because the richer the Christmas Eve dinner, the richer the coming year will be.
• They also tried not to quarrel from that evening and avoid disagreements for the entire period of the holidays. After all, if you quarrel or argue with someone these days, the whole a year will pass in quarrels and disagreements.
• It was impossible to hunt and fish, otherwise the whole year would pass in misfortunes and hardships.

Christmas Eve: Customs

On January 6, Russia celebrates Christmas Eve - the eve of the Nativity of Christ. In church tradition, the eve of the Nativity of Christ, or Christmas Eve, is called the last day of Advent, the day preceding the feast of the Nativity of Christ.

According to church tradition, Christmas Eve is otherwise called the eve of this great holiday. And the word "Christmas Eve" comes from the name of a dish of boiled wheat, or rice, with honey - "Sochiva". It was customary to treat Sochivom on Christmas Eve after the appearance of the first star. The tradition of fasting "until the first star" is associated with the legend of the appearance of the Star of Bethlehem, announcing the birth of Christ.

On Christmas Eve, the church ascribed a strict fast until the evening service, and on this day it is the first meal that ends the Advent fast.

What dishes are prepared

It is customary to break the fast with sychiv or kutya. This is how it is done in remembrance ancient custom when those preparing for baptism, intending to perform it on the Nativity of Christ, prepared for the sacrament by fasting, and after baptism they ate honey - a symbol of the sweetness of spiritual gifts. On Christmas Eve, the Orthodox would cook kutya, and the Catholics would cook bigilia. Christmas kutya was cooked lean. But on the second day of Christmas they prepared "babina porridge", or "grandmother's kutya". In ancient times, such porridge was usually brought among the gifts to the house where the newborn appeared. In contrast to the Christmas Lenten kutia, "babkin's porridge" was cooked "rich".

According to Russian customs, on Christmas Eve the whole family fasted, and only with the first star did everyone sit down at the table, on which, among other Lenten dishes, there must be kutia, as well as compote (uzvar) or jelly; in wealthy families, the table was also decorated with curly marmalade.

In some regions, there is a tradition of baking animal figurines for the holiday. In the evening, closer to midnight, caroling began with songs and carols.

The order of eating was regulated by strict rules: first, appetizers (herring, fish, salads) were served, then red (slightly warmed) borscht, mushroom or fish soup. To borscht mushroom soup ears or pies with mushrooms were served, and among the Orthodox juicy - flour cakes fried in hemp oil.

At the end of the meal, sweet dishes were served on the table: roll with poppy seeds, gingerbread, honey cakes, cranberry jelly, dried fruit compote, apples, nuts.

The meal was non-alcoholic. All dishes were lean, fried and seasoned vegetable oil, no meat base, no milk and sour cream. Hot dishes were not served so that the hostess was constantly at the table.

Christmas Eve: signs of what not to do

Since ancient times, our ancestors have been very strict adherents folk signs At Christmas. After all, it was on this holiday that they could determine the course of events for the coming year.

Clear weather at Christmas - a good harvest will be in summer and autumn.

If the sky is starry, there will be an offspring of livestock, as well as a good harvest of mushrooms and berries.

A snowstorm on Christmas Day - you should expect a good harvest of wheat. In addition, the blizzard good sign for the beekeeper, because it portends a good swarming of bees.

But if the holiday turned out to be warm, expect a cold spring.

Thaw at Christmas - to a poor harvest of vegetables.

It snows in flakes or frost lies - to good harvest of bread.

Our ancestors argued that it is a sin to work and do household chores on Christmas Day. After all, this is how you can catch up with evil spirits in the house.

Especially bad omen at Christmas, sewing was considered. Our ancestors claimed that the one who sews in this big celebration, calls blindness on someone from his family.

There is also a sign that many people trust to this day - how you spend Christmas, such a year will be.

It is very important that there is a rich table of 12 Lenten dishes on Holy Evening - then there will be prosperity in the house all year round.

You can’t quarrel with your relatives - then you will live the whole year in disagreement.

