When to celebrate Christmas. Beliefs for Christmas: conspiracies and omens What religions celebrate Christmas on January 7

Nativity of Christ: history and traditions of the holiday of kindness and light

On January 7, Orthodox Christians will celebrate one of the most important and solemn holidays in the church calendar - Christmas.

history of the holiday

According to the Scriptures, the Blessed Virgin Mary gave birth to Jesus Christ in Bethlehem during the then census. The city was overcrowded with people who had arrived for the census, and no one had places to sleep in their houses. Mary and Joseph settled in a stable, where they spent the night with their pets. At the moment of birth, a star appeared in the sky, which showed the Magi the way to the baby. The wise men entered the stable and presented their gifts to the future Savior: gold, incense and myrrh (special fragrant oil).

When is the holiday celebrated?

Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on January 7, in contrast to Catholics who celebrate it. This tradition arose in connection with the introduction of the Gregorian calendar in Europe in 1582. In Russia, only in the twentieth century they began to use the European chronology. The Church, however, did not accept the new calendar at all and continues to count Christian holidays according to the Byzantine calendar partially reformed by Peter I.

What Happens Before Christmas?

Before the holiday, the Orthodox observe a 40-day fast, one of the longest in the church calendar.

On Christmas Eve (Christmas Eve), everyone gathers at the festive table. It is customary to spend this quiet pre-Christmas evening in the circle of the closest people and wait for the first star to appear in the sky, which will herald the beginning of the holiday.

Photo: Sergey Bobylev / TASS

What to cook for Christmas?

Believers usually set a 12-course table. The main one on the night of January 6-7 is sochivo - wheat grains with honey, nuts, raisins or dried fruits. After the first star appears in the sky, Orthodox Christians should begin their meal with it, and then move on to the main dishes.

Kissel is important and symbolic on the festive table. It is prepared exclusively from the most ripe and sweet fruits or berries. If desired, it can be supplemented with a broth - dried fruit compote. In addition, there must be a fish dish on the table - a symbol of Christianity and Christ.

The main rule that all Orthodox Christians try to adhere to is that the Christmas table should be especially generous and rich. In addition to juicing, jelly and fish, you can add aspic, goose with apples, chicken, young stuffed pig, pancakes and much more. For sweets, it is customary to serve gingerbread cookies, sweets, nuts and fruits.

How to receive guests?

For Christmas dinner, it is customary to invite and let into the house everyone who needs it. On this day, one should please those who cannot afford a traditional holiday. There is a belief that the Lord himself may come to the dinner in honor of the Nativity of Christ, but it is not known in what guise he will appear. It is quite possible that this will be a needy person, so strangers must be received with great respect.

Photo: Smertin Pavel / TASS

What is Christmas caroling?

In some villages and villages of Russia, the tradition of caroling at Christmas is still widespread.
This custom is rooted in Christmas carols, which in the old days were called carols. Believers went from house to house and sang ritual songs - this is how they glorified the Nativity of Christ. Such songs can not only talk about Christmas, but also praise the Almighty, family, children and human life itself. It is customary to treat carols with gingerbread, sweets, fruits, and also give them a small amount of money.

There is a holiday in Russia Nativity of Christ is celebrated annually on January 7 and is an official day off. This religious religious holiday is firmly rooted in the families of Russians, and they celebrate it with all the honors and traditions. Careerist.ru congratulates all citizens on the bright holiday of Christmas, wishes every family prosperity, joy and boundless happiness. Let the grief pass by your home and each new God-given day brings only pleasant moments.

Happy Nativity of Christ, dear Russians! Live peacefully and may good luck always be on your side.

The history of the origin of the holiday of Christmas

They begin to celebrate it when the first star appears in the sky, which is a symbol of the Star of Bethlehem, which led the Magi to the newborn baby Jesus.

Christians in the distant II-IV centuries celebrated Christmas on January 6, and this holiday was called Epiphany, our ancestors associated with the holiday of Epiphany. Already in the 4th century, Christmas began to be celebrated on December 25th. In 1918, after the Christian Church switched from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar, and the Orthodox Church did not celebrate Christmas, Orthodox Christians were postponed to January 7th.

