When and how Christmas is celebrated in different countries of Europe and around the world (Great Britain, Bulgaria, America, Germany, Israel, Portugal, etc.). How do Catholics celebrate Christmas? When is Christmas for Catholics?

Christians celebrate Christmas all over the world. But why the holiday divided believers into two communities that celebrate Catholic Christmas on December 25 and the birth of Christ on January 7, and what the holiday has in common and special among Christians of the Eastern and Western rites - journalists from the website "24" looked into it.

Christmas is one of the most important Christian holidays, which is celebrated on December 25 by Catholics, and two weeks after that by Christians of the Eastern rite.

Christmas marks the birth of Jesus Christ, who, according to Christian beliefs, was sent by God into the world to save humanity. It was this day that divided history into “before” and “after” - with the birth of Christ, the modern calendar called “our era” began.

Christmas has a long history with unique traditions and customs - people decorate Christmas trees, prepare festive dishes, sing carols, go to church and visit relatives.

Christmas is one of the most important Christian holidays, celebrated around the world on December 25 and January 7

Western Christmas traditions

Christmas for Catholics and Protestants is a special and important religious holiday. On the eve of Christmas, people adhere to Advent - a time in anticipation of the holiday, when people pay special attention to spiritual life, some, if desired, adhere to fasting.

The holiday unites the whole family, who reverently decorate the house for Christmas - this symbolizes faith and veneration of Jesus. Among the symbols of this holiday, a special place is occupied by the Christmas tree, as well as the Christmas wreath, mistletoe, straw and gifts.

On the evening of December 24, when the first star appears in the sky, families gather for a Holy Supper of Lenten dishes: fish, platok (lenten bread), fruits, nuts and other things. Before the meal begins, the head of the family reads a passage from the Gospel, the family sings the first carol, then everyone breaks the Christmas bread - the scarf.

Ukrainian carol "Shchedrik" became a world-famous hit called "Carol of the Bells" - video

After dinner, the family gathers at the temple for the Christmas Eve Mass, which symbolizes the unity of the Father and the Son. Mass usually begins at midnight. During it, the priest places a figurine of the baby Jesus in the nativity scene.

The second festive mass takes place at dawn and symbolizes the time of the birth of a new life from the mother’s womb. And the third mass, which takes place during the day, brings the symbol of the birth of Jesus into the hearts of all believers.

On December 25, holiday food is served. The main dish of the table for most Catholics and Protestants is baked turkey, duck, pork, etc.

Children expect gifts from Santa Claus on December 25

Traditions of celebrating Christmas of the Eastern rite

Orthodox and Greek Catholics celebrate the Birthday of Christ on January 7th. For Christians of the Eastern rite, the holiday of the Nativity of Christ is an important religious holiday, but after Easter, which is more important for them.

Every year before Christmas, Christians adhere to a strict Nativity fast, which begins on November 28 and ends on January 7. During fasting, people try to spiritually cleanse themselves and repent of their sins.

On the eve of Christmas, on January 6, the Holy Evening takes place - people prepare 12 Lenten dishes in honor of the 12 apostles of Christ. Traditionally, the table includes uzvar, pampushki, borscht with ears and kutia, which is the main dish of the Holy Evening.

The Holy Supper consists of 12 Lenten dishes

And the family sits down to dinner only after the first star rises in the sky - the owner of the house lights a Christmas candle, says a prayer and blesses the food.

On January 7, people go to worship, and then they go to visit relatives, sing carols and run nativity scenes - mobile theaters with people or dolls that show performances of the birth of Christ in Bethlehem. On this day the Nativity Fast ends.

Kolyada is an integral tradition of celebrating Christmas

How does Western Christmas differ from Eastern Christmas?

Western Christians celebrate Christmas from December 24 to 25, while Eastern Christians celebrate the birth of Christ from January 6 to 7.

The date of Christmas celebration is the same for everyone, the only difference is in the chronology system - Western churches celebrate Christmas according to the Gregorian calendar, and Eastern churches according to the Julian calendar, where January 7 is December 25 according to the old style.

The importance of the holiday is also somewhat different. For the West, the birth of Christ is the most important religious holiday in the calendar, while for the East, more important than Christmas is Easter - the day of the Resurrection of the Lord.

For the Catholic world, Christmas symbolizes a family holiday, when for Orthodox and Greek Catholics it is primarily a spiritual holiday.

In addition, their fast before Christmas is not as severe as that of Christians of the Eastern rite. Before Christmas, Catholics and Protestants celebrate Advent - a month in anticipation of the holiday, during which people try to devote more time to spiritual life and family. Some people fast if they wish.

