The Christmas celebrations begin in November, when Lent (Fasting) before Christmas begins. Russian people stop eating any product that comes from an animal with the exception of seafood.

Thirteen days after Western Christmas, on January 7th, the Russian Orthodox Church celebrates its Christmas in accordance with the old Julian calendar.

On the night of Christmas Eve all family members gather to share a special meal and then people go to Church for the Christmas Mass. Not much celebrating takes place, it's off to bed, up in the morning and straight to church for the Christmas day Liturgy. After church people will go to the home of one relative so that the family can all be together. Here, the family gives gifts and has Christmas lunch - the main meal of Christmas.

All day the children go from door to door caroling the song "Thy Nativity" or "Your Birth". Russians decorate their homes with the Christmas tree and often put pine leaves on their front doors and in the house. The greeting "S Rodzhestvom Kristovom" is said - meaning "The Birth of Christ!" It is a time for families and friends.

Christmas is celebrated for 6 days, and the Christmas tree is usually taken down at the end of January after the feast day of the Baptism of Christ.

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.