Celebration of Catholic Christmas. How is Christmas celebrated? Traditions of different countries

Every year on December 25, Catholic Christmas is celebrated, which is second only to Easter in its importance. The celebration of the Nativity of Christ is preceded by the Advent period. Advent is the time to wait for Christmas.

Advent is the name of the pre-Christmas period, similar to the Advent fast in the Orthodox Church. At this time, believers are preparing for a great holiday. The first day of Advent falls on the 4th Sunday before Christmas. On this day, the liturgical year begins in the Catholic Church. At this time, preparations are made for the celebration of Christmas and the joyful expectation of the holiday. In addition, the Catholic Church encourages believers to think about the second coming of Christ. Each of the four Sundays of Advent has a different theme. The duration of the pre-Christmas period depends on what day of the year Christmas falls on.

Advent was previously considered a period of fasting, but obligatory fasting is no longer prescribed, although many Catholics prefer to eat fasting meals at this time. Advent is a time of intense repentance. It is recommended to proceed to the sacrament of confession, as well as to reflect on the coming of Christ to earth. The clergy these days put on the vestments of the penitent, purple, color. Some traditions are associated with Advent, such as the Advent wreath and the advent calendar.

Christmas wreath: origin and meaning

During Christmas time, Catholics decorate their homes with Christmas wreaths made from fir branches. There are four candles in the center of the wreath. Decoration is mounted vertically or placed on a table. On each Sunday of Advent, one candle is lit.

The wreath in the Christmas tradition was introduced by the German theologian and Lutheran pastor Johann Hinrich Wiehern, who adopted several children from poor families. During Advent, children repeatedly asked the teacher when Christmas would come. So that the pupils could count down the days until the holiday, in 1839 Wichern made a wreath from an old wooden wheel. The wreath was decorated with twenty-four small red candles and four large white ones. Every morning the kids lit one small candle, and on Sunday a large candle was added.

Previously, wreaths were made with their own hands from fir or spruce branches, decorated with ribbons, apples and sweets. Today, wreaths are decorated not only with candles, but also with bells, the melodic ringing of which greets Christ, drives away evil spirits, indicates the end of all work and the onset of holidays.

Modern Christmas wreaths are complemented by four candles, which are associated with the globe and the four cardinal points. The round shape of the product symbolizes eternal life, candles are the light that illuminates the world at Christmas, and greenery is the color of life.

Catholic wreaths are often decorated with one pink and three purple candles, in accordance with the liturgical colors of the services.

advent calendar

The advent calendar shows the time left until Christmas. This special calendar is used in European countries. It is made in the form of a postcard or a cardboard house with opening cells, each of which contains a candy and a note with wishes or small gifts. Calendars come in the form of bags, pouches, bundles or bags hung on a ribbon. The advent calendar consists of 24 days, counting the time from 12/12 to 12/24.

The beginning of the tradition of making Advent calendars was laid in Germany in the first half of the 19th century by followers of the Lutheran Church. In the second half of the 19th century, the custom spread to the territory of Austria and Switzerland. And already at the beginning of the 20th century, the calendar became popular in other European countries.

Now calendars are used to track the time left until the most beloved and main holiday of the year. For some, this is, for others, the New Year. Basically, the calendar is made for children. Often parents make it with their own hands, using cardboard, fabric, wood. Cells are made in the form of drawers, windows, cones, pockets, envelopes, children's socks and sleeves.

The tradition of celebrating the Catholic Christmas

On Christmas Eve (December 24), the vigil begins, a public worship service that takes place from sunset until dawn, and requires all participants to stay awake. In many places, believers observe a strict fast on this day.

On the evening before Christmas, a special mass is celebrated, called the Mass of the Christmas Eve. On December 25, three different masses are celebrated - Mass at night, Mass at dawn and Mass during the day. They are slightly different from each other, have different sequences and different readings of Scripture. In the Middle Ages, these masses were considered as the three births of Christ - from the Father of all ages, in human incarnation from Mary, and mystically in the souls of believers. In some countries, these masses are called pastoral, angelic and royal, after the gospel readings, which tell about the worship of the Divine Child by angels, kings and shepherds.

In parish churches, the first Christmas Mass is often celebrated the night before. According to tradition, during Mass, the priest places the figurine of the Child on the nativity scene. The liturgical chant of this mass is distinguished by great solemnity.

