What does Russian Orthodox Christmas look like?
Christmas in Russia It is celebrated on January 7It is preceded by a 40-day holiday period called Lent, during which people fast, meaning they do not eat meat. The period of Lent ends on January 6, which marks the appearance of the first star, according to the country's Time and History website. On January 7, people exchange gifts and visit their relatives. Before January 7th comes Christmas Eve, which marks the beginning of an ancient traditional holiday, Sviatki.
Orthodox Christmas is a national holiday in Russia, and shops are closed. Due to the proximity of the New Year, it also happens in some years that the Russian government orders a public holiday from January 1 to 10.
Russian Orthodox Christmas is celebrated on January 7 due to the use of the Julian calendar in the country, so this holiday falls on January 7.
How do Serbs celebrate Orthodox Christmas?
Serbian Christmas is similarly celebrated on January 7 according to the Julian calendar, but more generally Other customs are associated with it. People used to send each other postcards on the occasion of Christmas, but now they wish each other Merry Christmas and Happy New Year via emails and chat messages, online portal Serbonica said.
However, the holiday period in Serbia actually begins in the fall and lasts until the winter period. The celebration includes many Slavs, which means celebrating family saints. The largest celebrations are held in honor of Saint Nicholas, and many traditions are associated with his day – for example, on Saint Nicholas Day, wheat is planted in a pot so that it sprouts for Christmas, and is used to decorate Christmas decorations. Three weeks before Christmas, Serbs celebrate three holidays on Sundays, during which they celebrate children, mothers and fathers.
