How to celebrate Christmas properly

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

Fragrant pudding, ruddy turkey, Jingle bells children's tunes. Thanks to Hollywood movies, we know perfectly well what it is - European Christmas. We know much less about our Russian Orthodox Christmas. For many families, this holiday is just an addition to the New Year. But if you remember about traditions and include imagination, you can turn this day into a real miracle for the whole family.

WE CHANGE YOUR TREE

In order for the New Year tree to turn into a Christmas tree, you will have to change it: remove the balls, garlands and tinsel and, alas, remove Santa Claus and the Snow Maiden. Do not be sad, soon your spruce will become even more festive than before. By the way, the tradition of decorating a Christmas tree is from Germany, and came there from ancient pagan rites. It was once believed that spirits live in conifers, and people “placated” them with gifts and decorations. And when the spruce became an attribute of Christmas, a tradition arose to decorate it with biblical symbols, depicting the ascent to the Shelter of the Newborn.

So, you will need:

- an eight-pointed star for the top (symbol of the Star of Bethlehem);

- a picture with the Baby, the Virgin Mary and Joseph;

- Christmas tree decorations: angels, birds, lambs and other animals;

- figurines of men (they will represent shepherds and magi);

- a garland of light with candle-shaped lamps (a symbol of bonfires that illuminated the way for the shepherds and magicians).

In the center of the spruce, closer to the top, place a picture with the Baby, the Virgin Mary and Joseph, decorate the top with an eight-pointed star, fix the shepherds and magi on different sides of the spruce, above them - angels, birds and animals. Finally, decorate the spruce tree with a garland of light.

QUIET PARTNER

Christmas Eve in pre-revolutionary Russia was always spent modestly - both in the imperial palace and in peasant huts. According to tradition, on this day - the last day of the Nativity Fast - you cannot eat until the first star appears, and when it lights up in the sky, the table is served juicy - hence the name "Christmas Eve".

This is a rice or wheat dish with nuts and candied fruits, flavored with honey and reminiscent of porridge. In total, on this night, there should be 12 lenten dishes on the table - according to the number of the apostles.

Of course, it is not necessary to follow the traditions exactly and set such a table. You can invite your loved ones to just be together this night, so that by the light of the Christmas tree lights and with a sincere conversation, you can feel the approach of a great holiday.

SHORTED MY, SHORTED

It was believed that on the night before Christmas, good and evil are in conflict in the world: the first called to praise the Nativity of Christ, and the second - to enter into communion with evil spirits, including fortune telling. Of course, most of all the girls were interested in amorous questions: when to expect marriage, whether the betrothed will be rich, etc. The girls let their hair down, took off their crosses - this was supposed to attract spirits.

You must understand that fortune-telling is a pagan relic, the church never approved of this. But if you do not take predictions seriously, fortune-telling can become an innocent entertainment in the circle of friends.

Alina, 19 years old:

CITY "KOLADKI"

With the onset of Christmas, Christmastide begins and lasts twelve days. These days, young people in costumes and masks walked around the villages. They knocked on the windows of houses and sang "carols" glorifying Christmas, Jesus Christ and hospitable hosts, who responded with treats and coins.

Of course, caroling in a modern city is difficult, but if you are with a big fun company, it can be an unforgettable adventure.

Anastasia (26 years old):

DIY VERTEP

In the 16th century, a nativity scene became an integral part of Christmas - a puppet theater made of a box, where a manger with figures of the Infant, the Virgin Mary and Joseph was placed, and figures of shepherds and animals were placed next to it.

Christmas night performances were staged in temples and villages. Children were the main spectators. You can build such a theater at home - from scrap materials.

Natalia, 30 years old:

EVERYONE IS HERE

Perhaps the main tradition of Christmas is a family feast. Back in tsarist Russia, returning from the Temple, families gathered at a large table, invited all godchildren and godfathers. We helped ourselves, sang songs and exchanged gifts.

A Christmas gift doesn't have to be expensive or practical. The best option is a handmade souvenir. For example, a Christmas tree toy or a beautiful postcard. The beauty of hand-made gifts is that they are made with a soul, and at Christmas this is the most important thing.

Priest Roman Beglyansky: “It is important that the celebration of the Nativity of Christ be not only physical, but also spiritual. So that the festive service is not a mechanical obligation, and the family feast is empty gluttony. If it is hard for you to defend the night service, do not suffer, do not generate annoyance within yourself. Stay in the Temple as long as you can, or at least go to the morning liturgy. It is great if at the festive table there is a place not only for refreshments, but also for joint prayer. But treats should not be neglected either."