Orthodox believers around the world today celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ – Christmas.
The arrival of Christmas is announced by bells from Orthodox churches on Christmas morning before dawn.
Orthodox Christmas is celebrated in the spirit of many customs, primarily in a family atmosphere. The celebration begins with going to the morning liturgy, where believers who have fasted the Christmas fast access the “holy secret of communion”.
Christmas is celebrated for three days as a memory of the birth of Jesus Christ. It is the celebration of the birth of a new life, the celebration of children and childhood.
Believers celebrate it by going to the church service, which begins with the morning liturgy, and then going home where they have dinner with their family.
A special table is prepared for Christmas, on which there is traditional ceremonial garlic bread, which contains as many parts as there are household members and is decorated with various figures symbolizing faith, children, livestock, fields and fruits, and a coin is placed in it. When the household members sit down at the table, this bread is first cut, and the host says a prayer. There must be wine symbolizing the blood of Christ, a candle and boiled wheat on the table.
It is believed that the person who received a piece of bread with money will be happy and blessed during the year.
After lunch, he goes to his relatives to say happy Christmas, and then to his neighbors.
According to ancient belief and custom, Christmas is considered a cheerful family holiday. The believers greet each other with “Peace of God – Christ is born”, with the greeting “Truly is born”, Klix.ba writes.
