In Russia, the New Year is celebrated more ceremoniously than Christmas. This is due to the fact that in the Orthodox tradition Christmas never played such a role as in the Catholic Church.
The Passover, or the resurrection of Jesus Christ, was always more important for the Orthodox. Most Russians welcome the New Year with family or friends, at the Christmas tree and with a richly set table. That's when our eastern neighbors make wishes and give presents. Children gifts - most often they are toys and sweets - are traditionally brought by Grandfather Mróz and Śnieżynka. New Year's Eve games are also popular. In Moscow, they are traditionally held on Red Square, Teatralny Square and Plac Twerski. Christmas celebrations begin with Soczelnik, or Christmas Eve supper. There must be 12 fast dishes on the table.
Traditionally, these are groats, mushrooms, vegetable salads, cakes and gingerbreads. Sometimes - also fish. Young among the young is faramuszka, a beer soup known in Russia as an old Polish fast dish. The main Christmas Eve dish, however, is kutia, which is prepared from grains of wheat, honey, groats, poppy seeds or nuts. At the Christmas Eve table there should also be prosfora, meaning sacrificial bread, and dried fruit compote.
On the other hand, the main dish of a Christmas dinner is usually a goose with apples. The Christmas Eve supper is preceded by a 40-day fast. Orthodox people then refrain from consuming not only meat and its products, but also dairy products, and often fish. The holiday season in Russia lasts until the night of 13 to 14 January, when it is celebrated "old" - according to the Julian calendar - New Year.
Oliwia Laskowska 8e
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