The Feast of Christmas lasts eight days (from 25.12 to 01.01), forming the Octave of Christmas. During this time, the clergy at the liturgy are dressed in a festive white robe. On December 26, the Catholic Church celebrates the day of St. Stephen the Martyr; on December 27, the memory of the Apostle John the Theologian is celebrated; on December 28, the Day of the Massacre of the Innocents. On the Sunday that falls on one of the days from December 26 to December 31, or on December 30, if Sunday does not fall on these days in the year, the feast of the Holy Family is celebrated: the Infant Jesus, Joseph and Mary. On January 1, the Solemnity of the Most Holy Theotokos is celebrated.

And after the end of the Octave of Christmas, Christmas time continues. In the past, Christmas, like Easter, was celebrated for forty days, up to the Meeting. On January 13, the Epiphany of the Lord was celebrated. This practice is still preserved today among Catholics - supporters of the traditional rite. In the modern rite, Christmas time ends with the feast of Epiphany.

On December 25, Catholics around the world celebrate their main holiday - the Nativity of Jesus Christ.

They pay homage to Jesus and the Virgin Mary, congratulate relatives and friends on the birth of the Savior. This holiday has now become a public holiday in many countries, and everyone celebrates it in almost the same way. Recall that for the first time Ukrainians received a day off on Catholic Christmas.

Fasting before Christmas among Catholics is not as strict as among the Orthodox, the main thing is not to eat meat. Only on the last day - Christmas Eve - only juicy - grains cooked with honey are used for food. According to tradition, it is impossible to eat on this day until the first star. There are still many customs that have been preserved from the past.

Celebration of Catholic Christmas

Consider how Catholics celebrate Christmas. What do they usually do on this holiday?

The four weeks before Christmas are called Advent. This is a period of purification through prayer and church attendance, decorating the home and preparing gifts for loved ones.

One of the symbols of Catholic Christmas is wreaths of fir branches, decorated with four candles, they are lit one by one every Sunday before the holiday.

Gospel readings are held in the church, believers confess. And before the holiday itself, a manger is set up with figurines of the Virgin Mary, Jesus and the Magi. Many houses also arrange such compositions showing the Birth of the Savior.

It is customary for Catholics, celebrating Christmas, to attend Mass - a festive service in the church. During it, the priest puts in the manger and blesses the figurine of Jesus Christ, which allows people to feel like participants in ancient sacred events.

The festive dinner in all Catholic countries is different, for example, in England it is a traditional roast turkey, in Latvia it is a carp, and in Spain it is a pig. But the main thing is that the table should be richly set so that the whole year is happy.

It is very interesting to know how Catholics celebrate Christmas, because, despite the differences in the culture of different countries, they use common customs. And all Catholics have retained a reverent attitude to the meaning of the holiday.

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Christian denominations living according to the Gregorian and the so-called New Julian calendar celebrate Nativity two weeks earlier than Orthodox Christians, who adhere to the so-called "old style". Christmas in the Western religious tradition is considered the main holiday, which is associated with the joyful expectation of a miracle.

When is Catholic Christmas

Christmas according to the Gregorian and New Julian calendars is celebrated December 25. Christmas Eve is celebrated December 24, and in the evening on this day all the main Christmas services are held.

Who celebrates Christmas on December 24-25

When is Christmas celebrated in Russia and Ukraine

Russian Orthodox Church celebrates holidays according to the Julian calendar, so in Russia they will celebrate Christmas on the night of 6 to 7 January. This holiday is a public holiday in Russia.

In Ukraine and Belarus, the majority of Orthodox people also celebrate Christmas together with the Russians - on January 6-7. But in Ukraine, for the sake of Catholics and representatives of other faiths who live according to the Gregorian calendar (and there are many such among Ukrainians, although not the majority), December 25 is also declared a day off. However, this is probably for the best, since an extra holiday day is always good, especially when it comes to Christmas.

History of Christmas

Christmas is associated with the gospel story of the birth of the son of God Jesus Christ at the virgin Mary.

