Christmas holidays or Christmas trees can be safely called the most beloved and cheerful. They are eagerly awaited by adults and children. And all because it is with these holidays associated many beautiful rituals and traditions.
New Year and Christmas holidays
Winter festivities begin with a meeting on the night of December 31 to January 1 of the New Year. The Christmas tree is dressed up, an abundant treat is being prepared. Often, the celebration can take place outside the house, for example, in a restaurant or cafe. Then follow Christmas and Epiphany, among which the people still celebrate the so-called old New Year (New Year's Eve according to the old calendar) or a generous evening (in some regions - Melanku). And if the New Year's Eve is rather a social event, then Christmas is a purely domestic holiday with deep orthodox roots. Therefore, a little about the history of Christmas holidays. These holidays are dedicated to the birth of Jesus Christ, his baptism in the waters of the Jordan River and the worship of the Magi. Between Christmas and the Baptism of the Christian Church (already in 451), there are 12 festive, holy days. Therefore, this period is called Christmas. According to the church canons until Christmas, fasting was observed, it was impossible to sing, have fun, perform various ceremonies. But, in the people these dogmas were never strictly observed. Many are engaged and are engaged till now by sacred guessings, and at a New Year's meeting we cover a rich table. But, nevertheless, some traditions of Christmas holidays are preserved and are observed to this day. So, on the evening of Christmas ( January 6 ), on the so-called Christmas Eve, a table is set for a family dinner. A white tablecloth lay on the table, under which the hay is laid (the memory that Jesus was born in a manger). On the table there are 12 lenten dishes (according to the number of the first apostles), among which there must be a kutya (osobo - where the name Christmas Eve comes from). Meat dishes are allowed to eat at Christmas itself ( January 7 ) after the morning liturgy. The meal begins after the rise of the first star (the memory of the Star of Bethlehem, which ushered in
On Melanku (the meeting of the old New Year), a rich (generous) feast is also arranged, and on the night of January 13 to January 14 they go to give presents - why the evening is called Generous. On Epiphany ( January 19 ) it is customary to dip into the hole (Jordan), cut down in the form of a cross, or to be reserved for the consecrated water in the temple.
It is clear that in modern conditions there is no strict observance of all dogmas. But, if you have a question, how to spend Christmas holidays, remember the traditions of the people.