The origin of the holiday Christmas. Christmas: the origin story
Christmas is one of the brightest and most beautiful days of the year. Perhaps so rich and mysterious history there is no other holiday. And, perhaps, no other holiday brings together representatives of different religions and nationalities so strongly.
The origins of the Nativity of Christ are hidden in even more ancient holiday, Epiphany, which was dedicated to the birth of the baby Jesus. Epiphany Day began to be celebrated in the second century in Egypt. By the 4th century, the tradition had spread to the eastern countries, and a century later it also came to the West. It is curious that the Day of Theophany was dedicated to three events in the life of Jesus: his birth, the appearance of the Magi with gifts before him, and baptism in the Jordan River.
Christmas as a separate holiday began to be celebrated only at the end of the 5th century.
According to the Gregorian calendar, Christmas falls on December 25th. It is on this day that the holiday is celebrated by representatives of the Roman Catholic and Protestant churches. The Orthodox Church still does not recognize the Gregorian calendar, so Christmas is celebrated according to the New Julian calendar, two weeks later, on the night of January 6-7.
Christmas events
All the events of the birth of baby Jesus, a descendant of King David and the Messiah, are described in detail in the Gospel of Matthew. In his gospel commentary, New Testament scholar Barclay claims that Mary and Joseph, the parents of Jesus, were on their way to Bethlehem for the census. Unable to find a place in the hotel, they decided to spend the night in a cave, not far from the city. When Mary went into labor, Joseph ran to the city for help. But, returning with the doctor, he saw that his wife had already given birth. Thus, a man was born who became the central figure of Christianity.
Symbols of the Nativity
The birth of a new Prophet and King of Judea was announced to the whole world by the Star of Bethlehem, which showed the Magi the way to little Jesus. Some researchers claim that the Star of Bethlehem is Halley's comet, which swept through the sky on the night when Jesus Christ was born. That is why the Star of Bethlehem is one of the main symbols of the holiday and can often be seen on icons depicting the baby Jesus and the Virgin Mary.
Another important attribute holiday is a tree. When the king of Judah learned of the birth of Jesus, he ordered that all male babies born that day be killed. Mary, saving the baby Jesus from death, goes to Egypt. For the night they hid in a cave, and the entrance to it was closed. spruce branches. That is why spruce is still a symbol of Christmas, because spruce branches saved the life of little Jesus.
Who celebrates Christmas?
Christmas is celebrated by representatives of the Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant churches. For Muslims, Christmas is a completely different holiday that lasts 7 days. Today, Christmas is official holiday and a day off in many countries of the world, including Russia.
Orthodox Christians on January 7 joyfully celebrate one of major holidays- Nativity. Even those who do not share the Christian faith know that on this day a special baby was born who was destined to change the world. But not everyone knows the detailed history of the origin of the holiday, and it is not limited to just one event.
How did the holiday
The celebration of Christmas began to be celebrated in the fourth century. Before this holiday in Orthodox calendar there was not, but there was Theophany, symbolizing the Baptism of Jesus and the appearance of the Holy Trinity to the world at that moment. Initially, this important holiday was called the Day of Enlightenment, personifying God with Light and making it clear that he appeared in the world to make it brighter.
It is clear that the date of January 7 is not the exact birthday of Jesus, but is only approximate, based on assumptions. According to biblical traditions, Christ had to stay on earth for a full number of years, which means that the day of his conception most likely coincided with the date of the crucifixion.
There is also an assumption that it is not by chance that the date of the celebration of Christmas falls on the day of the pagan holiday of the Birth of the Invincible Sun, symbolizing the beginning of the stay sunny day. Perhaps in this way, the Christian church wanted to supplant the ancient customs. It is no secret that Christianity replaced pagan holidays with its own in a similar way. For example, this happened with Easter and Maslenitsa.
Traditions of celebrating the Nativity of Christ
Christmas is one of the twelve most significant church holidays. On the night of January 7, it is celebrated by Orthodox churches that adhere to the Julian calendar (including the Russian and Ukrainian churches), as well as some Eastern Catholics. The rest of the Christians adhere to the Gregorian chronology and celebrate the appearance of the Savior on earth on the night of December 25-26.
