Russia
In Russia the religious festival of Christmas is being replaced by the Festival of Winter but there are some traditions that are still kept up in some parts of the country.
In the traditional Russian Christmas, special prayers are said and people fast, sometimes for 39 days, until January 6th Christmas Eve, when the first evening star in appears in the sky. Then begins a twelve course supper in honor of each of the twelve apostles - fish, beet soup or Borsch, cabbage stuffed with millet, cooked dried fruit and much more.
Hay is spread on the floors and tables to encourage horse feed to grow in the coming year and people make clucking noises to encourage their hens to lay eggs.
On Christmas Day, hymns and carols are sung. People gather in churches which have been decorated with the usual Christmas trees or Yelka, flowers and colored lights.
Christmas dinner includes a variety of different meats - goose and suckling pig are favorites.
Babushka is a traditional Christmas figure who distributes presents to children. Her name means grandmother and the legend is told that she declined to go with the wise men to see Jesus because of the cold weather. However, she regretted not going and set off to try and catch up, filling her basket with presents. She never found Jesus, and that is why she visits each house, leaving toys for good children.
The role of Father Christmas was played by Dedushka Moroz or Grandfather Christmas.
Babushka is a traditional Christmas figure who distributes presents to children. The word ''Babushka'' is translated to English as a grand-mother!
A traditional Christmas figure is Snegurochka. She is a grand-daughter of Ded Moroz.
Ukraine
Sviata Vechera OR "Holy Supper" is the central tradition of the beautiful Christmas Eve celebrations in Ukrainian homes. The dinner table sometimes has a few wisps of hay on the embroidered table cloth as a reminder of the manger in Bethlehem.
When the children see the first Star in the eastern evening sky, which symbolizes the trek of the Three Wise Men, the Sviata Vechera may begin. In farming communities the head of the household now brings in a sheaf of wheat called the didukh which represents the importance of the ancient and rich wheat crops of Ukraine, the staff of life through the centuries. Didukh means literally "grandfather spirit" so it symbolizes the family's ancestors. In city homes a few stalks of golden wheat in a vase are often used to decorate the table.
A prayer is said and the father says the traditional Christmas greeting, "Khristos rodyvsya!" which translated is Christ is born!, which is answered by the family with "Slavite Yoho!" which translated is Let Us Glorify Him!. In some families the Old Slavic form Khristos razhdayetsya is used.
At the end of the Sviata Vechera the family often sings Kolyadky which is a Ukrainian Christmas Carols. In many communities the old Ukrainian tradition of caroling is carried on by groups of young people and members of organizations and churches calling at homes and collecting donations.
The favorite Ukrainian carol is Boh predvichny meaning God Eternal which has a very beautiful melody and lyrics. Some Ukrainian carols are unusual because they mention Ukraine while others are ancient pagan songs of a thousand years ago which have been converted into Christian carols.
Christmas is a joyous day which opens for Ukrainian families with attendance at Church. Ukrainian Churches offer services starting before midnight on Christmas Eve and on Christmas morning. Christmas supper, without Lenten restrictions, does not have as many traditions connected with it as Sviata Vechera. The old tradition in Ukraine of giving gifts to children on St. Nicholas Day, December 19th, has generally been replaced by the Christmas date.
The traditional Christmas customs of Ukraine add color and significance to the winter festival of Christmas, and Ukrainian Christmas on January 7th is usually a peaceful and quiet event. This celebration reminds us of the baby in a Bethlehem manger whose birthday we celebrate. But whether Christmas is celebrated on December 25th or on January 7th the message is the same: "Peace on Earth! Good will towards men!
In the Ukraine, Father Frost visits all the children in a sleigh pulled by only three reindeer.
He brings along a little girl named Snowflake Girl. She wears a silver blue costume trimmed with white fur and a crown shaped like a snowflake.
Lithuania
Lithuanian Christmas traditions are a combination of old and new and Christian and pagan, and they have similarities with traditions from the other two Baltic nations, as well as with the traditions of Poland, whose past is linked with Lithuania's.
