Russia is a truly unique country that, along with a highly developed modern culture, carefully preserves the traditions of its nation, deeply rooted not only in Orthodoxy, but even in paganism.

Christianity gave Russians such wonderful holidays as Easter, Christmas, the rite of Baptism and so on, also pagan holidays –Maslenitsa and Ivan Kupala. 

Easter is a bright holiday of the resurrection of Christ. This holiday came to Russia from Byzantium together with baptism at the end of the X century. Since then, this Christian holiday has been widely, beautifully and solemnly celebrated throughout Russia.

   Christmas

Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, the savior of the world, with whose advent people have found hope for mercy, kindness, truth and eternal life. The Orthodox Church celebrates Christmas according to the Julian calendar on January 7, unlike Western churches celebrating it on December 25 according to the Gregorian calendar.

The Nativity of Christ was preceded by a forty-day Christmas fast, which ended on Christmas Eve (January 6). The Christmas fast is the last multi-day fast of the year. The Christmas fast serves as a renewal of spiritual unity with God and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Christ. 

Christmas Eve is the eve of the Nativity of Christ, the final day of the Christmas Fast. Traditionally, on this day, only the so—called sochivo - soaked wheat grains with honey and fruit could be eaten. This tradition gave the name to the holiday. The services in the temples are completely dedicated to the upcoming holiday.

Orthodox Christians are required to attend services at Christmas and Epiphany, undergo the rite of Communion and confess. These days it is customary to be more tolerant and generous, to give alms, to help those in need. We must not forget our own family.

Yuletide (Holy days) – the period from the feast of the Nativity of Christ to Epiphany Christmas Eve (January 7-17). They are also called holy evenings. During the Yuletide period, people visit temples.

On January 19 (January 6, old style), believers celebrate the Epiphany, or Epiphany. This day is associated with the evangelical event — the baptism of John the Forerunner of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River. This is the most ancient holiday. On Epiphany, divine services and baptismal bathing in ice-holes (Jordan) are held throughout Russia. To do this, special ice holes are made on reservoirs, and fonts are installed on the squares of cities and towns. It is popularly believed that bathing in an ice hole gives a cleansing power for the soul and body.