Russian Christmas Tree Tradition

The russian santa claus is named ded moroz or father frost.

Russian christmas tree tradition. Eclipsed by new year s celebrations russian christmas is somewhat less important than it is in other eastern european nations. On new year s eve he places presents for children under the new year tree as opposed to a christmas tree. It began regaining popularity only recently partially because russian leaders starting with vladimir putin annually attend a christmas liturgy. Christmas in russia occurs on january 7th according to the russian orthodox calendar.

Christmas became an official holiday and a non labor day in russia in 1991. In russia the christmas holiday became the official celebration with the baptism of rus ordered by prince vladimir in the late 10th century. Often russian christmas and russian new years are combined into a long winter celebration. In the orthodox tradition nothing is eaten or drunk on christmas eve until the first star appears in the sky.

During the early mid soviet period religious celebrations were discouraged by the official state policy of atheism until 1936 but despite this. January 7 through january 19 mark the dates for russian christmastide also called svyatki. Celebrating the new year is a more important holiday in russia than christmas. However given the early christian community kievan rus celebration may have a longer history.

Many christmas traditions such as decorating a fir tree and giving presents turned into new year s traditions. He is accompanied by snegurochka a snow maiden said to be his granddaughter.