HOW TO MEET CHRISTMAS

Christmas is a family holiday! You definitely need it
celebrate in the circle of the closest people.

Angel - let joy into the house!
The first to worship the little son of God,
there were shepherds - true children of nature!
The Good News of the birth of Jesus Christ was brought to them by the Angel-Good News!
Therefore, it is believed that the Angel is the main symbol of Christmas!

So that peace, harmony and comfort reign at home all year round,
Decorate it before Christmas with angel figurines!

Place on shelves or hang on a Christmas tree.

What dishes on the Christmas table will make us happy?

January 6th with the appearance of the first star in the sky,
symbolizing the Birth of Jesus Christ, you can sit down at the festive table!

So that happiness and joy do not leave your home until next Christmas,
on the table must be:

Christmas kutia (oozy). You need to start your meal with it.
According to biblical legend, a man who is hungry
the stomach will eat at least one spoonful of kutya, the whole year will live in health and well-being.

Poultry (duck or goose) cooked whole ..
It is not for nothing that on Christmas, from time immemorial, they say: "a bird on the table is happiness in the house."

Gingerbread cookies, biscuits in the form of angels and stars, pies and pancakes.

They need to be put on the Christmas table at the end of dinner,
when all the guests taste kutya and poultry.

Also treat those who come caroling to pastries.

Broth - dried fruit compote. According to legend,
if you use this drink at the Christmas table,
Ailments and misfortunes will bypass the whole year.

Christmas signs.

Events that happened to you on the night before Christmas
and Christmas itself can predict a happy future.

If an unexpected guest knocks on your door on Christmas night,
then be sure to let him into the house and treat him to different dishes.
Then the whole year will be happy and successful for your family!
And the house will always be full of friends, relatives and loved ones!

If the Christmas candles do not go out, but completely burn out,
then in the new year you will have an unexpected, but great joy!

Dos and Don'ts on Christmas Day.

Many different things are associated with the blessed day of Christmas.
traditions and customs. Just like on many Orthodox holidays,
it's better not on Christmas:

Do household chores: cleaning, sewing, embroidery,
washing, ironing and even cooking.

Take care of all the treats for the Christmas table
already on Christmas Eve - January 6th. Also, during the holiday, do not start repairs at home.

Fight not only with loved ones, but even strangers.

On this day, you should only do good deeds and say good words.

On the bright holiday of the Nativity of Christ - January 7 - go to the temple
for Christmas services. They run from early morning until late at night.

Light candles and ask Jesus Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary
health and wellbeing!

Prayer for the healing of ailments

“Lord Heavenly Father! In the name of Jesus grant me healing in my sickness (my sickness). Heal me from ... (list specifically what you want to be healed from). If there are any obstacles to healing, You open them to me. Open up the sins I need to repent of, open up what needs to be changed in my life, teach me what I need to do to be healed. Amen".

Prayer for family well-being

“Lady Most Blessed, take my family under Your protection. Instill in the hearts of my spouse and our children peace, love and unquestioning about all that is good; do not allow anyone from my family to parting and grievous
parting, until premature and sudden death without repentance. And save our house and all of us living in it from fiery ignition, thieves' attack. Yes, and we are sold separately and separately, clearly and intimately
let us glorify Your Holy Name always, now and ever, and forever and ever. Holy Mother of God, save us! Amen".

Prayer for help in business

“Lord Heavenly Father! In the name of Jesus Christ, forgive all my sins and help me live a sinless life. Help me not to step on the mines of sins that will bring me pain and suffering. Teach me to obey your commandments. Teach me to live the way you want it. I ask You to help me decide
all my problems. Help me earn enough for a living. Help me heal from my diseases. Help me with housing (list your needs). Help me in all my affairs. Deliver me from all evil, shield and protect me. Amen".

Merry Christmas!

Today, as in the old days, Christmas is the most long-awaited day of the year, not only in Russia, but also in other states. Therefore, let's remember the history and main traditions of this Christian holiday.

How and when Christmas is celebrated

The Nativity of Christ is the day when the son of God Jesus was born, who came to our mortal world for the salvation of human souls. On the territory of Russia, they begin to celebrate it as early as January 6, as soon as the first star shines in heaven, the symbol of the one that appeared over Bethlehem to inform the earthly people about the miracle that had happened.

