С Рождеством!

[peacetraveler22]

I don't understand this holiday in Russia. Is it merely a religious observation, or do people also exchange gifts on Orthodox Christmas as they do on New Year's? Congratulations to those who celebrate! I'm not sure how the Orthodox church observes Christmas day, or if it varies from the Christian rituals in the USA and Europe on 25 December, but I hope everyone has a festive day! Cheers from the USA! :) Please share Orthodox Christmas traditions in comments. I'm not religious and don't observe these holy days, but is interesting to learn about cultural distinctions for celebration.

Comments

[pro100-petrov.livejournal.com]

Positively, this holiday is completely religious in Russia. But nevertheless, thank you for your congratulation.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

So for people who aren't religious, this is just an ordinary day? I guess they must also appreciate the holiday because it's a free day off from work. :)

[dorli87.livejournal.com]

Thank you! We dont make gifts in those days.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

You're welcome. I saw some of my Russian friends on Facebook posting photos of gifts this morning, so I got confused. But perhaps everyone has different family traditions.

[tropical-degree.livejournal.com]

Since Old New Year is on 14 Th January, 6 of January was always Russian Christmas.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Yes, I read about the significance of the day this morning because I couldn't remember why the Orthodox celebrate on 7 January. Now I remember. :)

[white-walker.livejournal.com]

For me and many my friends there's not anything special about this day.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

This is a big cultural distinction, because in the U.S. Christmas is observed by both the religious and unbelievers. It has become a secular holiday in many ways, so that everyone can enjoy it.

[masha-shamraeva.livejournal.com]

It's an important holiday for religious people. Earlier I congratulated my religious grandmother and grandfather. Now for me it's just a day, when institutions do not work.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

So how do your grandparents celebrate? Just go to church services? Btw, I'm always amazed there are no chairs or benches in Orthodox churches, and that people stand for the entire service.

[bratyk.livejournal.com]

Для большинства россиян - это обычный выходной из десяти ни кому не нужных нерабочих дней в начале января. Только небольшой процент православных посещают церковь.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

It's nice to have so many days off! I'm envious. :)

[worobioff-ku.livejournal.com]

Шеннон! С Рождеством Христовым, поздравляю Вас!Желаю крепкого сибирского здоровья,море любви и финансов!В подарок старинная русская меднолитая икона "Рождество Христово"!

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Thanks! :) But my Christmas celebration is over. My family observes Christmas on 25 December, and today I'm sitting at my desk at work, doing legal work. :)

[vladibo666.livejournal.com]

Obviously, it is religious, I never seen gift exchanges on this day. But nevertheless, almost everybody (religious or not) participate - we don't want to miss a party opportunity. Dates difference in celebrating is due to the church changes from Julian to Gregorian calendar. However some orthodox confessions (russian, armenian, 5 or 6) never changed old dates to the new ones for the holiday observations. That is exactly shift in 14 days.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Okay! Have fun at your secular party. :)

[pin-gwin.livejournal.com]

I did not mention it, I have nothing to do with it. It is a religious date, not like big sales marathon finish in the US. Seriously, New Year is way better to celebrate for any faithful of faithless people. United we stand.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

So what day does your family celebrate and exchange gifts in the USA? On 25 December or New Year's? Because your children have grown up in Minnesota, right?

[elena-88888.livejournal.com]

Hi, Shannon,
Thanks for congratulations!

I'm not so religious as to follow all the attributes and especially I'm very unsatisfied as for institution of church. Recent years most of all. I just have faith, I trust in God and just avoid another way of charging me off...

Here we have quite difficult situation with prices in complex with quality so I make big purchases mostly online so it's quite difficult to keep in secret. So New-Year, Christmas and other 363/364 days a year we can present each other with quite small gifts

And a picture for you - how people celebrate Christmas in Russia...

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

It is always good to have faith and hope in something, otherwise life becomes very dark and meaningless. Where does Putin attend church services? In Moscow, or some provincial area?

[lastochkanata.livejournal.com]

Christmas at us - not only a holiday religious though in a basis the religious tradition lays.. The Majority of those who celebrates it, do not go to this day in church though can consider itself as believing people. In our family it is accepted to mark it, and we love it even more, than New year. Christmas - a holiday more silent and family. More magic. More sincere... Gifts to give really this day it is especially not accepted, as all is already presented in New year:).

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Enjoy! I hope you and your family have a wonderful day! :)

[mat-uc.livejournal.com]

We have 10 drinking days this winter.

