Merry Christmas: heartfelt congratulations
On January 7, Orthodox Christians celebrate one of the greatest holidays - the Nativity of Christ. According to the Gospel, on this day a bright star was lit over Bethlehem, announcing the birth of Jesus. This event marked the fulfillment of the prophecy of the coming of the Son of God to earth. In 2025, the celebrations will be held on Tuesday, which is traditionally a day off. "Izvestia" prepared beautiful cards and congratulations on the coming Christmas, which you can share on the eve of the celebration.
Christmas - 2025: heartfelt greetings
With Christmas, the long Christmas fast ends and Svyatki begins - the period from Christmas to Epiphany, which will be celebrated on January 19.
The strictest day of fasting falls on January 6 - Christmas Eve. At this time believers are not allowed to eat food until the first star. And on the night of January 7, Christmas Eve service is held in all churches, where thousands of parishioners gather. The main service is conducted by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow.
On this bright day, believers congratulate friends and relatives and give them gifts. Often the Orthodox greet each other with the words "Christ is born!", and the response should be "Praise Him!", similar to what happens on Easter.
Congratulations begin to sound already in the run-up to the celebration, allowing us to join in the mystery of the great feast. However, sometimes it can be difficult to find the words or there is no time to find the right phrases. Here are some examples of how to congratulate on the coming Christmas in prose with your own words:
"Congratulations on the coming holiday of Christmas! May light, love and hope abide in your hearts. May the bright shining of the Star of Bethlehem illuminate your souls, and may God's goodness and mercy accompany you throughout your earthly journey."
"Merry Christmas! May this magical holiday fill your day with warmth and joy. I wish you peace, prosperity, family comfort and well-being. May the Lord protect you, and the angels protect the house from all troubles and hardships!"
"On the coming Christmas Day, I heartily congratulate you on the appearance of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ! From the bottom of my heart I wish you a blessed, joyful holiday and all possible blessings. May this bright day and all the days of your life be illuminated by the gracious light of the Star of Bethlehem, and peace and tranquility reign in your soul."
"I congratulate all Orthodox Christians on the wonderful feast of Christmas! By His coming into our world, Christ sanctified the earth and the sky, giving us the hope of salvation. May the joy of this event always be with you and your loved ones. Let this day at the festive table gather the most dear to you people, and in the house will be cozy and warm".
Merry Christmas: Orthodox greeting cards
Wishes are often accompanied by a greeting card. The most common plot that can be found on Christmas cards is a cave in the rock near Bethlehem, where Jesus Christ was born.
Traditionally, the infant Christ is depicted in a manger accompanied by the Virgin Mary and her husband Joseph. Often on postcards there are angels and Magi with gifts, who came to worship the Son of God.
According to tradition, the birth of Christ was announced by the Star of Bethlehem, which shone brightly in the sky and showed the way to the Magi. This is why it is often called the Star of the Magi or the Star of Christmas. It is also often depicted on Christmas cards.
Among the other main symbols of the celebration is the Christmas tree. Since ancient times, this evergreen coniferous tree has been considered sacred by many peoples. It was especially honored by the ancient Germans and their descendants. Gradually the spruce gained popularity as a Christmas symbol in other European countries, including Russia.
Antique pictures of Christmas in the Orthodox Church
In the old days, Christmas cards depicted both famous biblical subjects and secular scenes associated with Christmas holidays. For example, a table set for the holiday, decorated Christmas trees, Santa Claus and joyful children opening presents.
Images of kissing couples were also popular at Christmas. The tradition is linked to the custom of exchanging kisses on the holiday. For young people it was almost the only opportunity to kiss before the wedding, so the holiday was awaited with trepidation.
Usually postcards tried to be handed personally at the meeting, enclosed in an envelope or in a box with a gift. They chose the most colorful and bright. On them was placed the traditional text of greeting: "Merry Christmas!", in the Western tradition - Merry Christmas ("Merry Christmas!"). On the back were often written not only wishes, but also words that were not dared to say aloud.
On the oldest cards all the characters were drawn. Since the XIX century, photography became widespread, and postcards began to be printed on the basis of pictures. They were mostly staged scenes with children dressed as angels. Such postcards were sold in photo studios in Moscow, St. Petersburg and other cities.
In addition, European greeting cards became widespread in Russia. They can be easily distinguished from Russian ones, despite the inscription in Russian. For example, by the Alpine subjects and the architecture of the cities.
The "golden age" of the postcard ended after the revolution. It was forbidden to celebrate Christmas in Soviet Russia. All previously existing traditions, including Christmas trees and greeting cards, were also banned. The official celebration of Christmas at the state level was revived in 1991.
Postcards prepared by Izvestia using photos by Getty Images, Global Look Press and artificial intelligence.