In pagan Lithuania, the Christmas celebration as we know it today was actually the celebration of the winter solstice. Roman Catholics, the predominant religious population in Lithuania, gave new meaning to old customs or introduced new ways to celebrate the religious holiday. For example, some people say the practice of placing hay underneath the tablecloth on Christmas Eve predates the introduction of Christianity to Lithuania, though now obvious parallels can be drawn between hay on the Christmas table and the hay in the manger where Jesus was born.
As in Poland, the Christmas Eve feast traditionally consists of 12 meatless dishes (though fish is permitted, and herring is often served). The breaking of religious wafers precedes the meal.
The practice of decorating the Christmas tree is relatively new to Lithuania, though evergreen branches have long been used to bring color to homes during the long winter. If you visit Vilnius during the Christmas season, it's possible to see the Christmas tree on Vilnius' Town Hall Square. Handmade straw ornaments are particularly traditional. They can decorate Christmas trees or be used as decoration for other parts of the house. Sometimes these are made with plastic drinking straws, but the more traditional material is the yellow straw usually used for farm animals.
Vilnius celebrates Christmas with public Christmas trees and a relatively new traditions - a European-style Christmas market. The Vilnius Christmas market takes place in the historic center; stalls sell seasonal treats and handmade gifts.
Latvia
Traditional Christmas Greeting: "Prieci 'gus Ziemsve 'tkus un Laimi 'gu Jauno Gadul"
The straw ornaments are made out of material found in the fields. There are also several cross shapes made from the tops of wheat. The straw ornaments are made into geometric shapes from simple to more complex designs.
The garlands are made from cranberry, apples and pinecones.
The tree was originally decorated with lit candles though today electrified candles are used.
Traditions: In Latvia the Christmas celebration is know as Ziemassvetki or winter festival. The festival is a direct descendent of ancient winter solstice celebrations. A central element to Ziemassvetki is the log burning which involves groups of people dragging a log around the house during the day, burning the log all night singing ritual songs and drinking beer.
Latvia also claims to be the home of the first Christmas Tree! The first documented use of a evergreen tree at Christmas and New Year celebrations is in town square of Riga, the capital of Latvia, in the year 1510. It is stated that members of the local merchant guild carried a Firtree decorated with artificial roses to the marketplace. They danced around it and then set it on fire. The reasoning behind this has been lost to history, though it may have been associated with the ancient tradition of the Yule Log.
On Christmas Eve the family gathers around the tree and sings traditional Christmas carols. Traditional foods served during this time include pork, pig's snout, pig's feet, beans, whole grains, peas and a variety of breads and rolls. Each food has a meaning: e.g. eat a pea you'll cry one day less; eat a bean one day you will mature; eat a pig's snout you will write a great deal; eat a dumpling there will be many sunny days. Later, Father Christmas may visit. He is a stern looking man dressed in gray and has a long white beard. He brings gifts for the good children and for the bad ones he gives them stick-switches.
Estonia
In Estonia, as in the other Baltic nations, Christmas is associated with the winter solstice, which was celebrated before the Christian aspect of the holiday prevailed in importance. While the Advent is observed, Estonians really kick off the Christmas holidays on December 23 and celebrate through Christmas Day. During the month of December, Estonians celebrate at the Tallinn Christmas Market, where even Santa likes to regularly hang out.
It has been a centuries-long tradition for the leader of Estonia to declare Christmas Peace on Christmas Eve.
Other long-standing Estonian Christmas traditions center around food, which is left on the table for visiting spirits. Blood sausage, sauerkraut, and other foods are traditional for Estonian Christmas, and beer is also drunk as a part of the holiday festivities.
Some old traditions are observed symbolically or not at all today. For example, covering floors with straw or hay, a practice that used to be a part of Estonian holiday observance, is impractical for people living in city apartments with modern floors. However, the past few decades have seen a resurgence of Christmas customs in Estonia, just as new ones are being established and borrowed from other cultures and world culture.
Merry Christmas!
Ho, Ho, Ho!
This blog is full of good stuff on the Joy of Christmas: Facts, Fun and Fantasy, for all those who love and can't get enough of Christmas!
There's lots here, so check the listing in the Blog Archive for the following:
- Traditions
- Story of Christ's Birth
- History of Santa
- World customs
- Scriptures
- Stories- Prose
- Carols
- Meanings, symbols, origins
- Holiday greetings worldwide
- Facts and trivia
- Quotes
To test your Christmas knowledge, see the trivia quiz at the bottom of this page!
