Catholic Christmas: history and traditions of celebration. When and how is Catholic Christmas celebrated? When is Catholic Christmas in

On the night of December 24-25, 2016, Catholics all over the world will meet and begin to celebrate one of the most important holidays for all believers - the Nativity of Christ.

Residents of Western Europe, Asia, the USA, and Australia are already actively preparing for Christmas, the most solemn holiday in Catholicism. All of them will again and again remember an event that happened many centuries ago - the birth of the Immaculate Virgin Mary of the Son of God Jesus Christ. After all, it was this event that opened up the possibility of salvation of the soul and eternal life for every believer. Today, Christmas is a national holiday in more than 145 countries around the world and is celebrated annually on December 25th.

On Christmas Day, Catholics celebrate three church services: at midnight, at dawn and during the day. And the celebration of the great event will last for eight days. On these days, Catholics remember the saints: December 26 - the Holy Protomartyr Stephen, December 27 - the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, and December 28 - the Holy Innocent Infants of Bethlehem. On December 30, if these days do not fall on Sunday, the Feast of the Holy Family is celebrated: the Infant Jesus, the Virgin Mary and Joseph the Betrothed. And the celebration of Christmas ends on January 1, when the Day of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated with special solemnity.

History of the Christmas holiday

It is known that the Christmas holiday was first mentioned in the middle of the 4th century. As follows from the scriptures of Matthew and Luke, the rising of the first evening star on the night of December 25 marks the birth of the Son of God. Little Christ was born in a rock grotto, where shepherds sheltered their cattle from bad weather. The angels announced that the Savior had come into the world to the shepherds, who went to the grotto and bowed to the newborn. And the wise men, guided by the light of a bright star, brought their gifts to the Son of God - incense, gold and myrrh.

It was this scene that became the main symbol of the Nativity of Christ. It is embodied in churches and in residential buildings with the help volumetric figures, made from various materials(wood, porcelain, clay).

Christmas table: what dishes are served in different countries

Before the Feast of the Nativity of Christ, believers observe fasting. And on the eve of Christmas - this day is called Christmas Eve (the name comes from the fact that they ate juice - wheat or barley grains boiled with honey), when the first star lit up in the sky - the herald of the birth of the Son of God - the fast ends and the celebration of Christmas begins.

For this purpose, believers gather with the whole family at the festive table. Treats for the latter are prepared in accordance with the traditions of a particular country. Perhaps the most common dish on the Christmas table is turkey, duck or goose. Housewives cook poultry according to different recipes. In England, for example, turkey is baked with gooseberry sauce, and in the USA it is always served with cranberry sauce. Refined French and Greeks prefer to bake birds in white wine. In Denmark, duck or goose is stuffed with apples, in Germany they prefer to fry it, and the Chinese prepare their famous Peking duck.

It is interesting that in the Balkan countries, as well as in Austria and Hungary, the Christmas dinner menu does not include poultry dishes, since it is believed that you cannot eat poultry that evening, otherwise happiness will fly away from home.

In Spain, they roast suckling pig on a spit and eat it with sherry. And in Portugal they prepare baccalao - a dish of dried salted cod, which is usually washed down with port wine.

Scandinavians prepare delicious blood sausages, salting and smoking meat in advance. They also prepare beer in unlimited quantities: the intoxicating drink is brewed for several days without interruption.

Catholics begin celebrating Christmas on the evening of December 24, when the first star lights up in the sky.

This evening, there must certainly be something juicy on the tables of believers - sweet porridge made from grains of wheat, lentils or rice with poppy seeds, various nuts and honey.

After dinner, the whole family goes to the temple for a festive mass: on December 25, three liturgies are served. For this purpose, the clergy dresses in festive white clothes.

Traditions of the peoples of the world: who and how celebrates Catholic Christmas 2016

The main symbol of the upcoming Catholic Christmas has become an elegant fir tree. The tradition of decorating forest beauties came from Germany, where many years ago spruce was considered a symbol of life and fertility. Gradually this custom took root in Central and Northern Europe. And now the spruce has become a symbol of the tree of paradise and eternal life, which man regains through Jesus Christ.

IN Catholic Christmas It is customary to carol - go to the houses of close friends and relatives with songs and good wishes. Children and youth, and usually it was they who caroled, dressed up and hiding their faces behind masks, were treated to pies, sweets, fruits and other foods.

At Christmas, parishioners act out evangelical scenes in churches and city squares, visually telling the story of the birth of Christ.

At the same time, in different countries have their own traditions of celebrating Catholic Christmas.