Families, immediately after the church liturgy, turning into the evening service, gathered at a common table and began the long-awaited meal, which was always accompanied in Russia by many traditions and rituals. For example, on Christmas Eve, you can only eat lenten dishes, where boiled rice and wheat with dried fruits, honey and various nuts were in special honor. This mouth-watering dish is popularly called sochivom, which is why it is customary to call the pre-Christmas evening actually Christmas Eve.

Orthodox and Catholic Christmas

It was customary to put a bunch of hay or straw under the tablecloth, as a symbol of a manger similar to those where the Mother of God laid her newborn child. Another interesting sign was to install some large iron object under the table itself so that those sitting behind it could put their feet on it in turn. Since this metal has long symbolized strength and strength, people believed that in this way they preserve their health.

The day after Christmas Eve, those who observe the Christmas fast will finally be able to indulge themselves in real delicacies. A traditional dish in Russia and in many other countries is goose baked until golden brown and seasoned with apples, all kinds of pickles, pickled fruits and vegetables, cold chicken, various pies and pastries. By the way, the hostesses for this day tried to prepare as many goodies as possible in order to present them to guests and those who went to carols.

The children were eagerly awaiting as the main treat, of course, cakes and honey cakes, decorated with shiny multi-colored glaze. Not so long ago, our compatriots adopted from the Westerners the tradition of baking aromatic gingerbread cookies and preparing aromatic punch with cinnamon and other spices. These "overseas" recipes carry a special spirit of celebration and good mood.

Festive decor for Christmas

As already mentioned, people professing Catholicism celebrate Christmas on December 25, even our closest brothers-Belarusians recognize this date as a public holiday, because a significant part of the inhabitants of Belarus are Catholics. Already by this day, it is customary for them to decorate the Christmas tree, decorate the home with New Year's crafts, and give each other gifts. Orthodox Christians do not have such a custom, if only because the green beauty has been decorating houses since the New Year.

The classic colors of Christmas are red, white and green, representing the warming flames of fire, snow, evergreen spruce branches. Despite the fact that such a gamut of shades came to us from Europe, it is successfully complemented by wreaths on the door, candlesticks, various bouquets, socks for gifts and other cute trifles familiar to US residents. All these newfangled decorative elements today can be skillfully combined with the festive attributes of the past, the main thing is to show a little imagination, and your home will become truly cozy and sincere.

Festivities, signs and traditions

In the past, on Christmas itself and on the Christmas week following it, people rejoiced heartily, walked and glorified their savior Jesus Christ. Particularly popular were the fun with dressing up and practical jokes, as well as the chanting of ritual songs - kolyada. In every region of our country there are traditional entertainments, the most famous is the "Blacksmith", when a mummer "reforged" old people into youth, forcing them to crawl under a large bench covered with a canvas, and "Fanta", where the participants had to fulfill all the orders of the host of the game. The following games were also popular: "Sticks" - something like winter football, with branches instead of clubs, and with wooden balls instead of a ball; "King of the Hill", according to the rules of which the "King" must stay on top of the hill and not let himself be pushed; "Taking the snow fortress" - the first team defended the snow "fortress", the second - attacked.

Fortune-telling is not inferior to songs and playful amusements - mystical, but therefore no less fascinating. For the most part, they were interesting to young ladies who wanted to find out as soon as possible the details about their betrothed. For example, a boot thrown outside the collar could indicate the side from which the groom should appear to the girl. For rituals, melted wax was also used, it was poured into water and the future was predicted from the resulting intricate figures.

Many beliefs are associated with the holiday of the Nativity of Christ, for example, if it fell on Sunday, people expected a truly fruitful summer next year. They also believed that if the celebration falls on Monday or if the weather is just warm on this day, winter promises to be mild and spring rainy, which is also good for growing various crops. A snowstorm on Christmas Eve is a good season for beekeepers, and the starry sky is for a noble offspring of livestock.

Prohibitory signs also have their place, especially severely for their violation they were punished in the families of peasants. Sewing and doing any kind of handicraft on Christmas was considered to lead to imminent blindness, to hunt animals - unfortunately, it was not allowed to wear a clean shirt either - according to ancient beliefs, this foreshadowed a hungry year.