This blog is full of good stuff on the Joy of Christmas: Facts, Fun and Fantasy, for all those who love and can't get enough of Christmas!
There's lots here, so check the listing in the Blog Archive for the following:
- Traditions
- Story of Christ's Birth
- History of Santa
- World customs
- Scriptures
- Stories
A Christmas Carol: Scrooge's Nephew Wishes Merry Christmas
A Christmas Carol: The Visit of Marleys Ghost
A Christmas Carol: The Ghost of Christmas Past
A Christmas Carol: The Ghost of Christmas Present
A Christmas Carol: The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come
A Christmas Carol: Scrooge's Redemption
The First Christmas Tree by Eugene Field
- Carols
- Meanings, symbols, origins
- Holiday greetings worldwide
- Facts and trivia
- Quotes
- Movie and TV clips
- Much more!
More will also be added. Let me know if there's something that should be here. Comments are appreciated!
More will also be added. Let me know if there's something that should be here. Comments are appreciated!
To test your Christmas knowledge, see the trivia quiz at the bottom of this page!
11/11/10
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Christmas Trivia: True or False?
The answers to the following can be found within the various posts on this blog...
Holiday Names and Greetings
1. “X-mas” is an irreverent, non-Christian name for the holiday.
2. “Noel” comes from Old French, meaning “new birth”.
3. “Yule” comes from an ancient Viking celebration of the turning of the sun.
4. “Feliz Navidad” directly translated into English means “Happy Birth”.
5. “Mele Kalikimaka” is Hawaiian for “enjoy the holiday feast”.
The Nativity of Jesus
6. Modern calendar years are based on the verified year of the birth of Christ.
7. The number of visitors, known as Magi, Wise Men or Kings, was three.
8. The Wise Men, or Kings, came to see the newborn baby lying in the manger.
9. Early Christians believed Christ was born on December 25th.
10. Shepherds watched their flocks on the cold winter’s night of Christ’s birth.
The Twelve Days of Christmas
11. The Twelve Days of Christmas begin on December 13th.
12. The gifts given on each day in the song represent items at a Christmas party.
13. The “Two Turtle Doves” represented the Old and New Testaments.
14. The last two gifts were 11 lords a leaping and 12 drummers drumming.
Santa Claus
15. St. Nicholas, who preceded Santa Claus, was born in Germany in 1622.
16. Santa’s flying sleigh and reindeer originated from stories in the 1800’s.
17. Although he’s known by many names in many places, Santa is always a man.
18. Kris Kringle was the name of an early Dutch Santa Claus figure.
19. Santa Claus is largely unknown in places like Japan and China.
Reindeer
20. Rudolph’s story was a promotional creation of Montgomery Ward stores.
21. Blixen is the name of Santa’s eighth reindeer.
22. Donner, the seventh reindeer, is sometimes incorrectly called Donder.
23. The reindeer were first named in “Twas the Night Before Christmas”.
24. Instead of reindeer, in Sweden, a goat pulls Santa’s (Tomten’s) sled.
Christmas Trees
25. The custom of decorating trees for Christmas originated in Germany.
26. Before the 1500’s, Christmas trees were considered a pagan custom.
27. Martin Luther is credited with first putting candles, or lights, on the tree.
28. There is no mention of a Christmas tree in Dicken’s “A Christmas Carol.”
29. Hanging the tree upside down from the ceiling used to be popular.
Miscellaneous
30. The first Christmas card was created and sent in London in 1840.
31. The most popular selling Christmas Carol of all time is “Silent Night”.
32. Mistletoe used to be hung for enemies to meet under and call a truce.
33. Poinsettias were first brought to the U.S. from Mexico by Mr. Poinsett.
34. Christmas mince pie contained rabbit, pheasant and partridge meat.
35. “Nog” in eggnog refers to a heavy noggin (head) from drinking too much.
