How to Tell Your Child About Christmas: A Brief History of Christmas for Children. What is Christmas: the history of the holiday, traditions
Nativity
(traditions of celebration)
Day Christmas since ancient times it has been ranked by the Church among the great twelfth feasts. The Gospel describes this great, all-joyful and miraculous event in this way: I announce to you - says the Angel to the shepherds of Bethlehem, - great joy that will be to all people: for today is born to you in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord; and here is a sign for you: you will find a baby in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly, with an angel, a numerous heavenly army appeared, glorifying God and crying out: glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men. !»
On this day, a great event for the entire Christian world took place - the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem (Jesus in Hebrew means "salvation"). All Christians are convinced that Jesus Christ was sent by God to earth to atone for sins and save mankind. The Old Testament prophets predicted the place and time of the birth of the Savior of the world - 5508 from the creation of the world. So, January 7 (December 25, old style) is the birthday of the Son of God on earth. From this day begins the countdown. According to the Gospel tradition, the mother of Jesus Christ Mary and her husband Joseph lived in Nazareth, and they came to Bethlehem, following the order of the ruler Augustus, to appear for the entire population for the census. Since so many people gathered for the census of the Roman Empire, Mary and Joseph could not find a place to sleep, and therefore they had to seek refuge in a small cave, where shepherds usually hid due to bad weather. There Mary gave birth to the Son of God. Then an angel descended from heaven and informed the shepherds, who were awake at that moment, that God had been born. The shepherds were the first to come to bow to the baby. shone in the sky star of bethlehem. Focusing on her, three wise men (Magi) came to the cave with Mary and Jesus Christ and brought gifts to God: gold, frankincense and myrrh. Gold symbolized royal power, incense - the will of God, myrrh - the fate of the prophet. By the way, it was from those ancient times that the tradition came to make the Star of Bethlehem and decorate the New Year tree with it.
The tradition of celebrating this event as a holiday appeared much later. One of the first mentions of the day of celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ dates back to the fourth century. Based on historical data, scientists concluded that Jesus was not born in winter, and the date of December 25 was chosen due to the fact that, starting from this moment, daylight hours increase. Among the pagans, this day was called the holiday "Birth of the Invincible Sun", and after the adoption of Christianity in Rome, it became the birthday of Christ - "The Birth of the Sun of Truth." There are several other theories, each of which in its own way explains the choice of this particular day to celebrate the birth of the son of God.
Emperor Aurelian introduced the official cult of the Invincible Sun, establishing the sun god as the chief deity of the empire. On a silver-plated bronze coin of Roman minting (274-275 years) Aurelian in his crown with sunbeams
The Jerusalem, Russian, Ukrainian, Georgian, Serbian Orthodox Churches, as well as the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, celebrate Christmas on January 7 according to the new style (which corresponds to December 25 according to the old Julian calendar, which these Churches adhere to). This holiday comes to the people of a frosty night at the hour of the midnight temple service in the glow of candles, in the light of the stars and the loud singing of the choir. The sounds of children's voices, praising God, like an angelic voice, fill the Universe with triumph. Heaven and earth glorify the Nativity of Christ. On earth, at least for a short time, peace reigns, and hearts are filled with good will. Within the fore-feast and after-feast, the feast of the Nativity of Christ lasts twelve days. On the last day before the holiday, the eve of the Nativity of Christ (Christmas Eve) is celebrated, testifying to the special importance of the upcoming celebration, because eve is only before the most important holidays. In the Orthodox Church, on eve, the hours called the Royal Hours are celebrated, because from time immemorial, kings have been present at this Divine service, worshiping the newborn King of kings. According to a tradition dating back to pagan times, on Christmas Eve it is forbidden to eat food until the first star. That is why the celebration of the Nativity of Christ begins with the dawn of the evening, which, according to legend, announced to the whole world the time of the birth of the Son of God. The very day of the Nativity of Christ in the flesh, as the most important and solemn. On this day, according to the voice of the Church, all kinds of joy are filled. Angels rejoice in heaven, and people rejoice: the whole creation plays for the sake of the Savior of the Lord, who was born in Bethlehem: like every flattery of idols, Christ reigns forever ".
Christmas - the great day of the whole Christian world - has long been accompanied by colorful folk customs. In many countries, as in Russia, it was considered one of the main family holidays. Christmas merged with the ancient Slavic rite - Christmas time. Christmas rituals eventually turned into Christmas ones. The Orthodox family waited for Christmas all year, the preparation for it was thorough. Six weeks before Christmas they fasted and ate fish. Who is richer - beluga, sturgeon, pike perch; who are poorer - herring, catfish, bream. In Russia there was a lot of any kind of fish. But at Christmas everyone ate pork.
In Ukrainian culture, Christmas begins to be celebrated on the sixth of January, in Holy evening. The evening meal becomes the end of the strict pre-Christmas forty days of fasting. It is customary to gather at the table with the whole family immediately after the appearance of the first star in the sky, which symbolizes the Star of Bethlehem, which announced the birth of Jesus to the shepherds. Be sure to have twelve dishes on the table - in honor of the twelve apostles. The main dish on the Lenten table is kutya, which is wheat or rice porridge mixed with poppy seeds, raisins, honey and nuts, as well as uzvar, a compote cooked from dried fruits. On the seventh day, they go to visit only relatives, as well as caroling.
Evening meal on Holy Evening, January 6th.
Be sure to have twelve dishes on the table - in honor of the twelve apostles
In Russia, before Christmas on the sixth day, Christmas Eve comes, its name comes from a special food that is traditionally eaten on this day. Sochivo consists of boiled wheat and honey. After the rising of the first star, everyone sits down at a table laid with twelve Lenten dishes, and dine in solemn silence. For the Russian people, one of the most fun periods of the year is Christmas time, during which there are mass celebrations, games, songs are sung, everyone has fun and jokes. Also at this time, young girls are guessing, it is believed that it is at Christmas that you can most accurately predict your future.
