In the Catholic Church, Christmas is the main holiday of the year. It was installed in honor of the birth of Jesus Christ by the Virgin Mary. Answering the question of when is Catholic Christmas in 2018, we can safely say - December 25. This is a static date and does not change from year to year.
For Catholics and Orthodox believers, the dates of many religious holidays do not coincide. This is due to the fact that the Orthodox Church did not switch to the Gregorian calendar. It is according to him that Christmas falls on December 25, but according to the Julian calendar, according to which the holidays in the Orthodox Church are calculated, Christmas falls on January 7. This is precisely the reason why Catholics (and Protestants) celebrate Christmas earlier than Orthodox believers.
Of course, the exact date of birth of Jesus Christ is not known. One of the versions why Christmas falls precisely on December 25 suggests that early Christians celebrated the Annunciation on March 25. If you add nine months to this date, you get the date of the birth of Jesus Christ.
Interesting! The time of the Catholics' ordination begins only four Sundays before the holiday. This is the time of repentance, all Catholic clergy wear purple clothes. The eve of the holiday is called Christmas Eve and this is the most strict time of fasting. You can only eat barley or wheat grains with honey (sochivo). On this day, traditionally, take to decorate the Christmas tree and gather at the festive table in the evening. The holiday lasts until January 1st.
Features of Catholic Christmas
December 25 is the date of Catholic Christmas in 2018. This date is the same every year. Preceded by Christmas five days before the holiday, plus Christmas Eve. This is an important time for repentance and reflection. The strict fast on Christmas Eve ends the moment the first star appears in the sky. This star long ago announced to the world that Jesus Christ was born.
On the night before Christmas, it is customary to go to church and listen to the festive mass. At the end of the service, people go home and gather as a friendly family at a large festive table. The head of the family reads a prayer before the start of the meal.
Traditional Christmas food
This is the most important holiday of the year for Catholics, therefore, it has many important traditions and rituals. Much attention is paid to the festive dinner. On the table at Christmas, oatmeal and oatmeal are served. It is believed that there must be a fish dish, cranberry jelly and seven varieties of sweets on the table. You can do it.
To cook the sychivo, which must be on the festive table, you will need a minimum of available products. This is a glass of raisins and three tablespoons of poppy seeds, a glass of honey and walnut kernels, one and a half glasses of wheat grains (can be replaced with barley). The beans must be rinsed and placed in a ceramic pot. Now add two and a half glasses of water and send it to the oven for an hour and a half (set the temperature to 140 degrees Celsius). Be sure to cover the pot. During this time, the grains will become soft and increase in volume. The wheat may remain a little tough, if this happens, then you need to add a little more water and let the pot stand still a little warm.
At this time, the poppy is poured with water for a quarter of an hour, and then laid out on a sieve, crushed in a mortar. Finely chop the kernels of the nuts, dilute the honey in a water bath to a liquid state. Mix porridge with nuts, squeezed raisins and poppy seeds, add honey. You can serve juicy on the table - this is an important dish in a Christmas meal with Catholics.
Christmas is one of the favorite holidays of many people around the world. It is celebrated with some peculiarities in each state.
Of course, such a European country as Germany is no exception and its inhabitants consider Christmas to be one of the most significant holidays of the year.
Usually, the Germans celebrate this holiday noisily, joyfully and cheerfully, plunging headlong into the colorful whirlwind of Christmas fairs and concerts, singing hymns, meeting friends and acquaintances on the decorated streets and squares, writes fb.ru.
Religious component of the holiday
On the night of December 24-25, Catholic Christians around the world celebrate Christmas. In Germany, this date, in accordance with ancient tradition, is the culmination of a long period of preparation for the holiday, which begins in November.
Germans start preparing for Christmas in four weeks. Catholics call this period "Advent". It includes the days of confession, repentance, communion (for comparison: among the Orthodox, the Nativity of Christ is preceded by a forty-day fast).
A solemn service begins at Christmas midnight in Catholic churches. Two more services are held in the morning, at dawn, and in the afternoon. They symbolize the Nativity of Christ in the bosom of God the Father, in the womb of the Mother of God and in the soul of every Christian.
Christmas in Germany: traditions and customs of preparing for the holiday
The expectation of the holiday, according to the people of Germany, is no less exciting and wonderful than Christmas itself. During Advent, Germans decorate trees and houses with toys and glowing garlands.