36. The tradition of filling stockings originated in the country of Turkey.
37. Sleigh rides with jingle bells is a favorite Christmas activity in Australia.
38. Celebrating Christmas was once outlawed in Merry Olde England.
39. Candy canes were created to keep children quiet during church services.
40. Swedish Christmas celebrates St. Lucia, who helped needy people in Italy.
Answers:
1. False. “X” comes from the Greek letter that start’s Christ’s name and represents Christ.
2. True. Oui, oui. Noel is tres French, an old word which is related to the nouvelle, meaning “new”.
3. True. The word “yule” is old Norse for wheel, meaning the wheel in the sky that turns to give more light.
4. True. “Feliz” means “happy”. “Navidad” translates to nativity, which also means birth.
5. False. It means nothing in Hawaiian. It is an attempt to spell English “Merry Christmas” using Hawaiian letters.
6. False. There is no historical verification to the year of Christ’s birth. Some scholars believe it was in 2 to 4 B.C.
7. False. Three gifts are mentioned, but no number of the visitors is given. Some believe there were 12 or more.
8. False. They arrived well after Christ was born, and most likely saw him inside a home in a regular bed.
9. False. No exact date was known. When Romans became Christian, the Dec. 25th date replaced a pagan holiday.
10. False. Shepherds were not in the fields with their flocks during winter. This most likely occurred in the spring.
11. False. They start on Christmas Day, Dec. 25th, and last until Jan. 6th, the Eastern Orthodox Christmas Day.
12. True. In Old England, a party was held on “12th Night”. All the gifts were represented through food or fun.
13. True. The gifts and numbers were created to represent / disguise gospel principles for early persecuted believers.
14. False. There are 10 lords a leaping, not 11. Correct answer: 11 pipers piping, 12 drummers drumming.
15. False. St. Nicholas was born in Asia Minor, now known as Turkey, sometime during the 3rd Century.
16. False. The idea originated from early legends of Viking gods flying through the skies on animal-pulled sleighs.
17. False. In Italy, the gift giver is an old woman known as La Befana. In parts of Russia, she is known as Babushka.
18. False. Kris Kringle is an Americanization of the German gift giver “Christ-kindl”, or “Christ Child”.
19. False. Santa Claus has become a popular holiday figure in both Japan and China, not necessarily for Christmas.
20. True. It was a 1939 promotional gimmick given to those who did Christmas shopping at Montgomery Ward.
21. False. The name of the eighth reindeer is spelled Blitzen, not Blixen.
22. False. The original text of “Twas the Night Before Christmas” spells the seventh reindeer’s name as Donder.
23. True. “Twas the Night Before Christmas” by Clement C. Moore was the first text that named the eight reindeer.
24. True. Although many reindeer are in Northern Sweden, Tomten rides a sled through the forest pulled by a goat.
25. False. The Germans adapted modern tree traditions from customs of the ancient Romans and Celtic druids.
26. False. 7th Century Catholic monk St. Boniface used the indoor evergreen’s triangle shape to teach of the Godhead.
27. True. Legend claims Martin Luther first put candles on his tree, to represent the light of Christ for his children.
28. True. Christmas trees did not become popular in England until after Dickens wrote “A Christmas Carol”.
29. True. Many trees were originally hung upside down in Old Europe and in early Pennsylvania settlements.
30. True. John C. Horsley created his own card in 1840. The idea caught on, and his card was re-printed in 1843.
31. False. Although “Silent Night” is popular in many countries, Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” is the top seller.
32. True. Used for many things, mistletoe brought people together, including those who needed to kiss and make-up.
33. True. Joel Roberts Poinsett, Ambassador to Mexico, introduced the “Holy Night Flowers” to the U.S. in 1825.
34. True. Originally, mince pie was a meat pie. Fruits and spices were later added, and then the meat was dropped.
35. False. “Nog” is another term for “grog”, which is a rum-based drink. Eggnog is sometimes served with rum.
36. True. St. Nicholas, who lived in Turkey, is claimed to have assisted the needy by leaving gold coins in stockings.
37. False. Christmas in Australia occurs during summertime. A beach barbecue is a popular Christmas Day event.
38. True. From 1645 to 1660, because of Oliver Cromwell and the Puritans, celebrating Christmas was illegal.
39. True. A Cologne Cathedral Choirmaster gave shepherds crook-shaped candy to kids during long nativity services.
40. True. Though celebrated in Sweden, Lucia’s legend began with her Christian services and martyrdom in Italy.
Correct Answers Rating:
40 - Cheater, you peeked! Not even Santa knew all of these.
