My ladylove is from the Ukraine so we're celebrating her traditions (I'm more spiritual than religious, so my Christmas tradition is just some quiet reflections on Christmas Eve). They separate things out in a way I find very interesting.
December 19th is St. Nicholas Day so that's the big gift-giving time. In the spirit of St. Nicholas, it's also the day for giving to needy children. Children find coins, candy, and tiny toys in their shoes in the morning. Then they go to see St. Nicholas who is dressed as a bishop. The children listen to stories about sharing before they get a present from him. They also give St. Nicholas or his helpers a small gift for children who are less fortunate. When they get home, they find his helpers have delivered their other gifts.
On New Year's Day Father Frost and his granddaughter the Snow Maiden hand out presents. Usually, a person only gets one, but it's the most expensive one of the season. Father Frost dresses in a red suit with white fur trimming and gold embroidery, but he is not necessarily fat. The Snow Maiden dresses in blue. A cute little episode of a Russian tv series shows this tradition:
http://youtu.be/qd6OtRox9V8
The first thirty seconds is poorly drawn and has annoying music, but don't let that dissuade you!
With all the greed out of the way, they're free to celebrate Christmas on January 7th in solemn remembrance of the importance of the day. It starts on Christmas Eve with a traditional dinner. There's straw on the table as a reminder of Christ in the manger. The Christmas tree for that day is a bundle of wheat. (Do you have any idea how hard it is to find stalks of wheat in Kentucky in January or how many strange looks you'll get from people when you ask for it?) They lighten the mood with carols and skits. They also watch for the first star of the evening. If they get a gift from an angel on that day, it's something small and beautiful.
For so many years I've heard people gripe about how Christmas has become so commercial and a season of greed. I think this is a wonderful way to separate the reasons for the seasons.
Some of their Christmas carols:
http://youtu.be/H94Z9FASV8E
http://youtu.be/JYh43FNymAM
http://youtu.be/yBgp_pKH17M
http://youtu.be/N7CDl9trfWI
http://youtu.be/Y-27oX4ehJ8
I was surprised to learn this was an old Ukrainian song about a bird in April flying into a farmer's house. The music was co-opted by an American who wrote new lyrics for it.
http://youtu.be/kFy_9hRS2uc
Merry Times to all, no matter how you celebrate!
