RUSSIAN CHRISTMAS RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS

You probably wonder why do Russians Orthodox people celebrate Christmas on January 7th? Why not on December 25th?

Well, the reason is that the Russian Orthodox Church still lives according to the old Julian Calendar, which is currently 13 days behind the Gregorian Calendar, which is adopted by most countries in the world (and by the Russian government). When in the end of 1917 the Bolshevik government decided to adopt Gregorian calendar, the Russian Orthodox church decided not to follow the rules set by the incresingly oppresive civil authorities. Part of the reason was to protest against the Bolsheviks and their interference in church affairs. Another reason, perhaps, was to stick to the older rules, the ways in which generations of Russian Christians were praising the Lord, observing holidays, etc.

It has to be said that Russia has been Christian since the year 980 A.D. (for over 1000 years) and traditions mean very much for every Russian Orthodox Christian. Nowadays, the Russian Orthodox still follows the old calendar and all Russian Orthodox believers celebrate Christmas on January 7th.

For the not-so-religious part of the society Christmas time is just a long holiday season. Many people start celebrating Christmas on December 25 (together with the Western World), then continue to observe New Year Eve with festive parties, enjoy New Year Day with their families and, finally, celebrate Russian Orthodox Christmas on January 7.

In the Orthodox tradition nothing is eaten or drunk on Christmas Eve until the first star appears in the sky. The star is symbolic of the great star that led the Magi to the newly born Christ. Once the first star has appeared in the sky, the festivities begin with a Lenten meal – meaning meat or dairy products (including chocolates) are excluded. This Christmas Eve meal is "The Holy Supper" .

The family gathers around the table to honor the coming Christ Child. A white tablecloth is used to symbolize Christ’s swaddling clothes and hay is displayed as a reminder of the poverty of the place where Jesus was born. A tall white candle is placed in the center of the Table, to symbolize Christ – the "Light of the World." A large round loaf of "pagach", a special Lenten bread, is placed beside the candle to symbolize Christ – the "Bread of Life".

The father begins the Christmas meal by leading the family in the Lord’s Prayer, a prayer of thanksgiving for the blessings of the past year and for the good things to come in the new year. The head of the family greets those present with "Christ is Born!" – the traditional Russian Christmas greeting – and the family responds with "Glorify Him!" The Mother then draws a cross with honey on each person’s forehead, saying a blessing – "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." The Lenten bread (Pagach) is then broken and shared. The bread is dipped first in honey to symbolize the sweetness of life and then in chopped garlic to symbolize life’s bitterness. The "Holy Supper" is then eaten. After dinner, no dishes are washed and the Christmas presents are opened. The family goes to church for the Christmas Mass which lasts until after midnight.

Traditionally, the "Holy Supper" consists of 12 different foods, symbolic of the 12 Apostles.  

"C Rodzhestvom Kristovom"(srod-zshest-vum krist-o-vum) is a common Russian Christmas greeting, meaning "with the Birth of Christ!"

The Russian Orthodox Church is celebrating Christmas today; as a matter of fact, Christmas is considered to be the second most important religious holiday after Easter Day here.

Patriarch Alexius II of Moscow and All Russia is to conduct a vespers service at Moscow’s cathedral of Christ the Savior, which is the main Russian cathedral, today. Christmas services will also be held at 218 other churches and cathedrals all over the Russian capital.

Russian Orthodox Church believes that Christmas symbolizes the triumphant reconciliation between God and Man, anticipating Christ’s redemptive feat, as well as the renewal of man’s nature that was corrupted by his sinful forefathers.

The Russian Orthodox Church’s statute envisages a lengthy 40-day fast prior to January 6. Orthodox believers are not supposed to eat anything on January 6 until the evening, that is, until the first star rises.

Lavish feasts were organized all over Mother Russia every January 7 before 1917, with children going from to house and using the so-called verteps (boxes covered with color paper and featuring swivel puppets) to stage puppet shows, i.e. Nativity plays. The young performers also sang during their shows, receiving gifts in return.

Christmas services will be held in small and large Russian towns alike January 7; open-air parties, concerts and sports events will take place, as well.

Irina Renner

631.661.5100

irenner@netterrealestate.com