The name Christmas Eve comes from the word "sochivo" (wheat grains soaked in juice from seeds). It was customary to treat Sochivom on Christmas Eve after the appearance of the first star. The tradition of fasting "until the first star" is associated with the legend of the appearance of the Star of Bethlehem, announcing the birth of Christ. On Christmas Eve, at the end of the liturgy and at the evening service, a candle is brought to the center of the church, and the priests sing the troparion to the Nativity of Christ in front of it.

How is the church service on Christmas Eve?

The Christmas vigil (evening church service) lasts approximately three hours. Then they serve the liturgy, and after the service comes the celebration of Christmas. People greet each other with the words "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays". If Christmas Eve falls on Saturday or Sunday, then the festive vigil is served on Friday. On Christmas Eve itself, the liturgy of St. John Chrysostom is served, and on Christmas Day, in this case, the liturgy of Basil the Great is served.

How do you fast on Christmas Eve?

According to church charter, Typicon, fasting is prescribed until the end of Vespers. Those who partake of night liturgy, according to church tradition, they must refrain from eating for at least six hours before communion. On Christmas Eve it is customary to abstain from food until the appearance of the first star. The custom of fasting "until the first star" is associated with the legend of the appearance of the Star of Bethlehem, announcing the birth of Christ. According to the Gospel of Matthew, the star informed the magi about the birth of the king of the Jews. The star marked the Nativity of Jesus, it is customary to call it the "Star of Christmas" and Bethlehem - in the place of His birth.

Christmas Eve Traditions

According to Russian traditions, on Christmas Eve the whole family fasted, and only with the first star did everyone sit down at the table, on which, among other Lenten dishes, there must be kutya, as well as compote (uzvar) or jelly; in wealthy families, the table was also decorated with curly marmalade. In some regions, there is a tradition of baking animal figurines for the holiday. In the evening, closer to midnight, caroling began with songs and carols.

What is a vertep?

Nativity scene (original meaning - a cave, a hidden place) is a representation of the scene of the Nativity of Christ by means of various arts (sculpture, theater, etc.). IN Russian Empire, especially on the territory of Poland, Ukraine, Belarus, the "nativity theater" was widespread - folk puppet show representing nativity scenes, sometimes also involving human actors. The main decoration of any (large or small, with sculptures or actors) den is a manger with baby Jesus, and the main characters are the righteous Joseph with a long beard, the Holy Virgin Mary and King Herod. In addition, wise men, angels, shepherds with sheep and various animals (for example, an ox and a donkey, which, according to legend, warmed Jesus with their breath), may be present in the den.

Traditions of celebrating Christmas

• How to decorate a house for Christmas

It is desirable that the apartments have Christmas symbols: star of bethlehem, angel and nativity scene. You can make it in the form of a star Christmas decorations, and angels are easier than ever to cut out of paper and paste over with sparkles and decorate with ribbons. It's more difficult with a crib. IN old days in families from different materials they made caves in which they placed figures of the Holy Family and animals, and at the entrance - shepherds and wise men. Today you can use a simplified version. Basket covered spruce branches, and inside it is placed the icon of the Nativity.

• Spend Christmas with loved ones

Exactly at midnight from January 6 to 7, solemn services will begin in all Orthodox churches. And it is customary to spend the whole day of January 7 with loved ones, to present gifts to them. Mercy is considered a Christmas tradition. You can visit a sick person, treat a neighbor of respectable age or children from a large family.

• Give Meaningful Christmas Gifts

Thinking about what to give for Christmas ... Remember, Christmas is a holiday that reminds you of the most important thing in a person's life: God, faith, love. Gifts that are presented to loved ones are usually chosen with a spiritual meaning. It can be, for example, a book that will help a person find answers to important life questions. However, any gift can be supplemented by investing in it a good teaching from a spiritual book. Besides, a good gift at Christmas there will be beautifully decorated sweets. And the kids are toys.

• Christmas table

Christmas dishes are unusual and difficult to prepare. When deciding what to cook for Christmas, take note of the dishes that our ancestors prepared. Here are some recipes traditional dishes and drinks worth preparing for Christmas. By preparing these dishes, you will receive Christmas menu in Russian style.

What to cook for Christmas

In Rus', salads were practically not prepared; pickles were served for a snack in winter: mushrooms with onions, sauerkraut, soaked apples... And of course, various pies - with fish, meat, mushrooms.