35 to 39 - Next in line to be Santa. How’s your “ho, ho, ho”?
30 to 34 - A true Christmas elf. Santa’s looking to promote you.
25 to 29 - On Santa’s Nice List, but you could do better.
20 to 24 - Rockin’ around the Christmas tree, but you’re missing some good stuff.
15 to 19 - You like Christmas, but your favorite holiday is Halloween, right?
10 to 14 - Christmas is coming, and you haven’t got a ha’penny. God bless you.
Less than 10 - Bah humbug. You need to pay more attention if you want more than coal in your stocking. Better watch out or you’ll get run over by a reindeer.
Holiday Names and Greetings
1. “X-mas” is an irreverent, non-Christian name for the holiday.
2. “Noel” comes from Old French, meaning “new birth”.
3. “Yule” comes from an ancient Viking celebration of the turning of the sun.
4. “Feliz Navidad” directly translated into English means “Happy Birth”.
5. “Mele Kalikimaka” is Hawaiian for “enjoy the holiday feast”.
The Nativity of Jesus
6. Modern calendar years are based on the verified year of the birth of Christ.
7. The number of visitors, known as Magi, Wise Men or Kings, was three.
8. The Wise Men, or Kings, came to see the newborn baby lying in the manger.
9. Early Christians believed Christ was born on December 25th.
10. Shepherds watched their flocks on the cold winter’s night of Christ’s birth.
The Twelve Days of Christmas
11. The Twelve Days of Christmas begin on December 13th.
12. The gifts given on each day in the song represent items at a Christmas party.
13. The “Two Turtle Doves” represented the Old and New Testaments.
14. The last two gifts were 11 lords a leaping and 12 drummers drumming.
Santa Claus
15. St. Nicholas, who preceded Santa Claus, was born in Germany in 1622.
16. Santa’s flying sleigh and reindeer originated from stories in the 1800’s.
17. Although he’s known by many names in many places, Santa is always a man.
18. Kris Kringle was the name of an early Dutch Santa Claus figure.
19. Santa Claus is largely unknown in places like Japan and China.
Reindeer
20. Rudolph’s story was a promotional creation of Montgomery Ward stores.
21. Blixen is the name of Santa’s eighth reindeer.
22. Donner, the seventh reindeer, is sometimes incorrectly called Donder.
23. The reindeer were first named in “Twas the Night Before Christmas”.
24. Instead of reindeer, in Sweden, a goat pulls Santa’s (Tomten’s) sled.
Christmas Trees
25. The custom of decorating trees for Christmas originated in Germany.
26. Before the 1500’s, Christmas trees were considered a pagan custom.
27. Martin Luther is credited with first putting candles, or lights, on the tree.
28. There is no mention of a Christmas tree in Dicken’s “A Christmas Carol.”
29. Hanging the tree upside down from the ceiling used to be popular.
Miscellaneous
30. The first Christmas card was created and sent in London in 1840.
31. The most popular selling Christmas Carol of all time is “Silent Night”.
32. Mistletoe used to be hung for enemies to meet under and call a truce.
33. Poinsettias were first brought to the U.S. from Mexico by Mr. Poinsett.
34. Christmas mince pie contained rabbit, pheasant and partridge meat.
35. “Nog” in eggnog refers to a heavy noggin (head) from drinking too much.
36. The tradition of filling stockings originated in the country of Turkey.
37. Sleigh rides with jingle bells is a favorite Christmas activity in Australia.
38. Celebrating Christmas was once outlawed in Merry Olde England.
39. Candy canes were created to keep children quiet during church services.
40. Swedish Christmas celebrates St. Lucia, who helped needy people in Italy.
Answers:
