Christmas is a big celebration for all Christians in Russia. holidayThat means a day off is a non-working day. Many people go to Christmas in the morning, afternoon or evening when the whole family gathers around the dinner table. Lenta.ru tells what is the history and traditions of this holiday, what day and how the Orthodox will celebrate the Nativity of Christ in 2026.
When is Christmas celebrated in Russia?
Christmas in the flesh of our Lord God and Jesus Christ our Savior is the full name of the most important celebration of Christianity, the “mother of all holidays,” like Easter, the twelfth feast of the Lord.
Most of the world celebrates Christmas on December 25, but the Russian Orthodox Church and some other Orthodox churches celebrate the holiday according to the Julian calendar.
Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas every year on January 7 (December 25, old style). 2026 will be Wednesday
History: Christmas events
Only the evangelists Matthew and Luke describe in detail the birth of Jesus Christ. They say that the first emperor of Rome, Gaius Julius Caesar Octavian Augustus, issued a decree according to which, to facilitate the census, all residents of the empire had to go to “their cities”. Because of Bethlehem. However, at that time all the hotels in the city were occupied and the Mother of God had to give birth in a stable.
According to the Evangelist Luke, for the first time arrived The shepherds who were announced by the angel about the birth worshiped the Child. Via Representation Evangelist Matthew, during the birth of the Messiah, the first bright star lit up in the sky of Bethlehem. The Star of Bethlehem led the Magi to the Infant, who presented Him with royal gifts – gold, incense and myrrh.
In a conversation with Lenta.ru, church historian theologian Sergei Kozlovsky explained the meaning of the gifts that the Magi gave the Child. “The gifts of the Magi were the prototype of the Queen of Sheba's gift to King Solomon in the Old Testament. Each gift was deeply symbolic: gold was a gift to Jesus the King who would lead humanity; incense was a gift to Jesus the High Priest at the head of the Church; myrrh was a gift to Jesus the God who must die and rise again. The Mother of God kept the gifts of the Magi until her death, and today they are in the sacristy. of the monastery of St. Paul in Serbia Xiropotamus on Athos Some researchers believe that the 28 carved gold plates of various shapes – rhombus, trapezoid, square – were the Holy Child's first toys, like puzzles.
About the birth of Christ from the Magi in Egypt and living there until Herod's life ended.
In a conversation with Lenta.ru, church historian and theologian Sergei Kozlovsky talked about several theories about the birth of Jesus Christ. “Researchers have repeatedly tried to determine the exact date of Christ's birth by comparing different historical events,” Kozlovsky said. “Some believe that Jesus was born in 6 BC, when the first census was taken by the governor of Syria, Publius Sulpicius Quirinius, since it has been proven that no census was taken in Judea under Emperor Augustus.” According to the theologian, other scientists proceed based on astronomical data about the passage of Halley's Comet over Earth in 12 AD, which can be called the Star of Bethlehem. And Father Alexander Men in his book “Human” provides data about the birth of Jesus around 6 AD. “Christmas Day appears to have been introduced by an early Christian historian. Saint Hippolytus of RomeKozlovsky continued. “According to one interpretation, he said that Jesus was born on December 25 of the 42nd year of the reign of Emperor Octavian Augustus and called this day the Nativity of Christ.”
History of the celebration
“In fact until the 4th century, Christmas was not celebrated, because celebrating birthdays was considered pagan,” Sergei Kozlovsky continues. “They only celebrate the Sacrament of Baptism, and at the same time they remember the circumstances of Jesus' birth.”
The historian claims that Christmas was considered a protected holiday by the Pope who ascended the throne in 337. La Mã Julius I – a famous warrior against the Arian heresy. The fact is that the Arians, who successfully spread their faith in Europe, argued that Jesus was not God, but only God's creation, and therefore there was no need to celebrate His Christmas. Advocates of the opposite view were supported by Pope Julius I.
The first mention of December 25 as the feast of the Nativity of Christ dates back to the year 336, this is mentioned by the Roman Chronograph 354, created by order of the wealthy Roman Valentine.
Traditional
Christmas post
Christmas is preceded by a rather strict Christmas Feast, also known as Philippov, because it begins immediately after the day of commemoration of the Apostle Philip.
During this fasting period, you cannot eat meat, dairy products and eggs, and can only eat foods with vegetable oils on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Fishing is allowed only on Saturdays and Sundays, as well as at the beginning of December, when one of the major holidays is celebrated – the Feast of the Entrance to the Temple of the Virgin Mary. In 2025 it falls on December 4. Posting ends on January 6.
Christmas Eve is the strictest fasting day, it is customary to not start eating until the first star appears in the sky, and even then there can be only vegetarian dishes on the table.
Serve in church
“Most Orthodox believers try to purify their souls on Christmas Eve and go not to the table but to the church, where the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great is celebrated,” said Father Alexy Rostovtsev, canon of the Boris and Gleb Cathedral on Ramparts. — This liturgy is especially solemn: the prayers on the altar are longer, and the choir sings the Christmas hymns of Christ and the main hymn of the holiday. Troparion of the Nativity draw more.
It is customary to fast immediately after returning from the Christmas mass or in the morning Alexy Rostovtsev, canon of the Church of Boris and Gleb on Ramparts, priest
Christmas
In every country, Christians have their own traditional recipes for the festive feast. The main dishes are usually prepared in the oven so that the roasting process (goose, duck, turkey, suckling pig, ham) coincides with the time of church services and a hearty lunch is ready when returning from work. There were always cakes on the table – gingerbread, cookies, muffins, puddings and pies.
Christmas fortune telling
During the celebration of Christmas, many people have long tried to look into the future, paying homage to the tradition of Christmas fortune-telling. For example, they drop candle wax into water and then try to understand what the resulting drawings look like. And the girls look into two mirrors and throw a shoe through the gate in the hope of seeing their betrothed or at least finding out his name. These traditions were described in their works by Russian poets Vasily Zhukovsky and Alexander Pushkin. It is believed that fortune telling on Christmas eve is the most accurate.
At the same time, the church opposed tradition. Priest Alexy Rostovtsev was indignant: “Fortune-telling at Christmas is deeply contrary to the essence of Christianity. – Even in the Apostle Paul directly warning about this in the Second Letter to the Corinthians. And as a rule, accepted at the VI Ecumenical Council, “enthusiasts of magicians,” as well as “makers of protective talismans and sorcerers” were subjected to six years of penance. And those who are rigid in their pursuit of these things will be completely excluded from the Heart of the Church.”
What should you give for Christmas?
Giving gifts at Christmas is a long-standing tradition. It is believed that it was the Infant Jesus or Saint Nicholas who placed gifts for children in a stocking tied under the window, or simply under the Christmas tree.
During the Soviet period, the tradition changed, and since then in Russia it has been customary to give the majority of gifts for the New Year. And at Christmas, you can enjoy handmade souvenirs or impressive gifts.
“Gifts should be inexpensive,” says Father Alexy. — A great gift for Christmas will be a family trip to the theater or skating rink; it can also be something made with your own hands, such as warm winter socks or knitted gloves. And if you celebrate Christmas at a party, then you can please the owners of the house with a home-baked cake. Or give them an icon of the Nativity. But the best gift for yourself and God is to help your neighbor. It's important to remember who this holiday is dedicated to.”
