Celebrating Christmas in Europe. Public holidays in European countries (weekends) Difference in church calendar

There is hardly anything more fabulous than the magical atmosphere in Europe during Christmas and New Year. It briefly immerses even adults in a fairy tale, making them remember their childhood and become a little happier and more carefree. We are sure that best gift What you can do for your children, family and yourself is to meet New Year in Europe.

When to go

The date of Christmas in Europe is December 25th. The New Year is celebrated the same way as ours, on January 1, but the Christmas festivities are much more fun and larger-scale. So if you take tickets for December 22-24, you will definitely find yourself in the midst of the holiday.

If time permits, you can come around mid-December, when fairs and sales open, to get into the Christmas atmosphere.

If your New Year's weekend begins only on December 29-30, there is no need to worry - large-scale Christmas markets often do not close until the first days of January, and on the New Year itself you can expect fireworks, street celebrations and other no less interesting events.

Trade fairs

The main entertainment that awaits you in Europe in 2017 at Christmas is fairs, The best way immerse yourself in an atmosphere of wonder and buy interesting souvenirs and gifts. Even if you don't like shopping, you will be captivated by this whirlpool of fun and pre-holiday bustle.

Fairs are held in every European city, but we have compiled a list of the most interesting and famous ones for you.

WeihnachtsZauber Gendarmenmarkt, Berlin, Germany

By the end of December, all of Berlin, the heart of which is located at the Gendarmenmarkt square. Everything is decorated with bright lights - the tents from the roof of the French Cathedral look especially festive. There is an atmosphere of lightness and idleness here - just wander around and drink mulled wine, try traditional gingerbread and buy amazing souvenirs self made. You can spice up your simple walks with sledding or ice skating and eating all kinds of baked goods - we especially recommend the legendary German Baumkuchen puff pastries.

Tallinna Jõuluturg, Tallinn, Estonia

The Tallinn fair becomes more and more magnificent every year. A richly decorated Christmas tree is installed in the center of Town Hall Square, from which shopping rows with souvenirs and delicacies spread out in all directions. Here you can buy handmade dolls, intricately painted dishes and incredibly smelling juniper coasters. Children will get to know Jõuluvan, the Estonian Santa Claus. What is especially pleasing is that many people in Estonia speak Russian.

Marches de Noel, Strasbourg, France

Many people do not associate France with a magical Christmas atmosphere, but only until we talk about Strasbourg, the capital of Christmas. Cafes and restaurants offer unique winter menus, and numerous craft shops sell not just souvenirs, but real works of art. The center of all this festive action is the celebration on Kleber Square, around a 30-meter-high Christmas tree.

Christmas on Covent Garden, London, UK

The London Fair takes over the entire city, but its spirit is especially felt in the Covent Garden area. All shops are decorated with colored lights, and visitors inside are treated to cookies and jam. A special attraction is the pudding race, in which you not only have to come to the finish line first, but also not drop the traditional Christmas pudding.

Main fair on Old Town Square, Prague, Czech Republic

The Czech Republic, which is close to us, is a popular place to celebrate New Year and Christmas. Fairs here are open in all areas, but it is in the Old Town Square that the tallest and most richly decorated Christmas tree stands. Enjoy music, souvenirs, Christmas cookies and a ride through the Old Town in elegant carriages. On January 1, a grand fireworks display is held to end the festivities.

Vacation with children

Of course, if you go to Europe for New Year and Christmas with your children, they will love it in any city you choose. However, several destinations are considered the most “childish” - the impressions of such a trip will definitely remain with your child for life.

Finland

Rovaniemi is a village in Lapland where the Finnish Santa Claus, Joulupukki, lives. Many people also place the classic European Santa here, so the place can be called universal.

Santa's Residence is the perfect place to spend Christmas with your child. Here you can ride real reindeer, feed baby reindeer moss and even personally communicate with Santa and receive a gift from him. By the way, all these entertainments are also available for adults.

In addition, Rovaniemi offers numerous attractions in winter, and the nearby Ounasvarra Ski Center offers downhill skiing, snowboarding and sledding.

England

We have already talked about the English fair, but if you are in London with children, be sure to visit Hyde Park. During Christmas, it is turned into a real Disneyland with a huge roller coaster, a Ferris wheel, an ice skating rink for thousands of people and a Santa Express train. The circus hosts Christmas-themed performances. You only need to pay for tickets to the attractions - entrance to the park itself and a wonderful Christmas mood you get it for free.

