Christmas Eve before Christmas is an Orthodox tradition. Table traditions in Holy evening. Church Traditions for Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve. A time filled with mystery and mystery. It is on Christmas night, which begins from the moment the first star appears in the sky, that miracles happen. Today, the most cherished desires come true if you make them when you see a shooting star. And this holy evening, which was called Christmas Eve, has many more interesting rituals, traditions, signs.

For many of us, Christmas Eve is associated with the evening before Christmas. Indeed, the evening of January 6, according to all church canons, is called Christmas Eve. But you can still meet a similar name on the eve of other great Christian holidays. Christmas Eve is mentioned before Epiphany, that is, on the evening of January 18th. Christmas Eve is mentioned in church literature and before the Annunciation, as well as on the first Saturday of Great Lent in honor of the memory of Theodore Tyrone.

Traditions of Christmas Eve

In fact, on Christmas Eve, Christians prepare to celebrate the most important church events. And such evenings got their name, as a special dish is served on the table - juicy.

Sochivo is prepared from wheat, which is soaked in sweetened water or seed juice. Less commonly, sochivo is made from peas, barley, or lentils. It is supposed to add honey, fruits, seeds, nuts.

This dish is always eaten first at the evening meal. This tradition is very ancient.

Christians attach special importance to Christmas Eve before Christmas, as this holiday is one of the most majestic and important. A winter fast precedes Christmas, which brings believers closer to the solemn moment. On the night before Christmas, a solemn service is held, a night liturgy is held. There are not so many such services throughout the year, so it is especially solemn and unique.

Traditionally, no one sits at the table on Christmas Eve until the first star. It is this sign that is associated with the Star of Bethlehem, but there are no notes on this subject in the church charter itself.

It is from Christmas Eve that winter folk festivities begin, which will last for two whole weeks, until Epiphany. These festivities are called Svyatki.

history of the holiday

The first Christians considered Easter the most important holiday. The tradition of celebrating Christmas appeared only towards the end of the 3rd century.

Interestingly, Christmas and Epiphany were not immediately separated. And there was a single holiday - Epiphany, which, according to the old style, fell on January 6th. This tradition has been preserved, for example, in the Armenian Church.

But Orthodox Church The Moscow Patriarchate celebrates two holidays. This is Christmas on January 7th and Epiphany on January 19th. Therefore, there were two winter Christmas Eve, before each January Christian holiday.

Modern and Ancient Christmas Eve Customs

The first thing that comes to mind when mentioning Christmas Eve is funny carols. The youth wears carols around the village, singing ritual songs.

But Christmas Eve is still a lot of interesting rituals and traditions. Not all of them are related to church canons, but they are observed with pleasure by Orthodox and atheists.

Great importance attached to what will be on the table during the supper. Since the Advent fast has not yet ended, and January 6 is considered especially strict in terms of nutrition, they try not to eat food during the day.

Hostesses prepare for the evening 12 meatless dishes, each of which had its own meaning. The table could be quite plentiful, but always lean. Placed on the tables:

1. kutya, symbolizing sacrifice;
2. peas like rebirth;
3. cabbage - a symbol of reliability;
4. borscht - education of willpower;
5. cabbage rolls are a sign of God's love;
6. fish - a symbol of Christianity;
7. kasu - procreation;
8. dumplings - wealth;
9. pancakes are a symbol of light;
10. pies - health;
11. uzvar - a symbol of life and purification;
12. donuts are a symbol of eternal life.

And only the next day, when the Advent ended, rich tables were laid, and the celebration of Christmas began.

Congratulations on Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve came to every house. So Christmas is coming soon. Snowflakes swirl outside the window, firewood crackles in the fireplace. It's a warm, cozy home evening. And may there be goodness and happiness in your house. After all, today a star lit up over Bethlehem. Let on Christmas Eve every little thing, every moment bring joy and, of course, the heart overflows with faith.

And on Christmas Eve

We'll go caroling.

Let's be happy and healthy

In every house we call.

Let Christmas Eve gather everyone

Us at the festive table.

May the family be together today.

Will call prosperity to the house.

