Antipyretics for children are prescribed by a pediatrician. But there are emergency situations for fever when the child needs to be given medicine immediately. Then the parents take responsibility and use antipyretic drugs. What is allowed to give to infants? How can you bring down the temperature in older children? What medicines are the safest?
Lasting forty days, thus the Christians prepared for the great event.
In everyday life, the peasants prepared for Christmas and on the eve of the holiday itself. The hostesses always cleaned the huts by Christmas Eve, washed and bleached everything, and finished preparing herbal and intoxicated beer for Christmas celebrations. Also at this time, all the women finished baking, which everyone would have to eat after the liturgy of the Nativity and when treating guests at the feast. On Christmas Eve, the old people rested, and everyone else tried to finish all the work before dinner, in order to have time to go to the bathhouse to wash themselves while it was light. In Siberia, this bath was called a princess, it was usually prepared by women. The holiday was usually celebrated in new clothes.
On Christmas Eve, until the first star appears in the sky, everything fasted especially old people. Before the sun went down, all family members had to gather at the table and pray. Sometimes the owner of the house put a candle in the bread, after which he went for straw, with which he covered the front corner of the house and the shop in it. The straw was covered with a clean tablecloth or towel, on which they put kutya and put rye next to it. After that, the whole family prayed again, and the candles were extinguished, after which everyone silently began to eat. In the provinces in western Russia, which were located closer to Belarus, straw was laid under the tablecloth on the table.
The main dish, as now, was kutya. There was no fast food on the table on Christmas Eve. Basically, they put bread, grated peas, cabbage with kvass, wort on the table. Since only fasting dishes were consumed, they called the Christmas Eve meal “hungry kutya”. And in the Kaluga province, it was impossible to drink water while eating. It was believed that those who drink water will get sick.
In some places in Russia, frost was called before a gala dinner. After everyone had eaten, the food was not cleared from the table. It was believed that dead relatives come at night and eat up everything. Spoons that family members ate on Christmas Eve were used in divination. On this day, it was customary to go to bed early. In the early morning, on January 7, bonfires were lit in the provinces in southern Russia, they called it "heating the dead." In the morning, children, and in some provinces, girls and young boys praised Christ: they went home and carried kutya, sang songs, for which they received various goodies and money.
On the eve of Christmas, the peasants drank enough to have fun from the heart. So it was established, therefore, any dark, sad clothes could not be worn on this day.
Any passer-by was allowed to enter the hut and eat, and none of the owners could refuse to eat y. As a result, at the end of the evening, all the men of the villages were already barely getting home, dragging their feet. Among these fun, the exception was, of course, only the praisers - children and youth, who simply sang songs. The youngest of the slavers, as a rule, was put on a fur coat, which was laid in the very front corner with the fur up. Thus, according to legend, they helped the hens to incubate eggs well in the future. Everyone else was given money and sweets. With the proceeds, a hut was rented, in which all non-drinkers went for conversations.
The most important thing at Christmas was participation in the liturgy. Upon returning home from the church, a festive dinner was arranged, during which everyone broke their fast.
Church ministers also went home in the morning to praise Christ. Throughout the day, children and young people caroled, and crib performances were organized in the south of Russia and Siberia, they were also called cribs. In the evening, everyone went to visit guests: relatives, godfathers and neighbors.
Dmitry Kostromin
The holiday of the bright day of the Nativity of Christ returned to Russia and since 1991 has become a "real" holiday - by the Decree of the Supreme Council of the RSFSR, the day of January 7 is declared a day off. The holiday itself is surprisingly "childish", perhaps even the most "childish" of all Orthodox holidays. See how children perceive Christmas! And all of us on this day and on the eve of it are a little children. It is clear that the long persecution of Christianity in the USSR led to the oblivion of many traditions and ritual ceremonies...
Why is Christmas celebrated on January 7th in Orthodoxy? How do people celebrate Christmas in Russia? Divine Liturgy at Christmas. Food for Christmas.
Our city sweeps with powder,
Christmas is coming again...
We wish you only the best,
What you can wish your friends.
