Catholics celebrate Christmas a little earlier than Orthodox believers. The great event is annually celebrated at the end of December.

For the Catholic Church, Christmas is the main religious holiday. Every year on December 25, Catholics remember the amazing story of this event, decorate their homes and give their loved ones Christmas gifts. Despite the fact that each church celebrates this day in accordance with its faith, nevertheless, some traditions are similar.

Catholic Christmas in 2017

Every year, Catholic Christmas falls on December 25, and Orthodox Christmas falls on January 7. Why is the same holiday celebrated on different days? Since 1582, many countries of the world began to calculate time following the Gregorian calendar, which is why most religious events among Catholics and Orthodox believers do not coincide. The Orthodox Church calculates events according to the Julian calendar, where Christmas falls on January 7th.

The difference in the dates of the celebration of Christmas did not affect the significance of the holiday. On this day, believers celebrate the birth of the Great Infant, who became the Savior of all mankind. His appearance in the world was a real miracle. The Lord chose the Virgin Mary as the Mother of Jesus Christ, and sent an angel to inform her of this news. Her husband Joseph at first did not believe in this and threatened to annul the marriage. However, the messenger of God explained to him that this child is the blessing of the King of Heaven, and Joseph needs to raise and love him as his own son. Even before the birth, the couple went to Bethlehem with the hope of settling in a hotel, but they did not succeed. Mary and Joseph were forced to camp in the barn. The first to see the Son of God were the shepherds. The star that shone in Bethlehem also led three wise men there, who brought gold, frankincense and myrrh as a gift to the child. Herod, having learned about the appearance of the Divine Infant, decided to kill all the children under two years old, but Jesus Christ was able to avoid death. An angel appeared to Joseph and warned him of the evil intentions of the king, and they, together with the child and Mary, went to Egypt, where they lived until the death of Herod.

How Catholics Celebrate Christmas

Christmas is one of the twelfth holidays and is one of the non-transitory. For both Catholics and Orthodox believers, the date of Christmas is unchanged. Despite the common history of the holiday, the traditions of this day are still different.

Advent is a kind of preparation for the Nativity of Christ. People purify their body and soul and prepare to meet the Great Infant with dignity. For Catholics, this period is called Advent, and it lasts four weeks.

Decorating the house with fir branches wreaths with candles is another Catholic Christmas tradition. The round shape of the wreath symbolizes eternal life, the green color is the embodiment of life, the fire is the light that illuminates the whole world on Christmas Day.

Figurines of the Virgin Mary and the Infant Christ are installed in houses and churches. It can also be Christmas decorations, installations and just paintings.

On Christmas Day, Catholic believers attend Mass, a Christmas church service. During it, the priest puts the figure in the form of the Child of God into the manger and consecrates it. At this moment, people can feel like participants in this Great event.

Christmas treats are different in every country. In England and America, it is customary to serve turkey, in Spain - pork, and in Latvia - fish. There must be plenty of dishes so that guests leave full and satisfied.

For Orthodox believers, Christmas will come only on January 7th. However, even before it comes, you can find out what awaits you in 2018. Christmas fortune-telling is much stronger and more truthful than usual, because it is on this day that we can achieve unity with the Higher powers.

One Holiday, Two Dates: Why Do Catholics and Orthodox Celebrate Christmas on Different Days?

Millions of Christians celebrate Christmas every year. But, if for Catholics the solemn day is December 25, then for Christians it is January 7. What is the difference between holidays and why there are two dates, 360 tells.

Nativity

This holiday is one of the main spiritual holidays for Christians. It was established in honor of the birth of Jesus Christ, hence the name of the celebration. According to biblical teaching, the Virgin Mary came with her husband Joseph to Bethlehem after the decree of King Herod to conduct a census.

The couple was sheltered by shepherds, and at night the Virgin Mary gave birth to Jesus. The first to bow to him were the shepherds, to whom the angels announced the birth of Christ. Then the wise men came, following the light of the star, presenting gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Since everything happened in the dark, it is customary to start celebrating Christmas the night before - on Christmas Eve. On this day, believers set the table and start eating only after the first star appears in the sky.

Photo source: pixabay

Why December 25 and January 7?

The main difference between Orthodox and Catholic Christmas is the dates. The first are celebrated on the night of January 7th. On this day, the celebration takes place not only in Russia, but also at the Georgian, Jerusalem and Serbian Orthodox churches.

For Catholics, Protestants, and even some Orthodox, Christmas takes place on the night of December 25th. The difference in dates between the Western and Eastern churches is explained by the chronology and the two calendars that the denominations adhere to.

Previously, only the Julian calendar existed. It was introduced in 46 BC. e., but in 1582, Pope Gregory XIII carried out a reform to match astronomical time. Thus, the Gregorian calendar appeared, to which Catholics and Protestants began to gradually switch.

The difference between the calendars is 13 days, so some celebrate Christmas on December 25, and others on January 7. It should be understood that this is the same day, and the difference is only in the chronology system.

Similarities and differences of the holiday

Let's go back to Christmas Eve. It is celebrated by all Christians who observe a very strict fast before Christmas, and on Christmas Eve they put 12 Lenten dishes on the table - according to the number of apostles. Housewives always cook uzvar - dried fruit compote. Also among the treats should be Christmas kutya. It is a porridge usually made from whole grains of wheat and seasoned with honey, nuts and raisins.

