Catholic and Orthodox Christmas: differences and common features. Advent and Advent: why Catholics and Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas differently
Christmas is a great holiday established in remembrance of the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem. Christmas is one of the most important Christian holidays and a public holiday in more than 100 countries around the world.
The first information about Christians celebrating Christmas dates back to the 4th century. The question of the real date of birth of Jesus Christ is controversial and ambiguously resolved among church authors.
According to one of the modern hypotheses, the choice of the date of Christmas occurred due to the simultaneous celebration by early Christians of the Incarnation (the conception of Christ) and Easter. Accordingly, as a result of adding nine months to this date (March 25), Christmas fell on the winter solstice.
Orthodox Christians in Russia celebrate Christmas on January 7, and the date of Catholic Christmas is December 25. Why do holiday dates differ by 13 days? This happened due to the adoption of different calendars: in 1582, Pope Gregory XIII introduced a new, “Gregorian” calendar, which was called the “new style”. The old Julian calendar began to be called the old style. The difference between the new and old style increases by 1 day every hundred years and in the 20th century. is 13 days.
While the new Gregorian calendar appeared in Europe, Russia continued to use the Julian calendar. When in 1918 the authorities introduced the Gregorian calendar in the Soviet Union, the church did not approve of such a decision.
In 1923, on the initiative of the Patriarch of Constantinople, a meeting of the Orthodox Churches was held, at which a decision was made to correct the Julian calendar - thus, the “New Julian” calendar appeared.
Due to historical circumstances, the Russian Orthodox Church was unable to take part in it. Having learned about the meeting in Constantinople, Patriarch Tikhon nevertheless issued a decree on the transition to the “New Julian” calendar. But this caused protests among the church people, and the decree was canceled less than a month later. Thus, Catholics and Protestants living according to the Gregorian calendar celebrate the Feast of the Nativity of Christ on the night of December 24-25.
On the night of January 6-7, the Feast of the Nativity of Christ is celebrated by the Russian, Jerusalem, Georgian, Ukrainian and Serbian Orthodox Churches, Athos monasteries living according to the old Julian calendar, as well as many Catholics of the Eastern rite (in particular, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church) and part of Russian Protestants.
All the other 11 Local Orthodox Churches of the world celebrate the Nativity of Christ, like Catholics, on the night of December 24-25, since they use the so-called “New Julian”, which so far coincides with the Gregorian.
The Feast of the Nativity of Christ has five days of pre-celebration (from December 20 to 24) and six days of post-celebration. On the eve or day of the eve of the holiday (December 24), a particularly strict fast is observed, called Christmas Eve, since on this day wheat or barley grains boiled with honey are eaten. According to tradition, the Christmas Eve fast ends with the appearance of the first evening star in the sky. On the eve of the holiday, Old Testament prophecies and events related to the Nativity of the Savior are remembered. Christmas services are performed three times: at midnight, at dawn and during the day, which symbolizes the Nativity of Christ in the bosom of God the Father, in the womb of the Mother of God and in the soul of every Christian.
In the 13th century, during the time of St. Francis of Assisi, the custom arose of displaying in churches for worship a manger in which a figurine of the Infant Jesus was placed. Over time, mangers began to be placed before Christmas not only in churches, but also in homes. Homemade santons - models in glass boxes depict a grotto, and the baby Jesus lies in a manger. Next to him are the Mother of God, Joseph, an angel, shepherds who came to worship, as well as animals - a bull and a donkey. Entire scenes from folk life are also depicted: for example, peasants in folk costumes are placed next to the holy family.
During the celebration of Christmas, a custom has been established to break “Christmas bread” - special unleavened wafers consecrated in churches during Advent - and eat it both before the festive meal and during greetings and congratulations to each other on the holiday.
A characteristic element of the Christmas holiday is the custom of installing decorated spruce trees in homes. This pagan tradition originated among the Germanic peoples, in whose rituals the spruce was a symbol of life and fertility. With the spread of Christianity among the peoples of Central and Northern Europe, the spruce tree decorated with multi-colored balls acquired new symbolism: it began to be installed in homes on December 24, as a symbol of the tree of paradise with abundant fruits.
A very important time has come for Christians of all denominations - preparation for one of the two most important holidays - Christmas. However, followers of different branches of Christianity not only celebrate this holiday at different times, but also prepare for it in different ways.
Christian churches living in Gregorian calendar(so-called new style), note Nativity at night from 24 to 25 December. Lives according to the new style Catholic Church and that's all Protestant denominations. Ten out of 15 local Orthodox Churches celebrate holidays according to the so-called New Julian calendar, which currently coincides with the Gregorian calendar. All churches living according to the new style, as well as most residents of countries whose culture is based on Western values, will celebrate the birth of the son of God on the night of December 24-25, 2017.
