6 important things to do before Christmas
Many Russians perceive Christmas as a continuation of the New Year. But these holidays are significantly different. New Year is a joyful event for everyone, and Christmas is a religious holiday held in the family circle. Therefore, you need to prepare for it in a special way.
Strengthen your prayer
New Year celebrate fun and noisy. At the same time, there is still a Christmas post. And his last week between January 1 and 7 is the most important. These days you can begin to read at least a small prayer rule of Seraphim of Sarov, if you do not have enough time for the standard morning and evening, prepare for confession and communion. It’s good to pray for those who need support.
Visit the service of Christmas Eve
On the last day of Lent on the eve of Christmas, after the morning and evening Liturgy, priests take out a candle in the center of the church. They sing before her: "Your Christmas, Christ our God, the ascension of the world is the light of reason ..."
This day is called Christmas Eve. In the morning and on the eve of the Nativity of Christ, it is customary to attend the service, take communion. The focus of the post is replaced by a festive mood.
Take time for charity
The holidays of the New Year and Christmas are a time of joy and magic. This joy can be shared with those who are deprived of it. These days charity bazaars and fairs are held everywhere. It is customary to give gifts not only to loved ones, but also to orphans, single old people, children with disabilities, and poor from large and single-parent families.
On Christmas Eve, you must definitely treat your pets with food, feed stray dogs and cats. To attract good luck, it is customary to feed the birds. The more treats they try, the more successful the coming year will be.
Free up time for the holiday
In order to devote all your time to Christmas Eve on Christmas Eve, you need to do in advance those things that have been postponed, put things in order and decorate your home.
On the afternoon of January 6, the final preparations for the Holy Evening and Christmas are completed, and a treat is being prepared. The table at which the family gathers is covered with a beautiful tablecloth. In the old days it was customary to lay pure straw under it, symbolizing the manger where Jesus was born.
They sit at the table after the first star resembling Bethlehem, which announced the birth of Jesus. At this point, it is necessary to prepare 12 fasting dishes (according to the number of apostles). Everyone at the table should try all the treats.
In the old days, on Holy evening, the table was always served: kutia, with which dinner began, bread, vinaigrette, borsch with ears, pickles, stuffed cabbage stuffed with porridge or vegetables, fish, dumplings, cabbage with peas and cabbage. Baked apples with honey and raisins were prepared for dessert. Instead of water they drank an uzvar.
Make peace with everyone and forgive everyone
Jesus Christ encouraged people to love one another. Therefore, on the eve of Christmas, it is customary to forgive all your enemies and put up with offenders. During the First World War, fighting on Christmas Eve and Christmas were not conducted. They were stopped a week before the holiday. English, French and German soldiers crossed the front line, congratulated each other and gave presents, sang Christmas songs together.
On Christmas Eve it is customary to carry kutya to friends, relatives, godparents, and those in need. Born kolivo immediately try. The guest is invited to the table or exchange gifts with him. This tradition is connected with the old custom to wear the godparents supper. In response, gifts and treats were given to the godchildren.
Get ready for the holiday with the children
Children love Christmas for the shining of Christmas lights, gifts, attending holiday events. Often, adults, creating a holiday with their children, are charged with their joy. Christmas is considered the most important family Christian holiday. Preparing for this celebration can be very exciting. The more interesting it is, the more pleasant the onset of the holiday itself.
You can decorate your home with your child: cut snowflakes from napkins and foil, hang rain and garlands. Children really like decorating a Christmas tree. Not only familiar Christmas toys are used, but also sweets wrapped in foil nuts.
You can learn a Christmas poem with your child and even prepare a short performance for family members. To do this, make a screen from a piece of fabric, sew dolls or sculpt the necessary figures from plasticine and dough. The script can be invented by yourself. It is desirable that he be interesting and cheerful, telling the child about the traditions of the holiday.
Together with the girls they prepare sweets for the Christmas table. It can be a cake, pie or cookie. If there is enough time, you should try baking a gingerbread house. A fairytale miracle is easy to make. But it will take several days to paste on the base of the gingerbread icing decorations from sweets, waffles, nuts and dragees. You can speed up the process if you take ready-made cookies as a basis.
On the night of January 6-7, you need to make a wish, it will certainly come true. All churches in Russia will host Christmas night services. During the all-night service, it is supposed to give thanks for what is, and ask in prayer for what is missing.
