If an Italian celebrates Christmas with a woman. Christmas holidays in Italy. New Year in Italy: interesting facts

Christmas and New Year are approaching. However, not all European countries celebrate these holidays widely and cheerfully. I have verified from my own experience that the New Year holiday simply does not exist in Malta, and Christmas in Bulgaria is a quiet family holiday that does not go beyond homes.

Italy is partying to the fullest! There are many Christmas holidays in this country, they are a vibrant mixture of pagan, Christian and secular traditions. "Buon Natale!" - this is how they wish each other Merry Christmas in Italy. But more often it sounds: “Buone Feste!”, that is, congratulations on all the holidays at once.

The festive mood and decorations come to Italian cities very early; this year, Christmas markets opened everywhere on November 26th. I invite you to take a photo walk around the holiday; the other day we visited the streets of the city already decorated for the holiday.

In Italy, preparations for Christmas and decoration of houses begin on December 8, the day of the religious holiday - the Day of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary. It is on this day that the Christmas tree at home is supposed to be decorated. The first Christmas tree in Italy appeared at the end of the nineteenth century. Then the wife of King Umberto I installed a decorated New Year's tree on the Quirinal, one of the hills of Rome.

Traditionally, the doors of Italian houses are decorated for Christmas with a wreath of fir branches with red berries, which is wrapped in red ribbons. It is believed that such a wreath drives away evil spirits from the home.

After December 8, presepios (nativity scenes) appear in homes, churches and just on the streets of Italy - sculptural compositions depicting the scene of the birth of Jesus. A nativity scene is an image of a cave, in it there is a stable and figures of the baby Jesus, the Virgin Mary and Joseph. An Italian nativity scene may also contain figures of shepherds, wise men, angels, as well as animals - bulls, donkeys, goats and sheep. Sometimes the figurine of baby Jesus is added to the composition only on December 25th. In the Bolognese Presepio you can sometimes see 2 more characters: Meraviglia - a woman frozen in surprise before the scene of the birth of Christ, and Dormiglione - a sleeping man who slept through the miraculous birth of a baby.

The first known Italian presepio is kept in . It was carved from marble by the sculptor Arnolfo di Cambio in 1280, commissioned by Pope Honorius IV. This basilica also contains fragments of the wooden planks of the manger in which the Virgin Mary placed baby Jesus Christ.

The next holiday celebrated in Italy with gifts is St. Lucia's Day on December 13th. Saint Lucia is the patroness of vision and is sometimes depicted with eyes on a plate. Until 1580, Saint Lucia's Day was celebrated on the shortest day of the year - the winter solstice, December 21. But after the introduction of the new calendar, the holiday moved to another date.

The children write letters to St. Lucy telling them that they behaved well. Saint Lucia travels around houses on a donkey on the night of December 12-13 and brings gifts. On the evening of December 12, Italian children go to bed early, because if Saint Lucia sees that they are not sleeping, she will get angry. Two plates are left on the table - a treat for Saint Lucia and a plate with hay and carrots for her donkey.

Every year on December 13, in honor of the feast of St. Lucia, the Fiera di Santa Lucia Christmas market opens in Bologna. We will never get to this fair; it is not located in the very center of the city. But this Christmas market in Bologna is worth visiting first, because it is the oldest fair not only in Bologna, but also in Europe. At first it was held in front of the Church of Santa Lucia, and from 1796 it was moved under the portico of the Church of Santa Maria dei Servi on Strada Maggiore, where it is still held.

Christmas markets are held in all cities of Italy, but the most famous fair is located in the north of the country in South Tyrol, in the city of Bolzano.

We can safely say that Bologna on the eve of Christmas turns into one continuous Christmas market, noisy and crowded. There are tents everywhere on the streets selling all kinds of gifts and Christmas paraphernalia.

As a rule, December 23 is the last day of school in schools and the last working day in many companies in Italy. Then the long Christmas holidays begin.

On December 24, Italy celebrates Christmas Eve. In Italy this day is called “la Vigilia di Natale”. Usually, only the closest people gather for a quiet family dinner and prepare fish and seafood dishes. The most faithful go to mass in the church.

On December 25, Christmas Day, Italian families gather for a traditional family dinner with plenty of food, which is very fun and noisy.