By Julian calendar(so-called old style) Christmas Day will come 14 days later. Believers who adhere to the old style will celebrate this amazing holiday on the night from 6 to 7 January.
The five Orthodox churches of the world live according to the Julian calendar. These are the Russian Orthodox Church, Jerusalem, Georgian, Serbian and Polish Orthodox churches, as well as Athos monasteries. Together with them, some Catholics of the so-called Eastern Rite and a small number of Protestants will celebrate Christmas on the night of January 6-7.
This question is quite complicated, especially considering that the celebration Easter Orthodox and Catholics sometimes have the same thing.
The Gregorian calendar was first introduced by the Pope Gregory XIII in Catholic countries in 1582 instead of the previous Julian. This was done due to the backlog that arose due to the fact that the Julian calendar did not take leap years into account.
In Soviet Russia, the Gregorian calendar was introduced by decree of January 26, 1918, but the Russian Orthodox Church never recognized this, although such attempts were made.
In 1923, most local Orthodox churches adopted the New Julian calendar, similar to the Gregorian, and began to celebrate holidays at the same time as Catholics and Protestants. However, the Russian, Jerusalem, Georgian and Serbian Orthodox churches, as well as the monasteries of Athos, refused to comply with this decision. Thus, the Russian Orthodox Church still adheres to the old style, and the majority of Russians, even those far from religion, celebrate Christian holidays according to the Julian calendar.
That's why Catholic Christmas will come December 25, A Orthodox - Jan. 7.
Why Christmas doesn’t coincide for Catholics and Orthodox Christians, but with Easter everything is more complicated
As you know, in Christianity there are holidays intransient, that is, fixed in the calendar and always celebrated on the same day, and moving (that is, having a floating date).
So, in 1948, at the Moscow meeting of Orthodox churches, a resolution was adopted that Easter and all moving holidays should be calculated according to the Julian calendar, and non-moving ones - according to the calendar according to which the local church lives.
But in fact, all this just needs to be accepted and remembered, and as for moving holidays, for example, Easter, you just need to check their date annually according to the church calendar.
How Orthodox and Catholics prepare for Christmas
Orthodox Christians begin preparing for Christmas more than a month in advance - for this there is Christmas post which begins November 28 and lasts 40 days - until the evening of January 6. Read more about how it is customary to observe the Nativity Fast in Orthodoxy.
Catholics and Lutherans call preparations for Christmas Advent, this time is also accompanied by fasting and traditional rituals, which have not only a religious, but also a cultural meaning.
What is Advent
Advent(from the Latin word adventus - arrival) is the name of the pre-Christmas period, in its spiritual meaning similar to the Nativity Fast among the Orthodox.
Advent is especially important for Catholics - after all, it is a time of spiritual and physical preparation for the holiday of the Nativity of Christ. It should be noted here that if the Orthodox consider the main Christian holiday Easter, then in the Western tradition the first place is precisely Christmas, therefore, everything connected with it is extremely important for Catholics and Protestants.
Advent lasts four weeks - until Catholic Christmas, that is, it is about a third shorter than the 40-day Orthodox Nativity Fast. During Advent, it is also customary for Western Christians to fast, although not as strict as in Orthodoxy, and to perform various good deeds.
First Sunday of Advent
One of the most important days before Catholic Christmas is first Sunday of Advent, which in 2017 falls on December 3.
On this day the first candle in the traditional Advent wreath is lit - Candle of prophecy, which symbolizes the connection between the Old and New Testaments.
Second Sunday of Advent
In second Sunday of Advent, which falls on December 10, the second candle is lit along with the first. The second candle is called Bethlehem- it is lit in memory of the maiden’s journey Maria and saint Joseph to Bethlehem and the birth there Jesus.
Third Sunday of Advent
Third Sunday of Advent will come December 17. This day is symbolized by the third candle, which is called Shepherds Candle. It is lit along with the first two. The third candle is dedicated to the shepherds who were the first to come to worship the baby Jesus.
Christmas Eve for Catholics
IN Christmas Eve- Christmas Eve (December 24) - light up fourth Advent candle, which is called Angels Candle. This candle symbolizes the divine essence of Christ.
On Christmas night, all four candles in the Advent wreath are lit.
Read about how Western Christians celebrate Christmas in the materials Federal News Agency.
