Russian Holidays
Christmas Eve

The Christmas' Eve night lasts from 6 to 7 January.

Usually on the Christmas' Eve people have a fast from morning till late evening or until the first star will appear.

When the star appears, people lay the table with dishes - Saint Christmas Supper. Kutya, svar and roasted goose must be on this table.

People fortune-tell this night: they pour melted wax into the water and guess the future by thickened outlines.

They knew many ways of fortune-telling. The mummers go from house to house during Christmas, they sing Christmas carols and are treated.

Dens are in every family. People make it themselves. The den is a two-circle little box and there play scenes with wooden figures.

The main scene is the Birth of Our Saviour.