If the Orthodox do observe a very strict fast, then the Catholics do not adhere to such strict restrictions. For the Orthodox, the holiday has a more ecclesiastical significance, and for the latter, it is family. It is customary for Catholics to give gifts to everyone, and the main "wizard" of the celebration is Santa Claus or St. Nicholas.

After that, Catholics and Protestants must attend at least one of the three masses - night, morning or afternoon. They symbolize the birth of Jesus in the bosom of the Father, in the womb of the Mother of God and in the soul of every person. The Orthodox have one Christmas service, which lasts until the morning.

The celebration of Christmas ends with a magnificent feast. Each family sets a rich table with a variety of dishes. Traditionally, it is customary to cook duck or turkey, but all countries have certain main festive dishes.

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Christmas is a great holiday, a solemn day for all Christians. On this day, God himself, the Savior of the world, incarnated in man. It is surprising that there is not a single indication in Holy Scripture that the day of the Messiah's birth is a church holiday or some special day. In those days, birthdays were not celebrated in principle. And the ancient Church did not celebrate Christmas. The birth of Christ was celebrated on the day of the Epiphany.

Surely, everyone knows the story about the magi who came to bow to the King of the Jews, seeing a star in the East. But the Magi themselves were not Jews. What did they believe? Why did the birth of the Savior become a great holiday for them too? Why did they prepare special gifts, which included oil for embalming the dead - myrrh?

How does fasting relate to exorcism in the Bible? Did Christ himself fast?

When do Orthodox people celebrate Christmas - December 25 or January 7? Did you know that the first Gregorian calendar "missed" 10 days on purpose?

How to understand what happens at the festive service on Christmas? What are troparion and kontakion? We have analyzed in detail the composition of the worship service at Christmas.

Why is it customary to decorate a fir tree at Christmas, isn't this a secular New Year's tradition that has roots in paganism? Was there a fir tree next to the Christmas manger? Who was the first Christian to decorate a fir tree?

In this article, we tried to collect for you the answers to the most important questions for a Christian about the festive day of Christmas, interesting facts and postcards with which you can congratulate your loved ones.

Christmas: the history of the holiday

So, let's turn to the history of the celebration of the Nativity of Christ. It would seem that everything is simple here. This day is described by the evangelists, no doubt, for a Christian, the birth of the King of Heaven, the incarnation into a person, the opportunity to ask for the remission of sins and eternal life is a great holiday. Not so simple. As we have already said, the celebration of Christmas is not mentioned in Scripture. And even more so, there is no particular promise to decorate a fir tree, to give gifts to each other.

The history of the Nativity of Christ is described in the Holy Scriptures, but the celebration of this event appeared later. Christmas is one of the twelve great holidays of the Orthodox Church. In our tradition, they are usually called the Twelfth Feasts, these are the great celebrations of the Church that follow Easter. The Jewish tradition did not celebrate birthdays, which modern people find hard to believe, and there is no promise in Scripture of a special celebration. The first mention of Christmas dates back to the 4th century. In 360, the Roman bishop Liberius mentioned the feast of the Nativity. In the 2nd century, the birth of Christ was spoken of on the day of Theophany. The Feast of the Epiphany celebrated three great events at once - the birth of Jesus, the bringing of gifts and Baptism. In the old breviaries, Christmas is called "Winter Easter", the Resurrection of Christ was a consequence of Christmas. All church practice was formed around them. This holiday is dedicated to the earthly life of Christ. Our Savior was born not in a luxurious castle, but in a barn where cattle took refuge from the weather. In the Roman temple of Santa Maria Maggiore, presumably, a particle of the manger of Jesus is kept.

Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem, in that year the emperor ordered a census of newborns. The Mother of God and Joseph were from the family of King David. There was no place for them in city hotels on the road to Bethlehem, so the Savior of the World was born next to the stall, and the Divine Infant was placed in the cattle feeder - His first manger. The shepherds who guarded their flocks nearby were the first to learn about the miracle that had happened, as the Gospel of Luke says. On a starry night, the Angel of the Lord appeared to them to proclaim the Great Joy "for today the Savior is born to you in the city of David." Together with the Angel, a numerous host of heaven appeared, crying out “Glory to God in the highest!”. The first to worship the Lord were the common people, and the common people became the first preachers of Christ. The angel said to them: “Do not be afraid: I’m bringing you great joy, that it will be for all people, as if today the Savior was born to you, Who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David,” and the humble shepherds were the first to bow for the sake of saving people to the One who descended to the “slave of the ". What did these words mean? Before the birth of Christ, God had never been incarnated before. Taking upon himself the sins of the world, Jesus gave people hope for Salvation, commanding his disciples above all - love. The Apostle Paul said that death would be a gain for him, because in the body he was separated from the true source of life - Christ.

Magi Melchior, Balthasar and Gaspard (in the Latin tradition) saw the Star of Bethlehem in the East and also understood that this meant the birth of the Savior of the world. They probably came from Persia. Despite the fact that the Magi were pagans seeking the truth, the sun of truth was revealed to them. In those days, astronomy was often combined with astrology and pagan practices, so in the modern sense, the Magi were something like magicians. Although the Persians and Jews believed that they believed in the One God and perceived each other favorably, the Magi, of course, could not be considered God's chosen people. They brought their gifts to the Divine Infant (gold is a sign of royal power, incense is a sign of priesthood and myrrh (spicy incense) - they anointed the bodies of the dead, a symbol that Jesus Christ will die and rise again. Zoroastrian teaching about the Saoshyants (three saviors who will teach The appearance of the Magi on the day of the feast meant that the Savior had come not to one nation, but to all people.