A bit of history
The Nativity of Christ is one of the great holidays of Christianity and belongs to the twelve great twelfth holidays. In the Eastern Church, the feast of the Nativity of Christ is considered the second feast after Easter. And in the Western church, in some denominations, this holiday is revered even higher than Easter. This happens because the Nativity of Christ symbolizes the possibility of salvation that opens up for people with the coming into the world of Jesus Christ. In Eastern countries, Easter symbolizes the spiritual resurrection of a person, which is honored more than the Nativity of Christ.
The rules for celebrating the Nativity of Christ were finally formed in the 4th century. So, for example, if the eve of a holiday falls on a Sunday, the first rule of Theophylact of Alexandria is used to celebrate this holiday. On the eve of the holiday, instead of the usual hours, the so-called Royal Hours are read, various Old Testament prophecies and events related to the Nativity of Christ are recalled. In the afternoon, the liturgy of Basil the Great takes place, in the case when the eve does not take place on Saturday or Sunday, when the liturgy of St. John Chrysostom is served, at the usual time. The All-Night Vigil begins with Great Compline, at which spiritual joy over the Nativity of Christ is expressed with the prophetic song "For God is with us."
However, the beautiful and solemn holiday of the Nativity of Christ is not celebrated in different countries in the same way, but bears the imprint of the customs and traditions of a certain people. So, for example, in Catholicism, the Nativity of Christ is celebrated magnificently and solemnly with three services: at midnight, at dawn and in the afternoon. Such a construction of the holiday symbolizes the birth of Jesus Christ in the bosom of the Father, in the womb of the Mother of God and in the soul of a believer. Since the time of Francis of Assisi, a manger with a figurine of the Infant Christ has been installed in Catholic churches so that believers can worship the image of the newborn Jesus Christ. A nativity scene is being built (that is, the cave where Jesus Christ was born) with figures of the Holy Family and in Orthodox churches.
Both in Catholicism and in Orthodoxy, during the Christmas sermon, the idea is especially emphasized that with the birth of Jesus Christ (which symbolizes the coming of the Messiah into the world), the opportunity opens up for every believer to achieve the salvation of the soul and, through the fulfillment of the teachings of Christ, receive eternal life and heavenly bliss. Among the people, the holiday of the Nativity of Christ was accompanied by folk festivals, songs and games, gatherings and caroling, Christmas fun.
*Christmas in Russia*
Christmas - "the second Easter"; a great holiday, a holy day, honored more than all other days of the year - after the day of the Bright Resurrection of Christ.
The night sky over Bethlehem twinkles with stars... And we, together with the shepherds, hear angelic singing, see the angel-bringer and rejoice at the birth of the miraculous Otrochati. But our joy is not violent, like the rejoicing of the pagans. She is quiet, Christian. We know that suffering and death await this Child. He, innocent, will be unjustly condemned, and those for whose sake He came into the world will shout to Pilate: "Crucify! Crucify Him!" Therefore, the joy of the coming of God is colored with sadness. But we also know that He came for the Resurrection, in order to deliver us from death and defeat evil. And again, peace of mind.
Gregorian and Julian or New Year and "Old" New Year
Merry Christmas, I congratulate you!
Happiness and health, I wish you all the best,
Holiness, deceit - in moderation so that everything,
Joy, good luck. Bad - nothing!
And for Orthodox Christians in Russia, Georgia, the Holy Land, as well as for some other churches of the Eastern rite, the day traditionally considered the birthday of Jesus will come later.
The temporary discrepancy between the celebration of Christmas by various churches is due to the fact that most countries in Europe and the USA celebrate Christmas according to the Gregorian calendar - December 25, and Russia - according to the Julian calendar, on January 7 (i.e. December 25 according to the Gregorian calendar coincides with January 7 according to the old style).
In the Julian calendar, the average duration of the year in the interval of 4 years was 365.25 days, which is 11 min 14 s longer than the tropical year.
The length of the year in the Gregorian calendar is on average 365.2425 days, which is only 26 seconds longer than the tropical year.
The difference between the old and new styles in 1582 (the year it was introduced in Europe by Pope Gregory) was 10 days, in the 18th century - 11 days, in the 19th century - 12 days, and in 20 respectively - 13 days.
