Christians all over the world look forward to the most... Holy holiday- Nativity. In every corner of the globe where they bow to the name of Christ, this truly great day is celebrated. Not only children, but also adults are looking forward to it. Everyone enjoys pre-holiday chores. This day brings a new ray of light, love and hope into the life of every person. But we should not forget that, first of all, this is a divine holiday on which we honor the name of the Son of God, who accepted death in the name of the salvation of all mankind. Without realizing this thought, the meaning of the holiday is lost. Celebrating this day, everyone needs to pray that His spirit will be reborn in our souls, so that in our hearts there will be a manger that can receive Him, as well as precious gifts that are ready to belong to Him. This holiday personifies universal love and the birth of faith in the soul of every Christian.
The Nativity of Christ: the history of the holiday (Bethlehem Cave)
This bright holiday plays an important role not only in the lives of Orthodox Christians and Catholics, but also for the church itself. According to Saint II, the Nativity of Christ, the celebration of which falls on December 25 according to the Julian calendar, or January 7, is the beginning of all the main church holidays. He said that in this holiday the Epiphany, Easter, the Ascension of the Lord, and also Pentecost have their beginning.
From ancient legends we know that the prophets of the Old Testament knew about the appearance of the Son of the Lord on earth. And this miracle was expected for several centuries. This is how the Nativity of Christ was predicted. The history of the holiday dates back to the fourth century BC. So how did it all begin? The appearance of the Son of the Lord happened on a cold winter night. Mary and Joseph walked from Palestine to Jerusalem. According to ancient sources, the Romans were to be registered at their place of residence, and the Jews - at their place of birth. Mary and David, descendants of King David, were born southwest of Jerusalem. When Mary's labor pains began, they were near a cave in which a cattle stall had been built. Joseph went to look for a midwife. But when he returned, he saw that the baby had already appeared, and the cave was filled with a light of unusual power, which they could not bear. And only after a while the light went out. Mary gave birth to the God-man in terrible conditions, among mangers and straw.
The Adoration of the Shepherds and the Gifts of the Magi
The first to whom the news reached were the shepherds who were on duty at night with their flock. An angel appeared to them and brought the good news of the birth of the Son of God. The Magi were announced about this joyful event by a bright star rising over Bethlehem. The star-speakers (magi) went to look for the place where the baby was born, and by the light of the stars they came to the cave. They approached the baby and knelt before the Savior of mankind. They brought gifts: twenty-eight gold plates, frankincense and myrrh (the incense was rolled into small balls, the size of an olive, and strung on a thread - there were seventy-one balls in total). They presented gold as a king, incense as God, and myrrh as a man who would taste death. The Jews buried their dead with myrrh so that the body would remain incorruptible.
Baby murders
King Herod of Judea awaited the birth of the miracle baby with great fear, because he thought that he would lay claim to his throne. He ordered the wise men to return to Jerusalem and reveal the place where Mary and the child were. But the Magi, who received revelations in a dream telling them not to return to the oppressive ruler, did just that. The story of the Nativity of Christ testifies that the king gave the order to his soldiers to surround Bethlehem and kill all the babies. Warriors broke into houses, took newborn children from their mothers and killed them. On that day, according to legend, more than fourteen thousand babies died. But they never found the Son of God. Mary and Joseph had a vision telling them to immediately leave Bethlehem and go to Egypt, which they did that same night.
Date and time of birth of Jesus Christ
Date of birth of the Son of God for a long time remained controversial moments in history. An attempt to establish this moment by the dates of the events that accompanied the birth of Jesus did not lead theologians to any specific figure. The first mention of the date December 25 is found in the chronicles of Sextus Julius Africanus, dated 221. Why is the date of the Nativity of Christ determined by this particular number? The time and date of Christ’s death is known for certain from the Gospel, and he must have been on earth for the full number of years. From this it could be concluded that Jesus Christ was conceived on March 25th. Having counted nine months from this day, we concluded that the date of the Nativity of Christ is December 25.
Establishment of celebration
Since the first Christians were Jews, they did not celebrate the Nativity of Christ. Because this day, according to their worldview, is “the day of the beginning of sorrow and suffering.” For them, Easter day was more important. But after the Greeks entered Christian communities, they began to celebrate the birthday of Jesus Christ based on their customs. Ancient first Christian holiday Epiphany combined two dates: the birth and baptism of Jesus, but later they began to be celebrated separately. From the beginning of the seventh century, Christmas began to be celebrated separately. The history of the holiday has reached a new level.
