Christmas in Russia
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Christmas in Russia | |
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![]() A Christmas market in Red Square, 2017 | |
Official name | Рождество Христово (Rozhdestvo Khristovo) |
Observed by | Christians, many non-Christians |
Significance | Commemoration of the Nativity of Jesus |
Celebrations | Christmas tree decorations, gift-giving, family and other social gatherings, feasting, etc. |
Observances | Church services |
Date |
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Frequency | annual |
Related to | Nativity Fast |
Christmas in Russia (Russian: Рождество Христово, Rozhdestvo Khristovo), called Е́же по пло́ти Рождество Господа Бога и Спа́са нашего Иисуса Христа (Yezhe po ploti Rozhdestvo Gospoda Boga i Spasa nashego Yisusa Khrista) in the
Christmas was largely erased from the Russian calendar for much of the 20th century due to the Soviet Union's anti-religious policies, but many of its traditions survived, having been transplanted to New Year's Day.[4] Although Christmas was re-established as a holiday in the 1990s after the collapse of the Soviet Union, it is still eclipsed by New Year's Day, which remains the most important Russian holiday.[5]
History
In Russia, the Christmas holiday became the official celebration with the
In the 19th century, a lavishly decorated Christmas tree became central to the holiday, a tradition originally imported by Nicholas I's wife, Alexandra Feodorovna, from her native Prussia. The tradition of giving gifts to children on Christmas took root around the same time.[6] Christmas gifts were traditionally brought by Ded Moroz (Russian: Дед Моро́з, lit. 'Grandfather Frost'), the Russian counterpart of Saint Nicholas or Father Christmas, albeit a little taller and less stout. Rooted in Slavic folklore, Ded Moroz is accompanied by his beautiful granddaughter, Snegurochka (Russian: Снегу́рочка, lit. 'The Snow Maiden'), who rides with him on a sleigh pulled by a trio of horses.[6]
During the early
In 1991, after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Christmas was reinstated alongside other religious holidays.[6]
Religious services
On Christmas Eve (6 January), there are several long church services, including the
Traditional festive cuisine
Principal dishes on the Christmas table in old Russia included roasted pig, stuffed pig's head, roasted meat chunks, jelly (
Finely sliced meat and pork was cooked in pots with semi-traditional porridge. Pies were indispensable dishes for Christmas, as well as other holidays, and included both closed and open style
Sweet dishes served on the Russian Christmas table included berries, fruit, candy, cakes, angel wings, biscuits, honey. Beverages included drinking broths (kompot and sweet soups, sbiten), kissel, and, from the beginning of the 18th century, Chinese tea.[9]
Complaints over government recognition
In 1999, the atheist
In 2008, a
See also
- Koliada
- Christmas worldwide
- Novy God
- Orthodox New Year
- Religion in Russia
References
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 3. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
- ISBN 978-1-4443-6005-9.
- ^ Ramzy, John. "The Glorious Feast of Nativity: 7 January? 29 Kiahk? 25 December?". Coptic Orthodox Church Network. Archived from the original on 28 December 2010. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
- ^ Tamkin, Emily. "How Soviets Came to Celebrate New Year's Like Christmas (and Why Russians Still Do)". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
- ^ Shute, Nancy (27 December 2011). "For Russians, New Year's Eve Remains The Superholiday". NPR. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
- ^ a b c d e Weber, Hannah (25 December 2020). "Yolka: the story of Russia's 'New Year tree', from pagan origins to Soviet celebrations". The Calvert Journal. Archived from the original on 13 January 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
- ^ a b "How New Year was celebrated in the USSR (PHOTOS)". Beyond Russia. 29 December 2019. Archived from the original on 29 December 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
- ^ "Постановление СНК СССР от 24.09.1929". www.libussr.ru (in Russian). Archived from the original on 29 December 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
- ^ ISBN 5-7345-0063-1
- ^ "В суд на Рождество". Archived from the original on 17 December 2013. Retrieved 17 December 2013.