Outcome

Despite the fact that on Christmas evening on the streets of modern cities one can rarely meet cheerful crowds of carols, girls stopped looking in the half-light in the mirrors, trying to see their fiance in them, and even, despite some differences in celebration, Russians continue to honor the old traditions ... For all of us, Christmas should invariably be associated with the brightest day of the year, with magic, miracles and, of course, with home comfort and unshakable family traditions.

Very soon, from 6 to 7 January, Orthodox and Greek Catholics will celebrate the biggest holiday of the year - Nativity.

This holiday ends with St. Forty days is a forty-day Nativity Fast, which has lasted since November 28. The main purpose of this Nativity Fast is the spiritual cleansing of a person so that he is ready to meet this event with a pure soul. Just before the holiday, in the last week, the fast was intensified. The Church, besides the bodily fast, reminds man of spiritual fasting. The most true fasting is prayer, repentance, abstinence from vices and passions, forgiveness of offenses, etc.

Holy Eve (Christmas Eve, Rich Kutya)
In no case should you confuse Christmas Dinner with Christmas Eve Dinner - Christmas Eve - Christmas Eve!
Due to lack of knowledge of traditions, as it is in our country, many begin to gather a lot of guests on Holy Evening, to arrange a stormy feast, where alcohol flows like a river, fast food is consumed, and the wrong conversations are being conducted. This cannot be done.
On January 6, Holy Eve begins. In Ukraine, its celebration is associated with many traditions. For example, before setting the table, a little hay or straw was poured on it, and the top was covered with a tablecloth, preferably white. It's like a reminder of the manger in which little Jesus lay. Garlic cloves are placed in the corners of the table - rich kutia from evil spirits

Since the morning of January 6, preparations have been underway for the holy evening. Only after praying and mentally forgiving your enemies and offenders, you can start preparing festive food. Children will definitely help their parents in preparing food. On this day, no one has breakfast or dinner - everyone is waiting for the first star. Only children are allowed to have a snack for lunch.
If you already strictly observe the tradition, then in the place of honor in the house you need to put a "didukh" - a sheaf of wheat, which symbolizes the spirit of our ancestors.

12 dishes were served on the table on Holy Evening, according to the number of the apostles. Also 12 dishes - as a symbol of the fact that every month of the year will be generous. Although this evening is marked as the end of the fast, the dishes must be lenten this evening! Obligatory attributes of the Holy Evening on the table are - kutia and uzvar. In the traditions of the people, they have a symbolic meaning: kutia is an obligatory dish at commemoration, and uzvar is usually cooked at the birth of a child. With these two dishes, our ancestors on the holy evening combined the memory of both the birth and death of the Savior.

The first star, rising in the evening sky, notifies people that the Great Miracle has happened - this is the birth of the Son of God! After that, you can proceed to the holy meal, first of which you need to light a wax candle and pray. At the very beginning, everyone should taste kutya, and then proceed to other dishes on the table. You must definitely taste at least a little from each dish, as it is customary so that there is no hunger in the house during the year. There must be an even number of people at the table, but if this does not work out, an additional device is simply placed on the table. All household members should be at home.
Dinner on Holy Eve passes slowly, for several hours. The whole family gathered at the table has quiet and unhurried conversations only about good things. Under no circumstances should you raise your voice and quarrel. Of course, you can't drink alcohol! On Holy Evening, only an ornament should be on the table.

Until dinner is over - no one should get up from the table, and even more so - leave the house - so as not to send evil spirits into the house. Those who are on the road this evening must have time to return home before midnight - otherwise they will spend the whole next year in ordeals. You cannot sit at the table in the corners, especially for unmarried guys and girls - otherwise the year will pass alone. You can't, if you pick up a spoon, put it back on the table.