Czech

On the eve of Christmas - the Czechs call this a generous time - it is customary to decorate Christmas trees, present each other with gifts and sit down to the festive table. For this holiday, fish is always prepared in the Czech Republic - although the Czechs are known meat eaters and, according to statistics, eat a little more than a kilogram of fish a year. But at Christmas, carp baked with caraway seeds is certainly served. And then family members tell fortunes using apples: if you cut the fruit crosswise and see the correct star from the seeds, then the next year will definitely be happy.

All children in America are waiting for the arrival of Santa Claus with gifts.

Austria

In Austria, edible decorations made of marmalade and chocolate are hung on the Christmas tree. Here, too, as in the neighboring Czech Republic, fatty carp baked in sour cream is served for Christmas dinner. Household members come out to the festive table dressed in their best suits, and the doors are not bolted - according to established tradition, friends and acquaintances can join the meal at any time.

USA

Overwhelm each other with gifts, have fun and sing Christmas songs together, visit loved ones and relatives, receive gifts from Santa Claus - this is the program for a Merry Christmas from the Americans. And every year they fulfill it completely and are immensely happy.

Spain

On a magical Christmas night, the Spaniards dress in folk costumes and go out into the streets, where they have fun, dance and sing songs. And just before the start of the Christmas mass, enthusiastic people, anticipating the holiday, gather at the main entrance to the temple, join hands and dance.

The holiday lasts eight days, forming the so-called octave of Christmas. After which comes the feast of Epiphany.

Catholic Christmas 2016 date, traditions, features, traditional Christmas dishes. In the Catholic faith, the Nativity of Christ is the main holiday of the year. It is celebrated in honor of the birth of Jesus Christ by the Virgin Mary. The date of celebration is static and does not change from year to year. Catholics celebrate Christmas on December 25, regardless of the day of the week.

It is necessary to immediately make a reservation that Orthodox and Catholics have dates of the majority religious holidays do not match. And this is due to the fact that the Orthodox did not switch to the Gregorian calendar. Thus, Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on January 7th. Undoubtedly, exact date the birth of the son of God is not known. But one version of why this holiday is celebrated on December 25 is that early Christians celebrated the Annunciation on March 25. And if you add 9 months to this date, you get December 25th.

The time before Christmas is very important. It is important to think about what is happening in life, repent of your sins and go to God. Catholics observe a strict fast that ends on Christmas Eve, exactly at the moment when the first star lights up in the sky. On the night before Christmas, Catholics go to church and listen to the festive mass. When the service ends, they gather as a family around a large table. Before the meal begins, the head of the family reads a prayer.

Catholic Christmas 2016 date, traditions, features, traditional Christmas dishes. Catholic Christmas has its own traditions and rituals. And much attention is paid to the festive table. So, often a gingerbread house is baked for this holiday. Sochivo and oatmeal jelly are also traditional. Often the Christmas menu includes duck, lamb, turkey, beef and desserts, as well as wine and champagne.

“New Year's recipes. Second courses"? “Duck stuffed with apples” duck (weighing about 2.5 kg) 500 g apples (sour or sweet and sour) 50 g (3 tbsp.) cranberries (or lingonberries) 10 mint leaves (optional) 50 g (3 tbsp.) l.) honey half an orange salt pepper Method of preparation: Step 1 Finely chop the mint. Step 2 Core the apples and cut into cubes. Step 3 Add cranberries and mint to apples. Step 4 Stir. Step 5 Wash the duck, trim off the fat. Salt and pepper (outside and inside). Stuff with apples and cranberries. Step 6 Sew up (or pin with toothpicks). Step 7 Squeeze the juice out of the orange (we will need about 50 ml of juice). Step 8 Add honey, stir. Step 9 Brush the duck with juice and honey. Step 10 Place in a baking sleeve. Place in a baking dish. Place in the oven. Bake at 180 degrees for 2–2.5 hours. You can prepare potatoes or rice as a side dish. The specified amount of ingredients makes 6-8 servings. Bon appetit!

On December 25, 2016, more than 100 countries around the world will celebrate Christmas. Most of these countries have a Catholic state religion.

Before the division of churches into Protestants, Catholics and Orthodox, all statutes were the same. Over time, the laws of each church changed - even in terms of the date of celebration of one of the greatest events included in the list of 12 main holidays of Christianity, called the Twelve - the Nativity of Christ.

