Christmas traditions and customs illustrated in the Presidential Library’s collections

16 January 2022

One of the brightest folk holidays - Christmastide - traditionally runs from January 6-19. The Presidential Library provides access to the electronic copies of books illustrating traditional amusements, many of which are still popular. 

It is customary to consider Christmastide as twelve holidays "from the star to the water" that is, from the appearance of the first star on the eve of the Nativity of Christ to the Epiphany consecration of water. Representatives of all walks of life joined the festivities. Alexander Tereshchenko in his book Life of the Russian People, an electronic copy of which is available on the Presidential Library's portal, notes that “not only the nobility living in cities and villages, but even residents of the capital love to indulge in Christmas-time pleasures. Diverse in their actions, they represented a vast field for all kinds of fun and amusement".

In the 5th century, at the Constantinople court, Gothic games were popular, which have a connection with Christmastide fun. On Christmas Day "dressed up came to the court, who ran, danced and sang to the music".

In Holland there was a custom that the watchman 8 days before the birth of Christ and 8 days after, "announcing in the morning that the clock had struck, advised the inhabitants to eat porridge with raisins and honey".

The people of England danced and sang in the streets for several nights in a row. On Christmas Day, it was imperative to bow to the apple trees in order to attract a rich harvest. Another tradition among the British was special thick candles that had to burn all night. If the candle was extinguished, it was considered an omen of great misfortune. By the way, these were the candles that shopkeepers presented to their customers in North Scotland. Russia also had its own traditions of determining luck for the next year. For example, "if the sky is not clear on the night of Christmas and on Epiphany, then there will be no harvest this year".

"Christmastide in Russia has been celebrated since ancient times - proof of this is the "Feeding Book" and "Stoglav", as well as the pastoral epistles, which denounced divination and superstition on Christmastide as pagan customs", - says Ivan Bozheryanov in his book How the people celebrated and celebrate Russian Christmas, New Year, Epiphany and Shrovetide.

The festivities began on the eve of the Nativity of Christ, after sunset. “That same evening, the villagers covered the inside of the hut with straw or hay; sheaves are placed in the corners; under the image and on a table covered with hay, they put a head of garlic in front of each person to ward off all diseases”, - says Alexander Tereshchenko in his book Life of the Russian People.

One of the most famous Christmas-tide traditions is divination by the betrothed. There are many ways to know your destiny: using a mirror, molten wax, a comb, and even tossing your shoes. In the book "Life of the Russian People" the following version is given: "Maidens are fortunate in the villages: at about midnight they go out into the yard, and from which side a dog barks, from that side and wait for the betrothed". Such methods of fortune telling are still popular.

However, not only girls took part in Christmas time. For example, young people dressed in festive outfits put on whole performances with dancing and singing in front of neighbors' houses. For this they received as a reward some meal prepared the day before.

Another wonderful tradition is recalled by Alexander Tereshchenko in his research: “During the Kolyad days, they forgot the old enmity, reconciled and entered into a new friendship. Hospitality, various gifts and invitations to the feast prevailed everywhere".