In most countries of the Christian world (Catholic, Protestant and some Orthodox churches), Christmas is celebrated on December 25 in accordance with the new Gregorian calendar. The religious celebration begins on the night of the twenty-fourth to twenty-fifth of December with a midnight mass. Despite some similarities in the celebration of Christmas in Europe and America, the features of different cultures and peoples complement it with their unique colors. For example, many Americans whose ancestors moved to America from Poland still keep their traditions. Before Christmas on December 24, they spread hay on the floor and under the tablecloth. This should remind them of the inn, stable and manger where Jesus was born. Strict post on this day until the first star. In the evening, as soon as the first star rises, the traditional Polish pre-Christmas dinner begins. Beet soup, a variety of fish, cabbage, mushrooms and "sweet meat" (not real meat, but sweets made from honey and poppy seeds) are traditional dishes for such a holiday. True, meat dishes can only be eaten on Christmas itself - December 25th.
Americans with Hungarian roots place great emphasis on church service and singing on Christmas Eve and Afternoon. Perhaps more than any other American, no matter where their ancestors come from. In the evening, they gather in their yards around decorated Christmas trees and wait for the first star to appear. After that, richly seasoned food is prepared: rolls with walnuts and poppy seeds, dumplings with honey and poppy seeds, cumin, sesame and anise biscuits.
In the south of the United States, Christmas is celebrated especially noisily: with fireworks and fireworks. Early settlers congratulated their neighbors in this way. It was also believed that evil spirits were expelled in this way.
A completely different tradition in cold Alaska. On Christmas night, groups of boys and girls with lanterns in their hands carry a large cardboard star decorated with pieces of colored paper from house to house. The next day, the children dress up in the retinue of King Herod and try to kill the baby Jesus, thus staging the events of two thousand years ago.
The traditions of celebrating Christmas in Ukraine are extremely strong and colorful. In some regions of Ukraine there is a tradition to decorate the table Didukh, a sheaf of wheat or oats of a special form: with four legs and a large number of knots, symbolizing prosperity for the next year. As in the old days, for Christmas, many people cover the floor in village huts with fresh hay, and the table with straw, on which they then lay a tablecloth and put a treat. All this reminds us that the Savior was born not in the royal chambers, but in a sheepshed and was laid in a manger on straw. On the morning of January 7, the whole family or several representatives go to church for a festive prayer, and returning from church, people joyfully greet: - “Christ is born!” They are answered - "Praise him!" Starting from the evening of January 6, they go everywhere christoslavs (carolers) with the Star of Bethlehem. A large star made of gilded paper was fixed on a stick, decorated with a flashlight, paper garlands, sometimes with an icon of the Nativity, the Savior or the Mother of God, then with this star singing Christmas carols go around the surrounding houses. Such visits are called caroling.
carolers
An ancient Christmas custom in Ukraine was (and often remains) walking with den. nativity scene It was a small box depicting a cave where, according to legend, Christ was born. This box was a miniature puppet theater in which folk craftsmen played entire performances on the theme of Christmas. In the 19th century, in many city houses it became fashionable to make a small home nativity scene for children. They put it under the tree. Dolls were skillfully made of paper, cotton wool, wax, dressed up in brocade and silk caftans. There were also Eastern magi and angels who glorified, but the center of the composition was inevitably Mary and Joseph, bending over the manger with the Divine Child. In the western and southern regions of Ukraine, such a nativity scene was often installed in churches. Recently, the tradition of building a nativity scene under the Christmas tree has begun to revive, dolls for it can be purchased even in the store.
nativity scene
The mummers also went caroling - they acted out Christmas stories in roles, and besides, other Christian stories that are always popular with the people. These usually included Goat, Herod, Shepherds, Tsars, Jews, and even Death. Death is generally an extravagant character. At night, as you see, you can be scared. Everyone has masks and you never know if you know someone under them or not. But with the Jews you should be especially careful, otherwise they will lure you out of all the money. Passing from house to house with the news of the Bethlehem shepherds, the mummers glorified the coming into the world of the Savior, who showed the only way to true happiness - through love for neighbors, opened the doors of mercy and compassion.
Participants in theatrical Christmas nativity scenes and carols
Despite the peculiarities of the traditions of celebrating Christmas among different peoples, at the present time, almost all of them are united by certain common symbols. These include the tradition of giving gifts at Christmas, and the obligatory character of the holiday - Santa Claus (we have Santa Claus), and a Christmas tree decorated with toys and garlands. Almost everywhere at Christmas, festive wreaths and bells are hung, as well as Christmas candles are lit. On this bright holiday, all people praise Christ, greet each other: “Christ is born!”, and send Christmas cards to relatives and friends.
Learn more about New Year and Christmas holidays:
The night from 6 to 7 January is considered the most important of the year. It's Christmas Eve - the night before Christmas. Why Christmas Eve? Because on this day in the old days they cooked sochivo - a wheat broth with honey and nuts. This lean - but satisfying - dish was supposed to be eaten before the upcoming holiday.
On Christmas Eve one should not take ordinary food until the first star appears in the sky, reminiscent of the appearance of a star in the east. She announced the birth of Jesus Christ. To see if the first star has appeared, you need to go out into the courtyard: you won’t see a star from the window - it’s not good. It is also important that Christmas is not celebrated in everyday clothes - this is to poverty. And exactly at midnight, the head of the family opens the window to let Christmas into the house, and with it happiness, good luck and prosperity.
Dinner on Christmas Eve is the main event of Christmas. The table should be covered with a snow-white tablecloth and twelve dishes should be placed on it - according to the number of the apostles - and all fasting. Our ancestors, in memory of the manger in which Jesus was born, always put a bundle of fresh hay on the table. Meat dishes are allowed to be put on the table only with the onset of the 7th day - Christmas.
