New Year and Christmas

[mendeleyev]

The Nativity fast, also called St. Philip's Fast, begins in Orthodox churches of the Western world on 15 November. That is a set date annually and ends on December 24. In Eastern Europe and Asia the Nativity fast begin on 28 November each year and ends on Christmas Eve, 6 January.

This can be confusing so here is a review:
- Nativity fast in the West: began on 15 November
- Nativity fast is the East: begins on 28 November



 


The top section of the calendar lists 28 November as the day to begin the fast. Most Westerners find it interesting that the Eastern calendar week begins on Monday and ends on Sunday.

The only country in the world doing their own thing is Armenia which celebrates Christmas on 6 January and thus their Nativity fast begins on 14 November and ends the 5th of January. As Armenia was the first nation to adopt Christianity as their faith, perhaps they get to go first. 

It is not unusual for those who have missed church many weeks throughout the year to play catchup around this time of season. Going to confession and visiting a Monastery for a few days of reflection are popular activities leading up to the New Year and then Christmas.




(Vising a monastery in November.)

If your Russian speaking friend asks about your participation in the "post" they're really talking about the fast. The term for a food fast is пост, post.

There is quite a difference between fasts from East to West. Usually in the West the only folks observing are dedicated believers. In the East it sometimes seems as if dedicated believers have come out of the woodwork from hiding. However here it is more of a custom to observe some of the traditions around Christmas and Easter which are the two major times of fasting. Government offices, public schools and restaurants adjust their menus during these seasons so that those who choose to fast can do so but no one is forced.

The fast is designed to somewhat replicate the diet of Christ's 40 days in the desert and the Nativity is often called the little Pashka, or little Easter. As possible the observer should eat no meat except fish on certain Fridays, no eggs or dairy or alcohol. The fast is optional for those who are elderly, very young, sick or traveling and away from home.

For non-Russian speaking visitors who are interesting to see how a restaurant fasting menu looks, I recommend something like the Starlite Diner in Moscow. The Starlite is an Americana styled diner with great burgers, steaks and fries with yummy milkshakes but they kick out an impressive vegetarian menu during the fasting periods. They have 5 Moscow locations so here is a link to find them: http://www.starlite.ru/aboutstarlite.aspx?id=ourdiners&language=US


Seven days/seven restaurants was a contest among restaurants/bars in Vitebsk, Belarus, that competed for the best fasting menu. Pretty cool.



Next is one of Russia's premier chefs who shows off his vegetarian menu dishes featuring eggplant, soup and a salad:



Finally, even Subway in Eastern Europe and Asia helps one observe the fast:

[mendeleyev]

Thought you might enjoy the story of the Three Pigs and Big Bad Wolf with a cute Russian Christmas twist:

[mendeleyev]

Basic holiday vocabulary for new readers:

Новый год:  NO-viy GOHD is the term for the New Year.

Now we'll learn a greeting for the New Year but before offering a greeting we need to remember that it is bad form to greet someone on a holiday early. So until the clock strikes midnight, instead of wishing our friends a Happy New Year we'll use с Наступающим Новым Годом!, S Nas-too-pah-you-schim Novym Gohdum, which means "with the upcoming New Year."

С Новым Годом: SNO-vim GOH-dum means Happy New Year. That is the most common of New Year greetings. If a stranger or elder greets you then you can simply repeat the same greeting but if a close friend or child greets you, it is okay to respond with И тебя тоже, e te-bya TOH-zhah, meaning "and you also."

ёлка:  YOL-ka (a fir tree) is the New Year tree. Russians often buy one in the final weeks of December in preparation for the New Year and will leave it up until after Christmas day, 7 January. The full name which you may hear sometimes is новогодняя ёлка,  na-va-GOHD-nya-ya YOL-ka, but most of the time the familiar YOL-ka is used.

украшать:  ook-ra-SHAT' is the word for decorating. In decorating a New Year tree you can say украшать ёлку, ook-ra-SHAT' YOL-ku (the ending here changes from ka to ku). The plural for decorations is украшения, ook-ra-SHYE-nee-ya.

Новогодние огни:  na-va-GOHD-nee-ye ag-NEE are the New Year lights which decorate the tree and other areas of a home.

подарoк:  pa-DA-rak is a gift (singular) and подарки, pa-DAR-kee, are gifts (plural). Gifts are exchanged at the New Year, thereby leaving Christmas as a more spiritual celebration. Most Russians/Ukrainians don't go overboard with gifts and it is common to see family members exchange one or two gifts with maybe an extra one or two for children. Once Westernized, that often changes.

