Christmas in Russia

One of the most popular Russian Orthodox Christmas traditions is fortune-telling on Christmas Eve. The time from January 6-19 (Epiphany) is called “svyatki” (from the word “holy”) – and has deep pagan roots, so deep in fact, that even the church couldn’t ban it outright. Slavic folks believed that it was the time when spirits would run wild – and used it to predict their future. While peasants tried to guess the weather and the harvest, young ladies thought of their grooms.And some girls still do it today!  Valentina from St. Petersburg says her favorite fortune-telling ritual is melting candle wax and then guessing the destiny, according to the resulting wax formation. Among other surest ways are burning paper and looking for ash – or laying out cards. Yulia from Nizhny Novgorod prefers to just light a candle and predicts the future looking at its shadows on the wall. She does it with her mother. Besides predicting, some Russians write plans for the next year and compare them with...

People in Russia celebrate Christmas Day with activities such as having a family dinner, attending a Christmas liturgy and visiting relatives and friends. There is a 40-day Lent preceding Christmas Day, when practicing Christians do not eat any meat. The Lent period ends with the first star in the night sky on January 6 – a symbol of Jesus Christ's birth. Many Orthodox Christians go to the church to attend a Christmas liturgy that evening.  The first star also signals the start of the Christmas dinner. For many secular Russians, Christmas Day is a family holiday but it is not as important, for many families, as New Year's Day. Many people visit friends and relatives, as well as give and receive presents, on January 7. 

If looking for Christmas gifts from Russia, consider buying nesting dolls and Russian lacquer boxes. In Moscow,  can find them in Izmaylovo Market or in Revolution Square during the Russian Winter Festival. Should also be able to find them in most—if not all—souvenir shops throughout the country. Don't have space in your carry-on? You can also purchase these beloved gifts online.

Some Orthodox Christian traditions in Russia mimic Christmas traditions in other parts of Eastern Europe. As is the custom in Poland, in Russia, people will cover their floors and tables in hay to represent baby Jesus's manger. A white tablecloth is then laid out to symbolize the clothes Jesus was swaddled in. Over the holiday season, Russians may also fast; this fast is to be broken at the appearance of the first star in the sky on Christmas Eve.  A Christmas church service, which happens the night of Christmas Eve, is attended by Orthodox church members. Even President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev have begun attending Moscow's solemn, beautiful services.

Babushka To people in western Europe and the USA, one of the most famous things about Christmas in Russia is the story of Babushka. Babushka means Grand Mother in Russian. It tells the story of an old women who met the Wise men on their way to see Jesus.  However, most people in Russia have NEVER heard of the story as it was probably created by an American poet and writer called Edith Matilda Thomas in 1907! 

On New Year's Eve, a popular and now 'traditional' film to watch on TV is called 'The Irony of Fate' (Ирония судьбы or Ironiya sudby). It's also known as 'Enjoy your Bath' or 'With a Light Steam' and was made in 1975 during the Soviet era and was always shown on Soviet TV on New Year's Eve. It's a romantic comedy about a man who drinks too much and gets very lost after having a sauna with some of his friends. The Irony of Fate is also shown on Russian TV on New Year's Eve. It's also shown on New Year's Eve in Belarus.

There are Russian Christmas cookies called Kozulya which are made in the shape of a sheep, goat or deer.  In some areas, children will go carol singing round the homes of friends and family and to wish people a happy new year. They are normally rewarded with cookies, sweets and money.

Following the meal, prayers might be said and people then go to the midnight Church services. They often don't wash the dishes until they get home from Church - sometimes not until 4.00am or 5.00am! The main meal on Christmas day is often more of a feast with dishes like roast pork & goose, Pirog and Pelmeni (meat dumplings). Dessert is often things like fruit pies, gingerbread and honeybread cookies (called Pryaniki) and fresh and dried fruit and more nuts.                                               Pryaniki                                                                              ...

'Vzvar' (meaning 'boil-up') is often served at the end of the meal. It's a sweet drink made from dried fruit and honey boiled in water. Vzvar is traditionally at the birth of a child, so at Christmas it symbolizes the birth of the baby Jesus.                                                                                  Vzvar

Other popular Christmas Eve foods include, beetroot soup (borsch) or vegan potluck (solyanka) served with individual vegetable pies (often made with cabbage, potato, or mushroom); sauerkraut, porridge dishes such as buckwheat with fried onions and fried mushrooms, salads often made from vegetables like gherkins, mushrooms or tomatoes, and also potato or other root vegetable salads. The meal often consists of 12 dishes, representing the 12 disciples of Jesus.                                                                                                B orsch                                 ...

Kutia is sometimes eaten from one common bowl, this symbolizes unity. In the past, some families like to throw a spoonful of sochivo up on the ceiling. If it stuck to the ceiling, some people thought it meant they would have good luck and would have a good harvest!

Some food of russian christmas Some people fast (don't eat anything) on Christmas Eve, until the first star has appeared in the sky. People then eat 'sochivo' or 'kutia' a porridge made from wheat or rice served with honey, poppy seeds, fruit (especially berries and dried fruit like raisins), chopped walnuts or sometimes even fruit jellies!                                                                                                    Kutia    Sochivo

Difference between christmas and new year After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, people were free to celebrate Christmas again. But it's still a quieter and smaller holiday in Russia after the big New Year celebrations. The New Year is the big time for spending lots of money and eating and drinking lots. Christmas is much more religious and private.

                                       Christmas trees prohibited                                  In the days of the Soviet Union, Christmas was not celebrated very much. New Year was made into the important time. Following the revolution in 1917, Christmas was banned as a religious holiday in 1929 and Christmas Trees were banned until 1935 when they turned into 'New Year' Trees! If people did want to celebrate Christmas, they had to do it in secret just in their families.

Christmas in Russia 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. But it has fixed dates, starting on 28th November and going to the 6th January, so it's 40 days long.  The official Christmas and New holidays in Russia last from December 31st to January 10th.