The most important points related to the coming Christmas were explained by the representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Did Jesus himself celebrate Christmas?
“I'm not sure that the Lord himself celebrated his birthday,” explained Bishop Panteleimon (Shatov) of Orekhovo-Zuevsky. "Christmas was not celebrated by the apostles, in the first centuries this holiday was not."
Why are we celebrating?
The Day of the Nativity of Christ was established by the Church in honor of an event that happened on earth 2018 years ago; this is one of the 12 main holidays of the annual liturgical cycle. The story of the birth of Jesus Christ contains the Gospels of Luke and Matthew. The Nativity of Christ is a great twelveth holiday.
On Christmas night from 6 to 7 January, a festive Divine Liturgy is performed. On the very day of Christmas, believers celebrate and feast - break their fast (now it is allowed to eat not only lenten food, but also meager food). The twelve days following Christmas are called holy days, or Christmastide.
What is the most important thing on this day?
The main thing in the Christmas holiday is not at all the topic of breaking the fast or gifts. The main thing is, of course, the liturgy. Rather, like this: on the feast of Christmas, two liturgies are performed. Participation in them is considered the main element of the celebration of the Nativity of Christ.
Promotional video:
The communion of the Holy Mysteries is the main joy and the main event for those who are preparing for the holiday by the forty-day Nativity Fast. It is very important to receive Holy Communion on January 6, on Christmas Eve, and to be at the service, if there is such an opportunity, from the very Great Vespers, in order to hear wonderful stichera - the highest example of church poetry.
How to celebrate the New Year?
The New Year can be filled with spiritual meaning and celebrated in a completely Orthodox way. Indeed, there is nothing bad in a friendly feast, in communication. So the New Year is a great occasion to get together, take stock, and remember the past. But it should be celebrated modestly, in a lenten manner and, of course, with prayer. Although you can, of course, not celebrate the New Year at all and confine yourself to New Year's prayer service.
Where does the tradition of decorating a Christmas tree come from?
By the end of the XIX century. the holiday of Christmas has become not only religious, but also secular. In the Russian Empire, the law forbade "on the eve of the Nativity of Christ and during the Christmastide to start games according to old idolatrous legends and, dressing up in idol clothes, dance and sing seductive songs along the streets."
By the beginning of the XX century. An indispensable attribute of Christmas both in the city and in the village has become a decorated Christmas tree, gifts for which Father Frost, the Russian analogue of Western Santa Claus, brought.
During the Soviet period, Christmas, like other religious holidays, was eradicated by the state. And the Christmas tree has become an attribute of the New Year celebration. After the collapse of the USSR, the reverse transformation did not take place - the New Year remained the main traditional holiday.
When can I eat?
Talking (that is, eating for the first time after fasting) follows after the end of the Christmas liturgy. If you go to church at night, you can break your fast immediately after returning from service, and if in the morning - then in the morning.
Yulia Tutina
