Christmas at the Lutherans (25/12)

The Nativity of Jesus Christ is considered one of the main Christian holidays. The holiday is based on the biblical story of the birth of the Savior Jesus Christ by the Virgin Mary in the city of Bethlehem.

The holiday is celebrated by Catholics, Orthodox Christians, and Protestants. Only dates (December 25, January 6 or January 7) and calendar styles (Julian and Gregorian) differ. In European and a number of other states, the date of the Birth of Christ (from R.H. or Annus Domine), calculated in the Middle Ages, as it turned out later, with an error of 3—4, is taken as the chronology point.

Each country and each denomination has its own characteristics of celebrating Christmas. In Lutheranism, Christmas traditions include, first of all, the following:

Candles. Burning candles — symbol of light, symbol of the stars shining in the sky at the hour of the Birth of Christ. Candles can be of different shapes.

Christmas wreath. A Christmas wreath is usually woven from branches of pine, spruce, and fir. The methods of weaving can be different. The wreath is decorated with candles, ribbons, and wooden figurines. It is hung over a door, on a wall, or placed on a Christmas table. Often four — candles are inserted into the Christmas wreath according to the number of Advent weeks immediately preceding Christmas. Every Sunday one of these candles is lit at the service.

Christmas tree. The tradition of putting up a Christmas tree at Christmas is associated with Lutheranism and German-speaking countries. She first appeared there. Only under Peter I did it migrate to Russia, and in the Soviet era the Christmas tree was replaced with a New Year tree.

Christmas star. Reminds me of the Star of Bethlehem and is usually hung on a Christmas tree.

Nursery or, so-called, «verthep». The word «vertep» did not initially have such a negative meaning as it does now, and meant the nursery in which Christ was born. Just like Catholics, Lutherans set up a manger at Christmas and act out the scene of the Birth of the Savior. It is believed that by doing so, Bethlehem seems to enter houses and churches, becoming closer and clearer.

At the source of this tradition is the «-living painting» of Christmas, created by Francis of Assisi and his brothers in the Order in the forest near Grecho. To celebrate Christmas, they installed a manger, brought hay, and brought a real bull and donkey. Thus, Francis of Assisi reopened the eyes of Christians to the fact that Jesus was a man who did not live in the palace, but was born in a manger, living among the poor and foreigners who had no roof over their heads, that is, he was closer than it seemed to an ordinary medieval man.

207