The day we celebrate Christmas (traditions)
When is Christmas celebrated in Russia? Despite the fact that the Russian Orthodox Church uses the holiday of the Nativity of Christ, it is celebrated according to the Gregorian calendar - January 7th. This date is one of the twelve holidays. How is Christmas celebrated? The traditions of celebrating this bright day are rooted in the distant past. Well, firstly, the holiday is preceded by a forty-day fast. Christmas Eve is called Christmas Eve. This holiday got its name because of the main dish - sochiva, which believers eat on this day. Sochivo is soaked dry wheat. In our country this dish is known as kutia. On Christmas Eve, fasting is especially strict; fasting is also observed on this day. evening service. At Christmas in Russia and other Orthodox countries, godchildren bring the so-called “supper” to their godparents, which consists of sochiv. After the first star rises in the sky, you can sit down to the table, on which there must be twelve Lenten dishes, according to the number of the apostles. Dishes must be lean, since on the eve of the holiday it is still forbidden to eat animal food. Before the festive dinner, everyone present at the table reads a prayer praising God Jesus Christ. On Christmas Eve people decorate their home spruce branches. It is the branches of the spruce tree that signify eternal life. They also bring a spruce tree into the house and decorate it with bright toys that symbolize the fruits on the tree of paradise. On this day it is customary to give each other gifts.
Folk traditions
It is believed that on the night before Christmas two forces rule on Earth - Good and Evil. And the power to which a person is more inclined performs various miracles over him. According to legend, one force called people to celebrate the Sabbath, and the other - to the festive table. In ancient times, on this day, young people gathered in groups, dressed up in funny costumes, stood on a pole and went from house to house with cheerful carol songs, notifying the owners that Christ was born. They also wished the owners peace in the house, a good harvest and other benefits; they, in turn, thanked the “carol” and gave various treats. Unfortunately, this tradition has been preserved only in villages.
Christmastide
The holidays continue until January 19th. This day is called the Day of the Epiphany. From January 7 to 19, festive liturgies are held in churches every day. These are called Christmastide. These are the only days on which fortune telling is allowed by the church. The celebrations ended with the Divine Liturgy, at which the Sacrament of Communion was performed.
Who else celebrates this day with us on January 7?
Where else is Christmas celebrated on January 7? The history of the holiday goes back many centuries. And in addition to the Orthodox Russian Church, Christmas is celebrated on January 7 by the Ukrainian, Jerusalem, Serbian, Georgian and Belarusian Churches. As well as Catholic churches of the Eastern rite, Athonite monasteries. The remaining eleven churches of the Orthodox rite, as well as the Catholic Church, celebrate this day on December 25.
Gifts of the Magi
According to legend, shortly before her Dormition, the Mother of God transferred blessed gifts to the Jerusalem Church. There they were passed on from generation to generation. Then they came to Byzantium. In 400, the Byzantine king Arcadius moved them to the new capital - Constantinople, in order to consecrate the city. And before the conquest of the city, sacred gifts were kept in the treasuries of the emperors. In 1433, after the capture of the city, the Turkish Sultan Muhammad II allowed his wife Maro (Maria), a Christian by religion, to take the treasures, which she sent to Athos, to the monastery of Paul after the fall of Byzantium. The gifts of the Magi are kept in the Athos monastery to this day; sometimes they are taken out of the monastery. Gold bars are used to illuminate water and drive out demons.
How Catholics celebrate the Nativity of Christ: the history of the holiday (briefly)
The traditions of celebrating this bright holiday among Catholics are in many ways similar to ours. On Christmas Eve, people decorate their houses with fir branches and build small nativity scenes. On Christmas Eve they strictly observe fasting and eat only juices. Lenten dishes and fish are prepared for the festive table, as well as baked goose or duck, but they are treated to them only for the second meal - December 25th. On Christmas Eve, all Catholics go to church, even those who do it extremely rarely. Before starting the ceremonial meal, all family members pray and then break a piece of unleavened bread (wafer). There is always one empty seat at the holiday table. Anyone who comes to the house this evening will be a welcome guest.
Holiday for children
Children should also be involved in the celebration of this event. Bible stories are interesting for both preschoolers and older children. Tell them about what a bright holiday - Christmas. Pictures will complement the story, because the most interesting thing for children is to look at pure images of the baby and the Mother of God. Show them how to celebrate properly and prepare dishes for the evening: let the children become your helpers. At school or kindergarten play out a nativity scene, learn songs. The main thing is to plant this seed of tradition, which will help the child develop values, including family ones, because Christmas is a family holiday. And let the brightest miracles happen on this day, because it is on this day that we especially acutely feel and experience the meeting with Christ.