December 26th is the Day of the Holy Martyr Stephen, which is also called Boxing Day.

The series of holidays ends on January 6th. On this day, traditionally, New Year trees are removed. On January 7, Italians return to work and school.

The Leaning Towers of Bologna are beautifully lit, but the lighting makes their extreme tilt more noticeable...

The foundation of the Garisenda Tower seems to be at its limit...

Everywhere these days in Bologna there are Panettone and Pandoro pies in festive packaging, which everyone gives to each other and has already begun to eat without waiting for Christmas.

Panettone can basically be found in Italy all year round, because it is also called the pie of love. Legend has it that in Milan, a young baker Antonio baked the first such pie for the daughter of the owner of a small bakery. Pane di Antonio - that’s what that pie was literally called. Panettone is an airy sweet cake with a taste and shape reminiscent of Easter cake. It is baked with raisins and decorated with candied fruits and nuts.

Pandoro is a typical Venetian cake, one of the symbols of Christmas in Italy. This is a sweet cupcake baked at Eight Pointed Star Farm. Residents of Vienna claim that the Venetians borrowed the cupcake recipe from them.

On the streets of Bologna we fully felt the atmosphere of the approaching Christmas and New Year. However, it seemed that the festive decorations on the streets looked more modest compared to previous years. Crisis... How tired they are, these regular economic crises!

But the holidays have arrived anyway and will last for almost 3 more weeks. In places, Befana witches flashed by, already preparing their brooms for the journey.

Christmas in Italy is an amazing time of magic, beauty and expectation of a miracle. This is a whole period spanning almost a month. Officially, it begins on the Day of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary (December 8) and continues until the Feast of the Epiphany (January 6). The streets, churches and squares of Italian cities are decorated with Christmas trees, festive lights and a manger with baby Jesus. There are Christmas markets where you can buy toys, Christmas tree decorations and sweets, children are waiting for gifts from Pope Christmas or the good witch Befana, and the feeling of an approaching holiday is in the air.

Italy, where the majority of the population professes Catholic Christianity, is one of those countries where they love and celebrate Christmas with great pleasure, but in a more religious and traditional way. For Italians this is first and foremost family and church holiday. In Italy, there is much less of a sense of commercialism and the frantic race for gifts, which is inherent primarily in the United States, but many folk and religious traditions are alive and observed here, and you will learn about some of them from this article.

1. The origins of Italian Christmas traditions

Italian Christmas traditions are based in Christianity but date back to the pagan holiday of the ancient Romans. Saturnalia.Initially, the holiday in honor of the god Saturn, the patron saint of agriculture, was celebrated only on one day - December 17. Later, during the Republic and Imperial Rome, the celebration lasted up to 5 and even 7 days.

During Saturnalia, which marked the end of the harvest and agricultural work, it was customary to relax, have fun, arrange lavish banquets with lots of food and giving gifts to relatives and friends. Gambling was also not prohibited. Only during this period could masters and slaves exchange roles: slaves were allowed to rest, and masters prepared food for them. An interesting theory connects the tradition of exchanging gifts at the end of the year and the ancient Roman goddess of the new year and prosperity, Strenia. According to this theory, the Italian word strenna, meaning "gift", was derived from the name of this goddess.

In the 4th century. AD Along with the spread of Christianity, the Saturnalia familiar to the Romans and the celebration of the winter solstice Dies Natalis Solis Invicti ( "birthday of the invincible sun"- solstice, after which the days gradually become longer) were replaced by one holiday - Christmas, and some ancient Roman traditions have thus been preserved to this day.

2. Advent - waiting for Christmas in Italy

Advent (from Latin adventus - “arrival”, “coming”)- the waiting time preceding Christmas, during which Christians prepare for one of their main holidays. The first day of Advent in the Catholic rite is defined as the fourth Sunday before Christmas (depending on the year, this Sunday falls between November 27 and December 3).

Advent has a double meaning. Firstly, this is the period of preparation for Christmas, “a time of joyful anticipation.” Secondly, the church calls on believers to think about the second coming of Christ, which is predicted in the prophecies of the New Testament.

Days in anticipation of Christmas are celebrated in a special advent calendar(although this tradition is more typical in the north of Italy, adjacent to Austria), where December 1 is often used as a reference date for convenience. The calendar windows are numbered from 1 to 25 and open in order. The back could include a picture, a poem, a simple puzzle, a Bible passage, or a small gift (a toy or chocolate treat).