They call it Christmas Eve or just Christmas Eve. Also, this date was called the First Kutia, the First Kolyada or Kuteinik. Back in the first centuries new era The celebration of the eve of the Nativity of Christ was established. Gradually, this was combined with the tradition of celebrating the eve of major holidays.

Christmas Eve: traditions, customs and signs

Many traditions, signs and rituals are associated with Christmas Eve. On this day, we observed the presence and amount of frost, the condition snow cover paid attention to the starry sky:

1. A lot of snow, a lot of hoarfrost and deeply frozen ground - to a rich harvest of bread.
2. If on January 6 the paths are black (i.e. the snow loosely covered the ground or melted) - there will be a good harvest of buckwheat.
3. On Christmas Eve, the sun shines brightly - towards the green year.
4. Snow on the ground, like manure for the harvest.
5. What frost on the trees that day, such will be the color on the bread.
6. How many days before Christmas frost will occur, how many days before the weather will be favorable for spring crops.
7. If frost occurs before Christmas Eve, then bread must be sown before, and if frost appears after Christmas Eve, then it can be sown after Peter's Day.
8. Starry sky on Christmas night - to an excellent harvest of peas.
9. If the stars in the sky shine on the night of January 6-7, there will be many mushrooms and berries.
10. If there are few stars in the sky, then there will be few berries too.
11. The Milky Way is dim - to bad weather. If a Milky Way bright and full of stars - to sunny weather.

Great importance was given to dinner on Christmas Eve. Usually the huts were cleaned cleanly, and the table was covered with hay or straw and covered with a clean white tablecloth made of natural material. Straw and hay reminded of the manger where the newborn Jesus lay.

According to tradition, they fasted and did not eat until the first star appeared in the sky. Returning from the church, a lamp was lit at the icons, wax candles were placed in front of them and a prayer was read, and then they sat down at the table in solemn and strict silence and had dinner.

The main dishes of this meal were kutya (boiled grains of barley, wheat, later rice, sweetened with honey) and vzvar (non-alcoholic drink made from pears, apples, cherries, plums and other fruits boiled in water). Also on the table were cabbage, kvass, wheat porridge, bread from the grains of the last harvest, dried berries. A lit candle was inserted into one of the loaves. Spoons and remnants of dinner were left on the table until the morning. Sometimes the kutya was placed not on the table, but under the image in the front corner.

On Christmas Eve they spent whole line magical rites aimed at fruit trees bearing fruit, bread born, established good weather, livestock multiplied poultry and livestock.

On this night, the cattle were given abundant food, and the chickens, on the contrary, tried not to feed. It was believed that this would discourage the birds from digging in the garden, especially in the spring, when seedlings or seeds were just planted.

An obligatory dish on the table was pancakes, which were also given a special meaning. The first baked pancake was given to be eaten by a cow or a sheep. Sheep and sheep's fleece were considered a symbol of happiness, prosperity and fertility. In various mythopoetic systems, the sheep symbolizes simplicity, timidity, meekness, tenderness, innocence, sacrifice and patience. In Christianity, sheep act as a symbol of the Savior. Often, a sheep or a lamb is depicted next to Jesus. The folk version of the Christmas events played out during Christmas time by Ukrainians, Belarusians, Poles and Russians necessarily included an episode of worship of shepherds with lambs to the Baby who was born.

In some places, bonfires were lit on Christmas Eve so that the souls of deceased relatives could come and warm themselves by the fire. They also believed that wheat would be better born from this fire.

It was a common custom to leave a treat for Frost. They tried to propitiate him in every possible way so that in the spring he would not beat vegetable seedlings, spring bread and flowers on fruit trees.

Christmas Eve opened time Christmas divination. The peasants wondered about the harvest and the weather, and also tried to find out what awaits them in next year. Girls and young unmarried women they told fortunes about a betrothed and marriage.

January 6th: Do's and Don'ts

On Christmas Eve, it is advisable to get up early, wash your face and read a prayer. It would be nice to go to church, pray for the health of relatives and friends, confess and take communion. If you quarreled with someone on the eve of the holiday, then try to make peace. cooking festive dishes must be in good mood. People who adhered to the Advent fast do not eat on January 6 until 18.00. Lenten dishes should be present on the table that day, preferably at least 12. This number symbolizes the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ.