The Christmas holidays are preceded by a forty-day fast, it is not as strict as Great Lent before Easter. Four days a week it is allowed to include vegetable oil in the menu, and on Saturday and Sunday, as well as on church holidays that fall at this time, it is allowed to eat fish.
Christmas begins on the evening of January 6th. Christians call this day Christmas Eve and attach great importance to it. On the last day of fasting, it is strictly forbidden to work and eat. The celebration begins only after the first star lights up in the sky - a symbol of the birth of Jesus. At this moment, everyone sits together at the table and begins to celebrate the great event.
First, there should be exactly 12 lean dishes on the table, the main of which is sochivo - a specially prepared porridge from wheat grains, flavored with honey and fruits. The table is covered with a snow-white tablecloth and a small bundle of hay is necessarily placed on it, symbolizing the manger in which the newborn Savior lay.
Only after midnight is it allowed to put meat and fish snacks, sweets and other delicacies on the festive table. Orthodox begin the meal immediately after the end of the night church service. The Christmas feast is one of the most magnificent and satisfying. With an abundance of food, Christians rejoice at the miracle of the birth of Christ.
Christmas in Russia
In Russia, Christmas began to be celebrated in the 5th century, immediately after the Baptism of Rus'. By the end of the 19th century, the holiday became not only church, but also secular. The rulers in every possible way did not approve of the attempts of the people on this day, any mention of pagan holiday- Day of the solstice. It was forbidden to dress up in costumes, walk the streets in them and sing songs. At the beginning of the 20th century, the custom of decorating the Christmas tree appeared, and then the beloved Santa Claus was born with gifts and goodies.
With the coming to power of the atheistic communists, Christmas was made a list of forbidden holidays, which were not even allowed to be mentioned. For many years, they tried in every possible way to erase this day from the memory of people, forbidding even decorating houses with elegant Christmas trees. But the people continued to celebrate the great event, jeopardizing career and freedom.
In 1990, Christmas was announced not only public holiday, but also became an official holiday, for the first time nationwide it was celebrated on January 7, 1991. Now, on Christmas night, beautiful festive services are held in all churches, and services from the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, the main church of the country, are broadcast on TV all night.
In the week of Christmas, it is customary to go to visit, present each other with gifts and goodies. But until now, pre-Christian traditions are guessed in the holiday - it is customary for people to dress up and go from house to house with songs and games on Christmas time.
On the night of January 6-7, millions of Orthodox Christians around the world celebrate one of the main church holidays - the bright Nativity of Christ, which is one of the so-called Lord's Twelve Feasts.
© Sputnik / Alexander Lyskin
Reproduction of the icon "Nativity of the Lord Jesus Christ". 15th century
Nativity
According to the prophets, Christ was born in the city of Bethlehem in 5508 from the creation of the world in the reign of Emperor Augustus (Octavia). The events of the Nativity of Christ are reflected in the Gospels of Luke and Matthew.
According to the evangelists, the Virgin Mary and her husband Joseph, who lived in the city of Nazareth (it exists in Israel today), went to Bethlehem to take part in the mandatory census of the Roman Empire. Emperor Augustus ordered that a nationwide census be made throughout his empire, which then included Palestine. The census was conducted by tribes, tribes and clans, and each tribe and clan had its own specific cities and ancestral places. For the Virgin Mary and Joseph, Bethlehem was such a city, where they went to add their names to the list of Caesar's subjects.
© Sputnik / V. Robinov
Icon "Christmas"
In Bethlehem, in connection with the census, all the places in the hotels were occupied, and Mary and Joseph could only find lodging for the night in a limestone cave intended for cattle stalls. When they settled there, it was time for Mary to give birth. Among the hay and straw on a cold winter night, the baby Jesus Christ was born. After the birth of Jesus, the first to come to bow to him were the shepherds, who were informed of his birth by an angel. Matthew also mentions the miraculous star that led the Magi to the baby Jesus, who brought gifts - gold, frankincense and myrrh. These gifts had a deep meaning: gold was brought as a tribute to the king, frankincense as to God, and myrrh as to a person who must die (myrrh was anointed in those distant times for the dead). Then, having received a revelation from God not to return to Jerusalem, they left for their own country by another way.
