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.
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."
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.
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."
Click on the
photos to enlarge
photos to enlarge
GET READY TO CELEBRATE!
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
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
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.
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).
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).
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 church.
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 church.
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Magazines and worked as a special correspondent for
Russian TV and Radio Stations in 1990th. While living in CA,
she continues to enjoy writing and teaching.
specialist, graduated in 1982 from the most prestigious in
Russia, Leningrad-St.Petersburg University, as a Linguist -
philologist. She has been teaching Russian Language and
Slavonic Literature in Hight Schools for more than 20 years.
Also, she has been working in St. Petersburg museums, as a
tour guide. Moreover, she has been writing for Russian
Magazines and worked as a special correspondent for
Russian TV and Radio Stations in 1990th. While living in CA,
she continues to enjoy writing and teaching.
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