In our country, the Gregorian calendar was introduced in 1918, but the Russian Orthodox Church continues to use the Julian calendar to this day, explaining the reluctance to switch to a new style by the fact that then the structure of the church year will be violated.
How did Russia celebrate Christmas?
And Christmas is like a magician, a wizard,
Like a precious talisman.
Health, vivacity and fun,
And let happiness give you.
In Russia, Christmas began to be celebrated in the 10th century. It has long been a quiet and peaceful holiday. Christmas Eve - Christmas Eve - was celebrated modestly both in the palaces of Russian emperors and in the huts of peasants. But the next day, fun and revelry began - Christmas time.
They went from house to house with songs, arranged round dances and dances, dressed up as bears, pigs and various evil spirits, frightened children and girls, guessed. For greater persuasiveness, scary masks were made from various materials. By the way, from the 16th century, the Christmas masks began to be officially called mugs and mugs.
Ordinary people had fun in the squares, where booths, carousels, markets, tea and vodka tents were set up. Richer people stayed up late in restaurants and taverns. The merchants rode in troikas. Noble nobles arranged balls. In the villages, Christmas time was celebrated by the whole world, moving from hut to hut.
Muscovites at Christmas went for a walk in Petrovsky Park. Marina Grove, Ostankino, Sokolniki.
Russian sovereigns also celebrated Christmas noisily.
Peter the Great used to make fun of Christmas games. In the royal chambers, everyone dressed up, sang songs, guessed. The sovereign himself with a large retinue traveled around the houses of noble nobles and boyars. At the same time, everyone had to zealously have fun - whoever had a "sour face" was beaten by batogs.
Elizaveta Petrovna celebrated Christmas time according to old Russian customs. The courtiers were supposed to appear at the court in costume, but without masks. The empress herself dressed up, and the empress was very fond of singing Christmas songs with the girls.
Catherine the Great respected folk fun and entertainment and often took part in them. In the Hermitage they played blind man's buff, forfeits, cat and mouse, sang songs, and the Empress famously danced with the peasants.
Divine Liturgy at Christmas
In the 5th century, Anatoly, Patriarch of Constantinople, and in the 7th century, Soffoniy and Andrew of Jerusalem, in the 8th century, John of Damascus, Kozma Mayumsky, as well as Herman, Patriarch of Constantinople, wrote church hymns for the feast of the Nativity of Christ, which are used by the current church. And also performed the Christmas kontakion "Virgin today ...", written by St. Roman the Melodist.
Christ is born - praise!
Christ from heaven - hide!
Christ on earth - ascend,
Sing to the Lord all the earth,
And sing with joy, people,
Like become famous!
The service of the Divine Liturgy is performed in the church. In the middle of the temple, where a festive icon is usually exhibited, there is a cave made of spruce twigs, strewn with stars. Little brothers, witnesses of Christmas are not forgotten: a cow and a calf. They also participate in the celebration. Maybe in order to better approach the great mystery? And for this, according to Christ, one must become like children.
The holiday itself is surprisingly "childish", perhaps even the most "childish" of all Orthodox holidays. See how children perceive Christmas! And all of us on this day and on the eve of it are a little children. Together we decorate the Christmas tree - and how much joy everyone has!
In order to adequately prepare for the feast of the Nativity of Christ, the Church has set a time for preparation - the Nativity Fast. During the entire fast, one should refrain from entertainment, wasting time on pleasures, from idleness - after all, the real holiday is ahead.
An increasing place in daily worship is occupied by hymns telling about Christmas events, fasting is becoming more and more strict. The last week before Christmas is inspired by Holy Week. And the touching, poignant tunes of the Passionate are the basis of pre-Christmas songs.
Christmas Eve - Christmas Eve... Expectation has reached its climax. On this day, the Liturgy is combined with Vespers, which marks the beginning of the next day, because the church day begins in the evening. Consequently, after the solemn Liturgy and Vespers connected with it, the time comes for the first day of Christmas. But the post has not yet been cancelled. In the food we are offered a special pre-Christmas meal - "sochivo". This is what gave the name to Christmas Eve - Christmas Eve. "Sochiv" was called in Russia grains of wheat boiled with honey. And it's not just a custom. Like everything that is consecrated by church tradition, the Christmas Eve meal has its own deep symbolic meaning. We commemorate Christ the God-Man with our words, like the Magi, seeing in His Nativity the earthly feat, death and Resurrection. After all, grain is the gospel image of death and resurrection: "... if a grain of wheat that falls on the earth does not die, then it remains alone, if it dies, it will bring forth much fruit ...". In His death is the guarantee of His Resurrection and our resurrection.