The amazing holiday of Christmas has become a favorite in many parts of the world, in countries with the most different culture, history and climate. How do people celebrate Christmas? According to tradition - of course, at home, because this is, first of all, a family holiday. The customs on this day are the same in many countries, but each country has its own habits, especially when it comes to the Christmas table.

• Where did the difference in Christmas celebration dates come from?
• Great Britain
• Germany
• Bulgaria
• France
• Italy
• Austria
• Greece
• Finland
• Estonia
• Israel
• Dominican Republic
• Portugal
• Sweden
• Denmark
• Iceland
• Argentina

Where did the difference in Christmas celebration dates come from?

If the New Year is a secular holiday, then the Nativity of Christ is Christian. Everybody knows, When is Catholic Christmas celebrated in Europe - December 25.

But why then did this holiday among the Orthodox acquire another date, January 7, because it is unlikely that even such an unusual baby as Jesus would have been able to be born twice. This date confusion arose due to the inaccuracy of the calendars used by Europeans. The Russian Orthodox Church now lives according to the old Julian calendar, which Julius Caesar borrowed from the Egyptian priests and put into circulation in the Roman Empire. According to him, the New Year began on January 1. According to it, Christmas also falls on December 25, but according to the Gregorian calendar, according to which we all live, it is already January 7.

Until 1582, Europe also lived according to the same calendar, but it was difficult to calculate the time of Easter using it. Therefore, Pope Gregory XIII decided to reform the calendar, making it more accurate. The difference between the Julian and Gregorian calendars lies in the principle of accounting for leap years. If at the time of the introduction of the Gregorian calendar the difference between them was 10 days, now it has reached 13 days and will continue to slowly increase. That's why Christmas is celebrated in different days V different countries peace.

Great Britain

The date on which Christmas is celebrated in the UK is no different from Western Europe - it is still the same December 25th. But since the inhabitants of Foggy Albion highly respect traditions, the celebration of this Holy Day should be marked by a short speech from the Queen, delivered immediately after Christmas dinner.

When the British celebrate Christmas, before sitting down to festive table, they definitely attend church. Children here ask for gifts from Father Christmas. To do this, the offspring must write a letter with a detailed list of everything he wants to receive in the new year, and then burn it in the fireplace - and the smoke coming out through the chimney will convey the wishes to their destination.

In Great Britain, people celebrate Christmas over two days - after Christmas itself comes St. Stephen's Day. On this day, the British open donation boxes and distribute what they collect there to people in need.

On this family holiday, all family members tend to gather at their parents’ house, exchange gifts and collectively look through family photo albums. Celebrating Christmas in the UK is impossible without turkey with gooseberry sauce and pudding for dessert. The British drink brandy and then tea on this day.

The decoration of the table should be a pie, in which, according to the ancient custom, small surprises are placed. Based on what will be given to whom, the English guess what the coming year promises them: a horseshoe - good luck, a coin - wealth, and a ring - marriage. The British decorate their homes at Christmas with mistletoe (fertility and hospitality) and holly (prosperity).

Germany

Germany is a Christian country, there are approximately equal numbers of Catholics and Protestants, so Christmas is celebrated in Germany on the night of December 24-25.

But preparations for this holiday begin in November. Festive services, repentance and communion are held in churches. The traditions of celebrating Christmas in Germany are interesting, according to which the Christmas holiday season begins on November 11 at 11:11 local time. The Christmas holidays are called the “fifth season” here. Noisy fairs open in the squares of ancient German cities, attracting thousands of buyers. They spend their time having fun: eating, drinking mulled wine, singing, dancing, hugging. Children eagerly open Advents - sweet calendars designed for 24 days, with one candy hidden in each day's cell.

The Germans also give each other “Christmas stars” (in our language, milkweed) - plants brought from Mexico in the last century. If you care for this plant correctly, then around Christmas, a pink or scarlet flower, shaped like a star, will appear on it. It is also customary to give pots of clover as a gift for good luck.

In Catholic areas of the country, such as Bavaria, on holy days, processions of mummers roam the streets, often with a frightening appearance - masks or simply a face smeared with soot.

In the premises it is customary to arrange biblical “nativity scenes” - Christmas-themed scenes. Typical elements of a nativity scene are the cave with the newborn Jesus, the wise men and the guiding star. The doors are decorated with candles and biblical characters intertwined with ribbons.

