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Christmas
(January 7)
The Russian Christmas holiday is celebrated in accordance
to the Russian calendar. The festive and merry days before
and after Christmas are called the season of “Yule-tide”.
Many ceremonies are included in the celebration of Christmas
that include nature, song, and dance. A popular folk tale
that is told at Christmas establishes the figure of St. Nicholas.
According to cultural myth, Prince Vladimir traveled to Constantinople
to be baptized and returned with stories of St. Nicholas of
Myra and his miracles.
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Waiting
to see Father Frost
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The “Feast of St. Nicholas”, held during the month
of December was suppressed during communism, along with many
other traditional ceremonies. Today, the holidays in Russia
are celebrated with even more emotion and excitement. Traditional
values have not changed within the homes, and holiday meals
have remained the same for centuries. For example, on Christmas
Eve the family meal does not contain meat. Instead, a special
porridge made with wheat and fruit called “kutya”
is served to bless the home and ensure unity among the family.
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Christmas
decorations in a Russian flat.
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