Christmas or What we don’t yet know about the holiday of Christmas
They say that before Christmas, the heavenly bells begin to ring, praising God for the birth of His Son, Jesus Christ. And with each new strike of such a bell, heavenly grace spreads throughout our sinful world, and the angels grow wings...
New Year and Christmas are two bright family holidays that are celebrated by many people all over the Earth. This is a special night of reconciliation when they wish each other well. Various Christian religious denominations celebrate christian christmas in the middle of winter with December 25(for Catholics) Jan. 7(among the Orthodox). Christmas is a holiday that means a lot to people; it does not pass without a trace for any person who has at least once heard about the life of Jesus Christ and his sacrifice for people.
World-famous directors make films about Christmas, artists paint pictures that later become masterpieces of world art, poets compose poems about the great mystery of the birth of the Savior.
The night before Christmas is the brightest and purest time, when every person must forgive everyone for their unseemly actions, cleanse themselves before people, asking for forgiveness for their sins and become a little brighter, kinder, thereby getting closer to the Creator.
Every holiday, whether secular or religious, has its own history.
The history of the holiday or the Night before Christmas...
The most detailed account of the birth of Jesus Christ is found in the Gospel of Luke:
“Joseph also went from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, called Bethlehem, because he was from the house and family of David, to enroll with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. And while they were there, The time came for her to give birth; and she gave birth to her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn."
(Luke, ch. 2:4-7)
At the time when Mary was destined to give birth to a baby, a census of the population of the Roman Empire was taking place by order of Emperor Augustus. Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem, because according to the same decree of the emperor, in order to facilitate the census process, each resident had to come to “their” city. Both Mary and Joseph were from the line of David, so they had to go to Bethlehem.
After Mary and Joseph were unable to stay at the inn because all the places were occupied, they were forced to spend the night in a cave intended to shelter livestock for the night. It was in this cave (later called the Cave of the Nativity) that Mary went into labor. She gave birth to a son, whom she named Jesus according to a sign.
After the birth of Jesus, the shepherds came to worship him, who received bright news from the angel. According to the Gospel of Matthew, a wonderful star lit up in the sky at that time, which led the wise men (magi) to Jesus. The shepherds presented the Baby with incense, gold and myrrh as gifts. The news of the birth of the Messiah spread throughout Judea.
Upon learning of the birth of the New King, King Herod ordered the destruction of all male infants under two years of age. However, Jesus escaped a sad fate, since Joseph was warned by an angel who told him to flee from reprisals to Egypt, where the Holy Family lived until the death of Herod.
The mystery of the birth of Jesus Christ gives rise to many questions: where was Jesus born? When was Jesus Christ born?
Where and when was Jesus Christ born?
No matter how surprising this may be for modern man, but the ancient Jews considered a person’s birthday to be the beginning of pain and sorrow, and therefore the birthday was not celebrated as a holiday. This has become the reason that it is not possible to establish the date of birth of Jesus Christ for certain. Jesus was born in Bethlehem, where Mary and Joseph went to take a census. It is possible to establish the approximate date of the birth of Christ only with the help of various accompanying dates, any events, and the reigns of emperors or kings.
Based on all the research, Jesus was born sometime between 7 and 5 BC. The first date of birth is December 25) is indicated in the chronicle of Sextus Julius, dated 221 However, there are other prerequisites for establishing the real date of Christ’s birth. This is the period from 12 to 7 BC. During this period, Halley's Comet passed by, which could well have been called the Star of Bethlehem. During the same period, the only population census was conducted. An important fact is that Jesus was born during the reign of King Herod, who died in 4 BC. This means that Jesus Christ could only have been born before 4 BC, not later, otherwise he would have been too young at the time of his execution.
According to the research of Robert D. Myers, the Bible does not indicate the date of Jesus' birth. However, there are the words of Luke, who says that “at that time there were shepherds in the field, keeping watch over their flock.” This suggests that Jesus was born either in the summer or early autumn, since it was quite cold and rainy in Judea in December. Consequently, shepherds would not graze their flocks in the fields.
Early Christian tradition combined the feast of Epiphany ( 6th January), Christmas and Epiphany, which later became various holidays.
