Christmas: the history of the holiday. Christmas: pictures. History of the Nativity of Christ

Christians around the world are eagerly waiting for the brightest holiday, the Nativity of Christ, every year. In every corner of the globe, where they bow before the name of Christ, this truly great day is celebrated. He is eagerly awaited not only by children, but also by adults. Pre-holiday efforts are for everyone. This day brings a new ray of light, love and hope into the life of every person. But do not forget that, first of all, it is a divine feast, in which we honor the name of the Son of God, who accepted death in the name of saving all mankind. Without realizing this thought, the meaning of the holiday is lost. Celebrating this day, everyone needs to pray that in our soul His spirit is reborn, that in our heart there are creches who are able to receive Him, as well as precious gifts ready to belong to Him. This holiday personifies all-human love and the birth of faith in the soul of every Christian.

Christmas: a holiday story (Bethlehem cave)

This bright holiday plays an important role not only in the life of Orthodox Christians and Catholics, but also for the church itself. According to St. John Chrysostom II, the Nativity of Christ, celebrated on December 25th according to the Julian calendar, or January 7th according to the Gregorian calendar, is the beginning of all major church holidays. He said that in this festival there is a beginning of the Epiphany, and the Passover, and the Ascension of the Lord, as well as Pentecost.

From ancient traditions we know that the Son of the Lord was known to the prophets of the Old Testament. And this miracle was expected for several centuries. So Christ's Nativity was foretold. The history of the holiday goes back to the fourth century BC. So how did it all start? The appearance of the Son of the Lord happened on a cold winter night. Mary and Joseph went from Palestine to Jerusalem. As evidenced by ancient sources, the Romans had to register at their place of residence, and the Jews - at the place of their birth. Mary and David, the descendants of King David, were born in Bethlehem, located south-west of Jerusalem. When Mary began labor contractions, they were near a cave in which a stall for cattle was arranged. Joseph went to look for a midwife. But when he returned, he saw that the baby had already appeared, and the cave was filled with light of extraordinary power, which they could not bear. And only after a while the light went out. Mary gave birth to the God-Man in terrible conditions, among creches and straw.

Adoration of the Shepherds and the Gifts of the Magi

The first, to whom the news of the birth of Jesus Christ came , were the shepherds who were on duty at their flock at night. An angel appeared to them and brought the good news about the birth of the Son of God. The Magi were informed of this joyful event of the bright star that had risen above Bethlehem. The starsfolk (the Magi) went to look for the place where the baby was born, and in the light the stars came to the cave. They approached the baby and knelt before the Savior of mankind. They brought gifts: twenty-eight gold plates, frankincense and myrrh (the incense was rolled into small balls, the size of an olive, and threaded on a string, - there was only seventy-one beads). Gold they presented as a king, incense - as God, and myrrh - as a man who has to taste death. The Jews bury their dead with peace, so that the body remains incorruptible.

Murders of babies

King of Judah Herod with great fear expected the birth of a miracle baby, because he thought he would claim his throne. He ordered the Magi to return to Jerusalem and give out the place where Mary is with the child. But the Magi, who received revelations in their dreams, in which they said not to return to the despotic ruler, did so. The history of the birth of Christ indicates that the king ordered his soldiers to surround Bethlehem and kill all the babies. Warriors broke into the houses, took the newborn children from their mothers and killed them. On that day, according to legend, more than fourteen thousand babies died. But they did not find the Son of God. Mary and Joseph had a vision, which said that they should immediately leave Bethlehem and go to Egypt, which they did the same night.

Date and time of birth of Jesus Christ

The date of the birth of the Son of the Lord has long remained controversial in history. An attempt to establish this moment from the dates of events that accompanied the birth of Jesus did not lead theologians to any particular figure. The first mention of the date of December 25 occurs in the annals of Sextus Julia Afrikan, dated 221 year. Why is the date of the birth of Christ determined by this number? The time and date of Christ's death is known for certain from the Gospel, and he must have been on the earth for a full number of years. From this it was possible to draw a conclusion that Jesus Christ was conceived on March 25. Having counted nine months from this day, we concluded that the date of Christmas is December 25.

Establishing a Celebration

Since the first Christians were Jews, they did not celebrate Christmas. Because this day, according to their worldview, is "the day of the beginning of sorrow and suffering." The Easter day was more important for them. But after the Greeks entered the Christian communities, then on the basis of their customs began to celebrate the birthday of Jesus Christ. First, the ancient Christian holiday, the Epiphany combined two dates: the birth and baptism of Jesus, but later they were celebrated separately each. Since the beginning of the seventh century, we have celebrated the Nativity of Christ separately. The history of the holiday reached a new level.