Traditions of Catholic Christmas

The meaning of the holiday remains unchanged for all faiths. Catholic Christmas is a celebration not only of the birth of Christ, but also a celebration of the happiness of the Virgin Mary. This is not only joy, but also a share of sorrow, for Mary knew that happiness would turn into trials that would need to be endured with courage.

This is a holiday of the salvation of mankind, for immediately after the birth of Christ he was hunted by pagans who tried to kill him. The king ordered the death of all babies under 2 years of age. After the census and visit to Bethlehem, Joseph, Mary's husband, was visited by an angel and told that they needed to leave the country as much as possible to avoid the death of the baby Jesus. That's exactly what they did, go to Egypt.

This is a celebration of the miracle of preserving innocence, which Mary swore to preserve until the end of her days. As the scriptures say, as the birth approached, Joseph went to fetch the midwife, but when they returned, they saw a bright light coming from the cave. They entered there. But Maria was already holding the baby in her arms. It was the most wonderful miracle of all. Catholics, just like Protestants and Orthodox Christians, believe in this miracle and dedicate their prayers to it during Lent.

The main Christmas tradition for Catholics is fasting, which begins 4 weeks before the holiday. the last week- most important. In 2016, Christmas Eve begins on the night of December 24-25. It is on this day that it is forbidden to eat animal food. During Lent, people pray more, attend church more often, and limit themselves in entertainment.

At Christmas, in Catholic and Protestant customs there is an analogue of Russian carols. It was from Catholics that the tradition of decorating the Christmas tree came, which is what most of the world's population now does. This is a beautiful tradition that is almost one and a half thousand years old. After December 25, Catholics begin their post-feast. The New Year 2017 will be celebrated at the same time as Christmas, although it will officially begin only on January 1. This is the tradition of the Western world. They congratulate each other: “Happy New Year and Merry Christmas.”

Why do Catholics celebrate Christmas on December 25th?

Not only Catholics, but also Protestants live according to the Gregorian calendar. Moreover, Orthodox churches in some countries also use this particular calendar. This calendar is a little inconvenient due to its discrepancies with the astronomical one, but it is traditional.

In Russia, Orthodox Christians do not switch to the Gregorian calendar because they honor their traditions. The Orthodox Church does not want to change these traditions, and also believes in the correctness of its laws and habits. Unfortunately, no one knows how to count correctly church holidays, because such information is not in any of the holy books. In this regard, you have to figure it out on your own, so the disputes will never stop. It is worth noting that the majority of all Christian denominations in general always celebrate Christmas according to the Gregorian calendar - December 25.

One way or another, differences in festival times should not set boundaries between people. Catholics have always respected the traditions of Orthodoxy, and Orthodox Christians have always respected Catholic foundations.

Christmas is one of the main Christian holidays, established in honor of the birth in the flesh (incarnation) of Jesus Christ. The Roman Catholic Church and most Protestant churches celebrate Christmas according to the Gregorian calendar - on the night of December 24-25.

The decision to celebrate the Nativity of Christ on December 25 was made at the Ephesus (Third Ecumenical) Church Council in 431.

Christmas is preceded by the Advent period. During Advent, believers participate in special pre-Christmas services and try to perform acts of mercy. During the four weeks of Advent, it is necessary to prepare for confession so that with a pure heart participate in Christmas services and receive Communion.

A detailed account of the birth of Jesus Christ is given only by the Evangelist Luke: “Joseph also went from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, called Bethlehem, because he was from the house and family of David, to enroll with Mary, who was betrothed to him the woman who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth to her firstborn son, and she wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”

The reason why Mary and Joseph went to Bethlehem was a census conducted during the reign of Emperor Augustus during Quirinius's administration of Syria. According to the emperor's decree, every resident of the Roman Empire had to come “to his city” to facilitate the census. Since Joseph was a descendant of David, he headed to Bethlehem.

After the birth of Jesus, the first of the people to come to worship him were the shepherds, notified of this event by the appearance of an angel. According to the Evangelist Matthew, a miraculous star appeared in the sky, which led three wise men (wise men) to the baby Jesus. They presented Christ with gifts - gold, frankincense and myrrh; at that time the holy family had already found shelter in a house (or perhaps in a hotel).

Upon learning of the birth of Christ, King Herod of Judea ordered the death of all infants under the age of two, but Christ was miraculously saved from death. However, Joseph's family was forced to flee to Egypt and remained there until the death of King Herod.

According to the Roman tradition that developed in the first centuries of Christianity, on Christmas Day, December 25, three special liturgies are celebrated - mass at night, mass at dawn and mass during the day. Thus, Christmas is celebrated three times - as the pre-eternal birth of the Word from God the Father (at night), the birth of God the Son from the Virgin (at dawn) and the birth of God in a believing soul (during the day). In the evening of Christmas Eve, Christmas Eve Mass is celebrated.

