Translated material
Alilo
But in the city itself is fun. And it’s good that in recent years the city is bright.
Orthodox Christmas is coming. And, therefore, Alilo will again be all over Georgia on January 7th.
In the city, this is a huge procession with the participation of actors, singers, priests, children. A lot of famous people, arches with donkeys, horses with riders in national costumes, singers in white ...
And I remember last year ... Then there was a lot of snow, and I met Christmas in the village next to Tskhinvali. And then she wrote about her impressions in one of the statues. It was a real Alilo - not a premature and sugary city masquerade with pseudo -coal theaters, flags, smeared faces and masks of smiles.
Alilo - from the Hebrew "Allilia" ("Praise the Lord!"), The Christmas move, starting immediately after night service. Each province of Georgia has its own Alilo. The tradition goes its roots in antiquity (it was revived by the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Elijah II) and is of charity in nature, as well as the joy of the statement of Christmas. It was her that I experienced then, going with everyone on a many -hour way along the snowy village of Nikosi. Metropolitan along with the singers-several girls from the church choir, and versees (deacons) with a bowl with holy water, all along with the traditional Christmas song (there are approximately the following words: "December 25/born Christ/oh-oh,/let God give everyone a new day/Christmas!/Alilo!"), Nearby, nearby, nearby, nearby, nearby, nearby, nearby, nearby Vechesro holds a bowl with holy water, many people. They go to every house, the metropolitan announces about Christmas. He is already waiting for a set table, wine. (When only the villagers manage? After all, everyone was just in the service ...) He pronounces a toast, blesses, sprinkles with holy water, delayed for a while to talk with the owners, special attention to children, and goes to the next house. On the way, he gives to others what they gave him-either tangerines, then pies, then something else ... The snow is almost knee-deep, snowflakes the size of a baby's palm. Gradually, gray beard, an unstable lord freezes at the edges with individual icicles. But he is glad like a child, for this is a holiday. Divine holiday.
Everywhere toasts, songs, laughter, on the way, children and adults play snowballs. All guests must taste the treats of the owners. The owners will not let go without giving something sweet. Alilo begins at eight in the morning, immediately after the Christmas Liturgy, when it is still very dark, under the bell ringing, and ends in the area of the afternoon, and before the war, when all at home stood intact, and the village, some of which in the ruins today did not end with checkpoints, happened after four. To get around everyone and give the joy of Christmas.