Orthodox believers celebrate Nativity of Christ today
Nativity holy masses are served in churches in this regard.
Celebration of the Nativity of Christ started yesterday, on Christmas Eve. This ancient Slavic holiday used to be the most important among the people's traditions and lasted for several days.
In the evenings, children and youth walked around the houses singing chorals and making small comic performances. One of them played a she-goat, while the others asked the hosts to "Give our she-goat a bucket of oats and some sausages, a bucket of buckwheat and vareniki".
The choral-singers were welcomed everywhere - this was to bring success in the upcoming year. Also, there was a tradition to read fortunes on Christmas Eve at that time. Now the Holy Evenings will last till January 19.