Both Christian communities have Christmas Eve - a festive dinner of Lenten dishes. Catholics begin the meal with payments or hosts - thin plates of bread with which parishioners receive communion in church. In the Eastern rite, the treat begins with kutya.

Holy evening for believers of the Eastern and Western rites

Orthodox and Greek Catholics have one nightly service at Christmas, which is immediately dominated by Great Compline, Matins and Liturgy. Meanwhile, believers of the Western rite celebrate three Christmas masses separately - at night, in the morning and during the day, which symbolizes the birth of the Savior in the womb of the Father, in the womb of the Mother of God and Jesus in the soul of every Christian.

And on December 25, for most Western believers, the main Christmas dish is roasted turkey or duck. Also, many Christians prepare the so-called Christmas pudding. Such traditions are common in the USA, Great Britain, Germany, France, Greece and other countries.

At Christmas, Catholics and Protestants give everyone gifts that are placed under the tree or in socks from Santa Claus or St. Nicholas.

In addition, they decorate not only the Christmas tree, but the entire house. The decoration must include a Christmas wreath and mistletoe, under which everyone exchanges kisses.

There should also be straw in the house, which is one of the main symbols of Christmas; it represents the manger of Christ. Christians of the Eastern rite, particularly in Ukraine, perform didukh.

What both rituals have in common is caroling. But among Catholics this is not as common as among Orthodox and Greek Catholics, and they usually sing carols in the family circle. But believers of the Eastern rite go to caroling in every home - this is how carolers bring the news of the birth of the Son of God, who will save the world.

Christmas is a holiday of goodness, peace and mercy. The editors of the "24" website wish everyone a Merry and Bright Christmas!

How does Eastern Christmas differ from Western Christmas?

What not to do at Christmas

Like any other religious holiday, Christmas has its own list of prohibitions that must be observed if you want to celebrate the holiday correctly.

The main tradition, of course, is fasting, which lasts 40 days. During this time, an Orthodox Christian is not allowed to consume meat and dairy products, basing his diet on vegetables and fruits. It is believed that only through physical cleansing during this period can a person be cleansed of spiritual sins.

We have collected the most important prohibitions that should not be done on Catholic and Orthodox Christmas:

1. On Christmas Eve you cannot eat until dinner begins.

2. After the Holy Supper, you cannot remove dishes from the table until Christmas itself.

3. Take a closer look at your spruce. There can be no other decoration on the top other than a star, because this is the symbol of Bethlehem, which announced the birth of Jesus.

4. You can't wear old clothes on Christmas.

5. No one is allowed to work, clean or take out trash from the house this day.

6. It is advisable for the family not to quarrel, but to be friendly, so that there are no misunderstandings throughout the year.

7. At Christmas, you should never guess.

8. Do not bypass the needy and poor on this day, but give them alms, because no one can be limited from the joy of the holidays.

Christmas is a holiday of goodness, peace and mercy. The editors of the Channel 24 website wish everyone a Merry and Bright Christmas!

Christmas is a Great holiday in the Christian world, both among Orthodox and Catholics.

history of the holiday

Why was this particular day chosen? Historians have been trying for a long time to find out the true reasons that would lead them to identify the correct answer to this question, but everything is in vain: the truth has sunk into oblivion. What is known for certain is that many Christmas traditions came to us from pagan times. It is likely that the very date of the celebration of this day is also connected with ancient pagan events.

It is likely that December 25 was chosen according to the events of Ancient Rome, when the “Birthday of the Invincible Sun” was celebrated around the same period. There is also a strong opinion that the date of Christmas was calculated relative to the day of the first celebration of Easter, which, in turn, was calculated from the summer solstice, minus nine months. Whatever the truth, today it no longer matters much, since Christmas is a great religious holiday on which wishes come true and a new period in life begins.

What date is Catholic Christmas?

According to Catholic traditions, Catholic Christmas is celebrated annually on December 25, including in 2018.

It is a public holiday in more than 145 countries. We will not be able to list them all; we will indicate only a few of them.

These countries have only one day off, that is, December 25: Jordan, Canada, Mexico, Portugal, Republic of Korea, USA, France.

Countries with two days off - December 25 and 26: Great Britain, Hungary, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Finland, Croatia, Sweden. There are also two days off in Belarus - December 25 and January 7.

Countries with three days off from 24 to 26: Bulgaria, Denmark, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Estonia.