According to the Gospel, in the year of the birth of Jesus, by decree of the emperor august in the Roman Empire, of which Judea was a part, a census was conducted. For the convenience of scribes, all the inhabitants of Judah were ordered to appear in the city of their birth. Husband of the Virgin Mary St Joseph was a descendant of the king David, and his "small homeland" was Bethlehem. Mary, at that time already pregnant, went to Bethlehem with her husband.

However, in Bethlehem, due to the influx of guests, Mary and Joseph could not get into the hotel. When the due date approached, Mary gave birth to the child Jesus in a cave in which cattle were hidden from the weather.

After the birth of Jesus, the first to bow to him were the shepherds, who were informed by an angel about the birth of the son of God. Next came the magi, who showed the way to the cave a star that appeared in the sky at the time of the birth of Jesus. The Magi brought Jesus royal gifts - gold, frankincense and myrrh. With this gift, the Magi made it clear that they see in the baby Jesus the king of God.

According to the Catholic tradition, the Magi, who themselves were kings (according to another version, magicians) were called Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar.

Having learned about the birth of the son of God, the then king of Judea is cruel Herod decided to destroy Jesus. Herod did not understand and ordered to kill in Judea all babies under the age of two years (the famous massacre of babies).

However, an angel of God saved Jesus and his family. The angel told Joseph, together with Mary and the child, to flee to Egypt, where the holy family hid until the death of Herod, after which they safely returned to Judea.

Catholic Christmas - holiday traditions

Catholics begin to prepare for Christmas in advance - a month in advance. The pre-Christmas period is called Advent, it includes prayers, fasting (not as strict as Christmas for the Orthodox), as well as various activities related to charity.

Advent is dedicated to the expectation of the miracle of Christmas, so various Christmas events are held in Europe at this time - fairs, performances, etc. The most grandiose pre-Christmas fairs are held in Germany.

Catholic Christmas Eve

On this day, it is customary for believers to keep a strict fast. It is advisable not to eat anything all day, and when the first star lights up in the sky, “break the fast” with juicy - grains of various cereals boiled in honey. At this time, festive services are held in Catholic and Protestant churches, and then people go home and sit down at the festive table, which traditionally includes meat delicacies.

Catholic Christmas traditions

nativity scenes

Since the Middle Ages in Western Europe, a custom has appeared to arrange Christmas nativity scenes for Christmas - to make toy mangers with dolls in the form of the Virgin Mary, baby Jesus, St. Joseph, shepherds, wise men, etc.

carols

At Christmas, Europeans, especially children, love caroling - dressing up in carnival costumes and masks and walking through the streets and houses, singing Christmas carols. Singers are usually given sweets or money.

Christmas tree

The main Christmas custom, which came to Russia in the time of Peter the Great by visiting Germans, is to put a decorated spruce tree in houses and squares, which symbolizes the tree of paradise.

Santa Claus

Santa Claus(he's a saint Nicholas) is a Christmas grandfather who brings gifts to children at Christmas. In Western tradition, it is believed that, like St. Nicholas, Santa enters houses at night through the chimney, leaving gifts under the tree or in a special sock hung by the fireplace.

***
As we wait for this wonderful holiday,
Again the world is lit up with magic,
How much joy, how much happiness
You and I will bring Christmas!

Holiday time, gift time,
Time of happiness, peace, miracles,
Let the star of Christmas shine bright
We love, sending from heaven!

***
Let Christmas light up
Every home
Strengthens faith in God
For in it -
Consolation, joy, and support.

And the hope is
What we will soon understand:
There is nothing more precious in the world than love,
With her, we seem to be higher from the earth.

Christmas will remind us of this again,
Let love give way to miracles.

Every year on December 25, Catholic Christmas is celebrated, which is second only to Easter in its importance. The celebration of the Nativity of Christ is preceded by the Advent period.

Advent is the time to wait for Christmas

Advent is the name of the pre-Christmas period, similar to the Advent fast in the Orthodox Church. At this time, believers are preparing for a great holiday. The first day of Advent falls on the 4th Sunday before Christmas. On this day, the liturgical year begins in the Catholic Church. At this time, preparations are made for the celebration of Christmas and the joyful expectation of the holiday. In addition, the Catholic Church encourages believers to think about the second coming of Christ. Each of the four Sundays of Advent has a different theme. The duration of the pre-Christmas period depends on what day of the year Christmas falls on.

