Russian Culture Site
	Anna Kuksa BellaOnline's Russian Culture Editor

Great Lent Week 3
The third Sunday of Great Lent is known as the “Veneration of the Cross.” Veneration in the Russian Orthodox church is an important concept and an act of devotion.

Maslenitsa Butterweek Russian Mardi Gras
Maslenitsa or Butterweek is the Russian version of Mardi Gras -- a week long celebration before the beginning of Great Lent. Blini or pancakes are eaten in great quantities and served with everything from melted butter to caviar.

Russian Christmas Rozhdestvo
My fondest recollections of the Yule season date back to childhood, when I anxiously awaited the arrival of not Santa Claus, but the Russian Santa called Dyed Moroz or Grandfather Frost. Russian Orthodox Christmas is celebrated thirteen days after December twenty fifth.

Russian Easter Paskha
Russian Easter is the holiday of holidays and the feast of feasts. Even the sun plays in joy on Easter, a day meant for rejoicing and reminding us of everlasting life. The Easter service is four hours long and is just the beginning of celebrations that last for 40 days.

Svyatki a Yule Holiday
The Christmas holiday is celebrated for a period of two weeks until Epiphany and is known as Svyatki. Russians travel from one house to another, singing carols or kalyadki, eating and drinking. Good wishes abound and in the past, it was the time for divining the future.

Troitsa Trinity Sunday
Troitsa or Trinity Sunday is celebrated 50 days after Easter. Churches and homes are adorned with greenery and flowers. The symbolism of the color green is that of life and it also is a grafting of the old Russian customs with the sacred.