"We have nothing for Christmas on our German website," suggested to us by a boss last Friday morning. No wonder: In the Moscow editors was to bring it really then anyone anything about this strange festival on the website. Yes, it still separates Russia from Europe's largest festival of the Christian world, the Russian Orthodox Church celebrates stubborn, but still consistently according to the Julian calendar, so in the night of 7 January.
The Christmas tree is in Russia so far as the "New Year's tree" because it is situated at the turn. (The left of the Bolsheviks after the Oktoberrevoluton 1917 in the course of the anti-religious struggle sold Christmas trees in 1935, Stalin introduced as a secular New Year's icon again). Just a week after New Year's Christmas " it "in this country. Here, too, wants Russia to go his way.
Right, "it's Christmas", however. The gifts are already on 31 December replaced. What to do with Christmas really - a day off is the hard fact only since the end of the Soviet-era again - a few only know. celebrate the centuries old European tradition, this day in a large family, has become common in Russia, not for now. A colleague from Zurich was very surprised when they of "Christmas fireworks" in Russia read - is about geballert in Europe known only to the New Year. The night of the 25th December is there even a "stlle Night, Holy Night".
Extensive New Year and Christmas holidays are available in Russia yet, most businesses and institutions remain empty for the first ten days of the year a large extent. In the sweat of the brow then picks up the production of what she has sipped in the first decade of January, over the following weeks and months. The economy plunges into the red, the binge drinking which in this respect already seriously endangered the country take this too drastic.
But the church is pleased to now have their own stubbornness does not seem so special. A few days ago suggested a high-ranking dignitaries in front of the Moscow Church Council, 7 January "next to the Christmas and the day of eviction Napoleon from Russia to celebrate. " Thus containing the booze on 7 January, at least has a historical meaning.
seems much simpler and more useful to me but when the Russian church still decides to switch to the "secular" calendar and join in the Christmas celebration with the rest of the Christian world. If she is concerned about their popularity, that would certainly be a sensible step.
What the Russians will participate namely, inter alia, with the other Christian peoples could, would be the Christmas markets. This institution exists in Russia is still not even after the official re-introduction of Christmas. Although I recognize not, as the Christmas markets to the western European model - would piece together with Lent, the careful strictly Orthodox Church not only before Easter, but before Christmas, which is but then another story - with mulled wine, sausages and other small delicacy .
I know that in Europe itself, we speak often and now, the Christmas markets are in fact nothing but a part of the general deterioration of the population with drinking, etc. Those who complain in Germany, Austria or Switzerland, it can know: For the "poor Russians children" who have never had such a thing, but this is an event to enjoy. to feel about this extra pre-Christmas atmosphere -
mid-December I'm back for a few days after GEDU Vienna:
And even for the "children" who are now adults. Real enviable.
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