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 white table-cloth, symbolic of Christ's swaddling clothes, covers the Table. Hay is
brought forth as good things in the coming year. The head of the family greets those present
with the a reminder of the poverty of the Cave where Jesus was born. A tall white candle is place
in the center Christmas greeting: "Christ is Born!" The family members respond: "Glorify Him!"
The Mother of the Mother of the family blesses each person present with honey in the form of
a cross on each 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
forth as a reminder of the poverty of the Cave where Jesus was born. A tall white candle is place
in the center white table-cloth, symbolic of Christ's swaddling clothes, covers the Table. Hay is
brought forth as good things in the coming year. The head of the family greets those present
with the a reminder of the poverty of the Cave where Jesus was born. A tall white candle is place
in the center Christmas greeting: "Christ is Born!" The family members respond: "Glorify Him!"
The Mother of the Mother of the family blesses each person present with honey in the form of
a cross on each 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
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
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
Christmas Time in Russia 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.
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.
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).
(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.
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.
| GET RUSSIAN LANGUAGE LESSONS Learn Unique Russian Culture |
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| FUNNY IN RUSSIAN What we say on our Tango Lessons |
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.
meal. The various foods and customs surrounding this meal differed in Holy Russia from village
to village.
| RUSSIAN MUSICAL COMEDY THEATER, SAN DIEGO CONTACT Zin: 858-592-9087 |
It was a beautiful event! You worked so hard on that event! Ive Simard is so lucky to have you
take that on! It's so nice to have a Russian event like that. I didn't realize how many people of
Russian decent are in San Diego, and how many love dancing. The dance exhibitions were just
great! Lila and Marina are both lovely, so friendly, and beautiful, like you. Thank you. Katie S
take that on! It's so nice to have a Russian event like that. I didn't realize how many people of
Russian decent are in San Diego, and how many love dancing. The dance exhibitions were just
great! Lila and Marina are both lovely, so friendly, and beautiful, like you. Thank you. Katie S
PROGRAM: SHOW. Mex. Dance El Son de la Negra from the state of Jalisco by AMANDA FLORES; Russian Folk
Dance by Gorge and Katie; Belly Dance by multi award winner dancer, DILEK, Turkish Delight; Tarantela by Emily,
SVETLANA DANCE ACADEMY (Temecula); Mexican Dance El Jinete, a huapango song, from Guanajuato by Amanda
Flores; Spanish Dance by Emily; RAFFLES for Three CD with Russian/Inter. Tango from 40th. GRAND PRIZE for the
best FOLK COSTUME. MILONGA-Dance Party. Preparation of the music by Victor (Tandas, Cortinas of Russian and
International Tango from 1940th). HOSTESS: Naomi Fortner. MC: John Linares Food: by Tango Del Rey
Dance by Gorge and Katie; Belly Dance by multi award winner dancer, DILEK, Turkish Delight; Tarantela by Emily,
SVETLANA DANCE ACADEMY (Temecula); Mexican Dance El Jinete, a huapango song, from Guanajuato by Amanda
Flores; Spanish Dance by Emily; RAFFLES for Three CD with Russian/Inter. Tango from 40th. GRAND PRIZE for the
best FOLK COSTUME. MILONGA-Dance Party. Preparation of the music by Victor (Tandas, Cortinas of Russian and
International Tango from 1940th). HOSTESS: Naomi Fortner. MC: John Linares Food: by Tango Del Rey
Milonga, Costume Dance Party, International Christmas, 2008-09
Producer Elena Pankey at El Mundo del Tango, Tango Del Rey, San Diego
Producer Elena Pankey at El Mundo del Tango, Tango Del Rey, San Diego
SHOW BY SVETLANA DANCE ACADEMY, DILEK, AMANDA
We admire your work and all effort you put into the Event. We wanted to acknowledge it. We all
appreciate your hard work for organising the Christmas Event, 2008 at El Mundo del Tango.
The Russian culture is so deep, rich and beautiful. We enjoyed ourselves. Guests from Champion
Ballroom Academy
appreciate your hard work for organising the Christmas Event, 2008 at El Mundo del Tango.
The Russian culture is so deep, rich and beautiful. We enjoyed ourselves. Guests from Champion
Ballroom Academy
Hi Elena, I wanted to thank you for doing the Russian Christmas-08 at El Mundo. You obviously
went to great effort and expense. The decorations were festive and the music. I enjoyed seeing the
dancers in Russian costumes. Your table of Russian dolls and boxes was very interesting.
All in all, it was an enjoyable evening. Valdene R
went to great effort and expense. The decorations were festive and the music. I enjoyed seeing the
dancers in Russian costumes. Your table of Russian dolls and boxes was very interesting.
All in all, it was an enjoyable evening. Valdene R
GET READY TO CELEBRATE
GET OUR SHOW FOR
your next Christmas!
your next Christmas!
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Professor Elena is a
very hight educated
person. She graduated
from a prestigious State
Leningrad/St.
Petersburg University
(Russia) as a Linguist,
Philologist. Elena has been
teaching Russian Language
and Slavonic Literature in
Hight Schools. Then, she
worked in several
museums of St. Petersburg
as a tour guide. Also, she
was writing for Russian
Magazines, worked as a
special correspondent for
TV and Radio Station in
1990th. After Perestroika
she opened and run her
own business. While living
in CA she continues to
enjoy writing and teaching
very hight educated
person. She graduated
from a prestigious State
Leningrad/St.
Petersburg University
(Russia) as a Linguist,
Philologist. Elena has been
teaching Russian Language
and Slavonic Literature in
Hight Schools. Then, she
worked in several
museums of St. Petersburg
as a tour guide. Also, she
was writing for Russian
Magazines, worked as a
special correspondent for
TV and Radio Station in
1990th. After Perestroika
she opened and run her
own business. While living
in CA she continues to
enjoy writing and teaching