How does Russia celebrate Christmas? The celebration is much like that of Christians around the world. On December 25th, people around the world gather to celebrate Christmas with their families and friends. The Bolsheviks introduced the Gregorian calendar in 1917, which moved most holidays from January to December. They also shifted Orthodox Christmas from December 25th to January 6th. In Russia, the holiday was banned in 1919, but in the West it has been celebrated ever since.
In the Orthodox Church, Christmas is the second most important holiday, after Easter. Many Orthodox Christians fast from November 28 to January 6, and many go to the “nightlong vigil” on January 6 and 7. In some regions, liturgical services are broadcast on state-owned television channels. On Christmas Day, some religious families in Russia prepare a festive meal. A traditional Russian Christmas dinner includes baked fish, kutia, kulebyaka pie, and fruit desserts such as pastila.
Russian Christmas traditions are rich and elaborate, and include lots of food. Traditionally, families gather to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Singing carols and eating lenten bread are traditional dishes. A festive meal is prepared in the evening, usually a meal of whole grains, honey, and poppy seeds. It is also common to offer gifts to family members and friends. Sochivo is served on Christmas Eve, which is known as Sachyelnik or Sochivo.
The meal is typically a feast. The meal includes turkey, goose, and lamb, as well as meat dumplings and fruit pies. The Christmas desserts are typically fruit pies, honeybread cookies, fresh fruit, and nuts. The traditional Russian Christmas cookie is called a kozulya, and the 12 dishes served on this day represent the apostles. A tall white candle is placed on the table to symbolize Christ as the light of the world, while pagach bread is traditionally eaten during Christmas morning.
During the Christmas season, Russians celebrate the birth of their Savior. This day is celebrated with gifts, carols, and gifts. The food is traditionally white, and a tablecloth made of white hay represents the swaddle-clothed baby Jesus. The meal is also decorated with hay, to remind people of the humble birth of Jesus. Often, the meal is a feast. The most important part of this holiday is the dinner.
The main meal is a feast. After the meal, the children go caroling. The residents of homes reward them with treats if they sing for them. So, the Christmas dinners are usually very colorful and festive. The food is also served with great care. If you’re visiting Russia, be sure to try some of these delicious dishes. Sochivo, or “Kutya,” is a popular porridge made with whole grains, honey, and poppy seeds.
There are many traditional dishes that are part of the Christmas celebration in Russia. One of them is Lenten bread, which is eaten at the end of the year. During the fast, Russians fast from November 28 to January 6. They also visit “nightlong vigils” to pray throughout the night. Some Russian families also prepare a traditional dinner on Christmas day. The traditional Christmas dinner includes sochivo, baked meat or fish, kulebyaka pie, and kolache.
Unlike other countries, Russians start their Christmas celebration on the night before the day of the birth of Christ. The meal is usually a feast that includes turkey, duck, and goose, as well as many different types of meat. After that, the children are given sweets and cookies, which they must eat until the first star appears in the evening sky. The meal is a feast for the whole family. You can find many traditions of the holiday and it is easy to follow the traditions.
Unlike in the West, Christmas in Russia is about family, rather than gifts. The holiday is centered around the family and is not limited to gifts, but it is also about tradition. The Russian equivalent of Santa Claus is called “Ded Moroz,” which translates to “Grandfather Frost” in English. In the Soviet Union, Christmas is a national holiday, and the country celebrates it with a ten-day break at the beginning of the new year.