Italian cities begin to decorate with festive lights and Christmas-themed decorations as early as late November and early December. Usually, by December 8(The Day of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, not to be confused with the Immaculate Conception of Jesus Christ) preparations are being completed, and in squares and iconic landmarks, such as the Colosseum and Milan Cathedral, Christmas trees are being installed. This tradition, which came from the northern countries, recently took root in Italy.

Piazza del Duomo, Milan

Throughout December, there is a feeling of celebration in the air, and where the Christmas markets usually take place, there is the smell of sweet pastries and roasting chestnuts. Although Christmas markets (Mercatino di Natale) in Italy they are not as large and colorfully decorated as in Germany or Austria, they are also quite interesting, especially in cities in the north of the country. Here you can buy traditional products of the region, Christmas sweets, decorations, toys and gifts made by hand by artisans. Markets operate in different ways, sometimes for a week, and sometimes from the Day of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary (December 8) to the Annunciation (January 6).

Church courtyards, storefronts, squares and houses decorated with a manger (presepe), recreating the biblical scene of the birth of Jesus. As a rule, this is a cave in the center of which there is a cradle with the baby Jesus, surrounded by the Virgin Mary, the Magi and animals. This tradition dates back to the Middle Ages, to the time of Francis of Assisi, and reached its greatest flowering in Naples and Naples, where craftsmen handcrafted intricately detailed mangers depicting an entire village with a large number of figurines. Such designs can decorate fountains and squares all year round, and only at Christmas does a figurine of the baby Jesus appear in its proper place, in a cradle.

Fountain with the manger of the baby Jesus in Amalfi

Traditionally, a special international exhibition is held in the Bramante Hall in Piazza del Popolo ( "100 Presepi"), which presents 100 Christmas scenes with a manger, made from a wide variety of unexpected materials. In 2017, the exhibition will begin on November 23 and end on January 7, 2018. Ticket price to visit the exhibition: 8 euros.

Exhibit at an exhibition in Rome

Another well-known tradition during the Advent period is the decoration of churches and houses. a wreath of fir branches (“Advent wreath”), in which four candles are installed - according to the number of four Sundays before Christmas. Candles can be either the same or different colors. The Advent wreath is very symbolic. The evergreens used for the wreath itself and the circle they form represent the continuous cycle of life, love and eternity of God himself. The light of candles symbolizes the victory of light over darkness and a person’s hope for good changes in the most difficult times.

Starting on December 8, in churches and on the streets of Rome and the cities of Calabria, Campania and Sicily, Christmas songs performed by musicians, playing bagpipes and shawls (an ancient wind instrument dating back to the 12th century) and dressed in traditional shepherd garb.

9 days before Christmas begins Novena(novenna - from Latin "nine") is a traditional practice in Catholic churches when prayers are read for nine days in a row, which is supposed to symbolize the nine months that the Virgin Mary carried the Child Jesus. In some rural areas, children dressed as shepherds go from house to house singing Christmas songs or poems, often in exchange for money or sweets.

3. Christmas characters. Who gives gifts to children at Christmas in Italy

Italian children, like all children in the world, write letters asking for gifts and address them Babbo Natale – To Father Christmas(aka Santa Claus, aka Father Frost).

Many researchers believe that the figure of Santa Claus goes back to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, whose relics are kept in the Italian city of Bari. Saint Nicholas is revered by both Catholics and Orthodox. He is known for his good deeds, helping those in need, and the gifts he threw through the window to poor people's children. In the south of Italy, where Bari is located, children address their letters to this particular saint (San Nicola) and receive gifts on the night of December 5-6 (December 6 is St. Nicholas Day). There are also those who write letters directly to the baby Jesus.

However, Babbo Natale is not a traditional giver in Italian culture. Oddly enough, it is not a man with a beard who brings gifts to Italian children, but women (without a beard, but one of them is on a broom and the other on a donkey 🙂)! Another character of the Christmas festivities in Italy, although not with the most ideal reputation, is witch Befana (Befana). Legend has it that three wise men and stargazers came to Befana's home and invited her to join the search for the Christ child. But she was too busy with housework and refused, and later changed her mind, and to this day is still looking for "that" child, leaving gifts for all the good children who cross her path.

