Christmas
Description:
Orthodox Christmas
On January 6-7, about one million Orthodox Christians in Kyrgyzstan, as well as around the world.
They celebrate Christmas. Christmas services are held in all churches of the republic. In the Resurrection Cathedral of Bishkek, according to tradition, the Metropolitan of Bishkek and Central Asia congratulates all believers on Christmas. The day before the holiday, January 5, the Holy Days end. The post is cancelled on Wednesday and Friday.
Orthodox Christmas has always been celebrated in Kyrgyzstan as well as in other countries. The evening before Christmas and Epiphany is popularly called Christmas Eve - for a special meal - sochiva, which was supposed to be put on the table in these evenings. For sochiva, wheat or rice grains were well boiled and watered with honey or sugar syrup. This meal ended the fast. On Christmas Eve it was customary not to eat until the first star appeared in the sky in memory of the Eastern tradition, according to which the new day begins not when people woke up, and not at midnight, but as soon as the sun of the previous day set.
On Christmas days it was customary to go home with a star and glorify Christ - carol. There were special songs-carols, with which young people and children went home and for carols they were treated everywhere. Usually, those who caroled changed clothes so that they were not recognized.
The time between Christmas and Epiphany was called Christmas Day, and the evening before Christmas was called Holy Evening. These days, folk festivities, riding from the mountains, horse riding were arranged.
In Orthodox churches, festive services begin already on Christmas Eve - with the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom. The all-night vigil consists of the great vigil, lithium, matins and the first hour. The main service is held in Moscow, the faithful are blessed by His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.
In the post-Soviet space, January 7 is a non-working day in addition to Kyrgyzstan also in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Georgia. And in Armenia, January 6 is considered a holiday – it is on this day that the Apostolic Armenian Church celebrates Christmas.