Forty days before Christmas, time begins when fasting and prayer take on incredible power. This is a period of purification, humility, repentance and hopes for a brighter future. Christmas fasting is one of the four most significant, strict, and longest fasts of the year. Following this tradition, believers prepare the body and soul for the onset of the wonderful feast of the Savior’s birth and thank Him for the life that he gave to all.
History of occurrence
Fasting and prayer are the main directions that Christians strive from November 28 to January 6 for many centuries and millennia. In the fourth century, fasting was mentioned in the works of St. Ambrose of Mediodalan, Blessed Augustine. In the fifth century, the ancient tradition was described by Leo the Great. Initially, the Christmas fast lasted from seven to ten days. In 1166, the Patriarch of Constantinople Luke and the Byzantine Emperor Manuel at the council ordered the duration of the fast, which will last forty days.
The Christmas post in the Church Charter is called the Fourteenth Day (Lent has the same name), it is the final year. The fasting eve (eve) falls on the day of commemoration of the holy Apostle Philip (November 27), therefore, in addition to Rozhdestvensky, the fast has the name Philippov.
The purpose of the advent of the Christmas post
On the forty-day eve of Christmas, fasting and prayer are essential. Leo the Great mentioned the four seasons, in each of which there are posts. A person needs to undergo cleansing in order to adequately meet the next three-month period with new strengths and capabilities, as well as to thank the Lord for the time that has passed. In Christmas fasting, it is necessary to praise God for the harvests that he has been given, which allow a person not to die of hunger.
The voluntary abstinence that a person imposes on himself is called upon to purify his soul and body, to make his small contribution to God's work of incarnating peace, truth and good.
Lent Holidays
Prayers read in fasting have incredible energy power, because at this time the heavens open, and the Angels quickly bring praise and petitions to the Lord. The period of Christmas fasting is characterized by the presence of large holidays, especially loved by all Christians.
The fourth of December marks the feast of the Entry into the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Virgin Mary crossed the threshold of the temple at the age of three years, this moment is imprinted on the icon "Trilette".
The nineteenth of December is marked by the remembrance of one of the most beloved and revered saints - Nicholas the Wonderworker. He patronizes travelers and sailors, is especially kind to children. St. Nicholas has a tradition of bringing gifts to obedient children on the night of December 18-19, so many kids are eagerly awaiting awakening in order to find the treasured toy in their slippers.
Popular traditions of Christmas fasting
Prayers during fasting are the main tradition, because they must be read as often as possible (or mentally turn to the Lord in your own words). There are folk signs and traditions that are unquestioningly carried out by our ancestors. Filippov day (November 27) had other names: Kudelitsa, Zagovenie, Zapusty (from the word “run”). In the first week of fasting, women decided to spin yarn for making clothes. The work was accompanied by sayings and sayings: “The spinning wheel is not God, but gives the shirt”, “The lazy spinner and to himself have no shirt”, “Less lazy, better to get dressed.”
It was customary to play the last weddings at Kudelitsy, since marriage in Christmas fast is not welcomed by the church.
Christmas fasting guidelines
The main thing is to read in the prayer post. Many people know many prayers by heart, other people do not know them at all. This does not matter, since a person’s desire to act according to God's direction can overcome all obstacles. On the Internet there is a lot of information with texts of different prayers, you can write them out on a piece of paper and read several times a day. Even if there is no specific goal to learn them by heart, after a few repetitions, this will happen on its own. You should start praying from the very first day, but the Lord is equally supportive to those who join much later. The main recommendations and a kind of instruction for action are the following actions:
- In the church, one should definitely pray for the repose of the deceased relatives and acquaintances, and include mention (commemoration products).
- Buy candles and put them for the health of your loved ones, do not forget to pray for your well-being. Do it from a pure heart, repenting of your sins and asking God for help.
- A sensible decision will be to talk with the priest (to confess, ask all questions of interest, ask for blessings for the fast).
- If you could not attend the church before fasting or at the beginning of it, you must ask the Lord for blessings (in your own words). Then you must visit the church, and it is advisable to do this as often as possible.
- Keep your heart clean and in harmony, do not get annoyed and not angry, restrain your emotions.
- To do everything sincerely and wholeheartedly, to invest in every word and deed a piece of your heart.
Compliance Rules
Whatever prayers a person may read in fasting, and no matter how he adheres to strict control over his diet, these actions will be useless if he does not fast spiritually. The most important thing is internal purification and the desire to start life from a new page, without negativity. A person commits sins anyway, but the Lord gives him the opportunity to be cleansed and take the path of correction. This is the essence of the Christmas Lent. The classic rules are:
- Christmas fasting is as strict as Peter's fasting.