After 1918, the Soviet government completely banned the celebration of Christmas. All the customs and traditions of this festival were observed only in a narrow circle of families, especially in villages and small towns. It often happened that the supporters of the celebration of Christmas were persecuted by the authorities. Only in 1935, the Soviet government resumed the traditions of celebrating Christmas, but Christmas trees, feasts and festive traditions have now become not Christmas, but New Year's. Only in the 90s of the last century in Russia began to celebrate Christmas more actively, observing almost all the church traditions of this holiday.

Christmas traditions

Although they begin to celebrate Christmas in the evening of January 6, it is usually preceded by Lent, which lasts 40 days - from November 28 to January 6. Those believers who observe fasting, do not eat meat, read prayers, attend church services, and are spiritually cleansed.

On the evening of January 6, when the first star appears in the sky, the family begins a festive dinner. Christmas in Russia is considered a family holiday; on this evening it is customary to dine with a close family circle, and invite friends and visit on January 7th. After the family has had supper, the faithful go to church for the liturgy, which lasts until the morning.

Kutya is considered a traditional Christmas dish for Orthodox Christians. It is prepared from rice or wheat with the addition of nuts, honey, poppy seeds, raisins or dried apricots. It is also customary to set the festive table with 12 lenten dishes, which personify the 12 apostles of Christ. Of the drinks on the festive table, there must be an uzvar - a compote cooked from dried fruits and rose hips. Traditionally, there should be an empty plate with cutlery on the table; it is put for a meal for deceased relatives.

In some regions of Russia, the tradition of carols is widespread.

Young people walk from house to house with a nativity scene, sing traditional carols, glorify the owners of the house, and they, in turn, give the carollers sweets or money. The traditional attribute of caroling is a star, which is cut out of cardboard or any other rough material, decorated with ribbons, and the image of the Mother of God is placed in the center.

There is also a tradition when godchildren bring kutia to their godfathers, and godparents give toys, sweets and money for wealth and prosperity.

It is not customary to give gifts at Christmas, this tradition is observed on New Years.

Christmas decorations and divination

Since Christmas comes after the New Year, the house is already decorated for this holiday. In families, it is customary to put a Christmas tree, pine or spruce, which is dressed up in toy decorations and garlands, and a star traditionally flaunts on the top of its head. Although many Russian families no longer use a star as a finishing touch to decorate a Christmas tree.

The whole house is decorated with New Year and Christmas attributes - snowflakes, wreaths with ribbons and illumination. At Christmas, it is customary to cover the festive table with a new tablecloth. Some housewives, who observe all the traditions of the festival, put cloves of garlic under the tablecloth, driving away evil spirits from the house and its inhabitants, and coins that attract wealth are a symbol of prosperity, prosperity and health.

There is also a tradition to put an ax under the table at Christmas, if all family members put their feet on it during dinner, then this year they will strengthen their health and spirit. This tradition is now a little forgotten and is not adhered to in all regions, and many do not even know about its existence.

As for fortune telling, this tradition is especially interesting for young unmarried girls. The period of Christmas fortune telling begins on the night of January 6-7 and lasts until January 19 - the holiday of Epiphany. This is the time when many are looking for answers to their questions, trying to reveal the secrets of their future, want to know if their wishes will come true. Young girls guess at their betrothed and in every possible way try to find out when they are destined to get married. Most often they use mirrors, the name of a young man, candles.

What not to do on Christmas

On Christmas Day, women are not allowed to sew, wash, clean and iron, and men are not allowed to hunt.

If you quarrel with someone on January 7, then the current year will be in disagreements and quarrels. It is best if unmarried girls do not turn to fortune-telling on January 6 and 7, otherwise they may be accompanied by failure in their personal lives for a whole year. It is also not customary to have bad thoughts and intentions on the holiday of Christmas.

As for the labor market, it traditionally freezes during the New Year and Christmas holidays. Work is available for animators, taxi drivers, leading corporate parties and celebrations, as well as service workers. It is better to start looking for a new job from mid-January, at which time many companies have a budget for the current year, which opens up the possibility of finding new employees.

