Orthodox Christians celebrated Christmas the old-fashioned way, when families come together to observe ancestral traditions and welcome the Nativity. In most households, especially in villages, the atmosphere is special, filled with spirituality, carols and customs. Christmas Eve is also the last day when the faithful go to confession in churches, so that on the feast day they can take communion. Christmas Lent ends on January 6 and on January 7, the feast of the Nativity, the Mass of St Basil the Great is celebrated in the Orthodox Church. During the night, in many parts of the country, children walk with Santa Claus, singing carols and shouting “Good morning to Santa Claus”. The carolers symbolize the angels and shepherds who were the first heralds of Jesus’ birth in the manger in Bethlehem. After the carol singers return to their homes, traditional families gather for a fasting meal, called the ‘Holy Supper’, after the rising of the first star in the sky – symbolizing the star that guided the Magi to the place of the Savior’s birth. On the Christmas Eve table, Old Orthodox lay out fasting delicacies specific to the feast and prepare 12 dishes in the name of the 12 apostles. The meal includes traditional dishes such as coleslaw, pies with cabbage or potatoes, Lenten sarmale, beans and dried fruit compote. Candlelight and the smell of hay under the tablecloth symbolize the birth of Jesus Christ in the manger. The old-style Christmas is celebrated by millions of Orthodox Christians around the world, including in Moldova, Ukraine, Russia, Russia, Serbia and other countries that follow the Julian calendar. The separation of the Orthodox Church into Old and New Styles took place in 1923, when it was decided in Constantinople to switch from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar.
Orthodox Christians celebrated Christmas the old-fashioned way. Traditions and festive spirit in Moldovan homes