Why did the Son of God become man? God has opened the way for us to be saved. The essence of man united with the Divine essence. Jesus put on a man to heal mankind. He brought us an amazing gift of grace, and we are only required to worthily and righteously accept this gift. The manifestation of God in the flesh is a sacrifice that atoned for all the sins of mankind. And not only past, but also future sins. Theophan the Recluse writes about “adopting” by God the Father through God the Son: “The Spirit of God makes sons - regenerating, is it all? Not all, but only those who believed in the Lord, were appointed to follow Him in everything, and for the sake of these dispositions were accepted into the good pleasure of God, as if destined to be sons.

The place where God came into the world is now the Basilica of the Nativity. The basilica was founded by Empress Elena Equal to the Apostles. The basilica operates continuously, the building of the basilica suffered from wars and fires. There is a cave under the basilica, its place is marked with a silver star with fourteen rays. This is the birthplace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Hegumen Daniel the Pilgrim is the first to describe the cave of the Nativity in Russian. This happened at the beginning of the 12th century.

On the eve of the Nativity of Christ, the pre-holiday day is Christmas Eve. Christmas Eve is the "door" that opens the gate to Christmas.

Until the day of Christmas, the great holiday, people observe the Advent fast. Fasting in the life of a Christian takes up one third of the year. On these special days, Christians are trying to get in touch with timelessness, Eternity. Believers imitate Christ, because Christ fasted. Trying to become like Christ is necessary not only in food, but also in spiritual life. We empathize not even with the feast of Christmas itself, but with the appearance of Christ into the world, with the fact that God became a man. Fasting is a time of purification in the spiritual life and one of the main spiritual activities of a person. The holy saints of God fasted, as there are numerous references in Scripture. Many Holy Ascetics spent their whole lives in a special fast. Jesus spoke about the necessity of fasting to the Apostles. To the question of the Apostles - why they managed to cast out demons from a demoniac, Jesus answered that this kind is cast out only by fasting and prayer. Prayer is for the soul, and fasting for the body are important things for a Christian. Preparatory Christmas post. We are preparing for the Nativity of the Lord, the day of the great holiday, such a holiday should be met with spiritual purity. So that Christmas day does not become an ordinary day, fasting is observed, a person repents of sins, so that the soul perceives this holiday.

Symbols of the Nativity

On the eve of Christmas, on Christmas Eve, festive dishes are prepared - sochivo and kutya. The word "Christmas Eve" is just associated with the preparation of juicy. These are dishes from steamed cereals with honey. They eat only once on Christmas Eve, after the festive service.

The main symbol of
Christmas, of course, remains the Christmas tree. It occupies a special place in the Orthodox tradition, we will talk about it in detail.

The sacred gifts — gold, frankincense and myrrh — still remain symbols of Christmas.

Another important symbol of Christmas is the Star of Bethlehem. People have always looked at the stars and admired the view of the night sky. But the Star of Bethlehem holds a special place. This is the star that brought the magi with gifts to the cradle of Jesus. Its rays showed the way to the birthplace of the Savior. It is believed that after that the Magi themselves converted to Christianity and preached Christ. This star in the houses is attached to the top of the Christmas tree. The eight-pointed star is also present on the icon of the Mother of God "The Burning Bush". Previously, it was also installed on the domes of the first churches. The history of the star from the East was described by the Evangelist Matthew. The Magi knew the map of the starry sky well and believed that the stars are not just space objects, but also signs that tell about the fate of people. The Pentateuch of Moses contains the prediction of the prophet Balaam. This man did not belong to the Israelite people, he was of pagan origin. He proclaimed "a new star from Jacob," so the Magi waited for the appearance of a special star in the East. The worship of Jesus from the pagans, the Magi, says that all times and peoples, all earthly kings will bow before Christ sooner or later.

The angel and bells remind us of the announcement of the birth of the Lord to the shepherds. The ringing of bells glorifies the Lord.

In many countries it is customary to light candles at Christmas. Their light symbolizes the Divine radiance of the joy of the Nativity of Christ.

Christmas traditions differ from country to country. Accordingly, the symbols of Christmas can be different. The tradition of the Christmas nativity scene has taken root in Russia. The nativity scene is a cave of the Nativity, it is made by hand and installed in temples, on city squares and in the houses of believers. The nativity scene "came" to Russia from medieval Western Europe. In those days, they actively fought against pagan traditions and rituals. Many Christians, due to their weakness, participated in the feast of the god Mithra, the pagan god of the Sun. This refers us to the history of the establishment of the feast of Christmas itself. Christmas Day coincided with the Solstice, which also had some symbolic overtones. The Church began to celebrate Christmas separately from the day of Theophany, in order to replace the pagan holidays with Christian ones.

Even though many Christians did not organize pagan holidays, even becoming unwitting participants in the feast, they harmed their souls. So one might think that there is no essential difference between the veneration of Christ and the veneration of other non-existent gods. The Church had to either excommunicate the “half-pagans” or come up with a way to establish a real Christian holiday, reminding us that Christ the Savior had come to us. Despite the fact that there was an undoubted benefit in distinguishing Christmas from the feast of the Epiphany, a number of theologians believe that there were certain disadvantages for Christians in this. Christmas has become less closely associated with the appearance of God in the world. Blessed Theodoret of Cyrus said: “... The Existing God and the Son of God, having an invisible nature, when he became man, became manifest to all”.