Recently, there have been often disputes over the date of the celebration of the great church holiday. It is due to the fact that after the transition to the Gregorian calendar, Orthodox Christians began to celebrate it on January 7, and Catholics still adhere to the previous date - December 25. European countries are making a proposal to define one day.

Why are there two recognized dates, designated as the Nativity of Christ, when a person can only have one birthday? There is no catch, and the main reason is related to the transition to another calendar, which not everyone recognized. Catholics and Protestants continue to adhere to the old tradition. No matter how the dates change, depending on the style used, the holiday will always be celebrated.

It's not worth arguing about the correctness of the chosen date. It is better to delve into history and figure out what exactly this is connected with. Consider traditions and study the signs that work on this bright day. We know little about this date, the only thing that everyone understands is that it is a family holiday, so it must be celebrated in the circle of relatives, and many other rules that I wrote about earlier must be observed.

Why do Catholics celebrate Christmas on December 25, and Orthodox Christians on January 7

It is not the date of the celebration that differs, but the calendar used. Old-style churchgoers celebrating December 25th use the modern Gregorian calendar. Others also remember the Birth of the Son of God on December 25, but according to the Julian style, and starting from the 20th century, the date began to fall exactly on January 7.

This was not always the case, and the number may change again, because the difference between the calendars is gradually increasing, as it is a variable value. The Julian calendar, developed by a group of astronomers and used by Julius Caesar, includes 365 days. The report starts from January 1, while in a leap year that comes every 4 years - 366 days. But, this calendar was inaccurate, because for 128 years, an extra day is going.

In 1582, changes took place, and the calendar was replaced by a more accurate one - the Gregorian one, named after Pope Gregory. According to the decree in 1582, after October 4, October 15 immediately began. The rejection of the Julian calendar first affected the Catholic, and then the Protestant countries.

In Russia, the Gregorian calendar was introduced much later, already during the Soviet era. But, out of 15 autocephalous churches according to the old style, there are 4, namely: Serbian, Russian, Georgian and Jerusalem and the Athos monastery. The remaining 10 churches work according to the New Julian calendar, which remains relevant until the year 2800.

After this, the error will increase in increments of a day, and in the 22nd century, descendants will celebrate Christmas not on the 7th, but on the 8th, although the date itself remains unchanged. In the opinion of the churches that have adopted the Gregorian calendar, the only correct and justified decision is that the remaining 4 churches and the Athos monastery switch to this style.

Attention! What date to celebrate Christmas is not so important, the main thing is to treat this holiday with understanding, to observe its traditions.

All about the feast of January 7 Christmas

Christmas is a bright holiday of peace and goodness, therefore it is celebrated not pompously and on a grand scale, but rather modestly, in a warm family or friendly atmosphere. Traditionally, on this day, houses and temples were decorated with coniferous, pine or spruce branches, and a nativity scene was built. What is a nativity scene - the very stable in which the baby was born, who is God's Son Jesus. Divine services are held in all churches.

Until this day, believers observed a strict 40-day fast to purify their thoughts and get rid of sins. On this day, parishioners break their fast, prepare a festive table. The day is spent with family, close and close relatives. There is some unspecified tradition - to visit elderly parents and grandparents on Christmas. But, the main thing is not a table and company, but purity and bodies, therefore every Christian believing in God must visit the temple, say a prayer.

The service in the church lasts all day on January 6 and turns into evening and night, and then morning. By tradition, a large dining table was set right in the church, the clergy gathered after prayers, fed the elderly and lonely old people, the poor.

January 7 Christmas on which calendar

Orthodox Churches: The Russian Orthodox Church, the Athonite Monastery, Catholic and Orthodox communities adhere to the old, Julian calendar, so Christmas for them comes later. The holiday is celebrated on January 7, and the day before that the many-day Christmas fast ends, Christmas Eve begins.

Is it correct? Unlike European countries, in Russia the festive New Year's Eve falls on the days of strict fasting. This brings its own limitations, but true believers are willing to put up with it.

Signs and traditions for Christmas

Signs and customs applied at Christmas may differ depending on the region. This is due to the habits of people and their general foundations. The Christmas holiday has a special meaning - a lot of remarkable things happen these days. Consider the main signs associated with the weather:

• a large snow cover on the ground or a strong blizzard on January 7 - early warming, leaves on trees will appear in March;
• many stars in the sky on Christmas Eve - expect a good harvest;
• the holiday fell on the new moon - there is no need to wait for the harvest.