Advent was previously considered a period of fasting, but obligatory fasting is no longer prescribed, although many Catholics prefer to eat fasting meals at this time. Advent is a time of intense repentance. It is recommended to proceed to the sacrament of confession, as well as to reflect on the coming of Christ to earth. The clergy these days put on the vestments of the penitent, purple, color. Some traditions are associated with Advent, such as the Advent wreath and the advent calendar.

Christmas wreath: origin and meaning

During Christmas time, Catholics decorate their homes with Christmas wreaths made from fir branches. There are four candles in the center of the wreath. Decoration is mounted vertically or placed on a table. On each Sunday of Advent, one candle is lit.

The wreath in the Christmas tradition was introduced by the German theologian and Lutheran pastor Johann Hinrich Wiehern, who adopted several children from poor families. During Advent, children repeatedly asked the teacher when Christmas would come. So that the pupils could count down the days until the holiday, in 1839 Wichern made a wreath from an old wooden wheel. The wreath was decorated with twenty-four small red candles and four large white ones. Every morning the kids lit one small candle, and on Sunday a large candle was added.

Previously, wreaths were made with their own hands from fir or spruce branches, decorated with ribbons, apples and sweets. Today, wreaths are decorated not only with candles, but also with bells, the melodic ringing of which greets Christ, drives away evil spirits, indicates the end of all work and the onset of holidays.

Modern Christmas wreaths are complemented by four candles, which are associated with the globe and the four cardinal points. The round shape of the product symbolizes eternal life, candles are the light that illuminates the world at Christmas, and greenery is the color of life.

Catholic wreaths are often decorated with one pink and three purple candles, in accordance with the liturgical colors of the services.

advent calendar

The advent calendar shows the time left until Christmas. This special calendar is used in European countries. It is made in the form of a postcard or a cardboard house with opening cells, each of which contains a candy and a note with wishes or small gifts. Calendars come in the form of bags, pouches, bundles or bags hung on a ribbon. The advent calendar consists of 24 days, counting the time from 12/12 to 12/24.

The beginning of the tradition of making Advent calendars was laid in Germany in the first half of the 19th century by followers of the Lutheran Church. In the second half of the 19th century, the custom spread to the territory of Austria and Switzerland. And already at the beginning of the 20th century, the calendar became popular in other European countries.

Now calendars are used to track the time left until the most beloved and main holiday of the year. For some it's Christmas, for others it's New Year's. Basically, the calendar is made for children. Often parents make it with their own hands, using cardboard, fabric, wood. Cells are made in the form of drawers, windows, cones, pockets, envelopes, children's socks and sleeves.

The tradition of celebrating the Catholic Christmas

On Christmas Eve (December 24), the vigil begins, a public worship service that takes place from sunset until dawn, and requires all participants to stay awake. In many places, believers observe a strict fast on this day.

On the evening before Christmas, a special mass is celebrated, called the Mass of the Christmas Eve. On December 25, three different masses are celebrated - Mass at night, Mass at dawn and Mass during the day. They are slightly different from each other, have different sequences and different readings of Scripture. In the Middle Ages, these masses were considered as the three births of Christ - from the Father of all ages, in human incarnation from Mary, and mystically in the souls of believers. In some countries, these masses are called pastoral, angelic and royal, after the gospel readings, which tell about the worship of the Divine Child by angels, kings and shepherds.

In parish churches, the first Christmas Mass is often celebrated the night before. According to tradition, during Mass, the priest places the figurine of the Child on the nativity scene. The liturgical chant of this mass is distinguished by great solemnity.

The Feast of Christmas lasts eight days (from 25.12 to 01.01), forming the Octave of Christmas. During this time, the clergy at the liturgy are dressed in a festive white robe. On December 26, the Catholic Church celebrates the day of St. Stephen the Martyr; on December 27, the memory of the Apostle John the Theologian is celebrated; on December 28, the Day of the Massacre of the Innocents. On the Sunday that falls on one of the days from December 26 to December 31, or on December 30, if Sunday does not fall on these days in the year, the feast of the Holy Family is celebrated: the Infant Jesus, Joseph and Mary. On January 1, the Solemnity of the Most Holy Theotokos is celebrated.