“Sugar son of honored Khavronya, a piglet with a fist, a tail-hook - come, get hold of a bright holiday,” Moscow merchants once reddened from frost shouted invitingly. “But the pikes are toothy, tasty, mouthy - grab a dozen by the tails for a good dinner!” However, there was no particular need to praise the goods - on Christmas Eve there were more than enough buyers. Before the holiday, the houses were thoroughly cleaned: the floors were rubbed to a shine, the robes on the images were cleaned, elegant icon lamps were placed, and snow-white starched curtains were hung on the windows. New light-colored carpets with a bizarre pattern of blue flowers were laid on the floor, door handles were polished for a long time with bunches of dry mint and elderberry and wrapped in rags so that they would not be “captured” before the holiday.
In the evening before Christmas, on Christmas Eve, they prepared sochivo - porridge from wheat grains flavored with honey, and a fragrant drink - a concoction of dried pears, apples and plums. Treats were placed under the image on a pile of hay in memory of the baby Christ, born in a manger in the hay, they waited for the first star to appear in the sky and had a modest supper (the forty-day Christmas fast ended only the next morning). And after a simple meal, they went to church for a festive service. Having survived the vigil, they returned home and “let in” the Christmas tree. The forest beauty, languishing in the cold hallway, was brought into the room with honor and decorated with sweets, gilded nuts, gingerbread and toys. Products for the festive feast were always stocked up in advance: two or three pork carcasses, carps, pikes, carps and all kinds of birds were stored in cold cellars for several days. The Christmas table, covered with a crispy white tablecloth, was simply bursting with an abundance of dishes: mouth-watering pig with buckwheat porridge, ruddy ham, fish aspic, fragrant meat jelly flavored with horseradish, goose with apples, elegant pies-pies with elm, vegetables or berries, various pickles and honey roe gingerbread.
Photo: Shutterstock.com
On frosty winter days from Christmas to Epiphany (January 19), called Christmas time, festive gluttony alternated with unbridled fun: riding from the mountains on huge clumsy sledges and ice rinks, playing snowballs, fist fights and, of course, famous carols. The name of this fun comes from the name of the pagan god of feasts and the world of Kolyada. In Russia, young people and children were especially fond of caroling: after looking forward to the evening and dressed in animal skins or funny outfits, cheerful companies went home to ask for treats and money.
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It was customary to generously bestow gifts on carolers who sang songs and mischievous ditties. However, there were also stingy hosts who tried to get rid of obsessive visitors with a couple of bagels or sweets - in response, the brisk-tongued guests wished the misers to get “devils in the yard, and worms in the garden” in the new year or harvest wheat “completely with empty spikelets ". To force the procession to take the "best" wishes back, the greedy had to fork out. On Christmas days, not only children caroled, but also animals. Trained bear cubs were taken around the cities and villages - the toptygins performed complex dance steps, played the harp, and then bowed and walked around the audience with a hat, standing for a long time near those who were stingy with the reward. On these holidays, they also loved to tell fortunes - Christmas fortune-telling was considered the most truthful. “I want a betrothed - a handsome man and a dandy, long curls, high morocco boots, a red shirt, a golden sash,” after reading an old conspiracy, modern girls will certainly be surprised and even slightly indignant. Well, who, pray tell, could need such a curly fashionista? But it was precisely about such a life partner that their peers once dreamed of - on the days of Christmas time, the girls uttered a conspiracy and guessed "on the betrothed", spreading wheat grains on the floor by the stove. A rooster was brought into the house, and not a simple one, but pitch black - if the “prophetic” bird pecks all the grains, then the groom will surely appear soon. And if the cockerel refuses to treat - alas! - it is useless to wait for the betrothed in the new year. Wax fortune-telling was especially popular - melted wax was poured into a basin of water, and then the resulting figures were examined: a heart - for "amorous affairs", a pitchfork - for a quarrel, a medallion - for wealth, and a bagel - for lack of money.
