In Russia, Christmas is annually celebrated on January 7th, thanks to the Russian Orthodox Church that has made it an official holiday in the country. Previously the occasion was observed on December 25th in the same way as it was in the rest of the world, complete with Christmas trees and Christmas gifts. But after the 1917 Revolution, Christmas was banned throughout Russia, along with other religious celebrations. It was much later, in 1992 that the holiday began to be openly observed again. However, the church in Russia still uses the old Julian calendar, which is 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar used in the Western nations. This is why Christmas is celebrated in Russia on January 7^th.

Today, Christmas is celebrated in the country with the faithful participating in an all-night Mass in Cathedrals. The main religion in Russia is called Orthodox. The Russian Orthodox Church is more than one thousand years old and most of the Christian population of the country belongs to it. In Russia, many people don't eat meat, eggs or milk from a few weeks before Christmas and it is customary to fast until the first church service on Christmas Eve is over.

In the Orthodox tradition nothing is eaten or drunk on Christmas Eve until the first star appears in the sky. The star is symbolic of the great star that led the Magi to the newly born Christ. Once the first star has appeared in the sky, the festivities begin with a Lenten meal – meaning meat or dairy products are excluded. 

Hope there are no more questions remaining about Russian Christmas.

Merry Christmas to all russians !!!