Orthodox ChristmasOrthodox Christmas

Orthodox ChristmasOrthodox Christmas In Slovakia live more that 80 000 orthodox peopleIn Slovakia live more that 80 000 orthodox people On 6. January they celebrate the orthodox On 6. January they celebrate the orthodox

Christmas or the birth of Christmas or the birth of JesusJesus This is according to the This is according to the Julian calendarJulian calendar The most of orthodox The most of orthodox people are „Rusini“-people are „Rusini“- people who live in east people who live in east of the Slovakiaof the Slovakia Greeting after Christmas day:"Christos Greeting after Christmas day:"Christos

raždajetsja„(Christ is birthing) and "Slavime Jeho" raždajetsja„(Christ is birthing) and "Slavime Jeho" (Celebrate him). (Celebrate him).

Fasting before ChristmasFasting before Christmas

It is a tradition of the Eastern Christians to fastIt is a tradition of the Eastern Christians to fast Fasting is a spirutual preparation for ChristmasFasting is a spirutual preparation for Christmas People fast for 40 days before ChristmasPeople fast for 40 days before Christmas This time is refered to as LentThis time is refered to as Lent It starts on 28. november It starts on 28. november The significance of fasting is spiritual unity with The significance of fasting is spiritual unity with

God and preparation for the celebration of the God and preparation for the celebration of the birth of the Saviourbirth of the Saviour

Lent was established so that Lent was established so that we are in repentance, fasting and we are in repentance, fasting and prayer, cleansed and pure of heart, soprayer, cleansed and pure of heart, so we can embrace the Son of God we can embrace the Son of God

Why do people fast?Why do people fast?

Real fastReal fastinging cannot be cannot be done done without prayer, without prayer, repentance, repentance, people putting aside theirpeople putting aside their hostility , hostility , without uprooting the evil in without uprooting the evil in theitheir lives. r lives.

Fasting is not our goal,Fasting is not our goal, but is way to tame yourbut is way to tame your body, passions andbody, passions and how to cleanse from how to cleanse from sin. sin. Fasting without prayer Fasting without prayer and penance, becomes and penance, becomes only dietonly dietinging

During Lent people cannot eat meat or people During Lent people cannot eat meat or people who are vegetarian abstain from something who are vegetarian abstain from something different - what they usually like to eatdifferent - what they usually like to eat

We should fast from We should fast from somethingsomething that we lovethat we love e.g.:chocolate, coffee, e.g.:chocolate, coffee, internet... internet... We cannot go to discos or dance We cannot go to discos or dance and sing at home and sing at home It is about It is about restraintrestraint The fast finishes after Christmas The fast finishes after Christmas day- 7.Januaryday- 7.January

We cannot:We cannot:

ConfessionConfession

Orthodox Christians have two very important Orthodox Christians have two very important confessionsconfessions

before Christmas andbefore Christmas and

before Easterbefore Easter It is important because It is important because

we get rid of the sins sowe get rid of the sins so

that we might enjoy the that we might enjoy the

birth of Jesus with birth of Jesus with

clean heartclean heart

The Christmas dinnerThe Christmas dinner On the table there usually is about On the table there usually is about 7- 8 types of food7- 8 types of food All day is lent and people cannot All day is lent and people cannot sample what they cookedsample what they cooked Before the dinner all the family must wash Before the dinner all the family must wash

hands and face in the stream or well- it is hands and face in the stream or well- it is called purgatorycalled purgatory

By the table all the family must pray before By the table all the family must pray before they start to eat the dinnerthey start to eat the dinner

It starts about 5 o clockIt starts about 5 o clock

We start to eat bread with salt or wafers with We start to eat bread with salt or wafers with honey and garlichoney and garlic

After this we continue with : cabbage soup After this we continue with : cabbage soup (without sausage),mushrooms,pies with (without sausage),mushrooms,pies with potatoes,bobaľky with poppy,vegatarian potatoes,bobaľky with poppy,vegatarian salad,“pigeons“, and at the salad,“pigeons“, and at the

end can be a fishend can be a fish On the table must be aOn the table must be a

lots of fruit and sweets lots of fruit and sweets

(gingerbread)(gingerbread)

Traditional DinnerTraditional Dinner

Presents Presents We have St. Nicholas Day too but it is 19. We have St. Nicholas Day too but it is 19.

decemberdecember Children put their shoes Children put their shoes on a window and in the on a window and in the morning they have in their morning they have in their shoes sweets and fruit from shoes sweets and fruit from St. NicholasSt. Nicholas On Christmas day is similarOn Christmas day is similar only parents put gifts under only parents put gifts under Christmas trees and early Christmas trees and early morning you can openmorning you can open

On the table is a candle and after dinner we blow On the table is a candle and after dinner we blow out the candle and if the smoke rises straightout the candle and if the smoke rises straight

up nobody from this family will die this yearup nobody from this family will die this year Before dinner girls draw on Before dinner girls draw on their forehead crossestheir forehead crosses with honey to have boys lovewith honey to have boys love them them Cutting apples for healthy familyCutting apples for healthy family Under the tablecloth family Under the tablecloth family members place money so the family will have members place money so the family will have

money in the future....and more money in the future....and more

TraditionTradition

Holidays Holidays 13 January is christening of the Lord13 January is christening of the Lord People go to church to get Holy Water as this is People go to church to get Holy Water as this is

the day the priest blesses it the day the priest blesses it It is to rememeber the chrtistening of Jesus in It is to rememeber the chrtistening of Jesus in

the river Jordanthe river Jordan It a very important dayIt a very important day 14 january is the start of the 14 january is the start of the

New year for orthodox New year for orthodox

christians christians

Happy ChristmasHappy Christmas