Customs of Catholic Christmas

The festival itself is preceded by the Advent period - the time of preparation for Christmas, which begins four Sundays before it. This period is somewhat similar to fasting, but today it is rarely observed, only during Christmas Eve. However, clergy, according to tradition, always wear purple clothes. The most famous tradition is the Advent wreath, which contains four candles. On the first Sunday the first candle is lit, on the second the next one and so on until the end. During this period, clergy advise performing works of mercy, coming to confession and meetings.

On Christmas Day there are three masses - at night, at dawn and during the day. During each Mass, different parts of Scripture are read. The holiday itself lasts 8 days, that is, from December 25 to January 1. This period is called the Octave of Christmas.

Christmas Eve is Christmas Eve, which is celebrated on the night of December 24-25. From the very morning, Catholics adhere to strict fasting, and, like us, the evening meal begins with the appearance of the first star. The head of the family begins the meal - they read the Gospel, pray, and also exchange wafers - these are flatbread made from unleavened bread. The father distributes them with wishes and congratulations. After which everyone starts dinner, and they always leave an empty place on the table for an unexpected guest.

Signs

Like most holidays, Christmas has a number of signs:

• It is believed, for example, that if a snowstorm occurs on this holiday, then spring will be early and foliage on the trees will appear very quickly.
• According to old people, warm weather at Christmas means a cold and protracted spring.
• Severe frosts on December 25 foreshadow a rich harvest.
• If it snows on holidays, the year will be fertile.

There are also some concerns associated with Christmas. For example, it used to be believed that anyone who manages to sew for a holiday may go blind or become deaf. Also in the old days they believed that you couldn’t go into the forest on Christmas Eve, as you could freeze or get hurt by some kind of animal.

It was also considered a bad omen to wear old or black clothes for Christmas, so everyone tried to dress in their best clothes for the holiday. People also believed that the more money you spend on celebrating Christmas, the more prosperous the next year will be.

But in Denmark they cook goose or duck, and they always stuff it with apples. And for dessert they usually offer dried fruits.

As you already understand, Christmas for Catholics is the main holiday of the year that should not be missed. Usually on this day the whole extended family gathers and celebrates at the festive table.

Catholics and Protestants who live according to the Gregorian calendar, as well as local Orthodox churches of the world who adhere toNew Julian calendar, celebrate the Nativity of Christ on the night of December 24-25.

Christmas is one of the most important Christian holidays, established in honor of the birth of the baby Jesus Christ in Bethlehem. Christmas is celebrated in many countries around the world, only the dates and calendar styles (Julian and Gregorian) differ.

The Roman Church established December 25 as the date of celebration of the Nativity of Christ after the victory of Constantine the Great (approx. 320 or 353). Already from the end of the 4th century. the entire Christian world celebrated Christmas on this day (with the exception of the eastern churches, where this holiday was celebrated on January 6).

And in our time, Orthodox Christmas “lags” behind Catholic Christmas by 13 days; Catholics celebrate Christmas on December 25, and Orthodox on January 7.

This was due to a mix-up of calendars. The Julian calendar came into use in 46 BC Emperor Julius Caesar, adding one more day in February, was much more convenient than the old Roman one, but still turned out to be insufficiently clear - the “extra” time continued to accumulate. For every 128 years, one unaccounted day accumulated. This led to the fact that in the 16th century one of the most important Christian holidays - Easter - began to “arrive” much earlier than expected. Therefore, Pope Gregory XIII undertook another reform, replacing the Julian style with the Gregorian one. The purpose of the reform was to correct the growing difference between the astronomical year and the calendar year.

So in 1582 In Europe, a new Gregorian calendar appeared, while in Russia they continued to use the Julian calendar.

The Gregorian calendar was introduced in Russia in 1918, however, the church did not approve of such a decision.

In 1923 On the initiative of the Patriarch of Constantinople, a meeting of the Orthodox Churches was held, at which a decision was made to correct the Julian calendar. Due to historical circumstances, the Russian Orthodox Church was unable to take part in it. Having learned about the meeting in Constantinople, Patriarch Tikhon nevertheless issued a decree on the transition to the “New Julian” calendar. But this caused protests among the church people and the decree was canceled less than a month later.

Together with the Russian Orthodox Church, on the night of January 6-7, the Feast of the Nativity of Christ is celebrated by the Georgian, Jerusalem and Serbian Orthodox Churches, Athos monasteries living according to the old Julian calendar, as well as many Catholics of the Eastern rite (in particular, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church) and some Russian Protestants.

