by Nikolai, age 8, asks why we have Christmas trees, about Russian rivers, and Orthodox Christmas
Dear Santa,
Privet from Moscow. My name is Nikolai and I am 8 years old. My family actually celebrates Christmas twice, a small quiet one in December and a bigger Orthodox one in January, and our tree, called a yolka, stays up and sparkling for both.
My first question is: why do we even have Christmas trees?
My second question is geography: what is the longest river in Russia?
My third question is from school: why does Russia celebrate Christmas on the 7th of January instead of the 25th of December?
I left you gingerbread called pryaniki and a small glass of warm compote.
Love, Nikolai, age 8, Moscow, Russia
From the Desk of Father Christmas
Dear Nikolai, pryaniki and warm compote made for a lovely stop on a very long, very cold route. Now, to your excellent questions.
Why do we have Christmas trees?
The tradition began in Germany hundreds of years ago, when families started bringing evergreen trees indoors and decorating them during the dark winter months. Evergreens stay green even in the coldest weather, so they became a cheerful symbol that life continues even in the depths of winter. The custom spread across Europe and eventually the whole world, and today the sparkling tree has become one of the most beloved symbols of the season everywhere, your own yolka very much included.
What is the longest river in Russia?
The longest river fully within Russia is the Lena River, though many people also point to the Volga as Russia’s most iconic river, since it flows entirely through European Russia and has shaped the country’s history and culture for centuries. Russia is such an enormous country that it holds several of the longest rivers on Earth within its borders.
Why does Russia celebrate Christmas on the 7th of January?
This comes down to calendars. The Russian Orthodox Church still follows the older Julian calendar for religious holidays, which currently sits about thirteen days behind the newer Gregorian calendar that most of the world uses for everyday dates. So while much of the world marks Christmas on the 25th of December by the modern calendar, Orthodox Christmas lands on what the modern calendar calls the 7th of January, even though by the old church calendar it is still the 25th of December. That is exactly why your family gets to enjoy two festive celebrations rather than just one.
Enjoy both of your Christmases, and I shall see you for the first one very soon.
Ho ho ho, Santa
