Russian Reflections

January is a month of celebrations and holidays in Russia. Although the country, like the rest of the world, uses the Gregorian calendar from day to day, the Orthodox church uses the Julian calendar which is two weeks behind. This means that Christmas Day falls on 7 January, Old New Year on 14 January, and Epiphany (when they all plunge into the icy rivers and lakes!) on 19 January. All of these dates are an excuse to celebrate but of course like the world over Russians celebrate New Year on 1st January. Because Christmas, as a religious festival, was effectively banned, or at least frowned upon, under Communism, New Years Eve has become the Russian Christmas and New Year wrapped into one monster party.

Russians will typically spend their evenings with their families swapping gifts and eating traditional salads such as Olivier Salad, an absolute must, Mimosa (my favourite), and Herring under a fur coat. At midnight they will listen to the President wishing them a good new year and after he has finished they will go outside for fireworks. For a little more information about their traditions and the salads you can read this short article by Russia Beyond.

Of course, like many others I was “Dreaming of a White Christmas” and this year I had one! And a white New Year too! Therefore here is a Russia poem Snow is Falling by Boris Pasternak of Dr Zhivago fame to capture the mood:

Snow is falling: snow is falling.
Geranium flowers reach
for the blizzard’s small white stars
past the window’s edge.

Snow is falling, all is lost,
the whole world’s streaming past:
the flight of steps on the back stairs,
the corner where roads cross.

Snow is falling: snow is falling,
not snowflakes stealing down,
Sky parachutes to earth instead,
in his worn dressing gown.

As if he’s playing hide-and-seek,
across the upper landings,
a mad thing, slowly sneaks,
Sky creeps down from the attic.

It’s all because life won’t wait,
before you know, it’s Christmas here.
And look, in a minute,
suddenly it’s New Year.

Snow is falling, deeper — deeper.
Maybe, with that same stride
in that same tempo,
with that same languor,
Time’s going by?

Year after year, perhaps,
passing, as snow’s falling,
like words in a poem?
Snow’s falling: snow’s falling.

Snow is falling, all is lost —
the whitened passers-by,
leaves’ startled showing,
the corners where roads cross.

Boris Pasternak, 1957

I want to wish you all a very happy and healthy 2022 and thank you for reading my blogs.