Eve of Christmas: Believers Worldwide Celebrate Christmas Eve

(Patria) - On the eve of the most joyous Christian holiday, Christmas, Catholics worldwide are celebrating Christmas Eve today. Surrounded by family and loved ones, in anticipation of the birth of Jesus Christ, believers bring the Yule log into their homes, while nativity scenes are placed under the decorated fir tree – a symbol of the Bethlehem stable where, according to biblical tradition, Jesus was laid after his birth.

The Vigil Mass at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Sarajevo will be held tonight at 9 PM, with a live broadcast on BHT1.

According to church tradition, Christmas Eve is a holy evening when believers gather in their homes, bless the house, and have a Christmas dinner. After that, many go to midnight mass, where they welcome the birth of Jesus. The main Christmas masses will be held tomorrow morning.

In the past, people woke up early on Christmas Eve, women prepared the Christmas meal, and a strict fast was observed throughout the day, lasting until the evening hours. The custom of fasting has been preserved to some extent even today, so on Christmas Eve, fish and dishes without meat and dairy products are most commonly consumed.

Among the numerous customs, the most preserved is the decorating of the Christmas tree, which many families bring into their homes precisely on Christmas Eve.

"Welcome to Christmas Eve, and Praise Jesus, I congratulate you on Christmas Eve, Adam and Eve" – these are the traditional greetings and congratulations exchanged on the occasion of today.

Christmas is considered the second-largest Christian holiday, immediately after Easter.