Russian Christmas Tree Tradition

He is accompanied by snegurochka a snow maiden said to be his granddaughter.

Russian christmas tree tradition.

Christmas in russia occurs on january 7th according to the russian orthodox calendar. On new year s eve he places presents for children under the new year tree as opposed to a christmas tree. In russia the christmas holiday became the official celebration with the baptism of rus ordered by prince vladimir in the late 10th century. January 7 through january 19 mark the dates for russian christmastide also called svyatki.

Christmas is a time for visiting family attending church services and enjoying a christmas feast. Celebrating the new year is a more important holiday in russia than christmas. During the early mid soviet period religious celebrations were discouraged by the official state policy of atheism until 1936 but despite this. Many christmas traditions such as decorating a fir tree and giving presents turned into new year s traditions.

It began regaining popularity only recently partially because russian leaders starting with vladimir putin annually attend a christmas liturgy. Russian christmas religious traditions. In the orthodox tradition nothing is eaten or drunk on christmas eve until the first star appears in the sky. Often russian christmas and russian new years are combined into a long winter celebration.

However given the early christian community kievan rus celebration may have a longer history. Russian orthodox christmas takes place on january 7th following the old calendar this is the 25th of december and the celebration lasts for six days.