What are Russian Christmas traditions?

In Russia, Christmas is celebrated on January 7th. Many Russian Christmas traditions originated with the pagan culture that predated Christianity in Russia. Long-standing Russian Christmas customs include caroling, fortune-telling, and following a strict Nativity Fast for forty days leading up to Christmas Eve.

What is the Russian version of Christmas?

Svyatki—Russian Christmastide—follows Christmas and is a two-week period closely associated with the pagan traditions of fortune telling and caroling. Svyatki lasts until January 19, when Epiphany is celebrated.

What is a traditional Russian Christmas dinner?

However, there are still many that are considered traditional Christmas foods. The centerpiece of the Russian Christmas feast is most often a roast goose cooked in sour cream sauce, stuffed with prunes and red cabbage or sometimes apple, raisins and honey.

Why is Russian Christmas today?

Christmas in Russia is normally celebrated on January 7th (only a few Catholics might celebrate it on the 25th December). The date is different because the Russian Orthodox Church uses the old ‘Julian’ calendar for religious celebration days. The Orthodox Church also celebrates Advent.

How do Orthodox celebrate Christmas?

Many Orthodox Christians attend a special church liturgy on Christmas Day on January 7. Orthodox churches celebrate Christmas Day with various traditions. For example, many churches light a small fire of blessed palms and burn frankincense to commemorate the three wise men’s (also known as Magi) gifts to baby Jesus.

What is Santa Claus called in Russia?

Father Frost and his female companion the Snow Maiden, are Russia’s answer to Santa Claus. In the gray days of the Soviet Union they bought some color and fun to families during the harsh Russian winter, and the pair are still popular today.

How do Russian Orthodox celebrate Christmas?

Visit relatives. The main way of celebrating Orthodox Christmas is just visiting (or inviting) relatives with symbolic gifts. In Russia, there are state holidays from January 1-8, and it’s customary to spend these days meeting loved ones.

Why is Orthodox Christmas January 7th?

Many Orthodox Christians annually celebrate Christmas Day on or near January 7 to remember Jesus Christ’s birth, described in the Christian Bible. This date works to the Julian calendar that pre-dates the Gregorian calendar, which is commonly observed.

Why is Santa blue in Russian?

The new government, however, framed Ded Moroz as a gift bearer that comes only on New Year’s Eve, as celebrating Christmas was not allowed in the Soviet Union and Soviet Bloc countries. His coat was also made blue so as not to be confused with the red-coated, Coca-Cola drinking, capitalist pig Santa Claus.

Do the Russians believe in Santa Claus?

Ded Moroz or Grandfather Frost is a Russian counterpart of Santa Claus. Both bring presents and are much expected by the kids but there’re a few things that make them different. 1. Ded Moroz is much taller than Santa Claus.

What are traditional Christmas decorations in Russia?

Among the most treasured and traditional of Russian Christmas decorations are ornaments and figurines based on three ancient and legendary characters, Saint Nicholas, Grandfather Frost, and Snegurochka . Saint Nicholas. Saint Nicholas, the Greek holy man whose kind and giving spirit eventually became the model for Santa Claus, is beloved in Russia.

What are some Christmas traditions in Russia?

Popular Russian Christmas food traditions include fresh figs, apricots, oranges and dates as well as nuts, generally eaten throughout the meal and not served as a course of their own.

What is Christmas like in Russia?

Russia is one of the coldest countries in December. In fact, nearly half of it’s land mass is uninhabitable–it’s THAT cold. This may be one reason they are replacing the celebration of Christmas with the celebration of winter. While Christmas is viewed as a religious holiday in Russia, it is celebrated on January 7th.

Why was Christmas banned in Russia?

In the Soviet Union, numerous times between 1917 and 1991 leaders banned Christmas celebrations to comply with their socialist, atheist rule . In the 1920s, Soviet groups such as The League of Militant Atheists encouraged schoolchildren to campaign against Christmas at school.