Just before the start of the meal, if there are icons in the house, wax candles should be placed in front of them and a prayer should be read. Then you can start eating. By tradition, the meal should be non-alcoholic. All dishes should be lean, without a meat base, without milk and sour cream. During the meal, you should only talk about good things, about good deeds.
It is considered a good custom for children to play outdoors and dance around the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve. This will save you from bad luck and illness in the next 12 months.
How to cook juicy
Products: 1 cup of peeled wheat grains, 100 g of poppy seeds, 100 g of peeled walnuts, 2-4 tablespoons of honey.
Grind wheat grains in a wooden mortar with a wooden pestle, adding a little warm water. Boil ordinary crumbly lean porridge on water from crushed grains, cool, sweeten to taste with honey. Poppy pour a small amount of boiling water and let swell. Grind, add honey. Mix everything and add to wheat. At the end add crushed walnuts. Wheat can be substituted for rice.
Nativity
From the history of Christmas
The Jews were then under the rule of the Romans. The emperor of Rome ordered to rewrite all the people of Palestine. To do this, each resident had to come to the city where his family originated. Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem. But in the city, all the houses were already occupied, and they stopped in a cave where shepherds hid their cattle from the wind in winter. There Mary gave birth to her Baby without pain and suffering. She swaddled him and laid him in a manger - a feeder for sheep. The radiant Infant lay quietly on the straw in a dark cave, and Joseph, the ox and the donkey warmed him with their breath. Thus, a great event took place - the birth of the Savior. It was over two thousand years ago.
At that time Herod was the king of the Jews. It was predicted to him that the end of his reign would come when the Savior was born to the world. Magi (wise men) arrived in Jerusalem from some eastern country and reported that a new star had appeared in the east in the sky. This spoke of the birth of a new king of the Jews. Herod was afraid that his power would be taken away from him, and decided to kill the Baby. He sent the Magi to Bethlehem to find out about Him. The star led the Magi to the house of Mary and Joseph. The Magi, seeing the Mother and the Child, bowed to Jesus to the ground and presented gifts: gold, like a king; incense, as to God; and myrrh, as to a man who must die. The angels blew a trumpet to prevent the Magi from returning to Herod, because the king issued a decree on the beating of the babies. Joseph told Mary to take the baby and go to Egypt.
Christmas is a great day for the entire Christian world. In many countries, as in Russia, it is considered one of the main family holidays.
On Christmas night, solemn services are held in all Orthodox churches, candles are lit, church choirs sing. It is believed that on Christmas night the sky opens up to the earth and the heavenly forces fulfill all the good wishes that Christians conceive.
The day of the Nativity of Christ has long been ranked by the Church among the great twelfth holidays. The Twelfth Feasts are the twelve most important holidays in Orthodoxy after Easter. They are dedicated to the events of the earthly life of Jesus Christ and the Mother of God.
Christmas has returned to our lives not so long ago. In the days of the Soviet Union, it was not customary to even mention this holiday. But now it is quite an official holiday, a day off.
Christmas has long been accompanied by colorful folk customs. Carols, walking with a star, mummers - here paganism and Christianity coexist peacefully. Carols - from the Latin word "calends" - the name of the first day of the month among the ancient Romans. Now few people know these songs, but why not congratulate at least neighbors or close friends in a fun, playful way. And they will treat you and your friends with sweets, gingerbread, pies for congratulations. In the old days, carolers sang: “If you give us, we will praise you, and if you don’t give, we will reproach you. Carol, carol! Give me the pie!” The carolers dressed up as bears, old men, devils, and parsley.
The Nativity of Christ merged with the ancient Slavic rite - Christmas time. Christmas time continues from Christmas (January 7) to Epiphany (January 19). Christmas rituals eventually turned into Christmas ones.
Lord's Prayer "Our Father"
Our Father, Who art in heaven! Hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, I am in heaven and on earth. Give us our daily bread today; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Christmas cribs
Each holiday has its own unique zest, inherent only to him. Nativity scenes are an integral part of the celebration of the Nativity of Christ. The Christmas nativity scene is a kind of puppet theater, which was shown by our ancestors at Christmas and Christmas time. This action began to exist in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus more than two hundred years ago. Christoslavs went from house to house, glorifying the birth of the Savior, and with them a group of children showing the nativity scene. Nativity scenes were different - large, with the height of a man, and very small - a little more than a shoe box. The dolls were carved from wood, then they were painted and dressed in clothes from colored scraps.
Let's look into the window of a small house-nativity scene: at the back of the stage, a cradle, the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph, a donkey and an ox warm the Infant with their breath... The flame of a candle fluctuates from the fading breath of the audience. In an uneven shadow, unpretentious puppets, imperceptibly controlled by the puppeteer, come to life - and a miracle happens: smoothly, as if miraculously, an angel floats to the forefront and proclaims the Good News! Shepherds and wise men bow to the Child... No one will say that the birth of Christ is a fairy tale. It was exactly like that!
Today, at Christmas, it is customary in churches and temples to exhibit motionless cribs with mangers and sculptural images of the Blessed Virgin, Righteous Joseph the Betrothed, and the Infant Christ. The nativity scene stands in the center of the temple, where everyone who comes to the festive service can bow to the born Savior. And like magicians, we also bring gifts: our prayers, repentance and good deeds.
How Christmas is celebrated in other countries
In Serbia, Christmas is called Božić, the holiday of parents and children. He is all imbued with concern for the safety of the family hearth and the well-being of the house. The cycle of Christmas holidays lasts for more than a month along with the preparation for it. It begins on the day of St. Nicholas of Myra on December 19, and ends on January 27, on the day of St. Sava.