Like everywhere else, in Germany Christmas is family holiday– the whole family should certainly gather at the festive table. Besherung, a ceremony for exchanging Christmas gifts, is also held here.

Bulgaria

Since Bulgarians are a majority Orthodox people, the question of when Christmas is celebrated in Bulgaria does not even arise for many. But, oddly enough, the date of celebration in this country falls on December 25th.

The holiday begins on December 24 with Kolyada, when carolers go from house to house, sing Christmas songs and wish the owners health, prosperity, wealth, and a good harvest. It is customary to give gifts and money to carolers, some of which are necessarily given to charity (to church or school, for the needs of the poor).

Christmas Eve is called “poor evening” here, everyone who came that evening is invited to it, and Lenten dishes are always placed on the table in odd numbers. Housewives bake “banitsa” - a traditional pie in which various surprises are baked (notes with wishes, nuts, coins). First, the hostess pricks the pie with a fork, and then divides it in such a way that everyone at the table gets a surprise.

Since Bulgarian Christmas is also a purely family holiday, there are very few people on the streets of the country on Christmas Eve and Christmas night.

USA

The answer to the question of when Christmas is celebrated in America is obvious - they brought this tradition from Europe, like many others. Therefore, here they also decorate Christmas trees (since New Year is coming), sing Christmas carols, and place the traditional turkey on the festive table on December 25th. Many Americans drink a cocktail of eggs, alcohol and cream at Christmas - “egg-nog”.

When Americans celebrate Christmas, it can be seen from afar as they put on lavish lights and decorate the streets. These days everything lights up: offices, shops and residential buildings. On front door Americans like to hang Christmas or New Year's wreaths outside their homes. They also tend to shower each other with a ton of gifts. To do this, before Christmas, most stores lower prices, and then many goods can be bought several times cheaper than usual.

Celebrating Christmas at home also takes place with family and close relatives. Roast turkey or goose flaunts on the table, complemented by salads and appetizers, as well as pudding or pie.

France

Traditions of celebrating Christmas on December 25, of course, exist in Catholic France, and they are quite typical, including:

• installation of a spruce tree decorated with toys and balls;
• arrangement of a Christmas “nativity scene” in the house;
• performing a small performance in the church on a Christmas theme.

But the French also have their own specific traditions, some of which are quite old. So, at Christmas, the French chose the log they liked most, solemnly walked around the festive table with it, and even with sentences, and only then sent it to the fireplace. Nowadays it is difficult to find a log, so it was replaced with a similar-looking roll, which, instead of ending up in the fireplace, becomes a holiday treat.

The French are famous gourmets, so they pay special attention to the festive table, displaying turkey, champagne, sweets and various dishes on it.

Italy

Christmas, which also falls on December 25 in Italy, is celebrated in a more religious context. Here you can rarely see St. Nicholas, and more often Christmas “nativity scenes” are staged, reenacting the birth of Jesus. Live performances or simply figures are present in all public places: in churches, squares, fountains, shop windows, and homes.

And another important Christmas character here is the witch on a broom – La Befana. But you shouldn’t expect any unpleasant surprises from her, since this witch is kind. It is believed that she delivers gifts to Italian children, so they prefer the witch to Santa Claus, so his role is secondary. The Italians call him Bobbo Natale.

Getting to Christmas Mass in St. Peter's Basilica is quite difficult - tickets must be booked several months in advance. Those less fortunate can watch the service on a large screen installed in St. Peter's Square.

Austria

It’s also easy to guess what date Christmas is celebrated in Austria, December 25th. Preparations for the holiday begin a month before its onset. At the end of November, Advent is announced - the Nativity fast, and with it the anticipation of the approaching celebration. In houses during this period, classic Christmas wreaths with 4 candles are made. On the first Sunday of Lent, only one candle is lit, on the next - two, then three, and on the last Sunday of Advent, on the eve of Christmas, all the candles in the wreath are already burning brightly.

Throughout Austria, holiday markets operate in the weeks leading up to Christmas - this tradition dates back to the Middle Ages. At these bazaars, beautifully painted stalls are installed that sell various sweets: beautifully shaped cookies, lollipops, aromatic mulled wine and roasted chestnuts.

Austrians prefer to decorate the Christmas tree not with balls and garlands, but with delicious decorations - marzipan and chocolate, which they are very proud of here. The Christmas table in Austria must include perfectly cooked carp and spicy pastries.

