Just needed to be heard for a little while

Waves_and_Smiles

Oh, oh look at this!

The New Year celebrations are still very important to Russians (sometimes more than Christmas).

This is when - when 'Father Frost' (known in Russian as 'Ded Moroz' or Дед Мороз) brings presents to children. He is always accompanied by his Grandaughter (Snegurochka). On New Year's eve children hold hands, make a circle around the Christmas tree and call for Snegurochka or Ded Moroz. When they appear the star and other lights on the Christmas tree light up! Ded Moroz carries a big magic staff.

That is so sweet!

How fascinating, LIR! I love different traditions! Risotto sounds good, I used to make it but haven't for a while since I have been unable to cook alone so I know we both like it! I am now wondering if I can sneak in January 6th, too without WaSp murdering me.

codemonkey

What a lovely thing to do for that homeless man. I'll bet he appreciates his nice warm blanket and a meal in his belly. It's so sad that something so small is so big to someone else. I remember one day I was in Iceland (the shop, not the country) and this couple were paying in pennies. I was a bit annoyed but after I left the shop, I saw them on the next street going through the bins and I wished I'd paid for their shopping.

How about some Scottish traditions WaS? Hogmanay is a good one. You clean your house, burn juniper and eat steak pie and at midnight, if he has dark hair you can send WaSP to first foot your neighbours with salt, coal and black bun. Oh, and St Andrew's day is coming up. You can have haggis, tatties and neeps and read and write poetry. St Andrew's eve is celebrated in Eastern Europe and Ukraine.

codemonkey

For Yule, maybe roast pork? It's a fire festival so I'd imagine a pig was roasted over a fire.

Waves_and_Smiles

Hogmanay is a wonderful idea! Usually we scratch our heads a bit on that day because so many people go out to celebrate and I don't do that. I have never made a pie, it looks like Steak pie will be my first (with a lot of help from WaSp). Actually, my only attempt at pastry resulted in something that broke up into bits everytime I tried to move it so practice is probably in order. Thank you!

Oooh, pork is also a good idea! The only main course I keep coming across is lamb and that is a tad out of our price range.

Waves_and_Smiles

In other news look what I found. Free global shipping, too and definitely needed for our slothery! I am considering one for my niece. I tend to spend more on her than I even do on WaSp because her family are in Uganda and she has only recently started talking to MIL again so for a while she only received gifts from her mum and I. SIL has a partner now so I am hoping she might have a few more things to open this year and I am sure MIL will want to send something, too. Now she is 12 I think she is young enough to appreciate the toy and old enough to appreciate the sentiment.

http://gifts.worldwildlife.org/gift-center/gifts/Species-Adoptions/Three-toed-Sloth.aspx

seven-day-weekend

lostinrates wrote: »

Russian Christmas date?

January 6th in Spain and on the evening of the 5th they have Tres Reyes (Three Kings) when the whole village has a party and the children receive presents from the Kings. They also have Santa visit too!

You might like that one.

Waves_and_Smiles

Oh, that is lovely! Ok, the 5th/6th of January is marked down as a celebration for us. We shall have our own little party!

seven-day-weekend

Hope you and WaSp have a great time! I loved Tres Reyes when I lived in Spain.

Waves_and_Smiles

Thank you! I am sure we will!

Forgive my slight paranoia here but I do hope no one reading finds me odd or disrespectful in that I celebrate everything. I don't go out as everyone knows and I don't really do anything differently day to day so I do this instead. It gives me something to look forward to, otherwise the days would all just blend into one. I do make a point of learning all about each culture I celebrate with and respect their special days.

seven-day-weekend

Waves_and_Smiles wrote: »

Thank you! I am sure we will!

Forgive my slight paranoia here but I do hope no one reading finds me odd or disrespectful in that I celebrate everything. I don't go out as everyone knows and I don't really do anything differently day to day so I do this instead. It gives me something to look forward to, otherwise the days would all just blend into one. I do make a point of learning all about each culture I celebrate with and respect their special days.

I think it is lovely to celebrate joyful events, the more the better