An Orthodox xmas

The fact is that some Orthodox churchesuse the Julian calendar, while most Catholics switched to the Gregorian calendar. So, the Julian calendar is used by the Russian, Georgian, Serbian and Jerusalem Orthodox Churches. Also the Julian calendar is used by the monasteries of Athos, Ukrainian Greco-Catholic Tsekovsky and other Catholics of the Eastern rite, some Russian Protestants. Christmas on the Julian calendar (Orthodox Christmas) is celebrated on the night of 6 to 7 January.

Orthodox Christmas ends Christmas post, lasted 40 days (hence its other name - the holy Fourteen month). A particularly strict fast is observed on the eve of the holiday, in Christmas Eve. On this day you can not eat and drink until the appearancethe first star (in memory of the Bethlehem star, heralding the birth of Jesus Christ). As soon as the first star appears in the sky, they are having supper. This dish is from boiled wheat with honey (wheat can be replaced with rice). From the word "osovo" comes the word "Christmas Eve".

The second day of Christmas (January 8) is also a holiday. He is glorified by the Mother of God, "the joy of the world that gave birth," and this day is called Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary. On Christmas days the memory of the firstChristian martyrs. Among them are martyrs babes in Bethlehem beaten, Nicomedia martyrs and apostle first martyr and archdeacon Stefan. Also in Orthodox Christmas it was customary to take care of the needy and the infirm.

AT first Sunday after Christmas glorify the righteous Joseph (the father of the earthJesus Christ, the betrothed of the Virgin Mary), King David (ancestor in the flesh of Jesus Christ) and Jacob (brother of the Lord). Jacob accompanied Joseph, Mary and the Infant Jesus to Egypt.

The festive time lasts two more weeks after Christmas. This period is called Saints. These are holy evenings from the birth of Jesus Christ toBaptism of the Lord. Christmas trees are divided into two parts: the holy honor lasts from 7 to 14 January, and terrible evenings - from 14 to 18 January. The terrible evenings received their name in memory of the murder of innocent babies by King Herod. The people believed that holy fortune-telling allows you to predict the future most accurately, and did not miss the opportunity to betray the betrothed.

Orthodox Christmas is accompanied by solemn worship, and at home a rich table is waiting. At Christmas it is customary to cook 12 courses; they symbolize 12 apostles and 12 days of Christmas. A traditional Christmas dish is chunks. It's porridge, which is brewed from whole grains of wheat, barley or rice and is flavored with honey, sugar or a full honey. In the kutu can also add nuts, raisins, milk and jam.

Besides kutya, the Christmas table is served brew. This jelly or compote of dried fruits (usually -apples, pears, cherries, raisins, prunes, and apricots). Why these two dishes? The fact is that in Orthodox Christmas nothing is done just like that. Chest and kutia have a special, symbolic meaning. Kutya is accepted to serve at funerals and wake ceremonies, handing out people for the mention of souls. Chest is cooked at the birth of a child. Thus, kutya and vvar remind us at the same time of the birth and death of Christ.

Another Christmas tradition is carols. Initially, carols were ritual songs, timed to the pre-Christian ceremonial holiday - Kolyada. With the advent of Christianity in Christmas carols, the birth of Jesus Christ began to be glorified.

In many countries, Orthodox Christmas ispublic holiday and official day off. Unfortunately, now Christmas is gradually losing its original meaning, becoming for people only one more non-working day.