Russian Christmas: Why on 7 January?

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Many acquaintances of mine still wonder if I ask them not to congratulate me on Christmas in December. They cannot realize that Russian people do not celebrate Christmas Day on 25 December. Well, now I am going to tell you a story…
Russian Christmas

Once upon a time there was the Russian Empire. In the XIX century it had lots of Christmas traditions similar to European. However, after the Great October Revolution of 1917 there happened plenty of changes. Some changes concerned the calendar. The Julian Calendar was replaced by the Gregorian Calendar. Thus, Christmas Day was removed from 25 December to 7 January. The former Christmas customs and traditions were banned as the official policy of atheism was discouraging any religious praxis. Thus, a Christmas tree became a New Year tree, St. Nikolaus turned into Grandfather Frost (Ded Moroz) and the star of Bethlehem on top of the tree was replaced by the Red star.

The Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 but the New Year celebration has remained more important than Christmas for most people in Russia nowadays.


That’s the answer why the Russians celebrate Christmas on 7 January. By the way, thanks to the Old and New Calendars some Russian people celebrate both the ‘new’ New Year and the Old New Year. That’s another long story about the crazy fact that holidays are never enough.

Thanks! 
Learn more about ideas and travelling on www.ideasntravelling.blogspot.ru

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