Christmas in Europe - the tradition of celebrating

Unlike the Orthodox tradition, where the main religious holiday of the church calendar is Easter, in the European countries where the Catholic tradition is strong, the most significant holiday is Christmas. Long before December 25, when Christmas in Europe is just coming, preparations are beginning for a magnificent celebration. In November, shop windows are decorated with all kinds of Christmas trees, bells, garlands, "Bethlehem Stars", Santa Claus sledges, deer and other Christmas paraphernalia. Closer to December in each more or less significant European city the Christmas market opens. In large supermarkets and outlets, the Christmas sales season begins.

The European tradition of celebrating Christmas prescribes to give gifts to all relatives, relatives and even people just familiar to them. On this day, it is customary to hand over modest presents to cleaners, postmen and other people who have been repeatedly confronted with during the year. Therefore, stocking up gifts for a European is a matter of paramount importance. Here one should not forget: relatives before the "seventh water on the kissel", hairdresser and postman, neighbors, friends and acquaintances. It is important not a gift, but attention, so often give Christmas cards. Each European family sends out about a hundred postcards for Christmas. In Europe, the first postcards appeared in 1843 in England, and since then have firmly become an attribute of the celebration of Christmas.

Of course, before Christmas in Europe was a more religious holiday, and not a secular one, as it is now. Gifts on that day were prescribed for the poor. For these purposes in each church there was a special Christmas piggy bank, where money was put from charity. On Christmas day, these piggy banks were solemnly opened, and the priest distributed all the money to the poorest parishioners.

Later Christmas in Europe became inextricably linked with the belief that on the eve of this day comes Santa Claus (St. Nicholas), which presents obedient children with gifts. To receive cherished presents, children hang around the fireplace or put their shoes and socks under the tree. Climbing the house through the chimney, Santa Claus puts gifts in these cooked "envelopes." Christmas tree - "Christmas tree" - began to dress up due to the spread of German custom. Unlike Slavic lands, in Europe, a whole Christmas tree is rarely decorated (except for Germany, the birthplace of this tradition). Basically, out of spruce or pine branches, as well as from holly branches, they make elegant wreaths that cling to the outside of the entrance door. They are shot only at Shrove Tuesday, when they are burned solemnly in the home.

Christmas in Europe is a family holiday. It is customary to gather together at the oldest representative of the family with a large family. The tradition prescribes to gather on the eve of the holiday, on December 24. All relatives exchange gifts, and then go to church for the All-Night Service, or stay at home, sit at a festive dinner. On the eve of Christmas, it is customary to serve lenten dishes, and in the morning - fast meals.

In the cold northern countries Christmas is celebrated at home, but in the southern - it's a noisy and cheerful street festival with fireworks, masquerade and concerts. Christmas in Italy is celebrated with special pomposity. On the streets of cities, on the main squares appear "prezepio" - the manger in which Jesus Christ was born. These preseopios can be performed very masterfully, and can be very naive. Most often they depict the grotto, Joseph and Mary, the donkey and ox, the wise men hurrying to the Babe with gifts, the kneeling shepherds, but sometimes sketches from everyday life. The most beautiful presepio are in the Vatican, where Christmas figures are depicted in full length. On Christmas Eve, a lot of people gather on the streets near the presepio, hug and wish each other "Bonnet Natal" - a happy Christmas.