Russians Christmas Traditions
There are a lot of amazing traditions and rules that are directly related to the Russian Christmas called Svyatki. To celebrate Christmas in Russia you just need to hear Orthodox liturgies and local carols called kolyadki. So, this is a unique experience to feel atmosphere of a Russian winter.
- Russian Christmas according to the Julian Calendar
- Russian Svyatki
- No Santa in Russia
- One-time ban of Christmas in Russia
- Celebrations begin with the first star
- Fasting of Russians before Christmas Eve
- Pagan influence today
- Nativity scenes are a big deal
- A Christmas liturgy in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior
- Epiphany celebration
- Russian Christmas according to the Julian Calendar
In Russia Christmas is celebrated by the Russians according to the Julian Calendar. First of all, this calendar is 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar and, secondly, it shows the traditions to maintain old Russian practices. This means that 7 January on the Gregorian Calendar corresponds to 25 December on the Julian Calendar.
Maintaining the Julian Calendar is a good way to conserve the Russian identity of the Orthodox faith and also historical roots. It is totally different for people who like to celebrate Christmas in December but it also feels like the second celebration of Russian holidays.
Russian Svyatki
Russian Christmas called Svyatki is normally celebrated from 7 January to 19 January. Orthodox Christmas is rooted in pagan traditions and combines religious devotion with festive customs.
It is started from Christmas liturgies and family celebrations inspiring on the spirituality, goodwill and nativity. It is ended by Epiphany with blessing of water and plunging into rivers meaning purification.
Svyatki is the national season of Slavic folklore with Christmas carols, fortunes and communal gathering. There are a lot of popular customs like fortune-telling, masquerades and singing carols called kolyadki.
No Santa in Russia
Russians are normally waiting for Dad Moroz instead of Santa Claus and his gifts for New Year. There is also a young woman Snegurochka in Russian national attire with braided hair to help Ded Moroz. They both are the parts of traditional magic and highlights a unique approach to winter holidays. It seems like they both are the characters from a winter fairy tale being on parades or on television.
One-time ban of Christmas in Russia
Christmas in Russia was banned from 1917 to 1991. It was just because the communists acclaim atheism and saw Christmas as a religious holiday to be against their ideological goals.
Their communist regime closed churches across the country and banned to celebrate Christmas. So, any separate celebrations can result in fines therefore many Christians celebrated it secretly.
Celebrations begin with the first star
Russian Christmas Eve is marked with the First Star tradition. The firsy star in the evening sky is waited before starting their holy supper symbolizing the Nativity Fast. The star means the religious significance of this celebration and the Star of Bethlehem guiding the Wise Men to the birthplace of Jesus.
Here is a connection of faith with nature because people look through windows to see the star. It symbolizes stillness and anticipation uniting families to pray. If you failed to see the star in a bad weather some people start their supper at the time of 18.00.
Fasting of Russians before Christmas Eve
In Russia the Christmas Eve is on 6 January and deeply rooted in Orthodox traditions particularly the Nativity Fast. This day is ended of a 40-day of fasting and spiritual significance when families unites to eat with no meat and no diary food. This is called the Holy Supper and emphasized the simplicity and humility of the Nativity story. The traditional dish like Sochivo from a wheat porridge with honey, nuts and fruits symbolize the unity and hope. But the other traditional dishes also include mushroom soups, pickled vegetables, tasty salads and other dishes with potato or cabbage.
Pagan influence today
There are also pre-Christian pagan traditions that include roots from the celebration of this holiday after the adoption of Christianity in 988 AD. Before that time, the Slavs celebrated the winter according to the cycles of the sun and earth. Those pagan traditions included singing, fortune-telling and so many other traditions to celebrate prosperity and protection from evil spirits.
One of the famous traditions of this time is kolyadki namely carols. The singers of carols dressed in costumes and went to the doors of houses to bring blessing and fortune in exchange for food or gifts. Thus, Svyatki as the 12 days between Christmas and Epiphany combines fortune-telling practice and saint practice that date back to Slavic beliefs.
Nativity scenes are a big deal
There are a lot of verteps namely the nativity scenes that include the theatre performances or puppet shows. This word vertep traditionally means cave of Christ’s birth. Those shows date back to the 17th century and expresses Russian folk culture with a humor, song, and dramatic color.
A traditional vertep includes two levels like the upper stage with heavenly realm and Nativity story and the lower stage with satirical scene about earthly life. Thus, vertep is played in the community events in churches, homes, or public squares.
A Christmas liturgy in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior
Russia celebrates the greatest religious event like at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow. Traditionally the Patriarch of Moscow leads this big service. There you can see our president and other officials in person and other people watch it broadcast live across the country. On 6 January a solemn vigil starts this service. The main cathedral has the decorations like icons and candles and flowers when the choir sings ancient hymns and prayers. The patriarch read the Nativity Gospel singing the birth of Christ.
Epiphany celebration
Russian Epiphany is celebrated on 19 January like in the end of Christmas season and includes the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River. It has a great significance in the Russian Orthodox Church meaning purification and a good spirit inside you. This feat is closed to the manifestation of the Holy Trinity for Baptists.
The most famous Epiphany tradition is the blessing of water and then plunge into icy water. There are a lot of rivers, lakes or carved ice holes called Jordan symbolizing the Jordan River. People who faithful plunge themselves three times in the freezing water meaning the cleaning of sins and restart of faith.
If someone who do not plunge into the water usually collect blessed water to take home because it is more about the healing and protection.