- On Monday, Wednesday and Friday it is forbidden to eat fish and wine. Do not use vegetable oil (dry-eating).
- On Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday it is allowed to eat with vegetable oil.
- Fish and wine are allowed on Saturdays and Sundays, as well as on days of major holidays (Introduction to the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Nicholas).
- From the second to the seventh of January, the post is being strengthened. Eating fish and drinking wine is prohibited, even if the number falls on Saturday or Sunday.
- You should pray at least three times a day.
Fasting diet
One cannot limit oneself to prayers recited in the Christmas fast. In order to withstand it completely, it is necessary to adhere to special nutritional rules. It is strictly forbidden meat, milk, butter, eggs and all dishes in which these ingredients are present, even in the smallest quantities (baking and baking). At the same time, monks should not be confused with ordinary people. The laity have many obstacles in order to strictly maintain fasting from the first to the last day. Health does not allow some people, others are traveling where it is not possible to adhere to this diet, another category of people is engaged in physical labor (carries out service, plays sports). These people can ask the priest for exemptions or independently exclude some excesses for themselves, but not deprive themselves of vital food products.
A special word should be said about children. They also need to be attached to the post, but do it rather on a spiritual level. The growing body needs a balanced diet, so it is strictly forbidden to maintain strict fasting. But a few days of abstinence from fatty and fried foods will only benefit.
New Year celebration in Christmas post.
Fasting and prayer are priority rules for the period from November 28 to January 6. But there are some nuances that must be taken into account in order not to deviate from these postulates, since the modern New Year is celebrated at this time. Fasting is a personal matter, so do not impose it on your family and friends, thereby causing them indignation. In order not to break traditions and make the holiday fun for everyone, it is necessary to prudently prepare two types of dishes: fast and festive. Familiar traditional snacks should be presented to your loved ones, and for yourself and everyone who fasts - no less tasty lean masterpieces of culinary art. On the Internet there are many recipes that even surpass non-dish dishes in their tasty and originality.
During the post: what actions are prohibited
Prayers for Christmas fasting are essential, because only in the language of prayers can one communicate with God. Fasting is a voluntary and personal decision of a person to become cleaner spiritually and physically. But do not confuse it with a regular diet, because in this way you can even more sin. To understand what a true post is, you need to familiarize yourself with some of the limitations:
- There is food of animal origin.
- Drink alcohol.
- Smoke tobacco.
- Take psychotropic chemicals (drugs).
- Take part in parties and other entertainment events.
- Watch entertaining shows.
- Engage in intimate relationships (this also applies to couples).
- Slander, be angry, annoyed.
- Show off your willpower, which helps you to fast.
- Demonstrate your oppression from forced abstinence and limitation.
Morning prayer
Every Christian should know what prayers to read at the Christmas fast. The most important prayer is “Our Father”, it can be read at any time of the day. In addition, according to the rules, it is necessary to say prayers three times a day. Immediately after sleep, you must begin to read the morning prayer. To do this, it is recommended to go to the icon, light church candles (if any) or a lamp (it can be left to burn all day) and start reading. Women need to cover their heads with a scarf or scarf.
First the prayer “Our Father” is read:
Our Father in heaven! May your name shine, may your kingdom come, may your will be done, both in heaven and on earth. Give us our daily bread to this day; and deliver us from our debts, just as we forgive our debtors; and do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For your strength and will are forever and ever. Amen.
Then (if necessary) is supplemented with the following words:
Grant me, Lord, protection from satiety and gluttony, let me receive your benevolent gifts, that, if I taste them, I will be strengthened in spirit and body and serve in Your glory.
Prayer after meal
After the meal, a prayer of thanks is read, which praises the Lord for the gift of food. Prayer text:
We thank you, Christ God, for filling us with your earthly goods; Do not deliver us from the Kingdom of God, but as the Savior appeared among the disciples, come to us and save us.
Evening prayer
The believer should know what prayer in the Christmas fast should be read in the evening before going to bed. In it, a person asks for forgiveness for the day that has passed, during which unrighteous acts were done, empty words were spoken, bad thoughts accidentally arose, intentional and unintentional. Prayer text: “Eternal and gracious God, forgive me the sins that I have committed by my deed, speech or thought. May God, my humble soul, be cleansed of all filth. God have given me a quiet sleep in the night, so that I can again serve Your Most Holy Name. Deliver me, Lord, from vanity and dashing thoughts. For there is power and your kingdom, now and evermore and forever. Amen. "