Russian Christmas Decorations

Russian Christmas decorations are beautiful, meaningful symbols of enduring hope and faith.

Christmas Day is celebrated on January 7 by the Russian Orthodox Church and is traditionally an occasion of both family festivities and solemn religious ritual. However after the revolution in 1917 the observance all religious celebrations, including Christmas, was banned throughout Russia.

Though the ban remained in place for 75 years, the spirit of the holiday season survived and the new year became the emphasis. The ban was lifted in 1992 and Christmas is once again openly observed and celebrated.

Among the most treasured and traditional of Russian Christmas decorations are ornaments and figurines based on three ancient and legendary characters, Saint Nicholas, Grandfather Frost, and Snegurochka.

Saint Nicholas
Saint Nicholas, the Greek holy man whose kind and giving spirit eventually became the model for Santa Claus, is beloved in Russia. Known as the protector of the weak and defender of the oppressed, St. Nicholas is an integral character in Russian Christmas.

In the most traditional icons, paintings, ornaments and figurines, St. Nicholas is portrayed as an Orthodox Bishop, but in more modern representations there is more resemblance to "Father Christmas" and even Santa Claus.

Grandfather Frost
An even older figure with strong pagan associations, Grandfather Frost was originally associated with Christmas but became a symbol of New year celebrations during the 75-year ban on religious celebrations.

Many of the myths and legends of Grandfather Frost live on in the modern stories of Santa Claus. Accompanied by his granddaughter Snegurochka, he was said to deliver gifts to good children, driving a sleigh drawn by teams of white horses. He is generally pictured with a long white beard, wearing long red or blue robes trimmed in white fur.

Snegurochka the Snow Maiden
Snegurochka also plays a starring role in one of the most enduring Russian Christmas stories, the legend of the snowmaiden. According to the story, a lonely couple made a figure of a little girl from snow and prayed that for a child of their own. The snowmaiden came to life as Snegurochka, and she lived happily with her new parents until the coming spring, when she came to them with tears in her eyes and said she must return to the land of snow. Her parents couldn't bear to part with her and her mother held her fast, but the child melted away in her arms. The parents grieved all through the spring and summer, thinking she was gone forever, but when winter returned she reappeared and they were overjoyed. And every year thereafter, she remained with them to brighten the long Russian winter, and returned to the Land of the Snows when spring came.

Snegurochka ornaments and figurines are prized and popular Russian Christmas decorations. She is generally portrayed as a young princess, richly dressed in flowing robes and sometimes accompanied by a bird or rabbit.