The Orthodox celebration of the Nativity of Christ takes place from 6 to 7 January, while on January 6, Christmas Eve is celebrated. Its name was given to this holiday from the word "osovo" - the definition of the soaked wheat, which is accepted to be treated on that day after the ascent of the first star.
Actually, the date of Christmas Eve celebration differs among different nations: most countries celebrate Christmas Eve on December 24th according to the Gregorian calendar, according to the Julian calendar, the celebration falls on January 6.
Christmas Eve in Russia
The celebration of Christmas Eve has small differences in different countries. In Russia, the family fasting to the first star sits down for a traditional festive evening, and after it goes to church for a three-hour service. After the Liturgy, a celebration begins with carols and songs. Traditionally, 12 dishes for Christmas Eve are a traditional festive table. Depending on the region and prosperity of the family, kutya, pancakes, pickles, vareniki, uzvar, baked apples, vegetable stew and traditional sour cabbage soup or borsch, fried and salted fish, fresh vegetable salad, lean pies and baked apples are served on the table. . Regional dishes are marmalade and figured cookies.
How is Christmas Eve celebrated?
The traditions of celebrating Catholic Christmas Eve do not require strict observance of fasting from believers, but this is encouraged. People converge in the church from early morning and during the whole of December 24, three liturgies are served: morning, afternoon and evening. In the evening, in the creche of the den, the figure of the infant of Christ is laid. Before the service, the family also sits at the Christmas table, and in the morning and in the afternoon, children can perform good deeds against strangers, for which parents give them toy hearts and straw: hearts are hung on the Christmas tree, and put the straw in a den.