In Bulgaria, at Christmas, an old silver coin is baked into a special Christmas cake - pogacha, which is passed down from generation to generation. Before cutting the cake, they inspect it: if there are bubbles on the surface, this is a family happiness. And the happiest will be the one who gets a piece of the pie with a coin.
And in the old days, and today at Christmas and after it, on Christmas week, it is customary to walk, play and have fun. And at Christmas time it was customary to guess what Orthodoxy considered a sin. Indeed, during fortune-telling, you can meet with some evil spirits. But on Svyatki, "Christ was born, and all the evil spirits tucked their tail, spinning without tol icy, cannot hurt ...".
During Christmas time, "holy evenings" (January 7-13) are distinguished - for fun fortune-telling, "terrible evenings" (January 14-19) - for dangerous, risky fortune-telling, and fortune-telling on Vasily's evening is considered the most "faithful" - on the night of Old New Year's Eve (January 14th). Guessing usually in the evening, when it gets dark. It is necessary to turn off the TV, music, clean the festive table. The room should be dark. Let only the Christmas tree sparkle with lights and candles flicker. Divination requires silence and attention.
Christmas is one of the most important holidays for all Christians (after Easter), because 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
Many signs and customs are associated with Christmas - they were given special attention. It was believed that as Christmas passed, so the year would be.
As you know, the date differs for Catholics and Orthodox due to the peculiarities of maintaining the calendar (which is why we also have the Old New Year holiday, which is not celebrated anywhere else in the world). Christmas is celebrated on January 7th. Greek Catholics also celebrate Christmas together with the Orthodox.
Note that initially, from the end of the 2nd to the 4th centuries, 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 the pagans in the Roman Empire celebrated the Birth of the Invincible Sun, that is, the day of winter solstice.
History of Christmas
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 the establishment of the holiday is the remembrance and glorification of the event of the appearance in the flesh of the Son of God. The Orthodox Church also established in itself the solemn feast of the Baptism of the Lord and called it Theophany, instilling the idea that on this day Christ did not become God for the first time, but only revealed Himself to be God, presenting Himself as the One from the Trinity, the Son of God.
The holiday became an opposition to the rites of the pagans. They also adopted the pagan custom of decorating trees. And also this holiday is accompanied by services and solemn hymns. In the IV century Equal-to-the-Apostles Empress Elena 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 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 to the magi about the birth of the baby Christ. On this day, first of all, it is customary for everyone to eat kutya, at least a small spoon is required.
Traditions and rituals for Christmas
Since, like most holidays, Christmas adopted the traditions of paganism, we also find elements of the pre-Christian era among the traditions. In the old days, it was customary to sprinkle hay on the table and keep it there until the Generous Evening - this symbolized a good harvest. Later it began to symbolize that Jesus was born in a stable.
Lay a tablecloth on top, and put a dish with kutia and other dishes in the center of the table, which should be 12 according to the number of 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 at Christmas the sky opens up to the earth, and the powers of heaven fulfill all their plans. All wishes made for Christmas must be good.
At Christmas, it is customary to light more candles, fires, a fireplace - if there is one. Candles bring warmth and wealth to your home. If you have pets, then at Christmas you need to feed them plentifully - then the whole year will be satisfying and financially successful.
One, special candle must be lit for the deceased relatives - then they will help you attract good luck and prosperity in the coming year.
Christmas is a great time for shopping, 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 the very Epiphany, throughout the days of Christmas time, certain prohibitions apply, which are due to the ideas that go back centuries about the holiday as a stop of time, a kind of temporary pause during which one cannot engage in productive labor and everything that is associated with birth, beginning, 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 not do cleaning and all sorts of household chores. This day was created for peace and joy. It's even better if you don't clean up until January 14th (the next day of the old New Year). All garbage collected on January 14 should be taken out into the street and dispelled by the wind, or burned. According to signs, after that, no evil spirits will bother you for a whole year.
You can't swear on a holy day. Whoever 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 enters your house first. If a woman enters first, then the whole year the women of your family will be ill.
Christmas rules also applied to clothing: on Christmas, one more tradition has long been adhered to: to wear only new clothes. Not clean, washed, but new, not yet worn. And do not sit at the Christmas table in black. Our ancestors believed that in the new year such people would face failure in business.
It is not recommended to guess at Christmas - in order to ask the higher powers what awaits you in the future, there will still be a lot of time: it is best to do this in the so-called Christmas time - from January 8 to Epiphany, it is not for nothing that the fortune-telling of this time is called - saints.
You can't drink water at Christmas, so clear all the mineral water off the table. There is coffee, tea and other great drinks. To be honest, this omen is a bit strange, but it’s better not to drink water than to suffer all year for no reason.
On January 7, they visit relatives, as well as caroling. On the morning of January 7, the whole family or several representatives go to church for a festive prayer, and returning from church, people joyfully greet: “Christ is born!” They are answered - "Praise him!" Starting from the evening of January 6, there were christoslavs (carolers) with the "Star of Bethlehem". A large star made of gilded paper was fixed on a stick, decorated with a flashlight, paper garlands, sometimes with an icon of the Nativity, the Savior or the Mother of God, then with this star singing Christmas carols go around the surrounding houses.
In some places, figurines of animals from wheat dough were baked for the holiday - cows, lambs, goats, cockerels and hens 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.
Seven blessings of Christmas
The number seven is considered sacred. There is a belief that he who has done seven blessings on Orthodox Christmas will live happily all year and even has the right to ask the angels for the fulfillment of his 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 you need to give to someone who arouses sincere sympathy in the soul, accompanying the alms with a silent prayer. You can also give seven useful gifts. As a rule, these were towels, giving which, the giver necessarily uttered the words: “I give towels, it’s fine to die, I’ll correct evil with good, fortunately I will send my family (my family).”
