Catholic Christmas
Description:
December 21 is a special evening when you can say goodbye to all the misfortunes of the past year. According to ancient customs, the owners around the house drag a log and then burn it. It was believed that, together with him, they burn all their troubles, sorrows and tears, drive away evil spirits from their home.
In houses and on the streets appear festively decorated Christmas trees, glowing garlands, Christmas wreaths.
 |
Christmas holidays are marked by a combination of church and folk customs. In Latvia, the custom of walking around the houses of children and young people in masks and animal hides with songs and good wishes, similar to caroling in Russia, is well known. In response, young people receive gifts: sausage, fried chestnuts, fruits, eggs, cakes, sweets. Now this custom has taken a more European form and began to take place in the form of a masquerade show. In the evening, a big concert begins on the main streets.
Lights are lit on houses, shop windows, streets, and the city increasingly reminds us of a fairy tale. We can rightly say that these days the cities look like never in the year. And despite the fact that it is usually sub-zero temperatures in Latvia at Christmas, citizens are happy to walk through the streets and shops.
At this time, shop windows are full of offers of holiday discounts and since in Latvia it is customary to give gifts for Christmas not only to children but also to adults, the demand for goods is high.
If for the average resident of Latvia it is rather a secular holiday, for believers, this day is undoubtedly one of the most important holidays of the year. At Christmas in Catholic churches from the XIII century. arranged small niches, which depicted scenes from the legend of the birth of Christ with the help of figures of wood, porcelain, painted clay. They stand until the candle festival, which falls on February 2.