Today, Catholics and Protestants of Transcarpathia celebrate Christmas Eve

Catholics and Protestants throughout the region celebrate Christmas Eve, the day preceding Christmas.

Transcarpathian Catholics traditionally sit at the table only after the first evening star appears in the sky announcing the birth of the son of God, the zakarpatpost.net informs.

And at the banquet table, there is always one free seat with cutlery. It is a memory of loved ones who are away from the family this evening.

A 22.00, Vigils will start in churches, and then – on December 25 – Holy Mass will take place.

The main worships of the Holy Mass will be held in Mukachevo (Cathedral of Saint Martin), Uzhgorod (Church of St. George), Beregovo (Church of the Holy Cross).

The solemn worships will also be held in Rakhiv, Tyachiv, Khust, Vynogradiv, Svalyava, Perechyn, V,Berezny, Vyshkovo, Dovhe, Serednye, and in all other churches of Mukachevo Diocese.

Recall that Jerusalem, Russian, Georgian and Serbian Orthodox churches celebrate Christmas on the night of January 7. The difference in dates if Christmas celebrations is due to differences in calendar styles.