Greece

Some compatriots are surprised when Christmas is celebrated in Greece, because it is largely an Orthodox country, but here Christmas is celebrated on December 25 and also in close family circle.

A Christmas tree is decorated in the house, and the gifts of Greek nature are displayed on the Christmas table - figs, nuts, raisins, fruits and other sweets. But the main dish is the roasted turkey. Housewives bake sweet cookies with almonds and melomacarons - honey cookies - in advance. The Greeks also bake Christopsomo, which is reminiscent of our Easter cake - a sweet sponge cake made from yeast dough with the addition of wine, butter, almonds and several aromatic spices. The baked goods are decorated with a cross, and a walnut in the shell is inserted into its center.

At Christmas, Greeks give their neighbors household items, books, clothes, children's toys, and sometimes just envelopes with money. During the holiday week, it is customary to sing Christmas carols. In some places, young people still go to caroling, but for this they receive from the spectators not treats, like ours, but simply money.

Finland

It’s interesting how Finns celebrate Christmas, especially considering that Joulupukki (aka Father Frost, aka Santa Claus) has been officially registered in the north of the country since 1984 - in Lapland, near the Arctic Circle. Any child from any corner of the world who has sent a message to Santa Claus in Lapland can count on his response.

In the old days, Christmas in Finland was celebrated a little earlier, and the treat in those days was pig's feet and Christmas beer. Nowadays, Finns celebrate this holiday on December 25th. But it is customary here to bring a Christmas tree into the house no earlier than Christmas Eve, and in general, this tradition appeared in Finland during the period when it was part of the Russian Empire (19th century).

On December 25, in the morning, the whole Finnish family quickly decorates the Christmas tree, after which many of them go to church. Then you can enjoy a steaming session in the sauna.

Steamed and clean Finns sit down to the festive table in the evening. On this day they prefer to drink mulled wine. At Christmas, housewives prepare ham, baked according to a special recipe, which is accompanied by rice or carrot porridge. Moreover, there is a secret in the porridge - whoever gets an almond grain on his plate will have good luck next year.

The day after Christmas in Finland is the feast of St. Stephen, who is the patron saint of horses. St. Lucia is especially revered by the Finns at Christmas.

Estonia

Christmas celebrations in Estonia have retained their flavor and unique customs. On the eve of the holiday, people read the Christmas prayer - this tradition originated in the Middle Ages. Then the church sought in this way to reconcile the eternally warring barons, at least on the eve of such a big holiday. So this prayer has survived in Estonia to this day; it contains a call not to offend anyone - neither people nor animals, to be able to forgive, to be attentive, to take care of both loved ones and complete strangers, especially the elderly.

Like the Finns, Estonians cannot imagine Christmas without a bath, because they believe that bathing in these last days of the year allows you to cure all ailments and kindles an “inner fire” that will warm a person from within throughout the coming year.

The Christmas table in Estonia should be plentiful - starting from Christmas Eve, gluttony is given free rein. On the Estonian table you can see traditional sausages, pork and homemade beer.

Israel

Many people wonder if Jews celebrate Christmas? As you know, the main religion in Israel is Judaism, however, the Nativity of Christ is celebrated quite widely here. Of course, the main festive ceremony is held where the story of the birth of Jesus Christ began - in Bethlehem. There is a Church of the Nativity in the city, where mass Christmas services are held. It is headed by the Catholic Patriarch of Jerusalem. There are several important points in the ritual:

• the patriarch heads to the altar, on which lies the Star of Bethlehem prepared in advance;
• on this star he places a sculpture of a baby;
• both objects are transferred together to the manger, where they will remain until the feast of the Epiphany.

There are two dates for celebrating Christmas in Israel - December 25 and January 7, depending on the religion. The Orthodox celebration begins on January 6 with a large procession led by the Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem. She is on her way from the Old City to Bethlehem. The procession includes beautifully dressed Palestinian children, and the procession is accompanied by the sounds of drums and wind instruments.

Dominican Republic

If closer to the New Year you suddenly find yourself in the Dominican Republic, then you will probably be interested in the question of how Christmas is celebrated in the Dominican Republic. But this holiday in a tropical country looks very unusual to our eyes - no hint of frost, snow, ice slides or other signs of winter. However, all these factors do not prevent local residents from fully devoting themselves to the joyful celebration of Christmas.