1. False. “X” comes from the Greek letter that start’s Christ’s name and represents Christ.
2. True. Oui, oui. Noel is tres French, an old word which is related to the nouvelle, meaning “new”.
3. True. The word “yule” is old Norse for wheel, meaning the wheel in the sky that turns to give more light.
4. True. “Feliz” means “happy”. “Navidad” translates to nativity, which also means birth.
5. False. It means nothing in Hawaiian. It is an attempt to spell English “Merry Christmas” using Hawaiian letters.
6. False. There is no historical verification to the year of Christ’s birth. Some scholars believe it was in 2 to 4 B.C.
7. False. Three gifts are mentioned, but no number of the visitors is given. Some believe there were 12 or more.
8. False. They arrived well after Christ was born, and most likely saw him inside a home in a regular bed.
9. False. No exact date was known. When Romans became Christian, the Dec. 25th date replaced a pagan holiday.
10. False. Shepherds were not in the fields with their flocks during winter. This most likely occurred in the spring.
11. False. They start on Christmas Day, Dec. 25th, and last until Jan. 6th, the Eastern Orthodox Christmas Day.
12. True. In Old England, a party was held on “12th Night”. All the gifts were represented through food or fun.
13. True. The gifts and numbers were created to represent / disguise gospel principles for early persecuted believers.
14. False. There are 10 lords a leaping, not 11. Correct answer: 11 pipers piping, 12 drummers drumming.
15. False. St. Nicholas was born in Asia Minor, now known as Turkey, sometime during the 3rd Century.
16. False. The idea originated from early legends of Viking gods flying through the skies on animal-pulled sleighs.
17. False. In Italy, the gift giver is an old woman known as La Befana. In parts of Russia, she is known as Babushka.
18. False. Kris Kringle is an Americanization of the German gift giver “Christ-kindl”, or “Christ Child”.
19. False. Santa Claus has become a popular holiday figure in both Japan and China, not necessarily for Christmas.
20. True. It was a 1939 promotional gimmick given to those who did Christmas shopping at Montgomery Ward.
21. False. The name of the eighth reindeer is spelled Blitzen, not Blixen.
22. False. The original text of “Twas the Night Before Christmas” spells the seventh reindeer’s name as Donder.
23. True. “Twas the Night Before Christmas” by Clement C. Moore was the first text that named the eight reindeer.
24. True. Although many reindeer are in Northern Sweden, Tomten rides a sled through the forest pulled by a goat.
25. False. The Germans adapted modern tree traditions from customs of the ancient Romans and Celtic druids.
26. False. 7th Century Catholic monk St. Boniface used the indoor evergreen’s triangle shape to teach of the Godhead.
27. True. Legend claims Martin Luther first put candles on his tree, to represent the light of Christ for his children.
28. True. Christmas trees did not become popular in England until after Dickens wrote “A Christmas Carol”.
29. True. Many trees were originally hung upside down in Old Europe and in early Pennsylvania settlements.
30. True. John C. Horsley created his own card in 1840. The idea caught on, and his card was re-printed in 1843.
31. False. Although “Silent Night” is popular in many countries, Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” is the top seller.
32. True. Used for many things, mistletoe brought people together, including those who needed to kiss and make-up.
33. True. Joel Roberts Poinsett, Ambassador to Mexico, introduced the “Holy Night Flowers” to the U.S. in 1825.
34. True. Originally, mince pie was a meat pie. Fruits and spices were later added, and then the meat was dropped.
35. False. “Nog” is another term for “grog”, which is a rum-based drink. Eggnog is sometimes served with rum.
36. True. St. Nicholas, who lived in Turkey, is claimed to have assisted the needy by leaving gold coins in stockings.
37. False. Christmas in Australia occurs during summertime. A beach barbecue is a popular Christmas Day event.
38. True. From 1645 to 1660, because of Oliver Cromwell and the Puritans, celebrating Christmas was illegal.
39. True. A Cologne Cathedral Choirmaster gave shepherds crook-shaped candy to kids during long nativity services.
40. True. Though celebrated in Sweden, Lucia’s legend began with her Christian services and martyrdom in Italy.
Correct Answers Rating:
40 - Cheater, you peeked! Not even Santa knew all of these.
35 to 39 - Next in line to be Santa. How’s your “ho, ho, ho”?
30 to 34 - A true Christmas elf. Santa’s looking to promote you.
25 to 29 - On Santa’s Nice List, but you could do better.
20 to 24 - Rockin’ around the Christmas tree, but you’re missing some good stuff.
15 to 19 - You like Christmas, but your favorite holiday is Halloween, right?
10 to 14 - Christmas is coming, and you haven’t got a ha’penny. God bless you.
Less than 10 - Bah humbug. You need to pay more attention if you want more than coal in your stocking. Better watch out or you’ll get run over by a reindeer.
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