Christians around the world every year are looking forward to the most cheerful holiday - Christmas.In every corner of the globe, where the bow at the name of Christ, celebrating this truly great day.His look forward to not only children but also adults.Pre chores fall all like.This day brings in everyone's life a new ray of light, love and hope.But do not forget that above all it is a divine holiday in which we honor the name of the Son of God, accepting death for the salvation of all mankind.Without realizing this idea lost meaning of the holiday.To celebrate this day, everyone needs to pray that in our hearts His spirit revived in our hearts to found a nursery, failing to take it as well as precious gifts, ready to belong to him.This holiday symbolizes the birth of universal love and faith in the soul of every Christian.
Christmas: Holiday History (Bethlehem Cave)
this holiday plays an important role not only in the life of Orthodox Christians and Catholics, but also for the church.According to St. John Chrysostom II, Christmas, a celebration which falls on December 25 in the Julian calendar, or January 7 on the Gregorian calendar, the beginning of all the major religious holidays.He said that this celebration has its origin and Epiphany and Easter, and Ascension and Pentecost.
From ancient traditions, we know that the phenomenon of the earth of the Son of God was known to the prophets of the Old Testament.And this miracle had expected for several centuries.This was predicted by Christmas.The history of the festival goes back to the fourth century BC.So how did it all start?The advent of the Son of God happened in the cold winter night.Mary and Joseph went to Jerusalem from Palestine.As the ancient sources, the Romans have been recorded at their residence, and the Jews - at the place of his birth.Mary and David, a descendant of King David, born in Bethlehem, located in the south-west of Jerusalem.When Mary's labor pains began, they were near the cave, which was arranged a stall for cattle.Joseph went to look for the midwife.But when he returned, he saw that the baby has already appeared, and the cave was filled with light extraordinary strength that they could not endure.And only after a while the light went out.Mary gave birth to God-man in terrible conditions, including nurseries and straw.
Adoration of the Shepherds and the Magi gifts
first, before someone came news of the birth of Jesus Christ, were shepherds who were on duty during the night from his herd.These angel came and brought the good news of the birth of the Son of God.Magi as it was told about this joyous event ascended above Bethlehem yarkoyu star.Zvezdoslovtsy (Magi) went to look for the place where the baby was born, and by the light of the star came to the cave.They came to the baby and knelt before the Savior of mankind.They brought gifts of gold and twenty-eight plates, frankincense, and myrrh (incense have been rolled into small balls, about the size of olives, and strung on a thread - just was seventy-one ball).Gold they presented as a king, frankincense - as God, and myrrh - as a person who will taste death.The Jews buried their dead with myrrh to the body remained incorruptible.
infanticide
King Herod of Judea with great fear was expecting the birth of a miracle baby, because I thought that he would claim his throne.He ordered the Magi to return to Jerusalem and give the place where Mary is with child.But the Magi, in a dream, which says not to return to the despotic ruler, did so.The history of Christmas shows, the king ordered his men to encircle Bethlehem and kill all the babies.The soldiers broke into the house and took away the newborn babies from their mothers and killed them.On that day, according to legend, killed more than fourteen thousand babies.But the Son of God, they have not been found.Mary and Joseph had a vision, stating that they must immediately leave Bethlehem and go to Egypt, and they did the same night.
Date and time of the birth of Jesus Christ
Born Son of God has long been controversial moments in history.Attempting to install this moment dates the events that accompanied the birth of Jesus, theologians did not lead to any specific number.The first mention of the date of December 25 is found in the annals of Sextus Julius Africanus, dated 221 year.Why does the date of Christmas is this number determined?Time and date of the death of Christ do know from the Gospel, and he had to be on the ground the total number of years.From this one can conclude that Jesus Christ was conceived by March 25.Counting from the day the first nine months, concluded that the date of Christmas - December 25th.
