Christmas (holiday history)3 photos

Since ancient times, Russia has been celebrating one of the main holidays of the year -. This is a great day for the whole Christian world. In many countries, including Russia, it is considered a family holiday. Orthodox families have been waiting for Christmas for a whole year, and the preparation for the holiday was thorough. Six weeks before he was taken to fast. But on the table was bursting with dishes. One of the main places on it was pork - and this is not surprising, because it was to this day that the peasants timed the slaughter of cattle. In addition, for the feast they cooked sochivo, kutyu, pancakes, jelly, jellied fish, goose or duck with apples, pies and gingerbread. In Russia, the celebration of Christmas merged with the ancient rite - Christmas time.

So to this day they are called 12 days between M and Baptism.

The Yaroslav traditions have a pre-Christian origin and are associated with the main occupation of Christians - agriculture. Initially, they were devoted to the beginning of the new year and the revival of the sun. Young people dressed up in old clothes, put on masks and arranged merrymaking. And today it is customary to have fun at Christmas time. For Christmas, there are many signs and customs. For example, it was believed that on this day a girl suffering from unhappy love could free her heart. To do this, she had to take a stone, heat it in the furnace, and then drown it in the hole.

If the stone broke up from the cold - an unrequited feeling left the girl.

But the older mistress of the house on this day was supposed to brush the corners of the house with a broom from the nettle to exorcise an evil force. It was believed that you need to wear a new shirt - otherwise a crop failure threatens. On this occasion, they said: On the Holy evening, the shirt is even inferior, but little white; on - at least harsh, yes new. As for the harvest, they also noticed: if frost falls out, bread will be born, if the starry sky is peas. And if there is a blizzard in the yard, the bees will swarm well.