Russian Holiday Traditions

By: Andrea Brockman

Important Dates

• 1-2 January – New Years Day

• 7 January – Orthodox Christmas

• 8 March – International Women’s Day

• April – Easter (Paskha)

• 9 May – Victory Day (1945)

• 12 June – Russian Independence Day

Shrovetide

Russians welcome spring during this time. This

celebration comes seven weeks before Easter, and lasts seven days. People

make noise and play tricks. Go sledding and have

snowball fights.

Easter

Easter is an important religious holiday in Russia. Russians paint eggs with wax and bright dyes and eat special Easter cakes and cookies.

The red egg is considered a symbol of Easter. The Easter egg has many specific purposes, it is a traditional Easter present given to friends and relatives as an Easter salutation. There is a proverb saying that once you wash your face in the water with the Easter egg in it, you will always be healthy and beautiful; the fire will die, if the Easter egg is thrown into it. People usually visit their relatives. The traditional greeting, if translated is “Christ is alive” the answer is “Christ is truly alive”.

Victory Day

Victory day marks the end of World War II (1939-1945). It is also to commemorate

the millions fallen in the war. Flowers and wreaths are placed on wartime graves

and veterans come out into the streets wearing their

military medals. Russians remain silent for one

minute. This silence honors those who died in the war.

Independence Day

This is the newest holiday in Russia. Celebrating the

day Russia broke away from the

Soviet Union in the year 1991.

Women’s DayOn this day men give women gifts, usually flowers. Men also are supposed to do all the housework, this is pretty nice – at least once a year women can have some rest and forget about dishes, cooking, kids , and can take a magazine and relax on the coach.

CHRISTMAS

Thirteen days after Western Christmas, on January 7th, the

Russian Orthodox Church celebrates its Christmas in

accordance to the old Julian calendar. It’s a day of both

solemn ritual and joyous celebration.

CHRISTMAS

After the 1917 Revolution, Christmas was banned throughout Russia, along with other religious celebrations. It wasn’t until 75 years later, in 1992, that the holiday was openly observed.

Today, it’s once again celebrated in grand fashion, with the faithful participating in an all-night Mass in incense-filled Cathedrals amidst

the company of the painted icons of Saints.

Christmas is one of the most joyous traditions. On Christmas Eve it is traditional for all family

members to gather to share a special meal. The various foods and customs surrounding the meal differed in Holy Russia from village

to village and from family to family.

CHRISTMAS

In old Russian traditions, whose roots are in the Orthodox faith, is that the Christmas Eve is to

fast and meal. The fast lasts until after the evening worship service or until the first star appears. Once the first star has appeared in

the sky, the festivities begin. The meal is called “The Holy Supper.” The family gathers around the table to honor the coming Christ

Child. A white table-cloth, symbolic of Christ’s swaddling clothes, covers the Table.

Hay is brought forth as the reminder of the poverty of when Jesus was born. A tall white candle is placed in the center of the table as a symbol of Christ “the Light of the World.”

And a large round loaf of Lenten bread, “pagach,” is symbolic of Christ the Bread of

life.

Babushka

Babushka is a traditional Christmas figure who distributes presents to children. The legend

is told that she declined to go with the wise men to see Jesus

because of cold weather. However, she regretted not going

and set off to try and catch up, filling her basket with presents. She never found Jesus, and that

is why she visits each house, leaving toys for good children.

NEW YEARS

Because Christmas was not celebrated during the Soviet

Union, New Years was the important

time – when ‘Father Frost’ brought gifts to

children.

New Years• Children expect presents• Adults expect the New Year will bring ease, wealth,

and contentment. • The old new year is marked January 13-14th.• It is considered a family holiday and it is celebrated

with family members and dear friends.• There is a popular belief that however one greets the

New Year, that is the way one will live the New Year.• So, people celebrate with a hearty meal and lots of

champagne in hopes the New Year will bring abundance and wealth.

The FIR Tree

As soon as you bring a beautiful tree into your house, there is a puff of pine

needles and freshness – it is clear that the New Year is fast approaching. The

house or flat is immediately set in order, floors are washed and carpets are cleaned. The day before, it is the rule to array the fir tree, to decorate with fir or pine branches with cones, garlands, snowflakes, and ribbons of

paper streamers. Under the fir tree are placed the toys delivered by

Grandfather Frost and the Snow Maiden.

New YearsOn the evenings before New

Year’s, young children sing and dance in a ring around the

tree, telling rhymes and singing. The elder children go to kolyadovat, that is, they go

from house to house, apartment to apartment, to

perform the ancient Christmas rite of the glorification of the holiday through he singing of songs. They wish happiness, health, and good luck, and in return, they are given nuts,

apples, cookies, sweetmeats, and a small coin.

NEW YEAR

• New Year supper begins at 10 and lasts for three hours.

• To see off the old and to see in the new.

• At exactly five minutes to midnight, the Russian President delivers his address to the Russian People.

• And at Midnight the chimes of the Kremlin in Moscow strike Twelve times.