Witch Befana in Piazza Navona in Rome

However, Befana is not an evil witch, but a kind one: she flies on a broomstick, sneaks into the house like Santa Claus through the chimney and slips gifts and candy into the stockings of Italian children (and black candy sugar for the naughtiest).Befana even has her own residence in the city of Urbania (Marche region), which is called the House of Befana.

Befana is not associated with Christmas, but with the feast of Epiphany and flies to the children on the night of January 5-6.It is believed that a good owner will even have Befana sweep the floor and “sweep” all the problems out of the house. There is a custom: to leave a glass of wine and a saucer of food on the fireplace for Befana.

In some cities in northeastern Italy, such as Bergamo, Brescia, Verona and Piacenza (as well as in Sweden, Norway and Finland), children write letters not to Pope Christmas, but Saint Lucia and leave letters in a special basket prepared for this in churches. The name of the saint, who lived in Sicily in the city of Syracuse, was blinded and killed for the faith of Christ, comes from the Latin word lux (“light”), and her image goes back to the pagan goddess Demeter, the patroness of fields and sunlight, who, like the god Saturn, brought gifts upon completion of agricultural work.

Saint Lucia's Day is celebrated on December 13th. In the 15th century, due to errors in the Julian calendar, the winter solstice gradually shifted to this date. It was then that the tradition of celebrating St. Lucia's Day began as a kind of analogue of Christmas - with gifts, children's faith in miracles and the magic of a good sorceress (and all this long before Babbo Natale).

According to tradition, Saint Lucia is a young girl dressed in white and surrounded by wisps of light. She rides on a donkey, accompanied by her assistant Castaldo, who resembles an elf from the residence of Santa Claus. She brings sweets and gifts to children who behave well, and the naughty ones get pieces of coal. Children should not spy on the saint leaving gifts for them, but they should leave treats for her and her helpers in advance.

Letter to Saint Lucia

4. Christmas Eve (December 24) in Italy and Christmas Mass in the Vatican

On Christmas Eve (Christmas Eve - La vigilia di Natale) Italian believers prepare for mass in churches, which usually begins at midnight from December 24 to 25. On this day, it is customary to refuse fast food (meat and animal products), and dinner is known as "Feast of the Seven Fishes", which symbolizes the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. Until recently, the main dish on Italian tables on Christmas Eve was fried eel, although today more and more preference is given to seafood and dishes made from fish and vegetables.

Some go to the Vatican to St. Peter's Basilica, which seats 15,000 people, to listen Christmas Mass performed by the Pope himself. The Mass begins on December 24 at 21.30 and is broadcast live on large screens installed in St. Peter's Square.

To enter St. Peter's Basilica or St. Peter's Square during the "Urbi et Orbi" Christmas message on December 25, tickets must be booked well in advance. Tickets are absolutely free, but you need to go through a mini-quest - fill out a special form and send a fax (preferably six months before the mass - this way there are more chances) to (+39) 06 698 85863. If there are still free seats, a letter will be sent to your home address from the Vatican with notification. But that’s not all – 4-5 days before the event you need to pick up the tickets themselves from the Prefecture of the Papal Household (Prefettura della Casa Pontificia), which is located immediately behind the bronze doors leading to the Apostolic Palace. Opening hours: from 8-9 am to 5-6 pm.

Please note that in order to get inside the cathedral, you will have to stand in a long line and go through a security check (go through metal detectors and have your personal belongings inspected). Tickets do not guarantee entry to the cathedral or square and you may be denied entry if the cathedral or square is completely full. But if you're a Catholic, or you just want to feel a part of one of the biggest Christian events, it's worth the hassle.

5. Christmas in Italy

Christmas is a public holiday in Italy and an official day off in government agencies, schools, museums, banks, etc. At noon on December 25 from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica to believers The Pope addresses the traditional Christmas message and blessing “Urbi et Orbi” (“To the City and the World”).

Christmas for Italians is a holiday in a warm family circle, at a large table laden with varied, tasty and satisfying food. Unlike Christmas Eve dinner, Christmas dinner has no restrictions. On the contrary, eating meat at Christmas is part of the tradition. The festive feast can last all day with breaks for rest, watching the Pope's Christmas message on TV, presenting gifts and playing board games.

