How to tell children about Christmas. How to tell your child about the tradition of Christmas How Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas

Christmas is perhaps the most joyful Christian holiday. Christmas joy is not overshadowed by anything. Not just a Man was born, but also a God. This means that our road to salvation has become open. This is difficult to understand, but let's try to figure it out and tell the children about this Christian holiday - the Nativity of Christ...

Jesus is both Man and God at the same time. How He was born as God is not given to us to know. Just as we do not know how the Virgin Mary’s immaculate conception of Her Son took place: Archangel Gabriel only brought Her the good news about the future birth of the Savior.

But we know for sure that Christ was born as a Man, as one of us, that is, in the flesh. That is why the full name of the holiday is the Nativity of the Lord God and our Savior Jesus Christ according to the flesh. The Virgin Mary and her husband, Joseph the Betrothed, lived in the town of Nazareth (it still exists in Israel). Because of the census of the Roman Empire, which took place under Emperor Augustus, they went to Bethlehem. According to the emperor's decree, to facilitate the census, every resident of the empire had to come “to his city.” Since both Mary and Joseph were distant descendants of King David, they headed to Bethlehem. Since it was in this city that David was born - one of the greatest rulers of Israel, from whose family, according to the promise, that is, the promise of God, the Messiah was supposed to come. Bethlehem is located literally a couple of kilometers from Jerusalem (now in the Palestinian Authority, in the West Bank), but it is quite far from Nazareth - about 170 kilometers. It is difficult to imagine how much work it took for the Virgin Mary to overcome such a long distance in the last month of pregnancy.

Since many people came to Bethlehem, the Virgin Mary and Joseph did not get places in the hotel, and apparently they had no relatives in the city. Therefore, they had to spend the night in a cave - the shepherds used it as a barn to shelter their livestock from bad weather. Here the One who was destined to become the Savior of the world was born. “And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth; and she gave birth to her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn,” writes Evangelist Luke.

Not only the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph knew that more than just a baby was born. The shepherds were the first to come to worship the Savior - they were nearby. An angel appeared to the shepherds and said to them: “...I bring you good news of great joy, which will be to all people: for today a Savior has been born to you in the city of David, who is Christ the Lord; and this is a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger” (Luke 2:8-14).

The shepherds left their flocks, went towards Bethlehem and found the Virgin Mary, Joseph and the Baby in a manger in a cave. The shepherds told Mary what the angel had told them. The Mother of God was amazed, because exactly nine months ago Archangel Gabriel appeared to Her and spoke exactly the same words - that the Savior of the world would be born to Her. We now celebrate that day as the Feast of the Annunciation. Later, the Holy Family moved to the city - either places in the hotel became available, or someone let them stay, it is not known for sure. And at this time, somewhere in the east, far from Palestine, three wise men (they were called wise men) saw an unusual star in the sky

They took it as a sign. After all, the Magi knew that the King of Israel would soon come to the world. The Magi were not Jews, they were pagans, but they understood that such a global event would affect all nations (this is exactly what happened, as we know - now there is not a single country in the world where there is not at least one Christian community). Therefore, having seen an unusual star in the sky, the Magi went to Jerusalem, came straight to the palace of the then reigning King Herod and asked him where, in fact, they could see the newly born King of the Jews. Although they were wise men, they could not imagine that the future King, in their opinion, was born not in a palace, but in a stable.

King Herod did not know where Jesus was, and was extremely alarmed by the news of the eastern sages. After all, once a new Tsar has been born, the old one seems to be of no use. He was a very cruel and suspicious ruler, it is no coincidence that his name became a household name. However, Herod did not show his alarm to the wise men; he politely escorted them out of the palace and asked, if they found the newborn King, to tell him His whereabouts.

The star led the wise men to the Bethlehem house, where they “saw the Child with Mary His Mother, and fell down and worshiped Him; and having opened their treasures, they brought Him gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh” (Matthew 2:9-11). Frankincense and myrrh are incense that were very expensive back then.

