Holiday date
Catholics start celebrating Christmas Eve on December 24th, or the holiday is also known under the other name Christmas Eve. And on the next day 25, the holiday of Christmas itself is celebrated.
Catholic Christmas Rites
Fast
Catholics start fasting 4 weeks before the main holiday. This period is called Advent and it includes time for repentance, confession and communion.
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve or Holy Evening marked by a fasting feast, where the head of the family reads lines from the Bible. After the family tastes the first carriage, and then comes the tasting payment - Christmas bread. When the family tastes a festive but fasting dinner, they go to the church ministry. Service - Mass, consists of three parts:
- The first - symbolizes the unity of the Father and the Son.
- The second - symbolizes the birth of life (Jesus) from the womb of the mother.
- Third - this Mass is a symbol of the birth of Jesus Christ.
Christmas Eve
On such a day, a particularly important and strict fasting, which boils down to the fact that you can eat only grains of wheat, barley and drink water seasoned with honey. And such a post ends with the first star in the sky, then a festive dinner takes place.
12 dishes
There must be 12 dishes on the table, as well as Catholics lay on the table several plaits of hay, which recalls where our Savior was born. In addition to 12 dishes, kutia must be present on the table.
Traditions
Housekeeping and decoration
They clean the house in advance, because on the eve of Christmas nothing can be done around the house. Catholics decorate their home with Christmas wreaths, spruce, candles, garlands and other attributes that we often use on holiday New Year.
A Christmas wreath is often presented with 4 candles, and elegant candles are burned to disperse and ward off any evil that was or could have come to the house.
Santa Claus
Children are waiting for gifts from Santa Claus or St. Nicholas, which they hope to find under the Christmas tree in the morning.
Food
In particular, the main dish on the festive table is baked turkey. This turkey is served with cranberry sauce, with garlic or other seasonings. But such a dish is allowed only when the post passes.
And on the holiday table in fasting, there should be honey, nuts, apples, salads, fish and vegetables.
Nativity scene
The execution can be arranged, like at home by parents in front of children, and in the main square of the city or in some institutions, churches and temples. The main theme of the den is to show the story of the birth of Jesus and the reading of prayers.
Carols
After Christmas, children and adults gather and go home, sing carols and recite rhymes. Usually, residents give caroling sweets for such actions.
Catholic Christmas Greetings