Pie Rybnik for Christmas

1 pack of yeast dough
500 g fish fillet
2 tbsp butter
Salt pepper

How to make a fish pie for Christmas:
1. Defrost and roll out the dough (you can also use homemade yeast dough, then it will take about half a kilo).
2. Cut the layer in half. Put the whole fish on one half.
3. Salt, pepper, cover with a second layer, pinch the edges and bake in the oven.
4. Fish Christmas Pie is delicious both hot and cold.

Sochen with millet porridge for Christmas

2 cups of flour
1 glass of milk
Salt
2 tbsp butter
Filling:
1 glass of millet
2 glasses of water
2 glasses of milk
2 tbsp butter
Sugar, salt

How to cook Sochen for Christmas:
1. Mix the ingredients for the dough, knead it.
2. Divide the dough into balls and roll out each thin cake. To make the cake even, you can cut the edges with a knife.
3. Fry the cakes in a dry frying pan.
4. Cook millet porridge. First you need to boil in water, and then add milk. Put butter, salt and sugar into the porridge. You can darken the porridge a little in the oven.
5. Melt butter, grease the finished cakes with it, put the filling on them and fold in half.

Christmas goose with sauerkraut

1 small goose
800 g cabbage
4 bulbs
0.5 st. l. cumin
salt
oil

:
1. Wash the goose, rub it inside and out with salt and cumin.
2. Stew sauerkraut with oil and onions in a saucepan, covered.
3. Stuff the goose with this cabbage and fry on a baking sheet, pouring a little broth on it and pouring it over the goose. Then goose fat will be melted - you will water it. For more recipes for cooking goose in the oven, see the link.

Roast elk or wild boar

1.5 kg of elk or wild boar meat
150 g pork fat
2 cups sour cream
1 tbsp butter
2 tbsp flour
1.5 cups of vinegar
1 liter of water
2 large onions
3 bay leaves
8-10 peppercorns, salt to taste

How to cook elk and wild boar roast for Christmas:
1. Bring water to a boil with seasonings, remove from heat and add vinegar.
2. Wash the meat, remove the veins, cut into large cubes and put in the marinade. Leave for 2-3 days.
3. Remove the meat from the marinade, dry it, stuff it with bacon, salt and sprinkle with flour.
4. Heat up the oil, fry the meat in it until crusty. Transfer to a bowl or serving bowls.
5. Pour a glass of water into the pan, let it boil and pour over the meat. Add sour cream and a spoonful of flour there.
6. Add chopped onion to the meat, close the lid and simmer over low heat or in the oven until tender.

Pork belly stuffed with cabbage and apples

In the old days, porridge was served with pork legs, but we suggest making brisket with cabbage and apples for buckwheat porridge. It will turn out very juicy.

800 g pork
400 g cabbage
5 apples
1 st. l. butter
1 bulb
Salt and pepper

How to cook pork belly for Christmas:
1. Chop fresh cabbage, salt, squeeze. Add sour, finely chopped apples, oil to the cabbage, mix.
2. Wash the pork belly, chop the bones in several places, cut a large hole between the bones and meat with a knife.
3. Put the prepared minced meat there, sew it up, place it on a frying pan or baking sheet, sprinkle with finely chopped onions, add 3 tablespoons of water and fry in an oven heated to 200 C until cooked.

Kozyuli (curly gingerbread)

1 kg rye flour
1 glass of honey
2 cups sugar
2 glasses of water
100 g butter
Cinnamon and cloves on the tip of a spoon

How to cook goats for Christmas:
1. Mix honey, sugar and water. Boil them up dark brown and the thickness of the syrup.
2. Cool slightly, add butter, spices and flour. Mix and refrigerate for a couple of hours.
3. You can roll the dough into bundles and make figures out of them, or you can roll out the dough thickly and cut out the figures according to a stencil or molds.
4. Bake in a hot oven for 10-12 minutes.

