Watch this presentation with music at http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/elizabethbertell-2356117-christmas-new-year-russian/ After the Revolution that took place in 1917, Christmas was banned throughout Russia, along with other religious celebrations. So celebrating New Year became a sort of "replacement" for it. Only after 75 years, in 1992, Christmas became openly observed. Russian Orthodox Church celebrates Christmas on January 7th, in accordance with the old Julian calendar.

2. The Russians
celebrate twice the
New Year. One of the
Gregorian calendar
(January 1) and that of
the Orthodox religion
(January 14), without
forgetting the Orthodox
Christmas (7 January).

3. The Soviet regime forbade "comrades" to
celebrate Catholic Christmas. The Russians
took the practice to honor the birth of Christ on
the day of the Western new Year and celebrate
two holidays in one.

4. Christmas trees were also banned by the
regime in 1917 as "a bourgeois practice"
but people continued to decorate their
"New Year“ trees

5. Christmas celebrations in the Soviet era

9. 2014

10. Gregorian Calendar's New Year
January 1, 2014

17. ‘

20. Father Frost or Ded
Moroz, (an invented
character) , white
beard, hood and
pilgrim stick down in
the chimneys in the
evening of New Year's
Eve to deliver presents
to children, supported
by the snow daughter,
the mythical Babushka.

21. Father Frost and Snow
Maiden march along a street
during the traditional
opening of the New Year

22. Christmas Parade in Moscow

32. Offering citrus fruit
around the holiday season
is a tradition for some
families.

34. The Russian Orthodox Church continues to
celebrate all the holidays according to the
Julian calendar.

36. A holy water cross on the
forehead of a nun

37. The Orthodox Christmas on January
7

39. Janvier 7 2014 – Celebrations à la Cathédrale de
Kazan, Petersburg

41. St. Petersburg

45. New Year's Eve is an explosion of joy in
Russia. The hosts welcome guests according
to national tradition, in agreement with their
legendary hospitality. The appetizer is a
deluge of champagne and vodka. Brioche
bread and salt are served. Then comes the
famous zakouski, dishes composed of varied
tidbits, hot or cold. Koulibiak, brioche and
stuffed meatloaf, fish, cabbage ... occupies a
special place in the Russian festive menus.

46. Kulebyaka

47. Most
RussianChristian
s belong to the
Eastern Orthodox
Church, and it is
customary to fast
until the first
service of the
church on
Christmas Eve.
Christmas Eve is meatless but festive. The most important ingredient is a
special porridge called kutya. It is made of wheatberries or other grains
that symbolize hope and immortality, and honey and poppy seeds that ensure
happiness, success, and tranquility.

49. Koulibiak, usually served in a flat puff pastry fish shape, includes meatloaf, fish,
cabbage ... and occupies a special place in the Russian festive menus

53. The main dishes of the New Year's Eve /
Christmas in Russia remain the Olivier
salad (cubes of meat and vegetables
cooked associated with mayonnaise
sauce), herring fur with cooked and
cooled beetroot and tangerines

54. Entertainers at the opening
of the GUM ice skating rink
on Red Square in Moscow
(latr 2014)