Evening of January 6 — Christmas Eve, Christmas Eve. People also call it «kolyady». The significance of the holy night of the birth of the Infant Christ is so great that today we even trace the course of new history and our chronology precisely from the Nativity of Christ. In Rus', this holiday was especially loved.
Christmas Eve — Christmas Eve, the final day of the Nativity Fast. Traditionally, on this day it was possible to eat only the so-called sochivo — soaked wheat grains with honey and fruits. This tradition gave the name to the holiday.
Divine services in churches are entirely dedicated to the upcoming holiday.
On Christmas Eve, up to the «evening star», that is, until the evening chants at the Divine Office «, the Magi and the star travel», did not eat anything and did not even sit down at the table. With the appearance in heaven of the first joyful light, which once announced to the Magi the birth of the Savior, one could begin to celebrate.
The main culinary event of Christmas — is Christmas Eve dinner. In Rus', on Christmas Eve, people always put a bunch of fresh — hay on the table in memory of the manger in which Jesus was born. The table was covered with a snow-white tablecloth and twelve dishes — were placed on it according to the number of apostles — and all dishes were lean.
With the onset of January 7, meat dishes were also allowed to be placed on the table.
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