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Step 1
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 when the first star is sighted in the sky (or, if it's cloudy out, after the sunset). 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.
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Step 2
Make a big bowl of kutya. Because of the holiday's association with Lent, 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. (One tradition you may want to discourage involves tossing a spoonful of kutya at the ceiling: if the porridge sticks, that's a good omen for the future.)
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Step 3
Observe the 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, ranging from a traditional greeting and response ("Christ is born?" "Glorify him!") to the painting of honey crosses on the assembled guests' foreheads. (During the meal, honey and garlic are symbolic of the sweetness and sorrow of life-which is uncannily similar to a Passover Seder).
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Step 4
Go to church. 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. Since you may or may not have a Russian Orthodox church anywhere nearby, it's okay to sit in your living room instead, singing traditional songs and opening presents.
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Step 5
Gather around the yolka. No, it's not a giant egg yolk-a "yolka" is actually the Russian version of a Christmas tree, introduced to the country in the 17th century by the ever-westernizing Peter the Great. Because ornaments were too expensive for most peasant families, the yolka is traditionally decorated with homespun decorations and the occasional piece of fruit.
Comments
jillmaria said
on 9/1/2009 Thank you for an informative article, 5 stars!!
liana said
on 1/7/2008 Good article. I'm Armenian and we celebrate it on the same day as well.
palex408 said
on 1/7/2007 Russian Christmas was always there as a holiday for me as a Russian-American but it wasn't the big commercial event that it is for most westerners. I mean, the old Russians from the old country would celebrate it but it wasn't a big deal. Most people still celebrated Christmas on the 25th of December and opened presents that day. January 7 was just a time to get together and observe the birth of Christ. My family was not too religious so we didn't go crazy over it. I think it was just a nostalgic time for the older Russians from China and other parts when they had to leave the communists and their old lives. My mother swears that the Christmas tree was important but I think only in the ballet The Nutcracker, will you see Russians Christmas like that. Easter is far more important a holiday and there are bigger ceremonies and gatherings for Easter than Christmas.
seveneleven said
on 1/6/2007 January 7, 2007
What is a Russian Christmas?
This morning I went to an Orthodox Church in Yuzhno-Sakhalin, Sakhalinski Russia. I went to acknowledge a power greater than myself and to understand how (Far East Russian’s) recognizes Christmas, from a religious perspective. From that perspective, and from mine, I discovered other than the date of recognition few differences existed between this morning’s ceremony and one that would occur in my home country (USA).
There were the less fortunate at the entrance gate, hat in hand. Inside the church was standing room only.
Giving Mass were Orthodox Priest wearing church approved attire. A fashion like other established religions must have taken hundreds of years to evolve, into today’s cut.
There the congregation listened to single man speak, on behalf of a power greater than ourselves. A lady holding a flat tray moving from pocket-to-pocket was accepting offerings. Communion followed with a crowd that surged forward to give and take.
In this Church there were children, parents, grand parents, those with fur and those with cotton and Russian Soldiers. All had heavy winter coats on. All with what appeared to sincerely embrace the moment as special.
The Church was beautiful, the feeling comfortable.
A Russian Christmas ….this morning.
David Hopkinson
seveneleven said
on 1/6/2007 January 7, 2007
What is a Russian Christmas?
This morning I went to an Orthodox Church in Yuzhno-Sakhalin, Sakhalinski Russia. I went to acknowledge a power greater than myself and to understand how (Far East Russian’s) recognizes Christmas, from a religious perspective. From that perspective, and from mine, I discovered other than the date of recognition few differences existed between this morning’s ceremony and one that would occur in my home country (USA).
There were the less fortunate at the entrance gate, hat in hand. Inside the church was standing room only.
Giving Mass were Orthodox Priest wearing church approved attire. A fashion like other established religions must have taken hundreds of years to evolve, into today’s cut.
There the congregation listened to single man speak, on behalf of a power greater than ourselves. A lady holding a flat tray moving from pocket-to-pocket was accepting offerings. Communion followed with a crowd that surged forward to give and take.
In this Church there were children, parents, grand parents, those with fur and those with cotton and Russian Soldiers. All had heavy winter coats on. All with what appeared to sincerely embrace the moment as special.
The Church was beautiful, the feeling comfortable.
That’s what Russian Christmas was this morning.
David Hopkinson