Among the huge number of holidays, many people especially distinguish and consider their New Year and Orthodox Christmas to be their favorite. And this is due, first of all, to the fact that since childhood it was these celebrations that were wrapped in a certain special mystery. Frosty freshness, a tree, a bewitching orange smell and, of course, such an exciting presentiment of gifts that in some way completely incomprehensible to the children's mind will certainly appear under the decorated New Year tree.
The beginning of the celebration of Christmas was preceded by a wonderful event - the birth of Jesus Christ, as described in the Gospel of Matthew and Luke. When the Virgin Mary and Joseph came to Bethlehem, for the night they had to stop in a cave (nativity scene), where local shepherds hid cattle during a thunderstorm, because all the hotels were crowded. There, the Mother of God gave birth to our Savior, swaddling a baby, she laid him in a nursery for livestock, right on the hay. The shepherds were the first to know about the birth of the Divine Infant, and the angels who came from heaven informed them of such a joyful event, after which the shepherds bowed to him in the den. At the same time, as evangelist Matthew describes, an unusually bright new star shone in the sky, testifying to the long-awaited event of the Old Testament Jewish people - the birth of the Messiah, the Son of God.
At present, the winter holidays coincide with the New Year's Eve, which smoothly flows into preparation for the second and greatest holiday after Easter, the bright and Orthodox holiday of Orthodox Christmas, which is preceded by Christmas Eve. On this day, the appearance of the first star in heaven, which is called Bethlehem, is considered a kind of signal to the beginning of the feast. It is completely inadmissible for believers to eat and drink throughout the day, as Christmas Eve must endure a particularly strict fast. Incidentally, a prerequisite is that this evening the table breaks from fasting festive foods, which in total should be twelve. This symbolizes the next 12 days of Christmas time and the memory of the 12 apostles.
For Orthodox Christmas, the main ritual dish is Sochivo - porridge, which is most often prepared from whole grains of wheat, rice or barley, richly flavored with honey, jam, raisins, nuts, poppy seeds and other components are added. Orthodox people know that they are preceded by these exciting events related to the preparation for the celebration, forty days of fasting, adhering to which believers once again confirm their agreement with the teachings of the Church. Orthodox Christmas symbolizes the reconciliation of man with God, foreshadowing the redemptive feat of Christ and the renewal of the nature of man, who was struck by the fall of his ancestors.
Few people know that the tradition of decorating churches and houses with Christmas firs or branches is associated with an abundant paradise tree and symbolizes eternal life.
The Christmas service lasts throughout the night and causes real delight and exultation in the souls of the Orthodox when they say: “Jesus was born!”, After which they congratulate everyone on the bright holiday of the Nativity of Christ and stop fasting, in other words, they talk. On January 7, it has long been customary in Russia to arrange lavish feasts with already fast-food dishes. Children went home with joking carols, congratulated the owners, wished them well-being, health, they carried a “nativity scene” with them - a small colorfully decorated drawer in which scenes from biblical scenes were played using dolls attached to the axis. After such performances, charging everyone around with fun and accompanied by singing and jokes, children were presented with sweet gifts. At present, in particular in Ukraine, this custom has been preserved to this day.
It is believed that Christmas night gives real miracles and the most cherished desires made at midnight can come true, the only condition is that they must come from the heart, be truly sincere and bright.
With all its solemnity, the New Year and Christmas holidays are home, with candles (which symbolizes the mind), the whole family gathers at the table. And indispensable attributes should be, first of all, the reigning atmosphere of love, mutual understanding, harmony and peace in the house, but already indirect: for wealth - gold jewelry, for a quiet life and prosperity - Christmas gingerbread cookies.