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From time immemorial, Christmas in Russia was called the holiday of kindness and mercy, which called first of all to take care of the needy and the weak. Charity balls and auctions were held in Moscow and other large cities, tables were set with "sovereign" pies, pretzels and decanters with "bitter" for the poor, gifts were given to orphans and the sick. However, those times are long gone, and the old Christmas traditions are alive to this day. It’s just that today it’s unlikely that anyone would think of caroling at home - it’s much better in an honest company to enjoy the same “son of the venerable Khavronya”, pies and other goodies, and then read the Christmas advice to the guests, written on an old postcard: “So that the dishes do not get heavier, get the sled - it’s fun to fly down the hill, we’ll hug.
star turrets
Photo: Shutterstock.com
(6 servings)
Chop the onion and clove of garlic, finely chop the papaya pulp and 250 g of crab meat and mix the ingredients. Salt and pepper the mixture to taste, season with 2 tbsp. l. lemon juice and 6 tbsp. l. olive oil, add a couple of drops of hot Tabasco sauce and a pinch of sugar and mix the salad again. Tear 200 g of green lettuce leaves with your hands into pieces and arrange them on a dish. Cut stars out of 12 slices of toast bread, arrange half of them on lettuce leaves, decorate the stars with the crab mixture, top with the remaining toast and decorate them again with a layer of the mixture.
Christmas in Russia
The feast of the Nativity of Christ entered Russia along with Christianity in the 10th century. and merged here with the winter ancient Slavic holiday Christmas time.
Slavic Christmas time was a multi-day holiday. They began at the end of December and continued throughout the first week of January. Only with the penetration of Christianity into the life of the Slavs, firm dates were fixed for Christmas time - from December 25, the day of the mythical birth of Christ, and until baptism, that is, until January 6.
In the life of the ancient Slavs, the time of this holiday was of great economic importance. Winter work was coming to an end, a period of active preparation for spring was beginning. Economic life left a noticeable imprint on the Christmas time and to a large extent determined the festive Christmas rituals and customs. Many of them, having undergone significant changes, passed into the Christmas rites.
The Slavs attached great importance to the magical cleansing of all evil spirits, filth, evil spirits, with which, in fact, Christmas time began. To do this, the dwelling was carefully cleaned and washed, people washed themselves, cattle were sprinkled with water. Fire and smoke drove away evil spirits.
A large place in the celebration of Christmas time was occupied by community meetings - gatherings. At these meetings, the most important economic issues were discussed, and the schedule for further work was outlined. Community meetings ended with general festive feasts, which often lasted several days. At the same time, part of the food was “given away” to the gods, spirits to the souls of dead ancestors, in order to attract them to their side in this way. At the same time, various amusements, games, fortune-telling, walking of mummers, Christmas markets (trades, bazaars) were arranged. The cult of plant spirits and industrial agricultural magic also occupied a large place in the Christmas rites of the Slavs. The performance of various rituals, according to believers, was supposed to ensure a good harvest, a large offspring of livestock.
The remnants of all these rituals, customs and beliefs, although in a significantly changed form, have been preserved in many places until recently.
Until recently, in some areas of our country, the Christmas holiday began like this: on Christmas Eve, the dwelling was cleaned with ears of corn, the table and floor were covered with fresh hay, and an unthreshed sheaf was placed in the front corner, under the icons. With the appearance of the first star in the sky, the family sat down at the festive table. One of the main ceremonial dishes at the feast was kutya, or sochivo, i.e. liquid porridge made from boiled bread grains, sweetened with honey. Before the festive meal itself, the owner took a pot of kutya and walked around the hut three times with it, then threw a few spoons of kutya through a window or door into the street, symbolically treating the spirits. Frost was invited to the hut to eat kutya, and he was asked not to attack in the spring “on zhito, wheat and all pashits”, that is, not to destroy crops in spring.