Traditional Christmas dinner ( сenone ) may include the following dishes:

Lo zampone (stuffed pork leg)
Il cotechino (pork sausage)
Turkey dishes (like Americans have for Thanksgiving)
Tortellini (Italian dumplings)
Il panettone (Christmas cake with candied fruit)
Pangiallo romano (traditional to the Lazio region since the Saturnalia, a sweet cake made from dried fruits, honey and nuts)
Struffoli (Neapolitan Christmas cookies made with honey)
Bombardino (a drink made with ½ serving of raw eggs and milk and ½ serving of a strong alcoholic drink such as grappa)

Italians congratulate each other, wishing Merry Christmas (Buon Natale). And children, if they have not received gifts from St. Nicholas or St. Lucia before, find gifts from Babbo Natale under the tree or in their stockings.

According to Christmas customs, once under brightly decorated wreaths of mistletoe and evergreens, two people must kiss. Those who deliberately kiss under such a wreath at Christmas are considered engaged. Mistletoe also symbolizes good luck and prosperity.

Christmas in Italy is the most long-awaited Catholic holiday, for which Europeans prepare long before the solemn date. It is worth noting that in no other country are Christmas traditions honored as much as in this state. This is due to the fact that almost the entire population of Italy professes the Catholic faith. In addition, the famous Pope is here, who personally celebrates Mass in the Vatican.

To find out how Christmas is celebrated in Italy, you just need to go to this country for the Christmas holidays. However, if you do not have such an opportunity, then this information can be easily obtained by visiting thematic sites on the Internet.

So, let's take a closer look at how Christmas is celebrated in Italy, and why this solemn date is sacred for Italians.

From the very beginning of December, the whole country is immersed in the atmosphere of pre-holiday mood. All houses, restaurants, municipal buildings, parks, streets and trees are decorated with garlands with thousands of colorful lights. At the same time, Italians buy lush Christmas trees and decorate them with all kinds of toys, glass balls, tinsel and rain.

As in all countries, in Italy they also like to give various gifts for Christmas. However, if we do this on New Year's Eve, then Europeans distribute gifts two or one week before December 25th. This prematureness is explained by the fact that Italians like to celebrate Christmas exclusively with their families, and in order not to burden themselves with distributing gifts to friends, colleagues and distant relatives on December 24, they decided to do this in advance.
Traditionally, before Christmas, every Italian family actively cleans their own home. After all, this holiday is holy, which means that it must be celebrated in complete cleanliness and order.
On Christmas night, all of Italy seems to freeze. At this time, you will not be able to find a single working store, bank or restaurant. In addition, even public transport ceases to function.

The Christmas service begins exactly at twelve and lasts approximately an hour and a half. As mentioned above, the Pope himself celebrates the Mass in the Vatican. Every church must have a small manger where the figure of the baby Jesus lies. In the old days, absolutely all family members had to be present at such services. However, at present, the percentage of Italian believers has decreased significantly, and now only twenty percent of all Italian residents attend Christmas services.
After an hour and a half mass, Italians rush home and sit down with the whole family at a richly laid table. According to tradition, for this holiday housewives prepare dishes such as pork legs, seafood with spaghetti, baked fish, sausages, cakes with raisins and candied fruits. It is also worth noting that not a single Christmas night in Italy is complete without a dish called tagliatelle, which is very similar to ordinary noodles.
Unlike friends, colleagues and distant relatives, family members receive long-awaited Christmas gifts in the early morning of December 25th. Babbo Natale (Italian Santa Claus) brings presents to the children and leaves them under the luxurious Christmas tree.
Throughout the Christmas day, residents of Italy have fun, visit guests, stage theatrical performances, visit the city Christmas tree, where various events are held, and, of course, gather together at one family table, where they tirelessly congratulate each other and wish each other only the best events in life.

December 25 in Italy- Catholic Christmas. In a country where the flag bears the colors of Christmas - red, white and green - it is not surprising that Christmas is celebrated with great respect and great attention to tradition.

Christmas date in Italy in 2018

History of the holiday, traditions and rituals of Christmas

With over 80 percent of the 60 million Italians being Catholic, it is no surprise that Christmas is celebrated in truly traditional “Catholic fashion.” However, there are also many unique aspects to the Italian Christmas season, which begins on December 8, the day of the Immaculate Conception, and continues until January 6, the day of Epiphany, when God told believers that the Magi had seen the baby Jesus.