There are signs associated with the day of the week on which the holiday fell:

• monday - warm and fruitful summer;
• tuesday is a favorable year for marriage, the life of newlyweds will be a "honeymoon";
• wednesday is a good year for anglers and hunters;
• thursday - for a long winter;
• friday - short and cold summer;
• saturday - large harvest of grains and legumes;
• sunday - the year will be very favorable in all areas.

There are traditions and signs that have a connection with the festive table:

1. The main dish is kutia, because all housewives try to cook it correctly and tasty. If the food does not work out, it will be thin - losses are possible.
2. There should be bread and Cahors on the table - to prosperity and well-being.
3. The meal begins after the first star appears in the sky.
4. Before you sit down at the table, you need to open the front door for a few minutes - so everything bad will leave the house.
5. At the Christmas table, everyone should be well-fed, everything that has been prepared should be served.

Attention! On Christmas morning, Christians performed a simple ceremony to find out if the coming year would be "healthy." To do this, in the morning the hen was given a handful of grain and a glass of water. If the bird first eats, the year will be favorable, decides to drink water - wait for diseases.

Another sign - do not rush to be upset by spilling something on the table by accident. Nothing bad will happen because of this, on the contrary, a small oversight promises well-being.

Where Christmas is celebrated

They celebrate a great religious holiday in many countries, but traditions often differ, and not even within the country, but within the city or in a particular family. The only thing that remains unchanged is a family holiday, therefore even young people refuse noisy festivities in favor of a secluded "evening" with relatives.

A visit to the temple is an obligatory ritual, because it is a spiritual holiday. A person first purifies the soul and body by observing a strict fast, and then confesses and repents.

For Christians, this holiday is more important than the New Year, because all its traditions are observed unquestioningly. The whole family gathers at the festive table on Christmas Eve - January 6, waiting for the first star to appear, trying kutya.

Who celebrates Christmas on January 7

• Russian;
• Serbian;
• Georgian;
• Jerusalem.

• Russia, Belarus and Ukraine;
• Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova;
• Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina;
• Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia.

The rest of the Orthodox countries: Bulgaria, Romania and Greece, celebrate Christmas on December 25, because they switched to a new style.

Attention! There are many parishioners of the Romanian Orthodox Church in Moldova, therefore December 25 is considered a holiday (day off). This rule also applies to Belarus - there, the days off in honor of Christmas - 25.12 and 7.01 annually.

Why is Christmas celebrated on December 25 and January 7

Pope Gregory XIII approved the Gregorian calendar in 1582. It became a worthy replacement for the Julian, which did not accurately correct for leap years, which caused a lag in time to accumulate. Gradually, many European countries adopted it, and the calendar became finally correct in the 20th century.

The Russian Empire came to the revolution in 1917 with the old calendar, but the existing government corrected this - on January 26, 1918, the so-called "new style" was approved.

The Russian Orthodox Church did not recognize such a transition and retained the "old style". Since 1923, Christmas has been celebrated twice in different countries: Catholics on January 24-25, and Orthodox Christians on January 6-7.

Do's and don'ts for Christmas

Christmas is a religious holiday, therefore it is customary to turn to God with prayer on this day. Ask him for mercy, indulgence and favor. If possible, parishioners can attend the service, light a candle and read a prayer for the health of loved ones. Upon returning from service, a candle should be lit at home and installed near the icon. It is better to sit at the table after prayer.

The Church has never imposed prohibitions on labor, contrary to popular belief, especially if sewing, knitting and embroidery is not a hobby, but a full-time job. There is another controversial ban. You can hear that the church allows fortune telling on January 1, 14 and 19, but this is not correct. Looking at the future without a command is not permissible.

Attention! The main number of prohibitions is nothing more than fiction and the church refutes their existence.

Shopping trips are not prohibited at this time. It is believed that large or enjoyable purchases made at Christmas not only cheer you up, but also help improve family well-being. You should not refuse alms, but you should only give it to people who inspire confidence.

