Russia

Image source: Flags of the World. CIA: The World Factbook. Retrieved October 21, 2010, from http://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/rs.html

= __RUSSIA __ =

//Christmas //
Since the fall of the Soviet Union, Christmas has been celebrated on December 25. However, the Orthodox celebrate on January 7. Christmas trees are popular today, but again, before the fall of the Soviet empire people would decorate New Year’s Trees instead. House blessing often occurs on Christmas Eve followed by the big celebration dinner.

[|Russian Life] is a great source for further information about Christmas in Russia.

media type="custom" key="7267119" width="220" height="220" Video Source: Dailymotion: Russia Celebrates Orthodox Christmas. (2010, January 9). Retrieved October 21, 2010, from http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xbslml_russia-celebrates-orthodox-christma_lifestyle

**﻿Food **

 * ﻿ **Some of Orthodox faith fast prior to the Christmas Eve dinner, where meat is usually not eaten. A popular Christmas Eve dish is kutya, a type of porridge. Kutya contains grains for hope, and honey and poppy seeds for happiness. Prianiki, or gingerbread, is also quite popular during the holiday season. The prianiki is dense, spicy, and chewy, and families have traditional presses to imprint their own version of the prianiki.

// Russian Life // also has more information on[| Prianiki.]

Image source: Prianiki: A sweet teatime snack to soothe the soul. (2009). Retrieved October 21, 2010, from http://russianow.washingtonpost.com/2009/06/prianiki-a-sweet-teatime-snack-to-sooth-the-soul-1.php

References Prianiki for the holidays. (2007). Retrieved October 21, 2010, from http://www.russianlife.com/article.cfm?Number=192  Christmastide Tradition. (2007). Retrieved October 21, 2010, from http://www.rispubs.com/article.cfm?Number=550

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