Wow people do read the articles!
I have many e-mails that pertain to the fact that I am lucky and have several Christmases yet to go. I stopped and thought about what they said and then smiled to myself and said to myself, “I am a lucky guy!”
I also have many e-mails telling me that I was a communist and I should rot in hell before I have any Christmases at all, those are my favorite e-mails! ~~
Therefore, it all starts with Thanksgiving and Sveta and I always have a nice special meal on that day. Then by the time Western Christmas comes around the games begin…
Being from the West I have a special place still for Christmas Western style and we always have some treat for that holiday and since I love Christmas songs, I sing many of them on Christmas Eve and day. (Poor Sveta) Then I get ready for the New Years in Russia and that is when Santa Claus Ded Moroz comes to Russia…
Side note here: I have seen articles in the Western press and they said that Santa had delivered 7 billion presents and yes he even went to countries like Russia, Cuba, China, you know them terrible countries, we even get presents…
Ded Moroz is not Santa Claus…
I hate to burst those Western elated and induced superiority bubbles, but Santa did not come to Russia, nor China at a Western Christmas time frame. Unless you call the profits that the Chinese make “Santa Clause” from all the sales of Chinese goods in America. China may agree with America then…
So no, I do not see Santa Clause on December 25th in Russia. I expect him to show up on New Years Eve and bring lots of presents at that time. We in Russia call Santa, Ded Moroz and he has a beautiful granddaughter called Snegurochka who helps him to deal with the pressures of Russian New Year. The kids in the East are just as excited, as the kids in the West…
But! That is not the end of it! As the New Year celebrations will come to an end eventually, we have to stop and think about a very religious holiday. Yes Russians have one more Christmas…
On the 7th of January it is Orthodox Christmas…
This Christmas is not affiliated in any way with commercialism and greed. Not that I can see at least and I have taken this Christmas to heart and am very thankful to have this day to understand that Christmas was not about money, material items and commercialism. Christmas is a solemn ritual and a joyous celebration…
I have three Christmases to enjoy in Russia, but the last one is the one that I like the best. It does not have a ($) dollar symbol in the window and when you open your ears and mind on the 7th day of January. You will see things in a whole new light…
The church bells ringing are in toll of what everyone greet all others with, “Christ is Risen!” (Христос воскрес!)
“Christ is Risen!” (Христос воскрес!) – That says it all to me…
WtR
PS: I need to add that even after January the 7th and Christmas is over, we still have another New Year holiday. The New Year that follows the real Christmas on the 7th of January that is…
So January 14th is the real new Year! According to the Orthodox…