Christmas Traditions
Of course, the main Christmas tradition is the decorated fir tree. This custom has been known since the 8th century and came to us from Germany. The first mention of the Christmas tree is associated with the personality of Saint Boniface. When the monk Boniface read sermons about Jesus Christ and the Nativity to the Druids (tree worshipers), he convinced them that the oak was not a sacred tree. To prove his words, Boniface cut down a tree. Falling, the oak broke all the trees with its crown; only one spruce remained unbroken. The monk saw a miracle in this event, exclaiming: “Let the spruce be the tree of Christ.” That is why Christmas in Germany is celebrated by planting young Christmas trees.
Symbols of Christmas are also an evergreen wreath with candles, bells - a symbol of the Heavenly Bells and the exorcism of evil spirits, Christmas cards, Christmas carols, candles. During the twelve days of holidays from the Nativity of Christ to Epiphany, it is customary to give gifts to your loved ones, rejoice and sing Christmas songs.
Slavic peoples They often tell fortunes for Christmas, especially young girls - about their betrothed. They make wishes and dreams that, according to legend, will definitely come true. In some villages, on the night before Christmas, “wells” are built from twigs. A small padlock is placed on the top of the “well”, which is slammed shut before going to bed. The girl puts the key under the pillow, wishing for her betrothed to come and drink water from the well, and the “well” is locked. You need to take the key from your betrothed: your betrothed will come and ask the girl for the key, and that’s how they will meet.
There is another tradition. In order to keep things in the house and the family always in new clothes, on Christmas Eve (January 6) you should move things from one shelf to another, changing their places. Then, according to beliefs, the family living in this house will be able to buy new things all year round.
In addition, on the Holy Evening of January 6, it is customary to visit loved ones and relatives with songs, carols, and wish everyone a Merry Christmas, wishing them prosperity and goodness.
Merry Christmas
As you wish each other a Merry Christmas, remember that together with your in sincere words blessing and love, joy and prosperity will come to the house. Remembering Christ, become a little kinder and purer so that you can believe in a miracle and so that His love will settle in you!
Night. Freezing. The stars are sparkling
From the heights of heaven.
All covered in snow, like ermines,
The quiet forest sleeps.
Silence all around. Glade
Sleeping in the arms of sleep,
Swims out from behind the forest
The moon is on watch.
The stars are going out. They're pouring from the sky
Pale rays
Frosty snow sparkled
Silver brocade.
Branches spread wide
In a snow coat,
There is a Christmas tree in the middle of the clearing.
It went up like an arrow.
To the beauty of the forest
The moonlight has fallen
And the lights of ice crystals
Played in the branches.
Diamond threads
Entwined in pine needles,
Emeralds and rubies
They lit up in the snow.
A clear star near the Christmas tree
The head is glowing...
The great day is coming
Christmas holiday!
***
How quiet this night... how transparent it is!
The heavens look with inspiration,
And in the arms of deep winter sleep
The forests breathe with anticipation...
On this quiet night, like a sunsetless star
In the dark abyss of lost years
Fired up for the first time over the sinful earth
Christianity divine light
That night the Christ Child smiled
With endless caress of love
To people - their brothers, tired of tears,
Drowning in sin and blood...
On this night of light-winged heavenly guests
It's like you can hear singing in the distance...
And the radiant stars shine brighter
Above the snows of the cold earth.
There are countries where people have not known for centuries
No blizzards, no loose snow;
There they sparkle only with unmelting snow
The tops of granite ridges...
The flowers there are more fragrant, the stars are larger,
Spring is brighter and more elegant,
And the feathers of the birds are brighter there, and it’s warmer
The sea wave is breathing there...
In such and such a country on a balmy night
With the whisper of laurels and roses,
The desired miracle happened in person,
The Baby Christ was born.
You think there's no one to help
If you couldn't help yourself...
Go and celebrate Christmas night -
After all, on this night the Son and God were born!
From that very night the miracle began
A wondrous diamond from a handful of stones:
Mary's son Christ was born
From God - to save other people!
Then: not only amuse the body
Food, drink - a wreath of earthly pleasures,
And glorify Heaven, soul, God -
They bring warmth and light to everyone!
May God wait for you from birth to
Beautiful and smooth road!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone! We wish you peace, prosperity and love!
Nativity
(celebration traditions)
Day Nativity of Christ Since ancient times, the Church has ranked it among the great twelve feasts. The Gospel depicts this greatest, most joyful and wonderful event in this way: “ I proclaim to you , - says the Angel to the Bethlehem shepherds, - great joy that will be for all people: for today a Savior has been born to you in the city of David, who is Christ the Lord; and here is a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly a large army of heaven appeared with the Angel, praising God and crying: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. !»
