.. For all the Orthodox amoung us.

yep... Xronia Pola to all the Orthodox folk!

merry Christmas to you all!!

 

Just a question for info, how come Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on the 7th?

Decorations down! :bow:

Easter is also different most of the time... its to do with the calendars

 

 

The Orthodox calendar

 

After World War I various Orthodox churches, beginning with the Patriarchate of Constantinople, began to abandon the Julian calendar or Old Calendar, and adopt a form of the Gregorian calendar or New Calendar. The Julian calendar is, at the present time, thirteen days behind the Gregorian Calendar.

 

Today, many Orthodox churches (with the exception of Jerusalem, Russia, Serbia, and Mount Athos) use the New, Gregorian Calendar for fixed feasts and holy days but the Julian calendar for Easter and movable feasts. In this way all the Orthodox celebrate Easter together.

 

The Orthodox Church calendar begins on September 1st and ends on August 31st. Each day is sacred: each is a saint's day, so at least one saint is venerated daily.

 

Orthodox Christmas

 

Christmas is celebrated by Orthodox Christians in Central and Eastern Europe and throughout the world on the 7th of January in the Gregorian Calendar - 13 days after other Christians.

 

In the East, Christmas is preceded by a 40 day fast beginning on November 15th. This is a time of reflection, self-restraint and inner healing in the sacrament of confession.

 

Usually, on Christmas Eve, observant Orthodox Christians fast till late evening, until the first star appears. When the star is seen, people lay the table ready for the Christmas supper.

 

On Christmas Day people takes part in divine liturgy after which many walk in procession to seas, rivers and lakes. Everyone gathers around in the snow for outdoor ceremonies to bless the water. Sometimes rivers are frozen, so people make holes in the ice to bless the water. Some take water home to bless their houses. Then a great feast is held indoors where everyone joins in to eat, drink and enjoy themselves.

 

A Orthodox Russian custom is to serve Christmas cakes and to sing songs. The tradition is mixed with other pagan traditions of ancient Russia such that people may visit their neighbours in disguises, dance, sing and ask for presents, similar to trick-or-treating.

 

There are similarities, as well as differences, between the Eastern and Western celebration of Christmas. The Eastern Christmas has a very strong family and social appeal just as it does in the West. It brings people of all generations together to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

 

Unlike the West, where Christmas ranks supreme, in the East it is Easter, centred on the cross and the resurrection of Christ, which is the supreme festival of the year. Also, Eastern Orthodox Christmas lacks the commercial side that is so typical to the West.

Thanks for that Athene.

 

Hope everyone that celebrates tomorrow, has a wonderful time, its always interesting to know how other faiths celebrate.

It's always seemed strange to me, the people who profess to be Christians!(I'm not by the way)

It's always seemed strange to me, the people who profess to be Christians!(I'm not by the way)

 

 

How do you mean Dave?

all religion's are weird :rofl:

Religion = War

my sister and her family go to church on friday and work on sunday,first one with the anwser gets a free boost controller

my sister and her family go to church on friday and work on sunday,first one with the anwser gets a free boost controller

 

If not Jewish (and I guess not as you mention "church") then how about 7th day adventists?

 

Richard :confused:

If not Jewish (and I guess not as you mention "church") then how about 7th day adventists?

 

Richard :confused:

 

 

nah dont think so

 

The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Protestant Christian denomination which is distinguished mainly by its observance of Saturday, the "seventh day" of the week, as the Sabbath.

 

keep thinking...

hmmmmm....... Catholic faith Friday was traditionally a day of abstinence.

Easter is also different most of the time... its to do with the calendars.......................

 

Easter is the weekend following the first full moon after the Vernal Equinox (March 21st - 1st day of spring, day and night are equal length).

 

This year Easter falls on 21st March - as early as it can possibly be.

 

Easter is, like all other Christian festivals, Pagan in origin. More so in this case as the very name "Easter" comes from the Norse Pagan festival called Oester [sp?] celebrated on the first day of spring marking new beginnings or the birth of a new year. Hence the egg & chick - they signify the re-birth of said new year.

 

The god or godess "Oester" had the head of a hare, today represented by the Easter Bunny. Also homage was paid to the godess Diana (of the moon - hence the timing in relation to the full moon). The ancient symbol for Diana was an "X". The pagans marked this symbol on bread eaten during their Oester festivals many years BC; this was also "stolen" by the Christians and re-hashed as "hot cross buns"!!

 

Richard ;)

Felize Navidad! :D

In Israel Friday is the first day of the weekend, and Sunday is the first day of work

hmmmmm....... Catholic faith Friday was traditionally a day of abstinence.

 

Yes but they would still go to church on a Sunday...... :confused:

 

Is Friday not the Sabbath for Muslims as well?

In Israel Friday is the first day of the weekend, and Sunday is the first day of work

 

Sure is - hence I mentioned Jewish in my first guess...... ;)

Yes but they would still go to church on a Sunday...... :confused:

 

Is Friday not the Sabbath for Muslims as well?

 

 

meh I get so confused..... church is for hatches, matches & dispatches :D

meh I get so confused..... church is for hatches, matches & dispatches :D

 

I know - so do I........ ;)

 

Bloody religion :rofl:

 

Richard :cool:

my sister and her family go to church on friday and work on sunday,first one with the anwser gets a free boost controller

 

Answer ? :p

At least your not 7th day Hopist's... Red Dwarf fans of course will know what i mean ;)

my sister and her family go to church on friday and work on sunday,first one with the anwser gets a free boost controller

 

She works for tesco and has no choice :D

my sister and her family go to church on friday and work on sunday,first one with the anwser gets a free boost controller

your sister lives in dubai as your brother inlaw is the top man in the airport as you offered vinny an upgrade if he ever went there!

Can I get an AHMEN !!

 

To be honest although I'm Orthodox Christian I only did it so I could get another Christmas ;).

 

Now the saying "Christmas only comes once a year" is totally cr4pp for me now :).

 

Oh and I'm not sure if this makes any sense to anyone, but my wife got the coin again this year !. 3 bloody years in a row now !!!. I WANT THE COIN, I WANT THE COIN (said in an Eddie Murphy "Golden Child" Accent).