Did you know that Christmas used to be banned in Russia? After the 1917 Revolution Christmas was banned. Not until 75 years later, in 1992, was Christmas allowed to be openly celebrated.

Christmas is rooted in the Russian Orthodox faith, around the Christmas Eve fast and meal. The fasts lasts until the evening worship service or the first star appears in the sky. The dinner that follows is called the Holy Meal, in which meat is not allowed. However, Kutya, a type of porridge, is the primary dish.

Kutya is made of grains for hope and poppy seed for happiness and peace.

The Holy Supper is in honor is the Christ Child and includes a white table cloth symbolic of Christ’s swaddling, Hay for poverty, A white candle for “the Light of the World”, and a large loaf of bread, “pagach” for the Bread of Life”.

The meal begins with the Lord’s Prayer, led by the father of the family. The Mother of the family blesses each person present with honey in the form of a cross on the forehead.

Following this, everyone partakes of the bread, dipping it first in honey and then in chopped garlic. Honey is symbolic of the sweetness of life, and garlic of the bitterness. The “Holy Supper” is then eaten (see below for details). After dinner, no dishes are washed and the Christmas presents are opened. Then the family goes to Church, coming home between 2 and 3 am.

Post from: Blisstree

Russian Holy Supper