In those days, not only church choir singers, but also parishioners took part in the Christmas holidays. On a special table above the throne, a statue of the Virgin Mary was installed. A boy from the church choir, portraying an angel, announced the birth of the Messiah. And the priests portrayed the Bethlehem shepherds. After the proclamation, they entered the altar. This was followed by a small performance on a Biblical theme, which was called "The Nativity scene", and in Western Ukraine simply "Nativity scene".

In Europe of the 16th century, such mysteries were performed by puppet theaters. Such theaters had decorations reminiscent of today's nativity scenes. They were cut out of paper, wood, molded from clay. Now dens are often simply installed at the entrance to a temple or house.

Catholics and Protestants also make advent calendars. Advent is the four weeks before Christmas. Small gifts are left for children in such calendars.

Why do different churches celebrate Christmas?

Many are wondering when to celebrate Christmas - December 25 or January 7? In some countries, for example, in Moldova, both days of Christmas are widely celebrated - in the old and in the new style. This is due to the confessional diversity in the country. In Russia, the celebration of Christmas is also becoming a tradition.

In the ancient world, there was no single calendar. Julius Caesar was one of the most enlightened men of his time. He realized that there was a need to create a calendar. The Julian calendar was established by Julius Caesar, which follows from its very name. Greek science of that time already knew that the Earth makes a complete revolution around the sun in 365 days and 6 hours. In fact, these are not entirely accurate numbers - for 365 days, 5 hours, 49 minutes. Julius Caesar demanded that the calendar combine Roman names and Greek scientific discoveries. In this calendar, as well as the Gregorian, 12 months, leap years, 365 days a year. An extra day appears every four years. Unfortunately, the inaccuracy of 11 minutes has become critical. So for 128 years, a whole extra day would appear in the calendar. In 1582 it became obvious that a new calendar had to be developed. Pope Gregory XIII introduced the calendar, which is called respectively the Gregorian, it has fewer leap years. Years that are divisible by 100 but not divisible by 400 now contain 365 days. Why was there controversy if the new calendar was perfect? It deliberately skipped ten days. Countries adopted a new calendar at different periods, which gave rise to several confusions about important historical dates.

This question is not as unambiguous as it seems, and it's not just about calendars. Today our Church lives according to the Julian calendar, although in some countries the Gregorian calendar is considered the most accurate. The difference between these two calendars is in calculus. The Julian and Gregorian calendar is a matter of theology. After the October Revolution, the Julian calendar was considered "obscurantist", all secular holidays are celebrated according to the Gregorian calendar, in 1923 the Church tried to switch to a new style under pressure, but the Russian Orthodox Church remained faithful to the Julian. Catholics and Protestants celebrate Christmas according to the Gregorian calendar, as do a number of Orthodox Churches abroad.

We know quite accurately the date of the conception of the mother of John the Baptist, Elizabeth (September 23, old style). We know when Zechariah left Jerusalem, we know that in the sixth month after the conception of John the Baptist, an angel appeared to the Most Holy Theotokos. This day became the day of the Divine Conception of Jesus Christ. We cannot know the exact date, but we can calculate that the birth of Christ took place in the middle of winter.

Festive worship

The grandeur of the holiday is reflected in at Christmas. On this day, the prayer "King of Heaven" is read. This is how we call Christ, honoring Him as the Lord God. This prayer is not read only in the period from Easter to Pentecost, and many services are opened to it, and not just festive ones. Next comes the litany and the hymn "God is with us." This hymn reminds us of the prophet Isaiah, who, 700 years before the birth of Christ, announced the coming of the Savior of the world, born of the Virgin. He described the events of His earthly life, death and resurrection. This is followed by the song of Simeon the God-Receiver, which speaks of the bringing of the Divine Infant to the Jerusalem Temple, which was traditionally performed on the fortieth day of life. At the festive divine service on Christmas, irmos is sung - the title of the Christmas canon. There are nine songs in the canon, the beginning of the ninth song (irmos) is the thread that connects the Old Call with the New Testament. He says that it is better for us Christians to love silence. Many preachers cannot find words to convey the essence of the mystery of the Birth of Christ. The service is held in Church Slavonic. The hymnography of Ancient Rus' and Byzantium is enormous. As we know, all divine services go on a daily cycle. On the eve of the holidays, the morning and evening services merge into one “all-night vigil”. Such services are held only twice a year - at Christmas and Easter. The Patriarchal Christmas service is held in the Russian Orthodox Church, when the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church addresses the flock.

Christmas Matins is sung at night. This night we hear the angelic song: Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, goodwill towards men. This is gratitude to God for the fact that he was incarnated and saved us. We also hear polyeleos, verses from these psalms glorify the mercy of the Lord. Next comes majesty, a short chant praising God. The composition of the festive Matins includes the power and power antiphon. Antiphons imitate the choir of Angels, praising the Lord. The titles refer to the way these chants are performed. Thus the Antiphons are sung alternately. Next comes the prokeimenon, which precedes the reading of a passage from Scripture dedicated to the Nativity of Christ. This is followed by the gospel stichera, explaining the words of Scripture.

Troparion and Kontakion for Christmas

The troparion and kontakion for Christmas are the most important components of the divine service. They are created by Christian poets - hymnographers. Troparion and kontakion are not just prayers, but also explanations of the essence of the Christmas holiday.