Fucking crisis. No Alpes, no France and no Austria :(

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

In other years you usually traveled during the long holiday? I feel bad for my Russian friends, who are not in a very difficult position due to the weakened ruble. Meanwhile, the dollar is very strong and it is a good time for Americans to travel. Life is unfair. :(

[andrey-kaminsky.livejournal.com]

yahoo!!!!

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I don't envision you as a holy man. And what do you do on this day? Look at porn online? :))

[al-lex-ey.livejournal.com]

-I don't understand this holiday in Russia.
- It is Christmas. What is so strange?

-Is it merely a religious observation,
- Yes

-or do people also exchange gifts on Orthodox Christmas as they do on New Year's?
-Yes too.

Do you visit Church on Christmas eve? Many Russians do.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

For me, it's a big difference in the way Russians and Americans celebrate Christmas. In the U.S., Christmas is celebrated by all, even atheists. :)) It is both a secular and religious holiday. No, I don't attend church on any day of the year. I'm agnostic.

[ilay-original.livejournal.com]

Some people do celebrate (not many) but for the most it's just a cause to exchange warm wishes once again.
And proof of surviving wild new year celebration - for some of us :)

Probably this was the reason me and my friends were posting vintage postcards on facebook this night and exchanged with sms texts. Though none of us is at all religious.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

"Proof of surviving wild new year celebration..." :)) I can barely stay awake until midnight to ring in the New Year now that I'm older. :)

[onkel-hans.livejournal.com]

On the twelfth day of Christmas ... ;)

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

On the twelfth day of Christmas, Putin gave to me..... Could be an interesting version of the song. :))

Full-grown galleries

[(Anonymous)]

Provocative representation shots
http://ebony.erolove.in/?special-kaya
erotic modeling shunga erotic erotic witch erotic channels

[beloborodoff.livejournal.com]

Christmas is not big event. Main holliday is New Year Eve it has all rituals as western Christmas. Also is Orthodox and Catolic churches likes Easter much more than Christmas.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Why is Easter more popular with the Orthodox? In the U.S., I think Christmas and Easter are equal for believers. They are both very holy days, marked in the church.

[slonopotamm.livejournal.com]

This is just an ordinary day, no gifts, etc.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Boring! :)

[juan-gandhi.livejournal.com]

Well. In the old days, when religion was at least under suspicion, the Christians went to the church, overnight; and in the morning came back and celebrated; others pretended that there's no such thing as Christmas.

Also, if you read Pushkin, there were some ancient rituals, pre-Christian.

These days the old habits are forgotten, and people just do what the tv tells them to do.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

And what does the TV tell them to do? Go to church, obey the master, suffer for the country? I can't watch most Russian TV due to language barriers. This is probably better for my sanity. :)

[perycalypsis.livejournal.com]

Emptiness. But the mere thought of that
brings forth lights as if out of nowhere.
Had Herod but known the stronger he seemed,
the more sure, the more certain the wonder.
Every year this constant relation
is the basic machinery of Christmas.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Google tells me that this is Brodsky!

[dkfl.livejournal.com]

I think the primary reason to celebrate is 10 days long public holidays.
People needs to celebrate something :)

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

This Russian holiday is sooooo long!!! What do you do during this time off of work?

[a-nimaida.livejournal.com]

New this year to the beginning of the year)
..that Christ on Christmas day of Christ's birth.
It is different holidays

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Do you celebrate Christmas?

[iiiko.livejournal.com]

I'm not religious too.
We went today to the parents and their congratulations on Christmas. Good celebrated. It was fun.
I still do not know how to celebrate Christmas.
I do not understand how the same person can be born two times?
On 25 December and 7 January?
I think it is foolish to believe in Christmas.
What have modern humans in Europe and the United States to the ancient Palestinian folklore for more than 2000 years ago?

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

"I do not understand how the same person can be born two times..." Good point! :) I'm glad you had a fun day with your parents!

[julie-with-love.livejournal.com]

I just recently wrote why Christmas is celebrated on the 7th of January in my blog here http://thefoodiemiles.com/why-christmas-in-russia-is-celebrated-on-the-7th-of-january/
And why new year is more popular than christmas here http://thefoodiemiles.com/why-new-year-is-more-popular-than-christmas-in-russia/
It's in english, hope it will be helpful))

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Thanks! What a nice blog you have! Congratulations on your first Thanksgiving feast. :)