The main prohibitions for Christmas associated with signs:

1. You cannot lend money - the whole year will pass in monetary worries.
2. Swearing and scandals are unacceptable on any religious holiday. Quarrels, especially between close relatives, rob their ancestors of the chance for soul salvation.
3. Fortune telling is a pagan rite forbidden by the church. Do not darken the holy day with them.

Another prohibition is interesting, which does not have a clear justification and explanation. According to him, you cannot drink clean water at Christmas, it is better if it is a drink: juice, uzvar, tea. According to one version, a person who has drunk water will spend the whole year in need and disease.

The traditions of celebrating the Nativity of Christ remain unchanged, despite the fact that the holiday is celebrated in different countries on two dates - December 25 and January 7. This is due to the use of different calendars by the church - Julian and Gregorian. The Russian Orthodox Church refused to switch to the new style and did not support the initiative spread by Catholics and Protestants. How true this is is difficult to judge.

When Christmas is celebrated in Russia on January 6 or 7 - this question is asked by many Russians, especially on the eve of this big holiday. In order to understand what number the Orthodox date of the birth of Christ falls on, you need to turn to the Great Nativity Fast.

The date of the Nativity of Christ does not change, it is the same every year. This day begins immediately after the end of the forty-day fast, which began for Christians back in November 2019.

When Russia celebrates Christmas in 2020

The Nativity of Christ is one of the main holidays of Christianity. Every year this event is celebrated on the same day, immediately after the end of the forty-day Christmas fast.

Finding out when Christmas will be is not hard. It is necessary to count from the beginning of the fast, and it begins on November 28, 40 days - this ends the fast and immediately begins the celebration of the birth of Christ. This holiday falls every year on January 7th. That is why it will be very easy to remember this date. You can spy on the day of Christmas in the Orthodox calendars that are sold on every corner.

For many Russians, Christmas is a big holiday. That is why January 7, 2020 is a day off. Throughout Russia during this period, Christmas markets are opened, folk festivals with dances and competitions are held.

Believers must attend church on this day in order to defend the service and pray to the Lord for salvation and health. After home, they set the table, call the guests and cheerfully celebrate the birth of Christ.

What is celebrated in Russia on January 6, 2020

For Orthodox Christians, a long fast is coming to an end, which ends with the Nativity of Christ. Russians begin to prepare for this holiday on January 6 - this day is called Christmas Eve.

According to church rules, there is still a fast on Christmas Eve; you can only eat after the first star appears in the sky, which notifies the world about the birth of Christ. The same star showed the Magi the way to the newborn Savior.

On Christmas Eve, it is customary to cook different dishes from morning to evening, thus preparing for the main holiday. In the old days, people went to carol on January 6 in the evening to relatives and friends. This tradition is still alive today. On January 7, Christmas carols are sung to celebrate the birth of Christ.

According to polls, 85% of Russians know about the Nativity Fast, but not all of them observe it. Many Russians have also heard of Christmas Eve, the day that comes before Christmas. However, most celebrate on January 7, many without going to church with their families.

In Russia, on January 6, Christmas markets open, New Year's festivities continue, which smoothly turn into Christmas ones and will last until January 12, 2020. However, all people officially go to work right after Christmas.

Why is Christmas celebrated in Russia on January 7

Nobody knows the exact date of birth of Jesus Christ. Even the Bible is silent about this. Despite this, Orthodox Christians celebrate this day every year on January 7th.

Christmas is the oldest Christian holiday. He appeared during the time of Christ's disciples. Clement of Alexandria pointed out this holiday in his writings in the 2nd century. Despite the fact that the exact date of the Savior's birth is unknown, it was still customary to celebrate this day on December 25 according to the old style, but when the calendar changed, Christmas fell on January 7. On this birthday of Christ, I celebrate four churches - Russian, Georgian, Serbian and Jerusalem. Also Christmas on January 7 is celebrated by monasteries that live according to the Julian calendar.

The difference in the date of celebration on December 25 and January 7 speaks of different chronology. There is a Gregorian calendar that appeared in Europe in 1918 and the Julian calendar according to which the Russian Orthodox Church lives. Due to different dates, the difference between the holidays is 13 days.