At the end of the holy supper - kutya and some other dishes were not removed from the table - this food was left for deceased relatives, who, according to beliefs, also come to us "for Christmas kutya."
Even the animals were fed better on Holy Evening in the village, so that they would not say that the owner was greedy. According to legends, even animals talk on this evening. Even homeless animals are congratulated on the holiday this evening, putting a bowl of food on the threshold for them.
How rich the table will be on Christmas, what kind of relationship will be between households - and throughout the year it will be in your house. Under no circumstances should you get drunk and swear this evening! According to popular beliefs, it is on this night, before Christmas, that the forces of Good and Evil equally dominate the earth, therefore, to which forces a person will join today, they will accompany him throughout the year!
Despite the fact that Holy Evening is a purely family holiday, nevertheless, lonely pilgrims were invited to the table. In our time, it can be lonely neighbors, poor, disadvantaged people. After supper the kids go caroling, but they have to return before midnight, so as not to ordeal for a year.
Stoves and fireplaces are lit in houses on Svyatyvech; candles are lit in city apartments. It is desirable to maintain the fire until the very baptism. City dwellers put lighted candles on the window - as a symbol of a star, on which good spirits will come to our house, as the Magi once came to the light of the star.
Lenten dishes that are prepared for Holy Evening are dishes without meat, eggs, milk, sour cream, etc. The menu for this evening is selected individually. Dishes are prepared from peas, beans, fish - all in vegetable oil.
Sample menu for Holy Evening:
1. Kutya. 12 meatless dishes
2. Uzvar.
3. Fried fish.
4. Lean borscht.
5. Cabbage rolls with rice and stewed carrots.
6. Stewed cabbage with any mushrooms.
7. Millet porridge with mushroom seasoning in sunflower oil.
8. Salad from beets and herring.
9. Salad with pickles, sauerkraut and onions.
10. Bean pancakes.
11. Hot seasoning of crushed garlic, black pepper, green dill, tomato paste and vegetable oil.
12. Boiled potatoes flavored with sunflower oil, or fried onions with mushrooms in vegetable oil.

Nativity
From the very morning of Christmas Day, people walked home with a star, sang folk carols and church hymns.
On January 7, at Christmas itself, a large family dinner with many delicacies and delicacies is already being prepared. Fasting is over - that's why there are various meat dishes on the table: fried pig, homemade sausage, goose or duck with apples, pig stuffed with buckwheat porridge, jellied meat, boiled pork, ham, side of lamb with porridge, jellied fish, pancakes, gingerbread and pies. Alcohol is also allowed - wine and liqueur. Here you can already eat whatever your heart desires, and drink, but not get drunk.
A cake is baked on the Christmas table with a surprise: nuts, raisins or a baked coin. The owner of the house shares the cake - whoever gets the "surprise" will be healthy, happy and successful all year round.

After supper, carols and fun begin, the children arrange a nativity scene.
Throughout the Christmas week, you need to keep peace at home, and abundance on the table - then the whole year will be satisfying and rich.
In those families where the celebration of Christmas has become a tradition, parents tell their children that this event is based on the belief about the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, by the Virgin Mary. This is the most solemn holiday in Christianity, which is accompanied by three church services, namely: at midnight, at dawn and during the day - this means: in the bosom of the Father, in the womb of the Mother of God, as well as in the soul of believers. The birth of Jesus Christ opened up an opportunity for the salvation of the soul of every believer.

From Holy Eve and until Epiphany, 12 days, there are Christmastide. On these days, it is customary to visit each other, dress up as animals, angels, sing carols and arrange Christmas divination.

Nativity is one of the most important church holidays. After all, it symbolizes the coming of a new, holy soul to earth. All Christians prepare for this holiday for a long time and carefully. This is necessary in order to meet the birthday of Christ according to all the rules.

1. The basic rule is to celebrate Christmas with pure soul and body. And if everything is clear with the body - you need to take a shower, go to the bath, to the bathhouse, etc., then you need to take care of the purity of the soul in advance. For this, the Orthodox maintain a 40-day fast (the so-called Chetyredyanitsa), receive communion and confess. You can also cleanse your soul by helping others. Therefore, an Orthodox person, in preparation for Christmas, is engaged in charity work (visits prisons, orphanages, nursing homes), and also donates money to the poor.

2. On the eve of Christmas, Orthodox Christians must prepare their home for the holiday. Usually, all believers do a general cleaning on this day. The house is then decorated with Christmas symbols. At the same time, the women are also busy with the festive table.