Troparion for Christmas

Kontakion for Christmas

Christmas tree: Orthodox meaning

Spruce has always been a symbol of Christmas. This is due to the fact that Herod ordered to kill all the babies, fearing for their position, when the Magi announced that the King of the Jews was born, meaning the Savior. It is believed that in order to save Jesus, Mary and Joseph closed the entrance to the cave with spruce branches.

Why was Herod so afraid? In the time of Jesus, everyone was waiting for the coming of the Messiah. He was expected as a mighty King whose enemies would be defeated. Jesus, as we remember, was born not in palaces, but in a barn, and His first manger was a bowl for cattle feed. Herod was not a deeply believing Jew, so the coming of the Messiah interested him only in terms of political ambitions. Not only was Herod not a descendant of David, which means that his position as an official ruler was already precarious, but it was not he who accepted Judaism, but his grandfather Antipas, because the Hasmonean Kingdom of Judah demanded it. Antipar, the father of Herod, seized the royal throne by cunning and force. He himself became a victim of betrayal and deceit. Herod punished the traitors and ascended to the kingdom. Power passed from hand to hand. Having married the granddaughter of Hyrcanus II and reconstructed the temple, Herod tried to strengthen his position. But, being a cruel and suspicious person, he later killed his wife and three sons, suspecting them of conspiracy. Against the backdrop of these events, magicians appeared in Jerusalem, demanding to show them the King of the Jews, and they clearly did not mean Herod. After that, he ordered to kill all the babies. This terrible event was one of Herod's worst atrocities.

In Europe, for a long time there was a legend that when the trees brought their gifts to the Divine Infant - fruits, they had nothing to offer him, and she modestly stood on the threshold of the barn, not daring to approach. Then Jesus smiled and held out his hand to her. But this story is more of a good story.

There was another version of this tale: it said that two other trees, a palm tree and an olive tree, did not let the spruce to Christ, mocking her. Hearing this, the Angel of the Lord adorned the modest tree, and she entered the manger of the Divine Infant in all her grandeur. Jesus rejoiced at the fir, but she was embarrassed, and not proud, because she remembered that an angel dressed her up, and she owes her transformation to him. For modesty, it was the spruce that became the symbol of Christmas Day.

In Russia, the tradition of decorating a fir tree for Christmas came only in the 18th century. By the way, in many countries, this tradition also became late: in England, France and America, only in the middle of the 19th century, spruce at Christmas became a widespread practice.

Spruce is also decorated for the New Year, but this is a secular tradition. For Orthodox Christians, spruce is primarily a symbol of Christmas. In ancient Rus', spruce was not favored, it was a gloomy tree growing in a swamp.

Decorated tree - an echo of paganism. In those days, people endowed nature with human, if not divine, properties. According to legend, forest spirits lived in coniferous trees. To save their homes from evil spirits, people dressed up forest beauties, trying to appease them. Attitudes towards coniferous trees, by the way, were constantly changing. They either kept evil spirits in themselves, or guarded the dwelling. However, at all times spruce was endowed with mystical properties.

In Europe of the 15th-16th centuries, for the first time, there are references to decorating spruce. It is believed that the custom of decorating a fir tree in the Christian tradition was discovered by Martin Luther, the founder of Protestantism. He placed candles on the branches of a spruce to show the children the symbol of the Lord's love and mercy — the beauty of the heavenly stars on the day when the Lord incarnated and descended to people. Peter I “brought” the decorated spruce to Russia, but initially it was placed only in drinking establishments, and the elegant tree appeared in houses already in the 19th century. In the house of Emperor Nicholas I in St. Petersburg, there was a decorated Christmas tree.

A little later, the spruce appeared as an illustration for the book The Nutcracker by Hoffmann, which spoke of a deeply rooted tradition of decorating a spruce for Christmas. Already in 1916, the Holy Synod saw the influence of the Germans in the tradition and banned it, and in 1927, after an anti-religious campaign, the Christmas tree was referred to as “remnants of the past” ...

Now the evergreen spruce, also reminiscent of eternal life, is experiencing a rebirth. In 1935, the spruce returned to government offices, but returned, alas, as a secular symbol of the New Year. It was decorated with a red star on top. It is known that during the years of the fight against God, people dressed up the fir tree secretly in their homes. People began to remember that it is, first of all, a symbol of the Nativity of Christ.

Merry Christmas greetings

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On December 25, for the first time, Catholic Christmas will be officially celebrated in Ukraine. Christians who live according to the Gregorian calendar celebrate it on December 25th. talks about the main traditions of the holiday.

Catholic Christmas: the history of the holiday

The first mention of this holiday appeared in the 4th century. Legend has it that the first star to appear on the night of December 25 symbolizes the birth of Christ.

According to ancient history, Christ was born in a paddock where cattle were hidden from rain and wind. The angels immediately informed the shepherds that the Savior had come into the world. They in turn went to the pen to kneel before Christ. And the Magi, who were led by the light of the star, presented their gifts to the newborn.

According to tradition, it is this historical scene that symbolizes the Catholic Christmas. It is represented in temples and churches from wooden, metal or ceramic figures.

What is Christmas Eve

Catholics fast on the eve of Catholic Christmas. This action has long been called "Christmas Eve". According to tradition, on this day it is customary to eat sochivo - barley or wheat grains that are boiled. And honey is added for taste. This dish is an analogue of Orthodox kutya.

In the Catholic tradition, Christmas Eve falls on December 24, that is, the eve of Catholic Christmas. This is considered a time of intense preparation for the celebration of the birth of the Savior.

There is also a tradition to gather in the evening with the whole family for a gala dinner. Catholics eat meatless meals and read passages from the Gospel about the birth of the Savior.