On the streets, in shop windows and in courtyards, colorful “nativity scenes” appear - models of the cave where the baby Jesus was born, with figures of the main characters of the Biblical legend.
The doors of the houses are decorated with wreaths with candles intertwined with bright ribbons, and wooden figures are placed and hung on the windows and sills, which are carefully passed down from generation to generation in families.
Christmas tree
The Christmas tree is chosen and decorated with the whole family. In Germany, the lush decoration of New Year's trees is adopted, therefore, both in houses and on the streets, Christmas trees are shimmering with colorful garlands and toys.
Especially in Christmas decorations, green and red are revered, which are symbols of the hope and blood of Christ, respectively.
Christmas markets
The season of the famous pre-Christmas sales is proudly called by the Germans "the fifth season of the year." It is then that they begin to celebrate Christmas in Germany. The date - the eleventh of the eleventh month - is complemented by a mystical time - eleven hours and eleven minutes.
At this moment, the famous Christmas markets are solemnly opened, in the number of which Germany overtakes all other European states.
The invariable attributes of German Christmas markets since the Middle Ages are carousels, various funny contests and attractions, as well as fried chestnuts and aromatic mulled wine, chocolate and delicious honey cakes ...
These fairs sell mostly inexpensive but original and skillfully crafted local crafts dedicated to the holiday.
Everyone, young and old, takes part in the festivities on the pre-Christmas days.
Christmas in different regions of Germany
A long historical period of fragmentation could not but affect the way it is customary to celebrate Christmas in Germany. Traditions and customs of different regions of the country are not similar to each other, since they have ancient roots and developed separately.
In Thuringia, home of the first glass Christmas balls, fairs are full of various products and souvenirs made from this material.
So, in the coastal German cities on Christmas morning, a ship arrives at the port with Santa Claus on board (in Germany his name is Weinachtsman).
Coming down from the gangplank, the “Christmas grandfather” congratulates the adults and children who meet him on the coming holiday and presents them with gifts that he brought in abundance.
In eastern Germany, the region of dense forests and the Ore Mountains, the tradition is different. The Christmas market sells smoking figures, wooden candlesticks and original holiday pyramids. People are having fun in the city streets, many of whom wear national costumes.
In southern Germany, the main symbol of Christmas remains a wooden manger, reminiscent of the birth of the baby Jesus Christ.
An alpine choir sings at concerts in the cities of Bavaria. Brass bands play national music with the trombone and alpine horn, traditional instruments that can be heard exactly when Christmas is celebrated in Germany.
The traditions and customs of the western regions of the country on this holiday are reminiscent of the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm, who were from here. The road of fairy tales passes through several cities, constantly reminding the traveler of famous stories.
Christmas table
On the eve of the holiday - Christmas Eve, or Holy Evening - the whole family gathers at a richly set and decorated table.
According to custom, on this day the best dishes and cutlery are displayed on it, and the menu consists of no less than seven dishes. Before embarking on a festive meal, it is customary to break wafers - thin unleavened cakes consecrated in churches during Advent. Breaking off pieces of wafers, the Germans wish each other a Merry Christmas and wish all the best.
In the center of the festive table, according to custom, a stuffed goose (less often - a turkey) flaunts, surrounded by various salads and snacks.
Traditional Christmas dishes in Germany are sauerkraut, seafood and bean soup, symbolizing prosperity. For dessert, it is customary to serve Christmas stollen - a butter roll with raisins and nuts, covered with icing and powdered sugar.
Fortune cookies - symbols of Christmas in Germany
An interesting tradition of German housewives is baking special cookies on the eve of Christmas. It has the shape of a horseshoe, inside which is put a strip of paper with a written prediction for whoever gets the treat.
Predictions can be any, both serious and comic, but the most important thing is certainly good, in order to become another reason for joy for relatives and guests who visited the house these days.
In the Catholic faith, the main holiday of the year is Christmas. This celebration is celebrated annually at the same time, namely, December 25th. Many different rituals and traditions have been invented for this event. Catholics from all over the world rejoice at the arrival of a major event and celebrate it with special significance.
The date of Catholic Christmas 2020 is counted according to the Gregorian calendar, which means the event of the great birth of the savior of the world and people - Jesus Christ. In any country, the holiday is joyful, fun and colorful. Believers try to carefully prepare for the upcoming event, therefore, on the holiday itself, all believers indulge in the sacrament of celebration and happiness.
