When is the evening party? Traditions celebrating the Holy Evening on Christmas Eve

Many Orthodox people know the tradition of wearing an evening for close relatives and kulaks on the eve of the Nativity of Christ, wishing them a good evening. However, not everyone knows where this rite comes from, what is its meaning. When are they carrying the supper and how is it supposed to be done correctly? What usually is in the festive holy-evening basket, who should give it to whom and to whom? Let's try to understand.

Where did the tradition of wearing the evening come from?

An ancient Little Russian rite worn by the evening actually has pagan roots. The ritual treat, which was customary to exchange with the closest blood relatives, and also to send the Baba midwife, symbolized the spiritual unification of families, their location to each other, mutual sympathy and generosity.

Christianity readily accepted this rite. The manifestation of the desire to visit the godfather, dear and close people was fixed in the traditions of the Holy Evening on Christmas Eve, when they are having supper. This ritual action is not mandatory, but the church is encouraged and encouraged.

What date is the evening

According to accepted traditions, it is customary to take the evening of January 6th - on the eve of the celebration of Orthodox Christmas. The godparents bring refreshments to their godfathers, spend a few hours with their guests, then go home to celebrate Christmas at their own family table. It is not forbidden, of course, to visit relatives with gifts and later, on the very Christmas day. And yet, it's time to consider Christmas Eve as the time for the supper, otherwise it will be just a congratulation of relatives with the holiday.

Who should wear an evening party?

According to the rules, children should have children in the evening. It is supposed to be passed on to close blood relatives and cousins, and the latter - without fail.

At a meeting on Christmas Eve it is customary to greet each other with the words "Christ is born!" And to hear in response "Glory to him!". With this phrase also enter the house, when they are carrying the supper. The godparents at first treat their godfather, then - the godmother, handing them a basket of gifts with the words: "Mom and tato evening sent. Good evening!".

The evening is considered a symbolic gratitude to the godparents for taking responsibility, caring for praying for the child and mentoring him spiritually. In response, the godfathers also thank the children, handing them coins and sweets - pies, nuts, sweets (for what they reported), and in return give them a few ritual dishes.

What are they wearing for the evening kings?

What is the essence of the ritual treat? As a rule, what is worn at the godmother's supper in accordance with the ancient tradition - kutya, vvar (Uzvar) and bread. Kutya is called porridge, originally prepared from threshed wheat or barley with the addition of honey, poppy, raisins and nuts. It was believed that the more nutritious and richer the Christmas kutia would be, the more prosperity and prosperity would be in the family in the coming year. Uzvar called a compote of several kinds of dried fruits: cherries, apples, plums, pears - the traditional Ukrainian recipe and has not changed in our days. Well, without a round fragrant frying pan, symbolizing generosity, hospitality and diligence, never had a single important family holiday.

Not necessarily limited to traditional ritual cuisine. Evenings can be home-made pastries, various dishes of fruits and vegetables. If there are small children in the family that the evening is carrying, you can put it in a basket with a treat of sweetness. However, there are no special or compulsory rules with respect to holiday guests - one can please loved ones with what the soul desires.

What is served on the table in the Holy Evening

The holy evening marks the end of the Christmas fast. It is necessary that on this day on the festive table there were twelve fasting dishes - in honor of the twelve apostles who took part in the secret evening.

Just like among the dishes that are worn at the evening of the godmother, the main on the holy table were always kutya and Uzvar. In addition to them, a cabbage soup with millet, seasoned with lean oil, borsch with mushrooms and fish, cooked in a special way with mashed or buckwheat porridge, was traditionally served at dinner. Traditionally a lot of attention was paid to fish dishes: the gifts of the rivers were roasted and cooled, used as a filling for pies and kulebyak. In addition, the festive meal was rarely treated without boiled peas or beans, fried mushrooms, cabbage rolls, dumplings, lean pies with various fillings. All meals served on the table on Christmas Eve had a magical function - to ensure the well-being of the family for the coming year. Therefore, the table was taken to collect the rich, and prepare a meal for the holiday started beforehand.

Signs and beliefs

It is customary to celebrate a holy evening with your own family. If guests are unavoidable, it follows that the first person to enter the house is a happy man, blessing all its inhabitants for happiness next year.

Since ancient times, it was thought that Christmas should be celebrated in beautiful clothes, putting on the table a new dish. Late to the festive table is impossible: the violator will wander in the far side all next year.

During the festive feast, it was not allowed to jump sharply from behind the table, screaming and talking loudly - it was believed that this could scare the family off of luck.

Dishes with kutya after dinner was usually left on the table. In addition, members of the family left their spoons in a common pot, so that at night, the souls of ancestors could enjoy the feast, according to legends, going down to earth this night.