Although Advent is considered a period of prayer and fasting, in Western countries it is also a very fun time dedicated to waiting for a miracle, with which Christmas is invariably associated. In all settlements - from lush European capitals to small mountain villages - fairs and sales are held, and Christmas markets are opened, which tourists love to visit. Everyone is trying to stock up on gifts, which are usually given to both children and adults at Christmas.
Christmas is one of the most important Christian holidays. Only they celebrate it on December 25, while the Orthodox celebrate it on January 7
What is the difference between Catholic and Orthodox Christmas? And why is Catholic Christmas celebrated earlier?
Let's start with the fact that the exact date of birth of Jesus Christ is unknown. Therefore, a day was simply appointed to celebrate the birth of Christ in the flesh. In the Roman Empire, from the 4th century, they began to celebrate the Nativity of Christ on December 25, the day of the old pagan festival of the Sun and the winter solstice.
How did it happen that now Catholic Christmas is celebrated earlier, and Orthodox Christmas “lags behind”?
The discrepancy between the astronomical calendar and the nominal calendar grew more and more, and finally, Pope Gregory XIII in 1582 announced a reform of the calendar. To restore the time difference, 10 days were missed, and after October 4, by decree of the Pope, October 15 came immediately.
Pope Gregory XIII - calendar reformer
In the Gregorian calendar, however, extra time also accumulates, but not so quickly: only 1 extra day in 10 thousand years. This is because it allows for fewer leap years.
On the night of January 6-7, Christmas is also celebrated by the Georgian, Jerusalem and Serbian Orthodox Churches, Athos monasteries that adhere to the Julian calendar, and some local Catholic churches. Thus, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church celebrates Christmas also on January 7th.
At the same time, all other Orthodox churches, the Roman Catholic Church and Protestants celebrate Christmas on the night of December 24-25.
Christmas is considered a significant holiday for Christians around the world. This event marks the birth of the baby Jesus Christ in the ancient city of Bethlehem.
This date is celebrated by representatives of different directions and confessions, including Catholics and Orthodox Christians. The celebration is similar in many ways, because it is united by one event, but there are also some distinctive features.
What is the difference between celebrating Christmas in Western countries and here?
5 main differences between Christmas for Catholics and Orthodox Christians
Western Christmas is also celebrated slightly differently among Catholics and Protestants, as well as between other faiths.
Let us recall that there are the most Christians on our planet (2.3 billion people) - this is the most widespread religion in the world. And half of them are Catholics, this is the most widespread Christian denomination. There are 10 times fewer Orthodox Christians - according to various estimates, 225-300 million.
So, about the differences in celebrating Christmas by country.
1. Date of Christmas
All Christians celebrate one event, right?
It's all about the chronology system. Catholic churches calculate dates according to the Gregorian calendar (the same one we use in everyday life), and Orthodox Christians according to the Julian calendar.
It is worth noting that most, but not all, representatives of individual movements do this. For example, Eastern Catholics (Ukrainian Church) celebrate the holiday from January 6 to 7, and churches using the New Julian calendar (local) - on the night of December 25.
Dates December 25 And Jan. 7 have 13 days between them. This is exactly how much the Julian calendar has advanced compared to the exact astronomical calendar (to which the one we use every day is as close as possible). Every 400 years, the Orthodox Church moves ahead by 3 days from the correct astronomical time. From March 1, 2100, there will be a 14-day difference between the Julian and Gregorian calendars.
2. The significance of the holiday
For Western countries and America, where Catholic and Protestant religions predominate, Christmas is the most important event of the year. This is a family holiday that is celebrated on a fairly large scale. Believers observe fasting a month before the event; this anticipation of the holiday is called Advent.
Orthodox Christians, most of whom live in eastern countries and Russia, celebrate the New Year on a much larger scale, and in first place in importance is the religious holiday of Easter - the Resurrection of the Lord.
Westerners decorate a Christmas tree, and residents of the former USSR decorate a New Year's tree. After religion was banned in Bolshevik Russia 100 years ago, Russians simply moved Christmas traditions to New Year's, including a Christmas tree and red-green-glitter decorations.
3. Christmas service
The Orthodox hold one service throughout the entire Christmas night, until dawn. In Russia, this service is given great importance; it is broadcast on television from the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.
Catholics divided the service into three parts - one is held in the morning (at dawn), another in the afternoon, and the third at night. Parishioners read the Bible and remember Old Testament events. In addition, in the West it is common practice to confess on the eve of the holiday. It is believed that before Christmas it is necessary to cleanse yourself of your sins and forgive your enemies.