History of the celebration of Catholic Christmas
For Orthodox believers, the date of this holiday always falls on January 7th. Catholics count the celebration of this event according to a different calendar, therefore, the dates of the holiday differ significantly. What date is Catholic Christmas in 2020? The date of the celebration of the great event is designated December 25th.
In the Catholic faith, there are features of the celebration of a significant event. Preparation for Christmas begins first. The corresponding preparation for the celebration of the celebration is called Advent and it begins exactly 4 weeks before the arrival of the most important holiday of the year. The main purpose of this time is that Catholics undergo a kind of liberation of the soul from sinful thoughts. At the initial stage, the life of Christ is remembered. Believers remember the life of the Savior, reflect on his actions and do not exclude the second coming of Jesus to our Earth. The second part of Advent is to be aware of your own thoughts and desires. At this time, every Catholic thinks about the meaning of life, he understands what his actions have a positive effect on his fate, and what not. Long 4 weeks help every believer to realize with what desires and opportunities it is necessary to live further. The entire duration of Advent takes place in the obligatory reading of prayers and singing of sacred songs.
The history of celebrating Catholic Christmas includes many traditions and a variety of rituals or rituals. For example, in Catholic homes, it is customary to hang a Christmas wreath on the wall. During Advent, sacred candles are attached to the wreath and lit one per week. The result should be 4 burnt candles. Each candle has its own purpose: the first signifies the coming of Jesus to earth; the second is the birth, being and life of Jesus and his family; the third is the joy of the coming of the Most High; the fourth - says that in the future, the second coming of Christ to Earth is expected, where he must unite with Christians and take all holy believers with him to Heaven.
Another good tradition of the pre-Christmas time is that believers make a special calendar with certain days. Each date symbolizes a window in which you can put anything you want. For children, chocolate figurines or notes with tasks that need to be done at a certain time are put in such windows. For adults, prayers or sacred songs are inserted that must be read throughout the day.
To make the Advent time pass faster, Catholics came up with a special staircase with the number of steps equal to the number of days in Advent. On the very first day, a figurine of Christ is placed on the first step, with each subsequent day the figurine rises upward.
When Catholic Christmas 2020 comes to the homes of believers, they should definitely celebrate the holiday with a beautifully decorated Christmas tree. The tradition of decorating a Christmas tree is similar to New Year's celebrations. For Catholics, everything happens in the same way: a fir tree is prepared for the holiday, which adorns the home during all holidays. After the festive events are over, the spruce is also removed.
Christmas is celebrated with great joy, as believers rejoice at the birth of the Savior. The most delicious dishes are laid on the table, all relatives and good friends are sure to be invited to visit. Memories from the holiday should only be warm and pleasant.
Christmas in Germany: tradition and reality. About how the holiday was celebrated before, as they are now celebrating, about gifts, sweets and magic ...
A decorated Christmas tree, gifts and a festive table with the family - this is how the majority of Germans imagine Christmas as usual. How was Christmas celebrated before? Interestingly, many of the customs that today are inseparable from Christmas have never been heard before.
History
In ancient times, pagan tribes celebrated the winter solstice, which fell on December 21st. Before the advent of Christianity, many Germanic peoples worshiped a pantheon of gods, that is, they were pagans. The pagan holiday was called Julfest... People were glad that the daylight hours were now getting longer and longer. Today the word "Jul" means "Christmas" in some Scandinavian languages.
Nativity
In 45 BC, a new Julian calendar was introduced. According to this calendar, the day of the winter solstice was postponed to December 25th. In the 3rd century A.D. a Christian church was founded, which banned the pagan holiday. But this custom was already deeply rooted in society.
Already in those days, people decorated their houses on the eve of the holiday with fir branches. Evergreen branches symbolized fertility and vitality.
Traditions today
Celebration traditions have changed over time.
Since the middle of the 18th century, a decorated Christmas tree has been placed in the living rooms.
Christmas becomes a family holiday, during which it is customary to stay at home and spend time with loved ones.
FACT: It is important to note that no matter how changing customs, Christmas always remains the main holiday for the Germans.
It is not customary here to celebrate the New Year the way it is done in Russia. New Year is a time of meetings with friends, noisy youth parties, and Christmas remains a quiet family holiday. The custom of giving gifts to friends and family became popular after the Second World War. The wealth of most Germans improved and they could afford the additional spending.
Service in the church today does not belong to the mandatory attributes of the celebration of Christmas. According to a 2017 poll, only 29 percent of Germans confirmed they attend a Christmas service at a church.
Did you know that ...
