Russian CHRISTMAS Traditions
From the 1917 Revolution until the fall of Communism, Christmas had a rather tenuous status in the Soviet
Union—although the holiday was officially frowned upon, many enterprising citizens turned it into a New Year’s
festival, complete with a Santa-like figure called “Grandfather Frost.”
Thirteen days after Western Christmas, on January 7th, the Russian Orthodox Church celebrates its
Christmas, in accordance with the old Julian calendar. It's a day of both solemn ritual and joyous celebration.
On the Eve of Christmas, it is traditional for all family members to gather to share a special meal.
The various foods and customs surrounding this meal differed in Holy Russia from village to village and from
family to family, but certain aspects remained the same.
The dinner that follows is very much a celebration, although, meat is not permitted. Kutya (kutia), a type of
porridge, is the primary dish.
It is very symbolic with its ingredients being various grains for hope and honey and poppy seed for happiness
and peace.
Although all of the food served is strictly Lenten, it is served in an unusually festive and anticipatory manner and
style (The Holy Supper").
A white table-cloth, symbolic of Christ's swaddling clothes, covers the Table.
Hay is brought forth as a reminder of the poverty of the Cave where Jesus was born.
A tall white candle is place in the center of the Table, symbolic of Christ "the Light of the World."
A large round loaf of Lenten bread, "pagach," symbolic of Christ the Bread of Life, is placed next to the Candle.
A prayer of thanksgiving for all the blessings of the past year is said and then prayers for the good things in the
coming year are offered.
The head of the family greets those present with the traditional Christmas greeting: "Christ is Born!" The family
members respond: "Glorify Him!"
The Mother of the family blesses each person present with honey in the form of a cross on each forehead,
saying: "In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, may you have sweetness and many
good things in life and in the new year."
Following this, everyone partakes of the bread, dipping it first in honey and then in chopped garlic. Honey is
symbolic of the sweetness of life, and garlic of the bitterness. The "Holy Supper" is then eaten (see below for
details).
In Russia, Traditional Russian Christmas involves special prayers and a fast of 39 days till the first star
appears in the sky on Christmas Eve (which falls on 6th of January in Russia).
Traditional Russian Christmas dishes include fish, beet soup known as Borsch, cabbage stuffed with millet
and cooked dried fruit. Hay is spread on the floors and tables so that horse feed grows abundantly in the
coming year.
On Christmas Day, people sing hymns and carols and gather in churches.
GET READY
Step One: Work up an appetite. In the Eastern Orthodox faith, it’s customary to fast on Christmas Eve Day (January 6),
then gather together for a big meal. Just like the western variety, Russian Christmas --also known as the Feast of Saint
Nicholas --is a joyous time for family and friends, so be sure to invite all the usual people.
Step Two: Make a big bowl of kutya. Meat is forbidden during Russian Christmas. Instead, it’s traditional to serve kutya,
a vegetarian porridge consisting of various types of wheat and grain sweetened with honey, along with such side dishes
as fresh fruit, beans, and potatoes.
Step Three: Pre-meal rituals. If you’re planning to go strictly by the book, the Feast of Saint Nicholas involves a host of
Eastern Orthodox traditions, saying: “Christ is born?” “Glorify him!”
Step Four: In Russia, the big Christmas service is conducted not on Christmas morning, but on Christmas Eve—and it
lasts until 2 or 3 in the morning.
Step Five: Gather around the” yolka” - Russian version of a Christmas tree, introduced to the country in the 17th
century by the ever-westernizing Peter the Great.
MORE:
MUSIC: http://www.origenmusic.com/russian-christmas-music.html
FOOD: http://www.russianfoods.com/recipes/item000BC/default.asp
DRESS: http://www.rusclothing.com/
Click on the photos to enlarge