Christmas In Russia Facts: Read About These Russian Folk Traditions!

Are you curious about rituals of Christmas Eve and how people in Russia celebrate Christmas?

The Russian Christmas is a public holiday that is observed by the Christian population as the most important festival of the year. Although certain Russian Christmas traditions are comparable to those observed in the west, others are unique to Russia, which reflect the rich heritage of Russia and the Russian Orthodox Church.

So many Christmas traditions of Russia date back to the pagan culture that prevailed in Russia prior to Christianity's introduction. From the end of December to the middle of January, Pagan rites were performed in order to bring about a good year with a plentiful harvest.

As Christianity appeared in Russia, these ceremonies were modified and mixed with the new religion's customs, resulting in a unique combination of celebrations that are being practiced in Russia today.

After reading about the official Christmas and religious celebrations, also read about Christmas in Japan facts and Christmas in France facts.

Christmas Traditions In Russia

Russian Christmas celebrations traditionally begin on Christmas Eve, or Сочeльник (saCHYELnik). The word Сочeльник is derived from the word сочиво (SOHchiva), which refers to a special meal made from grains like wheat, nuts, seeds, dry fruits, and honey.

The meal of the Russian Christmas marks the end of the 40-day Nativity Fast. The Nativity Fast is kept until the first star appears in the night sky, to commemorate the appearance of the Star of Bethlehem, which inspired and guided three wise men to Jesus' Jerusalem home.

Christmas in Russia is spent with family and is seen as a season of love and forgiveness. Stars, angels, and scenes of the nativity are used to decorate homes, and thoughtful gifts are presented to loved ones on Russian Christmas. On Christmas Eve, many people of Russia attend a Christmas liturgy.

On Russian Christmas, families sit at the table for a celebratory feast after the fast is broken after nightfall. Pickled delicacies such as pickled mushrooms, gherkins, pickled apples, and sauerkraut are traditionally provided. Pies with mushrooms, fish, meat, and vegetable fillings are another classic dish.

Russian Orthodox Christmas

As per the Julian calendar used by the Russian Orthodox Church, Russian Orthodox Christmas is observed on January 7th.

The discrepancy between the Gregorian calendar and Julian calendars is currently 13 days. The discrepancy in the Gregorian calendar and the Julian calendar will increase to 14 days effective from 2100, and Russians will celebrate Christmas on January 8th from then until the next increase.

Christmas and other church celebrations were prohibited throughout the Soviet regime. Many Christmas rituals were shifted to New Year's, which has now become Russia's most popular holiday.

Despite this, many Christmas customs survive in Russia. For example, on Christmas Eve, fortune-telling is famous, as are performing Christmas carols and fasting until the first star emerges in the sky on Christmas Eve night.

Traditional Festive Cuisine

The Christmas Eve meal marks the end of the Nativity Fast. The Christmas Eve meal is usually meatless and consists of 12 courses to commemorate the 12 disciples.

At this celebratory event of Russia, everyone in the family shares Lenten bread soaked in honey and garlic. Kutya is a honey-sweetened combination of grains and poppy seeds, dried fruit, and even fruit jellies that is served as one of the major courses at the Christmas dinner.

Beetroot soup (borscht) is popular. There is also vegan potluck (solyanka), which, in the vegetarian variety, is a salty stew that can be served with dried fruit, beans, potatoes, or sauerkraut. There are porridge dishes like buckwheat with fried onions and fried mushrooms and salads.

The main meal is a feast for people of Russia with dishes like roast pork and meat dumplings. Desserts include fruit pies, dried fruit cookies, or gingerbread of various types.

Christmas Fortune-Telling

Fortune-telling is a Russian practice that dates back to pre-Christian times (and is not condoned by the Russian Orthodox Church).

Young, unmarried women used to assemble in a residence known as a Russian sauna to perform fortune-telling. During fortune-telling, women kept their hair loose and wore only their dressing gowns. Women and men who were married were not permitted to participate in fortune-telling Christmas traditions.