At the beginning of the first of the Christmas Masses, a procession takes place, during which the priest carries and places a figurine of the Infant Christ in the manger and sanctifies it. This helps believers feel like participants in the event that happened on Christmas night.

The Christmas celebration lasts eight days - from December 25 to January 1 - forming the Octave of Christmas. On December 26, the feast of the holy martyr Stephen falls, on December 27, the memory of the holy apostle and evangelist John the Theologian is celebrated, on December 28, the Innocent Infants of Bethlehem. On a Sunday falling on one of the days from December 26 to 31, or December 30 if a Sunday does not fall on these days in a given year, the Feast of the Holy Family is celebrated: the Child Jesus, Mary and Joseph. January 1 marks the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Christmas time continues after the end of the Octave until the Feast of Epiphany, which in the Roman Catholic calendar is celebrated on the first Sunday after Epiphany (January 6). During the entire Christmas season, the clergy at the liturgy wear white, festive attire.

For Christmas dinner, most people in Italy and the Vatican serve roast panettone, a panettone Christmas cake similar to Easter, or a fluffy cake from Verona called pandoro. At Christmas, these countries give each other Torroncino - delicacies similar to nougat and grilled meat.

In Germany, there are traditional regional types of Christmas pastries - Nuremberg gingerbread, Aachen gingerbread, Dresden Christmas cake, cinnamon stars.

In many European countries festive table traditionally there is a sweet Christmas log - a sponge roll, richly decorated with cream, icing and chocolate.

One of the main symbols of Christmas is lit candles. The flickering flame of a candle reminds believers of the gospel words: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome Him.”

Christmas reveals Christ to believers in the form small child surrounded by the Holy Family, this holiday is celebrated with family and is warmed by special warmth and mutual love.

The material was prepared based on information from open sources

In the Catholic Church, Christmas is the main holiday of the year. It was erected in honor of the birth of Jesus Christ by the Virgin Mary. Answering the question about when Catholic Christmas is in 2016, 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 it that Christmas falls on December 25, but according to the Julian calendar, according to which holidays are calculated in the Orthodox Church, Christmas falls on January 7. This is 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 version of why Christmas falls on December 25 says that early Christians celebrated the Feast of 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 fasting for Catholics begins only four Sundays before the holiday. It's a time of repentance, all Catholic clergy put on their robes purple. The eve of the holiday is called Christmas Eve and this is the strictest time of fasting. You can only eat barley or wheat grains with honey (sochivo). On this day, traditionally, decorate the Christmas tree and gather at the festive table in the evening. The holiday continues until the first of January.

Features of Catholic Christmas

December 25 is the date of Catholic Christmas in 2015. This date is the same every year. There are five days leading up to Christmas, plus Christmas Eve. This important time for repentance and reflection. The strict fast on Christmas Eve ends the moment the first star appears in the sky. This star once upon a time 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 meal.

Traditional Christmas dishes

Now it’s clear what date Catholic Christmas 2016(December 25, the date does not change every year). 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. Oatmeal jelly is served on the table on Christmas Day. It is believed that the table must have a fish dish, cranberry jelly and seven varieties of sweets. You can make a gingerbread house with your own hands.

To prepare sochivo, which must be on the holiday 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 kernels walnut, one and a half cups of wheat grains (can be replaced with barley). The grains must be washed and placed in a ceramic pot. Now add two and a half glasses of water and place in the oven for an hour and a half (set the temperature to 140 degrees Celsius). Be sure to cover the pot with a lid. During this time, the grains will become soft and increase in volume. The wheat may still remain a little hard, if this happens, then you need to add a little more water and let the pot sit a little warmer.

At this time, the poppy seed is filled with water for a quarter of an hour, and then placed on a sieve and crushed in a mortar. Finely chop the nut kernels, dilute the honey in a water bath until liquid. Mix the porridge with nuts, squeezed raisins and poppy seeds, add honey. You can serve it on the table - this is an important dish in the Christmas meal for Catholics.

Catholic Christmas, which is celebrated all over the world on December 25, each country has its own customs and special traditions. But everyone is united by a festive mood, an atmosphere of home comfort and the desire of the family to unite. You should take care of the holiday menu in advance and prepare gifts so that you can relax and enjoy the atmosphere of magic on the holiday. It is important to properly prepare for both the New Year and Christmas.