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Christmas is one of the most beloved holidays of Ukrainians, because many interesting rituals are associated with it. On this day, the Savior, Jesus Christ, was born, after which the unity of man with God took place. At Christmas, the whole family gathers together at a large table. Everyone eats delicious meals, sings carols and enjoys the warm atmosphere.
The date of the celebration of Christmas is somewhat different for representatives of different faiths. Orthodox Ukrainians traditionally celebrate it on January 7, and representatives of the Catholic and Protestant churches celebrate it on December 25. In recent years, there has been a trend towards celebrating Christmas exclusively on December 25, according to the Gregorian calendar. Christmas is preceded by a strict fast lasting 40 days. It ends on Holy Evening – the evening before a big holiday.
Holy evening is traditionally celebrated on December 24 and January 6. The whole family gathers at the table, where there must be 12 Lenten dishes. This number was not chosen in vain, because there are exactly so many months in a year. There is another version – 12 dishes are made due to the fact that Christ had such a number of apostles.
Lean meals should not contain meat, fat, lard, milk and eggs. Therefore, the following dishes are traditionally prepared for the Christmas holiday:
Bread is also an invariable component of the meal. It must be baked by the hands of the mistress of the house on the day it is served on the table.
Until January 6, the housewives must definitely clean the house and renew all the tools. You also need to make supplies for the winter – buy firewood, flour, honey and other products. Decorate the icons in the house with new towels and greenery.
Holy evening is an integral part of a great holiday. The whole family should be at home this evening and gather together for a meal. In no case should you swear and swear. Children must be obedient and help adults. You can not work hard, do needlework or ordinary household chores.
Everyone sits down at the table with the appearance of the first star. After all, it was the Star of Bethlehem that once indicated that Jesus Christ was born. They begin the meal with a prayer and lighting a candle, as well as blessing the dinner. This mission is assigned to the head of the family.
On the morning of January 7, when Christmas comes, people congratulate each other on the holiday. To the phrase “Christ is born!” respond with the words “Praise him!”. On this day, everyone goes to church to pray. They also visit their relatives to congratulate them on the birth of Christ. The fast ends, so meat dishes are allowed again.
The celebration of Christmas is associated with many traditions that are loved by both adults and children. They need to be told in more detail. A very important and indestructible tradition is caroling. People of all ages gather in groups and go from house to house. They carry with them a large star on a stick, symbolizing Bethlehem. They always ask the owners for permission to carol. Having received this permission, they sing songs with pleasant wishes to the owners. For this, carolers receive various delicacies and money.
Previously, only adult guys used to carol. But today there are no restrictions – adults, young people, and children of both sexes do it. The owners should not ignore the carolers and not open the door for them. Such an act can bring bad luck for a whole year. And if you open the door and thank the guys for their efforts, this will take evil spirits away from the house.
The nativity scene is one of the most famous traditions. This is the name of the mobile puppet theater, where performances were previously shown. Through theatrical action, the glorification of God took place. The scene of the nativity scene was decorated, and the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos with the Infant Christ was placed at the back. Inside the den itself, stars were painted in the windows, as well as crosses.
The puppets themselves were pretty simple. They were formed from wood and put on clothes from pieces of fabric of different colors. Puppeteers guided them through narrow openings in the stage. Spiritual verses and stories about the Savior were recited during the nativity scene. The performance lasted no more than 20 minutes.
Those who wanted to know at least a little about their future could do this at Christmas. This is because Christmas divination also belongs to the traditions of this holiday. The most popular were fortune-telling on the betrothed on a shoe or towel, as well as fortune-telling on cups. Dreams from January 6 to 7 were considered prophetic.
Our ancestors also practiced a rather interesting custom. The head of the family was supposed to “hide” behind a plate of pies on Holy Evening. After that, he asked if he could be seen. According to tradition, the children answered that they could not see. Then he wished the house such prosperity that the table was completely hidden behind pies.
And here are some more interesting traditions:
And, finally, the most important tradition is the forgiveness of all insults, so that peace settles in the soul.
Many people associate a bright holiday with all kinds of treats. There must be at least 12 dishes on the table at Holy Evening. But, despite this, you should never overeat. Be sure to try only kutya, because this is the most important dish of the table.
In different regions of Ukraine, special dishes are put on the festive table. These include Christmas beans and donuts, sometimes even replacing kutya. There is also mushroom borsch, Cossack appetizer and crucian carp in sour cream.
For example, Catholics on the eve of the holiday eat the so-called payment. This is a bread made from unleavened dough, which is broken right after the meal. On December 25, Catholics treat their family and guests with a festive turkey. This is the main dish that must be on the table at Christmas.
Do not remain without refreshments and carolers who visit houses and sing songs. The owners give them everything they have. These are sweets, cookies, apples, nuts, fruits and, of course, money. Carols very strongly unite adults and children. They have the opportunity to feel the spirit of the holiday as much as possible and get goodies as a bonus.
As noted earlier, Catholics celebrate Christmas on December 25th. For them, this holiday has a special religious significance. It symbolizes faith in Jesus Christ and reverence for him. Representatives of the Catholic Church adhere to Advent (from November 15 to December 24). This is the time when they confess their sins, setting a spiritual goal for themselves. This may be abstinence from intimacy or food. Catholics during the Advent period do not eat meat, milk and dairy products. In addition, they reduce their portions 1-2 times a day.
When a star appears in the sky, each family should sit down at the table. Before eating, the main person in the family reads a prayer and breaks bread (payments). Lenten meals are eaten for dinner – fish, fruits, nuts and bread. After the meal, everyone goes to the temple for Mass, which begins at midnight. In the morning, the second Mass takes place, which is a symbol of the emergence of new life. And the third Mass is being held in the afternoon. Directly on December 25, meat dishes are put on the festive table.
Orthodox Ukrainians celebrate the birth of Christ on January 7, according to the Gregorian calendar. And for them, this holiday symbolizes family reunion. The main differences between the traditions and rituals of the Orthodox and Catholics:
Unlike Catholics, Orthodox Christians hold only one night service. Family members visiting it congratulate those who stayed at home in the morning. After that, all the relatives pray together and sit down to have breakfast.
Despite differences in approach, the true spirit of Christmas remains the same. And the holidays that began on January 7 last until January 19 (Water Baptism).
Christmas is celebrated in many countries of the world, but everywhere it has its own characteristics. For example, the United States has many unique traditions for celebrating the birth of Christ. On Christmas Eve (December 24), a family dinner is held where everyone exchanges gifts. Americans decorate their homes not only inside, but also outside.
The main dish on the table is a baked turkey, and the dessert is a fruit cake. During the Christmas holidays, parades are held in the streets. The symbol of Christmas is Santa Claus, so children expect gifts from him.
In other countries of the world, there are no less interesting traditions:
Christmas is one of the brightest holidays for people all over the world. It is associated with family gatherings, gifts, songs and a feeling of incomparable joy. This is a great day for Christians when the Savior of the world incarnated in man. The celebration of this day comes with prayers, songs, good wishes and glorification of Jesus Christ.
Observance of rituals and traditions makes each person much closer to his origin. Therefore, immersing yourself in the atmosphere of Christmas and learning its history is very important. Let this day pass in a cozy atmosphere and in the circle of loved ones. Let your thoughts be bright and your heart filled with love.
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