At the beginning of December, sales and special fairs begin here, where Dominicans large quantities they buy souvenirs, gifts, treats and other holiday items. It is also customary here to attend church, but in the morning. Also, the inhabitants of the island sit down at the family holiday table. To celebrate Christmas with loved ones, many Dominicans have to return from other countries.

For the festive table, they prepare a pig or turkey, baked on a spit, and wash down the dishes with anything: cola, coconut milk, beer or wine. After dinner, the islanders take to the streets to join in the mass celebrations, fireworks, Latin dances, carnivals and continue the celebration.

Portugal

The majority of the Portuguese continue to be devout Catholics, so the way Christmas is celebrated in Portugal is not too different from the celebration in most Western European countries.

This one is the first winter holiday is the most important thing of the year for them and it is also held in the family circle. Many families collectively visit churches to hear the “rooster mass” (here they believe that people learned about the birth of the Messiah precisely because of his cry). Returning from church, everyone sits down at the festive table. Young people often prefer dancing and having fun with friends and sometimes strangers around the fires over a feast.

Many national dishes are prepared here for the festive table, among which must-have octopus with rice, baked kid, roast lamb, and for dessert - baked goods (bolorei cake). They drink wonderful Portuguese wines at the table.

Sweden

Swedish Christmas is perhaps the longest, as it lasts from December 13th to January 13th. Moreover, such a scale has been observed here for a whole millennium. Swedes expect gifts from the Christmas gnome - an analogue of our brownie. According to legend, he lives in the underground of every house.

Christmas in Sweden is symbolized by the figure of a goat, which is made from straw every year. This tradition has its roots in Norse mythology. The first public Christmas goat was installed in the town of Gavl in 1966. True, not everyone loves this symbol, so opponents of the goat strive to destroy it in any way - steal, break, burn. As a result, out of 45 installed in different years in Gavle, 28 goats were vandalized. Statistics also confirm that the population of Sweden is divided approximately equally in relation to this mythological character: one half considers it a completely acceptable symbol of Christmas, while the other sees it as diabolical and seeks to destroy it.

Denmark

In Denmark, preparations for the upcoming Christmas begin on the first Friday of November. It is on this day that the first dark, sweetish Christmas beer of the year appears on sale, and the shelves of all stores begin to be full of Christmas paraphernalia; the persistent aroma of ginger, cinnamon, cardamom and cloves can be heard from the confectionery shops.

Danish streets begin to smell like almonds, street markets open where fluffy pine trees, fir trees or cypress trees are sold. Squares and streets are decorated with garlands, silk and paper red hearts, and straw goats. Near the town hall on the main square there is a main city ​​tree, under which they place a large transparent box for donations intended for children from poor countries.

At Christmas, housewives bake “Yule boars” - loaves in the shape of a boar. On the first day of Christmas week, a thick candle with divisions marked on it is lit - when it burns down to the first division, it is extinguished, and the next day it is lit again until it burns down to the next division, and so on.

Iceland

In Iceland they also begin to prepare in advance for the bright holiday of Christmas. So, on December 12, children's shoes appear on windowsills, the owners of which expect gifts to appear in them. Icelandic children are lucky - they are given gifts not only by Santa Claus, but also by 13 other Christmas characters, who simultaneously look like people and trolls. For two weeks they will put something in their shoe every night. Naughty people who made their mark in the past year bad behavior, instead of a gift they will find a potato, and those who were completely intolerable will be awarded Grila - a three-eyed cat with protruding teeth and warts. There is a legend regarding the last character, according to which Gryla on Christmas night can drag away children who have not been given new clothes.

On Christmas Eve, Icelanders cook partridge, which has long been a Christmas dish here. It is known that partridges run more because they fly poorly, so catching them was not difficult, and such a treat became available even to the poor who did not have guns.

Another old Christmas tradition is making sheet bread. Since cereals do not grow in Iceland, grain was always brought here by sea and was very expensive. Therefore, the flour dough was almost precious - housewives rolled it out very thinly and then folded it into Christmas symbolic figures. For dessert on the Christmas table they serve rice pudding with an almond in the center.

On Christmas night, a church mass is broadcast on the radio, but television temporarily stops working.

Argentina

In Argentina, where they also celebrate Christmas, it is also a family affair, home holiday. All close relatives gather in the house of one of them, where a festive table is prepared. At midnight, they ceremoniously open a fizzy drink (usually cider, less often champagne). Then the youth go outside to shoot at balloons or set off fireworks and explode firecrackers. Especially believers go to church.