It is impossible on this day to swear, swear, condemn someone. Try to be positive. Also, you can not clean, otherwise the whole year in your house there will be quarrels from scratch. Before 15:00 all preparations must be completed. It was at this time that the temples were preparing for the solemn service.

Cover the table with a beautiful tablecloth, take out festive dishes. During dinner, turn off the lights and light candles to fill the house with living fire, which is a protection from evil spirits and everything bad.

Video: Christmas Eve (Christmas Eve)

Today, unfortunately, the great church holiday, Christmas Eve, has already been forgotten. What it is, now only a few know. And in the time of our great-grandmothers, he was glorified more than Christmas. Let's talk about how we prepared for this day and how our distant ancestors celebrated it.

What is the Christmas Eve before Christmas?

Where did the name of this holiday come from? It turns out that from the word "sochivo" - this is a dish that was prepared specially on this day to treat all households. To do this, the hostess soaked scalded grains of cereals (wheat, barley, lentils, rice) in seed juice (poppy, almond or nut). The dish turned out lean. Oil was not put into it. Only the addition of a spoonful of honey was allowed to make the meal more nutritious. Sometimes it was replaced with kutya. People used Sochivo on this day in imitation of the biblical prophet Daniel. This parable refers to the Old Testament times. The pagan Julian the Apostate, wanting to show off the believing fasting people, ordered all the food in the market to be sprinkled with the blood of animals sacrificed to idols. Then the prophet Daniel ordered his youth-novices to eat soaked grains and dried fruits. So the believers were able to avoid taking a defiled pagan meal.

When is it celebrated?

Our distant ancestors loved Christmas Eve very much. When it begins, everyone knew, from young to old. The holy tradition of its celebration was honored and passed down from generation to generation. It is noteworthy that many years ago Christmas Eve was celebrated not once a year, but several. So, on December 24 (according to the old style), or January 6 (according to the new one), people celebrated the eve (eve) of the Nativity of Christ. It is this day that is commonly called Christmas Eve. But they also observed this tradition on the eve of Theophany - January 5 (old style), or January 18 (new), and on the Annunciation, and on Saturday of the first week of Great Lent.

Christmas Eve in different countries

Many states today celebrate this great church holiday. The Russian Orthodox and Greek Catholic churches honor him on January 6 (according to the Julian calendar). From January 7 to January 19 - the time of Christmas time (when Christmas Eve has already ended). What it is, they know now, perhaps, only in the villages. How these two holy weeks are spent will be described below. Countries that follow the Gregorian calendar celebrate Christmas Eve on December 24th. It is noteworthy that the name of this holiday in different states is different. So, in Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, this is Badnyak, or Badnidan, in Slovenia - Sveti večer, in Bulgaria - Weekday evening, in Ukraine - Svyatvechir.

Orthodox Christmas Eve

It is known that this holiday is preceded by a strict one that lasts from November 28 to January 6. On Christmas Eve, it is customary for the Orthodox not to eat until the first star. Its appearance is associated with the legend of the Star of Bethlehem, which announced the birth of the holy baby. In the evening, people did not gather at the table and did not sit down to have dinner. This could be done with the appearance of the first light in the sky. After that, our ancestors set the table with a snow-white tablecloth, put a bunch of hay on it in memory of the manger where the Savior was born, and put twelve Lenten dishes - according to the number of the disciples of Jesus Christ. They ate sochivo and praised the Lord.

Tradition in Catholicism

Before Christmas Eve they cleaned the house, trying to look into all corners. And then they heated the bath hot, washed and changed clothes. People believed that both the body and thoughts should be kept clean. So before you sit down festive table, they lit candles at the icons in the house and created

Folk omens for Christmas Eve

On a holiday, they put a white tablecloth on a table and lit it with the words: “Burn, candle, righteous sun, shine on the souls in paradise and on us, the living, warm the mother earth, our cattle, our fields.” If the light burns merrily, it means that the year will be prosperous and fruitful, if it blinks and trembles, you will have to tighten your belts.