Few facts:- From the 3rd century A.D. December 25 is officially considered a church holiday.
- In Germany and Austria, December 25 and 26 are legally recognized as days off.
- In German-speaking countries, Christmas starts on December 24th, Christmas Eve. At the same time, December 24 is not officially a non-working day.
- After December 25, two more holidays often follow, among them St. Stefan (Stefanitag).
Christmas markets
Christmas markets play a big role in the pre-Christmas period in Germany. In every city you will find at least one such fair, if not more. We already have more details about holding and visiting fairs.
BTW: Traditionally, fairs start working from, but today this rule is practically not followed and fairs have been opened almost since November.
And no wonder, because the demand for Christmas gifts and attractions is huge. Every year, crowds of tourists from all over the world flock to German bazaars to
- drink warming mulled wine,
- try gingerbread,
- buy cute souvenirs for family and friends,
- meet old friends and
- just enjoy this magical holiday atmosphere.
At the Christmas market, they buy candles, balls for the tree, and you can taste German Christmas dishes. The tradition of Christmas markets dates back to the 14th century. One of the most famous Christmas markets in Germany is in Nuremberg ( Christkindlesmarkt). But in other cities, for example, in Dresden and Aachen, you can enjoy fabulous festive markets.
Christmas Eve
Interestingly, Christmas in Germany is not limited to Christmas Eve and a couple of weekends. The magic begins in as many weeks, or rather, in. It's time for the Christmas markets - it's time to decorate your home for Christmas.
One of the symbols of this period is the Christmas wreath ( Adventskranz) with four candles. On the first Advent, the first candle is lit, every next Sunday another candle is lit. So on Christmas Eve, all four candles burn on the wreath. During this December time, Germans tend to spend more time with family and friends over punch and bake traditional cookies ( Plätzchen) and learn.
Advent calendar
An integral part of Advent for children, as well as for many adults in Germany -. We are talking about a calendar with 24 boxes with gifts. Every day - from December 1 to December 24 - you can open only one window and get your surprise. Gifts can be sweets, stationery, Christmas decorations. Such a calendar helps to brighten and sweeten the period of agonizing anticipation of Christmas. We talked in detail about the options for advent calendars and their content in our article.
Nikolaus
An important and exciting holiday for German children is December 6th. On this day, children's boots and socks (pre-cleaned!) Are filled with sweets as if by magic. What miracles!
According to legend, it was Nicholas the Wonderworker (Saint Nikolaus) who was so generous that he gave everything he had to the needy and children. But on this day, only those children who have behaved well all year receive gifts. Those who hooligan will receive a vice from Nikolaus' assistant, Ruprecht's servant (Knecht Ruprecht).
BTW: It is Nikolaus who is the prototype of our Santa Claus. And, yes, Santa Claus is also Saint Nicholas.
Christmas Eve
So four candles on the wreath are lit, all the sweets from the Advent calendar have been eaten, luminous garlands have been hung around the house for a long time, the Christmas tree is decorated and gifts are wrapped - it's time Christmas Eve.
What happens on this day?
Since this is officially a working day, the whole family gathers at home in the late afternoon. While some family members are busy in the kitchen preparing a festive dinner, others put on a nativity scene ( sculptural image of the scene of the Nativity of Christ in the Catholic tradition).
There is no definite answer about what is being prepared for the Christmas table. But it is true that almost every family has a recipe for a Christmas dish, passed down from generation to generation, which, like a little secret, brings all family members closer together. After the festive feast, some families read or sing Christmas stories.
Then comes the time of gifts, beloved by all children.
Expectation and reality
There are many kind, family or romantic Christmas movies that many of us watch from year to year. We will not list everything - they can be found on any website about movies.
And I would like to mention a German TV series Loriot, or rather the 14th episode of the series dedicated to Christmas. The series shows the life of an ordinary German family - grandfather Loriot, dad, mom and son. The Germans are quite ironic people, and do not mind laughing at themselves. And especially over all those rules and customs that they themselves invented. In the series “ Weihnachten bei Hoppenstedts»Shows a typical Christmas in an average German family.
Despite the presence of all the Christmas trappings - choral music, a Christmas tree, wrapped gifts and a dressed-up family - there is no feeling of celebration from what you see. Everything looks like in the pictures "Expectation - Reality". The episode successfully portrays the German love of order and planning. Parents cannot agree on what should first go according to the holiday program - a verse from their son or unpacking gifts. Unbelievable, but even such an item as to relax, get comfortable (gemütlich machen) is included in the evening plan!
