Christmas Catholic: differences and peculiarities

Christmas is considered one of the most important holidays for Orthodox Christians and the main holiday for Catholics around the world. This is the long-awaited time for the whole family, a solemn feast, and gifts.

Russian, Bulgarian, as well as Serbian churches (Orthodox) at one time on the Gregorian calendar never went and still enjoy the Julian calendar. Hence the Orthodox Christmas is celebrated on the seventh of January, and Christmas is Catholic 13 days earlier - on December 25.

The choice of the date, most likely, is dictated by combining with the pagan festival of the birth of the Sun, with its subsequent complete substitution and displacement. The coincidence of the leitmotifs of the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil contributed to an organic fusion of Christmas symbols with pre-Christian beliefs associated with winter saints. It is characteristic that the replacement of the pagan archetype of the birth of the star for the birth of the Son of God took place in the world outlook culture of almost all ancient countries where Christianity was introduced.

Christmas Catholic and Orthodox is the long-awaited end of a long fast, which Catholics call Advent. During this period all Christians should spend time in repentance and prayer. In the very eve of Christmas, a particularly strict fast is observed . Traditionally, on this day you need to eat an ostrovo-ritual dish made from barley grains and honey. Hence the name "Christmas Eve" arose.

One word and many meanings

As for the name of the holiday itself, we have "Christmas" means the birth of Christ, but "Christmas" Catholic sounds like "The Mass of Christ", differently in different languages: Christmas - in English, Kerst-misse - in Dutch from Old English Cristes Maesse; Noël - in French, Il Natale - in Italian from the Latin Dies Natalis, etc.

Traditions of celebrating the Catholic Christmas

Catholics prepare for Christmas in advance, first of all, decorate the house and yard with garlands, decorate the Christmas tree, prepare gifts. Very popular are the santons or denotes depicting the scene of the birth of Jesus in the crib. They are made by the whole family in miniature for home or in full height for the street.

One of the rules of the holiday etiquette are the obligatory congratulations of all relatives, friends, colleagues with Christmas cards. Some companies even give out their employees mailing lists of colleagues. Congratulations on Catholic Christmas are very important in Western countries. They are approached quite seriously, in advance thinking over the text of the postcard and picking up a gift for everyone. Children are given gifts on behalf of Santa Claus or his similar "colleagues."

Christmas is a family holiday and is traditionally held in the circle of relatives and friends. Traditionally the whole family gathers for a Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve, when the first star will shine in the sky. An integral attribute of a Christmas feast is prayer. The main dish is served on the table - turkey.

The most popular way to congratulate the Catholic and Orthodox on Christmas is to make a carol (a kind of Christmas song). Carried back in pre-Christian times. Then carols performed the role of ritual songs, with the help of which the well-being was called, a good harvest in the next agrarian cycle. Now carols glorify the Son of God and are at the same time a wish for good for the owner of the house and his whole family.

A peculiar concept of the "spirit of Christmas" - literally Christmas Spirit, gave rise to a Christmas Catholic. It is a festive atmosphere that fills people's hearts with joy, kindness, warmth, love and bright hopes. During the Christmas season, all Catholics break away from the daily bustle to plunge into the world of wonders and fairy tales.