In the evening they looked out the window: if the night is clear and starry, the summer will be generous for the harvest of berries, and the year will be good for the offspring of livestock.

If a snowstorm broke out before Christmas Eve, the bees will swarm well.

What date is Christmas Eve? January 6. The height of the Russian winter. It was expected that frosts would rage in the yard at this time. However, this is not always the case. The thaw could suddenly start. And if it suddenly happens on a holiday of drops, then you should not wait for a good harvest from your garden. But buckwheat will certainly be good.

On a holiday, frost on the trees - to good bread.

Festive worship in the church

How does the church celebrate Christmas Eve? At Orthodox people to this day, the tradition has been preserved after the evening meal to visit the temple in order to perform the all-night Christmas vigil. There, at this time, a service is performed, consisting of the Great Hours with the reading of passages from the Gospel and a brief accomplishment of the Pictorial. It passes as follows: the clergy read prayers on the pulpit and put on. Then comes the time of Great Vespers with the reading of proverbs and the Liturgy of Basil the Great, at the end of which the Great Blessing of the Water is performed.

And here is how the Catholic Christmas Eve is celebrated in the church. Here, as usual, on December 24, Mass is celebrated according to the order of Advent, and Christmas Eve begins at dusk, at midnight. In some European countries and Poland, this service is called "pastor".

We talked about big church holiday preceding the Nativity of Christ, which is called Christmas Eve. What is it, how was it noted, what significance did it have in religion different countries- all necessary information can be found in this article.

On the evening of January 6, the strict Christmas Fast ends, which is observed by true believers, but its end does not come in the morning, but after the first star in the sky, which becomes a signal that the fast is over.

The church name of Christmas Eve is the prefeast of the Nativity of Christ. To understand what it is, and how significant it used to be, it is enough to remember that it was on this evening that the Christmas tree was decorated, and the star on its top symbolized the one on which the stern fast ended and the great and bright Holiday began.

The first star, according to tradition, you need to look out for in the sky, going out into the courtyard, and not see it, even if the sky is covered with clouds - Bad sign. Previously, on Christmas Eve, they did not eat from the very morning, and 13 Lenten dishes were prepared on the table at which they sat down in the evening. Second significant omen in the Eve - he cannot be met in casual clothes because it portends poverty. Out of respect for the feelings of believers, the Main Astronomical Observatory of Russia annually on this day posts information about where and at what time the first star will appear in the sky so that it can be seen.

Note! Christmas Eve is more than a holiday, it is a wonderful eve, which makes believers experience blessed and joyful feelings. They sincerely believe that the wishes made at this time will come true, and the child who was born on January 6 will bring happiness to the family.

The star of Bethlehem, about which they also ask: what is it, according to biblical traditions - a mysterious luminary that appeared in the sky, and with its light led the ancient Magi to the cradle in which the newborn Jesus lay. She brought them there so that they could present gifts to the baby, and thus the star of Bethlehem began to figure in fiction, biographies of saints, icon painting and painting. Church utensils are decorated with a symbol in the form of an eight-pointed star, and in Russian Empire the highest state award, the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called, was in the form of a star with eight ends.

Important! In the Orthodox religion, the Star of Bethlehem is a symbol of the Mother of God and is certainly depicted on all icons with her.

From Byzantium with Orthodoxy came the tradition of considering the eight-pointed star a symbol of God, emitting light. In order for the holiday to be according to all Orthodox canons, you need to go to church for the evening service, and only after that, returning home, you can sit down at the table. The table is still set for Lenten, but, in relaxation of the Nativity Fast, it is already possible to eat at it. vegetable oil and wine.

The 13 fasting dishes symbolize the 12 apostles and Jesus Christ, whose birth, according to Christian canons, is celebrated on January 7, and this holiday is called the Nativity of Christ. An even number of people should sit at the table.

The Christmas table was certainly covered with a white tablecloth, the most ceremonial appliances were placed on it, decorated with ribbons and spruce branches. Almost all family members went to the festive service, and the one who stayed at home served it on the table. One device was placed on the table, and remained empty, a wax candle was lit.