Having heard about the birth of Jesus, King Herod, who ruled Judea at that time, and feared him as a rival to his reign, sent soldiers to Bethlehem with an order to put to death all male babies under two years of age. The Gospel tells that Joseph, having received a warning of danger in a dream, fled with the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Child to Egypt, where the Holy Family remained until the death of Herod.
history of the holiday
In remembrance of the birth (nativity) of Jesus Christ, the church established a holiday - the Nativity of Christ. The beginning of its celebration dates back to the time of the apostles. The Apostolic decrees say: "Keep, brethren, the feast days, and, firstly, the day of the Nativity of Christ, which you may celebrate on the 25th day of the tenth month" (from March).
The feast of the Nativity of Christ is celebrated on different dates by Christian churches due to differences in the Julian and Gregorian calendars.
In 337, Pope Julius I approved the date of December 25 as the date of the Nativity of Christ. Since then, the entire Christian world has been celebrating Christmas on December 25 (with the exception of the Armenian Church, which celebrates Christmas and the Epiphany as a single feast of Theophany). The Russian Orthodox Church also celebrates Christmas on December 25, but according to the old style - according to the Julian calendar (since the Russian Orthodox Church did not accept the reform of the calendar of Pope Gregory XIII), that is, on January 7 according to the new Gregorian style.
In 1582, Western Europeans carried out a reform, switching to the Gregorian calendar, which was introduced in Russia only in 1918. However, the Russian Orthodox Church did not recognize this and continues to use the Julian calendar to this day.
Christmas post
The feast of the Nativity of Christ precedes the Nativity Fast, so that the soul of Christians is cleansed by prayer and repentance, and the body by abstinence from food. Lent begins on November 28 (November 15 according to the Julian calendar) and lasts until January 7 (December 25 according to the old style). The last day of Advent fast is Christmas Eve, Christmas Eve, when fasting becomes especially strict and Vespers (evening service) of the Nativity of Christ is served. By Christmas Eve, churches are decorated in a festive way - with spruce branches, garlands with flowers and lights.
Moldova celebrates Christmas twice
Moldova is an Orthodox country, but many different cultures are intertwined in it. Celebrated here on a grand scale and Catholic Christmas- December 25, and "traditional" Orthodox - January 7.
© Sputnik / Miroslav Rotar
Two dates for the celebration of the Nativity of Christ - according to the new and the old style - are fixed in the republic at the legislative level. Differences in the Julian and Gregorian calendars caused two Christmases to appear in the government holiday calendar.
Moldovan traditions for Christmas
Carols and other winter chants are the legacy of the Slavs, who praised the god Kolyada these days, although the word "carol" in the Moldavian language sounds like "kolinda" - from Roman calends, sacred days. One of the main attributes of carols is a goat.
© Sputnik / Maxim Bogodvid
Carolers usually walk around the yards with knapsacks, where they put the gifts received from the owners. According to legend, whoever generously bestows caroling gifts will have good luck and prosperity in the New Year. The traditional gift is bread, a symbol of prosperity. They are led by a man dressed as a goat. On his head are horns, over his clothes is a sheepskin coat turned inside out.
The goat represents evil spirit: he jumps around passers-by, scares them. Another mummer carries in his hands a national instrument "buhai" specially made for this holiday. The rest of the carolers ring bells. Hundreds of Christmas motifs are stored in people's memory. Among them are peculiar chants - "uretur" and "strigetur", in which the wishes of happiness, health, and a fruitful year are heard.
Carols are necessarily accompanied by another element characteristic of the holiday - a star. The children carry it. An icon with the face of baby Jesus is placed in the center of the star, carolers sing about the appearance of a star in the sky, announcing the birth of the Son of God and leading three eastern kings to the place of his birth. Most carols begin with the words: "A star rises high." This tradition is also closely intertwined with paganism.
