XMas (AI)
New Delhi: In most countries of the world, Christmas is celebrated on 25 December, but in Russia this festival comes two weeks later. There people celebrate Christmas on 7 January. This difference in date is not just a matter of calendar error or convenience but is related to history, religion and tradition.
In the year 1582, many European countries adopted the new Gregorian calendar so that the dates remained correct according to the weather. After this change the world gradually came to the new calendar. But the Russian Orthodox Church refused to change the calendar of its religious festivals at that time. The Church believed that faith and belief were connected in the old way; hence, the dates of worship and festivals should not be disturbed.
Today the country still uses the new calendar for administration and public affairs, but the Church calculates religious days from the old Julian calendar. For this reason there is a difference of 13 days between the two. As a result, while December 25 is over for the rest of the world, the Russian calendar counts down to January 7.
In many countries, Christmas means parties, gifts and big celebrations. The atmosphere in Russia is a little different. The biggest celebration of the year here is to celebrate the New Year on the night of 31st December. This is the day when people decorate trees, children wait for Ded Moroz (a Santa-like character) and gifts are given. The Christmas that follows leans toward peace, prayer, and spending time with family rather than celebration and hustle and bustle. No rush, no crowd of markets, just a relaxed festival.
Fasting is observed in many homes on the night of Christmas Eve i.e. 6th January. There is a tradition that food is not eaten until the first star is seen in the sky. This star commemorates the moment when the star shone in the sky of Bethlehem. On this night, 12 types of dishes are served on the dinner table. These 12 dishes are believed to symbolize the 12 disciples of Jesus. There are long prayers in churches at night.
Candlelight, old prayer tunes and walls with icons create an atmosphere where the outside world seems momentarily distant.
After Christmas begins the time that is called Sviatki in Russia. This is a period of folk songs, traditional costumes, singing songs from door to door and meeting. Children and youth sing in the streets, neighbors distribute sweets and the atmosphere feels like the aroma of old times.
Christmas in Russia is the same today as it was in many countries a hundred years ago. No glittering competition, no race for expensive gifts. Just silence, spirituality, and the company of loved ones.
The question is not why Russia celebrates Christmas on January 7. The real question is whether it maintained its traditions while the world moved forward. Perhaps this is the reason why Christmas there becomes not just a festival but a feeling of stagnation.
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