Why do Catholics and Orthodox celebrate Christmas on different days?

The difference in the dates of the celebration of Catholic Christmas is associated with the introduction of the Gregorian calendar in the 16th century. Before this event, everyone lived according to the Julian calendar, which was created by Julius Caesar back in 46 BC. But due to an error in the calculation of dates, they decided to adopt the Gregorian calendar, which was more accurate.

At the same time, on the territory of modern Ukraine, they decided not to switch to a new calendar. And only in 1918 the Gregorian calendar was introduced in Eastern Europe. But the church did not approve of this decision. That is why the Ukrainian, Georgian, Jerusalem and Serbian Orthodox Churches, Athos monasteries living according to the old, Julian calendar, as well as many Catholics of the Eastern rite (in particular, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church).

Catholic Christmas 2017: main traditions

Christmas is a family holiday, which is not customary for loud parties. On Catholic Christmas 2017, it is customary to arrange quiet festive dinners, which bring together family and closest friends.

In the Catholic tradition, there is a special ritual called Advent. It comes four weeks before Christmas. This time is considered spiritual cleansing. Each week of this custom is called in a special way: iron, bronze, silver and gold.

By tradition, on December 25, three festive services are held in all churches - night, morning and afternoon.

On a Catholic holiday, it is customary to decorate their homes with statuettes of the Virgin and Jesus.

Children on this holiday are entrusted with the manufacture of holiday toys. They make crafts in the form of Christmas trees, hearts, snowflakes, which they then decorate houses with.

On Catholic Christmas, you need to attend a festive service and pray for the health and well-being of your family.

On the holiday it is customary to sing carol songs, the whole family dress up in the clothes of the Magi and sing songs about happiness in the homes of their friends and relatives.

Catholic Christmas 2017: main symbols

advent wreath

A festive wreath is made from spruce branches and wooden rods. This decoration is made in the form of a circle, which means endless life. It is hung on the front door or placed on the wall.

Candles

Candles are usually placed on the fireplace or on the table. They should be white or red, but recently they have been replaced by electrical counterparts.

Gift socks

Socks for gifts are hung on the fireplace, and if there is none, then on the wall. This tradition is closely associated with the New Year, and therefore with Santa. In the Catholic tradition, it is customary to put gifts not under the Christmas tree, but in these socks.

Orthodox Christians are preparing to celebrate one of the greatest holidays - Christmas. This day has a rich history, a lot of traditions and beliefs are associated with it. We remember what Christmas is, when it comes, how to behave and what not to do on this day.

Christmas is a great Christian holiday, established in remembrance of the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem. In the Orthodox Church, it is one of the Lord's Twelve Feasts.

In view of the liturgical commemoration and celebration of the most important mystery (along with Easter) of the salvation of the human race - the Incarnation and the coming into the world of the Son of God, born in the flesh - is one of the most significant days of the liturgical year and one of the most important holidays in most Christian denominations.

First of all, Christmas is an event that took place more than two thousand years ago in the city (we would rather call it a village) Bethlehem. The Young Girl gave birth to a Baby.

The modern atmosphere of Christmas creates a sense of fairy tale - angels, magi, Christmas tree decorations ...

From the sixth to the seventh of January

All miracles are waiting and ready for miracles ...

And the stars are magically burning

After all, Christmas is coming...

Outside the city in a cave tonight

The Blessed Christ was born to the Virgin...

So God's Son came to help everyone...

He was the Savior for the people.

There was a star in the sky

What led the wise men to this cave.

And for Christmas gifts were brought there,

And in the whole world there was more light ...

Since then, a lot of water has flowed under the bridge...

But my heart skips a beat tonight

When Christmas is so close

When the Christmas candles are burning.

And on this holiday, what is in my soul?

Hope for salvation and faith.

I believe in God and in my family,

And I hope to be an example for children ...

But the main thing that is in human hearts -

Love that warms more than the sun.

After all, in the heart of Jesus - not in heaven.

Where there is no love, there is no God...

I'll pray quietly at Christmas

So that peace returns to the souls of people again ...

And the bells will ring out

A river of faith in the Nativity of Christ...

© Copyright: Irina Samarina-Labyrinth, 2016

When will Christmas be celebrated in Russia in 2017 and what kind of holiday is it?

The Orthodox Church always celebrates Christmas on January 7th. It will be the same in 2017. And on January 6, the Christmas fast ends.

On January 7, Orthodox Christians celebrate the birth of the Immaculate Virgin Mary of the Son of God Jesus Christ. As the Gospel says, the Virgin Mary, together with her husband, her betrothed Joseph, came to Bethlehem before the birth of the child. Shepherds sheltered them for the night. And the Son of God was born in a cave where cattle took shelter from bad weather. The newborn was placed in a manger - a feeder for livestock. And the angels announced to the shepherds that the Savior had come to this world. They were the first to bow to the Child. On the same night, the magi came to Jesus, who were led by the light of a bright star. They brought gifts to Christ.

Why is it all the time in the story about Christmas they talk about the gifts of the Magi?

The fact is that the gifts of the Magi are deeply symbolic. The wise men brought frankincense, gold and myrrh to the Child. Gold was given only to kings. And Jesus was to become the king of the earth. Frankincense is a priestly symbol, and Christ became the High Priest. Myrrh was anointed on the body of the deceased. And here she symbolized that Christ had to make an atoning sacrifice in order to save mankind.

When was Christmas first celebrated?