Having bowed to Christ, the Magi “...having received a revelation in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country another way” (Matthew 2:12), that is, they did not reveal to Herod the secret of the Savior’s whereabouts. “Then Herod, seeing himself ridiculed by the Magi, became very angry, and sent to kill all the infants in Bethlehem and throughout its borders, from two years old and below, according to the time that he found out from the Magi,” says the Evangelist Matthew.

The cruel king, fearing competition for the throne and not finding the One who, as everyone thought, should take it, ordered the killing of all the babies in Bethlehem. However, Jesus was no longer in the city at that moment.

An angel appeared to Joseph and said: “Get up, take the Child and His Mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod wants to look for the Child in order to destroy Him” (Matthew 2:13).

The Holy Family remained in Egypt until King Herod died. Returning, Jesus, the Mother of God and Joseph settled in Nazareth.

From there the Savior's Way of the Cross began. And from the Nativity of Christ a new era of humanity began - our era.

Compiled based on materials from the Orthodox website “Easter.ru”

The snow falls evenly on the ground... A frosty starry night...

It seems that the sky has become closer. All nature falls into sleep, and a light of hope lights up in the heart that the world around us will become better.

Every time we cross the threshold of the New Year, our souls become especially warm, because in a few days the Christmas holiday will come!

Christmas is an amazing time when the heart is filled with the expectation of a miracle... And this miracle happens!..

“Christ is born, praise!” - rushes over the Universe, - “Christ from heaven, meet me!” — the whole world sings the glory of the Creator. Angelic powers and the human race together glorify Him whose love has no boundaries. And that’s probably why Christmas is called “Winter Easter.”

Each of us tries to spend this day differently than any other: to give kindness and love to a loved one, to become better, and most importantly, closer to God.

Peace and joy to everyone on the bright holiday of the Nativity of Christ!

And here are Christmas cards from pre-revolutionary Russia:

We call the last two millennia our era, and this time is counted from the Nativity of Christ. Nowadays, Orthodox Christmas has the status of a public holiday in Russia. What and how to tell children about this day, its meaning and traditions? On this topic, on the eve of the holiday, we talked with Anastasia Abramova, managing partner and leading specialist of the Center for Children and Parents “Rozhdestvo”, PhD in Cultural Studies.

When to introduce children to Christmas

If this bright day is celebrated in your home, in your family, then the baby will know about it from early childhood. There is no need to specifically seat the child at the table with the words: “Listen carefully, now I will tell you about Christmas.” When the baby grows up, parents can look through the illustrations in the children's Bible with him, read poems, remember songs on a Christmas theme - Christoslavia: all this creates children's first impressions and knowledge about Christmas.

Christmas comes into the world of the smallest child through visual images. In the home interior, stars and angels appear, a Christmas icon, a small model of the Nativity cave - a nativity scene, mom and dad are preparing and packing gifts, the holiday tree is crowned with a bright star, the prototype of which was the Star of Bethlehem. This is how the child gets his first ideas about the holiday.

If you are preparing for the Nativity of Christ with children 3-4 years old, then invite them to listen to the word itself: what is Christmas? Christmas means "birthday". Who was born on this day? Why is this birthday celebrated all over the world? And here we need to tell you that on this day God, the Creator of heaven, people and the whole earth, comes into the world as a Baby, is born to the Mother - the Virgin Mary. That is why we call Her the Mother of God - She Who gave birth to God. You can look at the icons of the Nativity together, show the children where the Mother of God is depicted on them, where the Infant Christ is, why there is a radiance around him.

When a child reaches 4 years of age, he is already able to think more systematically, and you can talk to him, answering important questions: who is the Savior? Why did He come to our world? What does He save from? How long did people wait for Him? How did this happen? And here good texts created specifically for children’s perception of the Sacred History can help parents. For example, Maya Kucherskaya’s book, “The Bible for Children,” specially addressed to the little ones. Gospel stories." It tells about the Nativity of Christ in a very simple and accessible language.

Christmas in art

An excellent addition to your story about a bright holiday will be the ones you can turn to with your child. Many Russian poets spoke about Christmas in their poems: Sasha Cherny, Boris Pasternak, Afanasy Fet and other lyricists of the 19th and 20th centuries. Several publishers have already done the work for parents to find such texts: look for them in bookstores in special Christmas series. For example, the “Christmas Gift” series from the Nikaia publishing house.