Ritual
Many different rituals have long been performed at Christmas, but so that you are not completely accused of obscurantism, make the prettiest and not tied to magic. For example, starting from January 7, for forty (!) days (this period is called the world - our ancestors believed that at this time angels help people in all matters), every morning, waking up, make a new wish - imagine how much good will come into your life!
Signs and superstitions
At Christmas, folk signs and superstitions acquire special power, as if nature itself and every object are trying to tell us something: how to live, what to fear. Here are just a few of them.
Prosperity note. If you lose any item at Christmas, this 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 swing!
A sign of good luck. If you accidentally spilled tea or coffee at the Christmas table (this does not apply to alcohol), then this is good news and great success for all your endeavors.
On Christmas Eve (January 7-19) look at nature. 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, profitable. If it snows on Christmas Day itself, it is a very good omen and promises a good year.
If on Christmas a young month flaunts in the sky, the year will be extremely unsuccessful financially.
The most monetary sign of Christmas is a tradition. A coin is baked into the pie - and whoever gets a piece with a coin will have great monetary luck in the New Year.
Let the coin be in your piece of Christmas cake!
Prayers for Christmas
Celebration of Christmas
We glorify you
Life-giving Christ,
us for the sake of now the flesh of the Rozhdshagosya
from Bezvestnaya
and the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Troparion to the Nativity of Christ
Your Christmas, Christ our God,
ascension of the world and the light of reason:
serving the stars in it,
learning from a star
To you bow to the Sun of truth,
and lead you from the height of the East:
Lord, glory to You.
Kontakion, voice 3
The Virgin today gives birth to the Substantial,
and the earth brings a den to the Unapproachable;
Angels with shepherds glorify
the wolves travel with the star;
for us, for the sake of being born a Young Child, the eternal God.
Troparion to the pre-feast
Get ready Bethlehem
open to all, Eden,
show off, Euphrapho,
like the tree of the belly in the den prospered from the Virgin:
heaven, bo Onoya's womb appeared mental,
in it the Divine Garden,
from worthless poison, we will live,
not like Adam will die.
Christ is born before the fallen, to restore the image.
Prefeast (Evening), tone 4:
Sometimes writing with Elder Joseph,
like from the seed of David, in Bethlehem Miriam,
womb-bearing seedless Birth.
Now it's time for Christmas
and a place without a dwelling,
but, like a red chamber, the nativity scene appeared to the Queen.
Christ is born before the fallen to resurrect the image.
There is a day in the year when there is boundless joy in the world. It seems that the heavens are descending, and everything earthly is dissolved in them. In a single impulse, the angels rejoice and people rejoice. The reason for this joy was announced more than two thousand years ago by an angel to the shepherds of Bethlehem: “I bless you that today in the city of David the Son of God, the Savior of the world, was born.” This event laid the foundation for the salvation of mankind by the incarnate Christ.
It is known from the Gospel story that the Mother of God came to Bethlehem on the eve of the birth of the Son. Together with her betrothed Joseph, she participated in the census of citizens. Bethlehem is a small city, there were not enough places in the hotel for everyone. Therefore, Mary and Joseph stopped for the night in a cave. There were many such places in those parts - shepherds drove cattle there for the night. On the same night, Christ was born. The baby was placed in a manger - a feeder for livestock. The shepherds were the first to bow to the incarnate God.
The Magi also came to bow to the Savior. These wise men lived far to the east. They foresaw the birth of the Messiah, and when they saw a guiding star in the sky, they went after it. This star in Christian history is called Bethlehem. The Magi had to cross the borders of several states before they came to the poor Bethlehem manger. The sages brought gold, frankincense and myrrh as a gift to the Divine Infant.
These gifts that got the name "Gifts of the Magi"
, have a deep symbolic meaning:
gold- symbolized as an offering to the King, because Jesus was incarnated to become the king of the earth;
incense- a priestly symbol, because by his earthly ministry Christ became the High Priest;
myrrh- they anointed the body of a dead person with it, in the Christmas story it became a symbol and an indication of the atoning sacrifice of Christ for all mankind.
For the first time, Christians began to celebrate this holiday only in the 4th century. Prior to this, the event of the birth of Christ was mentioned by the first Christians on the day of Theophany. Under the influence of Hellenic culture and beliefs, these two holidays were separated. Christmas significantly surpassed Epiphany in importance and almost immediately became the second Christian holiday after Easter. 
In Rus', Christmas was especially expected. First they celebrated it, and then they celebrated the New Year. Therefore, it is customary for Christians to decorate Christmas trees for Christmas. In 1918, Russia switched to the Gregorian calendar. The Church continued and continues to live according to the Julian, old calendar. Because of this, the New Year comes first and only then Christmas.
The day before the holiday is called Christmas Eve. This is a very strict fast day. Christians try not to eat food until evening. The earth is preparing to welcome the Divine Child. But according to the modern tradition, you can fast only until the moment when, after the Liturgy of Christmas Eve, a candle is brought to the center of the temple and the troparion to Christmas is sung.
The evening of this day is called Holy. It is traditionally held in the circle of the closest people. They sit down at the table with the first star. It symbolizes the Bethlehem, which led the Magi to the born Christ. Mistresses prepare twelve Lenten dishes for Holy Evening. Skoromnoe is allowed to eat only the next day. 12 is a symbolic number - this is the 12 months of the year, and the 12 apostles, and the 12 main holidays of the Church. The main delicacy is kutya. A little hay is placed under the plate with it as a reminder that Christ was not born in mansions, but in a poor manger.
Kutya- a dish of boiled grains, often wheat, with honey and nuts. Only since the 16th century, poppy seeds were added to it, and even later - raisins. Modern housewives add halva or sugar instead of honey. From this, the taste of kutya improves, but its symbolic meaning is somewhat lost. Since honey is the purest product on earth. And God, as you know, is given the best.
At the meal they drink uzvar. It is customary to cook lenten borscht for the holy evening, prepare salads with vegetable oil, dumplings with lean stuffing, pies, fish dishes.
