Welcome to Russian History Retail Episode 248, Christmas and New Year's in Russia.

Last time, we covered the life and accomplishments of the noted Russian playwright Anton Chekhov.

Today, I've decided to do something that I've really regret having never done before,

which is devote an episode to Christmas and New Year celebrations in Russia and the Russian Orthodox Church.

Doing my research on Christmas and New Year's in Russia, I was kind of shocked to find very little in my personal library.

This presented a number of problems in trying to put this episode together.

Still, I found enough material to give you an insight into how Russians have celebrated these two holidays over the past thousand years.

First things first. I'm sure most of you know this, but some may not.

But most, not all, Russian Orthodox followers celebrate Christmas on January 7th of the Gregorian calendar.

This is because much of the church continues to use the Julian calendar, which is 13 days behind the Gregorian.

Concurrently, they celebrate New Year's on the 13th, which happened to be my grandfather's birthday.

Growing up in New York City during Christmas is a fond memory ahold to this day.

For my family, going to church was a weekly event, first on Saturday evening, then on Sunday morning.

But the holidays, in a particular Christmas, were the most joyful.

Christmas to the Russians is more than a one-day event. It is celebrated over 12 days, each with its own meaning.

This time is known as Christmas tide.

Historically, it has been suggested, and with ample evidence, that the use of December 25th as the date of Christ's birth, was chosen to supplant so-called pagan holidays.

In a particular Saturnalia.

Now, Saturnalia is an ancient Roman festival in holiday and honor of the God Saturn, held on December 17th of the Julian calendar, and later expanded with festivities through to December 23rd.

The 25th of the month marked the Roman celebration of the winter solstice.

Nothing in the Bible suggests a specific date for the birth of Jesus.

Now, various interpretations suggest the date closer to spring than winter.

...