Among the peoples of Europe, the days of Christmas celebrations coincided with the twelve-day cycle of pagan festivals dedicated to the winter solstice, which marked the beginning of a new life and the renewal of nature (Saturnalia among the Romanic peoples, winter Christmastide among Russians, kolyada among Ukrainians, etc.). Therefore, in different countries, the holiday of Christmas has absorbed many of the rites and customs of these festivals. These include carols - costumed processions with a star and chants, an evening meal on Christmas Eve, consisting of 12 lenten dishes.
Ukraine
In Ukraine, the celebration of Christmas begins on the Holy evening - January 6. The evening meal on the eve of Christmas is accompanied by many traditions and rituals. On the eve of Christmas, the church prescribed a strict fast - the whole day before Christmas, believers were not allowed to eat or drink. Supper on Holy evening was for them the first meal that day - it was the end of the 40-day pre-Christmas fast. One could sit down at the table with the appearance of the first star in the sky, in memory of the Star of Bethlehem, which announced the birth of Christ to the shepherds.
The main dishes for the Ukrainian Holy Evening are “kutya” - wheat or rice porridge with honey, poppy seeds and raisins, and uzvar - dried fruit compote. In total, there should be 12 lean dishes on the table on Holy Evening, among which in the old days they cooked lean borscht with mushrooms, peas, skits, fish dishes, dumplings with cabbage, buckwheat porridge, cabbage rolls with rice, lean pancakes, mushrooms, pies.
On the first day of Christmas, January 7, they hardly visited. Only married children (with a daughter-in-law or son-in-law) had to visit their parents in the afternoon, they said that they were taking "dinner for grandfather." For a long time in Ukraine on Christmas caroling - singing carols. Carols - the majestic ritual songs of the winter cycle - are popular in modern Ukraine as well.
Also, Christmas fortune-telling is common among young people. In Ukraine, it is believed that it is on the "holy" days that one can most accurately predict the future. Therefore, girls take advantage of the moment and try to predict their fate.
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Belarus
In Belarus, as in Ukraine, Orthodox Christmas is celebrated as a public holiday. Christmas Eve or the Eve of the Nativity of Christ is celebrated on January 6. The name "Christmas Eve" comes from the special food prescribed for this day by the church charter - sochiva: soaked and boiled grains of wheat or rice, often with honey, as well as beans, peas and vegetables.
According to tradition, the dinner on Christmas Eve is a lavish but lenten 12-course meal in honor of the twelve apostles. On this day, upon arrival from the church after the morning service, believers refrain from eating until the first star appears in the sky, which symbolizes the star that ascended over Bethlehem at the time of the birth of Christ.
On the night of January 6-7, Christmas services are held in Orthodox churches. Traditionally, since pre-Christian times in Belarus, January 6-7 - First Kolyada - the end of the six-day fast, the beginning of holidays and evenings. This holiday is known to all under the name "Big kutia", which was celebrated in honor of the winter solstice (December 24, old style).
The second kutia (Generous or Rich Kutia) was celebrated a week later, in anticipation of the New Year, on December 31, old style. The third Kutya ended the Kolyada holidays on January 6, according to the old style.
Russia
It looks like the celebration of Christmas in Russia. Christmas is preceded by Christmas Eve. According to the monastic charter, on this day, it was supposed to eat only juicy - boiled wheat (or rice) with honey at the meal. The name of the holiday comes from this dish.
On the day before Christmas, food and drink could not be consumed until the first star. As soon as the star appeared in the sky, the pre-holiday supper began. The table was covered with a clean tablecloth, and they ate in solemn and strict silence. According to a long-standing tradition, there must be 12 dishes on the Christmas table.
From time immemorial, on Christmastide in Russia, it was customary to dress up, arrange funny games, go home, wake up sleeping people, congratulate everyone they meet with the turn of the sun for the summer, and later, after the adoption of Christianity, Merry Christmas, joke and sing songs. The carols ended with general fun, roller coasters, a general feast.
