Christmas around the world

by Victoria Kukovenkova and Olia Jantscheva (adapted by Sarah Howarth)

Language and culture are inextricably linked. As a language teacher, it is important to weave cultural content into lessons and prepare students not only to speak the language but to understand more about the countries and cultures of the people who speak it. In this blog post, two of our trainers share insights into Christmas cultural traditions in Russia, and Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Christmas in Russia

Christmas in Russia is celebrated on 7th January. It is mainly a religious event in Russia – and marks the birth of Jesus. On Christmas Eve (6th January), there are several long services, including the Royal Hours and Vespers combined with the Divine Liturgy. Families then return home for the traditional Christmas Eve ‘Holy Supper’, which consists of twelve dishes: one to honour each of the twelve apostles.

Devout families will then return to church for the ‘всенощная’ (All Night Vigil) – and then again, on Christmas Morning, for the ‘заутренняя’ (Divine Liturgy of the Nativity).

Since 1992, Christmas has been a national holiday in Russia, as part of the ten-day holiday at the start of every New Year. Principal dishes on the Christmas table in old Russia included a variety of pork (roasted pig), stuffed pig’s head, roasted meat chunks and spiced jelly. Christmas dinner also included many other meats: goose with apples, sour cream hare, venison, lamb, whole fish, etc. The abundance of fried and baked meats, whole baked chicken, and fish on the festive table was associated with features of the Russian oven, which allowed successful preparation of large portions.

Christmas – The German Way

Many well-known Christmas customs practiced today in countries such as the UK and USA originated in Germany and Austria. For example, many countries have adopted Germany’s famous Christmas Markets, where traditional Christmas food and drinks can be enjoyed and decorations bought.

Christmas trees have been an important tradition in Germany since the 16^th century. In Germany, Austria and Switzerland, traditionally trees enter the home and are decorated on Christmas eve.

Another important tradition is the Advent, a time of anticipation and preparation for the celebration of Christ’s birth, with advent calendars being opened in many homes across Germany. This includes the well-known card varieties as well as wreaths with 24 decorated boxes containing gifts. In homes and churches there is an “Advent(s)kranz” or advent’s wreath with 4 candles. One candle is lit each Sunday and all four are lit on Christmas Day. Each candle represents an aspect of the spiritual preparation for Christmas.

In terms of dates, in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, the Christmas period extends up to 6^th January. This is because, until the 4^th Century, Christmas celebrations took place on 6^th January. This date – a religious feast day – is known as ‘Epiphany’ or in German ‘das Dreikönigsfest’ or ‘die Heiligen Drei Könige’ (translation: Three Holy Kings’ festival). Even today the initials C+M+B (in honour of the three wise men or kings – Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar) along with the year are written in chalk above doorways in Germany and other German-speaking countries.

Children, dressed as the Three Holy Kings, called Sternsinger (star singers) visit homes, collecting donations to charity between 25^th December and 6^th January, singing songs as they go. They often write the C+M+B blessing on or over the doors of the homes they visit. These initials are a blessing, which is thought to protect the home.

Christmas Eve is the main day for present-giving in the German-speaking countries with celebrations also taking place on 25^th December (Erster Weihnachtstag or Weihnachten – first celebration) and 26th December (Zweiter Weihnachtstag or Stefanitag – second celebration). On Christmas eve, carp or another fish is eaten, and on Christmas day goose along with stolen – a popular fruit bread.

Children in Germany might write a letter to ‘das Christkind/Christkindl’ or to ‘der Weihnachtsmann’ (Santa Claus/Father Christmas) asking for presents to be delivered on 24^th December. Children also hope that ‘der Nikolaus’ (Saint Nicholas) will place little gifts in their shoes on the eve of 6th December (St Nicholas’s Day), but only well-behaved children receive these! Naughty children are given coal from Knecht Ruprecht/Krampus/Schmutzli – a scary devil-like creature with chains and a rod. As for adults, in workplaces colleagues exchange secret gifts. It is considered bad luck to reveal the sender.

Finally, this post would not be complete without a reference to ‘Stille Nacht’ (Silent Night) and ‘O Tannenbaum’ (O Christmas Tree). ‘Stille Nacht’, one of the world’s most famous Christmas songs, comes to us from Austria. It is now sung and enjoyed around the world in over 140 languages. It was composed in 1818 by the teacher and church organist Franz Xaver Gruber; pastor Joseph Franz Mohr wrote the words. ‘O Tannenbaum’ is based on a traditional folk song; the modern lyrics were written in 1824, by the Leipzig organist, teacher and composer Ernst Anschütz.