The Germans at one time appreciated and disassembled this series for quotes. This means that many really recognized themselves as heroes.
The magic is around us!
However, as difficult as last year was, Christmas is a time for magic and happiness.This is the time that is customary to spend with loved ones, the time when it is pleasant to give and receive even the smallest gifts, which means that this is the time of magic!
We wish all of you, our dear friends, that your holidays (Catholic Christmas, New Year or Orthodox Christmas) be filled with warmth and magic, so that wishes come true, mulled wine is delicious, and meetings are warm!
Expanding Your Christmas Vocabulary
Congratulations to family and friends!
Your Deutsch Online Team
Natalia Khametshina was preparing for Christmas
The world famous Christmas song "Shchedryk" is a Ukrainian Christmas song. Gained worldwide popularity in the musical arrangement of Nikolai Leontovich, who wrote it in 1916. In English it is known as "Carol of the Bells".
Christmas is a great holiday established to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem. Christmas is one of the most important Christian holidays, a public holiday in more than 100 countries around the world.
The first information about the celebration of Christmas by Christians dates back to the 4th century. The question of the real date of birth of Jesus Christ is controversial and controversial among church authors. Perhaps the choice of December 25 is associated with the pagan solar holiday "Birth of the Invincible Sun" that fell on that day, which was filled with new content with the adoption of Christianity in Rome.
According to one of the modern hypotheses, the choice of the date of Christmas was due to the simultaneous celebration by the early Christians of the Incarnation (the conception of Christ) and Easter; accordingly, as a result of adding 9 months to this date (March 25), Christmas fell on the winter solstice.
The Feast of the Nativity of Christ has five days of the forefeast (from 20 to 24 December) and six days of the afterfeast. On the eve, or on the eve of the holiday (December 24), a particularly strict fast is observed, which is called Christmas Eve, since on this day they eat soothing wheat or barley grains cooked with honey. Traditionally, the Christmas Eve fast ends with the appearance of the first evening star in the sky. On the eve of the holiday, Old Testament prophecies and events related to the Nativity of the Savior are recalled. Christmas services are performed three times: at midnight, at dawn and during the day, which symbolizes the Nativity of Christ in the bosom of God the Father, in the womb of the Mother of God and in the soul of every Christian.
In the 13th century, during the time of St. Francis of Assisi, it became customary to exhibit a manger in churches for worship, in which a figurine of the Infant Jesus is placed. Over time, the nursery began to be placed not only in the temple, but also in houses before Christmas. Home Santons - models in glazed boxes depict a grotto, in a manger lies the baby Jesus, next to the Mother of God, Joseph, an angel, shepherds who came to worship, as well as animals - a bull, a donkey. Entire scenes from folk life are also depicted: peasants in folk costumes, etc. are placed next to the holy family.
Church and folk customs are harmoniously intertwined in the celebration of Christmas. In Catholic countries, the custom of caroling is well known - children and young people go to homes with songs and good wishes. In response, the carollers receive gifts: sausage, fried chestnuts, fruits, eggs, pies, sweets, etc. The stingy owners are ridiculed and threatened with troubles. Various masks, dressed in animal skins, participate in the processions; this action is accompanied by noisy fun. This custom was repeatedly condemned by the church authorities as pagan, and gradually they began to go with carols only to relatives, neighbors and close friends.
The tradition of lighting a ceremonial fire in the hearth - "Christmas log", testifies to the remnants of the pagan cult of the sun on Christmastide. The log was solemnly, observing various ceremonies, brought into the house, set on fire, at the same time making a prayer and carving a cross on it (an attempt to reconcile the pagan rite with the Christian religion). They sprinkled the log with grain, poured honey, wine and oil on it, put pieces of food on it, addressed it as a living being, raised glasses of wine in its honor.
On the days of the celebration of Christmas, the custom has been established to break "Christmas bread" - special unleavened wafers consecrated in churches during Advent - and eat it both before a festive meal and during greetings and congratulations to each other on the holiday.
A characteristic element of the Christmas holiday is the custom of installing a decorated spruce tree in homes. This pagan tradition originated among the Germanic peoples, in whose rituals spruce was a symbol of life and fertility. With the spread of Christianity among the peoples of Central and Northern Europe, the spruce tree decorated with multi-colored balls takes on new symbolism: it began to be installed in homes on December 24, as a symbol of the paradise tree with abundant fruits.