If we talk about fine arts, then the most necessary and striking thing that you should introduce your child to is Orthodox icon painting. There are many icon paintings related to Christmas. Look at them together with your child and tell him about the shepherds, the wise men, the Virgin Mary and Joseph, the Star of Bethlehem, which foreshadowed the birth of Christ.

You can follow the history of Christmas in Russian painting, for example, Viktor Vasnetsov, Ilya Repin, Grigory Gagarin and others have Christmas stories.

Catholic and Orthodox Christmas

If your family celebrates Orthodox Christmas every year on January 7, then your child won’t even question why in other countries it is celebrated earlier - on December 25. He understands: this is how it is in our family and country. You can tell him that different countries have different customs, without delving into the difference between the Julian and Gregorian calendars.

Christmas presents

Gifts for Christmas, as a memory of the gifts that the Magi brought to the newborn Jesus, are received not only by the child, but also by all relatives living with him in the same house. If you want to not only tell your child about Christmas, but also instill a special attitude towards this holiday, it is better to save the most important and expected gift and put it under the tree on the night of January 7th. And the child will receive sweets and toys in any case: in kindergarten, in developmental classes, from family friends, from mom and dad. But the most desirable thing for every family member is Christmas.

Whether these gifts should be anonymous or given personally and ceremoniously is up to each family to decide. Some families say that these are gifts from, because initially it was the “Christmas grandfather”; he became a New Year’s guest already in the Soviet era of the twentieth century. He is a kind giver who knows everyone's wishes and comes to wish you a Merry Christmas. In other families, gifts are given to each other, beautifully wrapped the day before, and this is also part of the Christmas culture that you can tell your child about. Children can prepare gifts for loved ones with their own hands, for example, beautiful cards, wax candles, and stars decorated with sparkles.

Christmas and Mercy

It has long been customary to show mercy at Christmas. And any parent would certainly like to see the habit of doing good - not only on Christmas, but on all other days - in their children. And you don’t have to go far for such things. Often, when it comes to acts of mercy and compassion, parents think: they need to offer their child to feed the birds in the park, go to an orphanage, and so on. This is actually good. But deeds of love begin with loved ones, with family, with caring for her. If a child is not used to putting away his toys, if he is not kind to his mother, does not see how he can take care of his sick sister, give delicious tea to his tired dad after work, if he does not find a kind word or deed for his family, but at the same time he closely watches behind the feeders in the park, something is wrong here. And it is very important to explain to the baby that love and care for loved ones and relatives must be shown constantly, and not just on a special, holiday day. And one more thing - that human warmth is noticeable every day in the smallest things: “Mom said a kind word to me,” “Vasya gave me his dry mittens in kindergarten”... It’s good when a child learns to notice manifestations of care and love in life and shows them himself towards loved ones.

The star, the fur bear, the goat, the bear, Herod, and the three kings are perhaps the most vivid and memorable characters of the traditional Christmas holidays. In the old days, not a single Christmas celebration was complete without these mummers. Even today, groups of adults and children, going caroling on January 6 and 7, are happy to try on these colorful costumes. They also make sure to learn carols and schedrovki - funny songs that are an integral part of the ancient ritual for Christmas and January 13 for the Old New Year. From our article today you will learn how to carol and be generous correctly, what to say, and also find the words of the most popular and beautiful songs and traditional poems.

How and when to carol correctly on January 6-7 for Christmas and Old New Year

It is no secret that for many decades religious traditions in our country were banned. But, despite this, most of them, including schedrovkas with carols, have survived to this day almost in their original form. True, not all modern children and adults are familiar with them. For example, the question of how and when to carol and give generously - on January 6-7 for Christmas or for the Old New Year - remains one of the most pressing. In fact, in different regions of our country and neighboring countries, the time of day and night when caroling and giving may vary. This is due to local traditions and folk customs. However, the dates and holidays when you can carol and give generously are common to everyone. Therefore, so that the question of when and how to carol/generate correctly - on Christmas (January 6-7) or on the Old New Year (January 13-14) no longer arises, remember:

January 6 - caroling
January 7 - Christmas
January 13 - generous
January 14 - sowing

When can you carol and be generous?

