Russia Celebrates Christmas Eve on Three Kings’ Day

While the Western churches celebrate the Three Kings’ Day, and commemorate the Feast of the Epiphany, people in Russia celebrate Christmas Eve – in accordance with the old Julian calendar. Orthodox Christians there have such a rich tradition of sharing, celebrating, and giving, one the rest of the world will be warmed to see and understand. St. Nicholas for Russia is about the generosity of this legendary figure, his giving to those who did not have, the social causes he championed. As you can image, a bit of a departure from what Christians in the West experience, however similar.

About the 4th Century AD old Saint Nicolas’ actual gifts became widely known, and for many years the tradition of gift giving was carried out on December 6th.  But shortly after Pope Julius set the 25th of December as the actual date of Christ’s birth. In the 13th Century it became the tradition to build baby cribs during this time. Then the Orthodox Church changed the festival to the Day of Epiphany, the day of adoration, January 6th.

As the legend goes, when the three kings brought presents to baby Jesus in adoreation obviously, and since the Gregorian calendar is two weeks behind the Julian calendar – well, this is the explanation. As for what those celebrating in Russia do…

Christmas Eve in Russia is celebrated with various dishes, the family gathering, and even places set at some tables for departed family. The so called “Holy Supper” is a large and festive affair, especially festive because it ends a period of fasting. However massive the meal may begin, when the first star appears in the sky, it is not generally acceptable to eat meat even so. Instead, they eat Kutya – a porridge made with wheat grain, poppyseeds and walnuts; and they share Lenten bread, as they honor the coming Christ Child.

The meal begins set on a white table cloth, symbolizing the swaddling clothes the baby Jesus was wrapped in. In remembrance there is even a bit of straw laid on the table to emulate the manger where Jesus lay, accompanied by a candle to symbolize Jesus as the light of the world. The Christmas tree, or yolka in Russian tradition, is decorated before the family sits down to the meal.

The father or head of the family usually says the prayers, and all acknowledge praising Jesus – bread is then broken and shared along with a bit of honey (the sweetness of baby Jesus) and a mouth full of garlic (the bitterness symbolized too).

Tomorrow, actually as I write this in some parts of massive Russia, it is actually Christmas Day. To everyone there, we wish you a very Merry Christmas. After a twelve dish supper last night, we know many of you will arise long after Santa has headed back over Siberia to the North Pole. Good tidings friends.