новогодняя открытка:  na-va-GOHD-nya-ya at-KRIT-ka is a New Year card. Instead of Christmas cards, our FSU friends traditionally send New Year cards.

Снег:  SNYEK is snow.

Снеговик:  snye-ga-VEEK is a snowman.

Cнег идёт: SNYEK ee-DYOT means that it is snowing.

Санки:  SAN-kee is a snow sled and going sledding is a popular thing to do in winter.


Дед Мороз:  DYED ma-ROS is Grandfather Frost or affectionately called Дедушка Мороз, DYE-doosh-ka ma-ROS. Although he is purportedly a cousin of Santa Claus, he is not a "Russian version of Santa." Just ask him if you don't believe us. He brings presents as in being responsible for transporting gifts, and usually only for children, while the Snow Maiden often takes charge in passing them out.






Russians do have reindeer (real ones!) but Grandfather Frost doesn't use reindeer. His troika is pulled by horses. The word troika is taken from the number three.

Снегурочка:  snye-GOO-rach-ka is the famous SNOW MAIDEN and granddaughter of Grandfather Frost and just as popular. There would be no holiday celebration without her! Dressed in blue or sometimes white, she is the softer side of the vodka drinking Grandfather Frost.


We enjoy viewing the movie Моя Мама — Снегурочка (My Mother the Snow Maiden) a 2007 holiday movie. You can watch it free on YouTube.

[mendeleyev]

Many families arrange for Grandfather Frost and the Snow Maiden to do some shopping and then make a personal house call for their children!



For entertainment purposes only, if you've never seen Grandfather Frost do a strip dance at an office holiday party, then today is your unlucky day!



Finally for this series, we've arranged for to come and greet our readers with this special wish for the New Year:

[SANDRO43]

His troika is pulled by horses. The word troika is taken from the number three.

These were not trained in the old, classical style: according to my grandmother, the outer horses would bend their heads to the side - to be on the lookout for wolves prowling the steppe and possibly endagering the riders .

[mendeleyev]

Our friend Tamara from Prime Language Services just happened to drop by RWD to help us with the proper New Year greeting. As the New Year comes first and Christmas later on 7 January, this is what we'll need to learn first.

Btw, Russians/Ukrainians consider it bad luck to greet someone before a holiday has arrived so hold onto this phrase until the timing is right. 

[mendeleyev]

In preparation for Christmas on 7 January, here is Tamara again to help us with Merry (Happy) Christmas in Russian.

[missAmeno]

Btw, Russians/Ukrainians consider it bad luck to greet someone before a holiday has arrived so hold onto this phrase until the timing is right. 

Sorry, I do not believe in superstitions 

Merry Christmas, everyone!
Hope all your wishes come true.

[calmissile]

Merry Christmas to all of RWD from the Wilson's

[mendeleyev]

As children growing up in rural settings, there would be an orange or tangerine in our Christmas stockings each year. As siblings, we would pool those oranges to make them last as long as possible. Such delicious fruit from far away in those days was something special.



Oranges and tangerines don't grow in Moscow either and what a pleasant surprise to discover some years ago that giving citrus around the holiday season is a tradition for some in the FSU, too!



This week there are "New Year trees" and decorations going up all over cities in the East and we can report that Moscow is very festive and beautiful today!



One group of young ladies organized a "flash mob" of sorts to stand at several Moscow Metro locations where New Year trees are being erected to pass out flowers and oranges to women and children.



Demonstrating the talents of LiveJournal photographer Dmitry Rogachyov, we think this is a very cool way to greet the coming New Year and Christmas holidays.



Happy New Year and Merry Christmas!

[mendeleyev]

I apologize to each of you, readers and friends--normally I do a spread on the Russian New Year celebration but the two terror attacks in Volgograd and a car bombing today in the Dagestan region has stretched us far too thin. So, I'm recommending a really nice guide, with photos, to understanding how Russians celebrate the New Year from our friends at Russia Beyond the Headlines.

Meanwhile, С Новым Годом! ("sno-vim-gor-dom" is our New Year greeting meaning "with the New Year!").

http://rbth.ru/arts/2013/12/24/how_to_ring_in_the_new_year_like_russian_32895.html

This RBTH feature by the way has the YouTube links to the popular "Irony of Fate" movie that plays in millions of homes across the FSU on New Year's Eve.

[GQBlues]

I, too, would like to extend my wishes to all of my friends here a very Happy New Year!

