A special holiday on January 6 is Christmas Eve: history, traditions, prohibitions

Christmas Eve, or Vespers, is the day before the major church holidays — Christmas and Epiphany (Epiphany). Unlike other celebrations, the pre-celebration of these holidays lasts for several days, so a separate name was introduced to designate the eve.

The Orthodox Church celebrates Christmas Eve on January 6. Catholics and Protestants also consider Christmas Eve a holiday, but it falls on December 24.

The word "Christmas Eve" comes from the name of a traditional lean dish, sochiva, made from grain, honey and dried fruits. On this day, believers are forbidden to eat until the end of the liturgy. Folk tradition connects the beginning of the meal with the appearance of the first star in the sky, symbolizing Bethlehem, which showed the way to the Magi to the newborn Christ.

Services on Christmas Eve are distinguished by solemnity. The Royal Hours are read, prophecies about the coming of the Savior and eight Christmas parodies are heard. The culmination of the service is considered to be the removal of a lighted candle to the center of the temple, symbolizing the Star of Bethlehem.

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Christmas Eve Traditions on January 6th

In Russia, the celebration of Christmas Eve was treated with special responsibility. The women were preparing a 12—course dinner, according to the number of the apostles. The main treat was sochivo, which was the starting point of the meal. Besides him, there were vegetable salads, stews, fish, borscht, mushrooms, cabbage rolls, dumplings without meat and sweet pastries on the table. It was believed that on a holiday you should try everything cooked to strengthen your health and attract prosperity.

On Christmas Eve, children and teenagers began Caroling: they walked around the yards, sang Christmas carols and congratulated the owners. In response, they were treated to sweets or given coins. In some regions, people caroled in costumes of animals and fairy-tale characters, wearing inside-out sheepskin coats, hats and mittens.

Despite the fact that the church condemns pagan rituals, divination was often practiced in villages on Christmas Eve. Unmarried girls tried to find out the name of the future groom, and family people tried to predict the harvest and other household chores.

What not to do on Christmas Eve on January 6th

On Christmas Eve, the church sets two strict prohibitions: abstinence from food until the end of worship and the rejection of any divination related to pagan or magical rituals. The first is due to the end of the Philippian Fast, which ends only on the night of January 6-7. The second concerns participation in rituals and amusements of pagan origin, including divination, caroling and dancing around the campfire.

In addition, it is recommended to limit heavy physical labor and household chores on this day. If it is impossible to completely give up work, you should allocate time so that everyday worries do not distract from the spiritual meaning of the holiday. The main purpose of preparing for Christmas is repentance, prayer and participation in worship.

Also, on Christmas Eve, scandals, harsh words, insults and discouragement should be avoided in order to maintain a bright holiday atmosphere.

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Folk signs for January 6th

The Orthodox Church does not attach importance to omens and superstitions, however, folk observations have been formed over the centuries and partly date back to pagan traditions. People continued to believe in omens as a way to predict events and ensure well-being. Weather signs were used to forecast the harvest and weather conditions for the year. Clear skies and frost foreshadowed a good harvest of bread, snowfall, fog or thaw — an abundance of mushrooms and berries.

Other signs of the day:

— a steady burning candle is a peaceful year;

— a piece of bread or crumbs on the table is an abundant and blessed year;

— accidentally broken dishes are a good sign;

— the girl sneezed at the table — marriage is coming soon.

Earlier, Izvestia reported on the history, traditions and signs of the national holiday of St. Nicholas the Winter.