Christmas Eve for Western Christians (Catholics)

Christmas holidays around the world are among the most significant and revered In addition, Christians around the world, and Catholics in particular, are preparing for the beginning of the new year with genuine admiration and interest Christmas Eve is a kind of eve of Christmas and is celebrated on the eve of its onset In churches of the Gregorian Rite, the holiday falls on December 24, Orthodox churches and Greek Catholics gather for a festive dinner on January 6 Christmas Eve got its name not by chance, but thanks to the main dish that is served at the table that evening - sochiv Like kutya, it is succulently prepared from pre-prepared and well-steamed cereals, cereals, usually seasoned with honey or dried fruits Speaking of the holiday meal, the table on Christmas Eve is not limited to the main course Although it is recommended to eat only once on this day - after the evening service Although holiday dishes are served only in Lenten form, the consumption of wine and vegetable oil is not prohibited The Orthodox Church insists on refusing food on Christmas Eve until the end of Lent, but the Catholic Church does not adhere to such strict canons and does not consider them mandatory At a festive Catholic meal, wafers are usually broken - Lenten Christmas bread They symbolize the flesh of Christ and are thin layers of unleavened, dry, crispy dough The one who breaks off a piece of the unleavened wafer must make a good wish, that is, thank you Beautiful and touching traditions literally permeate the entire evening before Christmas, and the head of the family is left to lead them This is the time when close and dear people gather and turn their thoughts to the light and God December 24th is a special day for Western Christians, filled with a Christmas atmosphere and goodwill, a positive and creative mood