All the other 11 Local Orthodox Churches of the world celebrate the Nativity of Christ, like Catholics, on the night of December 24-25, since they do not use the “Catholic” Gregorian calendar, but the so-called “New Julian” calendar, which still coincides with the Gregorian calendar. The discrepancy between these calendars in one day will accumulate by 2800 (the discrepancy between the Julian calendar and the astronomical year in one day accumulates over 128 years, the Gregorian - over 3 thousand 333 years, and the "New Julian" - over 40 thousand years).

Christmas for Western Christians

Christmas is one of the most important Christian holidays and a public holiday in more than 100 countries around the world.

Together with Catholics, Protestants celebrate Christmas on the night of December 25: Lutherans, Anglicans, some Methodists, Baptists and Pentecostals, as well as 11 of the 15 local Orthodox churches in the world that use the New Julian calendar, which so far (until 2800) coincides with the Gregorian calendar.

Russian, Jerusalem, Serbian, Georgian Orthodox churches, Mount Athos monasteries, as well as Eastern Rite Catholics and some Protestants living according to the Julian calendar will celebrate the Nativity of Christ on January 7.

The Armenian Apostolic Church, living according to its own calendar, celebrates Christmas on the night of January 6th.

December 25, the day of increasing sunlight, was celebrated as the birthday of Zeus - in Greece, Mithras - among the Persians.

The celebration of the Nativity of Christ on December 25 has its origins in ancient Mithraic customs. This was the date of the holiday in Rome, chosen by the Roman emperor Aurelian in 274 AD, the birthday of the invincible sun - natalis solis invicti, which after the winter solstice again began to increase its light. Sometime before 336 AD. The church in Rome established the celebration of the Nativity of Christ on this date. Cm. .

The Feast of the Nativity of Christ has five days of pre-celebration (from December 20 to 24) and six days of post-celebration.

On the eve, or on eve of the holiday (December 24) a particularly strict fast is observed, called Christmas Eve, since on this day the food is eaten in the form of wheat or barley grains boiled with honey.

Christmas Eve- the main event in Christian Catholic families. According to an ancient custom, dating back to the rites of the First Church, a Lenten lunch is eaten on Christmas Eve. The meal is religious in nature, it is very solemn. Just before the start of the feast, they read a passage from the Gospel of St. Luke about the Nativity of Christ and say a common family prayer. The entire ritual of the Christmas Eve meal is led by the father of the family. The most important event of the supper is the breaking of the wafers (Christmas bread). Traditionally, it is started by the father or the eldest in the family. Then everyone shares the loaves of bread among themselves as a sign of love and mutual goodwill. At the same time, they wish each other happiness and God's blessing. The custom of leaving an unoccupied place at the Christmas table is widespread and well known. If someone comes to the house on Christmas Eve, he will be received like a brother. This custom is a sign of memory of near and dear people who cannot celebrate the holiday with their family on this day.

An unoccupied place also symbolizes a deceased family member, or all deceased relatives. Some families still maintain the custom of placing hay under the white tablecloth on the table at which the Christmas Eve meal is served. It recalls the poverty of the Bethlehem cave and the Mother of God who laid the Newborn God-Infant Christ on hay in a manger.

According to tradition, the Christmas Eve fast ends with the appearance of the first evening star in the sky. On the eve of the holiday, Old Testament prophecies and events related to the Nativity of the Savior are remembered.

At the Christmas table, a certain order of serving dishes is observed. Boiled wheat (kutia) is served first, which is reminiscent of the abundance in paradise in which Adam and Eve lived. The next dish is oatmeal jelly, which with its gray color and special taste symbolizes the Old Testament, a time when everything was gray, gloomy, boring from the consequences of sin. The jelly is filled with honey water as a sign that Christ brought hope, which made everything joyful, as if sweet. The next fish dish is a symbol of the announcement of Christ. After this, sweet cranberry jelly is served, which reminds that the Blood of Christ destroyed the bitterness of sin. At the end, seven types of sweet foods are served (cookies, buns, various sweet flour products), which recalls the seven holy Sacraments.

Christmas services are performed three times: at midnight, at dawn and during the day, which symbolizes the Nativity of Christ in the bosom of God the Father, in the womb of the Mother of God and in the soul of every Christian.

In the 13th century, during the time of St. Francis of Assisi, the custom arose of displaying in churches for worship a manger in which a figurine of the Infant Jesus was placed. Over time, mangers began to be placed before Christmas not only in churches, but also in homes. Homemade santons - models in glass boxes depict a grotto, and the baby Jesus lies in a manger. Next to him are the Mother of God, Joseph, an angel, shepherds who came to worship, as well as animals - a bull and a donkey. Entire scenes from folk life are also depicted: for example, peasants in folk costumes are placed next to the holy family.

