The Washington times., 1907-12-25
RUSSIAN CHRISTMAS
NOT LIKE OURS
Instead of Celebrating De-
cember Is Their Christ
mas Comes in January.
In Land of the Car Santa
Claus Is Not Known, Nor
Good Fairy" Either.

The Russians do not celebrate the
25th day OF December. but the 9Th. 7th.
and sth of January. zone day TO get
ready. one Tor the fun. and one 10 get
over g." as the priest Of the Russian
Greek Church or New York expressed
H. Presents are exchanged on Christ
mas Eve January O., and the feast Is
on Christmas Day January ., very
much tho same as with US. No work
is done on the 6th, 7th, and sth, except
such as is absolutely necessary. Those
three days are observed az rigidly IN
r lgard 70 work as is tho Sabbath day IN
cur most religious families.
The Russians have no Santa Claus.
nor any good fairy IN his placs. No
Santa Claus home an the North Pole
full Of toys. dishes. drums. AM tin
soldiers. and nunberless other toys for
little boys and girls. No reindeer 70
carry Santa Claus from housetop 10
housetOp with his presents. And imRg-
inc a Christmas for the children with
out hanging up their stockings on
Christmas Eve.
Tho Russians do have a Christmas
tree. however. that is as brilliantly
trimmed and lighted and hung with
gifts as ours. Rich and puor alike have
a Christmas tree in theiI' homes. but
never IN church. A tree in church would
be sacrilege. indeed. Occasionally
they are used at gatherings in a coun-
try schoolhouse II there is a school in
the vicinity.
New Year Is one week after their
Christmas. which brings It January Il.
nj F~r he
exchanged. as with US.
Schools are few and far bet ween in
tie country. The children are required
70 attend after the age OF six, when
they live near enough, otherwise their
education comes from their parents. or
they have none at al, Russian chill
dren are very bright, learning rapidly
and thoroughly. It Is seldom necessary
10 compel them 10 attend school, for
they are ali anxious TO go. IN fact.
they frequently add an imaginary year
or more 10 their actual age, 50 they
may go.
The peasant and all members of his
| family large enough 10 assist work long
hours. He cannot afford 10 lose & min
ute, and in consequence all OF his prod
! dee is taken 20 the village or city mar
kets on Sunday. his one day OF rest
| This IS considered perfectly right, for
| It IS not work; # is really taking a holi-
| day. They sell their products. go 70
/ church, and after church both men end
women gather at the saloons TO eat and
drink vodka" (whIsky) and visit with
their friends and neighbors. in fact,
/ they use about all OF the mornings
! proceeds. SO it is literally starvation
| for them through the following week
/ until Sunday. wher they can bring
something more TO the city TO sell
| A peasant wedding is an interesting
| sight. II always takes place on Sunday,
/ Tor they cannot afford to lose any time.
| and as the horses are all IN use, having
| gone TO market, the bride and groom
and all their relatives and frienoS walk
TO the village. The ceremony always
| takes place in church, and is performed
/ by the priest. Peasants wouldn't con
/ slider themselves married II a clerk Cr
/ justice performed the ceremony
| After the wedding service is concluded
! they all go TO the saloon. and drink
/ vodka and eat white bread White
| sidered very fine. II Is baked - one
| large loaf. A loaf a yard square
| and as thick as ~ can be baked IS not
| at all extraordinary or course, II is
/ nedFy ana SOBB9f Out t4le ASdNlcE II y
/ the better they seem to Ike It Raised
/ white bread is unknown TO them. AS
! the wedding party grows merrier. they
/ dance, right out on the walk OF in the
| street
! Unless one goes to that part Of the
! town where the peasants make theiI
/ headquarters, one Will not see such q
| wedding celebration. They know there
/ are much better conditions, but they
! also know these conditions are cut out
I OF their reach, and do not care to see
or be seen by the wealthier classes.