Even during Soviet years, there was a difference between Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas. In my latest conversations with Russian friends, I’m having trouble explaining why The White House doesn’t say Merry Christmas any more, if even the officially atheist Soviet Union did. My office building has posters downstairs saying “Peace on Earth”, and “Happy Holidays”. What’s the reason for peace though? Is it a V-Day, or Veteran’s Day, or anti-war demonstration day? The political correctness of the United States makes ex-Soviets laugh. The “appropriateness” of “anti-Christmas’ is so overwhelming, that it looks almost made up. Why bother having a day off and even celebrating the “Peace on Earth Day”, if you are not allowed to talk about the reason for the holiday?
in Russia and Ukraine, the few hour Christmas services are aired on all major TV channels, and are always attended by all major government officials, including the presidents and the mayors of the cities.
Eastern Orthodox Christmas is celebrated 13 days later than the rest of the world, which is resulted by the change of the calendar at the turn of the 16th,18th and 20th centuries. Happy Holidays happen on the 1st and 2nd of January, and Merry Christmas follows up on the 7th of January. However Russians love the federal holidays, and holidays in general, so they start out celebrating the so-called “Catholic” Christmas (the 25th of December), then they move on to the New Year’s Eve, then sober up, do Christmas again (7th of January), and then the real fans of the holidays do the “Old New Year” which is also 13 days later, and comes on the 13th of January accordingly.
Trying to do any kind of business in Russia between December 25th and January 13th could cost you a lot of money. The banking system and government offices are closed, people travel abroad, or retire to their “dachas” - the country houses, or simply stay at home, drinking and watching holiday programs. Russian TV always puts out fresh Hollywood releases out on the 1st and 2nd of January to keep the public’s attention, and make more money from the advertisements.
Anyway, Russians love Christmas, and they are very clear why Christmas is to be called Christmas, since “Peace on Earth” day is usually May 9th, when the nation celebrates the victory over Nazi Germany.
Below is a short English class essay, written by a high school student, who I mentor, and who at his 16 years of age understands the nonsense produced by the White House this year.
The Night before a Non-Denominational Winter Holiday formally know as The Night before Christmas (A.K.A the politically correct version)
It was the night before non-denominational winter holiday when all through the house not a creature was stirring not even a mouse. The neutral gift sacks were hung by the chimney with care. In hopes that a non specific holiday figure would soon be there. Children of every race and nationality were resting all snug in their beds, while visions of sugar free plums danced in their heads.
When out on the lawn there rose such a clatter I got up out of bed to see what was the matter and to see who was violating the neighborhood sound level ordinance. But what to my wondering eyes did appear, but an emission free vehicle, and eight size-challenged reindeer? This holiday figure was so lively and quick I knew in a moment it must be – some holiday figure. He had a broad but normal face and an advanced sized belly and he laughed lady of the evening, lady of the evening, lady of the evening.
The End
Lady of the evening is supposed to sound like “Ho-Ho-Ho”, which sounds like another English word, given the reader’s imagination (YM).
Comments
Don't forget. Protestants celebrate the 25th as Christmas too.
Posted by: James J. Na | December 21, 2005 3:37 PM
By the "so-called" I meant the way the Russians call it. What's interesting, many Russians consider only Catholicism and Orthodoxy to be true Christian religions, so whenever something is Christian, but different from Orthodox, it's just named "Catholic".
Posted by: Yuri Mamchur | December 21, 2005 5:09 PM
Yura:
Our three year old son and six year old daughter attend the local sadochok and school here in our region of Kyiv. In preparation for St. Nicholas Day (19 December), one of their assignments was to learn a prayer to St. Nicholas. We desparetly love the shows small children put on for parents on sviata (praznyky). Can you imagine that sort of thing ever happening in the U.S. at a public school? Not without a law suit and loss of job. In France, Jacques Chirac and his minions are terrified of crosses, yarmulkas and little girls wearing headscarfs. Isn't there something slightly out of kilter with that picture?
Posted by: Alex Sich | December 22, 2005 7:58 AM
Yuri:
Interesting point you make about how many Russians view now Orthodox-Christian denominations.
In America, it has been customary for a good many to categorize non-Catholic Christians as Protestant.
---------------------------
Alex:
In Russia, some obscure Muslim group recently claimed that the Russian national emblem is "too Christian."
The Moscow Times gave credence to that view omitting mention of the clear religious symbols found on the flags of Turkey, Azerbaijan, Israel and host of other countries in Europe and Asia.
Another of many hypocritical examples on how English language mass media views Russia (The Moscow Times is a non-Russian owned English language mass media outlet based in Moscow.
Posted by: Michael Averko | December 22, 2005 12:29 PM
One can criticize the never ending and ever evolving American cultural and religious sensitivity, but should also take into account how these are indicative of wider societal values and trends. What has this acceptance and sensitivity contributed to or taken away from American society? What is good and bad about the way America has dealt with its diversity?
On the flipside, it is hard for me to accept criticism of this or that there is a superior Russian way, given the historical and current anti-Semitic and racist undertones of the Soviet and Russian societies. In the U.S. is calling blacks monkeys as common and acceptable as it is in Russia? Is being non-white and non-American an immediate cause for suspicion as being non-white and non-Russian is in Russia? In the U.S. is anti-Semitism as widespread and deep-seated as it is in Russia?
Posted by: Matthew | January 4, 2006 12:11 PM
I agree with Matthew on everything, but the anti-Semitic trends. I’d say the anti-Semitic trends is more of a fairy-tale about Russian society, that people still want to believe. However, the issue of racism against black people is the real issue. And in this post I’m not suggesting that Soviet values are better than American, I’m just wondering, what about the interests of those who believe in Christmas? You don’t say “happy veterans’ day” for the Thanksgiving, so why don’t you say” Happy New Year” for the January 1 event, and keep it Christmas for the Christmas date. Also “Happy Holidays” just sounds lousy. I guess my point is to name things their real names, I’d much rather see “Happy Hanukah” and “Merry Christmas” around town, rather than a “Happy Unidentified Holiday”. People are just too caught up in technicalities and legalities; just lets keep it simple.
Posted by: Yuri Mamchur | January 4, 2006 12:22 PM