Christmas in east Slovakia Orthodox Christmas

Orthodox Christmas In Slovakia live more that 80 000 orthodox people On 6. January they celebrate the orthodox Christmas or the birth of Jesus This is according to the Julian calendar The most of orthodox people are „Rusini“- people who live in east of the Slovakia Greeting after Christmas day:"Christos raždajetsja„(Christ is birthing) and "Slavime Jeho" (Celebrate him).

Fasting before Christmas It is a tradition of the Eastern Christians to fast Fasting is a spirutual preparation for Christmas People fast for 40 days before Christmas This time is refered to as Lent It starts on 28. november The significance of fasting is spiritual unity with God and preparation for the celebration of the birth of the Saviour Lent was established so that we are in repentance, fasting and prayer, cleansed and pure of heart, so we can embrace the Son of God

Why do people fast? Real fasting cannot be done without prayer, repentance, people putting aside their hostility , without uprooting the evil in their lives. Fasting is not our goal, but is way to tame your body, passions and how to cleanse from sin. Fasting without prayer and penance, becomes only dieting

We cannot: During Lent people cannot eat meat or people who are vegetarian abstain from something different - what they usually like to eat We should fast from something that we love e.g.:chocolate, coffee, internet... We cannot go to discos or dance and sing at home It is about restraint The fast finishes after Christmas day- 7.January

Confession Orthodox Christians have two very important confessions before Christmas and before Easter It is important because we get rid of the sins so that we might enjoy the birth of Jesus with clean heart

The Christmas dinner On the table there usually is about 7- 8 types of food All day is lent and people cannot sample what they cooked Before the dinner all the family must wash hands and face in the stream or well- it is called purgatory By the table all the family must pray before they start to eat the dinner It starts about 5 o clock

Traditional Dinner We start to eat bread with salt or wafers with honey and garlic After this we continue with : cabbage soup (without sausage),mushrooms,pies with potatoes,bobaľky with poppy,vegatarian salad,“pigeons“, and at the end can be a fish On the table must be a lots of fruit and sweets (gingerbread)

Presents We have St. Nicholas Day too but it is 19. december Children put their shoes on a window and in the morning they have in their shoes sweets and fruit from St. Nicholas On Christmas day is similar only parents put gifts under Christmas trees and early morning you can open

Tradition On the table is a candle and after dinner we blow out the candle and if the smoke rises straight up nobody from this family will die this year Before dinner girls draw on their forehead crosses with honey to have boys love them Cutting apples for healthy family Under the tablecloth family members place money so the family will have money in the future....and more

Holidays 13 January is christening of the Lord People go to church to get Holy Water as this is the day the priest blesses it It is to rememeber the chrtistening of Jesus in the river Jordan It a very important day 14 january is the start of the New year for orthodox christians

Happy Christmas