Christmas Eve 2024: holiday traditions and what is forbidden to do on December 24
24 December 00:48
Today, December 24, marks Christmas Eve, one of the most important Christian holidays. Komersant ukrainskyi has prepared an article about the traditions of the celebration and what you shouldn’t do on Christmas Eve.
When is Christmas Eve celebrated according to the new calendar?
Christians of the Western tradition and most churches of the Eastern rite celebrate Christmas Eve on December 24.
At the end of 2023, the OCU and the UGCC switched to the New Julian calendar, as a result of which most religious holidays are now celebrated 13 days earlier.
Therefore, according to the new style, Christmas Eve in Ukraine will be celebrated on December 24, which in 2024 falls on a Friday. Instead, according to the Gregorian calendar, it will be celebrated on January 6.
Traditions of celebration
Christmas Eve is a day of strict fasting, the last day of the Christmas fast, when believers prepare their hearts to celebrate the holiday. On this day, people clean their homes to make them clean and tidy, decorate them with didukh (a sheaf of ears) or Christmas symbols such as a Christmas tree.
Traditionally, on this day, believers sat down to eat only after the first star appeared in the sky, symbolizing the Star of Bethlehem, which announced the birth of the Savior. Before starting the meal at the festive table, it is customary to recite the Lord’s Prayer with the family.
After the festive dinner, most Christians go to the evening service, which marks the beginning of the Christmas celebration. At the same time, Christmas Eve marks the beginning of the holidays, two weeks of winter festivities that last until Epiphany. It is during this period that caroling begins, glorifying the birth of Christ and bringing this good news to every home.
What should be on the table for Christmas Eve
The main element of Christmas Eve is a family dinner, which should consist of 12 meatless dishes, according to the number of apostles. Among them are most often kutia, borsch, dumplings, fish, mushrooms, uzvar, cabbage soup, etc.
A candle is lit on the table as a symbol of the light of Christ.
Before the meal, a prayer is read, and all family members ask for God’s blessing and remember their deceased relatives.
Kutia takes center stage on the table, and the meal begins with it.
In some regions, it is customary to exchange food or symbolic gifts with neighbors.
What not to do on December 24
It is forbidden to break the rules of fasting on Christmas Eve. The Church emphasizes the need to refrain from meat, dairy products, and eggs. At the same time, it is allowed to eat fish and lean dishes. It is customary to eat nothing before dinner, which begins only after the first star appears in the sky.
No quarreling or swearing is allowed. Christmas Eve is a time of reconciliation, so any conflicts or disputes are considered a great sin. It used to be said that quarrels on this day could destroy peace in the family for the whole year.
It is forbidden to work on Christmas Eve. All household chores that can be completed before Christmas Eve should be done in advance. Especially avoid heavy physical labor, repair or sewing.
Do not leave the table empty. After dinner, leftovers are not thrown away, but left on the table until morning. This symbolizes hospitality and the memory of the souls of deceased relatives, who are believed to come home on this day.
You can’t lend money or borrow money. It is believed that those who lend or borrow on Christmas Eve risk living in debt for the next year.
You cannot be indifferent to your neighbors and ignore requests for help. On Christmas Eve, it is especially important to help those in need.
You should not dress untidy, choose dirty and old clothes. In ancient times, it was believed that the appearance on Christmas Eve affects how a person will be perceived throughout the year.
It is forbidden to do fortune-telling. Although there were traditions of fortune-telling during the winter holidays, the church strongly condemns fortune-telling, particularly on Christmas Eve. This day should be dedicated to spiritual purification, prayer, and preparation for Christmas.