3. As a rule, on January 6 (Christmas Eve) Orthodox Christians do not eat all day. And only at 10 o'clock in the evening for the first time in the whole day you can have a snack. Why at 22.00? Because the first stars appear exactly at this time. The first star that appears is associated with the Orthodox one of Bethlehem, which lit up at the moment of the birth of the Son of God. The very same rule "Until the first star is impossible" is known even to those who are not particularly keen on religion. The exception to restricting nutrition applies only to pregnant women and children - they can eat all day. Then the Orthodox go to church. Of course, only the best, preferably new, clothes are put on to visit the Temple.

4. The service in the church continues throughout the night. At this time, the priests sing hymns and psalms dedicated only to such a joyful event as the birth of Jesus Christ. Many Orthodox Christians come to services even with small children. In this way, parents introduce them to the Christian culture.

5. After the end of the church celebration, the Orthodox return home and begin breaking the fast. However, it should be borne in mind that, despite the fact that the fast has already ended, meat cannot be eaten right away. But you can fish in almost unlimited quantities. On the first day, the table should still be lean - kutia, compote, potatoes, salads, etc. Christmas gifts are another enjoyable part of the holiday. They lie in the same way as in the New Year under the tree. Only you are not allowed to take them until everyone has eaten.

6. Celebrate Christmas three days. During this period, you need to go to the guests and receive them at home. Each such meeting always takes place with gifts and a feast.

* * * * *

January 6 - Holy Evening , which is prepared after putting things in order in the houses. It is worth purifying oneself spiritually - confessing, making peace with the enemy. After that, you can take up the preparation of holiday dishes.

There must be twelve dishes on the table - in honor of the twelve apostles. Traditional dishes have always been borscht, dumplings, fish, mushrooms, porridge, beans or beans, potatoes, cabbage rolls, cookies, kutia, uzvar.

In no case should you swear or argue on this day, all family members should be at home. Children should help in the preparations, a special role should be given to the eldest daughter.

Kutia:

Kutia is a ceremonial memorial dish (special grain porridge).
It is prepared from non-crushed wheat, rice, oats or barley and a sweet additive - honey, sugar, raisins, jam, candied fruits, dried fruits. (Grain in kutya symbolizes eternal life and abundance, and sweetness is a symbol of heavenly bliss.) Many types of kutya necessarily include honey syrup cooked in water, broth from cereals or poppy seed, almond, hemp milk, nuts, poppy seeds, spices.

Parts of kutia, as a rule, are prepared separately: grain or cereals are boiled in a large amount of water or a crumbly porridge is cooked, then the sweet part and additives are added. After combining all the components, the kutyu is heated for 10 minutes (preferably in a clay pot).

The main Christmas dish can also be prepared in a modern city. Grain is sold in supermarkets, but if you can't find it, you can buy round rice.

The poppy is washed, steamed with hot water for 2-3 hours, then the water is drained. Separately, in a manual coffee grinder (electric does not give the desired effect) the poppy is ground to obtain poppy milk, honey or sugar is added to the mixture. Everything is mixed and added to the porridge. Last but not least, walnut kernels, which can be pre-fried until crisp.

Kutya should be eaten first, i.e. to start their dinner with them, each of those present at the table must eat at least one spoonful of kutya. According to the legends, then this person will live in health and well-being throughout the coming year.

Wheat Kutia
Whole grains of shelled wheat (you can use wheat groats) pour cold water, cook until softened and discard in a colander. Dissolve honey with water 1: 2, pour over wheat, put on low heat, bring to a boil and cool. The proportions are arbitrary.

Rice kutia
Sort the rice, rinse, cover with cold water, bring to a boil, discard on a sieve or colander and rinse with cold water. Then pour over the rice again with plenty of cold water and cook until tender, without stirring. Drain the water, cool the rice, dilute the granulated sugar with a little water and combine with the rice. If honey is used instead of sugar, then dilute it in a 1: 2 ratio. After stirring the mass, add raisins, cinnamon, washed and scalded with boiling water and mix thoroughly again. Place on a large plate, trim over top and sprinkle with powdered sugar to taste.
400 g of rice, 200 g of raisins, 1/2 cup of sugar or 100 g of honey, cinnamon.

