When is Christmas in 2021 for Orthodox Christians in Russia

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

All Russians know when Orthodox Christians have Christmas in 2021, but few can tell today how this church holiday was celebrated in Russia. Let's get acquainted with the traditions and tell why Russia celebrates the Christmas holidays after the New Year.

Why is Christmas celebrated in Russia after the New Year?

In the modern world, the Christian faith covers 1/3 of the entire population of our planet. In 158 states, it is professed by the bulk of the inhabitants, including the majority in Russia.

Christmas begins the calendar year of church holidays in the Russian Orthodox Church, as it is celebrated after the New Year. In the Catholic Church, this holiday precedes the New Year and completes the church calendar.

This happened due to the fact that the Russian Orthodox Church uses the old chronology, calculating calendar days according to the Julian calendar, while the secular one is compiled according to the new style of chronology - the Gregorian. The Catholic Church also adheres to the new style, so the Christmas holidays are celebrated there before the New Year.

In Russia, the New Year has been celebrated since 1917 in a new style, and church services are conducted in the old way. As a result of the resulting difference of 13 days, it turns out that Christmas in Russia is celebrated on January 7, after the New Year.

In the Julian calendar, which the ROC adheres to, this date falls on December 25, which corresponds to the difference of 13 days between the Gregorian and Julian calendars.

The meaning of Christmas in the Orthodox tradition

In the Russian Orthodox Church, the holiday of Christmas is considered the second most important after the Bright Resurrection of the Lord. It is dedicated to the birth of the Savior, whose birth completely changed the fate of this world.

The Gospel says that the prophets of the Old Testament predicted the birth of the baby Jesus 6 thousand years before his birth. The prophets of the biblical period knew that at the moment of the birth of the divine infant, a star would rise in the east. It was this star that led the Magi to the baby Jesus, who was born in Bethlehem.

They came to bow to the king, whom the world had been waiting for 6 thousand years. The Magi, passing through ancient Jerusalem, informed King Herod that the king of the Jews had been born. However, the latter decided that the baby who was born would take the throne away from him, and decided to kill him.

King Herod did not receive information from the Magi about where exactly the Jewish king was born, so he decided to exterminate all babies under the age of 2 in the city. This atrocity made Herod's name synonymous with evil.

King Herod did not know that the divine baby was protected by angels, one of whom appeared to Joseph and ordered him, together with the pregnant Mother of God, to urgently leave Jerusalem and go to Egypt. During this journey, the Virgin Mary gave birth to Jesus in an ordinary manger in Bethlehem, where the wise men of the old world came to worship the future Savior.

All these events are celebrated in Christian worship. The holiday itself is considered one of the brightest and most joyful. Before Christmas, as before an important Orthodox holiday, it is customary to fast, but not as long and not as strict as before Easter. Fasting ends on the night of January 7, as soon as the first star rises in heaven, announcing the birth of the Savior.

Christmas traditions in Russia

The winter holiday of Christmas in the Orthodox Church was and is still considered one of the most beloved dates for believers. In the pre-revolutionary era, it was customary to go to all-night vigil in church from January 6 to 7 according to the new style, or from December 24 to 25 according to the old style, and then sit at home at the festive table, which was bursting with food.

In addition to Christmas itself, Christmas Eve, the evening of January 6, was of great importance. It was named after the dish - sochiva, with which it was customary to start breaking the fast. These are soaked grains of wheat, which were mixed with honey, raisins, nuts and dried fruits.

The Christmas tradition includes:

1. Celebration of Christmas Eve on the evening of January 6, new style, or December 24, old style.
2. Visiting churches where the all-night and festive liturgy is held.
3. Carols with a Christmas star, during which they praise the baby Christ. Such traditions exist mainly in rural areas. Children and youth are engaged in caroling. For this they are given festive treats in every house.
4. Organization of nativity scenes with the recreation of the manger and the adoration of the Magi.
5. Decorating Christmas trees in cities. The tradition in Russia was introduced by Peter the Great at the beginning of the 18th century. The Russians liked it so much that the Christmas tree is still being erected.
6. Celebrating the Christmas week after Christmas.
7. Celebrating the New Year on the night of January 13 in the new style (or December 31 in the old style).

When they start celebrating Christmas in 2021, Orthodox Christians in Russia will have a series of holidays, which, in addition to the holiday of Merry Christmas itself, include Christmas Eve and Christmastide. At this time, it is customary to guess, visit guests, invite relatives and close friends to the house. Christmastide is celebrated until Epiphany, which comes after the old New Year.

Summarize

1. Orthodox Christmas is always preceded by a time of abstinence, which ends at the moment the first star appears in the sky on January 6 in the evening.
2. At Christmas in Russia, it is customary to decorate Christmas trees for children.
3. In the countryside, they still go to caroling.
4. It is customary to celebrate Christmas with the whole family at a common table, where the best dishes are served.