In most regions, caroling, rather than generosity, begins on the evening of the 6th after the first star appears in the sky. The mummers go from house to house, sing songs glorifying the birth of the Savior, and wish the owners well-being and prosperity. In return, the mummers receive sweet treats and cash rewards for their songs. On the morning of January 7, girls and children celebrate Christmas - they sing ritual songs about the birth of Jesus Christ. Unlike carolers, they do not dress up in costumes, except folk ones, and not songs about Kolyada. On the night of the Old New Year, young boys and girls go to give generously and sing. They also sing songs about prosperity in the coming year (shchedrovki) and receive treats for their efforts. And on the morning of January 14, it is customary not to be generous, but to sow - to go from house to house and generously sprinkle the owners with grain and coins. This ritual is accompanied by special verses and symbolizes prosperity and a rich harvest in the new year. Traditionally, men do the sowing, as well as the generosity, since it is believed that the man who is the first to cross the threshold of his master’s house in the new year brings good luck. This is exactly what the main moments look like on those holidays when you can be generous with poems and songs.

How to carol correctly at Christmas and what should you say?

The idea of how to carol (generously) correctly at Christmas and what should be said to the owners can vary greatly depending on the specific region and local customs. But there are also a number of common traditions that are typical for Christmas caroling/generosity outside of local customs. For example, carolers must go from house to house in groups of at least 3 people. The most important caroler is the star. Traditionally, the most vocal member of the group, who knows carols, schedrovkas and Christmas poems, is appointed as the star. In addition to the fact that he plays the role of the main lead singer, he is also entrusted with another honorable mission - wearing a star. The star symbolizes the good sign of the birth of Jesus and announces his appearance in this world. In addition to the star, among the carolers there must be a bell ringer and a bell bearer. The first carries a large bell and thereby notifies the owners that mummers are approaching their yard. Mekhonosha, in turn, carries a large beautiful bag for gifts - sweets and money that people give to the singers.

What to say to carolers, what words and poems

Before starting poems and songs, according to tradition, carolers must ask the owners of the house for permission to carol. In the old days, refusing mummers at Christmas was considered unacceptable, but today many can easily refuse carolers. Therefore, it would be most correct to ask permission first with a simple phrase: “Good evening! Can I sing carols?" After the owners' approval, you can start caroling - singing songs and reading traditional short poems. At the end of the performance, the hosts present the singers with gifts, and they, in turn, thank the hosts for their generosity with good wishes for peace and prosperity. Now that you know how to carol correctly at Christmas and what to say (poems, songs), be sure to put your knowledge into practice on January 6th.

Kolyada, Kolyada

Open the gates

Get out the chests

Serve the snouts.

Even if you chop

Even a nickel

Let's not leave home like that!

Give us some candy

Or maybe a coin

Don't regret anything

It's Christmas Eve!

The sparrow flies

Twirls his tail,

And you people know

Cover the tables

Receive guests

Happy Christmas!

Hello, treats

Please accept congratulations!

You will live together for up to two hundred years!

I wish you happiness and good health!

Merry Christmas,

Happy New Year!

Ding-ding-ding, the bells are ringing!

Sons and daughters have come to you!

You meet carolers,

Greet us with a smile!

Kolyada-molyada

She arrived young.

We found a carol

In Ivan's yard!

Hey, Uncle Ivan,

Take the good stuff out into the yard!

How cold it is outside

Freezes nose

Doesn't tell me to stand for long

He orders it to be served soon,

Or a warm pie

Or money with a spear,

Or a silver ruble!

Traditional songs and poems for those who are going to carol at Christmas

According to tradition, mainly children and young people gather to carol at Christmas with songs and poems. Adults can also accompany a group of carolers and participate in the process of caroling, for example, portraying various characters. Depending on the region, the texts of Christmas songs and poems differ, but there are also traditional versions that are always relevant. These are the so-called folk poems and carols, in which there is a mention of Kolyada - the pagan goddess of fertility. It was to her that our ancestors dedicated their songs on the New Year holiday. Later, this pagan holiday was combined with Christian Christmas, which led to the appearance of the so-called “church” carols - folk songs and poems about the birth of Jesus Christ. Next, you will find options for traditional songs and poems for those who are going to carol for Christmas 2017 and the Old New Year. With their help, both children and adults can carol.

