*Christmas*

Christmas-

one of the main Christian holidays,

established in honor of the birth on Jesus Christ's flesh from Virgin

Mary.

It is celebrated on December

25. The Russian Orthodox

Church and other churches using a Julian

calendar, celebrate on

January 7 on a Gregorian

calendar (in the XX—XXI

centuries).

In Orthodoxy enters

into number

of dvunades

yaty holidays and is

preceded by the

Christmas post.

History of emergence of a

holiday

In Christian church since the end of the II century up

to the IV century of an event of Christmas were

remembered in day of the Epiphany, on January 6.

About 200 Kliment Aleksandriysky mentions such practice. The first

messages on emergence of a separate holiday of

Christmas and its celebration belong on

December 25 to the middle of the IV century.

Possibly, it was caused by aspiration of Christian church

to force out a widespread cult in

the Roman Empire of the Invincible Sun, whose birth noted on December 25

Celebration dates in various churches

The Catholic church and the majorit

y of Protest

ant churche

s celebrat

e on December 25 on

a modern Gregori

an calenda

r.

The Russian, Jerusalem, Serbian, Georgian orthodox churches

and Athos, and also

drevnevostochny and

East Catholic churches

celebrate on December

25 on a Julian

calendar (so-called to

"old style") that

corresponds on January 7

a modern Gregorian calendar

Constantinople (except Athos),

Antioch, Alexandria, Cyprian, Bulgarian, Romanian, Elladsky

and some other orthodox churches

celebrate on December 25 on a new Julian calendar which till March 1, 2800 will coincide with a Gregorian

calendar, that is at the same time with

other Christian faiths celebrating

Christmas on "new style".

In the Armenian Christmas

church as in ancient

Church, it is celebrated

on January 6 in one day with the

Dominical Epiphany under the general

name of the Epiphany.

Winter solsticeDay of a winter solstice took an

important place in culture and religion of many ancient people, beginning, at least, with a neolith era. It

the remained archaeological

monuments, such as, for example, prove the Stonehendge in

England and Nyyugreyndzh in

Ireland. In this or that form this day was celebrated in the majority of known cultures, including

Slavs have (Christmas carol). The religious holiday was usually connected with the

moment of end of the period of reduction of

day of "the birth of god of the sun".

It was celebrated by representatives of many religions:

the German pagans (under the name of Yol), admirers of a cult of the Mitre, etc. In the Roman Empire of times of early Christianity also there was a similar holiday — birthday of the Invincible Sun

(armor. Dies natalis Solis Invicti).

According to the decision of fathers of Christian Church it was decided to celebrate this day

and Christmas

The first mention on December 25 as

dates of Christmas contains in the

Roman almanac of the middle of the IV century. On the first place in the list of

bishops and martyrs it is specified: On

December 25 — the Christ from

Bethlehem of Judaic (natus Christus in

Betleem Judeae)[14] was born.

Date of celebration of the Lady day is

attached to date of Christmas also: in 9

months prior to Christmas — on

March 25.

However, such communication is traced

not always: in an amvrosiansky ceremony the last (sixth) revival

Adventa, in Moscow Arab — is devoted on December 18 to

reminiscence of the Lady day