On This Day
Christmas Comes Late to Russia
by
findingDulcinea Staff
Like a handful of other Orthodox countries, Russia celebrates Christmas on Jan. 7. But for the former Soviet country, the festival stills bears signs of a Communist past.
30-Second Summary
Russians follow the old Julian calendar, which is 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar employed elsewhere in Europe and in the United States.
Although nominally unified under the Patriarchate of Constantinople, Orthodox churches are national entities and often act independently of each other. The Greeks, for example, like most Orthodox Christians, celebrate their Christian festivals in step with America.
Diversity in Orthodox practice is only matched by the variety of traditions post-Communist peoples have adopted to celebrate their newly won right to religious freedom.
Until about 20 years ago, the boundaries of Orthodoxy almost overlapped with the parameters of the Soviet empire, where tight restrictions existed on the practice of religion. Since the bloc’s collapse in 1989, many people have rediscovered religion—and Santa!
Those nationalities that have to wait a little longer for his arrival can take some comfort in the early start to festivities, which begin on Dec. 24, in acknowledgment of what Russians call the “Catholic Christmas.” Work does not resume until mid-January. This prompted one International Herald Tribune blogger to describe the season as “a slacker’s dream.”
The Orthodox have adopted a number of Western customs, including Christmas decorations, which go up as early as November. Gifts are not mandatory, but are catching on.
However, the old Soviet Father Frost and his sidekick—the Communist equivalents of the gift-bearing Santa and his elves—are yet to be entirely replaced by their materialist Western counterparts.
Christmas, whether falling on Dec. 25 or Jan. 7, is also a much quieter affair in Orthodox countries than it is in the West. The big bash is on New Year’s Eve, which was an officially sanctioned holiday under Communism. Easter is the most important holy day in Orthodox countries. It falls on the same date for the whole Orthodox world.
Although nominally unified under the Patriarchate of Constantinople, Orthodox churches are national entities and often act independently of each other. The Greeks, for example, like most Orthodox Christians, celebrate their Christian festivals in step with America.
Diversity in Orthodox practice is only matched by the variety of traditions post-Communist peoples have adopted to celebrate their newly won right to religious freedom.
Until about 20 years ago, the boundaries of Orthodoxy almost overlapped with the parameters of the Soviet empire, where tight restrictions existed on the practice of religion. Since the bloc’s collapse in 1989, many people have rediscovered religion—and Santa!
Those nationalities that have to wait a little longer for his arrival can take some comfort in the early start to festivities, which begin on Dec. 24, in acknowledgment of what Russians call the “Catholic Christmas.” Work does not resume until mid-January. This prompted one International Herald Tribune blogger to describe the season as “a slacker’s dream.”
The Orthodox have adopted a number of Western customs, including Christmas decorations, which go up as early as November. Gifts are not mandatory, but are catching on.
However, the old Soviet Father Frost and his sidekick—the Communist equivalents of the gift-bearing Santa and his elves—are yet to be entirely replaced by their materialist Western counterparts.
Christmas, whether falling on Dec. 25 or Jan. 7, is also a much quieter affair in Orthodox countries than it is in the West. The big bash is on New Year’s Eve, which was an officially sanctioned holiday under Communism. Easter is the most important holy day in Orthodox countries. It falls on the same date for the whole Orthodox world.
Headline Links: 'Time for a Second Christmas/New Year's in Moscow'
Russia shuts down from Dec. 25 to mid-January to acknowledge its Orthodoxy and its transition to modernity. Russians follow the old Julian calendar and celebrate Christmas on Jan. 7, and New Year’s on Jan. 13. The formerly Communist country is essentially on holiday from Dec. 25, the day it observes what Russians call Catholic Christmas.
Source: International Herald Tribune
Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered a televised Christmas message to his people. “This is a holiday that has borne the light of faith, hope and love for centuries,” he said.
Source: Kommersant
Background: The Orthodox rediscover religion amid Communist practices
In his Christmas Eve message on Jan. 6, Russian Patriarch Alexy II called for peace in the Middle East. He also said he is pleased with the increased number of parishioners in his Church. Many Russians have rediscovered religion since the dismantling of the Soviet Union in 1991. Before that, the Communists placed many restrictions on the practice of religion.
Source: USA Today
The Communist past is still noticeable in Christmas rites in Russia. Father Frost, the Communist Santa, and his glamorous Snow Woman sidekick—who had equivalents in most ex-Soviet countries—are still very popular. New Year’s celebrations usually overshadow Christmas in post-Communist Russia.
Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
The BBC offers some images of the Orthodox Christmas from around the world.
Source: The BBC
Two Christmases for Orthodox Christians in the United States
Although members of the St. Nicholas Serbian Orthodox Church in Indianapolis, IN, put up trees and exchange Christmas presents on Dec. 25 like everyone else, they celebrate the birth of Christ on Jan. 7. They attend a Christmas Eve service at their church the night before. The parishioners, like some Orthodox Christians, follow the old Julian calendar, which is 13 days behind the more widely followed Gregorian calendar. They say that observing both Christmases allows them to focus on the spiritual side of Christmas on Jan. 6 and 7, the Indianapolis Star reports.
Source: Indianapolis Star
Armenians in Detroit also enjoy a second Christmas. "We're lucky; we get two Christmases," an Armenian woman told the Detroit Free Press.
Source: Detroit Free Press
Historical Context: Centuries of divisions and conflict
Many countries, many orthodoxies
Christmas celebrations on Jan. 7, 2001, in the Orthodox world were overshadowed by conflicts, reports Central Europe Review. The Russian Patriarch refused to attend a meeting of Orthodox Church heads at the Orthodox headquarters in Istanbul. Violence in Kosovo, Chechnya and the Middle East further dampened spirits. Jurisdictional problems beset the Serbian Orthodox Church. The report by the Central Europe Review includes an overview of celebrations in different countries.
Source: Central Europe Review
Christmas is celebrated on Jan. 7 by Russians, Serbs, Jerusalem’s Orthodox Christians as well as the monks on Mount Athos, according to the Julian calendar. That calendar is 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar, which most of the world follows today. Most Eastern Orthodox churches adopted the new calendar after the World War I, with the exception of some who resisted because it had been introduced by a Catholic pope. Orthodox Christians fast for 40 days before Christmas Day, when they have a big feast. Christmas in the East has not been commercialized to the extent it has been in the West. Easter is more important for Orthodox Christians than Christmas.
Source: The BBC
The Great Schism
The official split between Eastern and Western Christians took place in 1054. The development is known as the Great Schism. Western Christianity, or Catholicism, was unified under the authority of the pope until the Reformation. The Eastern Church took the appellation Orthodox. The two churches warred for centuries after the schism.
Source: The BBC
Related Links: Russian government defends Santa
The Russian government banned an ad that said Father Christmas does not exist. The government said that the ad undermined parents’ authority by contradicting what they tell their children. It is against the law to discredit parents in Russia.
Source: Yahoo News
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