Russian Christmas Traditions, Ukrainian Christmas Traditions

Today (6 January) is Christmas day in Armenia, home to the oldest Christian culture in the world. And its Christmas Eve all over Eastern Europe and much of the far East. С новым годом и С Рождеством Христовым to all of our Armenian readers and friends!

Coming soon we’ll talk about how a Russian table looks in the FSU. To begin Grandfather Frost has invited you to stay for some hot tea. As he has already heated up the water in his samovar, you’d best take a seat and oblige.

Separating fact from fiction when it comes to the Russian holidays:

- Even a cursory cruise of the Internet reveals a vast amount of information about the New Year and Christmas holidays in the FSU. Unfortunately much of the available information seems to have been posted by writers who have never lived in Russia and the misinformation is copied from site to site. Regrettably much of the information is incomplete and lacking a true Russian perspective.

So let’s separate some facts from fiction. We’ll count them in Russian numbers.

Oдин (one) – If a site or author talks about “Father” Frost, run away.

Fact: One of the most simple facts is the story of Grandfather Frost. That is Russian Christmas 101.

два (two) – Some say that Grandfather Frost was created by the Soviets as a substitute to Santa because of Santa’s supposed connection to Christianity.

Fact: Hmm…a golly ole dude handing out candy to kids is religious? Not true. It was just 11 years after the revolution when Grandfather Frost (not Santa) was declared “an ally of the priest and kulak” and outlawed. He was anything but a Soviet creation. Grandfather Frost was not “rehabilitated” by the Soviets until 1937 when he was invited to entertain Russian children at the prestigious Palace of the Unions.

три (three) – Christmas Trees were common in Russia until the Soviets banned them.

Fact: Not exactly. In 1916, in Imperial Russia the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church boycotted Christmas trees as a tradition because they originated from Germany, Russia’s enemy during World War I. During the Soviet period the government simply moved the trees to New Year and called them “New Year trees” as they were considered to be a “bourgeois and religious practice.” However the ban (that had started before the Soviet days) was actually lifted by the Communists in 1935, but Russians by that time seemed to like having their trees identified with the new year celebrations.

четыре (four) – Only deeply religious people observe the Nativity fast.

Fact: The 40 day Nativity fast is so common in everyday that it alters everything from school and government cafeteria menus to restaurant menus to supermarket inventory.

пять (five) – Grandfather Frost is simply a substitute version of Santa Claus.

Fact: Santa was built around the legend of Saint Nicholas, but Grandfather Frost first originated from pagan sources. Technically they’re not even from the same background. Besides you’re more likely to see Grandfather Frost in a blue outfit as a red one.

шесть (six) – While browsing the Internet I saw an article which described how Russians bake a turkey for Christmas dinner. It also said that ham is a popular Christmas meat.

Fact: Most Russians don’t like turkey. The turkeys available are usually scrawny little birds that neither look well or taste good. Ham is definitely not a very common Christmas dinner in Russia or Ukraine either.

So, what do Russian holiday meals serve? We’ll cover holiday foods very soon. In doing so we’ll try to separate the facts from the fiction.

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~ by mendeleyev on 05/01/2010.