On this day, a great event took place for the entire Christian world - 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 humanity. The Old Testament prophets predicted the place and time of 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 the countdown begins. According to the legend of the Gospel, the mother of Jesus Christ Mary and her husband Joseph lived in Nazareth, and came to Bethlehem, fulfilling the order of the ruler Augustus to appear for the entire population for the census. Since so many people had gathered for the census of the Roman Empire, Mary and Joseph could not find a place to stay for the night, and therefore they had to seek refuge in a small cave, where, due to bad weather usually the shepherds were hiding. There Mary gave birth to the Son of God. Then an angel descended from heaven and told the shepherds, who were awake at that moment, that God had been born. The shepherds were the first to come to worship the baby. Shined 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, incense 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 celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ dates back to the fourth century. Based on historical data, scientists have concluded that Jesus was not born in winter time, and the date 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 - “Birth of the Sun of Truth”. There are also several other theories, each of which explains in its own way 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 main deity of the empire. On a silver-plated bronze coin of Roman mintage (274-275) Aurelian wearing his sunburst crown
Jerusalem, Russian, Ukrainian, Georgian, Serbian Orthodox Churches, as well as the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, celebrate the Feast of 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 people on 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. Peace reigns on earth, at least for a short time, and hearts are filled with good will. Within the pre-celebration and post-celebration period, the Feast of the Nativity of Christ lasts twelve days. On the last day before the holiday, the eternity of the Nativity of Christ (Christmas Eve) is celebrated, indicating the special importance of the upcoming celebration, for eves occur only before the most important holidays. In the Orthodox Church, in the evening hours, called the Royal Hours, are celebrated, because for a long time kings were present at this 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 rising of the evening dawn, which, according to legend, announced to the whole world about 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. The angels in heaven rejoice, and men rejoice: all creation plays for the sake of the Savior of the Lord born in Bethlehem: as all flattery of idols ends and Christ reigns forever ".
Christmas, the great day of the entire Christian world, has long been accompanied by colorful folk customs. In many countries, as in Russia, he was considered one of the main family holidays. The Nativity of Christ merged with the ancient Slavic rite- Christmas time. Over time, Christmas rituals turned into Christmas rituals. The Orthodox family had been waiting for Christmas all year; preparations for it were thorough. For six weeks before Christmas we fasted and ate fish. Who is richer - beluga, sturgeon, pike perch; who is 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 January 6th, Holy evening. The evening meal marks the end of the strict forty-day pre-Christmas fast. It is customary for the whole family to gather at the table immediately after the appearance of the first star in the sky, which symbolizes the Star of Bethlehem, which notified the shepherds about the birth of Jesus. There must be 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 made from dried fruits. On the seventh, people only visit relatives and sing carols.
Evening meal on Holy Eve, January 6th.
There must be twelve dishes on the table - in honor of the twelve apostles
In Russia, Christmas Eve comes on the sixth day before Christmas; its name comes from the special food that is traditionally eaten on this day. Sochivo consists of boiled wheat and honey. After the first star rises, everyone sits down at a table set with twelve Lenten dishes and dine in solemn silence. For the Russian people, one of the most fun periods of the year is Christmastide, during which mass celebrations, games take place, songs are sung, everyone has fun and jokes. Also at this time, young girls make fortunes; it is believed that it is at Christmas that one can most accurately predict their 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. Religious celebration begins on the night of December twenty-fourth to twenty-fifth with midnight mass. Despite the extreme similarity in the celebration of Christmas in Europe and America, the features 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 fasting on this day until the first star. In the evening, as soon as the first star rises, the traditional Polish pre-Christmas dinner begins. Beetroot soup, a variety of fish, cabbage, mushrooms and “sweet meat” (not real meat, but a sweet made from honey and poppy seeds) are traditional dishes for such a holiday. True, meat dishes can only be eaten on Christmas Day itself – December 25th.
Americans with Hungarian roots place great emphasis on church services and singing on Christmas Eve and day. Perhaps more than any other Americans, no matter where their ancestors came from. In the evening, they gather in their yards around decorated Christmas trees and wait for the first star to appear. After this, richly seasoned food is prepared: rolls with walnuts and poppy seeds, dumplings with honey and poppy seeds, biscuits with cumin, sesame and anise.