Probably no one will remember the exact date today. But scientists have found that Christians began to celebrate Christmas in the IV century. Prior to this, the birth of the Son of God was spoken on the day of Theophany. In the 4th century, the holidays were separated and today Christmas is considered the second most important holiday after Easter.

How do you prepare for the celebration of Christmas?

Believers observe the Advent fast. Moreover, January 6 - the last day of the Advent Lent - is the strictest fasting day. It's called Christmas Eve. On this day they do not eat food until evening, until the stars become visible in the sky.

The last evening before Christmas is called Holy. By this time, the housewives should already have time to prepare the festive table. For dinner, it is customary to put twelve lenten dishes on the table (fast food is allowed to be eaten only the next day). The number 12 is also symbolic. These are the 12 apostles of Christ, and the 12 months of the year, and the 12 main holidays of the Church. The main dish of the table this evening is kutya. This is a dish of boiled grains, often wheat, with honey, nuts, poppy seeds and raisins. A small piece of hay was placed under the plate with kutya as a reminder of the birthplace of Christ. Each of the 12 dishes must be tasted at least a little - none of them should remain untouched. The dishes were usually served cold, and the soup was only a little warm, because. the hostess should not get up from the table and go to the kitchen.

How is Christmas celebrated?

On the night of Christmas, festive services take place in all churches. Very beautiful and soulful. Many believers stay up that night. It is believed that the Lord thanks a person for even the smallest effort that he makes for him.

After worship, you can eat fast food.

In the evening, the best dishes and cutlery should have been on the table. There were an even number of guests. If it suddenly turned out that it was odd, they put an extra device on the table.

January 7 arranged a real feast. At the same time, the goose with apples became the main dish. Also held in high esteem were boiled pork, brisket, etc.

What folk traditions are there for Christmas?

Be sure to this day in the house should be a spruce or spruce branch, decorated with toys and candles - in memory of the star that lit up the night at the time of the birth of the Son of God. By the way, that is why it is also customary to decorate the top of the Christmas tree with a star. Gifts for loved ones are placed under the Christmas tree - again, in memory of the gifts that the Magi brought to the Baby.

Christmas is a family holiday. In the evening, all family members gathered at home, and the children always helped the elders.

At Christmas, it is customary to wear only new and clean clothes.

An ancient tradition that has survived to this day is caroling. Our fellow citizens, disguised, go from house to house, sing carols and praise the Christ child. For this, the owners of the house should give them money or food.

What not to do on Christmas?

You can not swear and swear. It is worth noting that it is not customary to have lunch before the first star rises - only children are allowed a small snack.

It is also forbidden to do any work on this day. Women are not allowed to take out the trash, sew, do laundry or clean up. Men are advised to give up hunting.

You can not go to the cemetery on this day. Even in churches, the church commemoration of the dead is canceled on this day.

At Christmas, one cannot guess at the betrothed and the future.

What is allowed to do at Christmas?

On the feast of the Nativity of Christ, prayers should be offered to the Higher powers, asking them for favor and mercy for all people. If possible, it is worth visiting the church and attending the Divine Liturgy. You can put a candle and offer words of gratitude at home in front of your icons.

On Christmas Day, you can bathe and go about your daily activities, as long as they are aimed at satisfying your own needs, and not for entertainment. Work is also not considered sinful if the forces are aimed at earning money for food and the most necessary things. Wash clothes only as needed, if the matter is urgent.

Hard work such as knitting, embroidery and sewing is also welcome. Work has always been respected. If this is not entertainment and leisure, but work or a gift to a loved one, the matter is considered pleasing to God and is allowed on any church holidays.

Traditional Christmas fortune-telling also takes place at this mysterious time, but the church does not approve of the occult and does not advise getting carried away with secret knowledge and looking into the future. Everything is the will of God, and according to his precepts it is worth building your life path.

Close relations between spouses are also not forbidden if they have a desire to continue their family and acquire long-awaited offspring.

A popular sign says that people who make purchases and go shopping and markets on this day attract prosperity and financial well-being into their lives. You can also leave a few coins for those who ask to pray for your health.

And here is what the priests say about the wonderful holiday.

January 6 - The Eve of the Nativity of Christ, or Christmas Eve - the last day of Advent, the eve of the Nativity of Christ. On this day, Orthodox Christians especially prepare for the upcoming holiday, the whole day is filled with a special festive mood. On the morning of Christmas Eve, at the end of the Liturgy and the evening after it, 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. The services and fasting of Christmas Eve have a number of features, so it is on these days that many questions come to our site about how to spend Christmas Eve correctly. We asked you to answer these questions. Archpriest Alexander Ilyashenko.

- Father Alexander, the most frequently asked question by our readers is how to fast on Christmas Eve, until what time should one refrain from eating food? What does "post to the first star" mean? Is the measure of abstinence the same for those who work and those who do not work on this day? How long is fasting before communion?

The name itself is believed to come from the word "sochivo" (the same as "kolivo" - boiled grains of rice or wheat). It is supposed to eat "sochivo" or "kolivo" on the eve of the holiday only after the liturgy, which is combined with the vespers. Thus, part of Christmas Eve passes in complete non-eating.

The tradition of not eating food until the first evening star is associated with the memory of the appearance of a star in the East (Matthew 2:2), which announced the birth of Christ, but this tradition is not prescribed by the charter.

Indeed, the Typicon prescribes fasting until the end of Vespers. However, the Vespers service is connected with the Liturgy, it is served in the morning, and therefore we fast until the moment when a candle is brought into the center of the church and the troparion to the Nativity of Christ is sung in front of the candle.

