Russian Christmas Customs

First of all Russian Orthodox Рождество Christmas is celebrated on January 7, which is different from the Western one.

If you are celebrating December 25th, then just follow the Western one.

Some references for you if it's January 7

January 7 is Orthodox Christmas, and Russians, who are most influenced by Orthodox culture, celebrate this most important of all folk festivals with great pomp and circumstance in churches from the evening of the 6th to the early morning of the 7th, taking part in a pre-Christmas vigil.

January 7 on the Gregorian calendar is December 25 on the Russian calendar, and the identification of this day as Christmas Day is not accidental, because January 7, or December 25 on the Russian calendar, is the winter solstice (день зимнего солнце -стояния ), and therefore Christianity has designated this day as Christmas Day, which is also known as the Feast of the Nativity of the Lord.

Any festival is expressed through certain rituals. Rituals are distinctly national, reflecting a nation's views, traditions, customs and habits. The centerpiece of Christmas rituals and activities is: praying for happiness and a good harvest in the new year. This season coincides with New Year's Day on the Gregorian calendar, so it is often intertwined with various recreational activities for the New Year. The day before Christmas, January 6, is known as Christmas Eve (сочельник ), and on Christmas Eve believers fast all day until the evening. On the evening of Christmas Eve it is customary for believers and non-believers to eat Christmas goose, which is essential for Christmas dinner. Stores start supplying geese that have been slaughtered (with the giblets removed) around December 20, and people fill the bellies of the bought geese with apples, bread, and oiled onions, add various ingredients, and bake them for consumption. On this day, the faithful are required to eat a kind of cake called "Sokin" made of hemp oil and flour, and sweet porridge with honey.