On Christmas Eve, the working day is in most cases shortened, and on December 25, life seems to come to a standstill - all kiosks, shops, restaurants, bars, and clubs are closed. Argentines like to put “Russian salad” on the Christmas table (somewhat reminiscent modern version our Olivier), as well as salad with tomatoes and lettuce, marinated chicken and Argentine asado.

In Argentina, it is customary to decorate the Christmas tree rather modestly, using balls of only 1-2 colors.

In which country did you celebrate the most interesting Christmas? Which country's traditions do you like? Tell us about it in the comments, we are very interested in your opinion.

It is known that Christmas in Russia and Europe is celebrated on different dates, despite the common calendar and chronology. In Russia the holiday is celebrated on January 7, in Europe – on December 25. What causes this discrepancy?

Origins

In ancient Rome, March 1 marked the beginning of the year, however, when Gaius Julius Caesar modified the calendar, the shortest day of the year, December 22, became the starting point for new years.

It is well known that the Romans revered the pantheon of gods, where the day winter solstice was a symbol of the victory of Saturn (approx. God of earth and crops) over winter.

At the beginning of the 4th century. The Christian Church gained the upper hand in the territory of Rome and it was decided to abolish the objectionable holiday with pagan roots. Thus, the festival of Saturn was replaced in the 10th century. date of birth of Christ.

Difference in church chronology

Today, the difference in the dates of Christmas can be explained by the fact that the Orthodox Church is guided by the calendar introduced by Julius Caesar, and the Catholic Church is guided by the Gregorian calendar.

Russia at the beginning of the 20th century introduced the calendar adopted by the Western world, but the church tradition remained unchanged.

Key Facts

• Both calendars have the same number of days;
• The leap year occurs at different intervals in both calendars;
• According to the Julian calendar, a leap year occurs every three years, while according to the Gregorian calendar it occurs every four years.

So, the difference in the celebration of Christmas dates can be explained by purely historical reasons. In the course of the development of civilizations, their decline and the formation of new customs, a new faith, and with it the change of chronology, the dates of the Nativity of Christ also shifted.

For the above reasons, the Western Catholic world celebrates it on December 24, and the Orthodox Church on January 7.

Unlike Russia, where the main and most happy holiday considered New Year, in Europe the celebration of Christmas was and remains the most exciting event for everyone. Catholics celebrate Christmas according to the Gregorian calendar on the night of December 24-25. On this day you will not be able to observe festivities on noisy city streets, as Europeans consider this a family celebration and celebrate it at home with family and friends. And all the most interesting things happen a few days before Christmas.

In all countries, they decorate Christmas trees, prepare gifts for each other, wait for Santa Claus and rush to please themselves by buying long-awaited goods at Christmas markets. But each country has its own unique traditions of celebrating Christmas!

For example, in Great Britain On the night before Christmas, it is customary to decorate all the windows of houses and churches with burning candles, which is why this night is nicknamed “the night of candles.” In the last century, in villages, shortly before the holiday, women organized competitions in best decoration Christmas candles. These decorations were made from strips of colored paper, foil, bright ribbons, and gold and silver threads. With lighted candles in their hands, residents went to the night mass in the church.

On Christmas, the British gather at their parents' house, have a festive dinner, give each other gifts and look at family photographs. is stuffed turkey or roast goose, as well as pudding and birthday cake. According to an ancient custom, the pie is filled with various items that predict fate for the coming year. A found ring means a quick wedding, a coin means wealth, a horseshoe means good luck in the new year. Also at Christmas, there is a custom of kissing under a branch of mistletoe - an evergreen shrub that is used as a talisman.

Since with the introduction of Christianity the custom of gift-giving is associated with the bringing of gifts to the baby Jesus Christ by the Three Magi, gifts are given primarily to children. It is generally accepted that good Uncle Santa Claus delivers them to them. And gifts are given to adults by the youngest member of the family.

IN Italy Christmas is the most favorite family celebration, when the whole family, after the festive mass, gathers for a common meal. A week before the celebration, shepherds from the mountainous regions create a festive atmosphere on the streets of Italy. They play at nationals musical instruments, sing songs, stage performances.

The holiday menu in almost all parts of the country includes dishes such as dumplings in broth, stuffed meat, sweet buns or Milanese cake.

Many Italians still, according to the old tradition, throw old things out of windows at Christmas, thus parting with all the troubles that the old year brought.