Specially prepared sausages and pork also occupied a large place in the Christmas festive treat. They sought to clutter up the festive table with decorations and all sorts of dishes, figurines of domestic animals baked from dough, ornaments from ears of corn, so that, sitting at this table, householders could not see each other. It was believed that the abundance of the festive table can magically contribute to abundance, prosperity of the family throughout the year. At the end of the festive meal, the spoons were left in the kutia so that the spirits could feast.
Caroling was also a common Christmas ritual. When caroling, special songs were sung - carols. Initially, these were magical, witchcraft spells, supposedly ensuring the economic well-being of the community, family. Later, special songs appeared, glorifying the owners of the house and wishing them all the best. In some areas, carolers, coming to the hut, poured grain on the floor of the hut, pursuing the goal of magically calling for a high harvest.
After the introduction of Christianity, the church linked caroling with the gospel myth of the appearance of the star of Bethlehem, announcing the birth of Christ. So the pagan caroling turned into the walking of Christs with a star from house to house. The worshipers sang special Christmas church songs. Children were widely involved in the glorification of Christ. Believers rewarded them with gifts and sweets.
The clergy showed great activity in "Christ-worship". It became a major source of income for him. As a result of going around the houses with short prayers, the clergy collected whole carts of food and large sums of money on the Christmas holidays.
In the celebration of the Orthodox Nativity of Christ, remnants of Christmastime entertainments have also been preserved. The following document testifies to the nature of Christmas, Christmas festivities. In the letter of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich to the Shuya governor in 1649, it was written: “Yes, on Christmas and until the Epiphany Day (that is, during all Christmas time, before baptism. - Ed.) they gather for demonic games, but drunken priests and monks and all kinds of Orthodox Christians walk around Moscow, and scold, and fight, and fight, shout and yell, and get drunk without memory.
Exorbitant saturation with food and wine was a relic of the belief that in this way one could magically ensure a well-fed and cheerful life throughout the year.
It was widely spread at Christmas time (and then passed into the Christmas ceremony) walking mummers. The ancient Slavs, dressed in the skins of various animals, believed that in this way they could magically influence the increase in the number of these animals. On the other hand, it was believed that the rampant evil spirits were especially great on the holiday. Christians also believed in this, believing that God, rejoicing at the birth of his son, opened the doors of heaven and hell and released angels and all evil spirits to "walk the earth." In order to avoid the harmful influence of evil spirits, believers, following the example of distant ancestors, dressed up, put on terrible animal masks in order to scare away evil spirits with this outfit or at least become unrecognizable and thus avoid the machinations of evil spirits.
Fortune-telling was an integral part of the Christmas entertainment. It arose as a result of the desire of people to somehow foresee the future and even magically influence it. People wanted to know in advance what the harvest would be, the offspring of livestock, etc. This, for example, is evidenced by such divination techniques as pulling straws from a sheaf or a blade of hay brought to the hut at Christmas time with their teeth. An elongated full ear with grain foreshadowed a good harvest, a long blade of grass - a good hay.
At a later time, the custom of fortune-telling was preserved mainly among young people, especially among girls, and was reduced to the desire to know one's fate, to know or see the betrothed.
And finally, let's dwell on one more Christmas, Christmas custom - decorating the Christmas tree. This custom is not Slavic, but transferred to Russia from the West. Among the ancient Germanic tribes, the cult of the spirits of vegetation was widespread. These spirits allegedly could exert a powerful influence on the harvest of bread, fruits, fruits, and on the offspring of livestock. According to the beliefs of the Germans, these spirits lived in trees, and above all in evergreen firs. In order to appease the spirits, they made sacrifices - they hung all their offerings on fir trees. Later, the spruce was no longer decorated in the forest or in the clearing, but was cut down and brought to the village. Here, around the decorated spruce, a holiday was held. The Christian church included this ancient custom in the Christmas rites. With the development of economic ties, the custom of decorating a Christmas tree for Christmas was brought to Russia (XVIII century). In our country, decorating the Christmas tree is timed to celebrate the New Year. The Christmas tree is arranged as fun for children.
Such was the everyday content of the Slavic Christmas time and the Christian holiday of the Nativity of Christ that merged with them. The Orthodox Church attached exceptional importance to this holiday. Christmas, according to the teachings of the church, is the second Easter.