Children are given gifts by Mosh Krechun, an analogue of Santa Claus and Santa Claus. Many ethnologists compare him with the pagan god of the Slavs Karachun. However, in Moldavian legends, this is a kind old man. Together with him, Alba ka Zepade (Snow White or Snow Maiden) comes to congratulate the children. The witch Khyrka, an analogue of Baba Yaga, is trying to prevent them. As a rule, various scenes with masks of these characters are played out in the villages.
Christmas table in Moldova
Christmas in Moldova is celebrated on a grand scale. After fasting, the tables are bursting with delicacies. But even a festive feast is not complete without ritual traditions. On Christmas at holiday table there must be pork dishes, symbolizing wealth and prosperity in the house. Traditionally, pork roast and sausages, cabbage rolls, aspic (jelly), fish, bread, fruits, sweets and drinks, as well as hominy and kutya (crushed wheat with raisins, nuts and honey) are served.
Dishes should be seven, nine or 12. It is believed that these numbers have a magical meaning.
The history of the holiday of the Nativity of Christ has been known since the beginning of Christianity. Since the 4th century, the holiday was called Epiphany, celebrated on December 25 and was a combination of several events that today are known as three separate holidays: Theophany (Baptism of the Lord), the Annunciation and Christmas.
The appearance in the flesh of the Son of God, the remembrance and glorification of this event is the main and initial goal happy holiday Christmas. But there is also a secondary goal, which one - we will find out in this article.
When do Christians celebrate Christmas?
What date Christians celebrate Christmas - in the modern world in different ways. Most use the Gregorian calendar when calculating the date of the holiday, which was created in the 14th century. According to this calendar, secular society lives in most countries of the world - including Europe and Russia. According to the Gregorian calendar, Christmas is celebrated on December 25 - this is the tradition of Catholics and some other faiths. In the Western Church, an amazing tradition of celebrating Christmas at the state level has been preserved - with street decorations, public festivities and sincere joy. Europeans celebrate this holiday on the same scale as they do in Russia. New Year.
In Russia, the tradition of calculating events according to the solar Church Slavonic calendar, which was introduced by Julius Caesar in 45 BC, and which bears his name - Julian, has remained. According to this calendar, following the guidance of the apostles, Christians of the Eastern Church calculate holidays. The Orthodox holiday of the Nativity of Christ is January 7, although according to the old style this date also fell on December 25. A new style introduced in Russia immediately after the revolution of 1917, after the innovations, the time shifted 14 days ahead. This holiday is considered to be the twelfth, beginning with Christmas Eve on the eve of January 6th. On this day, Christians strictly fast until the first star, and then they eat a special dish - sochivo. Christmas is preceded by a 40-day fast. On the night of January 7, at the festive Divine Service, Orthodox and Christians of other denominations of the Eastern Church celebrate the holiday of Christmas and go home to celebrate it with all the luxury - now the fast is over, and you can have fun all night.
A Brief History of the Nativity
The history of the Church of Christ knows many discrepancies with the true teaching of the apostles, it was expressed in the distortion of general theology and, as a result, the very teaching about Christ was distorted. This also became the reason that the holiday was separated from the general celebration of the Incarnation, which combined three events, and a separate Christmas was introduced.
The separation of the holiday occurred in the 4th century under Pope Julius. By setting the date for the celebration of December 25, the Church created a counterbalance to the cult of the sun, which the pagans celebrated on this day. The celebration was so popular that even Christians took part in it, thereby sinning against the second. Thus, the introduction of the feast of the Nativity of Christ replaced the pagan tradition of celebrating the winter solstice and turned people's hearts to the true God.
The day for the holiday was extremely symbolic and logical - after all, the symbol of the sun, like no other, befits the memory of the event of Christmas, since Christ is the Sun of truth, the Light of the world, the Conqueror of death - as the apostles call Him.
According to the great Christian minds of world magnitude, such as John Chrysostom, Blessed Augustine, St. Cyril of Alexandria and others - the date of Christmas on December 25 really has a high historical accuracy in calculating the day of the Nativity of Christ.