In sunny Italy, there is also an incredibly touching tradition - children write letters not only to Santa Claus, but also to their parents about their strong love to them. On Christmas morning, adults find tender confessions from their little ones under their pillows. And at the festive dinner these children's letters are read aloud.

It's a lot of fun to celebrate the holiday Spain. On December 25, the central streets of Madrid, Barcelona and other cities are filled with people who dress up in National costumes and sing songs. Before the start of the Christmas mass, it is customary to gather at the church and dance, holding hands. Almost everyone attends church. Time is spent in the company of family and friends in a cozy favorite restaurant.

In Spain there is a long tradition - the “spirit of giving”. On the eve of Christmas, the Spaniards try to guess the wish of the person to whom they want to give a gift. Christmas markets and markets are bustling all over the country. From December 23-24, the Christmas lottery is held, which in terms of the intensity of passions can be compared to a bullfight.

On this day, children find treasured gifts in their own. They are given only to the obedient ones, and the disobedient ones get pieces of coal. Therefore, confectioners now make sweets in the form of coal so that guilty children do not feel deprived.

IN Austria a month before Christmas, houses are decorated with a special wreath on which four candles are placed. It is customary to light one candle on the first Sunday, two on the next, and the last one on Christmas Eve.

IN Germany At Christmas it is customary to give a “Christmas star”. About a hundred years ago this plant was brought from Mexico; in Russia it is called spurge. The green bush has a red corolla resembling a star. There is also a tradition of giving potted clover as a gift for good luck.

IN Denmark reigns all around celebration atmosphere, comparable to magical world Andersen's fairy tales. Here Christmas is, first of all, a holiday of the soul, and then of the body. One of the traditions is Christmas candles. At night, two candles are lit on the table, and one on the windowsill, as a guiding star for lonely travelers.

Despite the fact that each country has its own distinctive customs and traditions at Christmas, this holiday unites people, allows them to believe in magic and the fulfillment of their cherished dreams!

Based on the fact that the majority of European countries are either Catholic or Protestant, we can conclude that Christmas in Europe will be celebrated on December 25, 2018. Although the date of celebration of Catholic Christmas does not coincide with the Orthodox one, the meaning of this event remains unchanged.

The date of the Christmas celebration on December 25 was established at the 3rd Ecumenical Church Council in the 5th century. Since then, the eve of the holiday and Christmas can be called the most fun, but also the most hectic period of the year for Europeans.

It is a well-known fact that Catholics and Orthodox Christians have different dates for celebrating Christmas. The reason for this is the introduction of the Gregorian calendar in the 16th century, which replaced the Julian calendar (established by Julius Caesar in 46 BC). A similar decision was made by Pope Gregory XIII due to some inaccuracy of the Julian calendar.

But in Russia and other Orthodox countries they continued to use the previous calendar, since the Orthodox Church did not agree with the changes of the Catholic Church. Therefore, Catholics and Protestants celebrate the big holiday on December 25, and Orthodox Christians celebrate it on January 7. The only exceptions are certain autocephalous orthodox church, who also celebrate Christmas on December 25th.

Another difference among Western Christians is the absence of a strict Nativity fast, like Orthodox believers. However, Catholics observe Advent, starting from the 4th Sunday before the feast. Believers should devote this period to spiritual cleansing. The weeks of Advent are called differently:

• iron (first);
• bronze (second);
• silver (third);
• gold (fourth).

On December 25, it is customary to hold 3 masses in Catholic churches (night, morning and day). It is noteworthy that among Western Christians Christmas is the main church holiday, in contrast to the Orthodox, who reverence Easter more.

Traditions of celebrating Christmas in Europe

Residents of European countries prepare in advance for Christmas celebrations. Holiday fairs begin to operate in cities, buildings are decorated with bright garlands and Christmas trees. Traditionally, children go from house to house singing songs and wishes, and the owners treat them to baked goods and sweets. In addition, in European countries there are indispensable attributes of Christmas:

• An advent wreath is made from Christmas tree branches and twigs. It symbolizes not only Christmas, but also that this holiday is worth spending with your family. It can be hung on the door, placed on the windowsill or holiday table;
• candles are often used in white or red. Europeans light it by the fireplace, on the windowsill or on the holiday table;
• Special red socks are usually hung over the fireplace or next to the holiday tree and filled with small gifts “from Santa Claus.” According to legend, Santa enters the house through the chimney and quietly leaves gifts for obedient children.