The church assigned the central place in the ideological content of the holiday to the teaching of the birth of Jesus Christ in the form of a man to atone for the sins of people, to show mankind the ways of salvation. Defining the content of the Christmas feast, one of the church leaders wrote: “Glorifying the true union of God with man in the born God-man, the feast of the Nativity of Christ morally teaches us a holy life worthy of the born Lord” ( Debolsky. Days of worship ... of the Orthodox Church, vol. I, 1901, p. 38).
In its divine services, the church dedicates the whole 12 days to the Christmas holiday. Starting from December 20, 5 days are considered the pre-feast of Christmas. The most solemn service is performed on the day of the holiday itself. This is a real performance, which is designed to influence the religious feelings of believers, raise their religious mood and make them more receptive to the teachings of their spiritual fathers.
All the ideological content of the holiday, all its liturgical side pursue one main goal: to prove that all earthly troubles, all social injustice is the result of the sinfulness of the human race. And the way out of a difficult earthly life is to achieve heavenly bliss in the other world, the afterlife, which can be achieved only by fulfilling the teachings of Christ.
Calling on people to come to terms with cruel reality, distracting them from the struggle for better living conditions, for true human happiness on earth, the Church faithfully served the feudal lords, feudal lords, landowners and capitalists. And it is no coincidence that the tsarist government of Russia considered Christmas a public holiday and the entire church and police apparatus zealously monitored that the Christmas ritual was strictly observed by everyone. This was done in order to give the working people a deceptive consolation in "their newly born savior and the redeemer of their sins" on Christmas days.
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From the author's book“Who is living well in Russia” (Poem) Retelling of the Prologue In a fabulous form, the author depicts the dispute of seven peasants about “who lives happily, freely in Russia.” The dispute develops into a fight, then the peasants reconcile and decide among themselves to ask the king, the merchant and the priest who is happier, not
How Russia celebrated Christmas - an Orthodox holiday that is celebrated in all corners of our country.
Good day and good mood, friends.
How did Russia celebrate Christmas?
The Christmas festival stands out from other festivities. The church calendar and charter give a great role to this action, before it comes a long fast, which becomes the most strict on the eve of the holiday. Starting from the second of January (according to the new style), fasting people are not allowed to eat fish.
Finally, on the eve of the Nativity of Christ - Christmas Eve, the strictest post follows. It is customary not to eat food until dusk, to expect the rise of the first star, akin to the star of Bethlehem, which once led the Magi to the cradle of Jesus. The Nativity of Christ was always honored by Christians, although the celebration took place with the Baptism of the Lord on the nineteenth of January, and only with time began to be celebrated separately.
In our time, this holiday is celebrated by the Orthodox on January 7, according to the Julian calendar.
In Russia, Christmas began to be celebrated in the 10th century. They celebrated quite simply in the mansions of Russian tsars, and in ordinary huts. After dark, they went for water, which was considered life-giving: they drank, washed, and put dough for festive bread on it. Lent ended on January 7th.
They prepared 12 modest dishes, among them were uzvar - dried fruit compote and kutya - millet porridge. Ash from the Christmas hearth was used in various rituals. Kutya and uzvar were given to livestock, while the children portrayed the sounds of their voices so that nothing bad would happen to them this year.
Over a spoonful of kuti, a prayer was read for the deceased relatives, food was left for them. Meat, wine, sweets appeared on the table. The guests were treated to roasted suckling pig, jelly, pies, dumplings.
They gave edible gifts: cakes, jams, sweets. They brought funny toys, mittens and mittens. There was a belief that at night it was necessary to dress up in something new, or at least a white thing. An important sign was considered a coin baked in a pie. The one who gets it will be the happiest and luck will not bypass him.
Christmas time, and with them a feast and revelry, started the next day. They sang songs, danced round dances, prepared terrible Christmas masks, dressed up in carnival costumes, dressed up as wolves, roosters, goats, and any undead. They instilled fear in the girls and children.
Christmas time was met by all the people, with a wide scope. Booths and stalls with food were set up on the squares, they had fun until late. Richer people rode in troikas. The aristocrats threw feasts.
This is how they celebrated a wonderful holiday in the old days!
And how did you celebrate Christmas, friends? Write in the comments - very interesting.
