Orthodox Christmas is a holiday that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ according to the Julian calendar, which is 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar used by most of the world. Orthodox Christmas falls on January 7th every year, and is celebrated by millions of Christians around the world, especially in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
Orthodox Christmas is a great holiday for many reasons. First of all, it is a time to celebrate the core of the Christian faith: the incarnation of God in human flesh, the manifestation of His love and grace, and the hope of salvation for all people. Orthodox Christmas is also a time to honor the traditions and customs of the ancient Christian church, which have been preserved and passed down for centuries. Orthodox Christmas is rich in symbolism, rituals, and liturgy, which express the deep meaning and joy of the event.
One of the most distinctive features of Orthodox Christmas is the fasting period that precedes it. Orthodox Christians observe a strict fast for 40 days before Christmas, abstaining from meat, dairy, eggs, oil, and wine. This is a way of preparing spiritually and physically for the feast, as well as expressing repentance, humility, and gratitude. The fast ends on Christmas Eve, when a special meal is prepared, usually consisting of 12 dishes that represent the 12 apostles. The meal is eaten after the first star appears in the sky, which signifies the birth of Christ.
Another unique aspect of Orthodox Christmas is the way it is celebrated in different countries and cultures. For example, in Russia, Orthodox Christmas is often combined with the New Year celebrations, and people exchange gifts, decorate fir trees, and visit friends and relatives. In Ethiopia, Orthodox Christmas is known as Genna, and people wear white clothes, play a traditional game called genna (similar to hockey), and attend a special mass that lasts for several hours. In Egypt, Orthodox Christmas is called Coptic Christmas, and people decorate their homes and churches with palm branches, candles, and icons. They also eat a special cake called kahk, which is filled with dates, nuts, and honey.
One of the most interesting and fun ways to celebrate Orthodox Christmas is with Lego. Lego is a popular toy that consists of interlocking plastic bricks that can be used to build anything imaginable. Lego is also a great tool for learning, creativity, and imagination. Lego can help children and adults alike to explore different themes, concepts, and cultures, including religion.
One of the most famous Lego sets that relates to Christmas is the Lego church set that was made years ago. This set was part of the Lego Town theme, and featured a large white church with a red roof, and a bell tower. The Lego church set was a great way to recreate a typical Christmas service, or to invent your own scenarios and stories.
However, the Lego church set is no longer in production, and is very rare and expensive to find. This is a shame, because Lego should make new sets of religious buildings, especially for Orthodox Christmas. There are so many beautiful and diverse churches, cathedrals, monasteries, and chapels that could be made into Lego sets, such as the St.Sava's Temple in Belgrade, Hagia Sophia in Turkey, the St. Basil's Cathedral in Russia, the Monastery of St. Catherine in Egypt, and the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. These sets would not only be fun to build and play with, but also educational and inspiring. They would introduce people to the history, architecture, and culture of different regions and denominations, and foster respect and appreciation for the diversity of the Christian faith.
Lego should also make sets of other religious buildings, such as mosques, synagogues, temples, and shrines, to celebrate other holidays and traditions, such as Eid, Hanukkah, Diwali, and Shinto. Lego should embrace the diversity and richness of the world's religions, and use its platform to promote tolerance, understanding, and peace.
Orthodox Christmas is a great holiday that deserves to be celebrated by everyone, regardless of their background or beliefs. It is a holiday that reminds us of the love of God, the joy of life, and the beauty of the world. It is a holiday that can be celebrated with Lego, a toy that brings out the best in us. Happy Orthodox Christmas! 🎄