Christmas celebration
In the Church, besides Easter, there are 12 major holidays. They are called the Twelve and the most important among them is Christmas. Celebrate it until Epiphany. That is, from 7 to 17 January. This period is called Christmas. Christmas is waiting for both adults and children. It brings a lot of joy, fun, sweets. A feeling of comfort and peace reigns in the house, and the heart is warmed by the hope that the future will definitely be bright.
Believers celebrate the holiday in the temple. On the night of Christmas, festive services take place in all churches. It is believed that you can not sleep - the night is special, Christ is born. It must be remembered that the Lord thanks a person for every, the smallest effort that he makes for Him. On this holiday, even the stars in the sky behave differently, and in the morning the sun plays with different colors.
There are many folk traditions associated with Christmas. Most of them are recognized by the Church. The day before, on Christmas Eve, they decorate the Christmas tree. Its top is crowned with a star - a symbol of Bethlehem. Candles on the Christmas tree are reminiscent of the unearthly light emanating from the cave in which Jesus was born. Boxes with gifts for all family members are placed under the Christmas tree. In addition to the Christmas tree, a nativity scene is built in houses and temples - a symbolic cave with the born Christ and voluminous figures of the people who surrounded Him.
The main event of the holiday is caroling. Everyone can carol - both adults and children. Previously, the cities had little resemblance to the current megacities, so people went from house to house and praised the born Christ, which is why they were called Christoslavs. Those who brought the good news to the house, it is customary to give gifts - sweets, fruits, money - whoever can.
On Christmas days, it is customary to visit each other and exchange gifts. It is very useful and right from a Christian point of view to visit the sick and suffering. Children especially look forward to this holiday. If you have the opportunity, give joy to a child from an orphanage or a sick boy or girl. There are not so few disadvantaged people in our time - one has only to want to do good to them. Be sure to attend church services.
But there are traditions that the Church categorically rejects as pagan. For example, divination. Foreseeing the future is a sin, because by doing so a person cuts off God's participation in his life and His care for himself. At any moment the Lord is free to change the course of events.
Christmas present
The magi who came to the newborn Christ with gifts laid the foundation for the tradition of giving gifts at Christmas, especially to children. In the mind of man, Christmas is a celebration of a dream come true. Therefore, you need to choose a gift carefully. It doesn't have to be expensive. For a person, the touch of a miracle in his life is important. Find out what the person you want to gift is dreaming about or dreamed about as a child. A gift does not always bring delight. Much more important is to touch the heart of a person, to make him believe in a miracle. Traditionally, sweets are given for Christmas. And not only for children.
Christmas is celebrated for a long time. The most important thing that any person should take away from these days is the very essence of the birth of the Holy Child, who gave his life to pay for our sins. Thus, he gave us the opportunity to correct our mistakes and make peace with God!
Signs for Christmas
Clear weather for the Christmas holiday promised a good harvest in summer and autumn.
If there was a thaw at Christmas, then this is a bad harvest.
A snowstorm on Christmas Day was a sign of a good harvest of wheat and a good sign for a beekeeper.
If at Christmas the sky was starry, then the year will be fruitful for mushrooms and berries, and a large offspring of livestock was also expected in such a year.
Well, if the Christmas holiday was warm, then they were waiting for a cold spring.
If it snowed that day, and even with flakes, this is for a good harvest of bread.
And there is another sign that is trusted even now, that is, how you spend Christmas, this will be the year. Therefore, people have always tried to spend Christmas in love, peace and prosperity, with a generous Christmas table. There should have been 12 Lenten dishes on the table, then the whole year there would be prosperity in the house, and the year would be generous.
In no case should one quarrel on the day of the Nativity of Christ, since the whole year can be spent in disagreement.
CHRISTMAS EVE RECIPES
HOW TO PREPARE KUTIA
Pour washed and sorted rice with water and bring to a boil.
Drain into a sieve, pour cold water over and cook again until tender in plenty of water.
Throw back on a sieve, cool and transfer to a bowl
Choose a glass of berries without jam syrup, add a little boiled water
Mix with rice, smooth the top with a spoon and lightly sprinkle with sugar
HOW TO PREPARE SOCIVO
SOCHIVO FROM RICE
Rinse one and a half cups of rice, boil in plenty of water until tender.
Drain on a sieve, cool
Grind one glass of nuts (almonds, walnuts) and add 5 - 6 tablespoons of honey, a little boiled warm water
Rinse one glass of raisins in several waters, boil
Mix everything, if you need to add more honey.
RICE SOCHIVO WITH DRIED FRUITS
Boil 1.5 cups of well-washed rice in a large amount of water, drain on a sieve, cool
Boil 100 g of dried fruits in sugar syrup (1.5 tablespoons of sugar per 2 liters of water), drain, cool
In a deep bowl, mix rice with dried fruits, add strained broth (broth)
HOW TO PREPARE CAROLS
These are small pies that were prepared specially for this day, these are very ancient products made from unleavened dough.
Carols were prepared necessarily from eight components - rye flour, water, curdled milk, milk, butter, sour cream, salt and filling.
The dough for them was prepared like this - 2 cups of rye flour (or a mixture of rye and wheat flour), sift, mix with a mixture of water, milk, curdled milk, sour cream in any ratio, 2 tablespoons of butter, salt.
Knead the dough, let it lie down for 30 minutes, roll it into sausages, cut into small pieces, make balls and roll pancakes with a rolling pin.
Put the stuffing on them, roll up and pinch the edges.
To make the crust soft after baking, grease with butter or a mixture of melted butter and sour cream.
Fillings for carols were made from cottage cheese, millet porridge, carrots, dried mushrooms, mashed potatoes.