Establishment celebration
Since the first Christians were Jews, they did not observe Christmas.Because on this day, in their outlook - "day of sorrow and suffering."For them more important it was the day of Passover.But after the Greeks entered the Christian community, it is based on their customs and began to celebrate the birthday of Jesus Christ.First, the ancient Christian holiday Epiphany combined two dates: the birth and baptism of Jesus, but later they began to celebrate each separately.Since the beginning of the seventh century began to celebrate Christmas separately.The history of the festival reached a new level.
day when we celebrate Christmas (tradition)
When the mark Christmas in Russia?Despite the fact that the Russian Orthodox Church uses the Julian calendar, celebrate the feast of the Nativity of the Gregorian - January 7.This date is one of the great feasts.How to celebrate Christmas?The tradition of celebrating this day of light rooted in the distant past.Well, first of all, the holiday is preceded by forty-day fast.Christmas Eve is called Christmas Eve.The name of the festival derives from the main course - sochivo which believers eat that day.Sochivo - is soaked dry wheat.We have a dish known as kutia.On Christmas Eve, the post is particularly strict, in this Day of the evening service.On Christmas in Russia and other Orthodox countries godchildren are his godfather so-called "Supper", which consists of sochivo.Once in the sky the first star rises, you can sit at the table, on which must be twelve meatless dishes, according to the number of the apostles.Dishes must be meatless, as on the eve of yet can not eat animal food.Before the gala dinner all those present at the table reading a prayer in praise of God, Jesus Christ.On Christmas Eve, people decorate their house with fir branches.This branch of spruce mark the eternal life.Also, bring a tree into the house and ate decorate it with bright toys that symbolize the fruit of the tree of paradise.On this day people give each other gifts.
Folk traditions
believed that on the night before Christmas on Earth is ruled by two forces - good and evil.And the force to which a person is more inclined, and performs various miracles of him.According to legend, one force convened to celebrate the people on the Sabbath, and the other - for the holiday table.In ancient times on this day young people gather in groups, dressed up in funny costumes, constructed on the pole star of Bethlehem and cheerful songs, carols went home, alerting owners that Christ was born.They also want the world to the owners of the house, a good harvest and other benefits are the same, in turn, thanked "Kolyada" and gave various treats.Unfortunately, this tradition has been preserved only in the villages.
Christmastide celebration continues until 19 January.This day is called the Day of the Epiphany.From 7 January to 19 each day in the churches festive liturgy.These holidays are called Christmastide.These are the only days that the church allowed divination.Rounding out the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, which perform the sacrament of Communion.
Who else is with us to celebrate this day on January 7?
Where else celebrate January 7 Christmas?The history of the festival goes back many centuries.And apart from the Russian Orthodox Church celebrate Christmas on January 7 Ukrainian, Jerusalem, Serbian, Georgian and Belarusian Church.As well as the Eastern Rite Catholic churches, Athos monasteries.The remaining eleven churches of the Orthodox rite, as well as the Catholic Church, celebrating this day December 25th.
Gifts of the Magi
According to legend, just before her Assumption, Our Lady gave the blessed gifts to the Jerusalem church.There they were handed down from generation to generation.Then they got to Byzantium.In the 400 th year of the Byzantine emperor Arkady carried them to the new capital - Constantinople, that he might sanctify the city.And before the conquest of the city sacred gifts stored in the treasures of the emperors.In 1433-m, after the capture of the city, the Turkish Sultan Mohammed II, was allowed to take the treasure to his wife Maro (Mary), a Christian by faith, that it after the fall of Byzantium sent to Mount Athos, in the monastery of St. Paul.Gifts of the Magi to the present day are stored in the Athos monastery, sometimes they are taken out of the monastery.Gold bars light up the water and cast out demons.
As Catholics celebrate Christmas: Holiday History (briefly)
tradition of celebrating this bright holiday Catholics are very similar to ours.On Christmas Eve, people decorate their homes with fir branches, building small dens.On Christmas Eve, strictly observe the fast and eat only sochivo.On the festive table prepared meatless meals and fish, as well as expose baked goose or duck, but they only treat themselves to a second meal - December 25th.On Christmas Eve all the Catholics go to church, even those who do rarely.Before you begin any of the solemn feast, all members of the family pray and then refract a piece of unleavened bread (wafer).A festive table there is always one empty seat.Anyone who has come in the evening to the house, will be welcome.
Festival for children
To celebrate this event, you need to attach and children.Biblical stories are interesting and doshkolyatam and older children.Tell them about what a wonderful and bright holiday - Christmas.Pictures will complement the story, because the most interesting for children to look at the baby and clean the image of Our Lady.Show them, and how to celebrate, and prepare meals for the evening: let the children become your assistants.The school or kindergarten act out the nativity scene, Teach songs.The main thing - to plant the seed of a tradition that will help the child to form values, including family, after Christmas - a family holiday.And let this day the most accomplished miracles of light, because on this day we are particularly acute feel and experience the encounter with Christ.