Soufflé, custard in Russian

500 g of any berries
½ glass of water
2 cups sugar
5 proteins

How to make soufflé for Christmas:
1. Make a puree from the berries, add water and boil.
2. Add sugar (about the same amount as mashed potatoes).
3. Beat the whites in a steep foam. Add to puree.
4. Put the puree in baking dishes, put in a not very hot oven for 30 minutes.
5. Serve as desired, you can decorate with whole berries and mint leaves.

Sbiten

To prepare sbitnya you will need:

5 liters of water
250 g honey
700 g jam
1 tsp spices (cinnamon, ginger, cloves, cardamom)

How to cook sbiten for Christmas:

1. Boil water, add honey, jam to it and cook for 10 minutes. Mix.
2. Add spices and cook for another 10 minutes.
3. Serve sbiten hot.

Divination for Christmas and Christmas time

Christmas is one of the brightest and solemn holidays in Christianity. It is believed that it should be celebrated with family, relatives and friends. In addition to the feast, fortune telling is usually done on this holiday. This is very interesting activity in which even children can take part.

Two weeks winter holidays coincide with Christmas time, which begins on January 6 and ends on January 19, when Orthodox world celebrates Baptism. Ancestors were sure that Christmas time - best time in order to know the future. On any of these days, fortune-telling is considered the most faithful, prophetic.

Here are examples of the most interesting fortune-telling for children who diversify Christmas evenings. In addition, many fortune-telling is also useful for children - they develop imagination, as well as the ability to count and read.

• Christmas divination with rice grains

Fill a bowl with rice. Ask yourself a question or make a wish and dip your palm into the dish. Count how many grains of rice will stick to the palm of your hand. An even number is a negative answer, an odd number is a positive one.

• Christmas divination with tangerines

For this fortune-telling, you will need as many tangerines as people want to know the future. Each child makes a wish or asks a question that can only be answered with yes or no. After that, everyone peels their fruit and counts the number of slices. If there is an even number of them, then the desire will come true, an odd number indicates that the wish will come true after some time.

• Christmas divination according to the Holy Book

For this fortune-telling, you need to take a book and, without opening it, think out loud the page number and the line above or below. Then you should open the page and read the text on the hidden line - it is the Christmas prophecy. If the line bears little resemblance to a mystical prediction, parents will have to figure out what it really means. After all, the baby should not be upset.

• Christmas divination with a walnut shell

Prepare a wide bowl and pour water into it. On the edges of the bowl, attach the words written on pieces of paper: “luck”, “happiness”, “wealth”, “unexpected acquaintance”, “journey”, “life changes”, “ a pleasant surprise”, “win”. Shells from walnut according to the number of participants they start swimming. To distinguish between shells, you can put multi-colored cake candles in them. After all the shells are on the water, the participants carefully begin to blow on them, trying not to knock them over. Overturned shells are eliminated from divination. Which inscription the boat will stick to - that will happen to the child in the coming year.

• Christmas divination for the future on ice

You need to pour water into a bowl or saucer and put it in the frost on Christmas night. When morning comes, carefully examine the ice with your child: if he reared up - coming year it will be kind if it froze exactly - the year will be calm, if it went in waves - there will be both happiness and minor troubles.

• Fortune telling with wax on a brownie

This divination is suitable for the little ones. First you need to show the children the pictures that depict the brownie, tell about his character. Tell us about the traditions: the brownie was coaxed by putting food out for him at night, and when moving to another dwelling, they lured him into an old shoe to take with him, because this creature has long been considered the protector of the house.

For divination, you need to take a small saucer, pour milk or water into it and place it near the threshold. Then, a candle should be melted in a metal bowl, while saying: “Brownie, dear master, come quickly, drink milk, talk about fate.” Melted wax must be poured into cold milk, and then determine which figure turned out. Each figurine can be assigned a hidden meaning: stars - to interesting events and holidays, the cross - to sadness, the flower - to joy, the animal - to the emergence of a new friend, the line - to travel. Wax grapes mean good luck and happiness in the coming year, a mushroom prophesies health and longevity, a dragon - the fulfillment of desires and the achievement of all goals. The silhouette of the month predicts profit, the bell - good news, the sheet warns of envious people and ill-wishers.

Remember that during Christmas and Christmas fortune-telling, together with children, in all predictions you need to look for only a positive meaning.