Christmas is the time of year we all look forward to the most. We eagerly await it during Advent, count down the days until we can decorate the Christmas tree, and sit down to Christmas Eve dinner in a festive mood. December is the month for baking gingerbread cookies, decorating the house, and creating beautiful wreaths—whether artificial or real. Children eagerly await Santa Claus and the first star. It is truly a magical time. These are extraordinary annual rituals that even adults look forward to, smiling to themselves at the thought of this wonderful time spent with family. Find out which Christmas symbols are the most beautiful and beloved!
Christmas Eve and a Lavishly Set Table
One of the oldest symbols of Christmas is the Christmas Eve dinner, which takes place on the evening before Christmas. It’s a special moment when the whole family gathers together at the same time for a meal. It usually begins with the appearance of the first star and a reading from the Holy Scriptures. On Christmas Eve, before dinner begins, one should abstain from overeating. In addition, there is a strict fast from meat. For this reason, you won’t find any meat dishes on the Christmas Eve table.
When setting the table for Christmas Eve, a little hay or straw is placed under the tablecloth as a reminder that Jesus was born in a stable and lay in a manger on a rather uncomfortable surface. When setting the table, remember to leave an extra place setting for an unannounced guest. This extra place at this special time symbolizes remembrance of all those who were once with us but cannot spend this year’s holidays with their families.
As for the number of dishes, many families still follow the tradition that there should be as many as 12 courses on the table—one for each of the apostles who were with Jesus. Sometimes this number is reduced to 7. And what is served on Christmas Eve? The most popular dishes include: mushroom soup or fish soup, borscht with dumplings, mushrooms with cabbage, fried or boiled fish, noodles with poppy seeds, dumplings with mushrooms, kutia, or dried-fruit compote. The most important thing during the supper is to try a little of each dish. Even if it’s just a small amount, you must taste them. Specific ingredients in these meals have symbolic meaning. Namely: • poppy seeds symbolize wealth, prosperity, and descendants, • fish is a guarantee of health and prosperity—if it is carp, it symbolizes strength and abundance, • mushrooms are a symbol of abundance and happiness, • nuts symbolize fertility, mystery, and money, • honey is a symbol of happiness, love, and abundance.
Decorating the Christmas Tree
Another beautiful Christmas symbol in culture is the Christmas tree. The custom of decorating a tree became widespread in Germany and was later adopted by other European countries. About a hundred years ago, the Star of Bethlehem began to appear at the top of the Christmas tree. The Christmas tree is definitely one of the most beloved traditions. It is colorful, you can hang lights on it, and it looks wonderful both inside and outside homes. It symbolizes the tree of life and is also meant to remind us of God’s redemption of humanity. The lights symbolize the coming of the Lord Jesus into the world. The garland symbolizes the serpent that tempts. The ornaments are a sign of God’s grace, while the apples represent human sin. The gifts placed under the Christmas tree are a sign of kindness.
Sharing the Christmas wafer
One of the most wonderful symbols of Christmas is the sharing of the Christmas wafer. This marks the beginning of the Christmas Eve supper, immediately after the first star appears and a passage from the Holy Scriptures is read. It is a unique gesture that signifies mutual devotion and a deep desire to share with our loved ones what we have managed to achieve in our daily lives.
The Christmas wafer is also a symbol of forgiveness. In this way, people forgive one another’s wrongs and grievances. We reconcile with one another so that we may sit down to Christmas Eve dinner in joy and happiness. The purpose of the Christmas wafer is to bring people closer together.
Christmas Gifts Under the Tree
What’s beautiful about Christmas is the tradition of exchanging gifts with one another. Although until recently only children received gifts, this custom has now extended to adults as well. Under the Christmas tree, you can find real treasures that tempt you even before dinner.
Originally, the practice of giving gifts to children was linked to the veneration of St. Nicholas, the bishop of Bari, who lived in the 4th century. His generosity turned these acts into a tradition. We celebrate St. Nicholas Day on December 6, and many children receive gifts on this very day. Christmas gifts, on the other hand, we owe to Martin Luther, who urged Protestant communities to give children presents under the Christmas tree, which is associated with a gift from the Baby Jesus himself.
A festive carol-singing gathering with the family
After all the meals are finished, families gather to sing Christmas carols together. These are special songs that celebrate the coming of the Lord Jesus into the world. Our first native Christmas carol was written in 1424. It is titled “Hail, O Angelic King.” From the 15th century, we can highlight the carol “The Angel Spoke to the Shepherds.” The 17th and 18th centuries saw the greatest number of Christmas carols. They refer to the events of the night of Jesus’ birth, the atmosphere of the stable, the shepherds’ adoration, and many other elements of this special time of year. Christmas carols and pastorals have been known in our country for years; we sing them both in churches and at home. There are over 500 of them in our language.
There are many symbols of Christmas. It is the most beautiful and joyful time of the year. Everyone rejoices, looking forward to a time of rest and spending time with family. We love to decorate the Christmas tree, bake cookies, and attend the Midnight Mass, which takes place at midnight. This tradition commemorates the arrival of the shepherds in Bethlehem. They were the first to pay homage to Jesus.
However, Christmas isn’t just about Christmas Eve. The actual, festive celebrations take place the next day, December 25. December 26 is also a holiday, when we celebrate St. Stephen’s Day.
