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History of the origin of the holiday

Greek Catholics, like the Orthodox, celebrate Christmas Eve on January 6.

Christmas Eve is called Christmas Eve,which Catholics and Protestants celebrate according to the Gregorian calendar - on December 24, and the Orthodox - according to the Julian calendar, on January 6. The name of the holiday comes from the word "osovo": the so-called grains of wheat, lentils or rice, soaked in seed (walnut, almond, hemp or poppy) juice with honey. In the old days the church charter prescribed this dish for Christmas Eve and on the eve (the eve of the Epiphany) in imitation of the post of the prophet Daniel and the three youths. Christmas Eve ends the forty-day Philippov post before Christmas and is a day of preparation for the holiday. On that day, believers should give up food before the first star appears in the sky. This tradition refers to the legend of the Bethlehem star, heralding the birth of Jesus. However, in the Church's Charter this tradition is absent.

According to Tipikonu, fasting should be done until the end of Vespers.

The early Christians of Christmas Eve did not know, and Christmasfor them it was a less meaningful holiday than Easter. The Christmas Eve was set to celebrate in the 4th century. In the period from the 5th to the VIIIth centuries, a number of sacred songs were written, among them the authors should highlight Kozma Mayumsky, John Damascene, Anatoly and Sofroniy of Jerusalem.

Traditions of Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve, families dressed in their very bestdresses, cleaned the dwelling, prepared festive food and set the table. In the center of the table, covered with a snow-white tablecloth by all means, a composition of spruce branches and candles was placed. Although Christmas was originally a family holiday, it was customary to invite neighbors and random passers-by, including beggars. It was believed that in the guise of a tramp in this evening, the Lord himself may appear. Merry Christmas, congratulated and pets, as well as stray animals: for them in the courtyard or beyond the threshold was exhibited a bowl with a treat. The Slavs traditionally opened Christmas Eve week, and in the evening it was possible to start carols. Caroling is a verbal ritual, the participants of which went to visit the surrounding houses, performed special congratulatory or majestic sentences and in return received refreshments. Adults and children, and laity and clergymen went to carouse. It is worth noting that the carols have pagan roots, and the purpose of the ritual was to obtain high yields, increase the number of livestock and achieve prosperity in the family.