West Hollywood could be considered little Russia…stores, pharmacies, video shops all written in Russian cater to the Russian community. I remembered hearing that the Orthodox calendar and tradition was slightly different and with such a huge Russian population and Christmas around the corner, I thought it would be interesting to give Christmas a different spin.
Thirteen days after western Christmas, on January 7th, the Russian Orthodox Church celebrates its Christmas, in accordance with the old Julian calendar.
After the 1917 Revolution Christmas was banned throughout Russia, along with other religious celebrations. It wasn’t until 75 years later, in 1992, that the holiday was openly observed. Today, it’s once again celebrated in grand fashion, with the faithful participating in an all-night Mass in incense-filled Cathedrals amidst the company of the painted icons of Saints.
An old Russian tradition, whose roots are in the Orthodox faith, is the Christmas Eve fast and meal. The fast, typically, lasts until after the evening worship service or until the first star appears. Once the first star has appeared in the sky, the festivities begin. Although all of the food served is strictly Lenten, it is served in an unusually festive and anticipatory manner and style. The Russians call this meal, “The Holy Supper.” The family gathers around the table to honor the coming Christ Child. A white table-cloth, symbolic of Christ’s swaddling clothes, covers the Table. Hay is brought forth as a reminder of the poverty of the Cave where Jesus was born. A tall white candle is placed at the center of the Table, symbolic of Christ “the Light of the World.” A large round loaf of Lenten bread, “pagach,” symbolic of Christ, the Bread of Life, is placed next to the Candle.
The meal begins with the Lord’s Prayer, led by the father of the family. A prayer of thanksgiving for all the blessings of the past year is said and then prayers for the good things in the coming year are offered. The head of the family greets those present with the traditional Christmas greeting: “Christ is Born!” The family members respond: “Glorify Him!” The Mother of the family blesses each person present with honey in the form of a cross on each forehead, saying: “In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, may you have sweetness and many good things in life and in the new year.” 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. After dinner, no dishes are washed and the Christmas presents are opened. Then the family goes to Church.
If you would like to follow in tradition or would like to attend a Russian Christmas Eve Mass, here are a few Russian Orthodox Churches in Los Angeles:
Russian Orthodox Church Protection of the Holy Virgin - 2049 Argyle Ave, Los Angeles - Map - (323) 466-4845
Holy Transfiguratio Russian Orthodox Church 5436 Fernwood Ave, Los Angeles - Map - (323) 957-1614
1 response so far ↓
1 LKitsch // Dec 21, 2007 at 4:45 pm
Aren’t the overwhelming majority of WeHo’s Russian immigrants Jewish?
Leave a Comment