christmas and new year the russian way
TRANSCRIPT
The Russians
celebrate twice the
New Year. One of the
Gregorian calendar
(January 1) and that of
the Orthodox religion
(January 14), without
forgetting the Orthodox
Christmas (7 January).
The Soviet regime forbade "comrades" to
celebrate Catholic Christmas. The Russians
took the practice to honor the birth of Christ on
the day of the Western new Year and celebrate
two holidays in one.
Christmas trees were also banned by the
regime in 1917 as "a bourgeois practice"
but people continued to decorate their
"New Year“ trees
Christmas celebrations in the Soviet era
2014
Gregorian Calendar's New Year
January 1, 2014
‘
Father Frost or Ded
Moroz, (an invented
character) , white
beard, hood and
pilgrim stick down in
the chimneys in the
evening of New Year's
Eve to deliver presents
to children, supported
by the snow daughter,
the mythical Babushka.
Father Frost and Snow Maiden march along a street during the traditional opening of the New Year
Christmas Parade in Moscow
Offering citrus fruit
around the holiday season
is a tradition for some
families.
The Russian Orthodox Church continues to celebrate all the holidays according to the Julian calendar.
A holy water cross on the forehead of a nun
The Orthodox Christmas on January
7
Janvier 7 2014 – Celebrations à la Cathédrale de Kazan, Petersburg
St. Petersburg
New Year's Eve is an explosion of joy in Russia. The hosts welcome guests according to national tradition, in agreement with their legendary hospitality. The appetizer is a deluge of champagne and vodka. Brioche bread and salt are served. Then comes the famous zakouski, dishes composed of varied tidbits, hot or cold. Koulibiak, brioche and stuffed meatloaf, fish, cabbage ... occupies a special place in the Russian festive menus.
Kulebyaka
Most
RussianChristian
s belong to the
Eastern Orthodox
Church, and it is
customary to fast
until the first
service of the
church on
Christmas Eve.
Christmas Eve is meatless but festive. The most important ingredient is a
special porridge called kutya. It is made of wheatberries or other grains
that symbolize hope and immortality, and honey and poppy seeds that ensure
happiness, success, and tranquility.
Koulibiak, usually served in a flat puff pastry fish shape, includes meatloaf, fish,
cabbage ... and occupies a special place in the Russian festive menus
The main dishes of the New Year's Eve /
Christmas in Russia remain the Olivier
salad (cubes of meat and vegetables
cooked associated with mayonnaise
sauce), herring fur with cooked and
cooled beetroot and tangerines
Entertainers at the opening of the GUM ice skating rink on Red Square in Moscow (latr 2014)