Many fortune-telling practices in modern Russia involve the entire family. Particularly popular fortune-telling practices are tea-leaf reading, tarot card readings, and coffee ground prediction. Some examples of fortune-telling that are traditionally used in Russia during Christmas are discussed below.

An inquiry is asked, or a wish is made in a bowl filled with rice, during the fortune-telling. You must count the number of grains that have clung to your hand when you put your hand into the bowl and then take it out.

An even number indicates that the request will be fulfilled soon, whilst an odd number indicates that it will be fulfilled later.

The second type of fortune-telling is to collect as many glasses or cups as there are individuals in the room. Each cup contains one of the following items: a coin, an onion, sugar, salt, a ring, a slice of bread, and water.

Everybody gets a turn choosing a cup while closing their eyes.

The chosen object is a representation of the not-too-distant future. In the fortune-telling ritual, a ring represents a wedding, a coin represents money, bread represents prosperity, sugar represents joyful days and happiness, an onion represents sorrow, salt represents challenging days, and a cup of water represents life as it is.

On Christmas Eve, young women would traditionally go outside and ask the first male they encountered what his name is. Their potential husband's name is thought to be the same.

Russian Christmas Religious Observances

Russia was prohibited from publicly celebrating Christmas for most of the 20th century as a Communist, atheist country. On this religious holiday, the religious practice of Christmas slipped out of popularity since so many Russians identified as atheists.

However, following the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, people of Russia have been more interested in religion, especially Russian Orthodox. The amount of people who observe Christmas as a religious holiday is steadily increasing.

A few of the Orthodox Christian Christmas traditions practiced in Russia are similar to those observed in other regions of Europe during the Christmas season.

In Russia, as in Poland, people will cover their floors and tables in hay to symbolize the cradle where baby Jesus was born.

A white cover is then placed on the table to represent Jesus' swaddled clothing. People of Russia may fast during the holiday season, with the fast ending when the very first star in the night appears on Christmas Eve.

Members of the Russian Orthodox church attend a Christmas church service, which takes place on Christmas Eve night. Both President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev have begun visiting these somber and magnificent Moscow services.

Russian Christmas Folk Traditions

Christmas traditions include fortune-telling on Christmas Eve and singing Christmas carols (kalyadki), while devotees keep a strict fast that ends when the first star emerges in the sky on Christmas Eve night. Some common Russian folk Christmas traditions are discussed below.

People of Russia commonly decorate their homes and flats with Christmas decorations such as Christmas tree lights, Christmas trees, stars, and cutouts in the shape of angels to make the Christmas ambiance more festive and immersive. In particular, the Russian Christmas tree, which is one of the most important Christmas symbols, may be found in homes of many Russians.

In Russia, children sing Christmas carols by going from place to place after the Christmas Day feast, mainly to the homes of individuals they recognize, such as friends and family. People also greet the residents of those houses with a joyous New Year.

Residents of the homes that visit thank them with cookies, sweets, or money in exchange for their singing and holiday wishes.

Baboushka's Tale is a tale told to children on Christmas Day. It is not known whether this tale had its origin from Russia or whether inspiration was taken by an American poem that was published during the early 20th century, but it's still told as a tale to children on every Christmas day.

The narrative is well-known in Russia, and it tells of a Russian woman whose life intersected with the birth of Jesus significantly, despite the fact that she did not personally see it.

Russian Santa Claus, known as Father Christmas, is often joined by his granddaughter in the Russian Christmas tradition. Snegurochka, a snow maiden, is her name.

She generally wears a crown and a blue fur coat. The snow maiden of Russia is blonde, slim, and sweet.

Snegurochka joins the Russian Santa Claus on his journey and assists him in distributing gifts to the children. This is a one-of-a-kind figure; the Russian Santa Claus (or 'Father Frost', as people of Russia know him) is accompanied by a lovely granddaughter only in Russia.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for Christmas in Russia facts, then why not take a look at Australian Christmas facts or Christmas in the Philippines facts.