Jan 7th: Merry Christmas From Russia
I am updating you from Russian airspace at approximately 35,000 feet. Many of you may not know that Christmas is celebrated Saturday, January 7th in Russia and the Ukraine. Orthodox Christians believe that January 7th is the actual birth date of Jesus, and not December 25th. As such, I make my deliveries the night of January 6th.
After making my trip from Hawaii with the help of Blitzen, Coment, Cupid, and Blazer, I will deliver the gifts across Russia, Ukraine, and a few other countries with the help of Jingle and a large volunteer group of elves. And then the reindeer team will have me back in Hawaii in time for lunch with Mrs. Claus.
Many of you have asked me what I got for Christmas. I received exactly the same thing I receive every year. And it is priceless. My gift was seeing pure joy in the eyes of the children when they discovered the gifts under the tree on Christmas morning. And my gift was seeing the parent's countenance change and virtually glow as they too experienced the joy of truly selfless giving.
I encourage all of you to celebrate Christmas in Russia today by surprising some one - any one - today with an act of unexpected generousity or kindness. You will find that, like me on Christmas morning, you too will receive a priceless gift.
From Russia with Love - Merry Christmas, Everyone.
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6 comments:
Posts like this are exactly why I am so glad that you are keeping us updated in the off-season. I didn't know that much of Russia celebrated the birth of Jesus on Jan. 7 and you are right - joy is the best Christmas gift of all!
What a great post! Thanks Santa, for teaching us about Christmas in other places of the world, and for keeping the true spirit of Christmas alive!
Santa, thank you so much for remembering. My husband is half Russian and we leave the tree up with all the other decorations until after this Christmas is over. You're the best.
To Russia with love
Wow! Who knew? I thought everyone celebrated Jesus' birth on December 25. Maybe that explains why some of the neighbors still have decorations up.
Hope you don't mind an update: Jan 7 is December 25 of the old Julian calendar. When the Soviets outlawed Christmas, everything was moved to New year. Thats why we have a "New Years Tree" and exchange gifts on New Years day.
Today again we are free to celebrate Christmas and do it on our traditional day of 7 January. It is a joyful time because we have been fasting for 40 days, no meat/no dairy/no oils/no eggs, and no celebrations because the old man (the flesh) must be brought into discipled state so that when Christmas arrives, our old nature and our new natures are in harmony and ready to receive the newborn king.
Happy New Year, and With Christ! (With Christ is our way to express merry Christmas.)
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