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| Orthodox Christian Christmas |
Significance
Orthodox Christians all over the world celebrate the
birth of Jesus Christ, Son of the Virgin Mary and the Holy Spirit, on the 7th of
January (according to the New or Julian Calendar, or on the 25th of
December according to the Old or Gregorian Calendar).
Celebration
Preparation period for the celebration of this Holy
Day:
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Forty days before is the beginning of
the Holy Christmas Fast. |
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Holy Christmas songs (canons)
are sang from the Holy Day of "Vavedenje" on the 4th of
December, until the 13th of January, which is the Day of the New Year
and is often called Small Christmas. |
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Three weeks prior, three religious
rites are performed. In the first week, parents symbolically tie their children
around their ankles and wrists and untie them when children make an offering
to them. In the second week, children tie their mothers in a similar way and
untie them when mothers make an offering to them. In the third week, the same
ritual is performed on fathers. Untying symbolizes the release from sins and
tying symbolizes tying to God. |
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One day prior, on the 6th of
January, is Christmas Eve. On the morning of this day, the head of the house
goes into the forest and cuts a young oak tree branch after performing the ritual
of praying and paying gratitude for its sacrifice, making sure that the branch
is cut so as to fall towards East and that the tree is not hurt. The oak tree
branch symbolizes the night when the shepherds were called by Archangels to go
to the manger where the Christ was to be born. They have cut some tree branches
to make a warming fire for the newborn Holy baby, and the branch hence signifies
Christ. In the evening, the head of the holder or a young male in the family
carries this oak tree branch into the house and sings Holy songs and prayers,
blessing all inhabitants. This signifies entrance of Jesus Christ in our home
and hearts. The home is decorated with fruit, wheat (worldly wealth), honey (Bliss
and sweetness of it) and wine (blood of Christ). Straw (on which Jesus baby was
laid when He was born) and gold coins (the Three Kings, Sages, gifted Jesus with
myrrh, frankincense and gold) should be thrown on the floor in all four corners
of the guest room signifying God's Omnipresence. |
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In the evening on the 6th of
January, a special feast is prepared and is served on straw on the floor. The
menu consists of bread made without yeast (signifies Jesus Christ), salt (God's
Divine Power and Grace), fish (the symbolism stems from the Greek word 'ixthios',
whose implied meaning, 'I'= Jesus, 'x'= Christ, 'TH (theu)' = God's, 'Ios' =
Son; literally, IXTHIOS = fish), honey (Bliss and Eternal Life), beans (food
of ancient Indo-European ancestors), nuts, dates, raisins and wine. Before dinner
a Holy Song is sung, a prayer is chanted, and the sign of the cross using the
three finger tips of the right hand is made on each person and the food. The
bread is held by all present and is turned in a clockwise direction while singing
the prayers. The bread is not cut but is hand torn and each person gets a piece.
Two candlewicks are intertwined and rolled in a ball and lit as the light signifies
God as Light. The two wicks symbolize Divine and Human nature, and the ball is
a symbol of God without beginning or end. If three wicks are rolled into a ball
and lit, they signify the Holy Trinity: the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit.
After the ritual, dinner begins and the family waits for midnight when the Christmas
Day begins. |
On the early morning of the 7th of January,
the family members exchange greetings by saying "Jesus is born," and
replying, "It is the Truth." The fast ends on the 7th of
January.
Christmas Day is the holiest of all days in the Orthodox
Christian religion and is celebrated by devotees in the manner stated above and
by visiting the church on Christmas Day in a festive attire. The highest clergy
performs the Holy Liturgy, and Holy Christmas songs are sung by a church choir.
Male devotees stand to the right and female devotees stand to the left of the
altar. A festive religious atmosphere pervades the whole day.
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