Thank you Mendy for the above photographs! Such beautiful and divine women these Slavic ladies are! It really warms my heart! What a wonderful way to reminds us all why we do this!

Happy New Year everybody!!!

[mendeleyev]

The time has arrived! It is Christmas Eve, January 6.

For many the final meal of the Nativity Fast of 40 days without meat will culminate with a Christmas Eve meal that features 12 vegetarian dishes, one for each of the Apostles. Tonight across the East millions will gather in churches for the overnight Christmas Eve liturgy around 11pm. It will end around 1:30am on Christmas morning and joyful hearts will make their way home.

Here is the 3 hour service from the famous Kazan Cathedral in Saint Petersburg, Christmas Eve 2013 (last year). Television commentators explained the liturgy as it was broadcast.





On Christmas day many families will enjoy a Russian Christmas dinner feast, perhaps with roasted piglet (baby pig), goose, or/and baked fish. Stores run out of piglet early so if you didn't make your order in time you'll be stuck with chicken or lamb; the lamb by the way is one of my favourites.

[mendeleyev]

What a nice tribute to Russian Christmas from Slavic brethren across the Polish border.

[mendeleyev]

With nary a hint of an accent the merry men from the Russian Military Choir sing this flawless version of "Jingle Bells" in English.

[JayH]

Merry Christmas  to you and your family Mende---  and to all who are  celebrating today!!

[mendeleyev]

And, Happy Christmas to each of you!

C Рождеством!!!





Шестое января. Зима. Сочельник.
Две тысячи четырнадцатый год.
Для всех людей – и вместе, и отдельно –
Пусть каждый вслух сейчас произнесет:
Здоровья всем, и счастья, и терпенья,
Добра, тепла и мира в каждый дом!
И пусть весь мир наполнят поздравления
С неповторимым светлым Рождеством!
(Елена Кулик)

[mendeleyev]

[mendeleyev]

For the second Christmas in a row, President Putin attended services in Sochi, this time at a newly consecrated church in Sochi on Christmas Eve. Sochi is the southern Russian city where the Olympic Winter games will be hosted in February.



Newly consecrated church, Sochi, Christmas Eve, January 2014.

President Putin typically celebrates Christmas in provincial churches outside of Moscow.





Russian Orthodox faithful attend a midnight vigil over Christmas even and into the early hours of Christmas morning.


President Putin, Sochi, Christmas Eve, January 2014.

No stranger to church liturgies, Mr. Putin was presented an icon in commemoration of the new church and then he stood in the front with other worshipers.


President Putin, Sochi, Christmas Eve, January 2013.

The service was held in the new church of Christ the Saviour , recently constructed next to the Olympic Park in Sochi's Imereti Valley.


Sochi, Christmas Eve, January 2013.

Russian Patriarch Kirill has consecrated the Sochi church with a shrine containing sacred relics brought from Mount Athos in Greece, believed to be the gifts of gold, Frankincense and myrrh presented by the Magi, or Three Wise Men to the Baby Jesus.



Dome of the new church in Sochi.In polls more than 70 percent of Russians describe themselves as Orthodox believers and the country is also home to a large Muslim population.


New Orthodox church in Sochi, built to accommodate the Olympics.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and his wife attended the country's main Christmas service in Moscow's Church of Christ the Saviour, led by Patriarch Kirill of all the Russias.

[mendeleyev]

President Putin's message to Orthodox Christians:

Сердечно поздравляю вас с Рождеством Христовым.

Этот светлый праздник питает самые добрые чувства и помыслы, служит единению миллионов людей на основе общих духовных ценностей и исторических традиций, неотъемлемой частью которых являются взаимное уважение и согласие, милосердие и забота о ближнем.

Русская православная церковь, представители других христианских конфессий России активно и созидательно участвуют в жизни страны и общества, содействуют достойному воспитанию подрастающего поколения, поддержке семьи, материнства и детства, уделяют неустанное внимание сохранению нашего уникального культурного наследия, делам просвещения и благотворительности.

Желаю православным христианам, всем, кто отмечает праздник Рождества Христова, здоровья, благополучия, счастья.

В. Путин

[Gator]

Merry Orthodox Christmas Mendy!

Thank you for the information.  We had  Christmas dinner last night, a pork dish.  I toasted with three generations of Russians.  I was surprised to learn that in Russia  the Christmas service at church would last 4-5 hours, and no seats.

I do not thank you for sending all of that cold air from Russia to us.  Brrrrrr! 

[mendeleyev]

Thank you, Gator, and Happy Christmas to you and your family!