Christmas in Russia

Christmas in Russia is most widely celebrated on January 7,

according to the Russian Orthodox calendar. New Year's Day,
January 1, precedes the Russian Christmas and is often
celebrated as a more important holiday. It is not uncommon
for Russians to observe two Christmases and even two New
Year's—the first Christmas observed on December 25, and the
second New Year's observed on January 14. 
The front doors of all houses were open to everybody: people
congratulate each other with the great day and invite even
strangers to drop by.

Santa Claus

The Russian Santa Claus is named Ded Moroz, or Father Frost.

Accompanied by Snegurochka, the snow maiden, he brings
presents to children to place under the New Year's tree. He
carries a staff, wears valenki, or felt boots, and is carried
across Russia in a troika,  or a vehicle led by three
horses,  instead of a sleigh pulled by reindeer.

Traditional food
The Christmas Eve meal is typically meatless.
Lenten bread, dipped in honey and garlic, is shared by all
members of the family gathering. Kutya is a mixture of grains
and poppy seeds sweetened with honey, which serves as one of
the main dishes of the Christmas feast. Vegetarian-style borsch
or solyanka, a salty stew, may also be served along with salads,
sauerkraut, dried fruit, potatoes, and beans.

Christmas eve
On Christmas Eve (6 January), there are several long services,
including the Royal Hours and Vespers combined with the Divine
Liturgy. The family will then return home for the traditional
Christmas Eve "Holy Supper", which consists of 12 dishes, one to
honour each of the Twelve Apostles. Devout families will then return
to church for the "всенощная" All Night Vigil. Then again, on
Christmas Morning, for the "заутренняя" Divine Liturgy of the
Nativity. Since 1992 Christmas has become a national holiday in
Russia, as part of the ten-day holiday at the start of every new year.

From November 28 till January 6 the religious are fasting and

mentally purifying themselves.