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Feature of the Orthodox holiday Christmas tree is that,That during the walk a unity is accepted. Everyone rejoiced, the boundaries between rich and poor disappeared for a while, and all the people could simply glorify the Lord, help the sick and suffering. Even came the information that in Byzantium during the Christmas season it was customary to treat prison inmates and even slaves, thus demonstrating charity and compassion for one's neighbor. It is unfortunate that these customs are almost not preserved to the present day.

History and traditions

In ancient Russia, the Christmas traditions were also consideredA universal holiday, when everyone could rejoice in the birth of Christ. People gave gifts to each other, went to visit, arranged festive games, were engaged in charity. Ordinary rural amusements also took place, young people had fun and made fun. Gifts and treats on this feast were considered to be the grace of God, and the church called upon everyone and everyone for sympathy, for love and mercy, in pre-revolutionary newspapers and magazines, it was possible to find good and instructive stories that reveal the essence of the holy holiday. During the festivities, the young looked after themselves a couple, making a plot (engagement) for Maslenitsu. All this reminds another holiday - Shrove Tuesday, but Shrovetide is not a church event. However, in the complex Russian culture, the traditions of celebration are intertwined with folk customs, and some of them we remember to this day.

Carols and gatherings

Today every Orthodox considers his dutyvisit the church in Svyatki, invite friends and relatives, go to visit yourself and prepare a holiday gift. However, the most important thing in Christmas Eve is not a treat or gifts, but an awareness of one's unity with God, attention to one's neighbor, the desire to become better, kinder. In many Christian families, true holy customs are observed, in Sunday schools, children learn the sacred songs, put on merry sketches, join the Orthodox culture. There is another custom that has come down to us - caroling. The mummers go to their homes, sing songs, dance, read ditties, and the owners of the house should traditionally give gifts or sweets. However, this tradition is a pagan shade, because in antiquity it was believed that when changing into terrible costumes and putting on masks, people scared off evil spirits. It is customary to speculate on Christmas trees, but this paganism too, because the church is against all sorts of prejudices, although for millennia everything has intertwined. It is believed that holy fortune-telling is the most truthful, and therefore neither the results of what is seen, foretold, nor about the method of divination can be reported. These traditions were observed for many years, but later, at the time of the formation of the Soviet Union, the government forced to abandon religious beliefs, and this explains the disappearance of many church traditions and holidays, much was lost after the repression of Soviet power. However, it is not necessary to observe all traditions and customs, you can simply give warmth and love to your relatives.