Christmas fast begins on November 28 andContinues until the appearance of the first star on January 6. These days it is impossible to show aggression, swear and scandal. Public joy is also considered a sin. And of course, at this time it is forbidden to eat certain foods. The Christmas post is not as strict as the Great, but restrictions on oneself to Orthodox Christians have to be pretty serious.
Why do I need a Christmas post?
What foods can not be eaten infast? What you can eat at this time, and what not, we'll talk about this a little later. To begin with, let's look at why the Christmas post is actually held and where this tradition came from.
Restriction in the intake of food in a certain periodtime is regarded by the church as one of the ways of spiritual purification. Many believers today also fast for this reason. However, some consider posts simply a good way to get rid of extra pounds and get better. How to treat hunger at this time, therefore, is a personal matter for everyone.
As the Christmas post continues smoothly40 days, in other words it is called the "Pentecost". The tradition of purification by banning the use of certain products at this time has been at least since the 4th century. Mention of Christmas fasting is found in the writings of St. Ambrose of Madilan, Leo the Great and Blessed Augustine.
A Christmas fast is held, as its name suggests, in order to be cleansed before the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ more than 2,000 years ago.
On what food there is a complete ban
So, what products are not worth buying in the post,what can you eat and what can not? From November 28 to January 6, it is strictly forbidden to eat primarily foods of animal origin. This means that the Christian will have to give up not only meat, but also milk, cheese, butter, eggs and all those dishes that contain these ingredients.
What can you eat in the fast to the day, and what can not
Until January 2, you can eat fish.But only after the church service, in the evening, on the weekends, on Tuesday or on Thursday. In addition to products of animal origin, Orthodox Christians at this time are forbidden to eat vegetable oil and almost all sweets. In the latter case, exceptions are nuts, honey and fruits. Vegetable oil, like fish, can be eaten in small quantities only on Saturday, Sunday, Thursday and Tuesday. Some indulgences believers receive on the church holidays that fall at this time. On such days you can eat fish.
Christmas Eve
January 6 is the day that endsChristmas post. What you can eat by the day we found out. On January 6, you can not eat anything except soaked wheat seeds, honey and fruits. It is advisable to not even eat anything at all until the first star rises.
By tradition by this time in every Orthodoxa table for 12 people must be set up for the family. However, it is still impossible to put fast food on him. Treats should be lean. Also on the table should put a bunch of hay. This attribute symbolizes the birth of Christ in the manger.
Who does not need to follow the fast
Some people in the church at this time are madesignificant indulgences. Not to fast from November, 28th till September, 6th it is possible for pregnant women and sick people. For baptized children, as for adults, food restrictions are mandatory. However, the church advises them to accustom their immature organism to the post gradually. And of course, the child should always explain why at this time he should not eat sweets or meat.
What you can eat
So, products of animal origin - this,which in no case can not eat in fasting. What can you eat while this is so that the body does not experience shortages in vitamins and other useful substances? The list of foods allowed to eat during fasting, despite the large number of prohibitions, is quite wide. You can eat all the vegetarian food. It can be fresh or canned vegetables, pasta, any porridge, fruit, mushrooms. It is allowed to eat and flour products. If desired, you can prepare for yourself and your family vareniki with potatoes or cabbage, and in the allowed to eat vegetable oil days to fry the patties. Of course, all meals can be eaten with bread. Exceptions to the Christmas post are flour products. Buns in butter should not be eaten.
Meat - this is something that you absolutely can not eat infast. What can you eat in this case, so that the body does not experience stress due to a sharp reduction in the diet of protein? Many believers during fasting replace meat products with soy. This is allowed by the church. You can also eat peas, beans and lentils. Of course, it is allowed to eat various types of greens: parsley, dill, onion, etc.
Church holidays in Christmas
Below is a list of those days in which, according to tradition, you can eat fish:
November 29 (St. Matthew's Day);
December 4 (Introduction to the Temple of the Virgin);
December 6 (St. Alexander Nevsky Day);
December 13 (St. Andrew's Day);
December 19 (The Day of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker).
By the way, you can eat fish on Christmas Eve on Mondays, Fridays and Wednesdays. But only during the night Vigil.
What can you eat in the post before Christmas to avoid health problems?
It was noticed by doctors that during the posts, in thatnumber and Rozhdestvensky, people are more often exacerbated chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The point here, of course, is not the harm of starvation itself. Exacerbations occur because of a sharp transition of the body to another diet. In general, in order to avoid problems with the stomach and intestines, even from the meat it is desirable to give up gradually. Reduce its amount in the diet should start some time before fasting. In the period of fasting people who have problems with the gastrointestinal tract, there are, as already mentioned, more than allowed products containing protein.
Is it possible to depart from the post on New Year's Eve?
So, what can you eat in the Christmas post, andwhich is impossible, we have found out. Forbidden mainly meat products. Meanwhile, it is at this time, and the main secular holiday of the year with its raznosolami and unrestrained fun. Sincerely believing Orthodox, the church recommends not eating any prohibited products on this day. At the same time, one can not condemn his relatives for the violent, often public expression of joy and the absorption of a huge number of dishes from meat. To save the world in a family where there are both believers and unbelievers, we need to put both fast and fast dishes on the New Year's table.
Recipe
Next, let's see what you can eat in the postspecifically. In particular, we'll figure out how to make a delicious potato salad with mushrooms. For this dish, you need a salted cucumber in the amount of 150 grams and 80 grams of sauerkraut. The potato itself needs to be cooked 200 g, mushrooms - fresh, salted or pickled - 100 g. All the ingredients must be cut and mixed thoroughly. If desired, add greens. To ensure that the salad is not too dry, you can fill it with lean sauce. The latter is made from vegetable oil, apple cider vinegar, sugar. In the dressing, you need to add a little salt and pepper.
Well, now you know what you can eat inChristmas post, and that is impossible. Fast food is not worth it. But as you can see, even very tasty dishes can be prepared from approved foods.