Armenia
In Armenia, Christmas is celebrated on January 6, and the Baptism of Christ is also celebrated on the same day. Preparations for Christmas begin on the evening of January 5, when the Christmas Eve Liturgy is served. On this day, believers light a candle in the church and carry it home to illuminate the house and prepare for the feast of the Nativity of Christ. The next day, January 6, the Christmas liturgy is served in the morning. Further, the feast of the baptism of Christ is carried out with the ceremony of blessing the water.
Traditionally, at Christmas in Armenia, rice pilaf with raisins, fish and red wine are served on the table.
Georgia
In Georgia, at Christmas, believers perform the Alilo procession in accordance with a tradition that has a long history. The main protagonists of the festive procession are those who carry the good news. They are dressed in white robes and with chants they notify all passers-by about the birth of the Savior.
Serbia and Montenegro
In Serbia and Montenegro, Christmas Eve, January 6, is called Badnidan. Among religious holidays, it takes an honorable second place after Easter, but among family holidays, Christmas for Serbs comes first. Nativity of Christ in Montenegro (the so-called Bozic) is a holiday for parents and children.
On this day, before sunrise, the head of the family and his eldest son, with a shot from a gun in front of the house, announce that they will go to the forest for the "badnyak". Badnyak is a log of felled young oak, which every Serbian family must have in its home during the Christmas holidays. The log is chosen of such a size and weight so that the head of the family himself, on his shoulders, can bring it into the house. According to tradition, it should burn in the family hearth during all three days of the holiday.
At dawn, the family members who stayed in the house kindle a fire and begin to roast a piglet, specially fed for Christmas, on a spit - "liver", the women prepare Christmas cake, cakes and other dishes.
On the night before Christmas, dinner should be fast. At dawn, church bells ring, people put on festive clothes and go to church for the Christmas liturgy. After the service, a prosphora is taken to the house. All greet each other with the words: "Christ was born!", And in response they hear: "Truly was born!" This greeting is observed until the Feast of the Epiphany (January 19).
All family members are treated to hot rakia and dry fruits in anticipation of Christmas dinner. Then the owner brings the liver onto the table. The liver should bring health and well-being into the home. Sauerkraut, stewed cabbage with smoked pork meat, pie with kaymak, "prebranats" - boiled beans with vegetable oil and onions, etc. are served to the table.
The culmination of Christmas celebrations is the refraction of pogachi, a homemade flat cake made from unleavened dough. The hostess in the morning kneads the dough for the pie and puts a gold or silver coin into it.
The owner cuts off the left side of the liver, takes the heart out of it and distributes it piece by piece to all family members, who immediately eat it. Before lunch, the owner of the house lights a candle on the table, or a censer, and carries them around the icons and everyone present, and the children carry the censer around the house. Then everyone sings the festive troparion or Our Father.
Then it's time to break the pogachu. It is first twisted in a circle, then an incision is made in the form of a cross and wine is poured into the resulting cut, only after that it breaks. Everyone gets a piece of the pie, and the one in whose piece the coin is found will be happy for a whole year.
In cities where there are no open hearths, stoves and badnyak, small “bouquets” of oak branches tied with a bundle of straw are sold in the markets and on the streets before the holiday.
Albania
In Albania, a noticeable percentage of the population in the country professes the Orthodox type of Christianity, so Christmas is celebrated quite widely. All the attributes characteristic of the holiday are present - a Christmas tree, gifts, feasts. The holiday is celebrated on January 7th.
Greece
Greek Christmas (Christougenna) has also absorbed popular superstitions and folk beliefs. On Christmas Eve, carols are common. Greek children go from house to house and sing songs announcing the coming of the Savior.
Christmas in Greece is celebrated with the family, the main part of the holiday is the plentiful table. According to the Orthodox tradition, the Christmas holiday is preceded by a fast of several weeks.
Greece is one of the few countries that has its own evil Christmas perfume. Legend has it that Callicantzaros, evil-looking elves, bring chaos to the house for 12 days after Christmas. Protection from spirits is given by burning incense or a small offering. Also in many families a small wooden cross is decorated with basil and dipped in a flat bowl of water. According to legend, water becomes holy after this procedure, and then it is sprayed in the corners of the house to scare away evil spirits.