How is Christmas celebrated in Russia?

Answer 1

In contrast to Western Europe and the USA, Christmas in Russia is mainly a religious holiday and has not the established secular traditions. For the vast majority of people, it is a day off, and each person can take advantage of this day off at his discretion.

Christmas in Russia is celebrated on January 7 with special church services at night. New Year for the Russian is more important than Christmas. On Christmas a variety of refreshments on a festive table are served. Some prefer to cook a goose or the European turkey, and another prefers to cook the Soviet herring under a fur coat or Russian salad, and a third woman makes oriental dumplings .

At Christmas in Russia many people tell fortunes. Girls and women tell fortunes on the groom or fate. Christmas divination is especially popular among unmarried girls.

On Christmas Eve (during the night of January 7), the federal TV channels broadcast a Christmas service (all-night Vigil), passing in the liturgy. Some Orthodox believers at this time are allowed to stand directly in the temple service. Christmas in the Orthodox Church is considered the second most important festival after Easter.

Answer 2

Many will just have a dinner with the family, some may go to Church for midnight mass, but the main festivities are on New Year's.

For New Year's, Friends are called together in one house where a large table is layed out with food which often takes at least half a day to prepare due to the amount. Then everyone gathers around a table to eat and talk about anything. Card games might be played, music could be listened to, or the TV might be switched on in the background. Everyone chatters until midnight when all channels are switched to the news and when the clock strikes a twelfth time, wine is poured, toasts are made and cheering erupts. Presents are exchanged.

The eating and talking carries on throughout the night. Although it may not sound convincing, this feast and talking can be kept up for 12 hours, let's say from 5pm 'till 5am.

And then everyone goes home, and sleeps. =)