The meaning of the holiday was forever predetermined in scale after the universal reckoning was divided into "before Christmas" and "after". The Son of God with his coming not only marked the birth of a new religion, but also shaped the worldview of thousands and even millions of people. We do not think, but morality, standards of decency, concepts of good and evil - all this was revealed to the world by Jesus Christ. Not surprisingly, all believers celebrate the holiday on a grand scale. But how did it all start?
How the date was set
From the second century AD to the fourth, all Christians celebrated the Epiphany on the sixth of January. Then they also mentioned the day when Jesus appeared.
You can find information about the double celebration in the primary sources left by Clement of Alexandria. The author shared the point of view that the son of God was born on the twentieth of May.
In his opinion, the winter season was chosen on purpose. Faith in one God no longer wanted to put up with pagan remnants, strong enough in the Empire of Rome. After the adoption of Christianity, they continued to celebrate their holidays.
Before the feast of the Nativity of Christ was moved to the twenty-fifth of December, the Romans organized their festivities in honor of the Invincible Sun. It was the most important celebration. The cult of the pagan deity became an addition to the Christian one, and the story of Christmas began. And the first entry in the "Filokal Calendar" for the year 336 of our era.
Differences in churches
For a long time, the history of Christmas originates on December 25 according to the Gregorian calendar by the Roman Catholic Church.
At the same time, the Russian temple, as well as Athos, Georgia, Jerusalem and Serbia, are celebrated at this time, but only according to the old Julian chronology. If we take into account the recalculation of days, it turns out that Christmas is on the seventh of January.
But there are other options for dates. Cyprus, Constantinople, the territory of Hellas, Romania, Bulgaria and the Church of Alexandria celebrate the twenty-fifth of December so far. They follow the New Julian calendar. Until the year 2800, this will continue until the dates no longer coincide.
In Armenia, Epiphany and Christmas are celebrated on the same day. The holiday in many ancient kingdoms was celebrated on the sixth of January. Thus, two celebrations were combined into one.
Date of birth of the son of God
To this day, scholars continue to debate about when the story of Christmas began. The date of the twenty-fifth of December was established by the Roman Church, and approved by the Ecumenical Council. Starting from the fourth century, the first memories of Christmas appear.
Historians cannot establish for certain the existence of such a person as Jesus Christ. And yet, if he existed, then the dates of his life are very vague. Most likely, he was born between the seventh and fifth years BC.
For the first time on December 25, the writer and ancient historian Sextus Julius Africanus recorded in his calendar in the two hundred and twenty-first year of the birth of Christ.
The date was confirmed already in our era by Dionysius the Small, who served as an archivist under the Pope. He took into account the early records of the year 354 and decided that Jesus was born at a time when the Roman Empire was ruled by Caesar. Dionysius placed his reign in the first year of the new era.
Some researchers, using the New Testament as a source, argue that the star of Bethlehem that lit up the sky was Halley's Comet. She swept over the Earth in the twelfth year BC.
It is quite possible that he was born in the seventh year of our era, when the indicated census of the entire population of Israel was carried out.
Dates after 4 years BC look unlikely. Both in the letters of the Evangelists and in the Apocrypha, it is mentioned that Jesus lived during the reign of Herod. And he died only in the fourth year before the birth of Christ.
Late time is also not suitable because there is an approximate time of execution. If we take our era, it turns out that he was killed at a very young age.
The letter from Luke says that at the time of the birth of the son of the Lord, the shepherds were sleeping in the field. This indicates the season: early autumn or summer. But in Palestine, even in February, animals could graze if the year was warm.
History of Christmas
The day of the birth of Jesus Christ is described in several sources, canonical and apocryphal.
In the first texts, the story of the Nativity of Christ is told in sufficient detail. The main sources are the letters of Matthew and Luke.
The Gospel of Matthew tells why Mary and her husband Joseph went to Bethlehem even though they lived in Nazareth. They hurried to the census, in which representatives of one nationality had to be with their own.
Joseph, who married the lovely Mary, having learned about the pregnancy before the wedding, was going to annul the marriage. But an angel came to him. He said that this son is a blessing from God, and that Joseph should raise him as his own.
When the contractions began, there was no room for them in the hotel, and the couple had to settle down in a barn where straw was laid for the animals.
The first to see the newborn were the shepherds. An angel showed them the way, in the form of a star that shone over Bethlehem. The same celestial body led the three wise men to the barn. They generously endowed him as a king: myrrh, frankincense and gold.
The evil King Herod, warned of the birth of a new leader, killed all the kids in the city who were not yet two years old.
But Jesus survived because the angel who was watching him told Joseph to flee to Egypt. There they lived until the death of the evil tyrant.
Apocryphal texts add some fragments, and the story of the Nativity of Christ becomes more accurate. They describe that Mary and Joseph spent that significant night in a cave where cattle came to protect themselves from bad weather. While the husband went for the midwife Solomiya, the woman managed to give birth to Christ herself, without help. The texts indicate that the process was very easy.
Solomiya only confirmed the fact that Mary was previously innocent. The texts say that Jesus was born and the sun blinded those who came. When the radiance ceased, the child approached the mother and lay down at her breast.
History of Christmas
The church for a long time could not determine when such a significant and large-scale religious holiday should be celebrated.
Since the first Christians were Jews, for whom birth is considered the beginning of pain and misfortune, so was the Nativity of Christ. The holiday was not celebrated in any way.
Among the church dates, Easter, the moment of resurrection, was more important.
But when the Greeks joined Christianity, they brought with them the tradition of celebrating the birth of the son of God.
Initially, the celebration was called the Epiphany. It included both the appearance of Jesus into the world and his baptism. Over time, the church divided the events into two.
The first mention of the birth of the Savior was made in the year 354 in the Roman source Chronograph. The entry in it suggests that Christmas appeared as a holiday after the great council of Nicaea.
