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• Many Russian families celebrate Christmas on December 25, but the Russian Orthodox Church celebrates Orthodox Christmas on January 7. Orthodox Christmas is preceded by a strict fasting regimen that lasts as long as forty days for many families. The long fast is broken when the first stars are visible in the sky on Christmas Eve (January 6). To learn more about the customs and traditions of Christmas in Russia check out the links on this page.Russian Crafts: Russian Christmas

• Fast Facts

  1. Western Christmas falls on December 25
  2. Orthodox Christmas is on January 7, in keeping with the Julian CalendarRussian Crafts: Russian Christmas
  3. After the 1917 revolution the celebration of holidays was banned in Russia by the BolsheviksRussian Crafts: Russian Christmas
  4. The long fast is broken by the Holy Supper, which is laid out on a white table cloth representing the swaddling clothes of the Christ childRussian Crafts: Russian Christmas
  5. Many celebrate the feast of St. Nicholas of Myra
  6. During Bolshevik rule, St. Nicholas was replaced by Dedushka Moroz (Grandfather Frost)
  7. On New Year's Dedushka Moroz and his granddaughter Snyegurochka (the Snomaiden) brought giftsRussian Life: Christmastide Tradition
  8. New Year's is the most widely celebrated holiday in Russia

• Babushka

  In Russia there is a story about an old woman the children refer to as Babushka. She was always so busy cleaning and working that when the Three Wise Men came to her door and asked her to come with them to celebrate the birth of the savior, she declined their offer. Later on she regretted her decision and set out after them with a basket of gifts for the newborn Christ child, but she never found him. Today, Russian children believe that Babushka wanders the villages on Christmas Eve looking for the baby Jesus. She is said to leave gifts at the homes of well-behaved children. Children in Italy tell a similar story about a Christmas witch named La Befana.Santa's Net: Russian Christmas

• Related Pages on Mahalo

  Christmas | Russia | Christmas in Japan | Christmas in the Philippines | Christmas in India | Christmas in England | Christmas in China | Christmas in Ireland | Christmas in France | Christmas in Australia | Christmas in Iraq | Christmas in Mexico | Christmas Markets in France | Christmas Markets in Germany | Christmas in Italy | Christmas in Spain | Christmas in Brazil | Christmas in Switzerland | New Years Tree

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