Why Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve is called Christmas Eve because the main dish that was served was sochivo. What is juicy - these are grains of cereals boiled until tender (most often it was wheat), to which oil was not supposed, but a little honey could be added. Poppy, almond or nut juice was added to lentils, wheat, rice or barley. Now it is increasingly being replaced by kutya, which is very similar to sochivo in composition and method of preparation. Sochiv, according to biblical traditions, has its own, separate story. At times when Christian faith experienced persecution, Julian the Apostate, who professed paganism, ordered all products in the market to be sprinkled with the blood of animals so that believers could not fast. The Prophet Daniel, in order to fast, as his faith required, ordered that dry fruits and soaked grains of signs be served to the novices.

Fact! Believing Christians ate sochivo on Christmas Eve to honor those who suffered for the Christian faith.

Now Christmas Eve is called the eve of the Nativity of Christ, January 6 in a new style. But this tradition was observed on the eve of the Epiphany - January 18 of the new style, and on the Annunciation, April 7, and on Saturday of the first Great Lent week, (fasting, which is held according to the calendar calculations of church ministers).

From the first star that appeared in the sky on Christmas Eve, Orthodox Christians began to celebrate Christmas time. This is the period figuratively called by the people “from the star to the water”, that is, from the first star on Christmas Eve to the feast of Epiphany. Not so long ago, there was still a tradition to celebrate Epiphany Christmas Eve. They cooked kutya on it, cooked uzvar (dry fruit compote), sometimes baked pancakes and boiled jelly to honor the memory of the dead. Traditional pea porridge was served, and a little food was set aside on a separate plate on the table for relatives who were no longer alive.

Non-believers, or people of other faiths, do not have to remember the religious background on this day, you can simply pay tribute to the traditions of your ancestors, prepare an elegant festive table, sit with your family and feel the solemn atmosphere of the Eve of the great holiday of Orthodox Christians - Christmas.

Folk traditions and festive dishes

Despite the fact that the strict fast was ending on that day, fast meals were not served on the table - dairy, eggs, meat. The traditional table on Christmas Eve was prepared from vegetables and cereals, to which you can already add vegetable oil and drink some wine. Assortment in Russia and from vegetable dishes you can make a wonderful one - cook a vinaigrette, potatoes, serve pickles and mushrooms, legume dishes, beets with garlic, vegetable salads, pickles, juicy or kutya, uzvar and fruits.

AT great post used bread and pastries without muffins (butter, dairy products and eggs), now lean bread can be replaced with bran or coarse grains.

The festive meal began with the exchange of a wafer received in the church; first of all, they certainly ate kutya or sochivo, and only then - all the other dishes. For dessert, they served rolls with poppy seeds, apples, nuts, cranberry jelly, special gingerbread or honey cakes.

The feast of the Nativity of Christ became the door to wonderful days Christmas time, at which the people rejoiced from the heart. On Christmas Eve, the disguised Santa Claus would certainly come to the children, who would distribute gifts, accompanying them with edifications and wishes.

Bonfires were made from straw and bath brooms, they sang songs that were called carols, and went from house to house with them to beg for treats. They dressed up as animals and arranged games, guessed, performed conspiracies and love spells, gave theatrical performances, danced and sang - they had a lot of fun. About such folk traditions should not be forgotten.

Christmas Eve is the day, or rather, the eve, on the eve of the celebration of the Nativity of Christ.

The last day of the four-week Advent fast, a day during which Christians traditionally abstain from eating until the first star appears. This tradition is connected with the historical legend about the appearance of the Star of Bethlehem, which announced to the magi about the birth of Christ.

The very name "Christmas Eve" comes from the word "sochivo" - this was the name of a special rice or wheat porridge with honey, nuts and raisins. It is such lean food that is intended for this day, as well as vegetables, peas, beans, fish, compote. After all, Christmas Eve is a solemn feast with an invariably defined ritual, both in terms of organization, time and procedure, and in terms of dishes and food.

Christmas Eve Traditions

Long since in Russia last day The Advent fast is associated with many good traditions. In village huts, it was customary to cover the floor with hay, and the table with straw, on top of which a snow-white tablecloth was laid. This was done as a reminder that our Savior was born in a sheep barn, and not in a royal chamber.