The introduction of the chronology from the Nativity of Christ occurred in 525 and is associated with the significance that it had for all mankind. Two eras - before the birth of the Messiah, before the possibility of eternal life and the forgiveness of sins - and after. The monk Dionysius the Small, who calculated the events to make them the basis of the new calendar, made a mistake with the calculations - to be precise, now it is 4 years earlier than it is commonly believed and the current time account has this error. But the event, nevertheless, remained the main one in the history of mankind - that is why the chronology is from the Nativity of Christ.
Symbols of the Nativity
You can list the following most famous symbols of the Nativity of Christ:
- elegant tree;
- present;
- Star of Bethlehem;
- nativity scene;
- angels and shepherds.
The history of spruce, as an attribute of Christmas, comes from the Western tradition, which did not take shape immediately, and was associated with peoples' ideas about evergreens as a symbol of immortality, eternal life. That is, exactly what became possible with the advent of the Savior into this world.
Gifts were brought to Christ by the Magi - Persian healers, representatives of Zoroastrianism - the world's first monotheistic religion, intended for all peoples, and not just for the Jewish. They practiced astrology and calculated the birth of the Messiah, which was predicted in their religion. The Magi brought with them gifts to the Infant Christ - attributes that symbolized three important qualities that He possessed. It was:
- gold - to the King;
- incense - to the Priest;
- myrrh - The man who must die.
Smyrna is a very fragrant resin that was used to pray over dead people and was a symbol of burial. After returning to their homeland, the Magi preached the birth of the Savior. The Church venerates them as "three holy kings". In memory of these gifts, it is customary to give gifts at Christmas - not because a person has behaved well, not for any other reason, but out of love, for the sake of Christ.
The star of Bethlehem is a mysterious celestial object that led the Magi to Christ. According to one version, an unusual celestial phenomenon happened when Jupiter and Saturn converged at one point. According to the calculations of the astronomer Johannes Kepler, who lived in the 17th century, such a phenomenon could be possible during the gospel events. Exists different tradition in the image of the Star of Bethlehem - a 5-pointed star is known, characteristic of the Arab Church, the 8-pointed one is considered a symbol of the Virgin and is depicted in Orthodox tradition. There are also 6-pointed and other types of the Star of Bethlehem.
It is authentically known from Tradition that there was no place for Christ in the hotels of Bethlehem, where the Holy Family came for the census, and He was born in a cave (nativity scene) and was swaddled and laid in a manger - a feeder for cattle. Therefore, pious Christians place a figurine of a nativity scene with the Baby and the Holy Family under the Christmas tree - in memory of the great event.
According to the gospel story:
“In the vicinity of Bethlehem, there were shepherds who lived in the field and, replacing each other at night, guarded their flock. And the angel of the Lord appeared before them. The radiance of the light of the Lord illumined them. They were very frightened, but the angel said to them: “Do not be afraid! I bring you good news - the news of great joy for all the people: today in the city of David your Savior was born - Christ, the Lord! And here is a sign for you: you will find a swaddled child lying in a manger. (Luke 2:8-12)
The shepherds saw the angels, heard the Great Praise, the angelic song that people have preserved, believed and were the first to come to bow to the Creator.
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill towards men!” (Luke 2:14)
In remembrance of this event, shepherds and angels became symbols of the Nativity of Christ. They are depicted on Christmas gifts, as decorations on the Christmas tree, Christmas figurines and other symbols that are traditional attributes of Christmas.
Christmas: Traditions and Customs
At Christmas, carols are sung, houses and streets are decorated, festive treats are prepared - these attributes are present, perhaps, in all nations. But how else is Christmas celebrated, and what traditions exist?
It should be noted that in European countries, Christmas is taken very seriously: this holiday is considered the main holiday of the year, it is celebrated at home in close family circle and invite someone is not accepted. Preparation for the Nativity of Christ includes refreshments and gifts. On the eve of Christmas decorations, the whole city is dressed up.
On the eve of the holiday of the Nativity of Christ in Rus', Christmas fairs are held, where you can buy everything related to the theme of Christmas. The Orthodox holiday begins on Christmas Eve and ends on Epiphany Christmas Eve. All this time - special days of joy, Christmas time.
