Christmas traditions and customs. Why do some celebrate 13 days later?

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One of the most important Christmas traditions is decorating trees. However, few people know that it comes from Alsace. It was there that, in the 15th century, the decoration of conifers with nuts and apples, as well as candles and other accessories made of paper, began. It is worth mentioning that initially the Church opposed the custom which was gaining more and more popularity among the faithful. The clergy considered him pagan. Over time, however, the Church changed its approach to this issue. Nowadays, placing gifts under the Christmas tree is supposed to mean imitating goodness.

Christmas traditions and customs in Poland – when should you decorate the Christmas tree?

When should you decorate the Christmas tree? It turns out that many people make a mistake. According to tradition, the Christmas tree should be decorated on the morning of Christmas Eve, i.e. on December 24. In the past, it was like that on that day all the household members would gather early and prepare a Christmas tree together.

What are the most important Christmas customs?

In accordance with the provisions of the Second Vatican Council, the Christmas Eve supper takes place after dark and the appearance of the “first star” referring to the Star of Bethlehem in the sky. The Christmas Eve evening ends with a Midnight Mass. December 25 is Christmas, and on December 26 we celebrate the second day of Christmas, recognized in memory of St. Stephen – the first martyr for the Christian faith. Here are the most important Christmas customs in our country:

• Christmas candle – the candlelight is to be a sign of an invitation to the family of Mary and Joseph, that little Jesus may be born in every home.
• Additional cover – it is symbolically intended for an unannounced guest, but it is also a symbol of remembrance of our absent or deceased relatives.
• Wafer – the gesture of breaking the wafer symbolizes mutual dedication to others and the willingness to share successes with loved ones. Sharing the wafer is supposed to bring people closer and connect.
• Hay under the tablecloth – the custom comes from pagan times. Tradition dictates that hay symbolizes the birth of Jesus in poverty.

Christmas traditions and customs in Podlasie

Christmas traditions and holiday customs are common to most regions. There is, however, an interesting exception to mention. We are talking about Podlasie, which is inhabited by many people of the Orthodox faith (currently the Orthodox Church in Poland has about 600,000 believers, and most of them live in the Podlaskie Voivodeship). Although much of the customs is the same as that of the followers of Catholicism, there are some important differences.

Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas according to the Julian calendar – 13 days after Catholic holidays. So, Christmas Eve falls on January 6. On this day, according to tradition, there are 12 Lenten dishes on the table, an additional cover and hay under the tablecloth. The Christmas Eve dinner begins with prayer and eating the prosfora brought from the church. The equivalent of the Catholic shepherdess is the all-night vigil, which begins at midnight. Interestingly, the service in some churches even lasts 5-6 hours. It is worth mentioning that in many places in Podlasie, the tradition of caroling is still alive. Orthodox people sing Christmas carols on the first day of Christmas, January 7.