In all Catholic churches and chapels, Christmas trees are installed, dens with mangers are set up, into which figurines of the baby Jesus are solemnly laid before the start of the evening service on December 24.

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary (on Malaya Gruzinskaya Street)

In Moscow, the center of celebrations is the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary (on Malaya Gruzinskaya Street). A festive service is held there: first - the Eve of the Nativity Mass in Russian (starts at 19.00 Moscow time), then in Polish (starts at 21.00 Moscow time), and then again in Russian (starts at 23.00 Moscow time). From midnight to five o'clock on December 25, the Christmas all-night vigil is celebrated in the cathedral.

Church and folk customs are harmoniously intertwined in the celebration of Christmas. Well known in Catholic countries caroling custom - visiting the homes of children and youth with songs and good wishes. In return, carolers receive gifts: sausage, roasted chestnuts, fruits, eggs, pies, and sweets. Stingy owners are ridiculed and threatened with trouble. The processions involve various masks dressed in animal skins; this action is accompanied by noisy fun. This custom was repeatedly condemned by church authorities as pagan, and gradually they began to go with carols only to relatives, neighbors and close friends.

The remnants of the pagan cult of the sun at Christmas time are evidenced by the tradition of lighting a ritual fire in the home hearth - the “Christmas log”. The log was solemnly, observing various ceremonies, brought into the house, set on fire, at the same time saying a prayer and carving a cross on it (an attempt to reconcile the pagan rite with the Christian religion). They sprinkled the log with grain, poured honey, wine and oil on it, put pieces of food on it, addressed it as a living being, and raised glasses of wine in its honor.

During the celebration of Christmas, a custom has been established to break “Christmas bread” - special unleavened wafers consecrated in churches during Advent - and eat it both before the festive meal and during greetings and congratulations to each other on the holiday.

A characteristic element of the Christmas holiday is the custom of installing decorated spruce trees in homes. This pagan tradition originated among the Germanic peoples, in whose rituals the spruce was a symbol of life and fertility. Spruce also symbolizes the tree of paradise. With the spread of Christianity among the peoples of Central and Northern Europe, the spruce tree decorated with multi-colored balls acquired new symbolism: it began to be installed in homes on December 24, as a symbol of the tree of paradise with abundant fruits.

Santa Claus

In the city of Patara there lived a rich man who had three beautiful daughters. This rich man went broke and decided to force his daughters to engage in fornication in order to get money for food. At this time, Nicholas (see Nikolai Ugodnik) walked past the rich man’s house and read his thoughts, since there was so much bitterness and hopelessness in his father’s soul that it was simply impossible not to feel it. Remembering why his beloved died, Nikolai, in order to save the girls from dishonor, crept up to their house at night and quietly threw a bundle of gold out the window. The girls' father, waking up in the morning, was incredibly happy about this happiness and used the money he received to marry off his daughters. Thanks to this story, the custom of giving gifts for the New Year and Christmas arose. Saint Nicholas (translated into Dutch as Santa Claus) must enter the house unnoticed and leave a bundle with a gift under the tree while no one sees it. And from that time on, Nikolai Ugodnik began to be revered as the patron saint of children.

Initially, it was in his name that gifts were given to children in Europe on the day of veneration of the saint according to the church calendar - December 6. However, during the Reformation, which opposed the veneration of saints, in Germany and neighboring countries, St. Nicholas was replaced as the character presenting gifts with the infant Christ, and the day of presenting gifts was moved from December 6 to the period of Christmas markets, that is, to December 24. During the period of the Counter-Reformation in Europe, the character of St. Nicholas again began to give gifts to children, but this began to happen in late December at Christmas. But, for example, in the Netherlands, where the name of St. Nicholas is pronounced as Sinterklaas; On his behalf, children are given gifts either on December 5, or on Christmas, or on both holidays.

It was thanks to the Dutch colonists who founded the settlement of New Amsterdam, now known as the city of New York, in the 1650s, that the image of St. Nicholas came to the North American continent. It should be noted that the English Puritans, who also explored North America, did not celebrate Christmas.

In 1809, the American writer Washington Irving’s “History of New York” was published, in which he talked about the Dutch times of the city, mentioning the custom of honoring St. Nicholas in New Amsterdam.