It is obvious that people in the temple are fasting, many commune on this day. It would be good if those who cannot be in the service in the temple, who work, honor this day with a more strict fast. We remember that, according to the Russian proverb, "A full belly is deaf to prayer." Therefore, a more strict fast prepares us for the coming joy of the holiday.

Those who take communion at the night Liturgy, according to church tradition, eat food for the last time at least six hours before the time of Communion, or from about 6 pm. And here the point is not in a specific number of hours, that you need to fast for 6 or 8 hours and not a minute less, but in the fact that a certain border is established, a measure of abstinence that helps us to comply with the measure.

– Father, a lot of questions come from sick people who cannot fast, they ask what they should do?

Sick people, of course, must fast to the extent that this is consistent with the intake of medicines and with the prescriptions of doctors. This is not about putting a weak person in a hospital, but about strengthening a person spiritually. Illness is already a difficult post and a feat. And here a person should already try to determine the measure of fasting according to his own strength. Any thing can be brought to the point of absurdity. For example, imagine that a priest who comes to give communion to a dying person asks when the person last ate?!

– As a rule, believers try to celebrate the Nativity of Christ at the nightly festive liturgy. But in many churches, the Vespers and Liturgy are also served at the usual time - 5 pm and in the morning. In this regard, people often ask, is it not a sin for a young man, not weak, without children, to go to the service not at night, but in the morning?

To visit a night service or a morning one - you need to watch it according to your strength. Meeting the holiday at night is, of course, a special joy: both spiritual and spiritual. There are very few such services a year; in most parish churches, night liturgies are served only at Christmas and Easter - especially solemn services are traditionally performed at night. But for example, on Athos, Sunday vigils are served at night. Still, there are not so many such services, just over 60 per year. The Church so establishes, taking into account human capabilities: the number of night vigils in the year is limited.

Solemn night services contribute to a deeper prayerful experience and perception of the Holiday.

- The festive Liturgy is over, the festive feast begins. Here we are asked two questions. First, is it possible to celebrate Christmas first in the parish, and not immediately arrange a family celebration?

– The second question is related to the fact that many people receive communion at the Christmas Liturgy. And people are somewhat embarrassed: you have just received communion, the books of the holy fathers say that in order to retain grace, you need to try to protect yourself from talking, especially laughter, and try to spend time after communion in prayer. And then a festive feast, even with brothers and sisters in Christ... People are afraid of losing their prayerful mood..

Those rules that the desert fathers offered to monastics cannot be fully transferred to worldly life, and even more so they cannot be transferred to major holidays. We are talking about ascetics - ascetics, especially richly endowed with the grace-filled gifts of God. For them, the outer part is secondary. Of course, the spiritual life is in the first place for the laity, but we cannot draw the same clear line between the spiritual and the earthly here.

The Apostle Paul commanded us to "Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks to the Lord" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). If we meet the holiday with joy, prayer and gratitude to God, then we fulfill the apostolic covenant.

Of course, this issue must be considered individually. Of course, if a person feels that he is losing his fertile mood after a noisy celebration, then perhaps he should sit down at the table for a while, leave earlier, preserving spiritual joy.

– Father Alexander, isn’t it worth it here for us to distinguish between two states in ourselves – when we are really afraid to spill the feeling received in the temple, and when by our refusal to participate in the holiday we can upset our neighbors, and often refuse to share joy with a non-peaceful heart. Relatives resigned themselves to the fact that their zealous family member flatly refused to celebrate the New Year with them, it would seem that the fast was over, the person should "return" to the family, share the joy of the holiday together, and he again slams the door and says "What a" sit with us", I have a great holiday, such grace, I will lose all my prayer mood with you !!"

In this case, a person will hardly harm his prayerful state, since such behavior indicates that a person does not stay in it. The state of contemplation, prayerfulness is always associated with a surge of spiritual joy, grace, which the Lord generously pours out on His slaves. And such an attitude towards neighbors is more like hypocrisy and hypocrisy.

– Is it obligatory to attend the evening service on the very day of the holiday - the evening of the Christmas holiday?

- Everyone should decide for himself. After the night service, you need to recuperate. Not everyone, due to age, health and spiritual level, is able to go to the temple and take part in the service. But we must remember that the Lord rewards for every effort that a person makes for Him.

The evening service on this day is not long, especially spiritual, solemn and joyful, the Great Prokeimenon is proclaimed at it, so, of course, it’s good if you can visit it.

I congratulate all readers of our site on the upcoming holiday of the Nativity of Christ!

Questions prepared by Lidia Dobrova and Anna Danilova

On Christmas night I pray to the sky

So that the poor on earth have enough bread ...

I repent that without thinking I sinned ...

But I always hurried to God myself ...

And on Christmas, a miracle will happen again.

Candles will be lit brightly everywhere.

Jesus will be born... With his Birth

The whole world will be entitled to salvation...

Salvation from evil, grave illnesses.

The sky often makes concessions to us ...

We bring joy to someone in the sky,

When we hug our kids...

Through the New Year's snow, along the path

It was Christmas - magically invisible.

Passers-by poured right into the heart

For a handful of happiness - the one that was not enough ...

On Christmas night it will pour from heaven

Wonderful light that touches human souls

And everyone who notices a miracle is -

Let it bring goodness to the wide world ...

© Copyright: Irina Samarina-Labyrinth

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