And after the end of the Octave of Christmas, Christmas time continues. In the past, Christmas, like Easter, was celebrated for forty days, up to the Meeting. On January 13, the Epiphany of the Lord was celebrated. This practice is still preserved today among Catholics - supporters of the traditional rite. In the modern rite, Christmas time ends with the feast of Epiphany.

Video: traditions of celebrating Catholic Christmas

Christmas is the main holiday of Christians around the world. Catholics, Protestants, Lutherans and Orthodox in many countries celebrate it on December 25th. The Serbian, Bulgarian and Russian Orthodox churches did not switch to the Gregorian calendar and continue to use the Julian calendar, in which December 25 corresponds to January 7 in the Gregorian calendar. This is due to the temporal discrepancy incomprehensible to many.

The exact reason why Christmas is celebrated on December 25 is unknown, as is the exact date of Jesus' birth. According to one version, this choice is due to the fact that all early Christians celebrated the feast of the Annunciation on March 25th. Adding 9 months to this date, they got the date of Christmas. According to another version, one of the most important Christian holidays replaced the celebration of the winter solstice, which all pagans celebrated as the moment of the birth of the sun god.

4 Sundays before Christmas, the Advent period begins for Catholics - a time of fasting and repentance. Catholic clergy wear purple vestments. On the eve of the holiday - Christmas Eve - they observe a particularly strict fast and eat barley or wheat grains boiled with honey - sochivo. On this day, the family decorates the Christmas tree and gathers at the Christmas table late in the evening. They celebrate Christmas until January 1, and every day of the Christmas Octave is associated with the name of a saint, martyr, or some gospel story.

On Christmas Day I want to congratulate
I wish you friends
Great faith and hope
Love and happiness, silver.

So that dreams always come true
Smiles, peace and warmth.
To have relatives with you
Today, tomorrow and always!

Let there be only a holiday in the house,
Peace, comfort and kindness.
I wish you good health
And a lot of magic!

Let the heart shine on Christmas
In fate reign only warmth, prosperity,
And only happiness reigns triumph,
Let luck leave a bright imprint.

Let life play joy with a string.
We wish you health and prosperity.
Let the big house sparkle with success,
All dreams and wishes come true!

Happy Catholic Christmas! I wish that in every home there was peace and tranquility, harmony and prosperity. Let miracles and wonderful events happen, filling life with delightful moments, happy smiles and kindness of human hearts. Love, well-being and prosperity!

May this day be Christmas, bright,
God will send you unearthly gifts,
I wish the Lord to you from heaven
He sent health, kindness and miracles!

Let all evil recede from you,
May God fill hearts only with goodness,
Only peace and tranquility live in the soul,
And happiness flows to you like a stormy river!

A star lights up
And December sparkles:
On the day of Holy Christmas
Let the miracle happen!

Let joy come from heaven
Will give happiness to everyone
If you believe, it's waiting
To become a part of life.

Let the lights burn brighter
On a good holiday, bright -
You will make all your dreams come true
Let heaven help!

Christmas has come to your house
The holiday is knocking on the door.
We wish magic
Let it happen!

May the Lord bless
Will strengthen you in faith.
This evening a bright spirit
Let him enter your door.

Do good to others
And it will return.
And then surely
Happiness smiles.

Guiding star
Will add joy
Pure white snow
Add joy.

Christmas is coming
Throw away all your worries
May goodness and magic
At a glorious hour, they come to visit.

Let the sparkle of candles shine
Chasing away all the bad
To the best of all nights
Giving the light of happiness!

I wish you a Merry Christmas
And I wish that every moment
Was saturated with goodness and warmth,
So that you always live without trouble!

May he send you happiness, health
Merciful Lord at Christmas,
And fill the souls with love
Turning the world into magic!

Merry Christmas to you!
Let the celebration please everyone,
Santa Claus with a huge bag
Will definitely visit your house.
Friends will gather around the table
Friendly and big family
Wish each other well
So that hope lives in the souls.
Well, I wish you all success.
Lots of happiness, smiles and laughter.

Congratulate on December day
I want you Merry Christmas
May the Lord bestow happiness
Peace, light, magic.

Happiness to you and your loved ones
And the health of the whole family,
Let faith illuminate you
The path is always in worldly darkness.

May wishes come true
The heart sings in joy
Christmas let the cleansing
It will bring enlightenment.
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