In the southern United States, Christmas is celebrated especially noisily: with fireworks and salutes. Early settlers used this to greet their neighbors. It was also believed that evil spirits were driven out in this way.
A completely different tradition in cold Alaska. On Christmas night, groups of boys and girls with lanterns in their hands carry from house to house a large cardboard star decorated with pieces of colored paper. The next day, the children dress up as King Herod's retinue and try to kill the baby Jesus, thus dramatizing 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 of decorating the table Didukh, a sheaf of wheat or oats of a special shape: with four legs and a large number of knots, symbolizing prosperity in 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 place treats. All this reminds us that the Savior was born not in royal palaces, but in a sheep stable and was laid in a manger on straw. On the morning of January 7, the whole family or several representatives go to church for holiday 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 attached to a stick, decorated with a lantern, paper garlands, sometimes an icon of the Nativity, the Savior or the Mother of God, then with this star singing Christmas carols went around the surrounding houses. Such visits are called caroling.
Carolers
An ancient Christmas custom in Ukraine was (and often remains) walking with nativity scene. Nativity scene was a small box depicting the cave where, according to legend, Christ was born. This box was miniature puppet theater, in which folk craftsmen performed entire performances on the theme of Christmas. In the 19th century, it became fashionable in many city houses to make a small home nativity scene for children. It was placed under the Christmas tree. Dolls were skillfully made from paper, cotton wool, wax, and dressed in brocade and silk caftans. There were also Eastern Magi and angels who praised, 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 a church. Recently, the tradition of building a nativity scene under the Christmas tree has begun to be revived; dolls for it can even be purchased in the store.
Nativity scene
Mummers also went to caroling - they acted out Christmas stories, as well as other Christian stories that enjoyed constant success among the people. These usually included the Goat, Herod, Shepherds, Kings, Jews and even Death. Death is generally an extravagant character. At night, when you see it, you can get scared. Everyone has masks and you will never know whether you know someone underneath them or not. But you should be especially careful with Jews, otherwise they will scam you out of all your money. Moving 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 path to true happiness - through love for others, opening the doors of mercy and compassion.
Participants in theatrical Christmas nativity scenes and carols
Despite the peculiarities of Christmas celebration traditions different nations, 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 Father Frost), and a Christmas tree decorated with toys and garlands. Almost everywhere at Christmas, festive wreaths and bells are hung, and Christmas candles are lit. On this bright holiday, all people glorify Christ, greet each other: “Christ is born!”, and send Christmas cards to family and friends.
Find out more about the New Year and Christmas holidays:
Historical roots of the holiday of the Nativity of Christ. Religious tradition and modern monuments. Features of Orthodox worship and established folk traditions, customs.
The Nativity of Christ - beloved by the people religious holiday, which is reflected in folk customs, a beautiful service, turns to God and speaks of the nearness of salvation. The Orthodox Church calls on everyone to be imbued with the fulfillment of the great plan of the Incarnation. Historically, the discovery of this holiday is closely connected with the period of the formation of Christianity. Deep spiritual religious texts and music were created by prominent religious figures and Christian devotees. The spiritual experience of our people is captured in traditions that are still alive today.
Christmas is one of the most wonderful and beloved church holidays among the people. In order to overcome the barrier that arose after the Fall between people and the Lord, and separated humanity from the joys of eternal bliss, Jesus Christ was sent to earth, who appeared in the guise of a man. He gave hope to every sinner and showed the way to the Kingdom of God. Therefore, the holiday of the Nativity of Christ kindles a flame of faith and bright love in the hearts of believers, giving hope for eternal life and a meeting with the Creator.
history of the holiday
According to legend, when the hour of the Savior’s birth came, the Jews were under Roman rule. Emperor Augustus (Octavius) issued a decree on conducting a national census, for which every Jew had to return to the city where his family originated. The Most Holy Mary and Joseph lived in Nazareth, but were originally from Bethlehem, since they came from the branch of David.
One day an angel came in a dream to the pure and immaculate Virgin Mary and said: “You will be destined to give birth to the son of God from the Holy Spirit and his name will be Jesus Christ.” They went to Nazareth, but it turned out that pregnant Mary and Joseph had nowhere to stay. The place was found just outside the city, in a cattle cave. Here, without pain and suffering, Mary was born as the Infant of God. When the newborn Savior was swaddled and placed in a manger, the cave was filled with heavenly radiance. A star, called the Bethlehem star, lit up brightly in the sky. She became a sign of the birth of the Son of God for the Magi.