Christmas Eve is the eve of the holiday, when, according to pious tradition, sochivo is cooked - a sweet dish made from wheat cereals with honey and dried fruits. Sometimes wheat is substituted for rice. On this day, Christians try not to eat anything until the first star, and then, in a pre-holiday atmosphere, they solemnly set the table and eat juicy. The table for sochi is decorated with hay and elements symbolizing Christmas. After the meal, the faithful prepare for the nightly Christmas service.
Christmas time is holy days that take place from January 7 to 18 and are a time of intense joyful prayer, fun pastime with feasts, singing carols and other happy moments. In Rus', Christmas was celebrated with carols and active attendance at Christmas services. Today, these traditions are being revived among young people and are becoming a popular leisure activity, as you can see by visiting the temples.
Nativity - great holiday familiar from childhood. It is the second largest after Easter, and the first children's holiday- a time of magic and miracles. It is filled with an atmosphere of expectation of a miracle. Children whose hearts are always pure feel it better than others. The history of the holiday of the Nativity of Christ teaches us to rejoice and wait for unexpected gifts - for nothing, just like that. Because Christ was born - our common Gift.
Many people know the story of the birth of Christ - the Son of God. His birth is described in the Gospel of Luke and Matthew. The significance of Christmas is so huge that the chronology is started from it and it is called the “mother of all holidays”. During such a long journey, many amazing events took place that will forever remain in our history.
13 Interesting Facts About Christmas
1. How did the date of Christmas
In ancient times, historians argued a lot, trying to figure out the exact date of Christmas. There are two versions.
The first says that before the 5th century all Eastern churches celebrated this holiday on January 6 along with the Epiphany of the Lord which was called Epiphany. But after the instructions of Pope Julius, the Christmas holiday was postponed to December 25th.
Supporters of the second version are inclined to believe that God's son was born on the sixth day of the first month, like Adam, therefore, it is customary to celebrate Christmas on January 6th.
But it was soon decided that such an important event needed a separate date. counting down 9 months from the date of death, which was precisely known (March 25 - Passover) historians have determined that Christmas fell on December 25th. The Gregorian calendar "divided" Catholics and Orthodox: today in Russia, Christmas is celebrated according to the old style - January 7, Catholics celebrate the birth of the Son of God on December 25th.
2. Baptism of Rus'
With the adoption of Christianity began new story Kievan Rus. After Baptism, the old pagan traditions begin to gradually recede. Chronicles confirm that the first Christmas after the Baptism of Rus' was celebrated in 988, on December 25th. For more than one century, Christmas has been the main holiday in the winter season, which is of greater importance than the New Year. Even the reform of Peter I on the obligatory celebration of the New Year could not change the situation. Christmas was the main celebration of winter until 1918, when the Soviet authorities imposed a ban on it.
3. Nativity scene and Christmas
The well-known word "nativity scene" is directly related to the Christmas holiday. Causing now negative associations, the nativity scene in the Old Slavonic language is translated as a cave. According to biblical tradition, Jesus was born in a cave. At the end of the 17th century, a crib puppet theater appeared in Russia, which later became popular. It was a wooden box, made in two floors in the form of a stage platform. The theater is named after the birth of Christ in the cave that sheltered him from Herod. Scenes from the life of Jesus took place in two parts: domestic and religious. In the future, other stories appear that were traditionally staged before the October Revolution.
4. Ancient rites
Despite the prohibition of the Russian Empire to dress up in idol robes, games and idolatrous legends, and in some regions – pagan rituals and caroling have survived to this day. Christmas is the beginning of Christmas time, which runs until January 19th. During this period, hunting for animals and birds was prohibited. In the villages, a straw stack was built and burned by the whole family so that the dead ancestors could warm themselves by the fire and promote fertility.
5. Preparing for Christmas
Before Christmas they put things in order in the house, bathed in a bath, put on new clothes and covered the table with a clean tablecloth. The floor was covered with fresh straw, thus reminding that Jesus was born in a barn and lay in a manger on straw. A spruce tree decorated with the Star of Bethlehem and various sweets was installed in the house.