Wheat kutia with poppy seeds
Sort the wheat, rinse, pour into boiling water, bring to a boil, discard on a sieve, pour over with cold water, put in a saucepan or pot, add water, boil, close the lid tightly and put in the oven to push until soft. Then take out and cool. Meanwhile, wash a glass of poppy seeds, pour over it with boiling water, and then with cold water, crush it in a mortar until the grains are rubbed and the poppy seeds turn white, add granulated sugar or honey, you can add a little salt. Mix thoroughly with wheat. If the kutia turns out to be thick, add some cooled water in which the wheat was cooked, add walnuts last.
400 g of wheat, 1/2 cup of sugar or 100 g of honey, 200 g of poppy seeds, 200 g of walnut kernels.

Rice kutia with jam
Cook the crumbly rice in the same way as in the previous recipe. Put in it a glass of berries and fruits taken from the jam, but without syrup. Add some sweet boiled water.

Making the table for Holy Evening , after sunset, cover it with fresh hay or straw. A little grain is poured over the hay and the table is covered with a tablecloth, under which a clove of garlic is placed in the corners. He protects from evil forces and diseases.

During dinner, you can't talk a lot, leave the table. A guy and a girl should not sit on the corners of the table so as not to be left without a married couple. You cannot, taking a spoon in hand, put it on the table again, dishes are not washed down with water - only with uzvar. Until the meal is over, you cannot leave the table, especially from the house, so as not to let in evil spirits.

It is worth trying at least a little from each dish so that there is no hunger. But you cannot eat the whole meal - "so that the refrigerator does not remain empty."

The first evening star informs people about a great miracle - the birth of the Son of God! You can start the Holy Supper - light a candle, pray.

This evening, young children sing carols - they go into houses, sing Christmas songs (carols), praising the newborn Jesus and praising the owners. Christmas carols wish the owners health, kindness, happiness, prosperity and prosperity.

Christmas recipes: uzvar

For the Christmas uzvar to be a success - you need to approach the choice of dried fruits with knowledge of the matter. As the seller of the specialized department Maria Gapon explained, "correct" dried fruits are unattractive in appearance - they are dull, wrinkled and opaque.

In fact, light-colored dried fruit should ideally be dark after drying. For example, dried apricots are "lightened" due to sulfur, and they acquire a bright color due to potassium permanganate. Raisins should not be uniformly yellow, soft and oily. If the fruits are too soft, this indicates a violation of the manufacturing and storage conditions. The best varieties of raisins, if thrown up, knock like small pebbles when they fall. It is not necessary to "peck" on the gloss - for shine, dried fruits are rubbed with oil, and not always of the best quality. In addition, dried fruit should be dry, but not overdried. And if dried fruits are not processed correctly, they have a "burnt" wine aftertaste.

To obtain a tasty and aromatic uzvar, the preliminary preparation of fruits and berries is very important - they must be thoroughly rinsed before use in order to get rid of dirt and chemicals.

Better - in warm water, because boiling water kills vitamins, - the girl prompts. - You can pour dried fruit overnight with apple juice. By the way, if the dried fruits are packaged, then some conscientious manufacturers even write on the packaging: "It is recommended to wash it before use." The shelf life of dried fruits in bags is quite long: from 8 months to 2 years. To prolong the life of the product so much, manufacturers use preservatives - and this information is necessarily indicated on the label. So, read the composition and decide for yourself - to take or not to take.

It is equally important to maintain the correct ratio of water, fruit and sugar.

For 6 glasses of water, take at least 300-400 g of dry fruits, from 0.75 to 1 glass of sugar and 1 tbsp. a spoonful of honey, - Maria Gapon shares her culinary secret. - In the old uzvars, honey completely replaced sugar. Of the spices, cloves, cinnamon and zest are put into the uzvar. For the specified amount of water, take 3-4 cloves buds, 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon, 1 teaspoon of zest, as well as 1/2 teaspoon of citric acid or half a fresh lemon with zest (it is laid at the very end of cooking, before removal from fire).

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 Christmas days, certain prohibitions are in effect, which are due to the idea of ​​a holiday going back centuries as a stop in 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.

On Christmas, you can't do cleaning and all sorts of housekeeping. 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 would always say the words: “I donate towels, I’ll die, I’ll fix evil with good, fortunately I will 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.