Kolyada, Kolyada!

And sometimes Kolyada

On the eve of Christmas.

Kolyada has arrived

Christmas brought.

Kolyada-kolyada

Christmas Eve

Even a ruble, even a nickel -

We won't just leave!

Today an Angel came down to us

And he sang: “Christ is born!”

We came to glorify Christ

And congratulate you on the holiday!

Here we go, shepherds,

All our sins are forgiven,

We bring you good news,

We won’t leave without gifts!

Carols, carols, carols,

Pancakes are good with honey,

And without honey it’s not the same,

Give me some pies, aunt (or uncle)!

Merry Christmas to you, people!

May you have peace and harmony,

So that you don't know grief

And they were rich!

Kolyada - molyada

I entered a new gate!

And behind it comes the frost

It has grown over the tyn!

He brought cold

So, grandfather Arkhip

Became young!

The frost is small

Yes, he doesn’t tell me to stand!

The frost does not tell me to stand,

It's time for us to carol.

Tyapu-lyapu,

Hurry up and give me a carol!

Feet are chilly

I'll run home.

Who will give

He is the prince

Who won't give -

Togo in the dirt!

Kalidim, Kalidim I am alone with my dad,

My dad sent me

So that I can get bread.

I don’t want bread, give me some sausage,

If you don't give me the sausage, I'll destroy the whole house.

Kolyadin, Kolyadin,

I'm alone with my mother,

Knee-deep casing,

Give me some pie, uncle!

Open the chest

Give me a penny!

What is in the oven - swords in the bag!

Here comes mother - winter has come,

Open the gate!

Christmas time has arrived!

The carols have arrived!

Kolyada arrived on the eve of Christmas.

God bless whoever is in this house.

We wish good things to all people:

Gold, silver,

Lush pies,

Soft pancakes

Good health,

Cow butter.

How many aspens,

So many pigs for you;

How many Christmas trees

So many cows;

How many candles

So many sheep.

Good luck to you,

The owner and the hostess

Great health,

Happy New Year,

With all the family!

Kolyada, Kolyada!

A carol came

On the eve of Christmas.

Who will give me some pie?

So the barn is full of cattle,

Ovin with oats,

A stallion with a tail.

You will give us -

We will praise

And you won’t give -

We will reproach!

Kolyada, Kolyada!

Serve the pie!

How to carol at Christmas correctly - options for traditional costumes

To carol correctly at Christmas, you need not only to know songs and poems, but also be sure to dress in traditional costumes for this ritual, of which there are quite a few options. What is noteworthy is that most carol costumes do not require any special material costs and are very easy to make. However, like the characters themselves, in which adults and children are traditionally reincarnated on January 6 and 7 for Christmas and the Old New Year. The most popular among them are the following images: goat, bear, gypsy, angel, horse, devil. The most current and simplest costume options include masks - homemade or purchased, symbolizing different characters and animals. For example, it is very easy to make a goat costume from a dark sheepskin coat and a horned mask. A memorable and simple image of a gypsy can also be easily achieved with the help of a long skirt, bright jewelry and a colorful scarf. Believe me, caroling and giving generously in this way will be very fun and correct. You will learn more about how to carol correctly, what you need to say while doing so, and which costumes are best to choose from the video below.

During the reign of Soviet power, the Russian people completely forgot about such a holiday as the Nativity of Christ. The ideology of a godless life was imposed on people, thereby eradicating spirituality, morality, faith and hope from their hearts.

With the advent of perestroika, our country gradually began to recover from a long mental illness, and people started talking about Christmas. Someone, celebrating this holiday, pays tribute to fashion, someone rejoices at the next opportunity to sit at a set table, and very few truly remember the birth of Christ.

Nativity icon

There are few family Christmas traditions in Russia - there are almost none. Perhaps this is why our children know so little about this holiday: what its essence is, who its main characters are, why this day is so important for all Christians. What should you tell your child about this holiday, which is the greatest in the whole world and has been forgotten for so long by the Russian people?