4. Christmas dishes
Each movement has developed its own traditions. The main dish on the Catholic table is the Christmas goose. It is stuffed, baked and served with apples and prunes. Often the goose is successfully replaced with duck or turkey. Another traditional dish is pudding sprinkled with rum.
A must-have drink on a Western holiday table is eggnog. This popular drink is made from eggs, cream and milk. An alcoholic version is also possible - with the addition of rum or cognac. You can make your own egg liqueur or buy it at the store. They are treated to all guests who stop by to see the light. These dishes are typical for Americans, French, Germans, British and representatives of other Western countries.
Representatives of Orthodoxy are trying to prepare more Lenten dishes from fruits and vegetables; the meal opens on the evening of January 6, Christmas Eve. Tasting the porridge called “kutya” is obligatory, and uzvar (brew) is considered a traditional drink. Porridge is prepared from nuts, honey, dried fruits and grains. Uzvar is a vitamin compote made from dried fruits. A holiday is not complete without pancakes and all kinds of baked goods.
The traditional Western Christmas cake contains sugared raisins and cherries, lots of rum and nuts.
5. Presentation of gifts
Orthodox Christians give gifts and congratulate each other personally on the day of celebration.
It is customary for Catholics to beautifully seal gifts in advance and place them under the holiday tree. They were the ones who introduced the tradition of putting surprises in Christmas stockings.
In addition, the amount of money that representatives of different movements spend on buying gifts differs significantly. In the West, where Catholicism predominates, it is about 50,000 Russian rubles. In some countries, the pre-Christmas period accounts for about half of the annual revenue of stores.
In Russia, where Orthodoxy is predominantly practiced, the amount is much more modest, only a few thousand rubles, and gifts are given for the New Year, not for Christmas.
Everyone loves holiday gifts. But here we give them for New Year, and in Western countries for Christmas on December 25th.
Common features of Christmas among Catholics and Orthodox Christians
Catholic and Orthodox Christmas have so many differences, is there really nothing in common? In addition to the event (the birth of Jesus) that marked the beginning of the holiday, there are still several common points:
1. Celebration with family
For all Christians, whether Catholics or Orthodox, this holiday is a family holiday. Once a year, all relatives gather to warmly congratulate each other at the Christmas table. In many countries, Christmas is a day off. Some provide 2-3 days off in honor of a holiday, or even a week or two of vacation when the company office is not open at all. This is a great occasion to visit your parents and close friends.
2. All Christians strive to decorate their home for Christmas.
The main decoration is the Christmas tree, which symbolizes abundance and fertility. There is a version that the spruce is an identification of the tree of paradise, and the various decorations on it are the fruits of abundance. Figurines and images of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary are all irreplaceable attributes of the holiday, both for Catholics and Orthodox Christians.
Western people decorate their homes on such a large scale that some enthusiasts spend all their free money and weeks of time on it. “Christmas lights” competitions are held with large prizes of several thousand dollars, where both individual houses and entire streets compete. Local town halls even organize free bus tours of the best decorations, and certain streets host pre-Christmas parties to show off their decorations and make a little money (though never get your money back).
Decorating houses for Christmas. Photo: City of Gold Coast Christmas Lights Competition.
General ritual - caroling
This cheerful tradition is widespread among Orthodox Christians. Young people dress up in fancy ways, visit their neighbors in groups, have fun on the street, laughter and loud songs are heard everywhere. This is how Orthodox Christians glorify Christ. The style of celebration is a bit like Halloween among Americans.
Catholics sing carols on a larger scale. In Western countries, organized Christmas carols () are practiced 1-2 weeks before December 25, which take place in parks, concert halls, and in large crowds of people. Here everyone can join the choir and sing at the top of their lungs, hearing or not. TV shows famous singers performing traditional Christmas songs in a concert, usually for charity. Many Western pop stars release CDs of Christmas songs. Christmas carols are heard in all shopping centers, where choirs of schoolchildren and the elderly often perform during the holidays. Catholics do not go to their neighbors, although they can wear a red hat with a white pom-pom during Christmas carols, and also bring candles, real or electric.
In Western countries, concerts of traditional Christmas songs are shown on TV and pop stars consider it prestigious to participate in them.
Despite all the differences and common features, the holiday of the Nativity of Christ occupies an important place in the life of the entire Christian world. For both Catholics and Orthodox Christians this day is sacred. Believers strive to meet and celebrate Christmas with dignity. Every year, the celebration of this event brings together millions of families, regardless of their religion, and also fills the atmosphere with warmth and light.
Merry Orthodox Christmas!