6. Traditional food
Christmas dinner traditionally served as an invitation for single travelers or acquaintances. Even the wolves were not left without treats. It was believed that having known human kindness, wild animals would not harm cattle. The main dish of the Christmas table was pork. Jellied meat was prepared from it, fried and stuffed. They also ate fish, game, hares and geese with apples. Dishes were served as baked in the oven as a whole, and with sliced porridge. A variety of pastries in the form of pies, pies, cheesecakes and kurniks were made with different fillings: vegetable, fruit, meat and fish. They drank jelly and compote with honey, marshmallow and brushwood.
7. Old Christmas beliefs
The peasants believed that if on Christmas Day a woman enters a dwelling from outsiders first, then in the coming year the entire female half of the house will be sick. Another bad omen was to drink plain water for breakfast. Such a person, according to legend, will be thirsty all summer. On this day it was impossible to sew and weave, and the legs of the table were tied, as they believed that this would help keep the cattle in the herd.
8. The defeat of the Napoleonic army and the construction of the temple
The victory over Napoleon for the Russian Church is associated with Christmas, when on December 25, 1812, Alexander I signed the Manifesto on the creation of the most famous temple - the Nativity of Christ the Savior. The temple was erected in Moscow as a token of gratitude for the salvation from the death of Russia.
9. Banning Christmas
The year 1917 was the beginning of a new life for Orthodox citizens, in which it is forbidden not only to celebrate one of the most beloved holidays, but even to mention it. The spruce, symbolizing Christmas, is banned, and the five-pointed star is replacing the Bethlehem star. Residents furtively carried spruce branches to hide them in the most secluded place. Risking their work, freedom and life, during the years of repression, Christmas was celebrated in incredible conditions, holding secret services in homes.
10. Christmas on Solovki
In prisons and camps, Christmas celebrations could end in death. Boris Shiryaev, an Orthodox writer, in his book "The Unquenchable Lampada" describes the events of the 1920s that took place in the Solovetsky camp. Convicts for such an offense were sent to Sekirka, where not a single prisoner lived for more than two months. If the convicts were not shot immediately, then the existence on Sekirka was painful: they were starved, cold, beaten because the prisoner spoke or simply moved. The book describes how believing Christians celebrated Christmas in hard labor, knowing what it could turn into if their conspiracy was revealed.
11. Holiday permission
Although the New Year was recognized as a secular holiday in 1935, and the ban was lifted, the decorated Christmas trees became New Year's trees, and the star at the top remained five-pointed. Officially, Christmas was revived at the legislative level only at the end of 1990. On January 7, 1991, Christmas becomes a non-working day. Perhaps the all-Union 24-hour telethon of the Soviet Children's Fund served as a prerequisite. It was held on January 7, 1990 and collected a record amount for those times - 102 million rubles, proving that Christmas is a special day for Russians, which everyone remembers, despite the ban. After the collapse of the USSR, the New Year remained the main family holiday, and Christmas is celebrated only by Orthodox believers.
12. Rejection of old traditions
During the short time when the Orthodox holiday of the Nativity of Christ was banned, many traditions were lost. Currently, they are trying to revive old customs, restoring them bit by bit. One of them is the belief that the dead should be commemorated with fire, and sheaves of straw in front of the icon will attract prosperity to the house. Christmas water was considered healing, so they not only washed themselves in it, but also kneaded the dough for pies and loaves.
13. Complaining about Christmas
It is hard to imagine that not all Russians delight and delight in Christmas - it is known that it has opponents. Such incidents occurred in 1999 and 2008. Atheists and neo-pagans have repeatedly filed complaints with the Constitutional Court. As an argument, the Constitution of the Russian Federation was cited, which says that no religion is mandatory, which means that Christmas cannot be a day off for every citizen. Fortunately for all the other millions of residents, such complaints are rejected with the explanation that the legislator has the right to decide who and when to rest.
Christmas is a holiday that has passed the test not only of time, but also of the difficulties associated with the ban. Every year, the number of people who see Christmas as more than just a continuation of New Year holidays, only grows.
