Russians will say Merry Christmas today

PANAJI: It's Christmas all over again. On Friday when most Goans will have taken down their Christmas trees, lights and decorations, Russian Orthodox Christians holidaying in Goa will celebrate the birth of Christ."Although this is my third Christmas in Goa, thisyear I will be celebrating it for the very first time with friends from Goa andRussia," says artist Elena Fedosenko who fell in love with the place the firsttime she visited it three years ago.When TOI met her she wasplanning a small Christmas party. "We are supposed to fast before Christmas eve.The fast is broken at 12am on January 7, when Orthodox churches celebrate thebirth of Jesus Christ," she said.Russians celebrate Christmasdifferently. For one there is no meat on the dinner table. "We do not consumemeats and spirits," says Vladmir Ivanchikovich who will be celebrating the feaston a low key. "My wife Katrina Vladimirovna and I will prepare a lot ofdifferent salads. Our dinner table will be covered in linen and scattered hay,which symbolizes Christ in the manger and laden with freshly cut fruit andchai," he added."We do not prepare the traditional food but itmostly consists of 12 different foods symbolic of the 12 apostles. The kind offood that's prepared in each home varies from village to village in Russia," hesays.Fedosenko says that though the Christmas dinner is meatless, itis festive. "In Russia the most important ingredient is a special porridgecalled kutya, which is a mix of rice and raisins. Apart from food we sing anddance, some of us go around the neighbourhood singing Christmas carols, seekingpresents even in the snow," she adds with a twinkle in her eye.Businessman Fedor Mikhailovich,45, will celebrate his 8th Christmasin Goa this year. Mikhailovich says, "Christmas to me means joy, just asChristians in other parts of the world celebrate Christmas on December 25,Russians celebrate it on January 7 with friends and family." He adds that onThursday evening, Russians will participate in an all-night masses in the dozensof cathedrals scattered throughout Moscow.The Russian OrthodoxChurch celebrates Christmas, in accordance with the old Julian calendar.Historically Christmas was banned in Russia in 1917. It was only in 1992 thatholidays were openly observed.