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Let's start with the fact that the differences are in the details, and the similarities are in the essence of this great and bright holiday. The Savior has appeared to the world! And it doesn’t matter what year or what day. The entire Christian world - Orthodox and Catholic - glorifies this event, rejoices in it and becomes, albeit temporarily, kinder and more merciful.
When and where did Christmas appear?
There are several versions of when exactly Jesus Christ was born. There is a theory that it was not even in winter, but at the end of spring - on May 20. The originator of this theory, so unusual for ordinary people, is Clement of Alexandria. According to his very ancient writings, the baby Jesus was born on May 20, according to the current calendar style.
Fact: The time interval for the birth date of the miraculous baby ranges between 12 BC. e. and 7 AD
Historians unanimously agree on one fact: Jesus was born in Bethlehem, in a manger, that is, in a barn in which cattle are kept. The baby's mother is Maria. And the father is the holy spirit. The birth of the Savior was announced to humanity by the Star of Bethlehem, which illuminated the night sky.
This is interesting: The Jews, on whose land the Savior was born, professed Judaism and did not celebrate the holiday of Christmas. According to Jewish concepts, there is nothing joyful at all in the fact of a person’s birth - a continuous “beginning of sorrows and pains.”
The Christian world truly began to celebrate Christmas only in the 5th century AD.
Three differences between Orthodox Christmas and Catholic Christmas
- The most noticeable difference is in the date of celebration.
The reason for this is different calendars. Catholics live according to the Gregorian calendar, and the Orthodox world lives according to the Julian calendar.
It so happened that the same holiday has two birthdays - January 7 - Orthodox Christmas and December 25 - Catholic.
Fact: The first mention of the date of Christmas celebration - December 25, was noted in the chronicle of 221 AD.
The Catholic Church did not take the day of the Nativity of Christ out of its mind. She borrowed it from the pagans, who on December 25 praised the Sun and glorified his Birth. The pagans were also guided by logic - it was on December 25 that daylight hours began to increase.
- The second difference is the attitude towards the fast preceding Christmas.
In the Catholic world, strict fasting before Christmas is not observed. There are small restrictions on food, but the essence of fasting lies more in spiritual restrictions in order to cleanse the soul before the great event.
Orthodox Christians keep a strict fast that completely excludes meat and dairy products. The Nativity fast begins at the end of November and lasts until the night of January 6-7 - until the first star, the prototype of that distant Bethlehem star, which told humanity the good news.
During this fast, the religious Orthodox world allows itself a small indulgence in the form of fish only on weekends.
Christmas Eve - Christmas Eve - the last day of Lent, when only sochi is allowed. These are barley or wheat grains soaked in water or honey.
Catholics also have Christmas Eve, but due to the fact that they do not keep a strict fast, its practical meaning is lost for them.
Due to strict fasting, Christmas is a breaking of the fast, implying a smooth break from fasting. The festive table on Christmas night was always fast and contained 12 dishes - according to the number of apostles.
Catholics have only 12 dishes left from this tradition, but among them there is turkey, and butter pies, and everything that is not Lenten dishes.
For Catholics and Orthodox Christians, the nightly Christmas meal has one thing in common - it unites family members at the table. Christmas is a family holiday. In the Christian world, it is customary to celebrate it at home, with family and friends.
- The third difference is the nature of the holiday.
Among modern Catholics, the nature of the holiday of the Nativity of Christ has shifted more to the civil plane, moving away from the bosom of the church. External attributes remained - installations of doll nurseries with the infant Christ in churches and city squares, decoration of Christmas trees, and the ritual of exchanging gifts. It is at Christmas that Catholic children await a visit from St. Nicholas or Santa Claus.
In the Orthodox world, the Nativity of Christ is a great church holiday, accompanied by solemn divine services, magnificent and lengthy. Immediately after Christmas, Christmastide begins - two holy weeks that end on January 18th.
On Christmas night, Orthodox children do not expect gifts. Santa Claus comes to them on New Year's Eve.
Fact: Orthodox Christians have one Christmas service, continuous, consisting of three parts, lasting until the morning.
Catholics celebrate three masses at Christmas - night, morning and afternoon. They are separate and there are breaks between them.
But, be that as it may, the true spirit of Christmas remains unchanged, despite all the differences between the Catholic and Orthodox worlds. On Christmas, it is customary to give good things, help those in need, and do charity work. This is the essence of this great holiday. And who cares what inspired a person to drive envy and resentment out of his heart, to smile at a passerby, to warm and feed a homeless person? The main thing is that goodness was born, which means that the spirit of Christmas is alive and continues to work miracles.
Merry Christmas!