Advice. Go to confession in Church! When you repent, all your sins will be forgiven.
An angel of God announced to the shepherds guarding the flocks near Bethlehem about a great event, and they were the first to worship Christ and tell everyone about his birth.
Prophecies about the birth of the Messiah were recorded in the texts of the Bible. Therefore, the Magi followed the Star of Bethlehem with rich gifts that were presented to the Savior. These offerings are deeply symbolic and personify: gold - the power of the King, incense - a tribute to the Divine nature. In other words, the legend says that God led simple shepherds to faith through the heart, and through the mind - learned scribes and pagan magicians.
A tragic event is associated with the appearance of the Magi: the massacre of infants. The Jewish King Herod feared the appearance of a prophet because he was afraid of losing his throne. He ordered the scribes on the way back to tell where Mary and the baby were. However, Joseph had a vision in a dream that he needed to return home by a different route, bypassing Jerusalem. In anger, Herod ordered to kill all the newborn babies who lived in Bethlehem. The angel managed to lead the Holy Family to Egypt before this massacre occurred, which took the lives of several thousand innocent children.
Subsequently, over the cave in which Jesus Christ was born, Empress Helena built the Basilica of the Nativity. This temple is currently considered one of the main shrines of the Christian world.
When is Christmas celebrated?
The Nativity of Christ belongs to the great twelve church holidays, in which the whole world of God, visible and invisible, rejoices.
Early Christianity did not have the holiday of Christmas on its calendar. It developed under the conditions of Old Testament Judaism, within which it was believed that the birth of a person should be mourned. The tradition of celebration gained the right to exist only after the establishment of Christianity. Moreover, at first the Church celebrated the Epiphany, which symbolized both the birth and baptism of the Savior. Later they calculated the exact date His birth, based on the evidence of the Gospel, was established on December 25. IN Orthodox tradition it was adopted in 379.
In the 20th century, Russia switched to the Gregorian calendar following the countries of Europe. However, the Orthodox Church did not accept the innovation and is still guided by the Julian calendar. This led to the fact that the date of the holiday Orthodox Christmas moved to January 7th. It is preceded by the Nativity Fast, which ends on Christmas Eve (evening of January 6).
Church service in honor of the Nativity of Christ
The celebration of the Nativity of Christ is structured similarly to the Easter service. Starts at 23-00 and lasts until early morning. The service is conducted in Church Slavonic, which most fully reflects the theological depth of Byzantine religious texts in the translation of Cyril and Methodius. On the eve of Christmas, the Royal (Great) Hours are read and the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great, which is combined with the Vespers Service.
Litiya is the introductory part of the service; during it, the prophecies of the Old Testament are read that Bethlehem will be the place where the prophet will be born, predictions about the coming of Christ and his appearance. The all-night service in honor of the Nativity of Christ opens with the joyful singing of the hymn “God is with us.” The choirs sing the kontakion of the holiday and the troparion. In addition to the joyful stichera, prayers are offered for embittered souls, perishing in sorrow, in need of mercy and divine help.
They read the festive litanies and bless the wine, bread, and grains of wheat, and then distribute them to the parishioners; the priest uses the oil to anoint the flock.
At midnight, Christmas Matins begins with the singing of the Six Psalms with the words “Glory to God in the highest...”. Thus, the Church shows that although our soul is a field of struggle between light and darkness, Christ has already come - the true Light who will defeat evil. It reveals the theme of the incarnation of God. Reading the Gospel texts from Matthew testifies to the Nativity of Christ. They glorify Him in hymns and stichera.
This is followed by the Christmas Liturgy, which begins with glorifying psalms and hymns of praise. Instead of the Trisagion, they sing the baptismal hymn from the Epistle to the Galatians. The apostolic reading is taken from the same epistle.
Everyone is recommended to go to confession and receive communion on this holiday.
The celebration of the Council is held on January 8 Holy Mother of God. At this solemn service, worshipers bring as a gift to Christ their sincere, ardent love for the Virgin Mary, who gave joy to the world. For without Her good will there could not have been the Immaculate Conception and the appearance of the Savior.
Celebrating the Nativity of Christ in folk traditions
It is customary to do good deeds and help those in need. In pre-Petrine Russia there was a custom of pardoning repentant criminals and distributing alms on Christmas Day. Rich families secretly donated funds to shelters and hospitals for the poor to save their souls.
