Christmas in Macedonia

Macedonia, Greece, Bulgaria, part of Albania, Ukraine, Russia, Serbia&Montenegro, Romania and couple of others are teh orthodox christians countries in the world.

In the christianism there were two big centres in the world. Rome the capital of the Roman Empire, and Constantinopolis(Istambul) that was the capital of Byzantius. i was trying to get exact dates when the separation was done, but the only thing that i got to is that around 4th sentury.

but for the history lesson some other time. i wanted to discribe the customs for Christmas in my country.

Orthodox Christmas is one week after new year. the whole selebration starts 40 days before when the biggest beleivers start the life without meat, the last week id without oil too. they beleive that it is "sacriface" to God. but i think that is one of those universal rules.my opinion is that is it ment to clean the human body from all the toxins, calories, fat that we are putting during the year. maybe 2000 years before was sacrifice, but now is it "healthy rule". its like the 10 comandments. those are all values for life.

the actual selebration starts on 5th of January, at night, where neighbors, in every neighborhood are lighting up big fire in front of their house, building etc, and the God-Father(there is different one every year) of the neigborhood is prepairing a feast for the messangers, and bringing worm drinks. those people are Christ messangers that are announcing the birth of Isus Christ. after the dawn rises, those messangers(now only the kids do that) are going from door to door, in every biulding, singing songs, announcing that Christ will be born. and the people open their doors, and give them presents(fruits, candy, coin money). that is the day before Christ Born so-called Badnik.

During the day, one person from each family, gois to the church and light up candles for happyness and health for his family and friends, and listen to the priest delivering the holy ceremony. some people bring wine, bread and fish to the church. and its ussual to leave some money also to the church. then you go to the priest and get blessed. also pick up some of the sacret three that is blessed also. you put the three in places where you life, and spent time...office, home, car. you light up some of the three, in order the smoke from the three to chase off the evil spirits. and the table for christmas in being prepared. every member of the closest family is home. noone goes out or so. the table contains products that are not from animal, not even milk or cheese, ussualy fish, bread, and wine. every house has a pie that has a coin in it. on midnight, the head of the family(ussally the father) breaks the bread in pieces. there has to be a piece for every member present on the dinner, plus one for God and one for the home.

the one that gets the coin, will have really successful year, full with joy, happyness and love. then the feast can start, and things get back to normal. the dishes must stay until the morning on the table.

interesting, isnt it:)

D.