Catholic Christmas: history and traditions of celebration. When Catholics celebrate Christmas Christmas table: what dishes are served in different countries

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. This is a time of repentance, all Catholic clergy wear purple clothes. 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 is an 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 walnut kernels, one and a half glasses 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.

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 2018, 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. This is a time of repentance, all Catholic clergy wear purple clothes. 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 2018. This date is the same every year. There are five days leading up to Christmas, plus Christmas Eve. This is an 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

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. Can be done.

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 walnut kernels, one and a half glasses 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.

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 the same 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 less than 2 years old. 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 is the 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 correctly count 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 in order to participate in Christmas services and receive Communion with a pure heart.

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 woman who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth; and she gave birth to her firstborn Son, and 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 Sunday falling on one of the days from December 26 to December 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 Easter 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, the holiday table traditionally includes 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 of a small child surrounded by the Holy Family; this holiday is celebrated with family and is warmed with special warmth and mutual love.

The material was prepared based on information from open sources

December is approaching, and with it... date of celebration of Catholic Christmas. Many different rituals and traditions have been invented for this event. Catholics from all over the world rejoice at the arrival of Christmas and celebrate it with special significance. It will be celebrated in 2016 December 25. However, this celebration is celebrated annually on the same day.

Decorations in the house for Catholic Christmas.

What date is Catholic Christmas celebrated in 2016?

Which countries will celebrate this holiday? Catholicism currently dominates Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, Ireland, Belgium, Austria. The Catholic religion predominates among believers in Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, although in the last three there are many Protestants.

Catholicism also dominates in Malta and other small states of Europe - Monaco, Liechtenstein, San Marino, Andorra. IN Switzerland Catholics make up 52% ​​of believers, 51% in the former territory Germany(very few in the GDR). Among the Believers English Catholics 7%, among Scots 15%.

It will help you understand this issue in more detail. a map of Europe, indicating the predominant religion in each country.

Christmas in Ireland.

As you'll notice in the map above, Ireland is predominantly Catholic. To be more precise, the main religion in the country is Catholicism of the Latin rite.

Therefore, the holiday of Catholic Christmas is celebrated in the country on December 25 on a grand scale. Of course, all of Ireland is taking the day off. At this time, restaurants, cafes, bars, nightclubs, government departments, 99% of shops and private businesses are closed.

Perhaps the only public place you can go to is church - midnight mass is a long-standing Christmas tradition in Ireland. In addition, now some 4- and 5-star hotels invite you to celebrate this holiday within their walls - guests are offered a festive dinner, a visit to the spa and a variety of entertainment.

- This is a quiet family holiday (although it is inevitably preceded by drunken and noisy corporate parties and other parties). Before Christmas, the Irish decorate their homes with wreaths of holly and mistletoe.

Many people buy a Christmas tree, and families with children decorate their homes with miniature mangers with figures of the baby Christ and the Virgin Mary, blinking snowmen, reindeer, Santa Clauses, etc.