The tradition of setting up and decorating a Christmas tree for Christmas came to us from Europe much later. Spruce is an evergreen tree, symbolizing eternal life, the eternity of being with God, personifying the tree of life. And the toys and gifts with which it is customary to decorate it are a symbol of the holy gifts.
Nativity Fast and festive table
The celebration of the Nativity of Christ is preceded by the Nativity Fast, during which individual preparatory days. On St. Andrew's Day (which falls on December 13) and December 19 - St. Nicholas's Day, verses are sung announcing the coming birth of the Lord, and prayers are offered to the saints and the Lord. Fasting is called to deliver the soul from evil and anger, to tame lusts, to purify thoughts and turn them to the heavenly world, so that the soul may receive the grace of the Lord.
During fasting, believers observe the following regime:
– on Mondays, Fridays and Wednesdays only dry food is allowed;
– on Thursdays and Tuesdays it is allowed to eat hot foods with the addition of vegetable oil;
With the appearance of the first star in the sky on Christmas Eve, January 6, the whole family gathers at the Lenten table. There are twelve dishes on the table (according to the number of apostles). After reading the prayer, they eat kutya - a dish of boiled wheat (or rice) and uzvar (dried fruit compote).
Then they start eating. Godchildren “wear it” to their godparents, but more often they spend Christmas Eve with their family. IN Soviet time traditions were partially lost, but to this day many (even unchurched) families celebrate Christmas.
On the morning of January 7, Orthodox Christians set a fast table: they prepare flour and meat dishes, baked goose or duck, turkey, fish, and invite guests to eat with them. It is customary to give gifts to family and friends and spend this day in an atmosphere of love and joy.
The Nativity of Christ has been celebrated for many centuries. The teachings of Christ defeated ancient philosophizing and destroyed heresies. This holiday testifies that God’s providence is for every person. For the sake of humanity, the Lord sent the Son into the world and doomed Him to suffer for the salvation of all Christians. This is a call to correct the sinful nature of each of us through sincere repentance, confession and prayer.
Christmas is one of the brightest and most beautiful days of the year. Perhaps no other holiday has such a rich and mysterious history. And, perhaps, no other holiday unites representatives of different religions and nationalities so strongly.
The origins of the Nativity of Christ are hidden in even more ancient holiday, Epiphany, which commemorated the birth of the baby Jesus. The Day of Epiphany began to be celebrated in the second century in Egypt. By the 4th century, the tradition had spread to eastern countries, and a century later it came to the West. It is curious that the Day of Epiphany was dedicated to three events in the life of Jesus: his birth, the appearance of the wise men before him with gifts, and his baptism in the Jordan River.
The Nativity of Christ began to be celebrated as a separate holiday only at the end of the 5th century.
According to the Gregorian calendar, Christmas falls on December 25th. It is on this day that the holiday is celebrated by representatives of the Roman Catholic and Protestant churches. Orthodox Church The Gregorian calendar is still not recognized, so the Nativity of Christ is celebrated according to the New Julian calendar, two weeks later, on the night of January 6-7.
Events of the Nativity of Christ
All the events of the birth of baby Jesus, a descendant of King David and the Messiah, are described in detail in the Gospel of Matthew. In his commentary on the Gospel, New Testament scholar Barclay states that Mary and Joseph, the parents of Jesus, were on their way to Bethlehem for a census. Unable to find a place in a hotel, they decided to spend the night in a cave not far from the city. When Mary went into labor, Joseph ran into the city for help. But, returning with the doctor, he saw that his wife had already given birth. Thus was born a man who became the central figure of Christianity.
Symbols of the Nativity of Christ
The birth of the new Prophet and King of the Jews was announced to the whole world by the Star of Bethlehem, which showed the Magi the way to little Jesus. Some researchers claim that the Star of Bethlehem is Halley's Comet, which streaked across the sky on the night Jesus Christ was born. That is why the Star of Bethlehem is one of the main symbols of the holiday and can often be seen on icons depicting the baby Jesus and the Virgin Mary.
Another important attribute of the holiday is the Christmas tree. When the king of Judah learned of the birth of Jesus, he ordered the killing of all the male babies who were born that day. Mary, saving the baby Jesus from death, goes to Egypt. They hid in a cave for the night, and covered the entrance with spruce branches. That is why the spruce is still a symbol of Christmas, because spruce branches saved little Jesus' life.
Who celebrates Christmas?
Christmas is celebrated by representatives of the Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant churches. For Muslims, Christmas is a completely different holiday that lasts 7 days. Nowadays, Christmas is official holiday and a day off in many countries of the world, including Russia.