Novenas

In Italy, during the eight days before Christmas, special masses called “Novenas” are held in churches. These Masses are prayer and teaching aimed at preparing the minds and hearts of the congregation for the Christmas season. As Christmas approaches, garlands, Christmas trees and other decorations begin to appear in markets, shopping centers, shops, homes, and along roads.

Manger or nativity scene - scenes of the birth of baby Jesus

However, the most important decorations are the manger or nativity scene (Scenes of the Birth of the Child Jesus), which can be seen in churches, squares and other public places. Straw, a baby's cradle, statues of Mary, Joseph, shepherds, peasants, and much more find a place in the manger. Baby Jesus, however, is not put into his cradle until Christmas night. Some scenes are built in the shape of a pyramid, with shelves on the steps on which the statues are located. Colored paper, gold-plated pine cones, miniature candles and a star at the top of the pyramid are often part of the decor. In addition, you can see gifts, sweets and dried fruits here.

Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve there is a tradition of having a meatless dinner, often only fish or other seafood, after dinner the believers go to midnight mass. There you can watch stage Christmas productions with real actors and animals who will happily greet you on Christmas morning. After the performance, many return home to enjoy a piece of panettone with raisins and candied fruits. To keep the treat from being dry, you can wash it down with a cup of hot chocolate or other drink. On Christmas Day, as a rule, a more substantial lunch is prepared, which includes meat dishes, thereby finally ending the fast that precedes the holiday.

Other Christmas Traditions

There are also other Christmas traditions, including in Italy. Children dressed as shepherds singing Christmas carols and playing flute music, a Christmas Eve bonfire in the town's main square, burning the "Yule Log" throughout the holiday season.

December 25 in Italy: what you can do

Here are some things to do if you are traveling in Italy during the Christmas period:

Visit Naples to see their famous “Neapolitan crèches”. Naples is famous for its manger production; the tradition dates back to the 11th century AD. You can see a huge number of mangers decorated with a variety of characters including some non-Christmas related characters among others. You can also admire the largest Christmas crèche in the world, with over 600 figures. You can also entertain yourself by shopping in Via San Gregorio Armeno in its many shops.

Admire festive Rome. Rome is decorated with huge Christmas trees, a series of manger scenes and interpretations of events. You can also do your Christmas shopping at the many Christmas markets. Since the Vatican is located in the center of Rome, you can, if you wish, attend the night mass celebrated by the Pope in St. Peter's Basilica. Those unable to get a front row seat will still be able to watch the entire Mass on a large screen in the square.

Finally

If you are in Italy during the Christmas period, you can be sure to appreciate the many Christmas traditions and be able to wish everyone a “Merry Christmas!”

To better organize your stay in Italy during the Christmas holidays, please refer to the services of our website and the useful information posted in the articles on our website.

The following articles will be interesting and useful to you: “ , “ , “

Just 30 years ago there was no doubt about the religiosity of Italians. The main family holidays began with a wedding, then, then first communion and so on. Missing morning mass, much less Sunday mass, was considered unacceptable. Today my interlocutor, a Catholic priest of a temple in the city of Kyari, says that it would be good to appear in church once a week. At least. For a pious Christian, they say, this is enough. “It’s true that a person’s personal spiritual life is also important!” - he adds.

According to the priests themselves, pious Catholics - those who constantly go to all masses, participate in church affairs and generally lead a rich spiritual life - make up a maximum of 25% of the Italian population. And here is the data obtained by researchers at the Turin Center for New Religions. According to their statistics, more than 85% of the population continues to consider themselves Catholics. 30% of the population say they regularly attend church on Sundays. 60% say they have great confidence in the church. And only 8% of respondents called themselves atheists or agnostics - those who need strong scientific evidence.

But in a conversation with researchers, the following became clear: almost all Italians consider themselves Catholics for the same reason that they are Italians. This is not a vocation, but rather a tradition, a kind of socially accepted norm of behavior, if you want to be considered normal. In reality, this is so: people go to services, religious processions and various church holidays not because they believe and this is the need of the soul, but because these are the principles of life. The social life of any town revolves around church events.

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