Another tradition is carols. From a small box - "nativity scene" (translated from the Slavic "cave"), they arranged an impromptu puppet show, in which actions were played out on a Christmas theme. In the evening they walked around the village with a nativity scene, congratulating the neighbors.

The guys "dressed up" - dressed in fur coats turned inside out, put on animal masks on their faces, and sang Christmas carols.

It was on Christmas Eve, folk beliefs, dominated by two forces - the power of good and the power of evil. The power of good invited people to carol or listen to carols of others and treat them with sweets, glorify the birth of Christ at the fast evening table. The power of evil gathered a coven of witches, raging in their impotence, and pulled them to fortune-telling.

Various rites of divination by a shoe, by a mirror, by ashes, by a ring, by an onion or by a dog's bark have sunk into oblivion, with the rooting of Christianity.

No wonder they say that wishes come true on Christmas Eve. So maybe it's not worth reviving stupid pagan fortune-telling, but simply, on the night before Christmas, look at the sky and try to see a shooting star. And if you are lucky, and you will see a shooting star on this Christmas night, ask the born Christ to fulfill your cherished desire.

Do not miss this time, otherwise you will have to wait another whole year. Miracles often happen on the night of Christmas!
On the table on Christmas Eve there should be twelve Lenten dishes - according to the number of the first apostles. The meal should be started in the evening, after the evening service and the appearance of the first star. Until then, no food or drink is consumed throughout the day.

Only the next day, on the very feast of the Nativity of Christ, on January 7, after the solemn Liturgy, meat dishes are allowed.

After Christmas Eve, Christmas time begins. Continuing until Epiphany (January 19) two weeks of winter holidays.

Dishes for Christmas Eve

The first obligatory dish on Christmas Eve is sochivo - a grain of bread soaked in water, honey, broth or gravy. Until the end of the 19th century, the Eastern Slavs had rye as this grain, later, mainly wheat, and the wealthy people had rice.
Also, obligatory dishes in the Christmas Eve ritual feast are baked fish, preferably in its entirety (you can replace it with boiled fish), and a thick broth from whole or halves of various fruits (pears, apples, plums, apricots, figs, quince, raisins). The broth differs from the usual compote in a higher concentration. In addition to the broth, berry jelly is also boiled.

The full Christmas Eve menu is as follows:

1. Sochivo.
2. Rice or wheat kutya with raisins.
3. Baked or boiled whole fish.
4. Boil or compote from whole fruits or sour berry jelly.

The number of dishes can be expanded to twelve, and the remaining dishes can be nuts, vegetables, lenten pies and gingerbread. The symbolism of such a table is the birth of Jesus Christ. Grain soaked in water - as a symbol of the beginning of life, germination. Compote from whole fruits or fruits processed into liquid jelly - symbolize the full maturation of life and its end.

These two dishes - the first and the last - are symbols of birth and death.

And all together, the dishes are a reminder of the grains and fruits brought to Christ by the Magi on the day of His birth.
The Christmas Eve meal is a symbolic ritual of the birth of Jesus Christ.

It should be a quiet and modest pre-holiday dinner, which should be held in the family circle, without long gatherings at the table and empty talk. Christmas celebrations will begin the next day.

Notes for Christmas Eve

Snowstorm on Christmas Eve - to early foliage.
Snowy weather on Christmas Eve - to the grain harvest in the new year.
It was not recommended to sweep rubbish from the hut precisely in the period from Christmas Eve to January 14. Collected in a heap, the garbage had to be burned in the yard.
Peasant children on Christmas Eve climbed under the table and "poked" like chickens - so that the hens would be good.
Greed and stinginess are absolutely not for this time - this is the time of preparation for the great holiday, the preparation of purchases and gifts.
Starting from Christmas Eve the winter is coming for frost, and the sun for summer.
After the onset of Christmas Eve, after the evening church service on that day, it is impossible to do household chores. It is understandable - after all, one of the most important holidays, which is celebrated for three days, is about to come, writes the magazine InFlora.ru.