Orthodox Christians have two holidays with the same names, but with different stories and traditions. Believers will definitely mark in the church calendar when there will be Christmas Eve in 2024 in order to prepare in advance. The first, Christmas, will be celebrated on January 6 - he completes the post, the second - on January 18, before the celebration in honor of the Baptism of the son of God.
Story of the day
Celebrating Christmas Eve began in the 4th century AD. e. On this day, the Orthodox are waiting for a great miracle - the birth of the Savior. The New Testament tells how the future parents, Joseph and Holy Mary, arrived in Bethlehem and found shelter in a barn, where the son of God was born.
When preparing a significant event, Christians are ordered to fast all day, until the first star, and be sure to attend at least one church service. Prayers in temples are held all day long: they read the Holy Scripture and take out a lit candle, as a symbol of the Bethlehem star, testifying to the birth of Christ. If January 6 falls on a Sunday, then a special Liturgy is read - from John Chrysostom.
The story of Epiphany Eve is described in the Gospel of Matthew. Its essence is preparation for the Great Orthodox holiday - the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River. But this is not the only event for which Christians are preparing. The next day - according to the church calendar, Epiphany is always celebrated on January 19, the incarnation of the one God appeared to the people - the Holy Trinity: God the father, God the son and God the spirit.
In preparation for the Epiphany on January 18, Christians are ordered to spend the whole day in prayer and fast, and in the evening they are allowed to eat “hungry kutya”.
In 2024, Christmas Eve will be celebrated on Saturday, and Epiphany on Wednesday.
Traditions of Orthodox Christmas Eve
Before Christmas, it is important to clear your thoughts and clean the house, throw away all the junk. Once upon a time, doorways were decorated with wreaths of spruce branches, a sheaf tied with colored ribbons was placed under the icons in the “Red” corner - didukh, a symbol of the future harvest. A table was set for the holiday - it must have 12 Lenten dishes on it, according to the number of apostles:
- Kutya.
- Uzvar.
- Fish.
- Lenten salad.
- Mushrooms.
- Dumplings.
- Lenten borscht.
- Stuffed cabbage.
- Pea or wheat porridge.
- Pies.
- Pampushki.
- Baked apples.
In the center of the table - a place for a candle. And after dinner, the children went caroling, glorifying the birth of the Savior with chants.
On the eve of Epiphany, on January 18, it was also customary to spend the whole day in strict fasting and prayers, and in the evening, with the first star, go outside to see the sign in honor of the appearance of the Holy Trinity. If flashes, a shooting star, light reflections, a dove appeared, it means that the Lord has shown special mercy and you can make a secret wish. Then, before dinner, they read the Gospel and sat down for a modest dinner with kutya. And on that day they burned didukh.
Catholic Christmas Eve
Christians who not only recognize the unity and sacrament of the Church, but also obey a single head, adhere to Catholicism. In the church calendar, many of their holidays do not coincide with the Orthodox ones. Catholics have a second name for Christmas Eve - Vigilia, and they also celebrate it in honor of the birth of Christ, but not in the new style, but in the old way.
In 2023, Christmas Eve will be celebrated on December 28 on Thursday, in 2024 the same date, on Saturday.
They fast on this day, and in the evening they gather at the festive table near the decorated Christmas tree, with obligatory lanterns - they must burn all night to drive away the unclean from the baby. Not Santa Claus is placed under the spruce, but a "nativity scene" - a house in which the parents of God's son are leaning near the nursery and there are animal figures. The room is decorated with wreaths of mistletoe, which is a symbol of love. There is even a custom, if a couple stops under a piece of jewelry, they should kiss.
Before the festive dinner, the Gospel is read, the whole family prays, and after eating, they also go to the temple together to pray.
Important traditions of the day on the eve of Epiphany among Catholics:
- One empty seat is left at the festive table. Whoever comes to the house is welcomed as if they were one of their own and respected.
- They exchange wafers - specially baked plates of unleavened flour. These pieces of cake are a symbol of the body of the Savior. When a person takes a host, he should say a good wish.
Both Christians and Catholics have one common custom - the eve of church holidays should be spent in prayer, discarding sinful thoughts.
Signs
The date of Christmas Eve in 2024 should be noted in the calendar in advance, because it is important for housewives to prepare for such a day. According to signs, if a quarrel is allowed on January 6 or 18, then the whole year the family will be in conflict, and the family may fall apart.
You can't throw garbage out of the door these days - it needs to be removed for now, and you can get rid of it only after the first star. Break the custom, throw away your he alth and luck.
Meeting Orthodox holidays should only be in light attire - dark ones attract sadness. And the number of cutlery on the table must be even, so that the unclean ones do not plot.
And Christmas Eve is the perfect time to make amulets against diseases. In these bright days, people are patronized by the forces of good.