Name

It is difficult for a child to find any explanation for the very name of the holiday. Parents must explain to the child what meaning is hidden behind the mysterious name: “Christmas.” After all, in order to enjoy this day, you need to know what its essence is.

Perhaps it will help you to compare this day with your child's birthday. Remind your child of his last name day and ask if he knows why everyone congratulates him. The child will probably answer that he was born on this day. Then you can begin to explain the essence of Christmas - the birth of someone very important, whom the whole world reveres.

history of the holiday

It is very important to tell your baby a story describing the birth of the Baby. This is the main thing that both adults and children celebrating Christmas should know - this is where the holiday begins. You can read the story of Christmas from the children's Bible, as well as from the Gospels of Matthew and Luke.

To make it interesting for your child, find pictures with Christmas scenes in books, magazines, or print them from the Internet. Show the images to your baby and tell the wonderful story of the Savior Christ coming into the world. Here are the highlights of Christmas that you can reveal to your child:

The coming of the Messiah, which means “savior,” was announced by various biblical prophets hundreds of years before His birth.
People needed Christ because they could not get rid of their sins on their own. Only the Messiah could save people from their sins.
Jesus' mother was a humble young girl who loved God and obeyed Him. Her name was Maria.
An angel told Mary that she would give birth to the Son of God.
Mary and her husband Joseph were in the city of Bethlehem for the census. They did not find a free hotel there to spend the night, and settled in a stable.
The time came for Mary to give birth and she, swaddling her, put Jesus in a manger (feeding trough for livestock).
There is a hidden meaning in the fact that Christ was born in a stable: the Messiah came not only for the rich, but also for simple, poor people. Everyone can equally receive forgiveness of sins.
Ordinary people learned about the birth of the Messiah - shepherds in the field, tending their flock at night. God Himself announced this to them through an Angel. He spoke about the joy that would come to all people because the Savior was born. He told them where they could find the Child to worship Him.
The shepherds saw a choir of Angels praising God: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men!” Then they went to Bethlehem to Jesus and joyfully told Mary and Joseph what the Angels had told them about their Child.
God announced the birth of Jesus both to the poor shepherds and to the great wise men - the Magi. They saw a new star in the sky and realized that this was a sign: the ancient prophecy about the birth of the Messiah had come true.
The wise men came to worship Jesus and brought Him gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh. Theologians explain why these particular gifts were presented by the Magi. Little Christ received gold as a King, incense - as God and Priest, myrrh - as a man who was about to die (this was the further prophecy about the Messiah).
The purpose of the birth of Christ on earth is to give every person the opportunity to come to God. After the Messiah came to earth and died for the sin of people, there is no longer a need to make sacrifices to please the Lord. The Almighty only needs an open, repentant heart of a person.

Let's take, for example, our chronology. Be sure to tell your child that it dates back to the Nativity of Christ. The expression “1985 from the Nativity of Christ” will be much clearer to your child if you explain it to him in the context of the Christmas story.

Why is the youngest group in kindergarten called “nursery”? Ask your child about this after sharing the story of Baby Jesus. The newborn Christ was placed in a manger - a feeding trough for livestock, which is why today we call the kindergarten group that way.

Where did the tradition of hanging a star on the top of the New Year tree come from? Remember the story of the Magi, who, upon seeing a new star, realized that the Savior of the world had been born. And isn’t it about the gifts of these wise men brought to little Jesus that we can remember when we put gifts for our family and friends under the tree?

Show your children Christmas in everyday things that happen in your life.

So that everyone talks about Christmas

There are funny souvenirs that depict the holy family in a stable, the worship of the Magi, shepherds in the field seeing a star. Show them to your child in a store window, buy such a Christmas symbol to put in a prominent place in the house.

Choose Christmas music. It is intended for both adults and children. By turning it on, you will create a special holiday atmosphere.

Also find a Christmas video. These could be children's films, cartoons, fairy tales that take place at Christmas. There are now many cartoons that tell directly about the story of the coming of Jesus Christ into the world.

