Christmas traditions in Russia

Old Christmas Traditions

In Russia eve of Christmas, on January, 6 refers to Christmas Eve, ”Kalyadki”. This day is a final day of the Christmas post. Up to the most evening service the church offers to hold the strict post. Christmas Eve in the Christian world is considered a family supper.
The word Christmas Eve occurs from a word "Socihvo”. Without meat or milk dishes, obligatory for this evening: porridges (wheaten, rye, barley, buckwheat, pea, later even rice) were prepared. In this porridge nuts or a poppy were added.
Such dish as "Kutya"(Red fruit jelly) was cooked on commemoration of a birth of the child.
In olden times in the center of a table there was a dish “Kutya” and other dishes which should be equal to twelve (on number of apostles). Except for “Kutya” on a celebratory Russian table there were pancakes, aspic, fish, meat jelly, a dairy pig with porridge, honey gingerbreads, - by opportunities of a family.
On Christmas Eve, under Christmas, people did not eat all the day long before occurrence of the first evening star, symbolizing with itself a Star which was in the sky when the Baby was born. In temples in these celebratory evening hours there was a solemn service... Despite of a church origin of a holiday, in Russia the custom ”Kalyadki” - singing Christmas songs under windows was kept.
Word “Kalyadki” has a pagan origin. “Kalydki” symbolized worship the Sun giving fertility and pleasure, songs about natural phenomena - month, the sun, a thunder-storm, wished a crop, happy marriages.
Now some of these traditions have changed. Most people celebrate New Year’s day and have a free of work day on Christmas -January 7.