In the development of Irving's story, in 1823 Clement Clarke Moore published the poem “The Night Before Christmas, or the Visit of St. Nicholas,” in which he spoke about a certain character who gives gifts to children - Santa Claus. This poem, which became very popular, was republished in 1844. As the American history channel History Channel stated in its documentary program “Santa's Legends” released in the 2000s: “Thanks to the pen of Clement Moore, St. Nicholas turned into Santa Claus” and “By 1840, almost all Americans knew who Santa was.” -Klaus. This funny old man was given to us by Clement Moore." This poem also marks the first mention of eight of Santa's classic nine reindeer.

Christmas is one of the main Christian holidays, established in honor of the birth in the flesh (incarnation) of Jesus Christ. The Roman Catholic Church and most Protestant churches celebrate Christmas according to the Gregorian calendar - on the night of December 24-25.

The decision to celebrate the Nativity of Christ on December 25 was made at the Ephesus (Third Ecumenical) Church Council in 431.

Christmas is preceded by the Advent period. During Advent, believers participate in special pre-Christmas services and try to perform acts of mercy. During the four weeks of Advent, it is necessary to prepare for confession in order to participate in Christmas services and receive Communion with a pure heart.

A detailed account of the birth of Jesus Christ is given only by the Evangelist Luke: “Joseph also went from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, called Bethlehem, because he was from the house and family of David, to enroll with Mary, who was betrothed to him the woman who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth to her firstborn son, and she wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”

The reason why Mary and Joseph went to Bethlehem was a census conducted during the reign of Emperor Augustus during Quirinius's administration of Syria. According to the emperor's decree, every resident of the Roman Empire had to come “to his city” to facilitate the census. Since Joseph was a descendant of David, he headed to Bethlehem.

After the birth of Jesus, the first of the people to come to worship him were the shepherds, notified of this event by the appearance of an angel. According to the Evangelist Matthew, a miraculous star appeared in the sky, which led three wise men (wise men) to the baby Jesus. They presented Christ with gifts - gold, frankincense and myrrh; at that time the holy family had already found shelter in a house (or perhaps in a hotel).

Upon learning of the birth of Christ, King Herod of Judea ordered the death of all infants under the age of two, but Christ was miraculously saved from death. However, Joseph's family was forced to flee to Egypt and remained there until the death of King Herod.

According to the Roman tradition that developed in the first centuries of Christianity, on Christmas Day, December 25, three special liturgies are celebrated - mass at night, mass at dawn and mass during the day. Thus, Christmas is celebrated three times - as the pre-eternal birth of the Word from God the Father (at night), the birth of God the Son from the Virgin (at dawn) and the birth of God in a believing soul (during the day). In the evening of Christmas Eve, Christmas Eve Mass is celebrated.

At the beginning of the first of the Christmas Masses, a procession takes place, during which the priest carries and places a figurine of the Infant Christ in the manger and sanctifies it. This helps believers feel like participants in the event that happened on Christmas night.

The Christmas celebration lasts eight days - from December 25 to January 1 - forming the Octave of Christmas. On December 26, the feast of the holy martyr Stephen falls, on December 27, the memory of the holy apostle and evangelist John the Theologian is celebrated, on December 28, the Innocent Infants of Bethlehem. On Sunday falling on one of the days from December 26 to December 31, or December 30 if a Sunday does not fall on these days in a given year, the Feast of the Holy Family is celebrated: the Child Jesus, Mary and Joseph. January 1 marks the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Christmas time continues after the end of the Octave until the Feast of Epiphany, which in the Roman Catholic calendar is celebrated on the first Sunday after Epiphany (January 6). During the entire Christmas season, the clergy at the liturgy wear white, festive attire.

For Christmas dinner, most people in Italy and the Vatican serve roast panettone, a panettone Christmas cake similar to Easter, or a fluffy cake from Verona called pandoro. At Christmas, these countries give each other Torroncino - delicacies similar to nougat and grilled meat.

In Germany, there are traditional regional types of Christmas pastries - Nuremberg gingerbread, Aachen gingerbread, Dresden Christmas cake, cinnamon stars.

In many European countries, the holiday table traditionally includes a sweet Christmas log - a sponge roll richly decorated with cream, icing and chocolate.

One of the main symbols of Christmas is lit candles. The flickering flame of a candle reminds believers of the gospel words: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome Him.”

Christmas reveals Christ to believers in the form of a small child surrounded by the Holy Family; this holiday is celebrated with family and is warmed with special warmth and mutual love.

The material was prepared based on information from open sources