Other researchers believe that the early Christians celebrated the holiday even before the church schism, that is, even in the third century. Then, in their opinion, the exact date appeared.
Christmas: the history of the holiday in Russia
This holiday was persecuted for a long time, exterminated, it was transferred, but still it retained its original sacred meaning. Even in pre-Petrine times, this day was celebrated, and stories about Jesus were passed on from the older generation to the younger.
pre-revolutionary holiday
Under Tsar Peter the Great, a tradition came into use to install and decorate a Christmas tree in houses - a Christmas tree. She symbolized, like laurel and mistletoe, immortality, a long life in prosperity.
On the twenty-fifth of December, a divine service was held in honor of the birthday of Jesus. Celebrations began in every Russian church. Everyone loved and honored Christmas. The history of the holiday tells that young people dressed up beautifully, picked up a star on a stick, as a symbol of the one that showed the way for the Magi to the baby. They carried it from house to house, telling that Jesus was born. Children were dressed up as angels, in honor of the one who told the shepherds about the miracle that had happened. Some played with animals, which, according to Orthodox tradition, were also in the barn where Mary gave birth to the child. The solemn procession sang Christmas carols and carols, glorifying mother and child.
These beautiful traditions in the pre-revolutionary Russian Empire are preserved in the memoirs of the writer Ivan Shmelev. While in Paris, in exile, he spoke with longing about the old days.
The empire loved this day so much that at first one church of the Nativity of Christ appeared, and then the number increased every year. Such shrines appeared in all large cities.
It should be noted that the most famous thematic temple is located in the capital of Russia. It is called in honor of Christmas - Christ the Savior. It has a long and amazing history of its own. Years have passed. The Church of the Nativity of Christ still stands where it used to be.
In 1812, when the army of Alexander the First defeated the French, on the twenty-fifth of December, an imperial decree was issued on the construction of a new temple. It said that it was God who helped save the country from inevitable death. In honor of this, Alexander ordered the construction of a temple that would stand for many centuries.
Christmas ban
But there came a time when religion became banned. Since 1917, it has been forbidden to talk about Christmas. Churches fell one after another. They were robbed. Marauders stripped the gilding from the naves. It was customary to work on religious holidays to prove one's devotion to the party.
The star has become five-pointed. Even the Christmas tree on the bright Nativity of Christ was at first persecuted as a symbol of faith. And in 1933, a Decree appeared that this tradition could be returned. Only the tree has become a New Year's tree.
It would be wrong to say that after the ban on the Christmas holidays, they were not celebrated. People secretly brought spruce branches into the house, saw the clergy, performed rituals, baptized children. They sang Christmas carols at home. Even in political prisons or in exile, where many priests were kept, the traditions were quite strong.
The celebration of a forbidden event could end not only with dismissal from work, but also with years of repression, deprivation of liberty, and execution.
People secretly entered dilapidated churches to listen to the service on Orthodox Christmas.
New time in the history of Christmas
In 1991, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the celebration of the day of the birth of Christ was officially allowed.
The force of habit, the upbringing of people who were forbidden to celebrate religious events for a long time, was so great that even now many people associate the holiday with a secondary one. It is inferior in popularity to the New Year.
Since the formation of the Russian Federation, the traditions of Christmas carols and the use of certain symbols on the holiday have been revived.
Features of Christmas
There is a lot of meaning in this ancient sacred action. It has many symbols that the church interprets. Each of them completes the whole picture.
The most common symbols of Christmas:
Light is what first appeared at the time of birth. The path that the messenger of God traveled to go down to sinful people was illuminated.
Star - according to the New Testament, a sign appeared over Bethlehem during the birth of Jesus. He was like a bright star in the sky. Only true believers could understand it correctly.
Census of people. Under Augustus, who at that time led the Roman Empire, a recount of all citizens was carried out. He did this in order to introduce an orderly system of taxation. Those who lived in other cities at the time of the census had to return and register. So did Joseph and Mary.
Winter. It is debatable whether Christ was born in winter. However, for the church, this time of the year has become a symbol of darkness, which was illuminated by the son of God. He also appeared at the moment when winter began to wane.
Shepherds. The whole city was asleep at the time when the savior came into the world. No one noticed this, except for the ordinary poor shepherds who guarded the flock on Christmas Day. An angel descended from heaven to tell them the good news. Shepherds personify pure souls, not corrupted by wealth or vanity. They mostly interacted with animals.
Bethlehem is a city that many believers associate with spiritual blindness. All the people in it were so obsessed with their own problems that they did not even notice how Christmas came to them in Bethlehem. And then they failed to recognize the Savior.
Magi. The first to appear before Jesus with their gifts were wise men, philosophers. They were not kings, they did not possess great wealth. Magi are those believers who constantly searched for wisdom in the sacred writings. They knew the truth. The long road to self-knowledge, faith, was crowned with a blessing.
Gifts. Jesus received frankincense, gold and myrrh for his birth. Precious metal was a symbol of power, incense was a sign of divinity, and myrrh meant the future of Christ, his self-sacrifice for the human race and death with a further resurrection.
World. With the birth of the son of God, peace reigned on Earth for a whole year. After that, people themselves began to spoil the idyll and fight.
Cave. When the hotel closed the doors to Mary and Joseph, they found a new refuge. The couple came to the house where the cattle lived. According to church beliefs, the souls of animals are absolutely innocent. They warmed the baby Jesus with their breath. Animals gave up their own food so they could make a makeshift baby bed out of hay.
Night. This time of day is still associated with the decline of faith. At that moment, the Savior appeared, as if giving hope to all people for the future.
Expectation. Mankind suffered for its own sins. After the expulsion of Adam and Eve, people could not hope that God would be favorable to them. But the Lord took pity on his creatures and sent them his own son to atone for their sins. Jesus took upon himself all the suffering. According to the biblical canon, he atoned for Adam's original sin.