The day when we celebrate Christmas (tradition)

When celebrate Christmas in Russia? Despite the fact that the Russian Orthodox Church uses the Julian calendar, the holiday of the Nativity of Christ is celebrated according to the Gregorian calendar - on January 7. This date is included in the twelve-day celebrations. How is Christmas celebrated? The traditions of celebrating this bright day are rooted in the distant past. Well, firstly, the holiday is preceded by a forty-day fast. Christmas Eve is called Christmas Eve. The name of this holiday was received because of the main dish - osova, which believers eat on this day. Sochi is a soaked dry wheat. At us this dish is known under the name kutja. On Christmas Eve, the post is especially strict, and evening worship is also on that day. On Christmas Day in Russia and other Orthodox countries, the godparents bear their godfather the so-called "Vespers", which consists of Sochi. After the first star has risen in the sky, you can sit down at the table, on which there must necessarily be twelve fasting dishes, according to the number of apostles. Dishes must necessarily be lean, because on the eve of the feast you still can not eat animal food. Before the festive dinner, all those present at the table read a prayer praising God Jesus Christ. On Christmas Eve people decorate their house with fir branches. It is the branches of the spruce that mark eternal life. Also, the tree is brought to the house by fir trees and decorated with bright toys, which symbolize the fruits in the paradise tree. On this day it is customary to give gifts to each other.

Folk Traditions

It is believed that on the night before Christmas on Earth two forces are ruled - Good and Evil. And the power to which the person leans more, and performs various miracles over him. According to the belief, one force called to celebrate people on the Sabbath, and another - for the festive table. In ancient times on this day, young people gathered in groups, dressed up in merry costumes, built a Bethlehem star on the pole and walked around the houses with merry Christmas carols, informing the hosts that Christ was born. They also wished the owners of the world in the house, a good harvest and other benefits, the same, in turn, thanked the "carol" and gave various treats. Unfortunately, this tradition has survived only in the villages.

Christmas tree

Holidays last until January 19. This day is called the Day of Epiphany of the Lord. From January 7 to 19, liturgies are held every day in churches. These festive days are called Svyatki. These are the only days in which the church allowed fortune telling. Celebrations ended with the Divine Liturgy, at which the Sacrament of the Sacrament was performed.

Who else celebrates this day with us on January 7?

Where else on January 7 celebrate Christmas? The history of the holiday has many centuries. And in addition to the Orthodox Russian Church, celebrate Christmas January 7 Ukrainian, Jerusalem, Serbian, Georgian and Belarusian Churches. And also the Catholic churches of the Eastern rite, Athonite monasteries. The remaining eleven churches of the Orthodox rite, as well as the Catholic Church, celebrate this day on December 25.

Gifts of the Magi

According to legend, shortly before his Assumption, the Mother of God transmitted the blessed gifts to the Jerusalem Church. There they were passed on from generation to generation. Then they got to Byzantium. In 400, the Byzantine king Arkady moved them to a new capital - Constantinople, in order to consecrate the city. And before the conquest of the city, the sacred gifts were kept in the treasuries of the emperors. In 1433, after the seizure of the city, the Turkish Sultan Muhammad II, allowed to take the treasures to his wife Maro (Mary), a Christian woman of faith, who she sent to Athos after the fall of Byzantium, to the monastery of Paul. Gifts of the Magi are still kept in the monastery of Mount Athos, sometimes they are taken from the monastery. Gold ingots illuminate the water and cast out demons.

How Catholics celebrate Christmas: a holiday story (briefly)

The traditions of celebrating this bright holiday among Catholics are much like ours. On the eve of Christmas people decorate their houses with fir branches, they build small denes. On Christmas Eve strictly observe fasting and eat only osovo. On the festive table, they prepare lenten dishes and fish, as well as baked goose or duck, but they are treated only to the second meal - December 25. On the eve of Christmas, all Catholics go to church, even those who do it extremely rarely. Before proceeding to the solemn meal, all members of the family pray, and then break a piece of unleavened bread (cachet). There is always one free space at the festive table. Anyone who comes to this house this evening will be a welcome guest.

Holiday for children

To celebrate this event you need to attach and children. Biblical stories are interesting for preschoolers and for older children. Tell them about what a wonderful and bright holiday is Christmas. Pictures complement the story, because children are most interesting to look at the pure images of the baby and the Mother of God. Show them, and how to celebrate properly, and prepare meals for the evening: let the children become your helpers. At school or kindergarten, play the den, learn the songs. The main thing is to plant this seed of tradition that will help the child to form values, including family ones, because Christmas is a family holiday. And let the brightest miracles take place on this day, for it is on this day that we are particularly keenly aware and experiencing a meeting with Christ.