Play a children's audio Bible with the story of the birth of the Messiah for your child. The child’s idea of the holiday and its feeling will be more complete, the more varied the information about the events that took place on this day.

Photos of Christmas from different countries will help your child imagine how this holiday is celebrated by peoples all over the world.

Start celebrating Christmas with your family

To make the Christmas holiday memorable for your children for a long time and remind them of something good, joyful and warm, start celebrating this day with the whole family. To do this, you need to create family traditions, some of which you can borrow from others, and some of which you can invent yourself.

The center of all ceremonies at Christmas should be the idea of the manifestation of God's mercy to people: the Almighty loves us and therefore sent us His Son. It is important that everything reminds as much as possible of the essence of Christmas, otherwise your holiday will turn into a feast, of which there are many throughout the year.

Decorate the room in which you will celebrate the holiday with Christmas attributes: angels, nativity scene, candles. If there is no star on your tree, cut it out of foil and hang it in a visible place. You can place a picture of Mary, Joseph and Jesus on a bed of hay to signify that this family was in a stable.

If you were in Europe before Christmas, you probably have some interesting souvenirs on the theme of the birth of the Messiah. If there are none, make some of them yourself. Weave angels from wire and beads, and make figures of the Holy Family from cardboard. Your little one most likely has small rubber or plastic animals in their arsenal. They can also take part in the festive decorations - after all, domestic animals lived in the barn where Jesus was born.

Learn simple Christmas songs and rhymes with your children. Include them in the program. After reading the story of Christmas from the Bible, you can create a quiz for your family using simple questions. Don't forget to stock up on prizes for players, because Christmas is a holiday of gifts, the most important of which is God's gift to people - the Savior Jesus.

Play the game “What Do I Know About Christmas.” In a circle, everyone should say one fact that they know about the birth of Christ. The one who, in turn, could not name anything, leaves the game. The last remaining participant is the winner.

Ask each person in the family what changes they expect next Christmas. Record your answers on video, and in a year you will be very interested to know what dreams of your loved ones came true.

If you have a grandmother, ask her to talk about her childhood, how her family celebrated Christmas, and what she especially liked about this day.

Don’t forget to pay attention to your loved ones living nearby on this day: treat them to a fragrant pie, give them a gift. Tell your child how he can do good for his friends: put treats in a bag and let the child hand them out on the playground. If you know someone in need, Christmas is a good opportunity to help them in any way you can. Create a holiday for your neighbor, and you will feel how magical this day will be for you! Merry Christmas!

Name of the holiday

History of the origin of the holiday

Be sure to tell your child that it dates back to the Nativity of Christ. The expression “1985 from the Nativity of Christ” will be much clearer to your child if you explain it to him in the context of the Christmas story.

How to celebrate Christmas as a family

Decorate the room in which you will celebrate the holiday with Christmas attributes: angels, nativity scene, candles.

Ask each person in the family what changes they expect next Christmas. Record your answers on video, and in a year you will be very interested to know what dreams of your loved ones came true.

Telling a child about the Nativity of Christ

The Virgin Mary and her husband, Joseph the Betrothed, lived in the town of Nazareth (it still exists in Israel). Because of the census of the Roman Empire, which took place under Emperor Augustus, they went to Bethlehem. According to the emperor's decree, to facilitate the census, every resident of the empire had to come “to his city.” Since both Mary and Joseph were distant descendants of King David, they headed to Bethlehem. Since it was in this city that David was born - one of the greatest rulers of Israel, from whose family, according to the promise, that is, the promise of God, the Messiah was supposed to come. Bethlehem is located literally a couple of kilometers from Jerusalem (now in the Palestinian Authority, in the West Bank), but it is quite far from Nazareth - about 170 kilometers. It is difficult to imagine how much work it took for the Virgin Mary to overcome such a long distance in the last month of pregnancy.

The Holy Family remained in Egypt until King Herod died. Returning, Jesus, the Mother of God and Joseph settled in Nazareth.

From there the Savior's Way of the Cross began. And from the Nativity of Christ a new era of humanity began - our era.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

PEACE, KINDNESS, HAPPINESS AND LOVE TO YOUR FAMILY!